Thermally actuated heating/cooling air changeover deflector structure for a ceiling diffuser

Ceiling supply air diffuser apparatus comprising:

• a ceiling supply air diffuser having a hollow body with an inlet for receiving a flow of heating or cooling air from a source thereof, and a bottom side portion having central and peripheral portions with openings therein through which the received heating or cooling air may be downwardly flowed;
• and
• heating/cooling changeover air deflector apparatus including:
• a frame portion secured to and overlying said central portion of said bottom side portion of said hollow ceiling supply air diffuser body,
• damper means supported on said frame portion and being drivable between a closed orientation in which said damper means block said frame portion and substantially preclude air flow therethrough, and an open orientation in which said damper means unblock said frame portion and permit air flow therethrough;
• and
• drive means for sensing an air temperature adjacent said damper means and responsively driving said damper means to said open orientation when said air temperature is of a first predetermined magnitude, and driving said damper means to said closed orientation when said air temperature is of a second predetermined magnitude less than said first predetermined magnitude, said drive means including a thermally deflectable bimetallic strip member having a first end portion fixedly associated with said frame portion and a second end drivingly connected to said damper means.

Ceiling supply air diffuser apparatus comprising:

• a diffuser plate member having a top side, a peripheral edge portion, a generally central first perforated portion spaced inwardly apart from said peripheral edge portion, and a second perforated portion disposed between said peripheral edge portion and said first perforated portion;
• an air delivery dome structure secured to said peripheral edge portion and defining an air receiving plenum disposed above said top side of said diffuser plate member, said air delivery dome structure having a top side opening spaced upwardly apart from and facing said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member and to which a supply air duct may be secured to flow heating and cooling air into said air receiving plenum for discharge downwardly through said diffuser plate member;
• and
• thermally actuatable heating/cooling changeover means for blocking said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member in response to a flow of cooling air into said air receiving plenum, and for unblocking said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member in response to a flow of heating air into said air receiving plenum, said thermally actuatable heating/cooling changeover means including:
• damper means supported on the top side of said diffuser plate member, within said air receiving plenum and over said first perforated portion, and being drivable between open and closed orientations, and
• a coiled bimetallic strip member disposed within said air delivery plenum and being thermally deflectable to drive said damper means between said open and closed orientations thereof, said coiled bimetallic strip having a first end supported in a fixed relationship with said diffuser plate member and being drivingly connected to said damper means,
• said damper means including:
• a frame portion secured to the top side of said diffuser plate member and extending generally along the juncture between said first and second perforated portions thereof,
• a plurality of damper blades having upper sides and being supported on said frame portion for pivotal movement relative thereto between first positions in which the widths of said damper blades are generally parallel to said diffuser plate member, and a second position in which the widths of said damper blades are generally perpendicular to said diffuser plate member, and
• a linking structure positioned above and connected to said damper blades, said linking structure being shiftable relative to said frame portion to simultaneously move said damper blades from either of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions, and
• said second end of the coiled bimetallic strip member being drivingly connected to said linking structure.

Ceiling supply air diffuser apparatus comprising:

• a diffuser plate member having a top side, a peripheral edge portion, a generally central first perforated portion spaced inwardly apart from said peripheral edge portions, and a second perforated portion disposed between said peripheral edge portion and said first perforated portion;
• an air delivery dome structure secured to said peripheral edge portion and defining an air receiving plenum disposed above said top side of said diffuser plate member, said air delivery dome structure having a top side opening spaced upwardly apart from and facing said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member and to which a supply air duct may be secured to flow heating and cooling air into said air receiving plenum for discharge downwardly through said diffuser plate member;
• and
• thermally actuatable heating/cooling changeover means for blocking said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member in response to a flow of cooling air into said air receiving plenum, and for unblocking said first perforated portion of said diffuser plate member in response to a flow of heating air into said air receiving plenum, said thermally actuatable heating/cooling changeover means including:
• damper means supported on the top side of said diffuser plate member, within said air receiving plenum and over said first perforated portion, and being drivable between open and closed orientations, and
• a coiled bimetallic strip member disposed within said air delivery plenum and being thermally deflectable to drive said damper means between said open closed orientations thereof, said coiled bimetallic strip having a first end supported in a fixed relationship with said diffuser plate member, and a second end being movable relative to said diffuser plate member and being drivingly connected to said damper means, said bimetallic strip member being coiled about an axis extending generally perpendicularly to said diffuser plate member.