Air flow control device

Abstract

The present invention provides an air flow control device that includes at least one inlet, and a primary flow path associated with a primary outlet, and a secondary flow path associated with a secondary outlet. The air flow device also includes at least one primary valve associated with the primary flow path, said at least one primary valve being adapted to control the flow rate of air through said primary flow path.

1 . An air flow control device, comprising:
 at least one inlet;   a primary flow path associated with a primary outlet;   a secondary flow path associated with a secondary outlet;   at least one primary valve associated with the primary flow path, said at least one primary valve being adapted to control the flow rate of air through said primary flow path; and   at least one secondary valve associated with the secondary flow path, said at least one secondary valve being adapted to control the flow rate of air through said secondary flow path,   wherein the primary outlet directs air in a mainly downward direction, and wherein the secondary outlet directs air laterally outwards from the center of the air flow control device.   
   
   
       2 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the primary valve provides variable air flow out of the primary outlet. 
   
   
       3 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet is engaged with an air conditioning system. 
   
   
       4 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the air flow control device controls both the flow rate and flow pattern of air delivered from the primary and secondary outlets. 
   
   
       5 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a flow path is formed as a channel configured to define a route that air takes through the air flow control device. 
   
   
       6 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the secondary channel allows air to flow on the outside of the primary channel. 
   
   
       7 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the primary outlet is formed as a diffusion grating. 
   
   
       8 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the diffusion grating includes a plurality of apertures of varying diameter, and wherein the apertures of varying diameter have increasing diameters toward the center of the diffusion grating. 
   
   
       9 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the primary valve is formed by at least two overlaid movable filters. 
   
   
       10 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the physical relationship between said at least two filters blocks or opens at least one channel. 
   
   
       11 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a main body which forms a housing configured to locate a primary flow path. 
   
   
       12 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein provided within the interior of the main body is a central conduit which defines the primary flow path. 
   
   
       13 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the secondary flow path is defined by an exterior wall of the central conduit and a wall of the main body, and the primary flow path is defined as the region where the air flows through the inside of the central conduit. 
   
   
       14 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the secondary valve is formed by mounting the central conduit on a spindle which is raised and lowered. 
   
   
       15 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control means adapted to control the operation of the primary valve. 
   
   
       16 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the control means operates automatically. 
   
   
       17 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the control means includes a temperature sensitive element, wherein the temperature sensitive element includes a bi-metallic strip attached to the primary valve, and wherein the automatic control of the operation of the primary valve is based on differing thermal expansions of each side of the bimetallic strips. 
   
   
       18 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising user control settings, wherein the user control settings include manual control and automatic control settings, and wherein the manual control settings include a ceiling position and a down jet position. 
   
   
       19 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the control means is formed from a manually operated control lever. 
   
   
       20 . The air flow control device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the control lever includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the control lever in a selected position.