A SUPPLY AIR TERMINAL DEVICE

Abstract: A supply air terminal device (1) or box-like or screen-­ like configuration comprises a main body part (2) having a top and a bottom panel (3; 4). Extending between the top and bottom panels are side panels (5), of which at least one has formed therein a line of openings or holes (7), the holes extending in columns or in rows. Located externally of each row or column of holes is a plate (11) having end parts (11a) which are bent inwardly towards the panel (5). The plate defines with the panel vertically extending slots (12) which generate eddy currents in the exiting air, thereby causing the exiting air to be admixed with ambient room air.

Description: The present invention relates to a supply air terminal device of box-like or screen-like configuration and being of the kind set forth in the preamble of Claim 1. Air terminal devices of this kind, e.g. such as those marketed under the trade names REPUS and INAIR, are widely used to supply attemperated air to different kinds of working areas, for instance office areas, and also to domestic dwelling areas, in a draught-free manner. The air exiting from such devices has low impulse energy and the device may often be placed in the immediate vicinity of the work area, therewith ensuring that the air in said vicinity will be of a better quality than would otherwise be the case. When cold air is supplied to supply air terminal devices of this kind, air from the occupied zone of the room in which the device is located will preferably be admixed with the cold air in appropriate proportions, so as to avoid the occurrence of cold draughts at floor level of the room. When filters are used to distribute the air exiting from the device, the exiting air flow will be laminar and will not therefore mix with the ambient air in the manner described. Furthermore, the filters become clogged and require replacing at regular intervals, which is both a complicated and expensive procedure. A device of the aforesaid kind is known, inter alia, from SE-B-444852, Industriell Arbetshygien. This device includes a plate-like element whose side portions are bent and which is intended for the express purpose of preventing welding sparks from entering the screen-like device, such as to protect the heat sensitive filters in the screen. This plate-like element, however, is not intended to have an air guiding function and the air exiting from the device will still have a laminar flow and therefore will not mix with the ambient air in the vicinity of said device. One object of the invention is to provide an improved supply air terminal device which will be effective in admixing supply air with ambient room air without the use of filters, and which enables attemperated air to be supplied to said room in an effective and draught-free fashion. This and other objects are achieved by means of the inventive supply air terminal device, which is characterised by the features set forth in the characterising clause of Claim 1. Since the supply air is deflected by the plates and departs on both sides of respective hole columns or rows while generating eddy currents or like turbulence, the exiting air will have a highly advantageous flow pattern. Air is drawn by suction from the room into the eddy current regions or turbulence, due to the sub-pressure generated at the front surface of the plate, and eddy currents from mutually adjacent air outlet slots will coilide with one another. This results in intensive admixing of the colliding air flows and the major part of the impulse energy of the supplied air will dissipate at the same time. As a result, the supply air will be admixed with ambient room air uniformly and effectively, in a draught-free fashion. The admixing zones have an extension of from 1 to 3 dm in front of respective plates. Particular advantages are achieved when the supply air terminal device is used to blow cool air into a room. The supply air is deflected by the plate through 90° and the turbulence or eddy currents generated thereby are projected through a short distance from the two slots defined by a respective plate. The bent plates also impart to the supply air terminal device an aesthetic, attractive outer surface while, at the same time, providing a structurally simple, stable and robust construction. In accordance with one embodiment, the holes or openings may extend in a row, horizontally across the device, in which case the plates are placed horizontally, the one plate beneath the other. Preferably, however, the holes or openings and the plates will extend vertically along the wall of the device. This will enable the plates to be readily secured in the region of the top and bottom panels of the device. One important advantage afforded by a supply air terminal device constructed in accordance with the invention is that the device will dampen sound, inter alia, from the fan incorporated in the supply air system. This sound damping effect is obtained as a result of the numerous detours which the air flows are forced to follow, and thereby also be sound waves. This advantage is further enhanced when, in accordance with one embodiment, the inner surfaces of the plates are lined with sound absorbing material. The device may be provided with a lower air supply connector stub, e.g. a floor connector. This will enable the air supply pipe to be placed beneath the floor and therewith out of the room served by the device. For instance, supply air can be conducted to a space beneath said floor and the supply air terminal device may be positioned at any desired location in the room and sealed against the floor. The air supply connector pipes or stubs, however, may be fitted to the top of the device, or on a side panel surface thereof on which no plates are fitted. In order to ensure that the supply air is uniformly distributed through each of the holes or openings, each of said holes will preferably be fitted with a nozzle means which has an obliquely extending inlet. The inventive supply air terminal device may have varying configurations and may, for instance, comprise a box of square or elongated rectangular shape, wherewith, for instance, three side panel surfaces will be provided with rows of holes and externally mounted plates. In certain instances, however, all four side surfaces of the device may be provided with holes or, alternatively, solely one side surface or two side surfaces may be perforated. The device may also be configured so as to enable it to be positioned in a corner of a room, and will then preferably have a circle-sector configuration with a front, curved, perforated panel surface. A number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a supply air terminal device according to the invention. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a part of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. Figure 1 illustrates a box-like supply air terminal device 1, comprising a main body 2 which includes a top panel 3 and a bottom panel 4. Extending between the top and bottom panels are four side panels 5, of which panels, for instance, three are provided with a multiple of air-outlet holes 7 which extend in vertical columns and each of which is provided with a nozzle means 6. The nozzle means 6 have an obliquely extending inlet and are effective in uniformly distributing air supplied to the interior of the device through a connector stub or pipe 8, such that equal quantities of air depart through respective holes 7. Spaced forwardly of each column of holes is a plate or profiled section 11, the end parts 11a of which are extended inwardly, or bent, towards respective side panels 5, such as to form two flow slots 12, one on each side of each column of holes. The plates 11 are effective in deflecting air exiting through the holes 7 and in generating eddy currents or regions of turbulence, such that ambient room air will be drawn by suction into contact with the attemperated supply air exiting from the terminal device and intimately admixed with said supply air. The admixing process is particularly thorough, and since eddy currents extending from mutually adjacent slots 12 collide with one another the impulse of the supply air is practically extinguished, so that the mixture of ambient room air and attemperated supply air will be delivered to the room in a draught-free fashion. The inner surfaces of the plates 11, facing the side panels 5, may be lined with sound-absorbing material (not shown), so as to improve the sound damping effect of the terminal device. The connector stub pipe 8 may be inserted into a hole provided in the floor, and the terminal device sealed against the floor surface. Alternatively, the connector stub pipe may be joined to a flexible supply hose or pipe. Instead of a box-like configuration, the inventive supply air terminal device may have the form of a screen having a comparitively large extension in the vertical and width direction relative to thickness. Such a screen may, for instance, have the dimensions 1 x 0.5 x 0.2 m. The characteristics of the device can be changed, by varying the slot widths. The plates can thus be supported at adjustable distances from respective panels, e.g. in a manner which will enable the slot width to be varied from substantially 0 and 8 mm. Such an arrangement can be used, for instance, to control or regulate temperature. A regulating device, for instance a motor (not shown), may be provided for automatically adjusting the slot widths in response to signals from a temperature sensor, via an eccentric arrangement, thereby obtaining an automatic temperature control facility.

Claims: A supply air terminal device of box-like or screen-like configuration comprising a main body part which includes a top panel and a bottom panel (3; 4) and side panels (5) which extend between said top and bottom panels and of which at least one is provided with a plurality of openings (7) through which air supplied to the interior of the device through an air supply connector (8) is delivered to a room, and said device further comprising a plurality of mutually parallel plates (11) having inwardly extended or bent side parts (11a) which are effective in guiding the air exiting from said device into said room, characterised in that the openings in said at least one side panel (5) have the form of a line of sequential holes (7); the plates are mounted externally of the outer surface of said panel in spaced relation therewith, one plate outside of each line of sequential holes (7); the plates inwardly extending or bent side parts (11a) forming with said panel (5) air outlet slots (12) which extend on each side of each line of holes and through which supply air deflected by the plates towards the flat, rearwardly lying outer surface of the panel exits while generating eddy currents or like turbulence wherewith, in use the eddy currents emanating from mutually adjacent slots coilide with one another, and wherewith air is drawn by suction from the room and admixed with the supply air, such as to supply the room with an admixture of ambient room air and supply air, in a smooth and draught-free fashion. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plates (11) are lined with sound-absorbing material on the inner surfaces thereof. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the plates are mounted adjustably so as to enable the width of said slot to be adjusted, characterized by means, e.g. a motor, for adjusting the width of respective slots, for instance between substantially 0 and 8 mm, for the purpose of controlling the temperature of the exiting air. A device according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the holes (7) have the form of nozzle means (6) provided in said panel (5) and having an obliquely extending inlet.

Inventors: LIND, LEIF INGEMAR
Applicants: LIND, LEIF INGEMAR
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F24F13
IPC codes: F24F13