Air curtain structure

Claim 2

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening to a work space, a pair of generally vertically extending discharge ducts arranged adjacent the opposite sides of the opening and having discharge openings for discharging a flow of air at least partially thereacross, a generally horizontally disposed enclosure extending between the upper ends of said ducts and disposed adjacent the top of said opening, said enclosure including first and second horizontally spaced vertical sides confronting the exterior and interior of the work space, respectively, first and second air inlets on said first and second sides, respectively, passage defining means within said enclosure defining a first air flow path for communicating air between said first inlet and one of said discharge ducts, and a second air flow path for communicating air between said second inlet and the other of said discharge ducts, and at least one heat exchanger disposed generally vertically within said enclosure and extending between said sides generally transversely of one of said flow paths and in heat transfer relationship with air communicated therealong so as to selectively control the temperature of the air drawn into said enclosure through the associated of said inlets preparatory to said air being discharged through the associated of said ducts.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening to a work space, a pair of generally vertically extending discharge ducts arranged adjacent the opposite sides of the opening and having discharge openings for discharging a flow of air at least partially thereacross, a generally horizontally disposed enclosure extending between the upper ends of said ducts and disposed adjacent the top of said opening, said enclosure including first and second horizontally spaced vertical sides confronting the exterior and interior of the work space, respectively, first and second air inlets on said first and second sides, respectively, passage defining means within said enclosure defining a first air flow path for communicating air between said first inlet and one of said discharge ducts, and a second air flow path for communicating air between said second inlet and the other of said discharge ducts, and at least one heat exchanger disposed generally vertically within said enclosure and extending between said sides generally transversely of one of said flow paths and in heat transfer relationship with air communicated therealong so as to selectively control the temperature of the air drawn into said enclosure through the associated of said inlets preparatory to said air being discharged through the associated of said ducts.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening to a work space, a pair of generally vertically extending discharge ducts arranged adjacent the opposite sides of the opening and having discharge openings for discharging a flow of air at least partially thereacross, a generally horizontally disposed enclosure extending between the upper ends of said ducts and disposed adjacent the top of said opening, said enclosure including first and second horizontally spaced vertical sides confronting the exterior and interior of the work space, respectively, first and second air inlets on said first and second sides, respectively, passage defining means within said enclosure defining a first air flow path for communicating air between said first inlet and one of said discharge ducts, and a second air flow path for communicating air between said second inlet and the other of said discharge ducts, and at least one heat exchanger disposed generally vertically within said enclosure and extending between said sides generally transversely of one of said flow paths and in heat transfer relationship with air communicated therealong so as to selectively control the temperature of the air drawn into said enclosure through the associated of said inlets preparatory to said air being discharged through the associated of said ducts.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes blower means for inducting air into said enclosure from said inlets and for forcing said air along said paths toward said discharge ducts.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger comprises hot water coil means communicable with a source of hot water and adapted to have air passed therethrough in order to heat said air preparatory to the same being communicated to said discharge ducts.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first air inlet is communicable with a source of fresh outside air.

Claim 8

An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 which includes blower means on the opposite side of said heat exchanger from said first air inlet whereby to induct air through said first air inlet and force said air in heat transfer relationship with respect to said heat exchanger.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes filter means for filtering air inducted through said first and second air inlets, and wherein said first air inlet is exposed to the exterior of the work space and is adapted to induct fresh outside air into said enclosure, and said second air inlet is exposed to the interior of the work space and is adapted to induct air from the interior of the work space into said enclosure.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 which includes first and second heat exchanger coil means within said enclosure, each of said coil means extending vertically between said first and second sides and being arranged generaLly transverse to said air flow paths, and which includes partition means separating said coil means and said flow paths, whereby air inducted through one of said inlets may be communicated in heat transfer relation with one of said coil means and air inducted through the other of said inlets is communicated in heat transfer relation with the other of said coil means.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in a wall or the like separating first and second areas, a pair of generally vertically disposed discharge ducts arranged one adjacent each side of the access opening and each having an air discharge portion through which air may be directed across said opening, an enclosure adjacent the top of said opening and extending between the upper ends of said ducts, said enclosure including a pair of vertically extending, horizontally spaced parallel sides defining an air flow passage communicable with said discharge ducts, a first air inlet in one side of said enclosure for inducting air from one of said areas into said passage, a second air inlet in the opposite side of said enclosure for inducting air from the other of said areas into said passage, and a generally vertically oriented heat exchanger located within said enclosure and extending transversely between said sides and arranged in heat transfer relationship with air flowing from at least one of said air inlets to said ducts, said heat exchanger including means defining a fluid path, a source of fluid communicable with said path, and means for selectively controlling the temperature of said fluid, whereby to control the air flowing in heat transfer relation to said exchanger.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in a wall or the like separating first and second areas, a pair of generally vertically disposed discharge ducts arranged one adjacent each side of the access opening and each having an air discharge portion through which air may be directed across said opening, an enclosure adjacent the top of said opening and extending between the upper ends of said ducts, said enclosure including a pair of vertically extending, horizontally spaced parallel sides defining an air flow passage communicable with said discharge ducts, a first air inlet in one side of said enclosure for inducting air from one of said areas into said passage, a second air inlet in the opposite side of said enclosure for inducting air from the other of said areas into said passage, and a generally vertically oriented heat exchanger located within said enclosure and extending transversely between said sides and arranged in heat transfer relationship with air flowing from at least one of said air inlets to said ducts, said heat exchanger including means defining a fluid path, a source of fluid communicable with said path, and means for selectively controlling the temperature of said fluid, whereby to control the air flowing in heat transfer relation to said exchanger.

Claim 13

An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which includes blower means for inducting air through said inlets and forcing said air along said air flow passage toward said discharge ducts.

Claim 14

An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which includes first and second heat exchanger coil means communicable with air inducted through said air inlets, and closure means on said first and second air inlets for selectively opening and closing flow paths therethrough.

Claim 15

An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which includes first and second blower means arranged on the opposite sides of said coil means from said first and second air inlets for inducting air through said inlets and drawing said air through the associated of said coil means and then to the associated of said discharge ducts.

Claim 16

An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 which includes partition means dividing said passage between said first and second air inlet means, and wherein said partition means includes means for opening and closing an air flow path between said first and second air inlet means.

Claim 17

An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 which includes movable louver means on said partition means opening and closing said path.

Claim 18

An air curtain structure for providing a flow of air across an access opening to a building or the like and comprising, an enclosure adjacent the upper end of the opening, a pair of downwardly extending support columns arranged adjacent the sides of the opening and defining a pair of opposed air discharge slots, said enclosure being provided with a pair of heat exchanger coil assemblies adapted to condition air preparatory to the same being communicated to the support columns, at least one air blower mechanism for forcing air in heat transfer relation with the coil assemblies, and a pair of air inlet assemblies, one of which faces the interior of the building and is adapted to induct air from the interior of the building into the enclosure and the other of which faces the exterior of the building and is adapted to induct fresh outside air from the exterior of the building into the enclosure, said air inlet assemblies being provided with closure means for selectively opening and closing the same, whereby to permit either the induction of fresh outside air and/or tHe recirculation of air inside the building through the heat exchanger coil assemblies, and heat exchanger means extending vertically within said enclosure and generally transversely to air flowing between said inlet assemblies and support columns.

Claim 19

An air curtain structure for providing a flow of air across an access opening to a building or the like and comprising, an enclosure adjacent the upper end of the opening, a pair of downwardly extending support columns arranged adjacent the sides of the opening and defining a pair of opposed air discharge slots, said enclosure being provided with a pair of heat exchanger coil assemblies adapted to condition air preparatory to the same being communicated to the support columns, at least one air blower mechanism for forcing air in heat transfer relation with the coil assemblies, and a pair of air inlet assemblies, one of which faces the interior of the building and is adapted to induct air from the interior of the building into the enclosure and the other of which faces the exterior of the building and is adapted to induct fresh outside air from the exterior of the building into the enclosure, said air inlet assemblies being provided with closure means for selectively opening and closing the same, whereby to permit either the induction of fresh outside air and/or tHe recirculation of air inside the building through the heat exchanger coil assemblies, and heat exchanger means extending vertically within said enclosure and generally transversely to air flowing between said inlet assemblies and support columns.

Claim 20

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in an exterior wall of a work space, a discharge duct arranged along one side of the opening and having a discharge opening for directing the flow of air across said opening, an enclosure disposed adjacent said discharge duct and having one side thereof exposed to the interior of the work space and another side thereof exposed to the exterior of the work space, a first air inlet in one vertical side of said enclosure facing and communicable with the interior of said work space and a second air inlet in another vertical side of said enclosure facing and communicable with the exterior of said work space, said enclosure defining a flow path for communicating air from said air inlets toward said discharge duct, and a generally vertically disposed heat exchanger located within said enclosure and extending between said vertical sides thereof, said heat exchanger including a plurality of fluid coils, means for communicating fluid to said coils and means for selectively controlling the temperature of said fluid and thereby controlling the temperature of the air flowing between said air inlets and said discharge duct in heat transfer relation to said heat exchanger.

Claim 21

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in an exterior wall of a work space, a discharge duct arranged along one side of the opening and having a discharge opening for directing the flow of air across said opening, an enclosure disposed adjacent said discharge duct and having one side thereof exposed to the interior of the work space and another side thereof exposed to the exterior of the work space, a first air inlet in one vertical side of said enclosure facing and communicable with the interior of said work space and a second air inlet in another vertical side of said enclosure facing and communicable with the exterior of said work space, said enclosure defining a flow path for communicating air from said air inlets toward said discharge duct, and a generally vertically disposed heat exchanger located within said enclosure and extending between said vertical sides thereof, said heat exchanger including a plurality of fluid coils, means for communicating fluid to said coils and means for selectively controlling the temperature of said fluid and thereby controlling the temperature of the air flowing between said air inlets and said discharge duct in heat transfer relation to said heat exchanger.

Claim 22

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in an exterior wall of a work space, a pair of generally vertically disposed discharge ducts arranged adjacent the opposite sides of said opening and each having an air discharge opening for directing air across said access opening, an elongated, generally horizontally disposed enclosure having front and rear vertical sides extending between the upper ends of said discharge ducts and located adjacent the top of said opening, a first air inlet in said rear side of said enclosure communicable with the interior of the work space, a second air inlet in said front side of said enclosure communicable with the exterior of said work space, means including said sides defining a first flow path communicating said first air inlet with one of said discharge ducts and a second flow path communicating said second air inlet with the other of said discharge ducts, and first and second heat exchanger units disposed generally vertically within said enclosure and extending generally transversely between said front and rear sides thereof, said first heat exchanger unit extending across said first flow path whereby air flow from said first inlet toward the associated of said discharge ducts flows in heat transfer relation therewith, and said second heat exchanger unit extending across said second flow path so that air flowing from said second air inlet toward the associated of said discharge ducts flows in heat transfer relationship therewith.

Claim 23

In an apparatus for providing an air curtain across an access opening in an exterior wall of a work space, a pair of generally vertically disposed discharge ducts arranged adjacent the opposite sides of said opening and each having an air discharge opening for directing air across said access opening, an elongated, generally horizontally disposed enclosure having front and rear vertical sides extending between the upper ends of said discharge ducts and located adjacent the top of said opening, a first air inlet in said rear side of said enclosure communicable with the interior of the work space, a second air inlet in said front side of said enclosure communicable with the exterior of said work space, means including said sides defining a first flow path communicating said first air inlet with one of said discharge ducts and a second flow path communicating said second air inlet with the other of said discharge ducts, and first and second heat exchanger units disposed generally vertically within said enclosure and extending generally transversely between said front and rear sides thereof, said first heat exchanger unit extending across said first flow path whereby air flow from said first inlet toward the associated of said discharge ducts flows in heat transfer relation therewith, and said second heat exchanger unit extending across said second flow path so that air flowing from said second air inlet toward the associated of said discharge ducts flows in heat transfer relationship therewith.