Adapter for coupling air duct to fan-driven vent
AssigneeApplied Optoelectronics, Inc.
InventorDarren F. Tucker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter for coupling an air duct having an air duct mating end to a fan-driven vent unit having an air intake opening. The air duct may be a circular cross sectional air duct, for example, and the vent unit may comprise a HEPA or other filter. The adapter has a first mating section compatible with the air duct mating end (e.g., circular) for coupling the adapter to the air duct mating end, and a second mating section for coupling the adapter to the air intake opening of the fan-driven vent unit. Side walls of the adapter, between or part of the first and second mating sections, have supply-relief holes for providing a supply of air to the air intake opening when the air duct provides no air supply (e.g., when it is closed off by a damper system).
Claims24
A system for providing a supply of air to a room, the system comprising:
- (a) a fan-driven vent unit having a vent output open to the room and an air intake opening;
- (b) an air duct for providing an air supply, the air duct having an air duct mating end;
- and
- (c) an adapter for coupling the air duct to the fan-driven vent unit, the adapter is mounted in a plenum space above a ceiling outside the room, the space containing air, the adapter comprising:
- a first mating section for coupling the adapter to the air duct mating end;
- a second mating section for coupling the adapter to the air intake opening of the fan-driven vent unit;
- and
- at least one wall having at least one supply-relief hole, open to said plenum space, for providing air from the plenum space outside the room to the air intake opening when the air duct does not provide the air supply.
A system for providing a supply of air to a room, the system comprising:
- (a) a fan-driven vent unit having a vent output open to the room and an air intake opening;
- (b) an air duct for providing an air supply, the air duct having an air duct mating end;
- and
- (c) an adapter for coupling the air duct to the fan-driven vent unit, the adapter is mounted in a plenum space above a ceiling outside the room, the space containing air, the adapter comprising:
- first mating means for coupling the adapter to the air duct mating end;
- second mating means for coupling the adapter to the air intake opening of the fan-driven vent unit;
- and
- supply-relief means for providing air from the space outside the room to the air intake opening when the air duct does not provide the air supply.
A method for coupling an air duct for providing an air supply and having an air duct mating end to a fan-driven vent unit having an air intake opening and a vent output open to a room, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) mounting an adapter in a plenum space above a ceiling outside the room, the space containing air, the adapter comprising a first mating section, a second mating section, and at least one wall having at least one supply-relief hole open to said space;
- (b) coupling the first mating section of the adapter to the air duct mating end;
- (c) coupling the second mating section of the adapter to the air intake opening of the fan-driven vent unit;
- and
- (d) providing, with said at least one supply-relief hole, air from the plenum space outside the room to the air intake opening when the air duct does not provide the air supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.