Patent US3841392A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3841392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Induction terminal unit for air-conditioning systems
Assignee: FLUIDTECH CORP
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Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a new type of induction terminal unit in which a pure fluid system is used to control the switching of the air between the conditioning and nonconditioning paths of the unit. The fluidic control system permits a simplification in the construction of the unit as well as a more efficient and effective operation of it.
Inventors
- 👤 G Osheroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:42
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F1/00; F24F1/01; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/008; F15C1/02; F15C1/04; F15C1/08; F24F11/00; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
401 words
In an air-conditioning system in which pre-conditioned air is ducted to each of a plurality of rooms, an induction terminal system for each of said rooms that comprises: a terminal unit having at least coil and bypass plenums through which a mixture of the pre-conditioned and room air selectively flows, said coil plenum including first and second air inlet means to respectively permit entry of said pre-conditioned and room air thereto, room air being induced to enter and flow through said coil plenum only when pre-conditioned air flows therethrough, first air outlet means to permit said mixture of pre-conditioned and room air to discharge directly into the room, and a coil for conditioning room air mounted in said second air inlet means, said bypass plenum including third and fourth air inlet means to respectively permit entry of said pre-conditioned and room air thereto, room air being induced to enter and flow through said bypass plenum only when pre-conditioned air flows therethrough, and second air outlet means to permit said mixture of pre-conditioned and room air to discharge directly into the room, said coil and bypass plenums including additional means to isolate one plenum from the other in such a manner that air flowing in one will not mix with and will not affect air in the other prior to discharge into the room; and a fluidic control unit for switching the entire stream of pre-conditioned air to a selected one of said plenums in response to air-pressure signals, said fluidic control unit including a fluidic amplifier arrangement that has no moving parts for switching the stream of pre-conditioned air and that itself includes at least an inlet channel into which the preconditioned air stream flows, first and second outlet channels respectively coupled to said coil and bypass plenums and to which the stream of pre-conditioned air flows, and a pair of control channels through which air-pressure signals are selectively directed against said pre-conditioned air stream to switch its flow from one of said outlet channels to the other, said fluidic control unit further including air-pressure means coupled to said pair of control channels and operable in response to an appropriate signal to cause an air-pressure signal to be applied thereto to switch the flow of said pre-conditioned air stream, and thermostatic apparatus to apply said appropriate signal to said air-pressure means when the temperature in the room reaches a pre-determined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
401 words
In an air-conditioning system in which pre-conditioned air is ducted to each of a plurality of rooms, an induction terminal system for each of said rooms that comprises: a terminal unit having at least coil and bypass plenums through which a mixture of the pre-conditioned and room air selectively flows, said coil plenum including first and second air inlet means to respectively permit entry of said pre-conditioned and room air thereto, room air being induced to enter and flow through said coil plenum only when pre-conditioned air flows therethrough, first air outlet means to permit said mixture of pre-conditioned and room air to discharge directly into the room, and a coil for conditioning room air mounted in said second air inlet means, said bypass plenum including third and fourth air inlet means to respectively permit entry of said pre-conditioned and room air thereto, room air being induced to enter and flow through said bypass plenum only when pre-conditioned air flows therethrough, and second air outlet means to permit said mixture of pre-conditioned and room air to discharge directly into the room, said coil and bypass plenums including additional means to isolate one plenum from the other in such a manner that air flowing in one will not mix with and will not affect air in the other prior to discharge into the room; and a fluidic control unit for switching the entire stream of pre-conditioned air to a selected one of said plenums in response to air-pressure signals, said fluidic control unit including a fluidic amplifier arrangement that has no moving parts for switching the stream of pre-conditioned air and that itself includes at least an inlet channel into which the preconditioned air stream flows, first and second outlet channels respectively coupled to said coil and bypass plenums and to which the stream of pre-conditioned air flows, and a pair of control channels through which air-pressure signals are selectively directed against said pre-conditioned air stream to switch its flow from one of said outlet channels to the other, said fluidic control unit further including air-pressure means coupled to said pair of control channels and operable in response to an appropriate signal to cause an air-pressure signal to be applied thereto to switch the flow of said pre-conditioned air stream, and thermostatic apparatus to apply said appropriate signal to said air-pressure means when the temperature in the room reaches a pre-determined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said coil plenum includes separate and distinct first and second plenums, said first plenum including said first air inlet means and said second plenum including said second air inlet means, said first air outlet means, and said coil, said coil plenum further including coupling means that provides a path that permits conditioned air entering said first plenum to flow into said second plenum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said bypass plenum includes separate and distinct third and fourth plenums, said third plenum including said third air inlet means and said fourth plenum including said fourth air inlet means and said second air outlet means, said bypass plenum further including coupling means that provides a path that permits conditioned air entering said third plenum to flow into said fourth plenum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said coil plenum includes separate and distinct first and second plenums, said first plenum including said first air inlet means and said second plenum including said second air inlet means, said first air outlet means, and said coil, said coil plenum further including coupling means that provides a path that permits conditioned air entering said first plenum to flow into said second plenum; and wherein said bypass plenum includes separate and distinct third and fourth plenums, said third plenum including said third air inlet means and said fourth plenum including said fourth air inlet means and said second air outlet means, said bypass plenum further including coupling means that provides a path that permits conditioned air entering said third plenum to flow into said fourth plenum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling means includes a set of tubes that intercouple said first and second plenums and through which the conditioned air flows therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 3 wherein said coupling means includes a set of tubes that intercouple said third and fourth plenums and through which the conditioned air flows therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 4 wherein the coupling means in said coil plenum includes a first set of tubes that intercouple said first and second plenums and through which the conditioned air flows therebetween, and wherein the coupling means in said bypass plenum includes a second set of tubes that intercouple said third and fourth plenums and through which the conditioned air flows therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 4 wherein said first and third plenums are ducts that are closed at one end and open at the other end, said open ends being coupled to receive the conditioned air, and wherein the coupling means in said coil and bypass plenums respectively include first and second sets of tubes that respectively extend from said first and third plenums into said second and fourth plenums to provide a path therebetween for the conditioned air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidic amplifier arrangement includes a monostable fluidic amplifier device that is biased in its construction so that the pre-conditioned air stream flowing therethrough normally flows to one of said plenums, said monostable amplifier device being operable in response to said pressure signals to switch the flow of said stream to the other of said plenums.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidic amplifier arrangement includes a bistable fluidic amplifier device, the outlet channel thereof through which said air stream flows being selected under the control of said thermostatic apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 1 wherein said terminal unit further includes a second coil plenum through which a mixture of the pre-conditioned and room air selectively flows, said second coil plenum including fifth and sixth air inlet means to respectively permit entry of said pre-conditioned and room air thereto, room air being induced to enter and flow through said second coil plenum only when pre-conditioned air flows therethrough, third air outlet means to permit said mixture of pre-conditioned and room air to discharge directly into the room, and a second coil for conditioning room air mounted in said sixth air inlet means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 4 wherein said terminal unit further includes a second coil plenum having separate and distinct fifth and sixth plenums, said fifth plenum including fifth air inlet means to permit entry of pre-conditioned air thereto and said sixth plenum including sixth air inlet means to permit entry of room air thereto, third air outlet means, and a second coil for conditioning room air, said second coil plenum further including coupling means that provides a path that permits conditioned air entering said fifth plenum to flow into said sixth plenum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 8 wherein said terminal unit further includes a second coil plenum having separate and distinct fifth and sixth plenums, said fifth plenum including fifth air inlet means to permit entry of pre-conditioned air thereto and said sixth plenum including sixth air inlet means to permit entry of room air thereto, third air outlet means, and a second coil for conditioning room air, said fifth plenum being a duct that is closed at one end and open at the other end to receive the pre-conditioned air, and wherein said second coil plenum includes a third set of tubes that extend from said fifth plenum into said sixth plenum to provide a path therebetween for the pre-conditioned air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
The induction terminal system defined in claim 13 wherein said fluidic amplifier arrangement includes a tri-stable fluidic amplifier device mounted between said first, third and fifth plenums on the one hand and the duct by means of which the pre-conditioned air is conveyed to the induction terminal system on the other hand, said device being operable in response to said air-pressure signals to switch the entire flow of preconditioned air from one to another of said first, third and fifth plenums.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3217788A
Cited
US3275014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |