Patent Publication Number: US-11649983-B2

Title: Floor air diffuser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/268,293, entitled “FLOOR AIR DIFFUSER,” filed Feb. 5, 2019, which claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/800,940, entitled “FLOOR AIR DIFFUSER,” filed Feb. 4, 2019, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems and, specifically, to a diffuser configured to distribute air from the HVAC system. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems are utilized in residential, commercial, and industrial environments to control environmental properties, such as temperature and humidity, for occupants of the respective environments. The HVAC system may control the environmental properties through control of a supply air flow delivered to and ventilated from the environment. For example, the HVAC system may supply the air flow to a space serviced by the HVAC system via a diffuser. The diffuser may be installed within a floor of the space during operation of the HVAC system. However, a structure of the floor may limit the ability of the diffuser to distribute air into the space. 
     SUMMARY 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     In one embodiment, an air diffuser is configured to be positioned in a raised floor. The air diffuser includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end with an air flow passage extending through the sleeve from the first end to the second end, a diffuser face disposed at the first end of the sleeve and configured to be exposed to an environment in an installed position within the raised floor, a damper disposed at the second end of the sleeve, and a plenum chamber defined within the sleeve between the damper and the diffuser face. 
     In another embodiment, an air diffuser is configured to be positioned in a raised floor, in which the air diffuser includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end, a diffuser face disposed at the first end of the sleeve and configured to be exposed to a conditioned space in an installed position within the raised floor, and a damper disposed at the second end of the sleeve and having a plurality of damper sections configured to adjustably block an opening of the second end to regulate a rate of air flow into the sleeve, in which each damper section of the plurality of damper sections is rotatable relative to one another. Furthermore, the air diffuser includes a plenum chamber defined within the sleeve between the damper and the diffuser face. 
     In another embodiment, an air diffuser is configured to be positioned in a raised floor, in which the air diffuser includes a sleeve having a first end and a second end with an air flow passage extending through the sleeve from the first end to the second end, a diffuser face coupled to the sleeve at the first end, and a damper coupled to the sleeve at the second end to define a plenum chamber within the sleeve between the damper and the diffuser face. The air diffuser further includes a damper connector extending through the plenum chamber and coupled to the damper and to the diffuser face, in which the damper connector is configured to enable adjustment of a position of the damper via rotation of the diffuser face. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a building that may utilize a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system in a commercial setting, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a partial cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an air diffuser disposed within a floor, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a partial cross-sectional side view of the air diffuser of  FIG.  2    disposed within another floor, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air diffuser configured to be manually actuated to adjust an amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser of  FIG.  4    in a closed position to block air flow through the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser of  FIGS.  4  and  5    in a fully open position to enable air flow through the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional perspective view of the air diffuser of  FIGS.  4 - 6   , illustrating a damper connector of the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air diffuser configured to be actuated via an actuator to adjust an amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  9    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser of  FIG.  8    configured to be actuated via the actuator to adjust the amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a diffuser for use with a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system. Disclosed embodiments of the diffuser are configured to be disposed within a floor, such as a raised floor, and are configured to direct air into a space serviced by the HVAC system. For example, the HVAC system may condition an air flow, such as by changing a temperature of the air flow, and the conditioned air flow may be directed through or beneath the floor to the diffuser. The diffuser may then distribute the conditioned air into the space in order to condition the space. In certain traditional diffusers, a structure of the floor may affect the performance of the diffuser. For example, a thickness of a slab of the floor may limit an amount of air flow received by the diffuser beneath the floor, thereby limiting an amount or a rate of air flow discharged by the diffuser. Moreover, a structure of the diffuser may not effectively distribute the air flow across the space. That is, for example, the air flow may not be evenly distributed within the diffuser and, as a result, the air flow may not be evenly distributed when directed out of the diffuser. 
     It is presently recognized that a diffuser that is not operationally limited by the structure of the floor may improve distribution of air flow discharged by the diffuser. Thus, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the diffuser may include a sleeve that forms an inlet configured to receive an air flow, in which an area of the inlet may not be affected by the structure of the floor. Furthermore, the air flow may be evenly distributed within the plenum chamber to enable more uniform discharge of the air flow from the diffuser. Thus, the diffuser may effectively distribute air into the space and, therefore, improve conditioning of the space serviced by the HVAC system. 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system  10  for environmental management that may employ one or more HVAC units. As used herein, an HVAC system includes any number of components configured to enable regulation of parameters related to climate characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, air flow, pressure, air quality, and so forth. For example, an “HVAC system” as used herein is defined as conventionally understood and as further described herein. Components or parts of an “HVAC system” may include, but are not limited to, all, some of, or individual parts such as a heat exchanger, a heater, an air flow control device, such as a fan, a sensor configured to detect a climate characteristic or operating parameter, a filter, a control device configured to regulate operation of an HVAC system component, a component configured to enable regulation of climate characteristics, or a combination thereof. An “HVAC system” is a system configured to provide such functions as heating, cooling, ventilation, dehumidification, pressurization, refrigeration, filtration, or any combination thereof. The embodiments described herein may be utilized in a variety of applications to control climate characteristics, such as residential, commercial, industrial, transportation, or other applications where climate control is desired. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a building  12  may be serviced by the HVAC system  10 . The building  12  may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. The HVAC system  10  may include a mechanical refrigeration system  14 , such as a chiller, that supplies a chilled liquid, which may be used to cool air supplied to the building  12 . The HVAC system  10  may also include a boiler  16  to supply warm liquid to heat air supplied to the building  12  and one or more air distribution systems  17 , or air handling units, to condition air supplied to the building  12  with the chilled liquid provided by the mechanical refrigeration system  14  and/or the warm liquid provided by the boiler  16 . In some embodiments, the air distribution system  17  may cool, heat, or otherwise condition air supplied to the building  12  in other manners, such as via a refrigerant circuit or other cooling/heating fluid circuit. 
     The air distribution system  17  may also circulate air through the building  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the air distribution system  17  includes an air return duct  18  configured to direct air from the building  12  into the air distribution system  17 . The air distribution system  17  may be implemented to condition the air received from the air return duct  18  and to supply the conditioned air back out to the building  12 . For example, the air distribution system  17  may direct the conditioned air through or beneath floors  21  of the building  12  in directions  22  within the floors  21 . The conditioned air within the floors  21  may be directed to air diffusers  23  positioned within the floors  21 . The air diffusers  23  may then distribute the conditioned air from the respective floors  21  into the conditioned spaces of the building  12 . 
     In some embodiments, the air distribution system  17  may include a heat exchanger that is fluidly connected to the boiler  16  and/or the mechanical refrigeration system  14  by fluid conduits  24 . The heat exchanger within the air distribution system  17  may receive warm liquid from the boiler  16  and/or chilled liquid from the mechanical refrigeration system  14 , depending on a mode of operation of the HVAC system  10 . For example, the air may be placed in thermal communication with warm liquid from the boiler  16  to be heated and/or the air may be placed in thermal communication with chilled liquid from the mechanical refrigeration system  14  to be cooled. Although  FIG.  1    illustrates that the HVAC system  10  includes the mechanical refrigeration system  14  and the boiler  16  to condition air, it should be understood that the HVAC system  10  may include another heat exchanging apparatus to condition the air. Furthermore, it should be understood that heat exchangers of the HVAC system  10  may be positioned elsewhere, such as within each air distribution system  17 , external to the building  12 , or another suitable location. 
     The HVAC system  10  is shown with separate air distribution systems  17  on each floor of building  12 , but in other embodiments, the HVAC system  10  may include air distribution systems  17  and/or other components that may be shared between or among each story of the building  12 . Additionally, individual rooms of the building  12  may be associated with respective air distribution systems  17 . Further, in some embodiments, the air distribution system  17  may be positioned on a ground of each room, mounted to a ceiling of each room, mounted to a wall of each room, disposed within a closet or other space adjacent to each room, and so forth. 
       FIG.  2    is a partial cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the air diffuser  23  disposed within the floor  21 . The floor  21  may be a raised floor structure that has a slab  50 , such as a concrete slab, positioned above a floor ground  52  to form a passageway  54  between the slab  50  and the floor ground  52  through which air may flow. The floor  21  may be used in applications such as data centers, in which equipment, such as servers, may be positioned in a space  56  atop the slab  50 , and electrical connections, such as wiring and cables, may be routed through the passageway  54  to provide a greater availability of useable area in the space  56 . 
     The floor  21  may have an opening in which the air diffuser  23  may be positioned to be in an installed position within the floor  21 . Thus, the air diffuser  23  may be an under floor diffuser configured to direct an air flow, such as air conditioned received from the air distribution systems  17 , from within the floor  21  out to the space  56 . For example, air may be drawn and/or forced into the air diffuser  23  in a direction  58  through the passageway  54 , and the air diffuser  23  may then discharge the air flow in a direction  60  away from the floor  21 . In some implementations, in the installed position, the air diffuser  23  may include a drip tray  62  disposed atop or adjacent to the floor ground  52 . The drip tray  62  may catch elements or particles, such as condensation and/or dust, which may be released by the air flow as the air flow travels through the air diffuser  23 . The drip tray  62  may also catch items inadvertently dropped through the air diffuser  23  from the space  56 . 
     The air diffuser  23  may also include a sleeve  64  extending through a thickness  65  of the slab  50  and into the passageway  54 . The sleeve  64  may enable the air flow to be directed through the air diffuser  23  and out of the floor  21  in the direction  60 . As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , a first end  66  of the sleeve  64  and the drip tray  62  may be separated by a distance  68  to form a plurality of inlet passages  70  through which the air flow may be directed from the passageway  54  to enter the air diffuser  23 . Additionally, in the installed position, a second end  72  of the sleeve  64  may be exposed to the space  56  above the slab  50 , such that air flowing through the sleeve  64  is directed to the space  56 . In some embodiments, the second end  72  may include a lip  74  that may abut against the opening of the floor  21 , such as within a recess of the slab  50 , to facilitate installation of the air diffuser  23  in the floor  21 . In this manner, the air diffuser  23  may be installed flush with the slab  50  of the floor  21 . 
     The air diffuser  23  may additionally include a plurality of connectors  76  configured to couple the sleeve  64  with the drip tray  62 . In certain embodiments, the size of each inlet passage  70  may be cooperatively defined by the drip tray  62 , the sleeve  64 , and the connectors  76 . As such, the connectors  76  may be selected to provide inlet passages  70  of a particular size, which may affect an amount, such as a volumetric rate, of air flow that may be received by the air diffuser  23 . For example, utilization of connectors  76  having a longer length may increase the distance  68 , and therefore the size of each inlet passage  70 , which may increase the amount or rate of air flow that may be received by the air diffuser  23 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the air diffuser  23  of  FIG.  2    disposed within another floor  21 . In  FIG.  3   , a thickness  100  of the slab  50  is greater than the thickness  65  of the slab  50  in  FIG.  2   . However, due to a length  102  or depth of the sleeve  64 , the slab  50  may not extend past or overlap with the inlet passages  70 . Thus, the amount of air flow that may be received by and directed through the air diffuser  23  may not be limited by the thickness  100  of the slab  50 . In some embodiments, the length  102  of the sleeve  64  and/or the size or length of the connectors  76  may be selected based on the thickness  100  of the slab  50  in addition to or instead of a desired magnitude of the distance  68  to form the inlet passages  70 . For example, in an embodiment of the floor  21  in which the slab  50  has a greater thickness  100 , an embodiment of the sleeve  64  having a greater length  102  and/or connectors  76  separating the sleeve  64  and the drip tray  62  by a greater distance  68  may be implemented in order to achieve a desired amount of air flow into the air diffuser  23 . In certain implementations, the length  102  may be between 2.5 centimeters and 10 centimeters, or between about 1 inch and 4 inches. 
     Furthermore, the length  102  of the sleeve  64  may form a plenum chamber within the sleeve  64  that enables the air flow directed into the air diffuser  23  to be distributed within the sleeve  64  before the air diffuser  23  discharges the air flow in the direction  60  out of the air diffuser  23 . For example, rather than flowing into and then immediately out of the sleeve  64 , the air flow may flow into the sleeve  64  and mix with other incoming air flow within the plenum chamber along the length  102  to distribute the air flows throughout the plenum chamber, and the mixed and distributed air flows may thereafter flow out of the sleeve  64 . By distributing the air flow within and throughout the sleeve  64 , the air diffuser  23  may evenly and effectively distribute the air flow out of the air diffuser  23 . 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the air diffuser  23  configured to be manually actuated to adjust an amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser  23 . Indeed, components of the air diffuser  23  may be adjusted to adjust or regulate a rate of air flow discharged from the air diffuser  23 . In particular embodiments, the air diffuser  23  may include a damper  120  generally disposed within the sleeve  64  and configured to change an area of an opening through which the air flow may travel into and through the sleeve  64 . For example, the damper  120  may be actuated to increase the area of the opening to increase the amount of air flow directed into the sleeve  64  and through the air diffuser  23 , or the damper  120  may be actuated to decrease the area of the opening to decrease the amount of air flow directed into the sleeve  64  and through the air diffuser  23 . 
     The damper  120  may be coupled to the sleeve  64  adjacent to the first end  66 . In  FIG.  4   , the damper  120  includes tabs  122  to facilitate coupling the damper  120  onto the sleeve  64 . For example, the sleeve  64  may include a recess  124  formed in the first end  66  and into which the tabs  122  may be inserted. The tabs  122  may be located on opposite ends of the damper  120  and, upon attaching the damper  120  onto the sleeve  64 , the tabs  122  may impart a compressive force, such as a radial force, onto an outer surface  125  of the sleeve  64  to fasten the damper  120  onto the sleeve  64 . Although the illustrated embodiment depicts two tabs  122  at each end of the damper  120 , the damper  120  may have any suitable number of tabs  122  to facilitate coupling of the damper  120  to the sleeve  64 . In additional or alternative embodiments, the damper  120  may be coupled to the sleeve  64  in another manner, such as via fasteners, welds, adhesives, hooks, and the like. 
     The air diffuser  23  includes a diffuser face  126  or discharge face disposed at the second end  72  of the sleeve  64 , such that the plenum chamber formed within the sleeve  64  spans from the damper  120  at the first end  66  to the diffuser face  126  at the second end  72 . Although  FIG.  4    depicts the sleeve  64 , the diffuser face  126 , and the drip tray  62  as having an approximately circular shape, in other embodiments, the sleeve  64 , the diffuser face  126 , and the drip tray  62  may have another suitable geometry. Furthermore, in an installed configuration of the air diffuser  23 , the diffuser face  126  is disposed within the sleeve  64  such that a first axial surface  127  of the diffuser face  126  may be substantially flush with a second axial surface  128  of the second end  72  of the sleeve  64 . In this manner, in an installed position in which the air diffuser  23  is installed in the floor  21 , the first axial surface  127  of the diffuser face  126  may also be exposed to the space  56 . Additionally, the first axial surface  127  and the second axial surface  128  may be substantially flush with the slab  50  of the floor  21 . The diffuser face  126  may include a plurality of face openings  129  to enable the air flow to travel out of the sleeve  64 . In some embodiments, the overall area of face openings  129  that enables air flow out of the sleeve  64  may be smaller than an area of the opening formed by the damper  120  that enables air flow into the sleeve  64 . Thus, the air flow drawn into the air diffuser  23  may pressurize within the plenum chamber and at least partially fill the plenum chamber to distribute across the first axial surface  127  of the diffuser face  126 . As such, the air flow may be forced out of each face opening  129  at approximately the same volumetric flow rate. 
     In some embodiments, the diffuser face  126  may be rotatably coupled to the sleeve  64 , whereby rotation of the diffuser face  126  may actuate the damper  120 . For example, the diffuser face  126  may be turned or rotated in a first rotational direction  130  and in a second rotational direction  132  relative to the sleeve  64  in order adjust a position of the damper  120  and to increase or decrease the area of the opening to an air flow passage, such as at the second end  72 , of the sleeve  64 . The diffuser face  126  may be rotated manually, such as via a user of the air diffuser  23 , and/or by an actuator, such as via a controller. 
     Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment of the drip tray  62  of the air diffuser  23  may include a side wall  134  surrounding and extending away from a pan  136  of the drip tray  62 . The pan  136  may catch particles, such as moisture droplets, released by the air flow, and the side wall  134  may block the particles from flowing out of the pan  136 . Thus, the particles released by the air flow may be contained within the drip tray  62  and are blocked from flowing elsewhere in the floor  21 , such as into the passageway  54 , during operation of the air diffuser  23 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , each connector  76  is coupled to the sleeve  64  and to the drip tray  62  via fasteners  138 . Although  FIG.  4    depicts the air diffuser  23  as having a certain number of connectors  76 , other embodiments of the air diffuser  23  may have another suitable number of connectors  76 . In particular implementations, the side wall  134  may include protrusions  140 , in which a first connector end  142  of one of the connectors  76  may be coupled to one of the protrusions  140 . Furthermore, a second connector end  144  of each connector  76  may be coupled to the outer surface  125  of the sleeve  64 . As mentioned herein, the size of the connectors  76 , such as a connector length  146 , may be selected to adjust the distance  68  and the size of the inlet passages  70 . In certain embodiments, the connector length  146  may be adjusted by utilizing different connectors  76  with the air diffuser  23 . In other words, the connectors  76  may be removably coupled to the sleeve  64  and/or to the drip tray  62  to enable the connectors  76  to be removed and to enable different connectors  76  having a different connector length  146  to be utilized. In additional or alternative embodiments, each connector  76  may include several legs that join together, in which the legs may slide or transition relative to one another to enable each connector  76  to extend and retract to adjust the connector length  146 . In such embodiments, the connectors  76  may be permanently coupled to the sleeve  64  and/or to the drip tray  62 , such as via welds and/or adhesives, or the connectors  76  may be directly formed onto the sleeve  64  and/or onto the drip tray  62 . 
       FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser  23  of  FIG.  4   , illustrating the damper  120  in a closed position to block the air flow from traveling through the air diffuser  23 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the sleeve  64  includes an air flow passage  170  extending from the first end  66  to the second end  72  of the sleeve  64 . Further, the damper  120  includes a plurality of damper sections  172  that may be adjusted to block and/or enable air flow through the air flow passage  170 . Specifically, the position of the damper sections  172  may be adjustable to change the area of an opening into the air flow passage  170  through which the air flow may travel from the inlet passages  70 . For example, rotation of the damper  120  may adjust the position of the damper sections  172  relative to one another, such as to stack the damper sections  172  atop one another and increase the area of the opening to the air flow passage  170  to enable the air flow to travel into the sleeve  64 . In the closed position depicted in  FIG.  5   , the damper sections  172  are positioned to substantially match the geometric area of the air flow passage  170 , which is shown as a generally circular shape, to block the air flow from traveling through the air diffuser  23 . In other words, in the illustrated closed configuration, the damper sections  172  are positioned adjacent to one another about a circumference of the sleeve  64 , such that the damper sections  172  are not stacked atop one another. In this manner, the damper sections  172  occlude the air flow path between the inlet passages  70  and the air flow passage  170  to block air flow into the sleeve  64 . In alternate embodiments, the damper sections  172  may be positioned in another suitable shape to match the geometry of the air flow passage  170  and to block the air flow from traveling through the air diffuser  23 . 
     In certain implementations, the air diffuser  23  may include a damper connector  174  to enable rotation of the damper  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the damper connector  174  is configured to couple the damper  120  to the diffuser face  126 . The damper connector  174  may enable rotation of the damper  120  via rotation of the diffuser face  126 . In other words, a user may manually rotate the diffuser face  126 , and the rotational motion of the diffuser face  126  may be transferred to the damper  120 , and therefore the damper sections  172 , via the damper connector  174 . In this manner, the position of the damper sections  172  may be manually adjusted. Thus, the damper connector  174  may enable rotation of the diffuser face  126  to adjust the amount or rate of air flow that may travel through the air diffuser  23 . In such implementations, the user may manually rotate the diffuser face  126 , such as via engagement with one of the face openings  129 , in order to adjust the air flow through the air diffuser  23 . 
       FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser  23  of  FIGS.  4  and  5   , illustrating the damper  120  in a fully open position to enable the air flow to travel through the air diffuser  23 . As illustrated in the fully open position of  FIG.  6   , the damper  120  is rotated, such that a majority of the damper sections  172  are stacked atop one another to form a bow-tie shape, thereby opening the damper  120  to enable the air flow to be directed through the air flow passage  170  of the sleeve  64 . Indeed, each damper section  172  may have a bow-tie shape or configuration, and the bow-tie shape of each damper section  172  may overlap with the bow-tie shape of the other damper sections  172  when the damper  120  is in the fully open position shown. 
     In certain embodiments, the damper sections  172  may be configured to rotate relative to one another to adjust the area of the opening to the air flow passage  170  between approximately 0 percent and 90 percent open. In other words, at 0 percent open, which may be considered the closed position of the damper  120 , the damper sections  172  of the damper  120  generally cover the entire area of the opening to the air flow passage  170  and thereby block substantially all air flow into the sleeve  64 . At 90 percent open, which may be considered the fully open position of the damper  120 , the damper sections  172  of the damper  120  generally cover approximately 10 percent of the opening to the air flow passage  170  to enable a greater amount of air flow through the sleeve  64 . Additionally, the damper sections  172  may be positioned, via rotation of the damper sections  172  to increase or decrease the overlap between the damper sections  172 , to place the air diffuser  23  in a partially open position, in which the size or area of the opening to the air flow passage  170  may be any percentage between 0 percent and 90 percent open, such as 25 percent open, 50 percent open, 75 percent open, and so forth. 
     In some embodiments, the sleeve  64 , the connectors  76 , the damper  120 , the diffuser face  126 , and/or the damper connector  174  may be formed from a metal, such as aluminum and/or galvanized steel, a composite, and/or a plastic material to maintain a structural integrity of the air diffuser  23 . Additionally, the sleeve  64 , the connectors  76 , the damper  120 , the diffuser face  126 , and/or the damper connector  174  may be formed from the same material or from different materials. 
       FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional perspective view of the air diffuser  23  of  FIGS.  4 - 6   , illustrating the damper connector  174 . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , a plenum chamber  198  is defined within the sleeve  64  between the damper  120  and the diffuser face  126 . To couple the diffuser face  126  to the damper  120 , the damper connector  174  may extend through the plenum chamber  198  in the installed configuration of the air diffuser  23 . In the illustrated implementation, the diffuser face  126  may include a recess  200 , into which a first damper connector end  202  may extend. By way of example, the recess  200  may include a geometry, such as a flat shape, a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, and so forth, and the first damper connector end  202  may be shaped to match the geometry of the recess  200 . As such, the damper connector  174  may be rotationally fixed relative to the diffuser face  126 . That is, rotation of the recess  200 , will impart a torque on the first damper connector end  202  to rotate the damper connector  174  such that the damper connector  174  does not rotate relative to the diffuser face  126 . Rather, an amount of rotation of the diffuser face  126  causes the same amount of rotation of the damper connector  126 . 
     Additionally, the damper  120  may include a damper fastener  204  inserted through a center of the damper  120 , such as through a particular one of the damper sections  172 , whereby rotation of the damper fastener  204  rotates the particular damper section  172  to adjust the size of the opening to the air flow passage  170 . Rotation of the particular damper section  172  may then cause rotation of other damper sections  172  of the damper  120 . A second damper connector end  206  may be configured to engage with the damper fastener  204 , such that rotation of the damper connector  174  rotates the damper fastener  204  and, thus, rotates the particular damper section  172 . For instance, the damper fastener  204  may include a head  208  having an outer surface with a particular geometry or shape, and the second damper connector end  206  may have another recess having with a similar geometry or shape to enable the head  208  to insert into the second damper connector end  206 . The recess of the second damper connector end  206  may be shaped such that rotation of the damper connector  174  imparts a torque onto the head  208  to rotate the damper fastener  204  and the particular damper section  172 . That is, the damper connector  174  may be rotationally fixed relative onto the damper  120 , such that an amount of rotation of the damper  120  causes the same amount of rotation of the damper section  172 . As such, rotational motion of the diffuser face  126  is transferred to the damper sections  172  via the damper connector  174  in order to adjust the size of the opening to the air flow passage  170 , which adjusts an amount or rate of air flow that may travel through the sleeve  64 . 
     In particular embodiments, the diffuser face  126  may be removably coupled to the sleeve  64 . For example, the sleeve  64  may include a shoulder  210  formed in an inner surface  212  of the sleeve  64 . The diffuser face  126  may be configured to insert into the sleeve  64  and abut the shoulder  210 . Thus, the inner surface  212  secures the diffuser face  126  within the sleeve  64 , and the diffuser face  126  may slidably rotate within the sleeve  64  along the shoulder  210 . When the diffuser face  126  abuts the shoulder  210  and when the damper connector  174  is positioned within the plenum  198  and is aligned with the recess  200 , the first connector end  202  may be inserted into the recess  200 . In some implementations, the diffuser face  126  may slip fit into the sleeve  64 , and the first connector end  202  may slip fit into the recess  200  of the diffuser face  126 . As such, the diffuser face  126  may be easily removed from the sleeve  64  without additional equipment, so as to provide access to the air flow passage  170  and/or the drip tray  62  from above the slab  50  and the floor  21 . 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , when coupled to the sleeve  64 , the damper  120  may be radially offset from an outermost edge  214  of the sleeve  64  at the first end  66 . That is, a damper surface  216  of each damper section  172  may be located between the outermost edge  214  and the diffuser face  126  along a flow path of the air flow through the air diffuser  23 . As such, each damper surface  216  may be fully contained within the sleeve  64  to enable the respective damper sections  172  to block the air flow from entering the sleeve  64 . Moreover, the position of each damper section  172  within the sleeve  64  may avoid contact with the fasteners  138  coupling the respective connectors  76  to the sleeve  64 . 
       FIG.  8    is a perspective view of an embodiment of the air diffuser  23  configured to be actuated via an actuator  240  in order to adjust an amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser  23 . In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator  240  is positioned on a side  242  of the drip tray  62  opposite the inlet passages  70 . Thus, the actuator  240  does not block the air flow directed through the inlet passages  70 . Moreover, in the illustrated position of the actuator  240 , the drip tray  62  may block emissions or particles, such as condensate, from the air flow from contacting the actuator  240 , which may affect a performance or an operation of the actuator  240 . 
     Additionally, the damper connector  174  may couple the actuator  240  with the damper  120 . The actuator  240  may be configured to rotate the damper connector  174 , which thereby rotates the damper  120  and the damper sections  172  to adjust a size of the opening of the damper  120  and therefore adjust the amount of air flow directed through the damper  23 . In certain embodiments, the actuator  240  may be communicatively coupled to a controller  244  configured to instruct the actuator  240  to rotate the damper connector  174 . The controller  244  may include a memory  246  and a processor  248 . The memory  246  may be a mass storage device, a flash memory device, a removable memory, or any other non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions regarding control of the actuator  240 . The memory  246  may also include volatile memory, such as randomly accessible memory (RAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as hard disc memory, flash memory, and/or other suitable memory formats. The processor  248  may execute the instructions stored in the memory  246 , such as instructions to adjust the operation of the actuator  240 . As an example, the controller  244  may instruct the actuator  240  to adjust the damper  120  based on a user input, which may indicate a desired air flow rate and/or a desired increase or decrease to a current air flow rate through the air diffuser  23 . In another example, the controller  244  may instruct the actuator  240  to adjust a position of the damper  120  based on an operating parameter. To this end, the controller  244  may be communicatively coupled to a sensor  250  configured to detect the operating parameter. For instance, the operating parameter may include a temperature of the air flow, a temperature of the environment conditioned by air discharged from the air diffuser  23 , a current air flow rate, a time, another suitable operating parameter, or any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  9    is an exploded perspective view of the air diffuser  23  of  FIG.  8    configured to be actuated via the actuator  240  to adjust the amount of air flow directed through the air diffuser  23 . As shown in  FIG.  9   , the damper connector  174  may be configured to extend from the actuator  240  and through the drip tray  62 , instead of through the sleeve  64 , to couple the actuator  240  to the damper  120 . For example, the actuator  240  may include a wheel  270 , whereby activation of the actuator  240  may rotate or spin the wheel  270 . The drip tray  62  may include an opening or hole  272  through which the wheel  270  may extend to couple to the damper connector  174 . The second damper connector end  206  of the damper connector  174  may additionally or alternatively extend through the hole  272  to couple to the wheel  270 . In some embodiments, the second damper connector end  206  may include a recess or an extension shaped to match the geometry of the wheel  270 , such that engagement between the second damper connector end  206  and the wheel  270  enables transfer of rotational motion from the wheel  270  to the damper connector  174 . Similarly, a geometry of the first damper connector end  202  may match or conform to the geometry of the damper fastener  204 , such that rotation of the damper connector  174  also rotates the damper fastener  204  to adjust the position of the damper  120 . As such, rotation of the wheel  270  may rotate the damper  120  to adjust the opening to the air flow passage  170  and change the amount of air flow directing through the air diffuser  23 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or more technical effects useful in the operation of air distribution systems, which may be associated with an HVAC system. For example, the air distribution system may direct air into a space via a diffuser disposed within a floor of the space. The diffuser may include inlet passages formed by a sleeve, a drip tray, and connectors coupling the sleeve to the drip tray, where the inlet passages receive an air flow directed by the air distribution system. The dimensions of the sleeve and the connectors may be selected based on a structure of the floor to enable a desired amount of air flow into the inlet passages. The diffuser may further include a plenum chamber defined by the sleeve, a damper, and a diffuser face to enable even distribution of the air flow within the plenum chamber and therefore even distribution of the air flow into the space from the diffuser. Thus, the performance of the diffuser in distributing the air flow into the space may be improved and may not depend on the structure of the floor. Additionally, the damper may be configured to adjust an amount or a rate at which the air flow may be directed through the diffuser. In certain embodiments, the damper may be adjusted manually and/or via a controller, and an implementation of the diffuser may be selected based on a desired operation of the diffuser. The technical effects and technical problems in the specification are examples and are not limiting. It should be noted that the embodiments described in the specification may have other technical effects and can solve other technical problems. 
     While only certain features and embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, such as variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, including temperatures, pressures, and so forth, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, and so forth, without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described, such as those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the disclosure, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.