Air vent and method for installing such an air vent

Abstract

The invention relates to an air vent comprising a casing (20) adapted to be embedded in an opening in a partition wall of a room. The casing (20) is adapted to transfer an airflow between at least one air circuit and a usable volume of the room. The casing (20) comprises an internal volume open to the usable volume and a plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) delimiting the internal volume from an external volume (34) of the casing (20). The casing (20) further comprises at least one window (36) provided in one of the walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) among the plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), the air outlet further comprising at least one connection element (38) to a duct of the air circuit, the connection element (38) being housed in the window (36). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Air vent and method of installing such an air vent

[0001] The present invention falls within the field of aeraulics applied in particular to the building sector. More specifically, the invention falls within the field of building blowers and in particular in ventilation, air treatment, air conditioning, dust removal, smoke extraction, etc.

[0002] In this respect, the present invention relates to an air vent such as a plenum adapted to diffuse and / or suck air into a room of a building.

[0003] Typically, an air vent is constituted by an air distribution plenum which constitutes an air connection between an air circuit and the room in which the plenum is installed. Generally, the air circuit is constituted by an air conditioning duct connected for example to an air conditioning system which can be reversible. Thus, depending on the outside temperature, the air distribution plenum can diffuse hot air or cold air. The duct is then generally connected to the plenum using a connection element often called a tapping.

[0004] Conventionally, an air distribution plenum comprises a box which is intended to be embedded in an opening made in a wall of the room in which the plenum is installed. Generally, the plenum is installed at the level of a ceiling wall.

[0005] In practice, the installation of an air distribution plenum generally begins with the installation by an installer of air conditioning and / or ventilation ducts which are connected to the air conditioning and / or ventilation system of the building. In a second step, a plasterer intervenes in order to erect the walls and ceiling which will delimit the useful volume of the room. At the same time, the plasterer delimits a reserved space provided between the walls of the room and the walls of the building. This reserved space adjoins the walls of the room and allows the thermal insulation system and connections which equip the room to be concealed, such as electrical, hydraulic, air-conditioning, telephone connections etc.

[0006] Once the room walls are installed, the installer installs the air distribution plenum at the ceiling wall. To this end, the configuration of the plenums present on the market requires the installer to carry out the installation of the plenum from the reservation space provided between the ceiling wall of the room, the ceiling wall and / or the roof.

[0007] However, new construction standards in states such as France tend to reduce the dimensions of these reservation spaces. More specifically, the reservation height provided between the ceiling wall of the room and the ceiling wall and / or the roof has been reduced to approximately 250 mm. Such a reduction in the reservation space implies an increase in the difficulty of installing an air distribution plenum for an installer.

[0008] Indeed, the installer who is forced to go through the reserved space located above the ceiling wall of the room sees his work space considerably reduced. The reduction in the installer's work space directly impacts the quality of the installation, the installation time, the difficulty of the installation, and the risk of injury. All these factors are traditionally passed on to the end user who sees his bill for installing the air conditioning system increase accordingly.

[0009] Furthermore, the boxes are used in different contexts of use by implementing different configurations. The boxes can be configured for air intake and / or air blowing and / or air diffusion. Depending on the configuration, the number and position of the ducts to be connected to the box varies. Thus, a large number of configurations each having a different number of connection elements or tappings and / or having connection elements at different positions on the box must be made available to meet the different contexts of use, which generates additional production costs.

[0010] Thus, the present invention proposes a method of installing an air vent which can be easily adapted to different contexts of use and which facilitates its installation.

[0011] To this end, the present invention relates to a method for installing an air vent. The method comprises the following successive steps:

[0012] a) a step of providing the box adapted to be embedded in an opening made in a partition of a room, the box being further adapted to transfer an air flow between at least one air circuit and a useful volume of the room, said box comprising an interior volume being open towards the useful volume and a plurality of walls delimiting the interior volume from an exterior volume of the box, the box further comprising at least one window arranged in one of the walls among the plurality of walls, and of providing an element for connection to a duct of the air circuit;

[0013] b) a step of connecting the connection element to the duct of the air circuit;

[0014] c) a step of embedding the box in the opening made in the partition of the room;

[0015] d) a step of gripping the connecting element through the window; and

[0016] e) a step of housing the connecting element in the window.

[0017] According to one possibility, in step e), a fixing element of the connection element is fixed to a fixing section of the box so as to house the connection element in the window.

[0018] These features make it easier to accommodate and fix the connecting element and the closing element in the window.

[0019] According to a possible additional characteristic, the connecting element is housed in the window by bringing the connecting element into the window from the external volume of the box.

[0020] These features make it easier to accommodate and fix the connecting element in the window when installing the box in the opening made in the partition.

[0021] According to one possibility, a closing element is further provided, the closing element being housed in the window, preferably before the box is fitted into the opening.

[0022] These characteristics make it easier to configure the box to adapt it more easily to different usage contexts.

[0023] The invention further relates to an air vent comprising a box adapted to be embedded in an opening provided in a partition of a room. The box is adapted to transfer an air flow between at least one air circuit and a useful volume of the room. The box comprises an interior volume being open towards the useful volume and a plurality of walls delimiting the interior volume from an exterior volume of the box. The box further comprises at least one window provided in one of the walls among the plurality of walls. The air vent further comprises at least one element for connection to a duct of the air circuit, the connection element being housed in the window.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the connection element is provided with a fixing element and the box is provided, for each window, with a fixing section capable of cooperating with the fixing element of the connection element and / or capable of cooperating with a fixing element of a closure element, so as to maintain the closure element and / or the connection element housed in the window.

[0025] These features make it easier to accommodate and fix the connecting element and the closing element in the window.

[0026] According to a possible additional feature, the fixing section is formed and arranged so as to allow removable fixing of the closure element and / or the connection element by its respective fixing element in the window.

[0027] These characteristics make it easier to configure the box to adapt it more easily to different usage contexts.

[0028] Furthermore, the box may further comprise a plurality of windows, each window having substantially the same geometric shape.

[0029] These characteristics make it possible to increase the number of possible configurations for the box to meet different usage contexts.

[0030] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the window and the connecting element are formed and arranged so as to allow the connecting element to be housed in the window from the exterior volume of the box.

[0031] These features make it easier to accommodate and fix the connecting element in the window when installing the box in the opening made in the partition.

[0032] According to one possibility, the box and / or the connecting element is / are made of a plastic material, preferably a polymer material.

[0033] These characteristics make it possible to do without separate thermal insulation for the box, to facilitate the production stages of the box and to reduce the production costs of the box.

[0034] According to a possible additional characteristic, the connecting element comprises a ventilation orifice and a connecting wall surrounding the ventilation orifice and in the form of a sleeve.

[0035] According to one possibility, the connecting element further comprises a crosspiece connecting two opposite sections of the connecting wall, the connecting element preferably further comprising a handle formed on the crosspiece.

[0036] The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawing, in which:

[0037] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of an air circuit provided with a air vent according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0038] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the air vent according to the embodiment;

[0039] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of the air vent according to the embodiment;

[0040] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of a box of the air vent according to the embodiment;

[0041] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation of a connection element of the air vent according to the embodiment; and

[0042] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation of an element of a closing element of the air vent according to the embodiment.

[0043] The present application relates to an air vent 10 and a method for installing such an air vent 10. The air vent 10 corresponds to an air distribution and / or suction plenum. The function of the air vent 10 is to transfer an air flow between at least one air circuit 100 and a useful volume 8 of a room 6. The air circuit 100 may comprise one or more ducts 102. The air circuit 100 may be an air circuit 100 allowing treatment of several separate zones of a building.

[0044] The air circuit 100 may comprise a heat pump, preferably a reversible heat pump, and constitute a heating and / or cooling system. The heat pump may comprise an indoor unit 110 intended to be installed inside the building and an outdoor unit 120 intended to be installed outside the building.

[0045] The air circuit 100 may further comprise a centralized regulation device 130 and / or a room thermostat 140 making it possible to determine the ambient temperature in a room of the building in which it is installed.

[0046] The operating principle of such an air circuit 100 consists of treating the air thermally in a closed circuit via a blowing device integrated into the indoor unit 110 equipped with a heat exchanger supplied with refrigerant fluid by the heat pump located in the outdoor unit 120. This thermal treatment is provided by a multi-zone air network.

[0047] The air vent 10 comprises a box 20 adapted to be embedded in an opening 2 made in a partition 4 of the room 6. The box 20 is adapted to transfer an air flow between the air circuit 100 and the useful volume 8 of the room 6. The opening 2 has dimensions slightly larger than those of the box 20 so that the box 20 can be passed through the opening 8 during its installation.

[0048] The box 20 comprises an interior volume 32 being open towards the useful volume 8 and a plurality of walls 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 delimiting the interior volume 32 from an exterior volume 34 of the box 20. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the box 20 can be made hollow and having a parallelepiped shape. One of the walls 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 of the box 20 can then constitute an upper wall 30 of the box 20 and the other walls of the side walls 22, 24, 26, 28 of the box 20 which extend perpendicular to the upper wall 30 from the latter towards an adjournment 21 delimiting the lower limit of the box 20. The adjournment 21 opens into the useful volume 8 of the part 6 and allows the transfer of a flow of fluid between the box 20 and the useful volume 8 of the part 6.

[0049] The box 20 further comprises at least one window 36 arranged in one of the walls 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 among the plurality of walls 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, i.e. in the upper wall 30 or one of the side walls 22, 24, 26, 28 of the box 20. The air vent 10 further comprises at least one connection element 38 to a duct 102 of the air circuit 100. The connection element 38 is housed in the window 36, preferably reversibly.

[0050] The box 20 may be in the form of an air intake plenum, with or without a filter, an air supply plenum and / or an air diffusion plenum. The box 20 may be in the form of a modular plenum.

[0051] The box 20 may further comprise a closing element 44 making it possible to close the window 36 when the window 36 is not designed to house a connection element 38 connected to the sheath 102. The closing element 44 may take the form of a closing flange. Preferably, the closing element 44 completely covers the window 36.

[0052] The box 20 may comprise a plurality of windows 36 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. Each of the windows may be provided with either a connecting element 38 or a closing element 44. The connecting element 38 may also be called a tapping element serving for tapping the sheath 102.

[0053] The windows 36 of the box 20 may have substantially the same geometric shape, preferably a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the connecting elements 38 and the closing elements 44 may respectively have the same geometric shape. Thus, the connecting elements 38 and the closing elements 44 can be housed in the windows interchangeably.

[0054] Referring to Figures 2 to 4, in the embodiment, each side wall 22, 24, 26, 28 may be provided with such a window. The top wall 30 may be provided with a plurality of windows 36, for example three windows 36.

[0055] The box 20 and / or the connecting element 38 and / or the closing element 44 is / are made of a plastic material. The plastic material may be a polymer material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The plastic material may be a recycled and / or recyclable plastic material. Thus, material costs can be reduced and / or the materials can be reused for new products, which in particular makes it possible to reduce the volume of waste and to preserve natural resources.

[0056] The box 20 and / or the connecting element 38 and / or the closing element 44 may be manufactured by injecting the plastic material into an injection mold or thermoformed.

[0057] Alternatively, the box 20 may be made of a light metallic material such as aluminum, and preferably further provided with an insulation element made of a thermally insulating material.

[0058] The connecting element 38 and / or the closing element 44 may be provided with a peripheral seal which fits a zone of an external face 23 of the box 20 surrounding the window 36.

[0059] The box 20 may further comprise fixing means (not shown in the figures) allowing the box 20 to be fixed in the opening 2. The fixing means may be movable between a retracted position when the box 20 slides through the opening 2, and a deployed position when the box 20 is fitted into the opening 2. The fixing means may be made in the form of an elastic tab, preferably made of a metallic material such as stainless steel. Thus, the fixing means are in the retracted position when a constraint opposes their direction of deployment. Conversely, when the fixing means are released from any constraint, they deploy. In the embodiment, the box 20 comprises four fixing means secured near each corner of the upper face 30.

[0060] With particular reference to [Fig. 5], the connecting element 38 may comprise a ventilation orifice 37 allowing the passage of an air flow. The ventilation orifice 37 may have a round or oblong shape.

[0061] The connecting element 38 may comprise a connecting wall 39 surrounding the ventilation orifice 37. The connecting element 38 may further comprise a base 35 from which the connecting wall 39 may extend orthogonally. The connecting wall 39 may be in the form of a sleeve onto which the sheath 102 may be fitted. For different connecting elements 38, the ventilation orifice 37 and / or the connecting wall 39 may have different dimensions to allow connection to sheaths 102 of different dimensions.

[0062] The connecting element 38 may further comprise a peripheral shoulder 47 capable of matching an interior surface of the sheath 102 to connect the sheath 102 to the connecting element 38 in a sealed manner.

[0063] The present application further relates to a method of installing an air vent 10 comprising the following successive steps:

[0064] a) a step of making the box 20 and the connection element 40 available;

[0065] b) a step of connecting the connecting element 38 to a sheath 102 of a air circuit 100;

[0066] c) a step of embedding the box 20 in an opening 2 made in a partition 4 of a room 6;

[0067] d) a step of gripping the connecting element 38 through the window 36; and

[0068] e) a step of housing the connecting element 38 in the window 36.

[0069] The method according to the present application allows easy and rapid installation of the box 20 in the opening 2 made in the partition 4 of the room 6. By pre-equipping the ducts 102 with connection elements 38 before embedding the box, the connection of the ducts 102 to the box can be facilitated.

[0070] The connecting element 38 may be provided with a fixing element 40 and the box 20 may be provided, for each window 36, with a fixing section 42 capable of cooperating with the fixing element 40 of the connecting element 38 and / or capable of cooperating with a fixing element 46 of the closing element 44, so as to hold the closing element 44 and / or the connecting element 38 housed in the window 36. The fixing section 42 on the one hand and the respective fixing element 40, 46 on the other hand then constitute complementary fixing means, preferably reversible complementary fixing means. The fixing section 42 and / or the fixing element 40, 46 may be produced in the form of elastic tabs or clips.

[0071] The fixing section 40 may be formed and arranged so as to allow removable fixing of the closure element 44 and / or the connection element 38 by its respective fixing element 46, 48 in the window 36. Thus, the closure element 44 and / or the connection element constitute removable elements of the box 20.

[0072] In step e) of the installation method, the fixing element 40 of the connection element 38 can be fixed to the fixing section 42 of the box 20 so as to house the connection element 38 in the window 36, preferably in a removable manner. The fixing of the connection element 38 can be carried out in the form of a clip.

[0073] The window 36 and the connecting element 38 may be formed and arranged so as to allow the housing of the connecting element 38 in the window 36 from the external volume 34 of the box 20.

[0074] The connecting element 38 can then be housed in the window 36 by bringing the connecting element 38 into the window 36 from the external volume 34 of the box 20. An installer installing said box 20 by implementing the installation method can in this case pass his hand through the window 36 of the embedded box 20 to catch the connecting element 38 then already connected to the sheath 102 and bring the connecting element 38 into the window 36 from the external volume of the box 20 to connect the sheath 102 to the box 20.

[0075] The connecting element 38 may be provided with a handle 45. The handle may comprise several indentations each adapted to receive a finger of the installer's hand. The installer installing said box 20 by implementing the installation method may in this case pass his hand through the window 36 of the box 20 already embedded to catch the connecting element 38 then already connected to the sheath 102 by its handle and bring the connecting element 38 into the window 36 from the external volume of the box 20 by pulling on the handle 45 to connect the sheath 102 to the box 20.

[0076] The connecting element 38 may further comprise a crosspiece 41 or stop connecting two opposite sections 43 of the connecting wall 39, the handle 45 may furthermore be formed on the crosspiece 41.

[0077] For the method of the present application, the closure element 44 can further be provided, the closure element 44 being able to be housed in the window 36, preferably before the box 20 is embedded in the opening 2.

[0078] The production of the box 20 in the form of a modular plenum makes it possible to decline a multitude of implementation possibilities via connection elements 38 (tap-outs) and removable closure elements 44. Thus, the installer will be able to choose on site the location of the tap-outs for the implementation of the connection with the ducts 102.

[0079] Furthermore, the installation of such a box 20 is facilitated by the installation method of the present application proposed. In the context of the installation method, the installation of the box 20 from below the partition 4 forming the ceiling by having previously fixed each sheath 102 on its connection element 38, the latter clipping after the fixing of the box 20 in the opening 2 made in the partition 4.)

Claims

Claims

1. Method for installing an air vent (10), characterized by the following successive steps: a) a step of providing a box (20) adapted to be embedded in an opening (2) provided in a partition (4) of a room (6), the box (20) being further adapted to transfer an air flow between at least one air circuit (100) and a useful volume (8) of the room (6), said box (20) comprising an interior volume (32) being open towards the useful volume (8) and a plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) delimiting the interior volume (32) from an exterior volume (34) of the box (20), the box (20) further comprising at least one window (36) arranged in one of the walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) among the plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), and providing a connection element (40) to a duct (102) of the air circuit (100);b) a step of connecting the connecting element (38) to the duct (102) of the air circuit (100); c) a step of embedding the box (20) in the opening (2); d) a step of gripping the connecting element (38) through the window (36); and e) a step of housing the connecting element (38) in the window (36).;

2. Installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in step e), a fixing element (40) of the connecting element (38) is fixed to a fixing section (42) of the box (20) so as to house the connecting element (38) in the window (36).

3. Installation method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (38) is housed in the window (36) by bringing the connecting element (38) into the window (36) from the external volume (34) of the box (20).

4. Installation method according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that a closing element (44) is additionally provided, the closing element (44) being housed in the window (36), preferably before the box (20) is fitted into the opening (2).

5. Air vent (10) intended to be installed using the installation method as defined by any one of claims 1 to 4, the air vent (10) comprising a box (20) adapted to be embedded in an opening (2) formed in a partition (4) of a room (6), the box (20) being adapted to transfer an air flow between at least one air circuit (100) and a useful volume (8) of the room (6), said box (20) comprising an interior volume (32) being open towards the useful volume (8) and a plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) delimiting the interior volume (32) from an exterior volume (34) of the box (20), the box (20) further comprising at least one window (36) arranged in one of the walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) among the plurality of walls (22, 24, 26, 28, 30), the air vent (10) further comprising at least one connection element (38) to a duct (102) of the air circuit (100),the connecting element (38) being housed in the window (36).,

6. Air vent (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting element (38) is provided with a fixing element (40) and in that the box (20) is provided, for each window (36), with a fixing section (42) capable of cooperating with the fixing element (40) of the connecting element (38) and / or capable of cooperating with a fixing element (46) of a closing element (44), so as to maintain the closing element (44) and / or the connecting element (38) housed in the window (36).

7. Air vent (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the fixing section (42) is formed and arranged to allow removable fixing of the closure element (44) and / or the connection element (38) by its respective fixing element (40, 46) in the window (36).

8. Air vent (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the box comprises a plurality of windows (36), each window (36) having substantially the same geometric shape.

9. Air vent (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the window (36) and the connecting element (38) are formed and arranged so as to allow the connecting element (38) to be housed in the window (36) from the external volume (34) of the box (20).

10. Air vent (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the box (20) and / or the connecting element (38) is / are made of a plastic material, preferably a polymer material.

11. Air vent (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the connecting element (38) comprises a ventilation orifice (37) and a connecting wall (39) surrounding the ventilation orifice (37) and in the form of a sleeve.

12. Air vent (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the connecting element (38) further comprises a crosspiece (41) connecting two opposite sections (43) of the connecting wall (39), the connecting element (38) preferably further comprising a handle (45) formed on the crosspiece (41).

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