초록 ▼

An air conditioning system for a grocery store having refrigerated food displays along certain aisles of the store includes a plurality of air ceiling mounted air outlet diffuser units. A plurality of the units are positioned substantially above the aisles adjacent the refrigerated food displays. Ea

An air conditioning system for a grocery store having refrigerated food displays along certain aisles of the store includes a plurality of air ceiling mounted air outlet diffuser units. A plurality of the units are positioned substantially above the aisles adjacent the refrigerated food displays. Each diffuser unit positioned above the aisle adjacent the refrigerated food displays is constructed so as to provide a downward flow of conditioned air into the store in a manner so that shoppers receive conditioned air free of drafts while heavy, cool, stagnant air lying adjacent the refrigerated food displays is induced upwardly into upper regions of the store. Each diffuser unit has a housing with a flared exit mouth, a tubular air passageway within the housing and an annular air passageway therebetween. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the annular passageway for producing rotational, highly turbulent currents of air flowing from the passageway. A valve controls the volume of air passing through the tubular air passageway and controls the flow pattern of the currents of air. Both the flared exit mouth and the lower end of the annular passageway extend below the store ceiling a predetermined distance so as to avoid air flowing from the annular passageway outwardly along the face of the ceiling and creating an undesirable coanda effect.

대표청구항 ▼

A grocery store or the like having refrigerated food displays or the like along certain aisles of the store and having a ceiling which is typically of a height of 12 feet or more, the combination therewith of an air conditioning system characterized in that only a single air return conduit is requir

A grocery store or the like having refrigerated food displays or the like along certain aisles of the store and having a ceiling which is typically of a height of 12 feet or more, the combination therewith of an air conditioning system characterized in that only a single air return conduit is required for properly accommodating the entire store due to the enhanced mixing of the air within the store and the elimination of stagnant air areas, particularly heavy, cool stagnant air heretofore typically present and lying adjacent refrigerated food displays, said air conditioning system including means providing a supply of conditioned air, overhead air supply conduits located above the ceiling and connected to said supply of conditioned air for supplying conditioned air into the store, a single air return conduit for returning air from the store to said supply means for conditioned air, air outlet diffuser units mounted in said ceiling of the store at predetermined locations and connected to said air supply conduits for receiving conditioned air therefrom and for providing a downward flow of conditioned air into the store, a plurality of said air outlet diffuser units being positioned substantially above the aisles adjacent said refrigerated food displays and each being so constructed as to provide a downward flow of conditioned air into the store in such a manner that the shoppers moving about the aisles therebelow receive conditioned air substantially free of drafts for aiding in shopper comfort, while heavy, cool, stagnant air lying adjacent said refrigerated food displays and the like is induced upwardly into upper regions of the store above the shoppers for effecting mixing thereof in the upper regions of the store with the conditioned air flowing from the diffuser units and also for mixing with that higher temperature air inherently residing in the upper regions of the store above the shoppers, each of said plurality of air diffuser units having a housing with a flared air exit mouth, means defining a tubular air passageway positioned coaxially of said housing and also defining an annular air passageway between itself and said housing, a plurality of vanes mounted in said annular passageway for producing rotational, highly turbulent currents of air flowing from said passageway, said vanes interconnecting said means defining said tubular air passageway and said housing, control means associated with said tubular air passageway for controlling the volume of air passing therethrough and for controlling the flow pattern of the currents of air flowing from said annular air passageway so that as the volume of air passing through said tubular air passageway is increased, the flow pattern of the currents of air flowing from said annular passageway is directed downwardly in a more vertical direction and in a more compact flow pattern and over a smaller area of the store, the upper end of said tubular air passageway and the upper end of said annular passageway each being in fluid communication with one of said overhead supply conduits for receiving conditioned air therefrom, means defining a perforated air diffuser mounted in said housing adjacent the ingress end of said annular passageway and in surrounding relation to said tubular air passageway for diffusing the airflow from said supply conduit into said annular passageway for obtaining a more uniform flow of air to said vanes mounted therein, said perforated air diffuser also serving for apportioning the amount of airflow from said conduit into said annular passageway, both the flared exit mouth of said housing and the lower end of said annular passageway extending below said store ceiling a predetermined distance so as to position the outflow of air from said tubular passageway and the outflow of air from said annular passageway at a predetermined distance below said ceiling so as to avoid air flowing from said annular passageway outwardly along the face of said ceiling and creating an undesirable coanda effect, and mounting means surrounding said housing and serving for individually mounting each of said plurality of air diffuser units in the ceiling of the store.