초록 ▼

A heating and cooling system for a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the room

A heating and cooling system for a building utilizes lower vents which open into lower portions of rooms of a building, and upper vents which open into upper portions of rooms of the building. When the system is operating in a heating mode, heated air is delivered into the upper portions of the rooms through the upper vents and air is removed from the rooms through the lower vents. When the system is operating in a cooling mode, cool air is delivered into the rooms through the lower vents, and air is removed from the rooms through the upper vents. Operating the heating and cooling modes in this fashion provides the most efficient operation of the heating and cooling system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A switching unit for an environmental control system of a building, comprising: a rectilinear enclosure;an inlet located on an upper portion of a first sidewall of the enclosure and opening into an interior of the enclosure;an outlet located on a lower portion of the first sidewall of the enclosu

1. A switching unit for an environmental control system of a building, comprising: a rectilinear enclosure;an inlet located on an upper portion of a first sidewall of the enclosure and opening into an interior of the enclosure;an outlet located on a lower portion of the first sidewall of the enclosure and opening into the interior of the enclosure;a first I/O port located on an upper portion of a second sidewall of the enclosure that is opposite the first sidewall, the first I/O port opening into the interior of the enclosure;a second I/O port located on a lower portion of the second sidewall of the enclosure and opening into the interior of the enclosure; anda flat switching plate that is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure, the switching plate being rotatable between first and second positions, wherein when the switching plate is in the first position, the inlet is operatively coupled to the first I/O port and the outlet is operatively coupled to the second I/O port, and wherein when the switching plate is in the second position, the inlet is operatively coupled to the second I/O port and the outlet is operatively coupled to the first I/O port. 2. The switching unit of claim 1, wherein the flat switching plate is substantially square or rectangular, and wherein side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of walls of the rectilinear enclosure when the switching plate is in the first and second positions. 3. The switching unit of claim 2, wherein the switching plate is oriented substantially horizontal when in the first position, and wherein the switching plate is oriented substantially vertical in the second position. 4. The switching unit of claim 3, wherein the inlet and the outlet are located diagonally opposite one another on the first sidewall, and wherein the first I/O port and the second I/O port are located diagonally opposite one another on the second sidewall. 5. The switching unit of claim 4, wherein the inlet and the second I/O port are located closer to a front wall of the rectilinear enclosure than a rear wall of the rectilinear enclosure, and wherein the outlet and the first I/O port are located closer to the rear wall than the front wall. 6. The switching unit of claim 1, wherein the inlet and the second I/O port are located closer to a front wall of the rectilinear enclosure than a rear wall of the rectilinear enclosure, and wherein the outlet and the first I/O port are located closer to the rear wall than the front wall. 7. The switching unit of claim 6, wherein when the switching plate is located in the first position, the inlet and the first I/O port are operatively coupled together and the outlet and the second I/O port are operatively coupled together. 8. The switching unit of claim 7, wherein when the switching plate is located in first position, side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of the first and second sidewalls, the front wall and the rear wall of the rectilinear enclosure to isolate the inlet and the first I/O port from the outlet and the second I/O port. 9. The switching unit of claim 6, wherein when the switching plate is located in the second position, the inlet and the second I/O port are operatively coupled together and the outlet and the first I/O port are operatively coupled together. 10. The switching unit of claim 9, wherein when the switching plate is located in second position, side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of the first and second sidewalls, a top wall and a bottom wall of the rectilinear enclosure to isolate the inlet and the second I/O port from the outlet and the first I/O port. 11. The switching unit of claim 1, further comprising a switch unit that moves the switching plate between the first and second positions. 12. The switching unit of claim 11, wherein the switch unit comprises a manually operable lever or knob that is operatively coupled to the switching plate. 13. The switching unit of claim 11, wherein the switch unit comprises a power operated unit that is configured to automatically move the switching plate between the first and second positions depending on an operational state of an environmental control system incorporating the switching unit. 14. The switching unit of claim 1, wherein the switching plate rotates around an axis that passes through centers of the first and second sidewalls. 15. A switching unit for an environmental control system of a building, comprising: a rectilinear enclosure that can be divided horizontally into upper and lower hemispheres or divided vertically into front and rear hemispheres;an inlet located on a first sidewall of the enclosure and opening into an interior of the enclosure;an outlet located on the first sidewall of the enclosure and opening into the interior of the enclosure;a first I/O port located on a second sidewall of the enclosure that is opposite the first sidewall, the first I/O port opening into the interior of the enclosure;a second I/O port located on the second sidewall of the enclosure and opening into the interior of the enclosure; anda flat switching plate that is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure, wherein the inlet and the first I/O port are located on the upper hemisphere of the enclosure, wherein the outlet and the second I/O port are located on the lower hemisphere of the enclosure, wherein the inlet and the second I/O port are located on the front hemisphere of the enclose, and wherein the outlet and the first I/O port are located on the rear hemisphere of the enclosure. 16. The switching unit of claim 15, wherein the switching plate is rotatable between first and second positions, wherein when the switching plate is in the first position, the inlet is operatively coupled to the first I/O port and the outlet is operatively coupled to the second I/O port, and wherein when the switching plate is in the second position, the inlet is operatively coupled to the second I/O port and the outlet is operatively coupled to the first I/O port. 17. The switching unit of claim 16, wherein the switching plate is substantially square or rectangular, and wherein side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of walls of the rectilinear enclosure when the switching plate is in the first and second positions. 18. The switching unit of claim 17, wherein the switching plate is oriented substantially horizontal when in the first position, and wherein the switching plate is oriented substantially vertical in the second position. 19. The switching unit of claim 18, wherein the inlet and the outlet are located diagonally opposite one another on the first sidewall, and wherein the first I/O port and the second I/O port are located diagonally opposite one another on the second sidewall. 20. The switching unit of claim 19, wherein when the switching plate is located in the first position, side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of the first and second sidewalls, a front wall and a rear wall of the rectilinear enclosure to isolate the inlet and the first I/O port from the outlet and the second I/O port. 21. The switching unit of claim 20, wherein when the switching plate is located in second position, side edges of the switching plate abut interior sides of the first and second sidewalls, a top wall and a bottom wall of the rectilinear enclosure to isolate the inlet and the second I/O port from the outlet and the first I/O port. 22. The switching unit of claim 15, wherein the switching plate rotates around an axis that passes through centers of the first and second sidewalls.