US4074620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for preventing the flow of air through an opening between two rooms or spaces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-10-28
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Granted: 1978-02-21
•
Expires: 1996-10-28
Abstract
Abstract An air barrier device for an opening in a wall including air flow generating members arranged at opposite boundary edges of the opening on both sides of the opening and arranged to direct individual curtains of air obliquely towards each other and into the spaces separated by the wall to thereby define a closed air volume. Air flow sensing members are positioned at the opening and are operable to modify the operation of the air flow generating members in response to the detection of a net flow of air through the opening to stop the net air flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Bror Ingvar Erling Jansson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:06
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A device for preventing flow of air through an opening in a wall between two spaces wherein air flow generating members are provided to generate by air exhaust at least two air curtains in each space, said two curtains originating from the vicinity of the whole length of two opposite boundary edges of the opening, said air curtains being directed obliquely towards each other to form a wedge-shaped air curtain arrangement directed into each of the spaces, said arrangement defining a closed air volume which fills the whole opening and extends therethrough a certain length into each of the spaces, each of said air flow generating members for generating the air curtains in each of the spaces being adapted to take in air for exhaust from the same space into which the air is exhausted, sensing members at the opening for sensing the air flow therethrough and the direction of the net air flow through the opening, regulating means connected to said sensing members and to said air flow generating members and responsive to the detection of the direction of air flow by said sensing members to regulate the air curtains so that the net air flow is stopped.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A device for preventing flow of air through an opening in a wall between two spaces wherein air flow generating members are provided to generate by air exhaust at least two air curtains in each space, said two curtains originating from the vicinity of the whole length of two opposite boundary edges of the opening, said air curtains being directed obliquely towards each other to form a wedge-shaped air curtain arrangement directed into each of the spaces, said arrangement defining a closed air volume which fills the whole opening and extends therethrough a certain length into each of the spaces, each of said air flow generating members for generating the air curtains in each of the spaces being adapted to take in air for exhaust from the same space into which the air is exhausted, sensing members at the opening for sensing the air flow therethrough and the direction of the net air flow through the opening, regulating means connected to said sensing members and to said air flow generating members and responsive to the detection of the direction of air flow by said sensing members to regulate the air curtains so that the net air flow is stopped.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the regulation of the air curtains by said regulating means is carried out by regulating the relative strength of the air exhaust into the two spaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein additional air flow generating members are provided for generating in each of the spaces an additional air curtain which originates from one edge of the opening extending between said opposite edges, said additional air curtain being directed into the space obliquely inwardly across the projection of the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said opening is a quadrangular door and said air flow generating members are disposed along the lateral edges of the door and along the top edge thereof and so shaped that in each of the spaces the associated air flow generating members generate two substantially vertical air curtains which are directed obliquely towards each other so that, in each of the spaces or rooms, they meet along a line spaced from the door, and a third air curtain which extends from the vicinity of the top edge of the door obliquely downwards and into each of the spaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein air flow generating members are provided around all the boundary edges of the opening for generating air curtains by exhaust of air in each of the spaces in which the exhaust of air originates from all the boundary edges of the opening and in which the air curtains are directed obliquely towards each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein air flow generating members are provided also along the bottom edge of the door for generating in each of the spaces still another air curtain which extends from the vicinity of the bottom edge of the door obliquely upwards in each of the spaces so that it meets the downwardly directed air curtain along a substantially horizontal line and spaced from the door.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air flow generating members for the exhaust of air comprise air drains provided in each of the spaces and fan means in communication with said air drains, said air drains each presenting a row of holes extending along the total length thereof, said holes being directed into the associated space so that said air curtains are generated upon the exhaust through said holes of air by means of the fan means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said opening is a quadrangular door and wherein air drains are provided in each of the spaces or rooms at the lateral edges of the opening and at the top edge thereof with associated rows of holes extending along said edges, said holes along the lateral edges being directed obliquely inwards across the opening and the holes along the top edge being directed obliquely downwards and into the space or room, said fan means comprising two fans in each of the spaces connected to each of the air drains disposed along the lateral edges of the opening, the air drain disposed along the top edge of the opening being in communication with said drains.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein still another air drain is provided at the bottom edge of the opening in each of the spaces, said last mentioned drain being in communication with the air drains located at the lateral edges of the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein protective wall portions are provided on each side of the opening, said wall portions extending at least to the level of the location at which the air curtains meet as a protection for the air curtains outwardly from the opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the air drains are rotatable around their longitudinal axes for altering the direction of the air curtains.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said fan means includes one outlet in addition to said drain means with a valve being provided in each outlet to control the size of the outlet and thereby the strength of the air exhaust through the air drains at constant operation of the fan means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensing members are positioned near at least one horizontal marginal edge of the opening and arranged to control the fan means to alter the air curtains by controlling the strength of the air exhaust through the different air drains so that the net air flow is stopped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the fans of the fan means are controlled in response to the direction of the sensed net air flow by changing the size of the outlets to increase the strength of the air exhaust in one of the spaces while the strength of the air exhaust is reduced in the other space.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sensing members comprise two funnel-shaped passage-ways between the spaces, said passage-ways being oppositely directed and containing one air flow sensitive element in the narrow portion of each of the passage-ways and which in response to the sensed air flow supply electric signals for the control of the opening of the valves in said fan outlets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the signals from the air flow responsive elements control regulating motors which in their turn are adapted to regulate the opening of the valves in the fan outlets in response to said control.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein each air flow responsive element comprises a closed receptacle including a diaphragm dividing said receptacle into two halves, one half of said receptacle having an inlet directed towards the widened portion of the funnel-shaped passage-way and wherein an outlet from the other half of the receptacle opens into the other portion of the passage-way.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein each air flow responsive element comprises a heated tungsten wire, which is cooled upon air flow through the passage-way so that the resistance thereof is altered.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein each air flow responsive element is a thermistor, which is cooled upon air flow through the passage-way.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein a unit is provided for sensing the temperature in the spaces and for correcting said electric signals in response to the varying cooling of the air flow responsive elements which is caused by the varying temperatures in the spaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an alarm means is connected to said sensing members and operable to sound an alarm if the air flow is not stopped within a predetermined time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |