Air supply register with rotatable air flow control spheres
An air supply register which comprises at least one sphere, with each sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels, where the surface of a sphere is in contact with at least one other surface which controls whether the supplied air may enter into an entrance to a conduit within the sphere, and/or exit from the conduit through an exit opening toward a room or enclosure. A mounting framework supports the at least one sphere, and includes at least one holding socket for holding a sphere. The size of individual spheres, the size and shape of the conduit, and the surface area of a sphere which is covered by a holding socket may vary.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air supply registers for forced air heating and cooling, and more specifically to an air supply register that allows multiple, adjustable redirection of the flow of air from the supply register.
2. Brief Description of the Background Art
Air supply registers frequently consist of fixed vertical slats with adjustable horizontal metal damper slats behind the vertical slats. This allows the air to be distributed from the register in a limited direction, as determined by fixed slats and moving horizontal dampers. An alternative register may be a ventilation diffuser which contains a ventilation deflector adjustably displaceable in an in-and-out direction in the open end and curved to produce an outward flow parallel to and against the ceiling. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,227 to Roy, issued Jan. 8, 1980. In another “ceiling vent air diverter”, the apparatus is configured to cover beneath an existing air vent supplying air to a room of a building. The diverter body has a flat bottom and upstanding sides, with the flat bottom having a rectangular configuration and four right angular rounded corners and an internal space free of obstructions. Each upstanding side has only one discharge air slot diagonally opposed from each other, permitting air to be distributed in four separate directions from the diverter. This is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,390 to Profeta et al., issued Jan. 26, 2010. There are also air supply registers which include air filters, and which have decorative designs on the cover face of the register, for example.
There are numerous drawbacks to current air supply registers. Every building has a unique layout and the occupants each have their own preferences. In addition, the efficiency of performing the desired task is not always met. It may be desirable to direct the air away from an adjacent room, or from a sensitive area such as a baby's crib, for example. At the same time, it may be desirable to direct the air to two sitting areas where TV is watched, or to a meeting room, so that those in the sitting area will feel the immediate results of the air directly on their skin. Since those in the area feel the results directly on their skin, it is not necessary to heat the entire space to the desired temperature, and therefore the thermostat adjusted so that the heater temperature set point is lower and the air conditioning temperature set point is higher, resulting in less energy wasted. Control of the direction and placement of the supplied air not only results in improvement in the effect of the directed air, but also avoids higher energy costs.
There is a need for a more precise, efficient, and easy to operate air supply apparatus which is useful in directing the flow of air from a central air supply source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is related to an apparatus and to a method of using the apparatus, which provides an air supply to a particular location from a central air supply source. Typically the heated or cooled air is transported through an insulated conduit to the general areas within a building or enclosure which is being serviced.
An advantageous air supply register directs the air from the incoming source toward a desired, defined space within a given room or enclosure. The present invention provides air direction by using an air supply register which comprises at least one, and typically a plurality of active elements which may be individually controlled to provide redirection of the air supplied from a central air supply source. The activity of each element may be adjusted to control the volume, velocity and direction of the air flow provided to the element from an incoming air supply source.
The volume, velocity and direction of the air flow from a given active element is achieved using at least one, and typically a plurality of rotatable spheres, with each sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels. The air supplied travels from a general conditioned air supply source to the air supply register which comprises the at least one rotatable sphere. The rotatable spheres are typically, but not necessarily mounted on a fixed framework which is attached to the floor, wall, and/or ceiling of a room or enclosure. The rotatable spheres act on a principal similar to a ball valve. Each rotatable sphere is in contact with at least one other surface which controls whether supplied conditioned air may enter into an entrance opening to a conduit within the sphere, and/or exit from the conduit through an exit opening toward the room or enclosure. The sphere typically is designed to travel 360 degrees in the x, y, or z axis, and turning the sphere in a manner which closes off air flow through the air conduit present inside the sphere is easily done.
The mounting framework which supports the at least one rotating sphere includes at least one holding socket into which a sphere may be placed. The size of individual spheres may vary. The size and shape of the conduit passing through a sphere may vary. The portion of a sphere which is covered by a holding socket may vary. An air supply register which covers an opening in a ceiling, wall, or floor surface may be flat, or may be of a shape so that the cover plate extends away from the ceiling, wall, or floor surface in the form of an arc, for example. This permits a sphere to turn at an angle which permits increased air flow in a direction across the surface of the ceiling, wall, or floor.
A sphere may be rotated so that the conduit exit opening is totally covered (no air flow), so that the exit opening is totally exposed (maximum flow), or so that the exit opening is partially exposed, for example. One of skill in the art of fluid flow controlling devices will recognize that it is possible to control the amount of conditioned air which is permitted to enter the conduit entrance, as well as to control the amount of conditioned air which exits the conduit exit.
In one embodiment, the spheres may be mounted on a framework such that the exit opening from the conduit within a sphere is totally exposed at the available rotations (or the sphere may not be rotatable), and a sliding eyelid cover may be adjusted over the exit opening from the conduit, to control conditioned air flow.
In another embodiment, the fluid flow channel through a sphere may be tapered, so that a sphere may be rotated in a manner which affects the velocity of the conditioned air leaving a sphere.
Typically, the conduit through the sphere is of a constant diameter. In this instance, the size of the conduit determines the volume and velocity at which conditioned air which enters the sphere leaves the sphere, for a given conditioned air pressure entering a sphere from the general conditioned air supply source. A marking may be placed on an exterior surface of a sphere which identifies a direction in which the air flow conduit is present within the sphere.
Most often a sphere is held in place within a socket which is mounted on a framework attached to the air supply register. The amount of the sphere surface which is in contact with the socket affects the angle at which air is permitted to leave the sphere without reducing the amount of air flow. In one embodiment, spheres can be snapped into or out of a socket, where the socket is made of a flexible material, such as an elastomer or a flexible plastic. The material which makes up the socket affects the ease with which the spheres can be snapped into or out of a socket, as well as the expected lifetime of the socket. In a second embodiment, a first portion of the socket is mounted on a first portion of a support framework, while a second portion of the socket is mounted on a second portion of the support framework. When the two portions of the framework are locked together, a sphere is held firmly in place. When the two portions of the support framework are separated, the spheres can be easily removed and exchanged or replaced. This permits the use of a more rigid socket material, while still permitting easy alteration of the specific volume and velocity of air flow from a given location on the air supply register by a substitution of spheres having differently sized internal air flow conduits, for example.
As a preface to the detailed description presented below, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
When the word “about” is used herein, it is intended that “about” means±10% of the recited value.
The present invention is related to an apparatus and to a method of using the apparatus, which provides an air supply to a particular location from a central air supply source. Typically the heated or cooled air is transported through an insulated conduit to the general areas within a building or enclosure which is being serviced.
An advantageous air supply register directs the air from the incoming source toward a desired, defined space within a given room or enclosure. The present invention provides air direction by using an air supply register which comprises at least one, and typically a plurality of active elements which may be individually controlled to provide redirection of the air supplied from a central air supply source. The activity of each element may be adjusted to control the volume, velocity and direction of the air flow provided to the element from an incoming air supply source.
The volume, velocity and direction of the air flow from a given active element is achieved using at least one, and typically a plurality of rotatable spheres, with each sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels. The air supplied travels from a general conditioned air supply source to the air supply register which comprises the at least one rotatable sphere. The rotatable spheres are typically, but not necessarily mounted on a fixed framework which is attached to the floor, wall, and/or ceiling of a room or enclosure.
Active device 103 comprises a socket 104, and sphere 106, where the opening 108 is facing perpendicular to the upper surface of cover plate 107, full open, so that conditioned air (not shown) can exit from cover plate 107.
Active device 105 comprises a socket 104, and sphere 106, where the opening 110 from a conduit (not shown) passing through sphere 106 is smaller than the opening on active device 103, by way of example and not by way of limitation, and is oriented at an angle with respect to the upper surface 102 of cover plate 107.
The air seal between the socket interior surface and a portion of a conduit opening which has been turned so that air will not exit from that portion of the conduit is affected by the degree of contact between the exterior surface of the sphere and the interior surface of the socket. In addition, the amount of force required to turn the sphere within the socked when touched by a hand, and the ability of the sphere to remain where it has been placed, despite forces from the air traveling out from the conduit, are important considerations. The sealing and frictional performance properties of a rotatable air flow control sphere within the socket are affected by the size of the sphere, the size and shape of the socket, the precision in molding of the spheres and the sockets, and by the materials of construction of the spheres and the sockets. One of skill in the art can select from materials having the properties desired, and based on cost, performance and appearance select the materials of construction which are most beneficial for individual applications. For example, an “O” ring fabricated from an elastomeric material may be placed within a socket to facilitate a seal and provide the desired friction to hold the sphere in place, despite air pressure forces upon the sphere.
It is possible to increase the amount of directional rotation of the sphere for purposes of directing air flow without a loss in air flow rate from the conduit, by decreasing the height of the socket wall in which the sphere is contained.
One of skill in the art will recognize that a number of different fasteners may be used to secure the face plates to ceilings, walls and floors, and that a number of different kinds of fasteners may be used to secure one portion of a socket to another portion of a socket so that a sphere will be secured in place.
In an alternative embodiment to restricting air flow by contact between the sidewalls of a sphere and the sidewalls of a socket holding the sphere, the spheres may be mounted on a framework such that the exit opening from the conduit within a sphere is totally exposed at the available rotations (or the sphere may not be rotatable), and a sliding eyelid cover may be adjusted over the exit opening from the conduit, to control conditioned air flow.
While the invention has been described in detail above with reference to several embodiments, various modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention will be apparent to those of working skill in this technological field. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be measured by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An air supply register which directs air from an incoming source toward a defined space within a given room or enclosure, said air supply register comprising at least one active element which may be individually controlled to provide redirection of air supplied from a central air supply source, wherein said active element comprises a rotatable sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels, wherein said sphere is held in place by a socket secured on a framework which is a part of said air supply register.
2. An air supply register in accordance with claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of said rotatable spheres.
3. An air supply register in accordance with claim 2, wherein a size of individual spheres varies.
4. An air supply register in accordance with claim 2, wherein a size and shape of said conduit varies from one sphere to another.
5. An air supply register in accordance with claim 2, wherein a surface area of an individual sphere which is in contact with said socket varies from one sphere to another.
6. An air supply register in accordance with claim 1, wherein said register is shaped in a manner such that a surface of said register extends away from a ceiling, wall, or floor surface to which said register is attached, so that a sphere may turn at an angle which permits increased air flow in a direction across a surface of said ceiling, wall, or floor surface.
7. An air supply register in accordance with claim 6, wherein said surface is in the form of an arc.
8. An air supply register in accordance with claim 1, wherein said framework to which said socket is secured is constructed so that an upper portion of said socket is mounted on one portion of a support framework, while a lower portion of said socket is mounted on another portion of said support framework, so that when the upper portion and lower portion of said support framework are locked in place, a sphere is held firmly in place between said upper portion and lower portion of said socket.
9. An air supply register in accordance with claim 2, wherein said socket is formed from a flexible material so that spheres may be snapped in or snapped out of said socket, to permit ease of exchange or ease of replacement of spheres.
10. An air support register in accordance with claim 1, wherein said internal conduit is tapered.
11. An air supply register which directs air from an incoming source toward a defined space within a given room or enclosure, said air supply register comprising at least one active element which may be individually controlled to provide redirection of air supplied from a central air supply source, wherein said active element comprises a sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels, wherein said sphere is held in place by a socket secured on a framework which is a part of said air supply register, wherein said sphere is mounted on a framework of said supply register in a manner such that an exit opening from said conduit is totally exposed at available rotations, or said sphere is not rotatable, wherein a sliding eyelid is present on a surface of said sphere, and wherein said sliding eyelid is used to control an amount of supplied air which exits said conduit into said room or enclosure.
12. An air supply register in accordance with claim 11, wherein there are a plurality of spheres with sliding eyelids, and wherein a size of individual spheres varies.
13. An air supply register in accordance with claim 11, wherein a size and shape of said conduit varies from one sphere to another.
14. An air supply register in accordance with claim 11, wherein said register is shaped in a matter such that a surface of said register extends away from a ceiling, wall, or floor surface to which said register is attached.
15. An air supply register in accordance with claim 14, wherein said framework to which said socket is secured is constructed so that an upper portion of said socket is mounted on one portion of a support framework, while a lower portion of said socket is mounted on another portion of said support framework, so that when the upper portion and lower portion of said support framework are locked in place, a sphere is held firmly in place between said upper portion and lower portion of said socket.
16. A method of providing an air supply to a particular location from a central air supply source using an air supply register which allows multiple, adjustable redirection of a flow of air from a supply register, comprising: using at least one active element which may be individually controlled to provide redirection of air supplied from a central air supply source, wherein said active element comprises a rotatable sphere having at least one internal conduit through which supplied air travels, wherein said sphere is held in place by a socket secured on a framework which is a part of said air supply register.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said air supply register is shaped so that a surface of said register extends away from a ceiling, wall, or floor surface to which said register is attached, and turning a sphere at an angle which permits increased air flow in a direction across a surface of said ceiling, wall, or floor surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2012
Inventors: Hubert S. Zecha (La Jolla, CA), Wesley Raymond Currie (El Cajon, CA)
Application Number: 13/199,252
International Classification: F24F 7/00 (20060101);