Ceiling Air Flow Producer Bridge Assembly for Compact Vane Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling-mounted air flow producers require a large area for installation and maintenance due to the size of the vane and motor assembly, making it cumbersome for finishing work and repairs in drop ceilings.
Innovation Solution
The design features elongate mounting elements with a gap and bridge members having hollow chambers for housing a motorized vane assembly, allowing for compact installation and easy access for maintenance, with bridge members that can be quickly mounted and removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional rectangular housing with vane and motor assembly is used, then the air flow producer can provide adequate air circulation control, but it requires a very large area for installation and finishing work
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow producer is divided into separate modular components: a housing unit and a bridge member containing the vane assembly. This segmentation allows the vane assembly to be compactly positioned within the bridge member's hollow chamber, reducing the overall installation footprint while maintaining full air circulation control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement in the ceiling plane to a vertical arrangement within the bridge member's hollow chamber that extends upward. This dimensional change allows the motor and vane mechanism to occupy vertical space rather than horizontal space, significantly reducing the required installation area in the ceiling.
2Ease of operation
If a large vane and motor assembly is installed in the ceiling, then adequate air flow diversion is achieved, but repair and replacement require extensive dry wall or gypsum board work
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow producer is segmented into removable modular components, with the bridge member containing the vane assembly as a separate unit that can be independently accessed and removed. This allows maintenance personnel to service the vane and motor assembly without extensive demolition of ceiling finishes.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge member is designed with pre-integrated mounting and removal mechanisms that facilitate quick installation and access. The hollow chamber and mounting structure are configured in advance to allow the bridge member to be easily removed and reinstalled, minimizing the need for extensive dry wall or gypsum board work during maintenance operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sufficient room is provided for the vane assembly, then proper air flow control is enabled, but the finishing work area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The vane assembly utilizes vertical space within the bridge member's hollow chamber rather than requiring extensive horizontal ceiling area. By extending the bridge member upward and positioning the motor and vane mechanism in the vertical dimension, the design achieves full air flow control capability while minimizing the footprint in the ceiling plane, thereby reducing the required finishing work area.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly and motor are nested within the hollow chamber of the bridge member, which itself is integrated into the mounting structure. This nested arrangement allows all necessary air flow control components to be contained within a compact volume, reducing the overall space required for installation and finishing work while maintaining complete air flow diversion capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An air flow producer assembly includes first and second elongate mounting elements separated by an elongate gap, a ceiling girder interface member affixed to each of the elongate mounting elements, and a bridge member affixed to each of the elongate mounting elements. The bridge member includes a hollow chamber that spans across the gap and which extends upwards from the elongate mounting elements. A vane assembly is installed in the hollow chamber of the bridge member, which includes a vane that swings across at least a portion of the gap.