US3626837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual plenum for ventilating ceilings in clean rooms
Assignee: CHS IND Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-13
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Granted: 1971-12-14
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Expires: 1990-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A bounded clean air space within a room is provided by a dual plenum located directly above the clean air space, the plenum formed of the pre-existing room ceiling, a lower plenum ceiling and plenum walls, and divided into two chambers by a membrane, the inner chamber being a supply chamber for providing clean air to the clean air space, and the outer chamber providing a supply source for air delivered through a slot extending around the periphery of said lower plenum ceiling. An air curtain which laterally bounds the clean air space is formed by the air supplied through the slot, which air is removed through peripheral air openings at the bottom of the room.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael H Pelosi Jr
- 👤 Frank J Calderbank
- 👤 James T Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:03
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for providing a clean space freely accessible from without, comprising: a room having a ceiling, a floor, and sidewalls, which encompass and define said room; a second ceiling, suspended from said ceiling and being perforated and of smaller area than said ceiling; connecting means for supporting said second ceiling from said ceiling; a plenum wall displaced from and encompassing said second ceiling and extending from the level of said second ceiling to said ceiling, said plenum wall cooperating with said ceiling and said second ceiling to form a plenum; membrane means, connected from said ceiling within said plenum to the periphery of said second ceiling, for dividing said plenum into an outer plenum chamber and an inner plenum chamber; slot means between said second ceiling and said plenum wall, and encompassing said second ceiling and engaging said outer plenum chamber, for providing an outlet for air from said outer plenum chamber; first air supply means for providing air under pressure into said outer plenum chamber; and air return means at the lower part of said room for drawing and maintaining said air in a high velocity flow downward from said slot, thereby forming a continuous air curtain laterally surrounding a space within said room, said space being bounded above by said second ceiling and below by said floor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A system for providing a clean space freely accessible from without, comprising: a room having a ceiling, a floor, and sidewalls, which encompass and define said room; a second ceiling, suspended from said ceiling and being perforated and of smaller area than said ceiling; connecting means for supporting said second ceiling from said ceiling; a plenum wall displaced from and encompassing said second ceiling and extending from the level of said second ceiling to said ceiling, said plenum wall cooperating with said ceiling and said second ceiling to form a plenum; membrane means, connected from said ceiling within said plenum to the periphery of said second ceiling, for dividing said plenum into an outer plenum chamber and an inner plenum chamber; slot means between said second ceiling and said plenum wall, and encompassing said second ceiling and engaging said outer plenum chamber, for providing an outlet for air from said outer plenum chamber; first air supply means for providing air under pressure into said outer plenum chamber; and air return means at the lower part of said room for drawing and maintaining said air in a high velocity flow downward from said slot, thereby forming a continuous air curtain laterally surrounding a space within said room, said space being bounded above by said second ceiling and below by said floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said air return means comprises intake grills located peripherally at the bottom of said sidewalls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising a third ceiling at the level of said second ceiling and extending from said plenum wall to said sidewalls, said second and third ceilings together completely encompassing the lateral cross section of said room.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said second ceiling is placed at the center of said room, and said clean space is centered in said room and encompasses a space substantially less than that of said room.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said second ceiling contains perforations, and comprising second air supply means for supplying clean air into said inner plenum chamber and through said perforated ceiling into said clean space, and said air return means comprises ducts for recirculation of the combined air supplied from said inner and outer plenum chambers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as described in claim 5, wherein said sidewalls are hollow, which hollow sidewalls form part of said air return means and function as ducts carrying said combined air for recirculation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises spacers between the periphery of said second ceiling and said plenum wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as described in claim 1 wherein said connecting means for supporting said second ceiling comprises T-bars connected to said ceiling by wires.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said membrane means converges downwardly and outwardly toward said plenum wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-13 | 1975-06-14 | 1975-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-13 | 1979-06-14 | 1979-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-13 | 1983-06-14 | 1983-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |