Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a motorized linear diffuser where an exit passage is installed along a ceiling of an interior while being connected to a duct of the interior for heating and air conditioning or ventilation. The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a motorized variable air volume (VAV) linear diffuser for heating and air conditioning or ventilation that can vary air volume by using a motor with a simple structure and at low costs, can be simply assembled and disassembled so that the linear diffuser can be installed or maintained and repaired in a simple way, and can maintain a sealing state when a passage is closed as well.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a motorized linear diffuser where an exit passage is installed along a ceiling of an interior while being connected to a duct of the interior for heating and air conditioning or ventilation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A linear diffuser in the related art has an exit passage formed long lengthwise, wherein the exit passage is configured to be single or to be plural such that the plurality of exit passages are adjacent to each other on a cross section. A damper or a blade pivoted for heating and air conditioning or ventilation in various directions may be installed especially to vary the direction of air. 
         [0003]    In an example of a variable air volume (VAV) linear diffuser, a temperature detector is embedded in each diffuser itself to be operated without using a separate external signal, compressed air or a power supply. The diffuser and the blade may be manufactured of aluminum through injection molding, and a chamber is manufactured of a zinc plated steel plate with a small thickness (generally, 0.6 mm) A glass wool lining material treated such that spattering thereof is prevented may be provided in the chamber to absorb sounds and retain heat, and an interior air inducing chamber may be provided to detect a temperature of an interior. 
         [0004]    However, although the linear diffusers in the related art are inserted into a chamber (duct extending part) connected to a duct to mainly perform an air curtain function and installed at a side of a window to enhance a design of a ceiling, most of the linear diffusers in the related art are configured to manually adjust a blade to regulate air volume, or adjust a blade through a complex mechanism, making the structures complex and expensive and making it difficult to maintain and repair the linear diffusers. In particular, the drawbacks are more serious with a VAV linear diffuser. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a motorized VAV linear diffuser for heating and air conditioning or ventilation that can vary air volume by using a motor with a simple structure and at low costs, can be simply assembled and disassembled so that the linear diffuser can be installed or maintained and repaired in a simple way, and can maintain a sealing state when a passage is closed as well. 
         [0006]    An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a motorized VAV linear diffuser installed in an installing space of a chamber connected to a duct for heating and air conditioning or ventilation and including a frame having an elongated tub-shaped part where a passage for heating and air conditioning or ventilation is formed long lengthwise, the motorized VAV linear diffuser including: a reducer motor unit separably installed at one lengthwise side of the passage of the elongated tub-shaped part; a pivotal blade installed in the passage of the elongated tub-shaped part to be pivotally connected to the reducer motor unit at one side thereof to open and close the passage or regulate an opening degree thereof; a shaft holder installed at another side of the elongated tub-shaped part to pivotally support another side of the pivotal blade; and an installing unit for separably installing the reducer motor unit, the pivotal blade, and the shaft holder within the chamber directly or together with the frame. 
         [0007]    In this case, the pivotal blade may include a blade body forming a framework thereof, a pair of side wall sealing members installed at opposite lengthwise ends of the blade body and formed of a resilient material for maintaining a sealing state of opposite sides thereof and reducing friction as well, and a pair of front/rear wall sealing members installed at opposite ends in a short axis direction of the blade body and formed of a resilient material for maintaining a sealing state with opposite side walls of the elongated tub-shaped part, and a pair of bosses formed of a resilient material to maintain a sealing state between the bosses and the pair of front/rear wall sealing members when the passage is closed may be installed on opposite side walls of the elongated tub-shaped part. 
         [0008]    The motorized VAV linear motor may further include: a position detection control unit for controlling a position of the pivotal blade to open and close the passage or regulate an opening degree thereof by controlling an angular position of the reducer motor unit and controlling a position of the pivotal blade to maintain a sealing state between the front/rear wall sealing members and the bosses when the passage is closed. 
         [0009]    According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the motorized VAV linear diffuser can be constructed simply and inexpensively by directly connecting the reducer motor unit to the pivotal blade, and can be easily assembled, installed, and maintained by separably installing the installing unit within the chamber together with the frame where the reducer motor unit, the pivotal blade, and the shaft holder are directly or separably installed by separably installing the reducer motor unit, the pivotal blade, and the shaft holder within the elongated tub-shaped part. Further, friction can be reduced and a sealing state can be maintained when the passage is closed at the time of constructing the pivotal blade and installing the position detection control unit. 
         [0010]    In addition, initial investment costs can be significantly reduced as compared with linear diffusers in the related art, and performance can be remarkably excellent as compared with linear diffusers in the related art, while greatly contributing to saving energy costs of a building. 
         [0011]    The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a motorized VAV linear diffuser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an assembled state of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of  FIG. 2  in an opened state. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of  FIG. 2  in an opened state. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a closed state corresponding to  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0020]    Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment(s) of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a front view of an assembled state of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a plan view of  FIG. 2  in an opened state.  FIG. 4  is a bottom view of  FIG. 2  in an opened state.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a closed state corresponding to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0022]    Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , the motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  according to the present disclosure includes a chamber  10  when the linear diffuser is configured to have the chamber  10  even if it is described and shown that the linear diffuser does not include the chamber  10 . 
         [0023]    The chamber  10  is generally fixed before a ceiling finishing material is processed and connected to a duct for heating and air conditioning or ventilation (a duct connecting part is omitted in the drawings), and the motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  is installed in an installing space  11  (also serving as a passage for air) of the chamber  10  by means of an installing unit  60  after a ceiling finishing material is processed as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 7  (reference numeral  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , and omitted in the other drawings). 
         [0024]    The motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  includes a frame  30 , a reducer motor unit  50 , a pivotal blade  40 , a shaft holder  55 , and an installing unit  60 . 
         [0025]    As shown as an example of the construction, the frame  30  includes an elongated tub-shaped part  31  where a passage  32  is formed long lengthwise, and a ceiling finishing part  33  perpendicular to an outer circumference of the elongated tub-shaped part  31 . The pivotal blade  40  is pivotally installed in the passage  32  of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  to open and close the passage  32  of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  or adjust an opening degree thereof, and bosses  44  are installed respectively on opposite side surfaces of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  to maintain a sealed state when the passage  32  is closed. 
         [0026]    The frame  30  having the above constitution may be variously divided to be assembled. As an example, walls of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  and edges of the ceiling finishing part  33  may be configured to be separated from each other and may be assembled by a well-known means of the related art such as welding or joint brackets. In this case, the frame  30  may be formed of an extruding material to be manufactured easily and inexpensively. The bosses  44  may also be manufactured by machining opposite ends of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  after being extruded at the same time when the walls of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  are extruded, or may be manufactured and assembled after only the bosses  44  are separated. 
         [0027]    The reducer motor unit  50  is separably installed at one lengthwise side of the passage  32  of the elongated tub-shaped part  31  by means of screw through-holes  31   a  and screws  50   c  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , and the pivotal blade  40  is pivotally connected to the reducer motor unit  50  by means of the reducer motor unit  50 . The construction where the pivotal blade  40  is pivotally connected to the reducer motor unit  50  may be variously configured, and in particular, as shown in  FIG. 5 , may include a separated pivotal connecting shaft  54  and a shaft insertion part  53   a  formed in a reduction gear  53  to be described below. The pivotal connecting shaft  54  is inserted into the shaft insertion part  53   a  of the reduction gear  53  from one side to be rotated together and is inserted into one side of the pivotal blade  40  on another side. 
         [0028]    The shaft holder  55  having the shaft insertion part  55   a  so as to pivotally support another side of the pivotal blade  40  is installed at another side of the elongated tub-shaped part  31 . As shown in  FIG. 5  as an example, the pivotal connecting shaft  54  is pivotally inserted into the shaft insertion part  53   a  on one side and then inserted to be rotated together with the pivotal blade  40  on the other side. 
         [0029]    Although a pair of pivotal connecting shafts  54  are configured to be separable in this example, the pivotal connecting shaft may also be integrally formed with the pivotal blade  40 , the shaft holder  55 , or the reduction gear  53  through a simple modification, and may be integrally formed with the elongated tub-shaped part  31  while the shaft holder  55  is fixed to the elongated tub-shaped part  31  by means of a screw  55   c  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0030]    The installing unit  60  is adapted to separably install the frame  30  where the reducer motor unit  50 , the pivotal blade  40 , and the shaft holder  55  are installed within the chamber  10 , and may include catching steps  12 , installing brackets  61 , and installing screws  63  which are well known in the related art as in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In this case, the catching steps  12  are installed on opposite lengthwise side surfaces of the installing space  11  of the chamber  10 , and each of the installing brackets  61  includes a pair of legs  61   b  caught by the catching step  12  and a connecting part  61   a  connecting the legs  61   b  on the upper side and having a screw hole  62 . In the construction of the installing unit  60 , an installing screw  63  passes through screw the shaft holder  55  and through-holes  55   b  and  57  of a motor gear box  50   a  while the legs  61   b  of the installing bracket  61  being caught by the catching step  12  and is coupled to the screw hole  62  of the connecting part  61   a  of the installing bracket  61 , so that the motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  (particularly, the shaft holder  55  and the motor gear box  50   a ) can be fixed to and installed in the chamber  10 . 
         [0031]    While the installing unit  60  of the construction has been shown and described as an example, the installing unit  60  may be separably installed by using a screw after simply installing a screw through-hole in the frame  30  and installing a screw hole in the chamber  10  or may be employed in other technologies in the related art. Any well-known construction where the motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  is separably installed in the chamber  10  may be applied to the present disclosure. 
         [0032]    Although it is shown and described that the pivotal blade  40  includes a blade body  41  which is an extruding aluminum material, side wall sealing members  42  which are resilient materials such as silicon, and front/rear wall sealing members  43  as an example, the pivotal blade  40  may also be variously configured. The side wall sealing members  42  of the resilient materials can reduce friction between the pivotal blade  40  and both side walls of the shaft holder  55  during rotation of the pivotal blade  40  and secure a sealing state as well. The friction can be further reduced by sharpening ends of the side wall sealing members  42  thin as shown. A sealing state is secured by the front/rear wall sealing members  43  that are a resilient material and the bosses  44  in a closed state. Even though one of the front/rear wall sealing members  43  and the bosses  44  is not a resilient material, a sealing state can be maintained. However, when both of the front/rear wall sealing members  43  and the bosses  44  are resilient materials, a sealing state can be maintained even though a distortion in a lengthwise direction together with flexibility may exist. 
         [0033]    The reducer motor unit  50  may include a synchronous motor  51 , a pinion  52 , and a reduction gear  53  (inner gear) as shown as an example, but is not limited thereto, and various conventional constructions may be employed in the reducer motor unit  50  only if the constructions can linearly controls air volume while maximally reducing RPM. In particular, a construction where a position detection control unit  56  to be described below is employed and angular position can be controlled as well is more desirable. 
         [0034]    The position detection control unit  56  is adapted to open and close the passage  32  or regulate an opening degree thereof by controlling an angular position of the reducer motor unit  50  to control a position of the pivotal blade  40 . An example of the construction includes a pair of protrusions  56   b  installed in the reduction gear  53  to detect an angular position, a pair of limit switches  56   a  operated by the protrusions  56   b , and a well-known controller (not shown) for controlling an angular position of the synchronous motor  51  through an operation of the limit switch  56   a . By installing the pair of limit switches  56   a  to detect a position at a clockwise or counterclockwise angular interval (in this example, an interval of 156 degrees), the bosses  44  and the resilient material of the front/rear wall sealing members  43  are prevented from being excessively pushed (a position is selected such that the limit switch  56   a  is operated while being pushed in some degree), and the pivotal blade  40  may be vertical to maintain the fully opened state of  FIG. 6  (the controller calculates a left/right operation time from the operation times of both the limit switches  56   a  without using a separate detection unit so that the pivotal blade  40  is located centrally). 
         [0035]    Although an example of the position detection control unit  56  having the above constitution has been shown and described, various constructions in the related art may be employed together with the well-known reducer motor unit  50 . 
         [0036]    The reducer motor unit  50  is installed in the motor gear box  50   a  where the motor  51  is sealingly assembled with a cover  50   b  to prevent contamination and secure a sealing state, but may be directly installed at one side of the elongated tub-shaped part  31 . 
         [0037]    Although another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not illustrated in detail, the elongated tub-shaped part  31  of the frame  30  may be formed by extending the chamber  10  downward. In this case, the number of parts can be further reduced and the present disclosure also includes such a construction. In this case, only the reducer motor unit  50 , the pivotal blade  40 , and the shaft holder  55  are installed in the camber  10  by interposing the installing unit  60 , and the ceiling finishing part  33  of the frame  30  may be separately formed to be installed in the shaft holder  55  and the motor gear box  50   a  or at a lower end of the chamber  10 . 
         [0038]    According to the above-mentioned construction and operation of the present disclosure, the motorized VAV linear diffuser  20  can be constructed simply and inexpensively by directly connecting the reducer motor unit  50  to the pivotal blade  40 , and can be easily assembled, installed, and maintained by separably installing the installing unit  60  within the chamber  10  together with the frame  30  where the reducer motor unit  50 , the pivotal blade  40 , and the shaft holder  55  are directly or separably installed by separably installing the reducer motor unit  50 , the pivotal blade  40 , and the shaft holder  55  within the elongated tub-shaped part  31 . 
         [0039]    Accordingly, initial investment costs can be significantly reduced as compared with linear diffusers in the related art, and performance of the present disclosure can be remarkably excellent as compared with linear diffusers in the related art, while greatly contributing to saving energy cost of a building. 
         [0040]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.