GB2049162A - Apparatus for introducing an atmosphere control substance into a ventilation duct - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for association with a forced air ventilation duct 14 has an inlet means 10 to receive air from the inside of the duct 14 connected outside duct 14 to a dispenser 15 which is itself connected to outlet means 17 terminating within the duct 14 downstream of the inlet means 10 to supply an atmosphere control substance, such as an odorant or deodorant insecticide, water vapour, or inhalation vapour, from dispenser 15 into the air stream. Air flow through the dispenser 15 is accomplished by the differential pressures present at the inlet and outlet means 10 and 17 in the air duct 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Atmospheric control apparatus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Forced air ventilation systems are commonly utilized in houses, offices and industrial buildings to provide a controlled atmosphere at particular locations throughout those units.

Different locations within those units have different atmospheric requirements and it often has been a problem to provide selective atmospheres based on the requirements of the particular location.

For example, in the home it may be desirable to provide a source of odorant or deodorant in a bathroom area of the like without substantially affecting the atmosphere in other rooms in the home. Sometimes, residents having certain physical impairments must be provided with controlled atmosphere-for example, atmospheres having high humidity or the presence of a vapor to assist breathing. In industrial units, it is not unusual to have local production of malodors which are more easily controlled at the source before they spread to other areas in the buildings.

Forced air ventilation systems provide certain advantages for atmospheric control systems, such as rapid and complete dispersion of vapors introduced into the atmosphere.

However, heretofore, those systems also have been difficult to work with since they are usually operated from a single power source from an air source remote from many of the locations at which ventilation is occuring. The locations most often are supplied from a central air source by appropriate duct-work. Most homes, for example, have the air inlet and powered blower located in the basement or other areas remote from the living quarters.

Many industrial buildings have units located on the roofs of the buildings. Simply placing a source of odorant or the like in the air inlet results in exposure to the control substance of the entire unit fed by the ventilation system.

Clearly, that exposure is not desirable when only atmospheric control at a specific location is required.

Additionally, specific locations remote from the central power source often do not have convenient power sources for driving independent atmospheric control units. Also, it is often desirable that noise levels be kept to a minimum and for that reason independent, power driven units are not entirely satisfactory.

The need for a simple, ecomonical atmospheric control system for used in units having forced air ventilation systems is readily apparent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An atmospheric control apparatus is provided which can be utilized locally in forced air ventilation systems without an independent power source. The control apparatus is adapted to be attached directly to a piece of ductwork of the ventilation system and utilizes the differential pressure present at different positions within the interior of the duct to supply an atmospheric control substance into the air stream.

Typically, an upstream air inlet is provided extending through the wall of the duct with the interior end of the inlet member having an opening facing into the direction of air flow in the duct. The inlet member is connected externally of the duct to a source of atmospheric control substance, such as an odorant, deodorant, insecticide, inhalation vapor, or the like.

The control substance source is conveniently present in a replaceable cartridge unit which can be removed when depleted and replaced with a fresh cartridge. An outlet is provided from the control substance source extending into the interior of the duct at a position downstream from the inlet. Openings in the portion of the outlet located withing the interior of the duct are positioned to face away from the direction of air flow. The differential pressure across the inlet and outlet within the air duct is sufficient to drive the control unit so that continuous air flow through the unit dispensing the control substance is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus as mounted on the side of a typical rectangular ventilation duct; Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other -embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminolgy employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENTS As illustrated in the drawings, the atmospheric control apparatus comprises dispensing means such as a cannister or cartridge 1 5 communicating with the interior of the ventilation duct 14 through inlet means 10 and outlet means 1 7. The cartridge 1 5 is located externally of duct 14. Inlet means such as tubular conduit 10 having a first end 11 which is positioned within the interior of duct 1 4 and a second end 1 2 which communicates with the interior of cartridge 1 5 is provided.

End 1 2 preferably extends to a point near the bottom of cartridge 1 5 which is filled with a source 22 of control substance through or over which air can pass to outlet means 1 7.

Outlet means such as tubular conduit 17, has a first end 1 8 located within the interior of duct 14 at a position downstream from inlet 10. End 1 8 preferably is provided with a series of orifices 20 on the downstream side of the conduit 1 7. Second end 1 9 of conduit 1 7 is in fluid communication with cartridge 1 5 and receives treated air which has been passed over the control substance element 22. The diffential pressure existing between opening 21 and orifices 20 creates a flow of air through the system without any independent power source being required.

Valve means 1 3 is placed in conduit 10 externally of duct 14 to control the rate of air flow through cartridge 1 5 and thus control the rate at which control substance from element 22 is dispensed into the atmosphere.

The end 11 of conduit 10 preferably is bent to align a short segment of the conduit parallel to the airflow and direct opening 21 into the flow stream. Improved air movement through the apparatus is achieved using that configuration.

Ends 12 and 19 of conduits 10 and 17, respectively, are attached conveniently to a lid 1 6 having means for engaging the cannister 1 5. Cooperative threads on lid 1 6 and cannister 1 5 or a snap-fit closure can be utilized so that cannister 1 5 can easily be removed and replaced when replenishing the unit with a fresh element 22.

Conduit 10 generally is of larger diameter than conduit 1 7 to facilitate air flow through the apparatus. A one inch diameter inlet conduit 10 and a one-quarter inch outlet conduit 1 7 have been found to be satisfactory for most applications. In some instances, it is desirable to put a collecting element 24 on the end 11 of conduit 10 to assure an adequate flow of air through the apparatus.

The apparatus is most advantageous since it can be attached to duct work very near the location in which the atmosphere is to be controlled. More than one unit can be utilized at the same time at different locations and for different effects. For example, one can locate an apparatus containing deodorant in a duct feeding into a bathroom and another apparatus containing an inhalation vapor into a room wherein the occupant has some respiratory problem responsive to the vapor.

Usually the apparatus would be attached to the pressure side of the ventilation system.

However, if it is desirable to control the total atmosphere of the unit fed by the ventilation system, the control apparatus can be optionally placed on the suction side. Under those conditions, the embodiment utilizes an auxilliary opening 23 in inlet conduit 10. When placed on the suction side, opening 21 is closed by a cap or the like and air is drawn in through opening 23 externally of the duct by the fan system powering the ventilation system. Opening 23 can be provided by a conventional tubular tee placed in conduit 10 which is closed by a cap (not shown) when the unit is used on the pressure side.

Cannister 1 5 and element 22 are selected from the many conventional units which are available to provide a convenient source of odorant, deodorant, medicament, odor neutralizing vapor, or other control substance depending on the particular application intended. The control apparatus has been shown in the drawings as used with rectangular duct-work. Modification of the unit to allow attachment to tubular ductwork will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Conduits 10 and 1 7 are sealed at the juncture with duct 14 by conventional means to prevent loss of air around their periphery.

Claims (11)

1. An atmospheric control apparatus for use in a forced air ventilation duct comprising: air inlet means having a first end for fluid communication with the interior of said duct and a second end for positioning externally of said duct; outlet means for positioning downstream from said inlet means and having a first end for fluid communication with the interior of said duct and a second end for positioning externally of said duct; valve means positioned between said first end of said air inlet means and said first end of said outlet means and located externally of said duct; and dispensing means interposed between said second end of said inlet means and said second end of said outlet means for receiving air from said inlet means and dispensing neutralising vapour or odorant into said outlet means

2.An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said valve means is located in said air; inlet means near said second end of said inlet means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first end of said inlet means has an opening facing into the direction of air flow in the duct.

4. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first end of said outlet means has an opening facing away from the direction of air flow in the duct.

5. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said inlet means comprises a tubular conduit.

6. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet means comprises a tubular conduit having a plurality of orifices along a portion of its length for positioning within the interior of said duct, said orifices facing away from the direction of flow.

7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said dispensing means comprises a deodorant cartridge.

8. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein said air inlet means has an auxiliary opening positioned upstream from said valve means and positioned externally of said duct.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said auxiliary opening has means for optionally closing said opening.

10. An atmospheric control apparatus for use in a forced air ventilation duct substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An atmospheric control apparatus for use in a forced air ventilation duct substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.