Fluidically-controlled air-conditioning system

Claim 2

An air-conditioning system mounted between input and output ducts, the conditioned air entering the system via the input ductand exiting the system for the room to be conditioned via the output duct, said system comprising: a housing structure partitioned to form first and second chambers that are respectively coupled to the input and output ducts; an inside duct intercoupling said first and second chambers to permit air entering said first chamber to flow into said second chamber; an inflatable device mounted beneath the mouth of said inside duct and operable to control the amount of conditioned air flowing through it to said second chamber, the amount of conditioned air flowing through said inside duct corresponding to the spacing between the mouth of said duct and said inflatable device and, therefore, to the degree to which said device is inflated; and pure fluid amplifier means for inflating and deflating said inflatable device to respectively decrease and increase the amount of conditioned air flowing through said inside duct according to the air-conditioning requirements of the room.

Claim 3

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes fluid amplifier apparatus having at least an inlet channel coupled to said first chamber to tap off a portion of the conditioned air flowing therein, a pair of outlet channels, one of said outlet channels being coupled to said inflatable device to feed said tapped off air thereto, said one outlet channel including a vent therein through which air in said device may be vented, and a pair of control channels through which pressures may respectively be exerted against said tapped-off air to switch the flow thereof between said outlet channels; and a thermovalve mounted in the room and coupled to said pair of control channels to produce said pressures as a function of the room''s air-conditioning requirements.

Claim 4

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes fluidic oscillator apparatus having an inlet channel coupled to receive a portion of the conditioned air entering the system, and a pair of outlet channels to which said portion of air flows, one of said outlet channels being coupled to said inflatable device, said oscillator apparatus including first means to switch the air flowing therein back and forth in an oscillatory manner between said pair of outlet channels to produce pulses of conditioned air that are alternately applied to said pair of outlet channels, said oscillator apparatus including second means to vary the duration of said pulses with changes in the temperature of the room, the duration of the pulses of air flowing through said one outlet channel and into said inflatable device increasing and decreasing, respectively, as the need for conditioned air in the room decreases and incrases.

Claim 5

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 1 wherein the system further includes apparatus to limit the volume of air flowing to the room to within a pre-determined level, said apparatus being coupled to said inflatable device and iNcluding additional means to inflate said device in proportion to the extent to which said volume level is exceeded.

Claim 6

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 3 wherein the system further includes apparatus to limit the volume of air flowing to the room to within a pre-determined level, said apparatus being coupled to said inflatable device and including additional means to inflate said device in proportion to the extent to which said volume level is exceeded.

Claim 7

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid amplifier is a bistable fluid amplifier.

Claim 8

The air-conditioning system defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid amplifier includes 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 first device being coupled to receive said portion of the conditioned air entering the system, the inlet channel on said second device connecting to the inlet channel of said first device, one of the outlet channels of said first device being coupled to said inflatable device, and the pair of outlet channels of said second device respectively being connected to the pair of control channels of said first device; and temperature-sensitive means mounted in the room and coupled to said apparatus to control the diversion of said air to said inflatable device in response to temperature conditions in the room, the amount of air entering said device being determined by said conditions; and wherein said temperature-sensitive means includes further 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 the control channels of said second device in response to the flow of conditioned air in the outlet channels of said first device, said further means including thermostatically-controlled pressure devices for respectively applying said pressures to the control channels of said second device in response to temperature variations in the room.

Claim 9

The system defined in claim 4 wherein said volume limiting apparatus includes first means for setting said apparatus at a predetermined value of velocity pressure for the conditioned air flowing in the system; second means for comparing the actual velocity pressure in the system with said set value; and third means for inflating said inflatable device when said actual velocity pressure value exceeds said set value thereof until said two values are equalized.

Claim 10

The system defined in claim 4 wherein said volume limiting apparatus includes an enclosure; a diaphragm mounted in said enclosure in such a manner as to divide it into two compartments, one of said compartments and, therefore, one of the sides of said diaphragm, being exposed to the static pressure of the system; a probe coupled between the other of said compartments and the input duct to expose said other compartment and, therefore, the other side of said diaphragm, to the total pressure of the system, the difference between total pressure and static pressure being velocity pressure; mechanical means by which a predetermined value of velocity pressure is applied to said one side of the diaphragm; and a conduit intercoupling said other compartment and said inflatable device, the mouth of said conduit being closed by said diaphragm so long as the velocity pressure applied to said one side of the diaphragm is greater than the velocity pressure applied to said other side of the diaphragm.

Claim 11

The system defined in claim 5 wherein said volume limiting apparatus includes an enclosure; a diaphragm mounted in said enclosure in such a manner as to divide it into two compartments, one of said compartments and, therefore, one of the sides of said diaphragm, being exposed to the static pressure of the system; a probe coupled between the other of said compartments and the inpUt duct to expose said other compartment and, therefore, the other side of said diaphragm, to the total pressure of the system, the difference between total pressure and static pressure being velocity pressure; mechanical means by which a predetermined value of velocity pressure is applied to said one side of the diaphragm; and a conduit intercoupling said other compartment and said inflatable device, the mouth of said conduit being closed by said diaphragm so long as the velocity pressure applied to said one side of the diaphragm is greater than the velocity pressure applied to said other side of the diaphragm.

Claim 12

The system defined in claim 5 wherein said volume limiting apparatus includes mechanical means for setting said apparatus at a predetermined value of velocity pressure for the conditioned air flowing in the syste; comparison means for comparing the actual velocity pressure in the system with said set value; and third means for inflating said inflatable device when said actual velocity pressure value exceeds said set value thereof until said two values are equalized.

Claim 13

The system defined in claim 7 wherein said further means includes a pair of feedback channels respectively linking the pair of outlet channels of said first device with the control channels of said second device, and wherein said thermostaticallycontrolled pressure devices are also coupled to said feedback channels.

Claim 14

The system defined in claim 8 wherein said second means includes a diaphragm on one side of which said actual velocity pressure is exerted and on the other side of which said set value of velocity pressure is exerted.

Claim 15

The system defined in claim 11 wherein said comparison means includes a diaphragm on one side of which said actual velocity pressure is exerted and on the other side of which said set value of velocity pressure is exerted.

Claim 16

The system defined in claim 12 wherein said further means includes a pair of pressure-producing elements respectively mounted in the pair of outlet channels of said first amplifier device and respectively connected to said pair of feedback channels, said elements respectively producing air pressures in response to the flow of air in said outlet channels.