Patent US3680776A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3680776A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluidic apparatus for air-conditioning systems
Assignee: FLUIDTECH CORP
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a fluidic oscillator in an airconditioning system to deliver bursts of air at full volume as the terminal unit oscillates in response to the room thermostat. These bursts of air, short or long, would fulfill the register''s volume requirements, thus maintaining full room comfort.
Inventors
- 👤 Gene W Osheroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:56
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/008; F15C1/22; F24F11/70; F24F11/72; F24F11/30; F24F11/74; F24F3/00; F24F2003/003; F24F2003/005; F24F2110/00; F24F2110/10; F24F2221/00; F24F2221/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/2065; Y10T137/2071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In an air-conditioning system in which conditioned air from a supply duct is selectively directed to a zone to be conditioned and a return duct, apparatus comprising: a primary bistable fluidic amplifier device through which the conditioned air passes, said devices including an inlet channel coupled to the supply duct, first and second outlet channels respectively coupled to the zone to be conditioned and to the return duct, a control chamber located between said inlet and outlet channels, and first and second control channels coupled to said control chamber; means having an element located in at least one of said outlet channels for producing an air pressure in response to conditioned air flowing therein; equipment having at least one valve therein capable of being selectively opened and closed, said one valve being inTerconnected by means of a feedback channel with said element so that the air pressure therefrom is applied to said one valve; thermostatic means located in the zone to be conditioned and operable in response to temperature variations therein to open and close said one valve to respectively reduce and increase the air pressure in said feedback channel; and additional means coupled between said feedback channel and said first and second control channels, said additional means applying said pressure variations to said control channels to respectively switch the flow of conditioned air between said first and second outlet channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In an air-conditioning system in which conditioned air from a supply duct is selectively directed to a zone to be conditioned and a return duct, apparatus comprising: a primary bistable fluidic amplifier device through which the conditioned air passes, said devices including an inlet channel coupled to the supply duct, first and second outlet channels respectively coupled to the zone to be conditioned and to the return duct, a control chamber located between said inlet and outlet channels, and first and second control channels coupled to said control chamber; means having an element located in at least one of said outlet channels for producing an air pressure in response to conditioned air flowing therein; equipment having at least one valve therein capable of being selectively opened and closed, said one valve being inTerconnected by means of a feedback channel with said element so that the air pressure therefrom is applied to said one valve; thermostatic means located in the zone to be conditioned and operable in response to temperature variations therein to open and close said one valve to respectively reduce and increase the air pressure in said feedback channel; and additional means coupled between said feedback channel and said first and second control channels, said additional means applying said pressure variations to said control channels to respectively switch the flow of conditioned air between said first and second outlet channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said element is a single Pitot tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said additional means includes a monostable fluidic amplifier device having an inlet channel coupled to the inlet channel of said bistable amplifier device to tap off some of the conditioned air flowing therein, a pair of outlet channels respectively connecting to said first and second control channels, a control channel connecting to said feedback channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes first and second elements respectively mounted in said first and second outlet channels to respectively produce first and second air pressures in response to conditioned air respectively flowing in said first and second outlet channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said equipment includes first and second valves respectively interconnected by means of first and second feedback channels to said first and second elements, each of said valves being capable of being selectively opened and closed; wherein said thermostatic means is adapted to selectively open and close said valves in response to temperature variations in the zone to respectively reduce and increase the air pressures in said feedback channels; and wherein said additional means is coupled between said first and second feedback channels and said first and second control channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second elements are Pitot tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said additional means are first and second passageways respectively interconnecting said first and second feedback channels with said first and second control channels to respectively apply said first and second air pressures thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said additional means includes another bistable fluidic amplifier device having an inlet channel coupled to the inlet channel of said primary bistable amplifier device to tap off some of the conditioned air flowing therein, a pair of outlet channels respectively connecting to said first and second control channels, and a pair of control channels respectively connecting to said first and second feedback channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said additional means includes a supply chamber interposed between the supply duct and said inlet channel and through which the conditioned air passes on its way from the supply duct to the inlet channel, said supply chamber being selectively connected to said first and second control channels, to apply air under pressure thereto, by means of first and second ports, respectively, in the walls of said chamber; and first and second structures respectively coupled between said first and second feedback channels and said first and second parts to respectively open and close said ports in response to the variations of said first and second air pressures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein each of said structures includes a variable-volume chamber having a membrane as one wall thereof, said chamber being coupled to one of said feedback channels to receive the air pressures therefrom, and closure means linked to said membrane and adapted to open and close the associated port in response to the expansion and contraction of said membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
148 words
Pulse modulation air-conditioning aPparatus comprising: first and second fluidic amplifier devices with each having an inlet channel, a pair of outlet channels, a control chamber between its inlet channel and its outlet channels, and a pair of control channels connecting to said control chamber, the inlet channel of said second device connecting to the inlet channel of said first device, and the pair of outlet channels of said second device respectively connecting to the pair of control channels of said first device; and means coupled to and between the outlet channels of said first device and the control channels of said second device for selectively applying pressures to said control channels in response to the flow of conditioned air in said outlet channels, said means including thermostatically-controlled pressure devices for applying said pressures to said control channels in response to temperature variations in the zone to be conditioned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
Pulse modulation air-conditioning aPparatus comprising: first and second fluidic amplifier devices with each having an inlet channel, a pair of outlet channels, a control chamber between its inlet channel and its outlet channels, and a pair of control channels connecting to said control chamber, the inlet channel of said second device connecting to the inlet channel of said first device, and the pair of outlet channels of said second device respectively connecting to the pair of control channels of said first device; and means coupled to and between the outlet channels of said first device and the control channels of said second device for selectively applying pressures to said control channels in response to the flow of conditioned air in said outlet channels, said means including thermostatically-controlled pressure devices for applying said pressures to said control channels in response to temperature variations in the zone to be conditioned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The pulse modulation air-conditioning apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said means includes a pair of feedback channels respectively linking the pair of outlet channels of said first amplifier device with the pair of control channels of said second amplifier device, and wherein said thermostatically-controlled pressure devices are also coupled to said feedback channels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
The pulse modulation air-conditioning apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein said pressure devices are a pair of valves respectively coupled to said pair of feedback channels, each of said valves capable of being selectively opened and closed, and wherein said means includes a thermostat at the zone to be conditioned for opening and closing said valves in response to the temperature variations in the zone, said valves being adapted so that no more than one valve will be open at any one time and so that both valves may be closed at the same time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pulse modulation air-conditioning apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein said means further includes a pair of elements respectively mounted in the pair of outlet channels of said first amplifier device and respectively connected to said pair of feedback channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pulse modulation air-conditioning apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein said elements are Pitot tubes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
191 words
An air-conditioning system in which conditioned air from a source of conditioned air is supplied via a supply duct to a plurality of rooms to be conditioned, and in which the air is ultimately returned to said source via a return duct, a pulse-modulation network for supplying bursts of conditioned air to the rooms as needed, said network comprising: a plurality of thermostat devices respectively mounted in said plurality of rooms, a plurality of fluidic amplifier devices respectively coupled to said plurality of rooms, said amplifier devices also being coupled between the supply and return air ducts, each of said amplifier devices being operable in response to signals successively applied thereto to alternately deliver pulses of conditioned air at full force and for variable periods of time to the room associated therewith and to the return air duct, the duration of said pulses varying as the interval between signals; and a plurality of mechanisms respectively coupled between said plurality of thermostat devices and said plurality of amplifier devices, said mechanisms respectively being under the control of said thermostats to produce said signals at intervals corresponding to temperature variations in the rooms.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
191 words
An air-conditioning system in which conditioned air from a source of conditioned air is supplied via a supply duct to a plurality of rooms to be conditioned, and in which the air is ultimately returned to said source via a return duct, a pulse-modulation network for supplying bursts of conditioned air to the rooms as needed, said network comprising: a plurality of thermostat devices respectively mounted in said plurality of rooms, a plurality of fluidic amplifier devices respectively coupled to said plurality of rooms, said amplifier devices also being coupled between the supply and return air ducts, each of said amplifier devices being operable in response to signals successively applied thereto to alternately deliver pulses of conditioned air at full force and for variable periods of time to the room associated therewith and to the return air duct, the duration of said pulses varying as the interval between signals; and a plurality of mechanisms respectively coupled between said plurality of thermostat devices and said plurality of amplifier devices, said mechanisms respectively being under the control of said thermostats to produce said signals at intervals corresponding to temperature variations in the rooms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The network defined in claim 16 wherein said signals are air pressures of sufficient magnitude to switch the conditioned air in said fluidic amplifier devices from the rooms to the return air duct and back again, and wherein said mechanisms are air valve devices operable under the control of the respective thermostat devices to regulate the respective magnitudes of said air pressures in accordance with the temperature variations of the rooms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The network defined in claim 17 wherein each mechanism includes a pair of air valves adaptEd so that one opens as the other closes and vice versa, and wherein each mechanism includes an element that simultaneously opens and closes said pair of valves under the control of the associated thermostat.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
141 words
A system comprising a zone to be air-conditioned; air-conditioning apparatus including a source of conditioned air flowing in a steady stream, a supply duct coupled to said source and through which said stream of conditioned air flows, and a return duct for said conditioned air; fluid-amplifier means coupled between said supply duct, said return duct and said zone, said fluid-amplifier means being operable in response to signals applied thereto to extract pulses of conditioned air of variable duration from said steady stream and deliver them to said zone, the duration of said pulses corresponding to the intervals between said signals; and thermostatic means positioned in said zone and coupled to said fluid-amplifier means for applying said signals thereto at intervals corresponding to the difference between the temperature of the air in said zone and the temperature setting of said thermostatic means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
141 words
A system comprising a zone to be air-conditioned; air-conditioning apparatus including a source of conditioned air flowing in a steady stream, a supply duct coupled to said source and through which said stream of conditioned air flows, and a return duct for said conditioned air; fluid-amplifier means coupled between said supply duct, said return duct and said zone, said fluid-amplifier means being operable in response to signals applied thereto to extract pulses of conditioned air of variable duration from said steady stream and deliver them to said zone, the duration of said pulses corresponding to the intervals between said signals; and thermostatic means positioned in said zone and coupled to said fluid-amplifier means for applying said signals thereto at intervals corresponding to the difference between the temperature of the air in said zone and the temperature setting of said thermostatic means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said fluid-amplifier means is adapted to deliver all conditioned air to said return duct that is not delivered to said zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said fluid-amplifier means is adapted to pulse modulate said steady stream of conditioned air, said fluid-amplifier means being further adapted to respectively deliver alternate pulses of said modulated conditioned air to said zone and to said return duct.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said fluid-amplifier means includes first and second outlet channels respectively coupled to said zone and to said return duct, an inlet channel coupled to said supply duct, a control chamber located between said inlet and outlet channels and into which said steady stream of conditioned air flows, and first and second control channels coupled to said control chamber, said signals being alternately applied to said control channels to respectively switch the air flowing through said chamber from one outlet channel to the other; and wherein said thermostatic means is coupled between said first and second control channels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination defined in claim 22 wherein said fluid-amplifier means further includes first and second elements respectively coupled to said first and second outlet channels to alternately produce first and second air-pressure signals in response to air flowing therein, said first and second elements respectively being coupled to said first and second control channels and to said thermostatic means to feed said signals thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination defined in claim 23 wherein said thermostatic means includes first and second air-escape valves respectively coupled to said first and second elements and opening and closing to apply said signals to said control channels, said thermostatic means being adapted so that both valves are never open at the same time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
155 words
An air-conditioning system for a zone to be air conditioned, said system comprising: a terminal unit for said zone; means for creating a constant supply of conditioned air; a duct system for circulating the conditioned air, said duct system including a supply duct for delivering said air supply to said terminal unit, a feeder duct coupled between said terminal unit and the zone, and a return duct coupled between said terminal unit and said means, said feeder and return ducts being joined to each other at a switching point in said terminal unit; and switching means at said switching point for switching the supplied conditioned air to the feeder and return ducts alternately and selectively, said switching means being so constructed that it diverts the flow of air into the selected duct at full volume and such that the alternations are of variable duration as determined by the requirements of the zone for conditioned air.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
155 words
An air-conditioning system for a zone to be air conditioned, said system comprising: a terminal unit for said zone; means for creating a constant supply of conditioned air; a duct system for circulating the conditioned air, said duct system including a supply duct for delivering said air supply to said terminal unit, a feeder duct coupled between said terminal unit and the zone, and a return duct coupled between said terminal unit and said means, said feeder and return ducts being joined to each other at a switching point in said terminal unit; and switching means at said switching point for switching the supplied conditioned air to the feeder and return ducts alternately and selectively, said switching means being so constructed that it diverts the flow of air into the selected duct at full volume and such that the alternations are of variable duration as determined by the requirements of the zone for conditioned air.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 25 wherein the swItching means is of the fluidic type, said switching means being employed at the switching point in combination with the feeder and return ducts, and operating free of moving parts other than valves which are moved for setting or positioned to determine the time ratio in alternately delivering air to the feeder and return ducts.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 26 including a thermostat in the zone for controlling the functioning of the switching means by changing the positioning or setting of the valves thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |