Abstract: A helically formed flexible duct primarily directed to applications in ducted heating, ventilating and air conditioning, of three dimensions including a predetermined length, an inner diameter reinforced with a helically laminated wire member between self laminating substrate, an outwardly radial compartment formation constructed with strip portions of substrate material which form gaps to accommodate outwardly expanding radial dimensions and containing an insulating member, and an outer covering member delivered to a larger radial circumference at an applied circumferential speed exceeding the circumferential speed of the inner diameter substrate tube formation rate.

Abstract: A helically formed flexible duct primarily directed to applications in ducted heating, ventilating and air conditioning, of three dimensions including a predetermined length, an inner diameter reinforced with a helically laminated wire member between self laminating substrate, an outwardly radial compartment formation constructed with strip portions of substrate material which form gaps to accommodate outwardly expanding radial dimensions and containing an insulating member, and an outer covering member delivered to a larger radial circumference at an applied circumferential speed exceeding the circumferential speed of the inner diameter substrate tube formation rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a flexible tubular duct includes a mandrel, and a substrate feeding assembly for feeding a strip of flexible substrate material to the mandrel. Apparatus is provided for bending the strip of substrate material to have a rounded encapsulating portion, into which is fed a stream of loose fibrous insulating material. A mechanism is further provided for delivering an elongate reinforcing element onto the strip of flexible substrate material. In operation, the rounded encapsulating portion and the reinforcing element are wound in a helical path around the mandrel so that the loose fibrous material is encapsulated as a core in the helically wound rounded encapsulating portion the reinforcing element is also encapsulated by the strip of substrate material, whereby to form a reinforced flexible tubular duct.

Abstract: A mandrel assembly for manufacturing a tubular product, including: a first plate, a cantilever drive roller extending from the first plate, at least one cantilever idler roller extending from the first plate, and mechanism for rotating the drive roller whereby, in use, a strip may be engaged and advanced by the driver roller to the at least one idler roller and thereby wound about the rollers to form a tubular product.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a tubular product, includes a winding station for winding a substrate component and a reinforcement element in a helical path to form a reinforced tubular product, and respective apparatus for feeding the elongate substrate component and the elongate reinforcement element to the winding station. A first severing device cuts the reinforcement element upstream of the winding station, whereupon delivery of the reinforcement element upstream of the cut is withheld for a predetermined time period that results in a segment of the tubular product without the reinforcement element. A second severing device severs the tubular product within the above said segment to provide the predetermined length of the tubular product.

Abstract: A duct joiner for air ducting is provided which has at least one tubular neck portion with resilient projections extending out of a first annular groove, a sealing ring mounted in a second annular groove and further resilient projections extending out of a third annular groove. A ramp surface between the first and second grooves assists in fitting an end portion of an air duct over the neck portion which rides over the resilient projections, then moves along the ramp surface and over the sealing ring and then over the resilient projections extending from the third groove. The projections then engage with the internal surface of the duct to retain the duct on the neck portion and a good sealing contact is achieved about the sealing ring. There is also provided a method of manufacturing such a duct joiner by moulding the joiner in at least two parts and joining side edges of the two parts together by complementary interengaging formations.

Abstract: A register and boot assembly for a ducted heating or air conditioning assembly is provided which has a boot member, a register mounting member detachably connected to the boot member and a register face member mounted on the mounting member to cover the front face thereof. The assembly may be simply and conveniently installed in an opening in a floor, wall or ceiling by flexible securing clips mounted on upper edges of side or end walls of the mounting member. The securing clips have gripping formations which engage with similar formations on the face member to assist in retaining the face member to the mounting member.

Abstract: A flexible duct construction and method of manufacture is provided in which the duct is formed from a continuously wound elongate member comprising a core of insulating material, a reinforcing wire element and a casing comprising a strip of substrate material extending around the core and the reinforcing element. In the preferred method of manufacture, adhesive is applied to one side of the strip of substrate, the casing has a tail part extending from a generally circular part which encapsulates the core and the reinforcing element, and the elongate encapsulated insulating member is wound helically so that the circular part of one winding overlies and adheres to the tail part of the previous winding.

Abstract: A register and boot assembly for a ducted heating or air conditioning assembly is provided which has a boot member (10), a register mounting member (20) detachably connected to the boot member (10) and a register face member (30) mounted on the mounting member (20) to cover the front face thereof. The assembly may be simply and conveniently installed in an opening in a floor, wall or ceiling by flexible securing clips (70) mounted on upper edges of side or end walls of the mounting member (20). The securing clips (70) have gripping formations (77) which engage with similar formations (37) on the face member (30) to assist in retaining the face member (30) to the mounting member (20).

Abstract: A duct joiner for air ducting is provided which has at least one tubular neck portion (2, 3) with resilient projections (14) extending out of a first annular groove (6), a sealing zing (15) mounted in a second annular groove (7) and further resilient projections (16) extending out of a third annular groove (8). A ramp surface (12) between the first and second grooves (6 and 7) assists in fitting an end portion of an air duct over the neck portion (2, 3) which rides over the resilient projections (14), then moves along the ramp surface (12) and over the sealing ring (15) and then over the resilient projections (16) extending from the third groove. The projections (14, 16) then engage with the internal surface of the duct to retain the duct on the neck portion (2, 3) and a good sealing contact is achieved about the sealing ring.

Abstract: A duct joiner for connecting an air duct to another duct or other part of an air conditioning system has a tubular neck portion, a retaining clip and a sealing ring both mounted on the neck portion. The retaining clip has a ring portion received in a groove in the outer surface of the neck portion and a series of resilient teeth extending outwardly from the ring portion. The teeth are resiliently deformable to allow a hollow duct to be fitted over the neck portion and have either sharp edges or barbs thereon which dig into the internal surface of the duct to retain the duct on the neck portion of the joiner. The sealing ring has a ring section received in another groove in the outer surface of the neck portion and a resilient skirt which provides a seal between the neck portion of the joiner and the duct. The joiner may have one or more other neck portions with respective retaining clips and sealing rings for joining one duct to one or more other ducts.

Abstract: An air diffuser for diffusing conditioned air into a room has a diffuser body mounted in a housing to define an air channel which narrows towards the outlet end of the housing to produce a venturi-like effect causing the air to speed up as it leaves the diffuser so that the conditioned air can penetrate stratified layers of air in the room. The diffuser body is of tapered form having a narrow upper end portion and a wider lower end portion disposed in the open, outlet end of the housing. The diffuser body has a surface which faces the internal surface of a sloping side wall of the housing and which is inclined at an angle to the vertical greater than that of the sloping side wall of the housing to provide the narrowing air channel. The diffuser body is adjustably mounted for movement relative to the housing so that the flow of conditioned air leaving the outlet end of the housing can be adjusted.