Diffuser for aircraft heating and air conditioning system

Abstract

A heating and/or air conditioning system comprising a blower for generating an air stream and a heat exchanger unit for heating or cooling the air stream includes a diffuser which is positioned between the blower and the heat exchanger unit and which comprises a plurality of vertically spaced diffuser plates, each of which includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The vertical distance between the downstream edges of at least an adjacent pair of diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the pair of diffuser plates. Thus, the diffuser diffuses the air stream vertically prior to the air stream entering the heat exchanger unit.

1 . In combination with a heating and/or air conditioning system which includes a blower for generating an air stream and a heat exchanger unit for heating or cooling the air stream, the improvement comprising a diffuser which is positioned between the blower and the heat exchanger unit and which comprises:
 a plurality of vertically spaced diffuser plates, each of which includes an upstream edge and a downstream edge;   wherein the vertical distance between the downstream edges of at least an adjacent pair of diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of said pair of diffuser plates;   whereby the diffuser diffuses the air stream vertically prior to the air stream entering the heat exchanger unit.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser further comprises:
 at least two horizontally spaced support brackets, each of which extends generally vertically through the diffuser plates and includes an upstream end and a downstream end;   wherein the horizontal distance between the downstream ends of the support brackets is greater than the horizontal distance between the upstream ends of the support brackets;   whereby the diffuser diffuses the air stream both vertically and horizontally prior to the air stream entering the heat exchanger unit.   
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein each diffuser plate comprises a generally flat body and a lip which extends from a downstream edge of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein each lip comprises a generally flat first portion which extends from the downstream edge of the body and a generally flat second portion which extends from a downstream edge of the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of each lip extends downwardly at a first angle relative to the body and the second portion of each lip extends downwardly at a second angle relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein for each diffuser plate, the first angle is greater than or equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates comprises at least a first diffuser plate, a second diffuser plate which is positioned below the first diffuser plate and a third diffuser plate which is positioned below the second diffuser plate, and wherein the first angle of the first diffuser plate is less than the first angle of the second diffuser plate and the first angle of the second diffuser plate is less than the first angle of the third diffuser plate. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the second angle of the first diffuser plate is less than the second angle of the second diffuser plate and the second angle of the second diffuser plate is less than the second angle of the third diffuser plate. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates also comprises at least a fourth diffuser plate which is positioned below the third diffuser plate, a fifth diffuser plate which is positioned below the fourth diffuser plate and a sixth diffuser plate which is positioned below the fifth diffuser plate, and wherein the first angle of the fourth diffuser plate is less than the first angle of the fifth diffuser plate and the first angle of the fifth diffuser plate is greater than the first angle of the sixth diffuser plate. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the second angle of the fourth diffuser plate is less than the second angle of the fifth diffuser plate and the second angle of the fifth diffuser plate is greater than the second angle of the sixth diffuser plate. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates comprises at least a first diffuser plate, a second diffuser plate which is positioned below the first diffuser plate and a third diffuser plate which is positioned below the second diffuser plate, and wherein the vertical distance between the downstream edges of the first and second diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the first and second diffuser plates and the vertical distance between the downstream edges of the second and third diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the second and third diffuser plates. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates also comprises at least a fourth diffuser plate which is positioned below the third diffuser plate, a fifth diffuser plate which is positioned below the fourth diffuser plate and a sixth diffuser plate which is positioned below the fifth diffuser plate, and wherein the vertical distance between the downstream edges of the fourth and fifth diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the fourth and fifth diffuser plates and the vertical distance between the downstream edges of the fifth and sixth diffuser plates is greater than the vertical distance between the upstream edges of the fifth and sixth diffuser plates. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one flange bracket to which the diffuser plates are connected, the flange bracket being connected to a portion of the heating and air conditioning unit to thereby secure the diffuser to the heating and air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the blower comprises a throat and the flange bracket is connected to the throat. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the diffuser plates extend at least partially into the throat. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one flange bracket comprises at least first and second flange brackets. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates comprises at least a first diffuser plate which is connected to the first flange bracket, a second diffuser plate which is connected to the first flange bracket below the first diffuser plate, and a third diffuser plate which is connected to the first flange bracket below the second diffuser plate. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the diffuser further comprises:
 at least two horizontally spaced support brackets, each of which extends generally vertically through the first, second and third diffuser plates and includes an upstream end and a downstream end;   wherein the horizontal distance between the downstream ends of the support brackets is greater than the horizontal distance between the upstream ends of the support brackets.   
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of diffuser plates also comprises at least a fourth diffuser plate which is connected to the second flange bracket, a fifth diffuser plate which is connected to the second flange bracket below the fourth diffuser plate, and a sixth diffuser plate which is connected to the second flange bracket below the fifth diffuser plate. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser further comprises:
 at least two horizontally spaced support brackets, each of which extends generally vertically through the fourth, fifth and sixth diffuser plates and includes an upstream end and a downstream end;   wherein the horizontal distance between the downstream ends of the support brackets is greater than the horizontal distance between the upstream ends of the support brackets.