Variable air volume time modulated floor terminal

Abstract

A floor terminal for positioning in a passageway in a raised floor system having conditioned air. The floor terminal includes an air delivery system, a damper coupled to the air delivery system, and a grate assembly coupled to the air delivery system. The air delivery system includes a pair of sidewalls, a back, a bottom, a bracket and a baffle, wherein the baffle is selectively coupled between the pair of sidewalls. The damper is selectively coupled to the air delivery system. The damper includes a vane positioned between a frame and a motor in a housing, wherein the motor moves the vane between a first position and a second position to selectively vary the flow of air through the damper. The grate assembly fits within the bracket to couple the grate assembly with the air delivery system to mount the air delivery system and the damper within the passageway and to position the air delivery system within the hole in the floor.

1 . A floor terminal for positioning in a passageway in a raised floor system having conditioned air, the floor terminal being sized for positioning within a hole in the floor, the floor terminal including: 
 an air delivery system having a pair of sidewalls, a back, a bottom, a bracket and a baffle, the baffle being coupled between the pair of sidewalls;    a damper coupled to the air delivery system, the damper having a frame with a housing, the housing containing a motor, and a vane coupled between the frame and the housing, wherein the motor is coupled with the vane to move the vane between a first position and a second position to selectively vary the flow of air; and    a grate assembly having a mounting portion and at least one grate plate, the mounting portion having a sidewall, an inwardly depending flange, and an outwardly depending flange, wherein the sidewalls of grate assembly fit within the bracket of the air delivery system to permit coupling of the grate assembly with the air delivery system to mount the air delivery system and the damper within the passageway and to position the air delivery system within the hole in the floor.    
   
   
       2 . The floor terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the damper is coupled with the air delivery system after the damper and the air delivery system are placed within the passageway in the raised floor.  
   
   
       3 . The floor terminal of  claim 2 , wherein the grate assembly is coupled with the air delivery system after the damper is coupled with the air delivery system within the passageway of the raised floor system to mount the air delivery system within the hole in the floor.  
   
   
       4 . The floor terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the motor is a stepper motor.  
   
   
       5 . The floor terminal of  claim 4 , wherein the stepper motor selectively moves the vane from the first position to the second position via magnetic attraction.  
   
   
       6 . The floor terminal of  claim 5 , wherein the vane is closed in the first position and wherein the vane is open in the second position.  
   
   
       7 . The floor terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the bracket includes a front flange, a pair of side members, and a rear member, the front flange being coupled to the frame of the damper.  
   
   
       8 . The floor terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom includes a front edge with a lip, the lip being coupled with the frame of the damper.  
   
   
       9 . The floor terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the baffle is selectively movable within the air delivery system to control the flow of air.  
   
   
       10 . The floor terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one grate plate includes a plurality of slotted sections.  
   
   
       11 . A floor terminal for positioning in a passageway in a raised floor system having conditioned air, the floor terminal being sized for positioning within a hole in the floor, the floor terminal including: 
 an air delivery system having a pair of sidewalls, a back, a bottom, a bracket and a baffle, the baffle being coupled between the pair of sidewalls;    wherein one of the pair of sidewalls contains a hole with a duct coupled thereto;    a damper coupled to the air delivery system, the damper having a frame with a housing, the housing containing a motor, and a vane coupled between the frame and the housing, wherein the motor is coupled with the vane to move the vane between a first position and a second position to selectively vary the flow of air;    a grate assembly having a mounting portion and at least one grate plate, the mounting portion having a sidewall, an inwardly depending flange and an outwardly depending flange, wherein the sidewalls of grate assembly fit within the bracket of the air delivery system to permit coupling of the grate assembly with the air delivery system to mount the air delivery system and damper within the passageway and position the air delivery system within the hole in the floor.    
   
   
       12 . The floor terminal of  claim 11 , wherein the damper is coupled with the air delivery system after the damper and the air delivery system are placed within the passageway in the raised floor.  
   
   
       13 . The floor terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the grate assembly is coupled with the air delivery system after the damper is coupled with the air delivery system within the passageway of the raised floor system to mount the air delivery system within the hole in the floor.  
   
   
       14 . The floor terminal of  claim 13 , wherein the motor is a stepper motor.  
   
   
       15 . The floor terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the stepper motor selectively moves the vane from the first position to the second position via magnetic attraction.  
   
   
       16 . The floor terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the vane is closed in the first position and wherein the vane is open in the second position.  
   
   
       17 . The floor terminal of  claim 16 , wherein the bracket includes a front flange, a pair of side members, and a rear member, the front flange being coupled to the frame of the damper.  
   
   
       18 . The floor terminal of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom includes a front edge with a lip, the lip being coupled with frame of the damper.  
   
   
       19 . The floor terminal of  claim 18 , wherein the baffle is selectively movable within the air delivery system to control the flow of air.  
   
   
       20 . The floor terminal of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one grate plate includes a plurality of slotted sections.  
   
   
       21 . A method for delivering conditioned air to a room having a space located below a floor underlying the room, the method comprising the steps of: 
 enclosing an area under the floor to create a supply plenum;    providing a floor terminal having an air delivery system, a damper coupled to the air delivery system, and a control system; and    supplying conditioned air to the supply plenum for delivery to the room above the floor terminal through the air delivery system;    wherein the vane of the damper of the floor terminal has a first position, where the conditioned air is applied to the space, and a second position, where the flow of air to the space is blocked, and wherein the control system selectively effects the movement of the vane of the damper from the first position to the second position.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the control system includes a stepper motor.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stepper motor selectively moves the vane of the damper from the first position to the second position via magnetic attraction.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the a magnetic attraction is created by flowing a current though a pair of windings.