Patent Description:
The conditioning of rooms in a building involves, in many cases, both the exchange of air in the rooms and the treatment of the air by varying the temperature thereof.

Systems are known where both the exchange and the thermal treatment of the air are carried out in a centralised manner and the air is distributed in the rooms of the building with suitable channels.

Systems wherein the thermal treatment of the air is implemented by an air-treatment unit arranged in the individual rooms of the building are also known such as those disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Devices for controlled mechanical ventilation configured to be installed in respective peripheral walls of the rooms of the building, in order to implement the necessary exchange of the air in each of the rooms, are also known, for example from <CIT>.

For example, the document <CIT> shows a conditioning device for conditioning rooms, on an annual cycle, that is integrated into a thermal insulating monoblock for holes and shutters that also integrates the function of air exchange.

The purpose of this invention is to produce an air-treatment unit for conditioning a room of a building that is efficient and practical.

In accordance with this invention, an air-treatment unit for conditioning a room of a building according to claim <NUM> is produced, the unit being configured to be mounted on a perimeter wall (<NUM>) of a building and inside a room of the building and comprising:.

In other words, the air-treatment unit for conditioning a room of a building can be operational with the first and second module that interact with each other or with the first module.

In this way, the same air-treatment unit is able to ensure conditioning and air exchange thanks to the first and second modules. In addition, the third airflow coming from the outside before being introduced into the room is thermally treated and mixed with the first airflow in the first module. In this way, it is possible to carry out maintenance operations on the second module or replace the second module keeping the first module operational.

Furthermore, the first module is directly fastened to the perimeter wall, while the second module is supported by the first module and by two lateral guides interposed between the first module and the perimeter wall.

In particular, the first module comprises a water/air heat exchanger; and a first fan arranged in the first module to deliver the first airflow between the first intake port and the first delivery port and through the water/air heat exchanger; and wherein the second module comprises a second fan arranged in the second module to deliver the second airflow between the second intake port and the second delivery port; a third fan arranged in the second module to deliver the third airflow between the third intake port and a third delivery port to transfer the third airflow from the second to the first module.

In this way, the correct circulation of the first, of the second, and of the third airflow, and the independent operation of the first and second modules, and the thermal treatment of the first and third airflows, are ensured and controlled.

In particular, the unit comprises an air-to-air heat exchanger arranged in the second module to exchange heat between the second and third airflows.

In this way, the change in temperature attributable to the air exchange is mitigated.

In particular, the third delivery port places the first and the second module in communication and is arranged near the water/air heat exchanger so as to thermally treat the third airflow immediately introduced into the first module.

In accordance with a particular embodiment, the second module comprises a structural element comprising a main panel, said third delivery port being formed, at least in part, in said main panel in a substantially central position of said main panel.

The structural element also has the load-bearing function of the second module.

In particular, the second intake port is formed in said main panel in proximity to a lower edge of said main panel.

In this way, the first module is fixed to the structural element along the main panel and directly above the second intake port to enable access to the second intake port for maintenance and/or replacement of any filters.

In particular, the second module comprises a first and a second side panel, along which respective openings are formed communicating respectively with the third intake port and the second delivery port, said side panels being adjacent and transverse to the main panel; in particular, said structural element comprising the main panel and the first and second side panels.

This solution is particularly practical in terms of construction.

In particular, the unit comprises an outer wall facing the main panel and a plurality of partitions arranged between the main panel and the outer wall; said partitions being configured and arranged so as to guide the second and third airflows through the air/air heat exchanger and through the second and third fans respectively.

This solution is particularly practical for producing respective channels for the second and third airflows.

According to a particular embodiment of this invention, the first module comprises a front wall, which is a radiant panel so as to offer an additional possibility of conditioning the room, including the absence of the first airflow.

In particular, the front wall configured as a radiant plate comprises a coil for conveying water and two plates arranged in contact with the coil on opposite sides.

In particular, the first fan is arranged between the second intake port and the third delivery port and extends basically the whole width of said unit so as to convey a significant air flow in a laminar flow to touch the water/air heat exchanger.

In particular, the second module comprises a first and second duct, which are configured to be arranged through openings formed in the perimeter wall and arrange the third intake port and the second delivery port respectively in communication with the outside of the building; and a first and a second fitting selectively connectible to the first and second duct and to the second module.

In this way, the second module is easily released from the first and second duct fixed in the perimeter wall.

In particular, the unit comprises a first filter configured to filter the air of the first airflow; a second filter configured to filter the air of the second airflow; and a third filter configured to filter the air of the third airflow, in particular the first filter is accessible at the front of the first module, the second filter is accessible at the front of the second module, and the third filter is arranged in the second module.

In this way, the quality of air in the room is controlled and you avoid contaminating the first and the second module and, in particular, the water/air exchanger and the air/air exchanger.

Other characteristics and advantages of this invention will become clear from the following description of the non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG>, the reference number <NUM> denotes, as a whole, an air-treatment unit for conditioning a room of a building. In this case, the unit <NUM> is configured to be mounted on a perimeter wall <NUM> of a building and inside a room of the building itself according to what is better illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The unit <NUM> comprises a module <NUM> comprising an intake port <NUM> to intake an airflow F1 from the room and a delivery port <NUM> to deliver the airflow F1 into the room of the building; a module <NUM> having an intake port <NUM> to intake an airflow F2 from the room; a delivery port <NUM> to expel the airflow F2 outside the building; an intake port <NUM> to intake an airflow F3 from the outside of the building and introduce the airflow F3 into the room of the building through the delivery port <NUM>.

The air-treatment unit <NUM> has basically the shape of a parallelepiped formed from two modules <NUM> and <NUM> next to each other and adjacent and basically having the shape of two parallelepipeds with reduced depth.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises a delivery port <NUM> that places the modules <NUM> and <NUM> in communication so as to transfer the airflow F3 from the module <NUM> to the module <NUM>.

The unit <NUM> comprises a fan <NUM> and a water/air heat exchanger <NUM> arranged inside the module <NUM> between the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM>. The fan <NUM> feeds an airflow F1 between the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM> through the water/air heat exchanger <NUM>, which is tilted to better intercept the airflow F1 and enable the airflow F1 to touch the exchange elements that, in this case, comprise fins that are not illustrated.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises two ducts <NUM> and <NUM> that are arranged through the perimeter wall <NUM> and are configured to arrange, respectively, the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM> in fluidic communication with the outside environment.

With reference to <FIG>, the air-treatment unit <NUM> comprises a fan <NUM> arranged in the module <NUM> to feed an airflow F2 between the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM>; and a fan <NUM> arranged in the module <NUM> to feed an airflow F3 between the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM>; and a heat exchanger <NUM> arranged in the module <NUM> to exchange heat between the airflows F2 and F3.

With reference to <FIG>, the delivery port <NUM> is arranged at the water/air heat exchanger <NUM> and, at the latter, the airflows F1 and F3 join and mix to leave via the delivery port <NUM> and be introduced into the room of the building.

In terms of construction, the module <NUM> comprises a structural element <NUM> comprising a main panel <NUM> according to what is better illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, the delivery port <NUM> is formed in the main panel <NUM> in a basically central position in the main panel <NUM>. The intake port <NUM> is made in the main panel <NUM> near a lower edge and a side edge of the main panel <NUM> itself. The structural element <NUM> comprises two side panels <NUM> and <NUM> along which respective openings 9a and 8a are formed, which are configured to be, respectively, arranged in fluid communication with the intake port <NUM> and the delivery port <NUM> (<FIG>). In the example illustrated, the side panels <NUM> and <NUM> are, in fact, fins folded perpendicular to the main panel <NUM>. In the same way, the structural element <NUM> comprises an upper panel <NUM> and a lower panel <NUM>, both in the form of fins folded perpendicular to the main panel <NUM>. In this way, the main panel <NUM> is surrounded by a continuous containment edge formed from the side panels <NUM> and <NUM>, by the upper panel <NUM>, and by the lower panel <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises an outer wall <NUM> facing the main panel <NUM> to enclose the structural element <NUM>. The module <NUM> comprises multiple partitions <NUM>, which are arranged between the main panel <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM> and shaped and distributed so as to guide the second and the third airflows F2 and F3 through the air/air heat exchanger <NUM> and, respectively, through the second and third fan <NUM> and <NUM> according to what is better illustrated in <FIG>.

In one embodiment that is not illustrated in the attached figures, the partitions consist of a single piece.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises a front wall <NUM>, which has a lower portion defined by a grill <NUM> arranged at the intake port <NUM> and opposite the fan <NUM> (<FIG>). In the intake port <NUM>, a filter 4b is arranged to filter the air entering the first module <NUM>.

In one embodiment of this invention, part of the front wall <NUM> is configured like a radiant panel and comprises a coil <NUM> to convey water and two plates <NUM> and <NUM> arranged in contact with the coil <NUM> on opposite sides of the same. Reference number <NUM> indicates a control unit including a user interface that makes it possible to control, independently, the module <NUM> and the module <NUM> and, in particular, the airflow F1 from the airflows F2 and F3.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> is fixed to the perimeter wall <NUM> via brackets <NUM> and is spaced from the perimeter wall <NUM> via two lateral guides <NUM>. The lateral guides <NUM> together with the module <NUM> form a housing for the module <NUM> between the module <NUM> and the inner face of the perimeter wall <NUM>.

In particular, and with reference to <FIG>, each lateral guide <NUM> comprises a plate <NUM> arranged at the lower end of the guide <NUM>, on which the module <NUM> is arranged, resting.

With reference to <FIG>, the unit <NUM> comprises two fittings <NUM> and <NUM> to connect, respectively, the ducts <NUM> and <NUM> to the module <NUM>. To enable the assembly of the fittings <NUM> and <NUM> on the module <NUM>, the lateral guides <NUM> have respective openings <NUM> according to what is better shown in <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises an interchangeable filter 4b at the intake port <NUM> along the front face of the unit <NUM>, while the module <NUM> comprises an interchangeable filter 7b at the intake port <NUM> along the front face of the unit <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the module <NUM> comprises an interchangeable filter 9b arranged near the opening 9a and accessible from the upper part of the unit <NUM>.

In use, the air-treatment unit <NUM> is able to operate, independently, the module <NUM> to condition the room and the module <NUM> to exchange the air in the room. The module <NUM> and the module <NUM> may operate jointly so that the third airflow is united with the first airflow and is thermally treated in contact with the water/air heat exchanger <NUM> or in a disconnected way as a function of the conditioning and exchange needs of the air in the room. The module <NUM> may be removed from the unit <NUM> by dismantling the fittings <NUM> and <NUM> and extracting the module <NUM> from the lateral guides <NUM> for maintenance or replacement. In this configuration, the module <NUM> is able to operate autonomously.

Claim 1:
An air-treatment unit for conditioning a room of a building, the unit (<NUM>) being configured to be mounted on a perimeter wall (<NUM>) of a building and inside a room of the building and comprising:
- a first module (<NUM>) configured to recirculate in the room and thermally treat a first airflow (F1) between a first intake port (<NUM>) and a first delivery port (<NUM>); and
- a second module (<NUM>) configured for extracting a second airflow (F2) from the room between a second intake port (<NUM>) and a second delivery port (<NUM>) and for introducing a third airflow (F3) from outside into the first and second modules (<NUM>, <NUM>) between a third intake port (<NUM>) and the first delivery port (<NUM>) to deliver the third airflow (F3) into the room together with the first airflow (F1), wherein the first and second modules (<NUM>, <NUM>) are selectively jointly and disjointly operable; and the second module (<NUM>) is selectively detachable from the first module (<NUM>), characterized in that the first module (<NUM>) is fixable to the perimeter wall (<NUM>) via brackets (<NUM>) and is adapted to be spaced from the perimeter wall (<NUM>) via two lateral guides (<NUM>), which together with the first module (<NUM>) form a housing for the second module (<NUM>) between the first module (<NUM>) and the inner face of the perimeter wall (<NUM>).