Overhead ambient air control system

Abstract

The invention relates to an overhead ambient air control system. The overhead passenger comfort module is provided with a module section having: a support frame member comprising a peripheral trim frame member; and a ventilation system supported by the support frame member. The ventilation system comprises: a supply conduit adapted to be fluidly connected to a ventilation air supply; and first and second branch conduits fluidly connected at one end to the supply conduit and terminating in the elongated first and second vent openings at the first and second edge regions of the support frame member. Concave curved first and second edge diffuser portions are provided that are positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first and second vent openings, respectively. Thus, vent air exiting from the first and second vent openings will strike on the concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions to create a volume of diffused air substantially enclosing a passenger seated thereunder and establish a personal ambient air zone for the passenger.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of domestic priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 506,940, filed on June 8, 2023, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to overhead ambient air control systems that provide for the comfort of vehicle passengers, for example, passengers being transported by a mass transit vehicle such as an aircraft, bus, train, or the like. Background Art

[0004] In many mass transit vehicles, such as aircraft, it is conventional to have an overhead passenger comfort module which may include personal lights and forced air ventilators. The forced air ventilators are typically poppet valves which the passenger can tighten / loosen which in turn results in the closing / opening of the valve cone of the valve relative to the vent opening, thereby regulating the amount of air ventilation delivered. The air flow direction may also be manipulated by providing a ball and socket connection of the poppet valve to the overhead passenger comfort module. These types of conventional forced air ventilators are colloquially referred to as "gaspers" in aircraft parlance.

[0005] One problem associated with conventional blowers is that these devices are generally not usable for extended periods of time during transport, as the exhaust ventilation air jet is rather narrow, which may cause discomfort to the passenger during extended use. For example, if the rather narrow ventilation air jet is directed towards the passenger's face, the passenger's eyes and nose may feel dry. As a result, the passenger may redirect the ventilation air jet to a different area of ​​the face, or even turn the blower off completely after a short period of use. Such conventional blowers are also not conducive to the aesthetics of a modern executive transport cabin.

[0006] Therefore, there is a continuing need in the art for a forced air ventilation device that reduces or completely eliminates the problems associated with conventional blower devices. Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to providing a solution to such problems. Summary of the invention

[0007] In general, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a personal overhead air ventilator for a vehicle passenger that distributes air flow between two possible output paths into a recessed frame that diffuses and widely disperses the air flow, thereby creating a personalized ambient air zone that establishes a personal microclimate for the passenger. In addition, the presence of two air outlet paths (with their electronically controlled corresponding openings) allows for different air flow intensities and greater air flow coverage for the ambient air zone. Thus, the ambient air zone will in turn create a personalized atmosphere for the vehicle passenger that is more comfortable (e.g., less noisy, does not dry out the passenger's eyes / nose, etc.) during extended use.

[0008] According to the embodiment disclosed herein, the air ventilator is included in the overhead passenger comfort module and is responsible for providing air to the passenger through one or both of the two electronically controlled outlets. The air ventilator receives air from the onboard air conditioning or external air ventilation distribution system and guides the air into the cabin through the vents and introduces it into the passenger comfort module located above each passenger. Once the air leaves the supply pipe of the air supply system, the air will freely hit the concavely curved contour edge frame, which causes the air to lose speed and obtain dispersion in the flow area, thereby generating a kind of "fog" near the passenger's face. This fog of diffused air provides freshness (e.g., ambient air effect) without the need to guide the air jet onto the passenger's body and without causing discomfort due to the high air flow speeds usually associated with conventional blower devices.

[0009] According to certain embodiments, an overhead passenger comfort module is provided, comprising a module section, the module section comprising: a supporting frame member, the module section comprising a peripheral decorative frame member; and a ventilation system, the module section being supported by the supporting frame member. The ventilation system may preferably include: a supply duct, the module section being adapted to be fluidly connected to a supply source of ventilation air; and first and second branch ducts, the module sections being fluidly connected to the supply duct at one end and terminating in elongated first and second ventilation openings at first and second edge regions of the supporting frame member. The decorative frame member itself may include concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions, the first and second ventilation openings being positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings, respectively. Thus, ventilation air exhausted from the first and second ventilation openings will impinge on the concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions of the decorative frame member to create a diffused air volume that substantially encloses a passenger seated thereunder, thereby establishing a personal ambient air zone for the passenger.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the overhead passenger comfort module may include first and second valves operatively associated with the first and second branch ducts and operable to control air flow therethrough, respectively. Thus, a passenger-accessible control unit may be operatively connected to the first and second valves to allow the passenger to control air flow through the first and second branch ducts, respectively, thereby adjusting the ambient air zone to suit personal preferences.

[0011] The support frame may include a front panel attached to the support frame so as to visually cover a ventilation system supported by the support frame.The front panel may be substantially planar.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first and second ventilation openings are positioned at the side edge regions and the bottom edge regions of the support frame member. The concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions are thereby positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings at the side edge regions and the bottom edge regions of the support frame member, respectively.

[0013] A mirrored pair of said module sections may be provided. Such an embodiment is particularly useful for overhead passenger comfort in vehicles having a so-called club seating arrangement (i.e., a pair of facing passenger seats). In such an embodiment, each module section may be positioned overhead of a respective one of the passenger seats to provide a respective personalized ambient air zone for the passenger in the seat.

[0014] These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon careful consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1A and Figure 1B is an elevation view of an aircraft cabin interior showing the placement of an overhead passenger comfort module in a club seating arrangement, the overhead passenger comfort module including a conventional air blower ( Figure 1A ) and an air ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention ( Figure 1B );

[0017] Figure 2 and Figure 3 According to the embodiments of the present invention respectively Figure 1B Independent bottom and top front perspective views of the air ventilation system shown in;

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 and Figure 3 A back plan view of the air ventilation system shown in ;

[0019] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 and Figure 3 An enlarged perspective view of an end portion of the air ventilation system shown in;

[0020] Figure 6 is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the air ventilation system taken along line 6-6 in FIG.

[0021] Figure 7 is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the air ventilation system taken along line 7-7 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Attached Figure 1A Schematically, the interior space of a vehicle, such as the interior cabin of an aircraft, is shown, which is provided with a conventional overhead passenger comfort module CM including a ventilation blower VG. A passenger seat PS1 is positioned near the bottom of the comfort module CM so that a relatively narrow air jet AJ emitted from the blower VG can be directed toward the face of a passenger P1 seated in the passenger seat PS1. As briefly described above, the blower VG can be manipulated to open / close the associated poppet valve to adjust the air flow in the air jet and / or to rotate the blower VJ to select the desired direction vector of the air jet AJ.

[0023] exist Figure 1B 1 depicts an overhead passenger comfort module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Instead of the relatively narrow air jets AJ produced by conventional blowers VG, the passenger comfort module 10 produces a widely diffused air zone AZ that envelops a passenger P2 seated in a passenger seat PS2 below. Thus, the passenger comfort module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a personal ambient air environment for the passenger P2 that can be modulated and controlled, as described below.

[0024] Attached Figures 2 to 7 A passenger comfort module 10 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in more detail. As shown in the figure, the passenger comfort module 10 is provided with mirrored module sections 10a, 10b, each module section having a support frame 11a, 11b and a visible substantially planar front panel 12a, 12b, respectively, which covers the support frame 11a, 11b and the ventilation system 14a, 14b supported by the support frame 11a, 11b (see FIG. Figure 4). The decorative frame members 16a, 16b are integrally joined to the supporting frame members 11a, 11b and surround the peripheral edge of the panels 12a, 12b. Each decorative frame member 16a, 16b integrally includes a concavely curved side edge diffuser portion 16a1, 16a2 and a bottom edge diffuser portion 16b1, 16b2, which are adjacent to and spaced apart from the side edge and distal bottom edge of the panels 12a, 12b, respectively.

[0025] Optionally, each of the module sections 10a, 10b may be provided with a signal light system 20a, 20b. Optionally, if desired, the signal light system 20a, 20b may be replaced by an information display screen or some other form of passenger interface device.

[0026] Importantly for the embodiments disclosed herein, the ventilation systems 14a, 14b of the module segments 10a, 10b will include supply ducts 24a, 24b connected to the vehicle's onboard air conditioning / ventilation system 25. Each of the supply ducts is fluidly connected to a pair of branch ducts 24a1, 24a2 and 24b1, 24b2, which terminate in respective elongated ventilation openings 26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2. Passenger P2 can control the respective electric valves 28a1, 28a2, 28b1, 28b2 via the air control units 30a, 30b, respectively, and thereby control the air flow volume and therefore the speed through each of the branch ducts 24a1, 24a2 and 24b1, 24b2 through the respective electric valves 28a1, 28a2, 28b1, 28b2. The air control unit 30a, 30b may be an integral part of the module section 10a, 10b or mounted near or as an integral part of the passenger seat.

[0027] It should be understood that Figures 2 to 7 The passenger comfort module 10 depicted in and described above may be desirably used in a club seating arrangement such as depicted in FIG. 1 , where each of the passengers P1, P2 may enjoy a diffuse ambient air environment enabled by a respective module section 10a, 10b, respectively. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments disclosed herein may be used in other types of seating arrangements, including in-line seating arrangements.

[0028] Therefore, the air jets discharged from each of the elongated ventilation openings 26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2 will impinge on the concavely curved side edge diffuser portions 16a1, 16a2 and the bottom edge diffuser portions 16b1, 16b2, respectively. Specifically, the air jets discharged from the ventilation openings 26a1, 26b1 will be directed toward the curved side edge diffuser portions 16a1, 16b1 in a direction substantially parallel or slightly angled downward (e.g., 5°-15°) relative to the longitudinal axis of the module sections 10a, 10b, respectively. On the other hand, the air jets discharged from the ventilation openings 26a2, 26b2 will be directed toward the curved side edge diffuser portions 16a2, 16b2 in a substantially orthogonal (e.g., 90°±about 5°) direction. Thus, the air jets discharged from the ventilation openings 26b1, 26b2 that impinge on the side edge diffuser 16b1 and the bottom edge diffuser 16b2 will be caused to merge, thereby forming a widely diffused air zone AZ volume that envelops the passenger P2 seated in the passenger seat PS2 therebelow (see Figure 1B ). Similarly, although not shown, if the passenger seat PS1 is provided with the module unit 10a, instead of Figure 1A A conventional comfort module including a ventilation blower VG as shown in the figure will cause the air jets discharged from the ventilation openings 26a1, 26a2 that impinge on the side edge diffusers 16a1 and the bottom edge diffuser 16a2 to merge, thereby forming a similar widely diffused air zone volume, which encloses the passenger P1 sitting in the passenger seat PS1 below.

[0029] Therefore, although reference has been made to specific embodiments of the present invention, various modifications within the skill of those skilled in the art may be envisioned. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. An overhead passenger comfort module, the overhead passenger comfort module comprising a module section, the module section comprising: a supporting frame member, the supporting frame member including a peripheral decorative frame member; and a ventilation system supported by the supporting frame member, wherein The ventilation system comprises: (i) a supply conduit adapted to be fluidly connected to a supply source of ventilation air; as well as (ii) first and second branch conduits, the first and second branch conduits being fluidly connected at one end to the supply conduit and terminating in first and second elongated vent openings at first and second edge regions of the support frame member, and wherein The trim frame member includes concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions, the first and second edge diffuser portions being positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings, respectively, wherein Ventilation air discharged from the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening impinges on the concavely curved first edge diffuser portion and the second edge diffuser portion of the decorative frame member to produce a diffused air volume that substantially encloses a passenger seated thereunder, thereby establishing a personal ambient air zone for the passenger.

2. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 1 , further comprising a first valve and a second valve operatively associated with the first branch conduit and the second branch conduit and operable to respectively control air flow therethrough.

3. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 2, further comprising a control unit operatively connected to the first valve and the second valve to allow a passenger to control air flow through the first branch duct and the second branch duct, respectively.

4. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 1 further comprising a front panel attached to the support frame and visually covering the ventilation system.

5. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 4, wherein: The front panel is substantially planar.

6. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 1, wherein The first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening are positioned at the side edge region and the bottom edge region of the support frame member, and wherein Concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions are positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings at side and bottom edge regions of the support frame member, respectively.

7. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a speaker system, a signal light system, and an information display screen.

8. A vehicle comprising a passenger seat and an overhead passenger comfort module according to claim 1 positioned above the passenger seat.

9. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein: The transportation vehicle is a passenger aircraft, a passenger bus or a passenger train carriage.

10. An overhead passenger comfort module comprising a pair of adjacent module sections that are mirror images, wherein: Each of the module sections comprises: a supporting frame member including a perimeter decorative frame member; and a ventilation system supported by the supporting frame member, wherein The ventilation system comprises: (i) a supply conduit adapted to be fluidly connected to a supply source of ventilation air; and (ii) first and second branch conduits, the first and second branch conduits being fluidly connected at one end to the supply conduit and terminating in first and second elongated vent openings at first and second edge regions of the support frame member, and wherein The trim frame member includes concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions, the first and second edge diffuser portions being positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings, respectively, wherein Ventilation air discharged from the first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening impinges on the concavely curved first edge diffuser portion and the second edge diffuser portion of the decorative frame member to produce a diffused air volume that substantially encloses a passenger seated thereunder, thereby establishing a personal ambient air zone for the passenger.

11. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 10, wherein: Each of the module sections further includes a first valve and a second valve operatively associated with the first branch conduit and the second branch conduit and operable to respectively control air flow therethrough.

12. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 11, wherein: Each of the module segments further comprises a control unit operatively connected to the first valve and the second valve to allow a passenger to control air flow through the first branch duct and the second branch duct, respectively.

13. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 10, wherein: Each of the module sections further comprises a front panel attached to the support frame and visually covering the ventilation system.

14. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 13, wherein: The front panel is substantially planar.

15. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 10, wherein The first ventilation opening and the second ventilation opening are positioned at the side edge region and the bottom edge region of the corresponding support frame member, and wherein Concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions are positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first and second ventilation openings at the side edge regions and the bottom edge regions of the support frame member, respectively.

16. The overhead passenger comfort module of claim 10, wherein: Each of the module sections further includes at least one of a speaker system, a signal light system, and an information display screen.

17. A vehicle comprising a pair of passenger seats and an overhead passenger comfort module according to claim 10, wherein the overhead passenger comfort module is located above the passenger seats so that passengers in the passenger seats have a corresponding one of the module sections positioned overhead.

18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein: The transportation vehicle is a passenger aircraft, a passenger bus or a passenger train carriage.

19. An aircraft comprising a pair of facing passenger seats and an overhead passenger comfort module according to claim 10, wherein the overhead passenger comfort module is located above the passenger seats so that passengers in the passenger seats have a corresponding one of the module sections positioned overhead.

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