Variable-air-volume diffuser with independent ventilation air assembly and method

• US 5,860,592 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acutherm LP (Acutherm)
• Original Assignee: Acutherm LP (Acutherm)
• Inventors: Dozier, Jack, Kline, James R., Hunka, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/888,727
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/49.5, 236/DIG. 19, 165/123, 165/213
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 236/19 Ventilated thermostat

Abstract

A variable-air-volume (VAV) conditioning system having at least one diffuser (27a-27d) for discharging supply air (SA) into a room (22a-22d) a flow control element (53) movably mounted in the diffuser for control of the volume of supply air (SA) discharged from the diffuser (27a-27d) in response to thermal loading in the room (22a-22d). The VAV system also includes a ventilation air source (41), independent of the supply air source (23), which is fluid coupled to a ventilation air opening defining structure (59), such as a nozzle, located in the diffuser housing (15) at a position downstream of the flow control element (53). A method for ensuring the flow of ventilation air (VA) into a room (22a-22d) including the step of discharging ventilation air (VA) through a ventilation air opening device (59) positioned in the diffuser housing (15) downstream of the diffuser flow control element (53) so that ventilation air flow is controlled independently of, and decoupled from, the variable flow rate of supply air (SA) which is controlled by the flow control element (53).

Claims

1. A variable-air-volume conditioning system comprising:

a diffuser housing formed for coupling to a supply air conduit and defining a discharge opening for discharge of supply air from a supply air source into a room of a structure;

an air flow control element movably mounted for control of the volume of supply air discharged from said diffuser housing through said discharge opening;

a room air temperature sensor;

an air flow control element displacement device coupled to said room air temperature sensor and responsive to input from said temperature sensor to move said air flow control element;

a ventilation air opening defining device mounted to said diffuser housing in a position to discharge ventilation air into said housing at a position downstream of said air flow control element; and

a ventilation air assembly separate from said supply air source and coupled to said opening defining device for discharge of ventilation air through said opening defining device into said diffuser housing for discharge out said discharge opening into said room.

2. The variable-air-volume conditioning system as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said ventilation air assembly is provided by a ventilation conduit assembly connected to a ventilation air treatment and blower assembly fluid coupled to said ventilation conduit assembly.

3. The variable-air-volume conditioning system as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said ventilation air opening defining device is provided by an air nozzle formed to discharge ventilation into said room in a volume which is independent of the volume of supply air discharged into said room through said discharge opening.

4. The variable-air-volume diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said ventilation air supply assembly is formed to discharge ventilation air into said room through said opening defining device when said air flow control element is in a closed position substantially reducing the discharge of supply air from said diffuser.

5. The variable-air-volume diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said room air temperature sensor is mounted in said diffuser housing.

6. The variable-air-volume diffuser as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said room air temperature sensor is mounted remote of said diffuser housing.

7. A variable-air-volume diffuser comprising:

a diffuser housing coupled to a supply air conduit and formed with a discharge opening for discharge of supply air from a supply air source into a room of a structure;

a room air temperature sensor mounted in a position for sensing room air temperature;

an air flow control element mounted to said housing for movement between a closed position to an open position to enable variation of the volume of supply air discharged from said diffuser through said discharge opening;

a displacement device coupled to said temperature sensor and coupled to said air flow control element, said displacement device being responsive to input from said temperature sensor to move said air flow control element to modulate the discharge of supply air from said diffuser;

a supply air nozzle mounted to said housing in a position inducing room air flow past said temperature sensor upon discharge of air from said supply air nozzle; and

a ventilation air assembly coupled to a ventilation air nozzle positioned downstream of said air flow control element and having a ventilation air intake located for intake of ventilation air from a ventilation air source separate from said supply air source, said ventilation air assembly being further formed to cause ventilation air to flow from said intake to said ventilation air nozzle for discharge out said diffuser.

8. The variable-air-volume diffuser as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said displacement device is a thermal sensor-actuator assembly including said room air temperature sensor mounted in said housing as an element thereof.

9. The variable-air-volume diffuser as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said displacement device is provided by a motor, and

said room air temperature sensor is mounted remotely of said housing.

10. A method of ensuring a flow of ventilation air into a room of a structure, said room receiving conditioned air from a variable-air-volume diffuser coupled to a supply air source, comprising the step of:

discharging ventilation air obtained from a ventilation air source separate from said supply air source through an ventilation air opening defining device located downstream of a supply air flow control element in said diffuser housing.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein,

said discharging step is accomplished by discharging ventilation air into said room at a volumetric rate independent of the volumetric rate of discharge of supply air into said room.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein,

said rate of discharge of said ventilation air through said ventilation air nozzle is substantially constant.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein,

said discharging step is accomplished when supply air being discharged through said diffuser is substantially reduced.