Crossflow Vent Booster Assembly for Quiet Guided Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central air circulation and delivery systems often fail to provide uniform air distribution to rooms due to insufficient blower power and uneven duct lengths, leading to energy wastage and inefficient air delivery, with existing booster fan solutions either obstructive, noisy, or inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A crossflow fan-based airflow boosting assembly is installed in a vent opening, featuring a register plate with air outlets, a housing for the fan, and elastomeric connections for reduced noise and improved support, along with arcuate air deflection panels for guided airflow, allowing for adjustable and efficient air delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a booster fan is installed over a register to increase airflow, then air delivery to the room is improved, but the booster fan creates an obstacle on the floor and alters the room's aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow boosting assembly is nested within the existing vent opening structure. The housing fits inside the vent opening with the register plate covering the opening, effectively hiding the booster fan within the existing architectural feature rather than placing it on the floor as a separate obstacle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the booster fan from a floor-based horizontal placement to a vertical installation within the vent opening. The crossflow fan is positioned with its rotational axis parallel to the register plate, utilizing the vertical space of the vent opening to achieve airflow boosting without occupying floor space.
2Productivity
If a booster fan is installed over a register, then airflow is increased, but good sealing between the booster fan and register is required to maintain negative air pressure and avoid ambient air being drawn in
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is secured to the register plate to form an integrated assembly. The register plate serves dual functions as both the cover for the vent opening and the mounting surface for the housing, eliminating the need for separate sealing mechanisms between the booster fan and register.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric motor connector and bearing housing provide self-sealing and vibration isolation functions. The elastomeric materials naturally conform to mating surfaces, providing sealing without requiring additional gaskets or complex sealing mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If traditional dampers are used to balance air delivery to rooms, then air distribution is improved, but dampers are difficult to reach and restricting airflow at some vents reduces the efficiency of the entire air delivery system
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow boosting assembly provides localized airflow enhancement at specific vents where additional air delivery is needed. Rather than uniformly restricting airflow system-wide through dampers, the crossflow fan selectively boosts airflow at individual locations, maintaining system efficiency while achieving balance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of restricting airflow at vents with excessive delivery (the traditional damper approach), the invention actively boosts airflow at vents with insufficient delivery. This inverse approach achieves balance by adding flow where needed rather than removing flow where excessive, preserving overall system efficiency.
4Volume of moving object
If a crossflow fan with rotational axis parallel to the register plate is used, then the airflow boosting assembly becomes compact and can be installed in vent openings, but the fan requires resilient support and elastomeric connections to reduce noise and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric motor connector and bearing housing are installed beforehand to provide vibration isolation and noise reduction. These elastomeric components act as pre-positioned cushions between the rotating fan assembly and the housing, preventing vibration transmission before it can propagate as noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric motor connector serves as an intermediary element between the motor and the crossflow fan. This elastomeric mediator absorbs vibrations and reduces noise transmission while maintaining the driving connection, allowing the compact crossflow fan design to operate quietly within the vent opening.
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 air distribution by providing a compact, efficient, and quiet means to boost airflow to rooms, reducing energy wastage and improving comfort while minimizing noise and obstruction.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric motor connector; a motor secured to the housing, the motor being connected to the crossflow fan in a driving relation through the elastomeric motor connector
Implementation Method 2
eas 7,698,568 B2 5 an elastomeric bearing housing attached to the housing and a bearing resiliently housed in the bearing housing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates generally to the field of airflow boosting devices. In particular, the invention relates to a booster fan for installation into a vent opening of a duct system in a forced air circulation and delivery system. In an embodiment, the booster fan includes a register plate for covering a vent opening. An opening or openings on the register plate provide an air outlet. A housing is secured to the register plate for enclosing a crossflow fan therein. The crossflow fan is disposed adjacent and spaced from the register plate and resiliently supported at both ends. A motor is resiliently connected to the crossflow fan. The housing also has an aperture for providing an air inlet communicating with the duct system. Preferably, two arcuate air deflection panels are provided in the housing for connecting the air inlet and air outlet to form a guided air passageway.