Air Diffuser With Hand-Manipulable Swirl Pattern and Damper Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air diffusers in raised access floor systems do not provide sufficient airflow pattern adjustment and rate adjustment to maximize user comfort while minimizing energy consumption, often leading to discomfort and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air diffuser with a hand-manipulable discharge element that produces swirl patterns and includes a collecting basket with airflow dampers, allowing for adjustment of airflow rate, pattern, and direction through rotation, maintaining a constant vertical throw and providing intuitive user control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If known diffusers are used in raised access floor systems, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the airflow pattern adjustment and airflow rate adjustment are insufficient to maximize user comfort and minimize energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is divided into multiple functional components: a discharge element with discharge portion and central portion, a collecting basket with two chambers, and dampers with conical/cylindrical opening arrangements. Each segment performs a specific function (swirl generation, air jet discharge, airflow control, detritus collection), allowing independent optimization of airflow patterns while maintaining overall system manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser incorporates adjustable dampers with conical or cylindrical openings that can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the discharge element surface. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows users to vary airflow rate, airflow pattern, and airflow direction by rotating the damper through an arc, transforming a static diffuser into a dynamically adaptable device that responds to different occupancy and environmental conditions
2Use of energy by moving object
If known diffusers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the airflow rate adjustment capability is insufficient to optimize energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The damper mechanism allows continuous adjustment of airflow rate by rotating the damper body, which changes the effective opening area through its conical or cylindrical geometry. This provides fine-grained control over airflow rate, enabling users to optimize energy consumption by matching supply airflow to actual thermal loads in the space
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser enables adjustment of multiple airflow parameters simultaneously: airflow rate (via damper opening area), airflow pattern (via damper angle relative to discharge portion), and airflow direction (via rotation about perpendicular axis). This multi-parameter control allows optimization of both energy efficiency and user comfort across varying operational conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the diffuser provides multiple airflow adjustment capabilities, then user comfort is maximized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple airflow control functions are merged into a single integrated damper mechanism. The damper simultaneously controls airflow rate, airflow pattern, and airflow direction through its rotation about an axis perpendicular to the discharge element, consolidating what could have been separate complex mechanisms into one unified component
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge element serves multiple functions: the discharge portion generates swirl patterns, the central portion discharges air jets in directions aligned with or inclined to the perpendicular axis, and the integrated damper system controls all three airflow parameters (rate, pattern, direction) through a single adjustment mechanism, making the diffuser universally adaptable to various operational requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances user comfort by allowing personalized airflow adjustments, reduces energy consumption by optimizing airflow patterns, and maintains a consistent vertical throw, thereby improving thermal comfort and indoor air quality.
Implementation Method 1
a discharge portion arranged to discharge a swirl pattern of air
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the dampers comprising openings arranged in substantially conical or cylindrical surfaces about the axis perpendicular to the surface of the discharge element to effect opening and closure of the damper through an arc of rotation about the axis perpendicular to the surface of the discharge element to vary at least two of the airflow rate, the airflow pattern and the airflow direction
Data Source
Figure 1a~1biii
Figure 2a~2biii
Figure 3a~3bii
AI summary
An air diffuser comprising at least one discharge that is hand manipulable to vary at least two of the airflow rate, the airflow pattern and the airflow direction, wherein the airflow pattern produced by the discharge element may be at least one of a substantially perpendicular axial swirl pattern relative to the discharge element surface or a substantially inclined swirl patten relative to the perpendicular axis of the discharge element surface.