초록 ▼

An insulated duct includes an inflatable jacket surround the duct. The jacket is inflated, preferably with air traveling in the duct, to create a static condition in the air space formed by the jacket to provide additional insulation for the duct. When the jacket is combined with additional insulati

An insulated duct includes an inflatable jacket surround the duct. The jacket is inflated, preferably with air traveling in the duct, to create a static condition in the air space formed by the jacket to provide additional insulation for the duct. When the jacket is combined with additional insulation and low emissivity material, the R value of the duct can be increased in a more efficient manner from manufacturing and cost viewpoints.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flexible insulated duct comprising: a duct segment having a duct wall, an axial length, and a peripheral length that forms a channel for fluid to flow therethrough;an inflatable jacket surrounding at least a portion of the axial and peripheral lengths of the duct wall, the inflatable jacket com

1. A flexible insulated duct comprising: a duct segment having a duct wall, an axial length, and a peripheral length that forms a channel for fluid to flow therethrough;an inflatable jacket surrounding at least a portion of the axial and peripheral lengths of the duct wall, the inflatable jacket comprising at least one flexible membrane, opposite ends of the at least one flexible membrane sealed to the duct segment;for at least the portion of the axial and peripheral lengths of the duct wall surrounded by the inflatable jacket, the inflatable jacket includes a space formed by the opposite ends of the at least one flexible membrane being sealed to the duct segment, the duct wall having one of the following to provide communication between the space and the channel;i) a single opening in the duct wall; orii) a pair of openings, the pair of openings diametrically opposed to each other in the duct wall; oriii) a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings radially spaced apart in the duct wall and on a plane perpendicular to an axis of the duct;wherein the at least one flexible membrane expands to create an enlarged space as a result of pressurization by the fluid from the channel entering the space through the single opening, or the pair of openings, or the plurality of openings in the duct wall, the enlarged space consisting of the fluid, and by opposite ends of the at least one flexible membrane being sealed to the duct segment and one of the single opening, the pair of openings, and the plurality of openings being in the duct wall, the enlarged space has a static fluid flow condition at steady-state fluid flow conditions in the channel. 2. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the duct segment includes an insulating layer disposed between the inflatable jacket and the duct wall and the at least one opening extends through the insulation layer to provide communication between the channel and the empty inflatable space. 3. The flexible insulated duct of claim 2, further comprising a pair of membranes, a first membrane adjacent an outer surface of the insulation layer and a second membrane forming an outer layer of the duct segment. 4. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the duct segment includes an insulation layer disposed on the outside of the membrane. 5. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the inflatable jacket includes at least one or opposing low emissivity materials to provide increased thermal resistance. 6. The flexible The insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the inflatable jacket includes a pressure relief valve. 7. The insulated duct of claim 1, wherein each of (i) to (iii) includes a check valve. 8. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the opposite ends of the inflatable jacket are sealed to the duct segment using one or more of clamps, tape, or adhesive or a combination thereof. 9. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of duct segments in combination with one inflatable jacket and the at least one opening is in communication with one of the duct segments. 10. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of duct segments with one inflatable jacket for each of the plurality of duct segments. 11. The flexible insulated duct of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the inflatable space ranges between about 0.25 to 0.75 inches. 12. The insulated duct of claim 1, wherein the duct segment contains a helical support member as part of the duct wall. 13. In a method of providing conditioned air through an insulated duct segment in a duct system, the improvement comprising using the flexible insulated duct of claim 1 in the duct system. 14. A flexible insulated duct sized for HVAC use comprising a duct segment, having a duct wall, an axial length, and a peripheral length that forms a channel for fluid to flow therethrough;an inflatable jacket surrounding at least a portion of the axial and peripheral lengths of the duct wall, the inflatable jacket comprising at least one flexible membrane, opposite ends of the at least one membrane sealed to the duct segment,for at least the portion of the axial and peripheral lengths of the duct segment surrounded by the inflatable jacket, the inflatable jacket includes a space formed by opposite ends of the at least one flexible membrane sealed to the duct segment, the duct wall having one of the following to provide communication between the space and the channel;i) a single opening in the duct wall; orii) a pair of openings, the pair of openings diametrically opposed to each other in the duct wall; oriii) a plurality of openings, each of the plurality of openings radially spaced apart in the duct wall and on a plane perpendicular to an axis of the duct;a low emissivity material located on at least one inner surface forming the space of the inflatable jacket,wherein the at least one flexible membrane expands to create an enlarged space as a result of pressurization by the fluid from the channel, the enlarged space consisting of the fluid, and by the opposite ends of the at least one flexible membrane being sealed to the duct segment and one of the single opening, the pair of openings, and the plurality of openings being in the duct wall, the enlarged space has a static fluid flow condition at steady-state fluid flow conditions in the channel. 15. The flexible insulated duct of claim 14, further comprising an insulating layer surrounding the inflatable jacket or positioned between the inflatable jacket and the duct wall, wherein the inflatable jacket includes two membranes when the inflatable jacket is disposed on the outside of the insulating layer.