Inflatable air ducts with low height-to-width ratios
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16L-003/00
F24F-013/02
출원번호
US-0151417
(2014-01-09)
등록번호
US-9303892
(2016-04-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Heim, Frank
Gebke, Kevin J.
Jacobson, Michael A.
출원인 / 주소
RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
대리인 / 주소
Hanley, Flight and Zimmerman, LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
Inflatable air ducts with low height-to-width ratios are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a first side sheet, and a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side sheet and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. The top, bottom, first sid
Inflatable air ducts with low height-to-width ratios are disclosed. An example air duct system includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a first side sheet, and a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side sheet and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet. The top, bottom, first side, and second side sheets provide an inflatable air duct having an inflated state and a deflated state. The inflatable air duct has an inflated length greater than an inflated width. The inflated width is more than twice as great as an inflated height. The interior of the inflatable air duct defining an air passageway having a first airway, a second airway, and an intermediate airway. The intermediate airway is adjacent the first airway at a first transition area. The example air duct system also includes a second transition area between the intermediate airway and the second airway.
대표청구항▼
1. An air duct system, comprising: an overhead support system including a plurality of lengthwise supports and a crosswise support, the plurality of lengthwise supports being elongate in a longitudinal direction, the crosswise support being elongate in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longit
1. An air duct system, comprising: an overhead support system including a plurality of lengthwise supports and a crosswise support, the plurality of lengthwise supports being elongate in a longitudinal direction, the crosswise support being elongate in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; andan inflatable air duct supported by both the lengthwise supports and the crosswise support, the inflatable air duct having an inflated state and a deflated state, the inflatable air duct having an exterior and an interior with the interior defining an air passageway that is elongate in the longitudinal direction, the inflatable air duct having an inflated length extending in the longitudinal direction, an inflated width extending in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and an inflated height extending perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, the inflated length being greater than the inflated width, and the inflated width being at least two times greater than the inflated height. 2. The air duct system of claim 1, further including: a first hanger to hold the inflatable air duct in suspension from a first one of the plurality of lengthwise supports;a second hanger to hold the inflatable air duct in suspension from the crosswise support;the air passageway to have a first airway along a first lateral side of the air duct, a second airway along a second lateral side of the air duct opposite the first lateral side, and an intermediate airway between the first airway and the second airway; andan inflated valley defined by a top portion of the air duct, the inflated valley on the exterior of the inflatable air duct and overlying a transition area between the first airway and the intermediate airway, wherein at least one of the first hanger or the second hanger is to connect to the inflatable air duct at a point laterally between the inflated valley and the first lateral side of the air duct. 3. The air duct system of claim 1, further including a plurality of crosswise supports that includes the crosswise support, wherein the plurality of lengthwise supports are to carry more weight than do the plurality of crosswise supports. 4. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein both the lengthwise supports and the crosswise support are above the inflatable air duct in the deflated state. 5. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the lengthwise supports and the crosswise support are distinguishable from each other with respect to their stiffness. 6. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the lengthwise supports and the crosswise support are distinguishable from each other with respect to their cross-sectional profile. 7. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the lengthwise supports are vertically offset relative to the crosswise support. 8. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable air duct includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet underneath the top sheet, a first side extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, and a second side spaced apart from the first side and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet; the air passageway being defined by the top sheet, the bottom sheet, the first side and the second side; the air passageway including a first airway, a second airway, an intermediate airway, a first transition area and a second transition area; the first airway being along the first side, the second airway being along the second side, the intermediate airway being between the first airway and the second airway, the first transition area being between the first airway and the intermediate airway, the second transition area being between the intermediate airway and the second airway; the air duct system further including:a first restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in the first transition area;a second restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in the second transition area;an inflated valley defined by the top sheet, the inflated valley on the exterior of the inflatable air duct and overlying the first transition area when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state;an inflated peak defined by the top sheet, the inflated peak on the exterior of the inflatable air duct and overlying the intermediate airway when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state;a side hanger on the exterior of the inflatable air duct, the side hanger being proximate the first side of the inflatable air duct, the side hanger to connect the inflatable air duct to the overhead support system; anda transition hanger on the exterior of the inflatable air duct, the transition hanger being above and proximate the first transition area, the transition hanger to connect the inflatable air duct to the overhead support system, the inflated peak being laterally interposed between the side hanger and the transition hanger. 9. The air duct system of claim 1, further including a plurality of hangers that are vertically elongate, the plurality of hangers to connect the inflatable air duct to the overhead support system, the plurality of hangers being of different vertical lengths. 10. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable air duct includes a movable section overlying the air passageway, the movable section having a sagging position and a bulging position, the movable section being in the sagging position when the inflatable air duct is in the deflated state, the movable section being in the bulging position when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state, the movable section in the sagging position being lower than at least one of the lengthwise supports or the crosswise support, and the movable section in the bulging position being higher than at least one of the lengthwise supports or the crosswise support. 11. An air duct system, comprising: a first inflatable air duct section having an inflated state and a deflated state, the first inflatable air duct section defining a first air passageway that is elongate along a first longitudinal centerline; the first inflatable air duct section having a first inflated length extending along the first longitudinal centerline, a first inflated width extending in a first lateral direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal centerline, and a first inflated thickness extending perpendicular to both the first longitudinal centerline and the first lateral direction, the first inflated length being greater than the first inflated width, and the first inflated width being at least twice greater than the first inflated thickness; anda second inflatable air duct section connected in fluid communication with the first inflatable air duct section, the second inflatable air duct section having the inflated state and the deflated state, the second inflatable air duct section defining a second air passageway that is elongate along a second longitudinal centerline; the second inflatable air duct section having a second inflated length extending along the second longitudinal centerline, a second inflated width extending in a second lateral direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal centerline, and a second inflated thickness extending substantially perpendicular to both the second longitudinal centerline and the second lateral direction, the second inflated length being greater than the second inflated width, the second inflated width being at least twice greater than a second inflated height, and the second longitudinal centerline being angularly displaced out of collinear alignment with the first longitudinal centerline such that the first and second longitudinal centerlines are not parallel. 12. The air duct system of claim 11, wherein the second longitudinal centerline is curved upward relative to the first longitudinal centerline. 13. The air duct system of claim 11, wherein the second longitudinal centerline is curved downward relative to the first longitudinal centerline. 14. The air duct system of claim 11, wherein both the first longitudinal centerline and the second longitudinal centerline are substantially linear and angularly displaced relative to each other. 15. The air duct system of claim 11, wherein the first inflatable air duct includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet underneath the top sheet, a first side sheet extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, and a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet; the first air passageway being defined by the top sheet, the bottom sheet, the first side sheet and the second side sheet; the first air passageway including a first airway, a second airway, an intermediate airway, a first transition area and a second transition area; the first airway being along the first side sheet, the second airway being along the second side sheet, the intermediate airway being between the first airway and the second airway, the first transition area being between the first airway and the intermediate airway, the second transition area being between the intermediate airway and the second airway; the air duct system further including:a first restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in the first transition area;a second restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in the second transition area;an inflated valley defined by the top sheet, on an exterior of the first inflatable air duct, and overlying the first transition area when the first inflatable air duct is in the inflated state; andan inflated peak defined by the top sheet, on an exterior of the first inflatable air duct, and overlying the intermediate airway when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state. 16. The air duct system of claim 11, further including: a first lengthwise support being elongate in a first direction substantially parallel the first longitudinal centerline;a first crosswise support being elongate in the first lateral direction;a first hanger to hold the first inflatable air duct in suspension from the first lengthwise support; anda second hanger to hold the first inflatable air duct in suspension from the first crosswise support. 17. An air duct system for conveying a current of air, the air duct system comprising: a top sheet;a bottom sheet underneath the top sheet;a first side sheet extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet;a second side sheet spaced apart from the first side sheet and extending between the top sheet and the bottom sheet; the top sheet, the bottom sheet, the first side sheet and the second side sheet providing an inflatable air duct having an inflated state and a deflated state, the inflatable air duct defining an interior and an exterior, the inflatable air duct having an inflated length extending in a longitudinal direction, an inflated width extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and an inflated height extending perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; the inflated length extending between a first end and a second end of the inflatable air duct, the inflated length being greater than the inflated width, and the inflated width being more than twice as great as the inflated height; an air passageway to convey the current of air in the longitudinal direction between the first end and the second end, the air passageway being within the interior of the inflatable air duct, the air passageway being defined by the top sheet, the bottom sheet, the first side sheet and the second side sheet, the air passageway being greater in volume when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state than when the inflatable air duct is in the deflated state, the air passageway including a first airway along the first side sheet, a second airway along the second side sheet, and an intermediate airway between the first airway and the second airway, the intermediate airway being adjacent the first airway at a first transition area;a first restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in the first transition area;a second restraint to connect the top sheet to the bottom sheet in a second transition area; andan inflatable manifold connected to the inflatable air duct, the inflatable manifold defining a first opening and a second opening, the first opening having a perimeter at least forty percent larger than that of the second opening, the first opening adjacent the first end of the inflatable air duct, thereby placing the inflatable manifold in fluid communication with the inflatable air duct. 18. The air duct system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable air duct includes an inflated valley on a top side of the inflatable air duct when the inflatable air duct is in the inflated state. 19. The air duct system of claim 1, further including a plurality of internal restraints to connect a top sheet of the inflatable air duct to a bottom sheet of the inflatable air duct. 20. The air duct system of claim 19, wherein a first one of the plurality of internal restraints is attached to a first point on at least one of the top sheet or the bottom sheet and a second one of the plurality of internal restraints is attached to a second point on the at least one of the top sheet or the bottom sheet, the first point being displaced relative to the second point in the lateral direction.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Nicholas B. Paschke, Fabric air duct held in tension.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.