Ventilation system

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/045,462, filed on Apr. 16, 2008; all of the foregoing patent-related document(s) are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entirety(ies).

The The present invention relates to ventilation systems and more particularly a four way blow ventilation systems located between a drop ceiling and a structural ceiling of a building.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a conventional four way blow ventilation system 100 for installation and use between a drop ceiling and a structural ceiling of a building. System 100 includes four separate induction units 102a, 102b, 102c, 10d. Each induction unit includes: a plenum 104; a heating/cooling unit 106; a drainage base 107; a mixing chamber outer wall 109; and nozzles 116. The induction unit mixes return air (shown by arrow R) from the building with primary air (shown by arrows P) from a primary air source (not shown) and returns mixed air (shown by arrows M to the room.

More specifically, primary air, which is usually cleaned and may be thermally conditioned, is provided under pressure through primary air conduits (not shown) in the direction of arrows P to each of the four separate plenums 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d as shown in FIG. 1a. The pressure of the primary air in the plenums forces it through venturi nozzles 116 in the bottom wall of each plenum as shown in FIG. 1b. Meanwhile, return air travels in the direction of arrow R through each heating/cooling unit 106 as shown in FIG. 1b. To explain this air flow pattern a bit, air currents caused by the flow of the primary air at the outlets of the venturi nozzles effectively suck return air up from the volume of the room under the ceiling directly under system 100 and through the return air intake unit to the vicinity of the outlets of the venturi nozzles. The return air may be heated or chilled by the heating cooling units as it passes through under the influence of the pressure gradient caused by the primary air output by the venturi nozzles.

Each induction unit 102a,b,c,d defines a mixing chamber 108a,b,c,d. More specifically, in system 100, this mixing chamber (see DEFINITIONS section) is defined by: mixing chamber outer wall 109a,b,c,d and the drainage base 107. Although not shown for the sake of clarity of illustration, four way blow systems will generally include a grille that provides an inner wall for the mixing chamber below the heating/cooling unit. In the mixing chambers 108a,b,c,d, the return air R and the primary air P mix to form mixed air M. By the pressure of the primary air output by the venturi nozzles, the mixed air M is driven downwards and out of each induction unit, in the direction of the arrow M. Of course, the mixed air is generally cleaner than the ambient air in the room because of the use of clean primary air—this is generally one of the main purposes of having a ventilation system. The mixed air will also generally be heated or cooled relative to the air in the room because of thermal conditioning of the primary air and/or heating or cooling of the heating/cooling units—this is generally another main purpose of having a ventilation system.

In a four way blow ventilation system, the four units are generally suspended or supported over a drop ceiling so that the lower surfaces of the induction unit, and apertures 118, are more or less even with the drop ceiling. As mentioned above, conventional four way blow ventilation systems usually have a grill. This grille usually includes louvers at the location where the mixed air M leaves each induction unit. The louvers are oriented to direct the mixed air output by the ventilation system peripherally away from each induction unit. This forms an air pattern in the room where: (i) mixed air clings to the ceiling as it travels out in four directions away from the four way blow system; (ii) mixed air gradually drops into the volume of the room when it is away from the volume under the four way blow system; and (iii) return air from directly under the four way blow system rises up into the four way blow system. This is an advantageous air flow pattern in that it allows a relatively large quantity of air to circulate without causing noticeable drafts, and can promote in relatively uniform temperature distribution over the volume of a room. Generally speaking, a room may include more than one four way blow system in its ceiling, with the number and spacing of four way blow ventilation systems being professionally determine based on the characteristics of the room, the desired air quality or conditioning, the specifications of the four way blow systems and/or other conventionally understood factors.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,353 (“Akhtar”) shows an example of a four way blow ventilation system with four separate induction units. U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,010 (“Miller”) discloses an air handling system.

Description Of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed publications (for example, published patents) are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed publications may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, they are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).

The present invention is directed to a 360 degree blow induction system with a single unitary plenum. The present invention is also directed to a 360 degree blow ventilation system with a single mixing chamber extending at least substantially entirely around the perimeter of the 360 degree blow ventilation system. The present invention is also directed to a 360 degree blow ventilation system with a single heating/cooling unit (see DEFINITIONS section) extending at least substantially entirely around the perimeter of the 360 degree blow ventilation system.

Various embodiments of the present invention may exhibit one or more of the following objects, features and/or advantages:

(1) improved air distribution within the unitary plenum;

(2) improved air distribution over the set of venturi nozzles between the plenum and the air mixing chamber;

(3) improved air distribution within the unitary air mixing chamber;

(4) because the unitary plenum and unitary air mixing chamber extend all the way around (including over any corner space), there is room for more nozzles within a given footprint;

(5) decrease in plenum volume;

(6) increased flexibility in dimensioning the unit to fit in a required space and still provide a required airflow (for example, trading off the vertical dimension against foot print size);

(7) greater area available to receive return air from the room;