US4775001A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zoned air conditioning system
Assignee: Atlas Air Australia Pty Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-05-02
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2006-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A zoned air conditioning system using a room air terminal which has the same horizontal dimensions as a floor tile of a raised tile floor such that the terminal may replace one tile in such a floor. The terminal includes a cool air inlet below the floor for drawing in cooling air circulated in the under floor space and a return air inlet in the top surface of the terminal. The cool air and return air is mixed in a mixing chamber and drawn from the mixing chamber by a fan and returned to the room through an outlet vent. The ratio of cool air to return air mixed in the mixing chamber is controlled by a modulating damper which is controlled in response to the temperature of the return air in order to control the room temperature in the region of the terminal in accordance with an adjustable set point. A heater is also provided in the terminal for those occasions where the return air is cooler than the set point.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin W. Ward
- 👤 Norman Stoliar
- 👤 Lewis Marton
- 👤 Geoffrey N. Beeche
- 👤 Leslie Phipps
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:15
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F7/00; F24F7/04; F24F7/06; F24F7/10; F24F2221/00; F24F2221/38; F24F2221/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A self-contained air circulating terminal configured to be substituted for a floor module in a raised floor of an under floor delivery air conditioning system, said terminal being electrically powered and comprising: a housing configured to be connected into said raised floor in place of a floor tile at a floor tile receiving location and including an upper surface for flush disposition with the floor surface; an inlet chamber in said housing having a first inlet formed on the upper surface and opening into a space to be serviced and a second inlet provided through an opening located below the level of the raised floor to communicate with a plenum under said floor; an outlet chamber in said housing having an outlet formed in the upper surface and opening into the space to be serviced; an electric fan located between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to propel air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; proportioning means for controlling the proportion of air flowing into the inlet chamber from said first inlet and said second inlet respectively; temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of air entering said first inlet; and modulating means for modulating said proportioning means in accordance with the temperature of air entering said first inlet to control the temperature of the air propelled to the outlet chamber; and an electric power connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A self-contained air circulating terminal configured to be substituted for a floor module in a raised floor of an under floor delivery air conditioning system, said terminal being electrically powered and comprising: a housing configured to be connected into said raised floor in place of a floor tile at a floor tile receiving location and including an upper surface for flush disposition with the floor surface; an inlet chamber in said housing having a first inlet formed on the upper surface and opening into a space to be serviced and a second inlet provided through an opening located below the level of the raised floor to communicate with a plenum under said floor; an outlet chamber in said housing having an outlet formed in the upper surface and opening into the space to be serviced; an electric fan located between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to propel air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; proportioning means for controlling the proportion of air flowing into the inlet chamber from said first inlet and said second inlet respectively; temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of air entering said first inlet; and modulating means for modulating said proportioning means in accordance with the temperature of air entering said first inlet to control the temperature of the air propelled to the outlet chamber; and an electric power connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The terminal of claim 1 further including an electric heater operable in response to the temperature sensing means for heating the air flowing through the terminal when the temperture of the air flowing through the first inlet is below a predetermined level and the proportioning means is completely blocking airflow through the second inlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein the first inlet and the outlet are each provided with a grill at the upper surface of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein the proportioning means includes a damper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The terminal of claim 1 further including a second air delivery means defined by a duct communicating with the outlet chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The terminal of claim 5 wherein the duct further includes propulsion means for propelling air therethrough, a first portion fixed relative to the outlet chamber and a second portion moveable with respect to the first portion, and an air outlet vent located in the second portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The terminal of claim 6 further including a manually operable switch for controlling the operation of the propulsion means and flexible joint means connecting the first and second portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
269 words
An air conditioning system comprising a plenum located below a raised floor for distributing cooling air to a conditioned space located above said floor; air cooling means drawing air from the conditioned space and delivering it to the plenum after cooling and an air circulating terminal mounted in the raised floor; said air circulating terminal being self-contained and configured to be substituted for a floor tile in said raised floor, said air circulating terminal comprising: a housing configured to be connected into said raised floor in place of a floor tile at a floor tile receiving location and including an upper surface for flush disposition with the floor surface; an inlet chamber in said housing having a first inlet formed on the upper surface and opening into a space to be serviced and a second inlet opening located below the level of the raised floor to communicate with the plenum under said floor; an outlet chamber in said housing having an outlet formed in the upper surface and opening into the space to be serviced; an electric fan located between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to propel air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; proportioning means for controlling the proportion of air flowing into the inlet chamber from said first inlet and said second inlet respectively; temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of air entering said first inlet; and modulating means for modulating said proportioning means in accordance with the temperature of air entering said first inlet to control the temperature of the air propelled to the outlet chamber; and an electric power connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
269 words
An air conditioning system comprising a plenum located below a raised floor for distributing cooling air to a conditioned space located above said floor; air cooling means drawing air from the conditioned space and delivering it to the plenum after cooling and an air circulating terminal mounted in the raised floor; said air circulating terminal being self-contained and configured to be substituted for a floor tile in said raised floor, said air circulating terminal comprising: a housing configured to be connected into said raised floor in place of a floor tile at a floor tile receiving location and including an upper surface for flush disposition with the floor surface; an inlet chamber in said housing having a first inlet formed on the upper surface and opening into a space to be serviced and a second inlet opening located below the level of the raised floor to communicate with the plenum under said floor; an outlet chamber in said housing having an outlet formed in the upper surface and opening into the space to be serviced; an electric fan located between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber to propel air from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; proportioning means for controlling the proportion of air flowing into the inlet chamber from said first inlet and said second inlet respectively; temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of air entering said first inlet; and modulating means for modulating said proportioning means in accordance with the temperature of air entering said first inlet to control the temperature of the air propelled to the outlet chamber; and an electric power connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The terminal system of claim 8 further including a second air delivery means for delivering a cooling air stream to the conditioned space from the plenum, which delivery means is provided with a fan for propelling the air into the conditioned space and a moveable outlet means for directing the airstream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The terminal system of claim 9 wherein the second delivery means includes a duct communicating with the plenum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The terminal system of claim 10 wherein the duct further includes a first rigid portion extending vertically from the raised floor, a flexible portion extending from the first rigid portion and a second rigid portion extending substantially horizontally from the flexible portion.
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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) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |