AIR EXCHANGE SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE AIR BLOWERS OR FANS TO PRODUCE A CYCLONE-LIKE AIR FLOW

Abstract

An air exchange system places the air pumps or fans outside of the main air outflow pathway through a device, such as a range hood. By using this configuration, the system is made safe, easy to maintain with less noise and may even increase the efficiency of the air pump by not subjecting it to debris, particles or turbulence in the air flow, also flexible to add more pumps with significant increase the size of the air exchange system. Air pumps can be operably connected to push air into two or more air reservoirs. Each air reservoir has a narrow air outlet slit along with a Coanda design. When air comes out of the narrow air outlet, it has high speed and generates a negative pressure due to the Bernoulli effect. Such negative pressure will bring more air around into the air flow system, thus causing a desired air exchange.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/679,525, filed Aug. 3, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to air exchange systems and, more particularly, to an air flow system with multiple air blowers that are disposed outside of the air flow.

In traditional air exchange systems, such as a range hood, the fans or air blowers are in the middle of the air outflow duct. The obstacle from the fans or air blowers can cause air flow turbulence, thus decreasing the air flow efficiency. Moreover, the fans or air blowers in the air flow can generate significant noise due to the disturbance which there is hard to muffle. These systems are also difficult and unsafe to maintain. Over time, the dirt or grease from the air flow, especially in the case of a range hood, could accumulate on the fans or air blowers, decreasing the motor's performance. Clean-up of these deposits on the motors can be difficult and time consuming. Furthermore, it has to increase the size of the range hood or other similar air exchange system if more air blowers or fans needed for one air outflow duct.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved air flow system where the fans or air blowers are moved to outside of the air outflow duct, reducing noise, simplifying maintenance, improving efficiency, increasing the power output without size change and making cleaning of the system easier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an air flow system comprises one or more air pumps supplying air flow to at least two air reservoirs; an air slit providing air outflow from the at least two air reservoirs into an air flow path through the air flow system; and a Coanda surface disposed along an interior surface of the at least two air reservoirs, wherein the outflow from the at least two air reservoirs pulls air into the air flow system due to the Bernoulli effect, and there are no air fans or blowers disposed in the air outflow path through the air flow system.

In another one aspect of the present invention, an air flow system comprises one or more air pumps supplying air flow to at least two air reservoirs; an air slit providing air outflow from the at least two air reservoirs into an air flow path through the air flow system; a Coanda surface disposed along an interior surface of the at least two air reservoirs; and a spiral exhaust tube operable to create a cyclonic air flow exiting the air flow system, wherein the outflow from the at least two air reservoirs pulls air into the air flow system due to the Bernoulli effect; there are no air fans or blowers disposed in the air flow path through the air flow system; and air passing through the air reservoirs is turned greater than 90 degrees prior to exiting the air slit.

In another one aspect of the present invention, an air flow system comprises more structural modifications to produce cyclonic air outflow; multiple air flow deflectors along the air outflow duct; a spiral exhaust tube operable to create a cyclonic air outflow; spiral air outflow slits from each air reservoirs; or tangential air flow from air outflow slits from air reservoirs.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the air flow system of FIG. 1 showing an air pump attached thereto;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the air flow system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross sectional view of an air flow system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a top view of a shim used in the air flow system of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4C-4C of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4D-4D of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow system having a single inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow system having a disc-like design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an air flow system having a spiral air outlet according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an air flow system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the air flow system of FIG. 8, showing a first air outlet with Coanda surface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a detail view of the air flow system of FIG. 8, showing a second air outlet with Coanda surface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a detail view of an air deflector plate used in the air flow system of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air exchange system that places the air pumps or fans outside of the main air flow pathway through a device, such as a range hood. By using this configuration, the system is made safe, easy to maintain with less noise and may even increase the efficiency of the air pump by not subjecting it to debris, particles or air turbulence in the air flow. Air pumps can be operably connected to push air into two or more air reservoirs. Each air reservoir has a narrow air outlet slit along the surface with a Coanda design. When air comes out of the narrow air outlet, it has high speed and generates a negative pressure due to the Bernoulli effect. Such negative pressure will bring more air around into the air flow system, thus causing a desired air exchange.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, an air flow system 10 can permit a flow 12 of air therethrough. One or more air pumps 32 can deliver an air flow 44 through an air pipe 34 to deliver a first air flow 16 to a first air reservoir 30 and a second air flow 18 to a second air reservoir 24. The air can pass over coanda surfaces 14 and exit the reservoirs 30, 24 as high velocity air flow 20 through air outlet slits 42. The outlet slits 42 can be from about 0.01 mm to about 1.5 mm in width, depending on the specific application. This flow 20 draws air flow 12 into an air exchange pathway 26 of the air flow system 10 and drives an air outflow 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, air flow deflectors 36 can be disposed the air exchange pathway 26. The air flow deflectors 36 can provide a tornado-like air flow 38 exiting the air flow system 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4D, one or more shim rings 40 can be disposed in the air flow system 10. The shim rings 40 can be can be disposed to direct the high velocity air flow 20 out of the air reservoirs 30, 24. The shim rings 40 can include a plurality of shim teeth that direct the high velocity air flow 20. A tornado-like air flow 38 can exit the air flow system 10 through the use of the shim rings 40.

Referring to FIG. 5, a single air pump (now shown) can feed both air reservoirs 30, 24. As shown in FIG. 6, multiple air pumps 32 can be disposed to provide air flow to the air reservoir 30.

Referring to FIG. 7, the high velocity air flow may be provided into the air exchange pathway 26 at different points about its radius. This design can provide a tornado-like air flow 38 out of the air flow system 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 through 12, an air flow system 10 has one or more air pumps 32 delivering air to the at least two air injection ports 24, 30. The air pumps 32 can be two or more air pumps to fit into each air reservoir 24, 30, or a single pump (as shown in FIG. 8) with multiple air outlets to connect to each air reservoir 24, 30. In some embodiments, the air pumps 32 can be located proximate to each air reservoir 24, 30, for example, adjacent thereto. In other embodiments, an external air pump 32 can be located away from each air reservoir 24, 30 (as shown in FIG. 8). For example, the air pumps 32 can be in a separate location and deliver air to the air reservoirs 24, 30 through an air supply tube (not shown).

The air injection ports 24, 30 deliver air flow at a high velocity to drive flowing air 12 through air intake baffles 15 due to the Bernoulli effect. A spiral exhaust tube 56 can generate a cyclone-like air flow. When the air flow 12 goes through the spiral exhaust tube 56, the air flow 12 can quickly spiral forward into the air drainage tube or outside, for example, through the cyclonic air ejection port 17 as a cyclone/tornado-like air flow 38.

FIG. 2 shows the air flow system 10 where there the air slits 42 deliver air into the air flow 12.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a detail cross-sectional view of the air reservoirs 30, 24, respectively. An end of the inner portion of the air reservoirs 30, 24 may present a coanda structure 35 disposed passed a curved point 33. The second air reservoir 24 may have one or more air deflector plates 19 to separate the air reservoirs 24, 30 from each other. The size and shape of the air reservoirs 24, 30 can be designed to control the speed and volume of the air flow to optimize the aerodynamic performance of the system.

The air pump(s) 32 blow air into the air reservoirs 24, 30 and the air is forced out of the air slit 42 at a high velocity. According to Bernoulli's effect on the Coanda surface, the high speed air flow will blow along the surface to generate negative air pressure along the surface. The negative pressure can induce more surrounding air flow into the air flow system, thus more air exchange may be produced.

Sensors (not shown) and an electronic control (not shown) can be used to control the air pumps to increase or decrease the air flow of the system, as needed for a particular application.

The system of the present invention can be used for various applications where air flow is desired. The system of the present invention may be particularly useful in, for example, range hoods, where the air flow may contain particulates and/or grease that could damage or reduce the efficiency of conventional fans disposed within the air flow. The system of the present invention may also be used in air cleaning applications, HVAC applications, as a smoke cleaner, in a fume hood (such as a tissue culture hood), to create a laminar air flow for a hospital or special biologic area, and the like.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An air flow system comprising:

one or more air pumps supplying air flow to at least two air reservoirs;

an air slit providing air outflow from the at least two air reservoirs into an air flow path through the air flow system; and

a Coanda surface disposed along an interior surface of the at least two air reservoirs, wherein

the outflow from the at least two air reservoirs pulls air into the air flow system due to the Bernoulli effect, and

there are no air fans or blowers disposed in the air flow path through the air flow system.

2. The air flow system of claim 1, wherein the air fans or blowers are disposed proximate to the at least two reservoirs.

3. The air flow system of claim 1, wherein the air fans or blowers are disposed away from the at least two reservoirs.

4. The air flow system of claim 1, further comprising one or more deflector plates providing direction of air flow or multiple air reservoirs.

5. The air flow system of claim 1, wherein air passing through the air reservoirs is turned equal or greater than 90 degrees prior to exiting the air slit.

6. The air flow system of claim 1, further comprising a structural modification operable to create a cyclonic air flow exiting the air flow system.

7. The air flow system of claim 6, wherein the structural modification is spiral exhaust tube.

8. The air flow system of claim 1, further comprising a structural modification operable to create a tornadic air flow exiting the air flow system.

9. The air flow system of claim 1, further comprising an air valve adapted to control the flow of air into the air reservoirs.

10. The air flow system of claim 1, wherein the air slit is from about 0.1 mm to about 10 mm wide.

11. An air flow system comprising:

one or more air pumps supplying air flow to at least two air reservoirs;

an air slit providing air outflow from the at least two air reservoirs into an air flow path through the air flow system;

a Coanda surface disposed along an interior surface of the at least two air reservoirs; and

a spiral exhaust tube operable to create a cyclonic air flow exiting the air flow system, wherein

the outflow from the at least two air reservoirs pulls air into the air flow system due to the Bernoulli effect;

there are no air fans or blowers disposed in the air flow path through the air flow system; and

air passing through the air reservoirs is turned equal or greater than 90 degrees prior to exiting the air slit.

12. The air flow system of claim 11, further comprising one or more deflector plates providing the direction of air flow or multiple air reservoirs.

13. The air flow system of claim 11, further comprising an air valve adapted to control the flow of air into the air reservoirs.

14. The air flow system of claim 11, wherein the air slit is from about 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm wide.