Fabric flow restriction and method for conveying a volume of air
First Claim
1. An air duct assembly comprising:
- a first duct comprising a fabric;
a second duct comprising a fabric; and
a fabric flow restriction having a first flow resistance over a first region and a second flow resistance different than the first flow resistance over a second region, the fabric flow restriction being interposed between the first duct and the second duct.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fabric flow restriction and method for conveying a volume of air through a fabric duct prevents the violet popping that may occur with a fabric duct upon start-up. The fabric ducts are air permeable and/or include discharge openings that evenly disperse supply air from within the duct to a room being heated, cooled, ventilated, or otherwise conditioned by the air. The ducts are typically in a collapsed positioned prior to blower start-up. With the initial airflow, the ducts quickly fill with air and may make a popping sound at their distal ends as the airflow fills the entire fabric duct. The flow restrictions disclosed may be formed of a flexible fabric that has an airflow resistance that varies with radius across the flexible fabric. The flow restrictions may have a first region and a second region each with different resistances, for example. Varying the resistance across the fabric flow restriction reduces or eliminates the popping condition. The condition may also be eliminated by using a uniform resistance flow restriction that has a high resistance during start-up and a low resistance during normal operation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An air duct assembly comprising:
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a first duct comprising a fabric;
a second duct comprising a fabric; and
a fabric flow restriction having a first flow resistance over a first region and a second flow resistance different than the first flow resistance over a second region, the fabric flow restriction being interposed between the first duct and the second duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. For use in a fabric duct, a fabric flow restriction comprising:
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a sleeve;
a releasable fastener attached to the sleeve and adapted to fasten the sleeve to the fabric duct for the communication of airflow between the sleeve and the fabric duct; and
a fabric flow restriction having a resistance that varies with radius across the fabric flow restriction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of conveying a volume of air, comprising:
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conveying the air through a first fabric duct; and
conveying the air through a fabric flow restriction that is upstream of the first fabric duct, wherein the fabric flow restriction has a first flow resistance over a first region and a second flow resistance different than the first flow resistance over a second region. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification