Electric variable-air-volume diffuser

Abstract

A variable-air-volume (VAV) diffuser includes a diffuser housing that is formed for coupling to a supply air conduit. The diffuser housing defines a discharging opening for discharge of supply air from the supply air conduit into a room. The VAV diffuser may also include a supporting structure that is affixed to the diffuser housing, and a flow controller for varying the volume of supply air discharged through the discharging opening. The VAV diffuser may further include an electric actuator that is mounted on the supporting structure for moving the flow controller to vary the volume of supply air. The electric actuator may be accessible from room side and removable from the diffuser housing while the diffuser housing is coupled to the supply air conduit, the supporting structure is affixed to the diffuser housing and the flow controller remains within the diffuser housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable-air-volume diffuser comprising:
 a diffuser housing formed for coupling to a supply air conduit and defining a discharging opening for discharge of supply air from the supply air conduit into a room;   a supporting structure affixed to the diffuser housing;   a flow controller for varying a volume of supply air discharged through the discharging opening; and   an electric actuator mounted on the supporting structure for moving the flow controller to vary the volume of supply air;   wherein the electric actuator is room-side accessible and removable from the diffuser housing while the diffuser housing is coupled to the supply air conduit, the supporting structure is affixed to the diffuser housing and the flow controller remains within the diffuser housing.   
     
     
         2 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller is movably mounted on the supporting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller is pivotally mounted on the supporting structure by a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller includes a plurality of blades and each blade is movably mounted on the supporting structure. 
     
     
         5 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller includes four blades and each of the four blades is movably mounted on the supporting structure. 
     
     
         6 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator includes a stepper motor. 
     
     
         7 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the electric actuator is removably mounted on a bracket that is affixed on the supporting structure. 
     
     
         8 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 3 , further comprising a linkage assembly that connects the flow controller to the electric actuator, wherein the linkage assembly is configured such that the electric actuator rotates the flow controller around the hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of linkage assemblies, each linkage assembly connecting a respective blade of the plurality of blades to the electric actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 8 , wherein
 the supporting structure is formed with a shaft hole and a linkage hole;   the electric motor includes a threaded shaft that extends substantially upwardly through the shaft hole in the supporting structure; and   the linkage assembly includes:
 a hub threadedly coupled to the threaded shaft of the electric actuator; 
 a first link affixed to the hub at one end and extending downwardly through the linkage hole in the supporting structure; 
 a second link rotatably mounted on the supporting structure at one end; 
 a third link rotatably mounted on the flow controller at one end, and 
 a fourth link, one end of the fourth link rotatably connected to the other end of the first link and the other end of the fourth link rotatably connected to the other ends of the second and third links. 
   
     
     
         11 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 10 , wherein the hub is operably coupled to the threaded shaft of the electric actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure is formed with a mounting hole for mounting and removing the electric actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide affixed to the supporting structure and extending substantially upwardly for preventing rotation of the flow controller. 
     
     
         14 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 13 , wherein
 the electric actuator includes a threaded shaft that extends substantially upwardly; and   the flow controller is formed with a shaft hole and a guide hole, wherein the flow controller is threadedly coupled with the threaded shaft of the electric actuator through the shaft hole and is slidably coupled with the guide through the guide hole.   
     
     
         15 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller is a disk. 
     
     
         16 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , further comprising an appearance plate that is removably attached to the supporting structure. 
     
     
         17 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 16 , wherein one edge of the appearance plate is rotatably hinged to a bracket affixed on the supporting structure, and the opposite edge of the appearance plate is detachably secured to the supporting structure. 
     
     
         18 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , further comprising an insulation layer that is overlaid at least on a portion of the flow controller. 
     
     
         19 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for measuring room temperature, temperature of the supply air, or flow rate of the supply air. 
     
     
         20 . The variable-air-volume diffuser of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser housing comprises:
 a diffuser neck formed for coupling to the supply air conduit; and   a diffuser cone formed for discharging the supply air in an angle with respect to a downward direction;   wherein the diffuser neck and the diffuser cone are integrally formed or coupled to each other.   
     
     
         21 . A variable-air-volume diffuser comprising:
 a diffuser housing formed for coupling to a supply air conduit and defining a discharging opening for discharge of supply air from the supply air conduit into a room;   a supporting structure affixed to the diffuser housing;   a plurality of blades movably mounted on the supporting structure for varying a volume of supply air discharged through the discharging opening; and   a linkage assembly connecting the plurality of blades to an electric actuator;   wherein the electric actuator is accessible from room side and removable from the diffuser housing while the diffuser housing is coupled to the supply air conduit and the supporting structure is affixed to the diffuser housing and connected to the linkage assembly.   
     
     
         22 . A variable-air-volume diffuser comprising:
 a diffuser housing formed for coupling to a supply air conduit and defining a discharging opening for discharge of supply air from the supply air conduit into a room;   a supporting structure affixed to the diffuser housing and formed with a mounting hole;   a flow controller for varying a volume of supply air discharged through the discharging opening;   a guide affixed to the supporting structure and extending substantially upwardly for preventing rotation of the flow controller; and   an electric actuator mounted on the supporting structure through the mounting hole for moving the flow controller to vary the volume of supply air;   wherein the electric actuator is room-side accessible and removable from the diffuser housing through the mounting hole of the supporting structure while the diffuser housing is coupled to the supply air conduit, the supporting structure is affixed to the diffuser housing and the flow controller remains within the diffuser housing.