Air flow control system

Claim 2

In a system for control of air in a room having a supply opening leading thereto, the combination which comprises: a. a powered mixing box adapted to be mounted adjacent to said supply opening for directing air through said supply opening into said room; b. said powered mixing box having a first inlet opening, a second inlet opening, and an outlet opening, c. a first structure forming a warm air supply path leading to said first inlet opening of said powered mixing box; d. a second structure forming a cool air supply path leading to said second inlet opening of said powered mixing box; e. a first pair of plates, at least one of which is perforated; f. said first pair of plates being mounted so they are always immediately adjacent said first inlet opening and are transversely disposed in, and substantially normal to, said warm air supply path; g. a second pair of plates, at least one of which is perforated; h. said second pair of plates being mounted so they are always immediately adjacent said second inlet opening and are transversely disposed in, and substantially normal to, said cool air supply path; i. means interconnecting one plate of each pair for moving one plate of said first pair relative to the other in a first sense while moving one plate of said second pair relative to the other in a second sense to increase the proportion of air supplied to said powered mixing box through one air supply path while concurrently decreasing the proportion of air supplied to said powered mixing box through the other air supply path; j. said outlet opening being located in one wall of said powered mixing box and both of said inlet openings being displaced short distances from said one wall of said powered mixing box to define a space which is wholly within said powered mixing box and which is bounded by said outlet opening and by said pairs of perforated plates, and k. a fan that is mounted in said space within said powered mixing box and that is immediately adjacent to said pairs of plates; l. said fan being disposed within said space within said powered mixing box but being located downstream from said plates of said first pair of plates and also being located downstream from said plates of said second pair of plates, m. said fan receiving warm air from said warm air supply path via said first inlet opening and said first pair of plates and receiving cool air from said cool air supply path via said second inlet opening and said second pair of plates and mixing said warm air and cool air and then moving said mixed air through said outlet opening and into said room through said supply opening.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said first inlet opening is located in a second wall of said powered mixing box, wherein said second inlet opening is located in a third wall of said powered mixing box, wherein said second and said third walls abut each other to subtend an angle of substantially ninety degrees, whereby said pairs of plates are disposed relative one to another at an angle of substantially ninety degrees, and wherein three sides of said space within said powered mixing box are defined and delimited by said one and said second and said third walls of said powered mixing box.

Claim 10

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building wHich define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooling unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, and n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room.

Claim 11

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building wHich define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooling unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, and n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room.

Claim 12

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a powered cooler for supplying quantities of cool air, b. means which define and delimit an air-distributing passage that extends from a point adjacent said powered cooler to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said powered cooler being connected to said air-distributing passage for feeding cool air into said air-distributing passage from said powered cooler, and said air-distributing passage conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent to said rooms and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said air-distributing passage and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said air-distributing passage to said one inlet port, h. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, i. structure forming a return flow path from said rooms to the inlet of said powered cooler to enable said powered cooler to receive and cool return air from said rooms and to incorporate the cooled return air in the air which said powered cooler supplies to said air-distributing passage, j. temperature responsive means in said rooms, k. a proportioning damper in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from said air-distributing passage and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, and l. means providing a continuously-open path which extends from the outlet of said powered blower to the inlet of said powered blower, m. said continuously-open path means conducting substantially all of the air, supplied by said powered blower, from said outlet of said powered blower to said inlet of said powered blower whenever all of said proportioning dampers in all of said air-mixing boxes are closed and act to prevent air in said air-distributing passage from entering said air-mixing boxes, n. thereby preventing any build-up of pressure within said air-distributing passage, o. said continuously-open path means conducting progressively less of the air, supplied by said powered blower, from said outlet of said powered blower to said inlet of said powered blower as said proportioning dampers in said air-mixing boxes respond, to said temperature responsive means in said rooms, to progressively permit air from said air-distributing passage to enter said air-mixing boxes.

Claim 13

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a powered cooler for supplying quantities of cool air, b. means which define and delimit an air-distributing passage that extends from a point adjacent said powered cooler to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said powered cooler being connected to said air-distributing passage for feeding cool air into said air-distributing passage from said powered cooler, and said air-distributing passage conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent to said rooms and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said air-distributing passage and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said air-distributing passage to said one inlet port, h. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, i. structure forming a return flow path from said rooms to the inlet of said powered cooler to enable said powered cooler to receive and cool return air from said rooms and to incorporate the cooled return air in the air which said powered cooler supplies to said air-distributing passage, j. temperature responsive means in said rooms, k. a proportioning damper in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from said air-distributing passage and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, and l. means providing a continuously-open path which extends from the outlet of said powered blower to the inlet of said powered blower, m. said continuously-open path means conducting substantially all of the air, supplied by said powered blower, from said outlet of said powered blower to said inlet of said powered blower whenever all of said proportioning dampers in all of said air-mixing boxes are closed and act to prevent air in said air-distributing passage from entering said air-mixing boxes, n. thereby preventing any build-up of pressure within said air-distributing passage, o. said continuously-open path means conducting progressively less of the air, supplied by said powered blower, from said outlet of said powered blower to said inlet of said powered blower as said proportioning dampers in said air-mixing boxes respond, to said temperature responsive means in said rooms, to progressively permit air from said air-distributing passage to enter said air-mixing boxes.

Claim 14

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a powered cooler for supplying quantities of cool air, b. means which define and delimit an air-distributing passage that extends from a point adjacent said powered cooler to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said powered cooler being connected to said air-distributing passage for feeding cool air into said air-distributing passage from said powered cooler, and said air-distributing passage conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of powered air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent to said rooms and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said air-distributing passage and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said air-distributing passage to said one inlet port, h. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, i. structure forming a return flow path from said rooms to said powered cooler to enable said powered cooler to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said powered cooler supplies to said air-distributing passage, j. temperature responsive means in said rooms, k. a proportioning damper in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from said air-distributing passage and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, l. continuously-open passages interconnecting said rooms with said return air structure, m. means providing a continuously-open path between said air-distributing passage and said return air structure, n. said continuously-open passages between said rooms and said return air structure and said continuously-open path means coacting to connect said rooms with said air-distributing passage via said return air structure, o. whereby said rooms are connected to said air-distributing passage both by said air-mixing boxes and by said continuously-open path means and the continuously-open passages which interconnect said air return structure with said rooms.

Claim 15

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a powered cooler for supplying quantities of cool air, b. means which define and delimit an air-distributing passage that extends from a point adjacent said powered cooler to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said powered cooler being connected to said air-distributing passage for feeding cool air into said air-distributing passage from said powered cooler, and said air-distributing passage conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of powered air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent to said rooms and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said air-distributing passage and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said air-distributing passage to said one inlet port, h. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, i. structure forming a return flow path from said rooms to said powered cooler to enable said powered cooler to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said powered cooler supplies to said air-distributing passage, j. temperature responsive means in said rooms, k. a proportioning damper in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from said air-distributing passage and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, l. continuously-open passages interconnecting said rooms with said return air structure, m. means providing a continuously-open path between said air-distributing passage and said return air structure, n. said continuously-open passages between said rooms and said return air structure and said continuously-open path means coacting to connect said rooms with said air-distributing passage via said return air structure, o. whereby said rooms are connected to said air-distributing passage both by said air-mixing boxes and by said continuously-open path means and the continuously-open passages which interconnect said air return structure with said rooms.

Claim 16

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and One of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooling unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan thereinto vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, o. the first said plenum and said second plenum being horizontally-directed, p. one of said plenums being located immediately above the other of said plenums, q. the lower limit of said one plenum and the upper limit of said other plenum being defined and delimited by a horizontally-directed partition means, r. the return air flow through said second plenum being in one direction relative to said rooms, and s. the cold air flow through said one plenum being in the opposite direction relative to said rooms.

Claim 17

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and One of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooling unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan thereinto vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, o. the first said plenum and said second plenum being horizontally-directed, p. one of said plenums being located immediately above the other of said plenums, q. the lower limit of said one plenum and the upper limit of said other plenum being defined and delimited by a horizontally-directed partition means, r. the return air flow through said second plenum being in one direction relative to said rooms, and s. the cold air flow through said one plenum being in the opposite direction relative to said rooms.

Claim 18

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooL-ing unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, o. the first said plenum being located between said rooms, p. the first said structural elements being the upper portions of confronting walls of said rooms plus a horizontally-directed ceiling extending between said upper portions of said confronting walls, and q. a lower ceiling defining the bottom of the first said plenum.

Claim 19

An atmosphere control system for a building having a plurality of rooms which comprises: a. a cooling unit that includes a blower which can supply quantities of cooled air, b. structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a large cross section plenum that extends from a point adjacent said cooling unit to the immediate proximity of said rooms, c. the outlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said plenum for feeding cool air into said plenum from said cooling unit, and said plenum conducting said cool air to the immediate proximity of said rooms, d. a plurality of air-mixing boxes, e. said air-mixing boxes being disposed adjacent said rooms, and each of said air-mixing boxes having structure forming two inlet ports, a fan mounted between said inlet ports and a discharge port leading to a room, f. said fan in said air-mixing box acting to move air from said inlet ports to and through said discharge port and thence into said room, g. a cool air flow path between said plenum and one of said inlet ports of each said air-mixing box to conduct cool air from said plenum to said one inlet port, h. further structural elements of said building which define and delimit parts of rooms of said building and which also define and delimit part of a second large cross section plenum that extends from the immediate proximity of said rooms to a point adjacent said cooling unit, i. the inlet of said blower of said cooling unit being connected to said second plenum, j. a warm air flow path from each said room to a second of said inlet ports of said air-mixing box feeding said room to conduct air from said room to said second inlet port, k. structure forming flow paths from said rooms to said second plenum to include return air from said rooms in the air flowing through said second plenum, l. said second plenum conducting return air from said rooms to said cooling unit and thereby enabling said cooL-ing unit to cool return air from said rooms and to include the cooled return air in the air which said cooling unit supplies to the first said plenum, m. temperature responsive means in said rooms, n. proportioning damper means in each said air-mixing box between the inlet ports thereof and the fan therein to vary the relative amounts of cooled air entering each air-mixing box from the first said plenum and the amounts of air entering each air-mixing box from the room, o. the first said plenum being located between said rooms, p. the first said structural elements being the upper portions of confronting walls of said rooms plus a horizontally-directed ceiling extending between said upper portions of said confronting walls, and q. a lower ceiling defining the bottom of the first said plenum.