Air-conditioning duct assembly
Field of Invention
The invention relates to a textile or foil air-conditioning duct assembly comprising a first air- conditioning duct and an air-conditioning duct component, which is provided with a reinforcing hoop at least at one of its ends to delimit inner circumference of the air-conditioning duct component with regards to its cross-section.
Background Art
Air-conditioning ducts follow relatively long paths, wherein the length, placement and other specifics of the individual parts are designed on the basis of a measurement of the place of destination. In some cases, the length of an already manufactured air duct needs to be adjusted on site.
If the air-conditioning duct is made of textile or foil, the individual parts of the air-conditioning duct are sewn as finished goods and changing their length on site is not possible, or such a change would significantly impair its appearance, eventually also its function.
The aim of the invention is to design such an air-conditioning duct assembly which allows for adjusting or adapting its length directly on site.
Furthermore, in many cases it is desirable to allow users to adjust the amount of air brought to a particular place according to their current needs and requirement, without having to centrally reconfigure the amount of air fed by said air-conditioning duct.
For example, the Czech utility model no. 23418 discloses a textile air-conditioning duct, wherein its wall comprises a set of through-openings and is provided with a guiding element for guiding a regulating belt. This regulating belt is also provided with through-openings and is arranged adjacent to the wall with through-openings and is movable along the through- openings. The size of the openings through which the air can flow to surroundings, thus also the amount of air exiting the air duct, is defined by the degree of alignment of the openings in the regulating belt with the openings in the duct wall.
Given the flexibility of the textile material of the regulating belt as well as the air duct, adjusting the alignment is cumbersome, particularly in long duct components, and a current configuration cannot be satisfactorily checked by looking at the duct from outside. The aim of the invention is thus also to provide a textile or foil air-conditioning duct with a possibility of easily changing the amount of the air output.
Summary of the Invention
The above-mentioned problems are solved by an air-conditioning duct assembly comprising a first air-conditioning duct having a wall made of textile and/or foil, and an air-conditioning duct component having a wall made of textile and/or foil, wherein said air-conditioning duct component is, near its first end, provided with a first reinforcing hoop for delimiting an inner circumference of the air-conditioning duct component, wherein the first end of the air-conditioning duct component is inserted into an end of the first air-conditioning duct and its first reinforcing hoop adjoins, through the wall of the air- conditioning duct component, to an inner side of the wall of the first air-conditioning duct, wherein a second end of the first air-conditioning duct is arranged outside of the first air-conditioning duct, or the first end of the air-conditioning duct component is slipped over the first air- conditioning duct and its first reinforcing hoop adjoins, through the wall of the air- conditioning air duct, to an outer side of the wall of the first air-conditioning duct, wherein a length of a mutual overlap of the air-conditioning duct component and the air- conditioning duct, i.e. the depth in which the air-conditioning duct component is inserted into the first air-conditioning duct, or the depth in which the first air-conditioning duct is inserted into the first duct component, is adjustable.
The duct assembly preferably comprises a tensioning element for tensioning the air- conditioning assembly in a longitudinal direction. The tensioning element is preferably arranged outside the air-conditioning assembly.
The second end of the duct component is preferably provided with a second reinforcing hoop for delimiting its inner circumference.
The duct assembly may comprise a second air-conditioning duct, into which the second end of the duct component is inserted, wherein the second reinforcing hoop adjoins, through the wall of the air-conditioning duct component, to an inner side of the second air-conditioning duct, or over which the second end of the duct component is slipped, said second end being provided with the second reinforcing hoop for defining the inner circumference of the duct component, wherein said second reinforcing hoop adjoins, through the wall of the air-conditioning duct component, to an outer side of the second air-conditioning duct, wherein a length of a mutual overlap of the duct component and the second air-conditioning duct, measured in a direction of their longitudinal axis, is preferably adjustable.
The first air-conditioning duct and the second air-conditioning duct are preferably mutually connected by at least one connecting strap which may have an adjustable length and is disjoinable or disconnectable from one of the air-conditioning ducts and is intended to fix a maximal mutual distance of the first air-conditioning duct and the second air-conditioning duct.
In a preferred embodiment, the duct component may be provided with at least one longitudinal reinforcement extending in parallel to an axis of the duct component adjacent to its inner side.
The first air-conditioning duct, the air-conditioning duct component and the second air- conditioning duct are arranged with a common axis and/or are suspended on a common supporting rail or a supporting cord.
The longitudinal reinforcement is preferably attached to the inner side of the duct component and its length is smaller than a mutual distance between the reinforcing hoops, preferably the length of the longitudinal reinforcement corresponds to 80 to 99.9 % of the mutual distance between the reinforcement rings.
The longitudinal reinforcement may be attached to the wall by means of at least one linear sleeve and/or loop and/or pocket.
In a preferred embodiment, the duct component comprises a set of 2 to 8, preferably 3 to 6 mutually parallel reinforcements, preferably arranged with a uniform mutual angular spacing, and/or the longitudinal reinforcements are in the form of rods or boards.
The duct component is preferably provided with a suspension element, attached to its wall on its outer side and intended for hanging the duct component onto a carrier. For certain applications, the wall of the duct component comprises thorough-openings and the duct component is arranged rotatably about a common axis of the duct component and the first air-conditioning duct and/or slidably along a common axis of the duct component and the first air-conditioning duct.
In certain cases, it is preferable when a wall of the first air-conditioning duct comprises passages which can be at least partly aligned with the through-openings of the duct component.
The length of the mutual overlap of the duct component and the first air-conditioning duct, measured in the direction of their longitudinal axis, is adjustable in a range of at least 30 %, preferably at least 40 % of the length of the air duct component.
Brief Description of Drawings
The invention is described in more detail based on exemplifying embodiments, which are schematically depicted in the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an air-conditioning component, Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the air-conditioning component of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail of said cross section, Fig. 4 is a detail of a longitudinal section, Fig. 5 is a side view of a duct assembly comprising air-conditioning ducts with the air-conditioning duct component of Fig. 1 in a first position and Fig. 6 is a side view of the duct assembly of Fig. 5 in a second position, in which the assembly has a shorter length than in the first position. Fig. 7 shows a portion of a second air-conditioning duct with an embodiment of a tensioning element. Fig. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning duct assembly in a state opened to maximum and Fig. 9 shows a side view of the air-conditioning duct assembly of Fig. 9 in a closed state.
Description of Exemplifying Embodiments
The embodiment of an air-conditioning duct component 1 shown on Fig. 1 to 4 comprises a wall enclosing a cylindrical interior space.
The duct component 1 comprises four longitudinal reinforcements 12 which extend along the wall of the duct component 1 in parallel to its longitudinal axis and which are disposed about this axis with a uniform mutual angular spacing. The longitudinal reinforcements 12 are removably attached to the wall of the duct component 1, each longitudinal reinforcement 12 being attached by means of a linear sleeve 15 made of a textile material which is closed, or rather closed by sewing, on one end, and which is closable by a flap 17 on the other end, wherein the flap 17 is fixed to the wall of the duct component 1 and may cover an end region of the linear sleeve 15. In the depicted embodiment, the end region of the linear sleeve 15 and a free end of the flap 17 are provided with mutually complementary component of a Velcro fastener for holding the flap 17 in a closed position. An alternative holding element can fulfil the same function, e.g. a snap fastener, a clip, or a button and a hole, a hook and a loop, combinations thereof or other elements.
In another embodiment, the linear sleeve 15 can be opened and closed by the flap 17 on both of its ends.
In another embodiment, the flap 17 is not used, but the linear sleeve 15 can be closed by holding elements, e.g. by snap fasteners or Velcro fasteners etc. which are arranged within the linear sleeve 15 in its end region and which allow it to be closed.
Alternatively, each longitudinal reinforcement 12 can be attached to the wall of the duct by means of e.g. a pair of pockets which face each other with their inlet openings and into which the ends of the respective longitudinal reinforcement 12 are inserted, and/or by means of at least two loops or irremovably using a closed sleeve etc.
The depicted duct component 1 further comprises a first reinforcing hoop 13 A on its first end and a second reinforcing hoop 13B on its second end, wherein each of them is attached to the wall of the duct component 1 to define its inner circumference. Each reinforcing hoop 13 A, 13B is attached in the duct component 1, either removably or irremovably, by means of a circumferential sleeve 16, alternatively by loops, straps etc.
Generally, the length of the longitudinal reinforcements 12 is preferably smaller than the length of the duct component 1, eventually smaller than the mutual distance between the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B, but is more than 60%, preferably more than 70% of the length of the duct component 1, or of the mutual distance between the reinforcing hoops 13A, 13B.
The longitudinal reinforcements 12 and/or the reinforcing hoops 13A, 13B are made e.g. of metal, plastic or a composite plastic or a combination thereof. The duct component 1 is provided with a suspension element 14 for suspension of the duct component 1 on a supporting cord 9 or alternatively on a supporting rail or another supporting element.
The suspension element is e.g. a loop attached to the wall of the duct component 1, or it extends through the wall of the duct component 1 and is attached to the longitudinal reinforcement 12.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a duct assembly comprising a first air-conditioning duct 5, a second air- conditioning duct 6 and a duct component 1 which interconnects these air-conditioning ducts 5, 6.
The air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 also comprise a wall made of textile and/or foil and their inner cross section essentially corresponds to an outer cross section of the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B, or eventually to an outer cross section of the air-conditioning duct component 1.
The air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are, at their ends with which they face each other, provided with reinforcing rings 51, 61 for defining an inner circumference of a respective end of the air- conditioning duct 5, 6. The reinforcing rings 51, 61 are fixed to the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 preferably removably, although they can be fixed irremovably.
Furthermore, on these ends, the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are provided with a tightening element, e.g. an elastic band.
The tightening element is always arranged in parallel to the respective reinforcing ring 51, 61 so that the tightening element tightens, or rather reduces the cross section of the air-conditioning duct in a plane which is farther from the end of the respective air-conditioning duct 5, 6 than a plane in which the respective reinforcing ring 5, 6 is placed. In an alternative embodiment, said plane can be less far. However, the use of the tightening element is generally not necessary.
The mutually facing ends of the air-conditioning duct 5, 6 may be provided with at least one releasable connecting strap 18 having an adjustable length, to which it is detachably fixable. For example, the end of the first air-conditioning duct 5 can be provided with a pair of connecting straps 18 whose attachment locations are disposed about the axis of the air- conditioning duct 5 with a mutual angular spacing, whereas the end of the second air- conditioning duct 6 facing said end of the first air-conditioning duct is provided with a pair of clips 19, each of said clips 19 adapted for attaching and locking of one of the connecting straps 18 or vice versa. The connecting straps 18 and/or clips 19 are preferably attached to the wall of the air- conditioning ducts 5, 6 on their inner side, although they can also be attached on the outer side.
The air-conditioning assembly of Fig. 5 and 6 can be used in the following way:
At the installation site, the first air-conditioning duct 5 is assembled in a conventional way and is suspended on the supporting cord 9, wherein the second air-conditioning duct 6 is assembled and suspended on the supporting cord 6 as well. If, after placing the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 in a desired position, a gap remains between their mutually facing ends, the air-conditioning duct component 1 is used in the following way:
The air-conditioning duct component 1 is assembled, i.e. the longitudinal reinforcements 12 and then the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B are attached in the duct component 1. The assembled duct component 1 is suspended on the supporting cord 9 between the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 and its first end with the first reinforcing hoop 13 A is inserted into the end of the first air- conditioning duct 5, whereupon its second end with the second reinforcing hoop 13B is inserted into the end of the second air-conditioning duct 6. The gaps between the wall of the duct component 1 and the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are sealed by the effect of the outer surfaces of the duct component 1 adjoining to the inner surfaces of the walls of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 in a region in which the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B are placed, and by the effect of the inner surfaces of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 adjoining to the outer surfaces of the duct component 1 in the region of their reinforcing rings 51, 61. In addition or alternatively, the sealing in the region of the ends of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 may be ensured by a tightening part, e.g. an elastic, band in the end regions of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6.
As is obvious from Fig. 4 and 5, it is possible to interconnect the pair of air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 by means of the above-mentioned duct component 1, wherein the mutual distance between the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 may be adjustable essentially in the extent of almost the entire length of the duct component 1.
This mutual distance may be subsequently fixed as the maximum distance by means of at least one interconnecting strap 18 which is e.g. firmly attached to the end of the first air-conditioning duct 5, whereupon it is guided in parallel to the axis of the duct component 1 along its outer side towards the end of the second duct 6, wherein it is attached to the clip such that it is fully stretched. Preferably, at least two interconnecting straps 18 are used, advantageously two to five interconnecting straps 18 and corresponding clips 19. Instead of a clip, another interconnecting element may be used, e.g. a Velcro strap, a hook, a loop etc. Instead of the interconnecting strap 18, interconnecting cord etc. may be used.
The above-mentioned air-conditioning duct component 1 can be also used in a duct assembly in which one of its ends is inserted into the first air-conditioning duct 5, and its other end is closed, or rather blocked, so that it forms an end portion, wherein the length of the duct assembly may be adjusted by the degree to which the air-conditioning duct component 1 is inserted into the first air-conditioning duct 5. In such a case, the interconnecting straps 18, eventually the clips 19 if they are present, are fixed to the corresponding end of the first air- conditioning duct 5, while the corresponding clips 19, eventually the interconnecting straps 18, are attached to the end of the duct component 1 which faces away, e.g. in the region where the corresponding reinforcing hoop 13 A 13B, eventually the end ring 60 shown in Fig. 7, is located.
Thanks to the interconnecting straps 18, such a duct assembly can be better stretched in the longitudinal direction.
As is shown in Fig. 7, the second air-conditioning duct 6 may be blinded at the end facing away from the duct component 1 and may be provided with an end ring 60 with a radial reinforcement 65 (in the present case cross-shaped), wherein in the central region of the radial reinforcement 65, a stretching pull 40 for stretching the entire assembly in its longitudinal direction.
If the assembly comprises a blocked duct component 1 as an end portion, such a tightening element may be attached to the duct component 1 (instead of to the second air-conditioning duct 6).
In the description above, a duct assembly has been described in which the individual parts have circular cross-sections. The invention may also be used in a duct assembly comprising a duct having an oval, semicircular, rectangular, triangular or generally any closed cross-section. As a requirement, the outer circumference of the cross-section of the air-conditioning duct component 1 has to approximately (or with a slight overlap) correspond to the inner circumference of the cross-section of the air ducts 5, 6 to be interconnected, eventually of the air duct 5, 6 to be attached.
In a further alternative embodiment, one or several longitudinal reinforcements 12 may be connected to one or both reinforcing hoops 13A, 13B. In such a case, if the reinforcing hoops 13A, 13B are attached to the wall of the duct component 1, the longitudinal reinforcements 12 do not need to be attached directly to said wall of the duct component 1, or, on the contrary, it is sufficient to attach at least one longitudinal reinforcement to the wall of the duct component 1 and the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B do not need to be attached to the wall of the duct component.
However, the duct component 1 does not have to be provided with longitudinal reinforcements 12.
The duct component 1 in the assembly of Fig. 5 and 6 may also be slipped with its first end over the first air-conditioning duct 5 and/or with its second end over the second air-conditioning duct 6. If interconnecting straps 18 are used in such an assembly, it may be preferable to insert at least one end of the duct component 1 into the air-conditioning duct 5 or 6 so that the interconnecting strap 18 can be more conveniently attached to a required place on the corresponding air-conditioning duct 5 or 6. Nevertheless, the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 (eventually at least one of them) may be provided, on the outer side of the wall, with a first component of a grip element, e.g. a strap of one part of a Velcro fastener, which extends in parallel with the axis of the respective air-conditioning duct 5, 6, and the interconnecting strap comprises, or is a second - complementary - component of the grip element. After setting the mutual distance of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6, their position is fixed by the corresponding second component.
The exemplifying embodiment of the air-conditioning duct assembly shown in Fig. 8 and 9 comprises a first air-conditioning duct 5 made of textile, said first air-conditioning duct having an inlet opening for air supply and an outlet opening for air output.
In the region of the outlet opening, the first air-conditioning duct is provided with a reinforcing ring 51 for defining a shape of the cross-section of the outlet opening.
Furthermore, the assembly comprises a second air-conditioning duct 6 made of textile, which has an inlet opening for air supply, while the opposite end of the duct is blocked.
Alternatively, the second air-conditioning duct 6 may have an outlet opening on the second end and may be adapted for being connected to a subsequent duct.
The walls of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are provided with suspension elements 59, 69, by means of which they are suspended on the supporting cord 9. Alternatively, a supporting board, a supporting profile or another supporting element may be used instead of the supporting cord 9.
The assembly further comprises a duct component 1, wherein the wall of said duct component 1 is made of textile or foil and is provided with through-openings 10. The air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 and the duct component 1 are arranged on a common axis.
The through-openings 10 can be disposed on the entire wall or merely in a portion of the wall of the duct component 1, e.g. in a region of a sector of an angle in the range 100° to 200° about the axis of the duct component 1, while the wall pertaining to the remaining sector of an angle in the range of 160° to 260° may be without through-openings 10 or may comprise another type/another size of the through-openings 10.
At its first end, the duct component 1 is provided with a first reinforcing hoop 13 A, and at its second end, the duct component 1 is provided with a second reinforcing hoop 13B for defining a shape of cross-sections of the ends of the duct component 1.
The shape and the size of the first reinforcing ring 51 of the first air-conditioning duct 5 essentially corresponds to the shape and the size of the first reinforcing hoop 13 A and the shape and the size of the second reinforcing ring 61 of the second air-conditioning duct 6 essentially corresponds to the shape and the size of the second reinforcing hoop 13B.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the reinforcing rings 51, 61 are substantially identical to the reinforcing hoops 13A, 13B.
In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing rings 51, 61 and/or the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B are housed in a sleeve made from material of the wall of the corresponding air-conditioning duct 5, 6 / of the duct component 1, but they can be also attached to such a wall by other means. It is particularly preferable to attach them removably, eventually detachably.
In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet end of the duct component 1 along with its first reinforcing hoop 13 A is inserted into the outlet end of the first air-conditioning duct 5, and the outlet end of the duct component 1 along with its second reinforcing hoop 13B is inserted into the inlet end of the second air-conditioning duct 6.
The first reinforcing hoop 13 A thus adjoins (via a wall of the sleeve in which it is housed) to the inner side of the wall of the first air-conditioning duct 5 along a closed curve (a circle), the first reinforcing ring 51 of the first air-conditioning duct 5 adjoins (via a wall of the sleeve in which it is housed) to the outer side of the wall of the duct component 1 along a closed curve (circle), the second reinforcing hoop 13B of the duct component 1 adjoins (via a wall of the sleeve in which it is housed) to the inner side of the wall of the second air-conditioning duct 6 along a closed curve (a circle), and the second reinforcing ring 61 of the second air-conditioning duct 6 adjoins (via a wall of the sleeve in which it is housed) to the outer side of the wall of the air duct 1 along a closed curve (a circle).
The first and the second air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are thus mutually connected and, along with the duct component 1, form an inner channel for air which is fed into the inlet of the first air- conditioning duct 5.
In a state which is illustrated on Fig. 8, the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are as far from each other as possible, or rather the distance between them corresponds to the mutual distance of the reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B of the duct component 1 minus the sum of the thicknesses of the reinforcing hoops 51, 61. The first reinforcing hoop 13A thus essentially adjoins (via the walls of the corresponding sleeves) to the first reinforcing ring 51 of the first air-conditioning duct 5 and the second reinforcing hoop 13B essentially indirectly adjoins to the second reinforcing ring 61 of the second air-conditioning duct 6.
The through-openings 10 are not covered in any way, allowing air to flow through them. If the through-openings 10 are disposed only in a certain section of an angle, it is possible to set the direction of the air exiting the duct component 1 by turning the duct component 1 (e.g. an upward and sideward direction in the case of a cooling air, or a downward and sideward direction in the case of a heated air).
In the state illustrated in Fig. 9, the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 are located almost as close to each other as possible, which can be carried out e.g. by sliding the second air-conditioning duct 6 on the supporting cord 9 towards the first air-conditioning duct 5.
As a result, the through-openings 10 in the duct component 1 are covered by the walls of the first air-conditioning duct 5 and the second air-conditioning duct 6 so that the air is prevented / blocked from exiting through these through-openings.
It is clear that, between the above-mentioned two illustrated states, various transition states may be selected, wherein only some of the through-openings 10 are covered by the first and/or second air-conditioning duct 5, 6, and the remaining through-openings 10 are free, allowing air to flow through them. In another embodiment, at least one end or both ends of the duct component 1 may be slipped over the end of the first air-conditioning duct 5 and the second air-conditioning duct 6, i.e. the ends of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 may be inserted into the duct component 1. Similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment, the regulation of the amount of air exiting the assembly through the through-openings 7 in this embodiment is also performed by setting the extent to which the through-openings 10 are covered by the walls of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6, and at the same time, the direction of the outlet air can be regulated by turning the duct component 1.
The walls in the end region of at least one of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 may also be provided with through-openings. As a result, it is possible to adjust the desired length of the assembly, or rather the desired mutual distance between the mutually facing ends of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6, and to set the degree of overlap of the through-openings of the duct component 1 and at least one of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 by turning the duct component 1, thereby also setting the amount of the outlet air. The function of the embodiment of Fig. 5 and 6 is thus combined with the embodiments of Fig. 8 and 9.
In the above-mentioned cases, the mutually facing end of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 may be provided with at least one releasable interconnecting strap 18 having an adjustable length between the points of attachment to the first and the second air-conditioning ducts 5, 6 as is described in relation to Fig. 5 and 6. This enables fixing the maximum mutual distance of the air-conditioning ducts 5, 6. However, using such interconnecting straps 18 is not necessary.
In yet another embodiment, the duct component 1 may be closed on its other end and provided with a suspension element, wherein the second air-conditioning duct 6 is not present and the duct component 1 forms an end portion of the air-conditioning duct assembly. The wall of the duct component 1 is provided with through-openings 10 and the degree of insertion of the duct component 1 in the first air-conditioning duct 5 then determines or affects the amount of air which, in the given region, exits the duct assembly. The wall of the first air-conditioning duct 5 may be eventually provided with through-openings so that it is possible to combine the setting of the length of the air-conditioning assembly and setting of the amount of the outlet air as described before.
The reinforcing hoops 13 A, 13B and/or the reinforcing rings 51, 61 may be, in any embodiment, made of metal, plastic, composite plastic or a combination thereof. The duct component 1 as used in any of the embodiments of Fig. 8 and 9 may additionally comprise at least one longitudinal reinforcement 12 as described in relation to Fig. 1 to 6.
The closed end of the air-conditioning assembly may also be always provided with a (not shown) stretching pull for stretching the assembly in the axial direction, i.e. for pulling the closed end of the air-conditioning assembly in the axial direction, eventually in the direction of the airflow of the air fed into the assembly.
Even though several exemplifying embodiments have been described, it is clear that a person skilled in the art would readily find further possible alternatives to these embodiments. The scope of the invention thus is not limited to these embodiments, but is rather defined by the appended claims.