Conditioned air distribution system

Claim 2

Method of replenishing a conditioned air space enclosed by walls having access doors, windows or the like with fresh air, comprising passing the fresh replacement air from outside of said enclosure into said enclosed space, and directing a major portion of the flow of said incoming replenishing air as an air screen protectively across any doorway or window when such door or window is open to prevent free transfer of air between the outside and inside of said enclosed space through said open doorway or window while simultaneously passing a minor portion of said air more centrally of said enclosure and, alternately, diverting the flow of said incoming replenishing air to direct a major portion of said air to an upper more central area of said enclosed space and a minor portion of said air across said door or window when the doorway or window is closed.

Claim 3

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet air is first conditioned to adjust the temperature and humidity either by heating or cooling to approximate the temperature of said enclosed space before said alternate distribution to said enclosed space.

Claim 4

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the used air is continuously withdrawn from said space and passed in heat exchange with fresh incoming air replacing withdrawn air while recovering the useful heat contained in the withdrawn air as it is expelled from said space, a minor portion of said air being passed substantially centrally of said space while the major portion is used as an air screen, and a minor portion of said air being used as an air screen when the major portion is directed centrally of said space.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein a major portion of said incoming replenishing air, exceeding 50 percent but less than 100 percent is passed as an air screen protectively across said opening when uncovered, the remainder of the air being passed to the more central area of said enclosed space, and approximately the same proportions of air are diverted to pass said major portion of said air to the central area with the remainder as an air screen adjacent to said opening, when said opening is covered.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein fresh air passed into said enclosed space has its temperature and/or humidity adjusted for heating or cooling seasonally to temperature condition the fresh air passed into said space to approximately the temperature existing therein.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the said enclosed space has an exhaust fan for exhausting air from said space and the inlet air has means for passing the same into said space in similar volume to substantially replace the exhausted air.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the said enclosed space has an exhaust fan for exhausting air from said space and the inlet air has means for passing the fresh air into said space in similar volume to substantially replace the exhausted air, and means for exchanging sensible heat and/or total heat between the incoming air passing to said space and the air exhausted from said space.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 including switch means actuated by said door or window closures to actuate said valve motor to direct the air through a nozzle to provide air screen over the doorway or window when the doorway or window is open, and to direct the air centrally of said space in alternate position of said valve when the door is closed.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the major portion of said replenished air is directed by said damper in open position in quantity exceeding about 50 percent but less than 100 percent into the air screen across said door or window opening when open, the remainder of said air being directed more centrally to said enclosed space, and in closed damper position the major portion of said air, more than 50 percent and less than 100 percent is directed more centrally to said enclosed space, and the remainder of said air is directed as an air screen adjacent to said opening when the door or window is closed.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said enclosed space has at least two openings comprising doorways or windows and an elongated duct is mounted over each of said doorways or windows, said duct having nozzle means over both doorways or windows to direct air as an air screen over each doorway or window, a second outlet duct joining said first duct leading the fresh air flow to an outlet in a more central position of said enclosed space, and independent damper controls for the first duct over each doorway or window alternately directing the air flow between the air screen of one doorway or window and the outlet more centrally of said closed space, and independent means of controlling each damper whereby each doorway or window may be provided with an air screen over the opening when either or both doors or windows are open independently of a smaller air flow adjacent to another doorway or window which may be closed.

Claim 14

Apparatus for conditioning an enclosed space having at least two openings comprising doorways or windows and having an elongated duct mounted over each of said doorways or windows, said duct having nozzle means over both doorways or windows to direct air as an air screen over each doorway or window, a second outlet duct joining said first duct leading the fresh air flow to an outlet in a substantially central position of said enclosed space, and independent damper controls for the first duct over each doorway or window alternately directing the air flow between the air screen of one doorway or window and the outlet substantially centrally of said closed space, and independent means of controlling each damper whereby each doorway or window may be provided with an air screen over the opening when either or both doors or windows are open independently of a smaller air flow adjacent to another doorway or window which may be closed.

Claim 15

Apparatus for conditioning an enclosed space having at least two openings comprising doorways or windows and having an elongated duct mounted over each of said doorways or windows, said duct having nozzle means over both doorways or windows to direct air as an air screen over each doorway or window, a second outlet duct joining said first duct leading the fresh air flow to an outlet in a substantially central position of said enclosed space, and independent damper controls for the first duct over each doorway or window alternately directing the air flow between the air screen of one doorway or window and the outlet substantially centrally of said closed space, and independent means of controlling each damper whereby each doorway or window may be provided with an air screen over the opening when either or both doors or windows are open independently of a smaller air flow adjacent to another doorway or window which may be closed.

Claim 16

Apparatus for distributing fresh replenishing air to an enclosed conditioned space having at least two openings comprising doorways or windows, said distributing means comprising duct means communicating with ambient air outside of said enclosed space for supply of fresh air thereto and with a distribution chamber, said duct means including an elongated duct mounted over at least two of said doorways or windows, said elongated ducts having nozzle means disposed over at least two of said doorways or windows to direct air downward as an air screen thereover, a second outlet duct joining said first duct means leading the fresh air to an outlet in a more central position of said enclosed space, independent damper control means in said distribution chamber controlling the supply of air to each nozzle means, alternately directing air flow between the air screen formed by said nozzle over each doorway or window and the said outlet duct more centrally of said closed space supplying a major flow of said replenishing air flow as an air screen over said doors or windows when open and a minor flow of air over a doorway or window when closed, the remainder of said air supply passing to the said more central position of said enclosed space, and a driving motor independently controlling the movement of each damper whereby each doorway or window may be independently provided with an air screen over the opening when either or both doors or windows are open independently of a smaller air flow adjacent to another doorway or window which may be closed.

Claim 17

Apparatus for distributing fresh replenishing air to an enclosed conditioned space having at least two openings comprising doorways or windows, said distributing means comprising duct means communicating with ambient air outside of said enclosed space for supply of fresh air thereto and with a distribution chamber, said duct means including an elongated duct mounted over at least two of said doorways or windows, said elongated ducts having nozzle means disposed over at least two of said doorways or windows to direct air downward as an air screen thereover, a second outlet duct joining said first duct means leading the fresh air to an outlet in a more central position of said enclosed space, independent damper control means in said distribution chamber controlling the supply of air to each nozzle means, alternately directing air flow between the air screen formed by said nozzle over each doorway or window and the said outlet duct more centrally of said closed space supplying a major flow of said replenishing air flow as an air screen over said doors or windows when open and a minor flow of air over a doorway or window when closed, the remainder of said air supply passing to the said more central position of said enclosed space, and a driving motor independently controlling the movement of each damper whereby each doorway or window may be independently provided with an air screen over the opening when either or both doors or windows are open independently of a smaller air flow adjacent to another doorway or window which may be closed.