AIR CURTAIN WITH MODUIAR HOUSING

The present invention relates to an air curtain, comprising: a frame; air displacing means mounted on the frame; and a housing.

Such air curtains are generally known. In diverse known embodiments the housings have a monolithic exterior, wherein air inlet gratings and air outlet gratings can be used. These are however designs geared to specific applications. There is little flexibility possible during the production process for making said known air curtains suitable for applications other than the intended options for use. In addition, the known air curtains often take a block-like form, wherein an aesthetic design is taken into account only with some rounded and canted parts so as to give such an air curtain, and in particular the housing thereof, a modern or aesthetically pleasing appearance. No allowance whatever is however made here for the intended application or position during use, particularly not in combination with other components located close to the air curtain in use, such as rolling doors, roll-down shutters and other similar components which may be located at doors and/or openings in or close to buildings.

The present invention has for its object to obviate, or at least alleviate, the above stated problems of the known art, for which purpose an air curtain according to the present invention is distinguished by the combination of measures as according to main claim number one.

With an air curtain according to the invention diverse orientations of a frame module and an airflow module relative to each other are possible so that, both preferably supported or carried by the frame, a design can be realized which is

adapted to the situation of use without needing or having to manufacture a wholly new or different product. In the design of the frame module and the airflow module allowance can hereby be made for a wide diversity of different possible applications or positions and devices and components located nearby during operation.

In a preferred embodiment the frame module comprises an air inlet side during operation and the airflow module can be connected to at least the air inlet side. Not only can a desired orientation of the airflow flowing through the air curtain be realized on the outlet side but also on the inlet side when for instance parts or components impeding airflow, such as a rolling door or the like, may be arranged in the vicinity during use. At least equally important then is an embodiment wherein the frame module has an air outlet side and the airflow module can be connected to at least the air outlet side in the at least two orientations relative to the frame module. The airflow module thus forms in this embodiment of the invention a kind of outlet nozzle for blowing out air in directions corresponding to the possible orientations, wherein the direction depends on the chosen orientation of the airflow module relative to the frame module.

In an embodiment with an air inlet side and an air outlet side of the frame module air treatment means can also be arranged on the frame for heating, cooling or other treatment of an airflow flowing through the air curtain. Such air treatment means are then preferably suspended from or supported by the frame, wherein the housing once again provides room for such air treatment means, just as air displacing means can be arranged on or in the frame. A compact configuration can thus be obtained, also without the air treatment means, wherein the structural strength of an

air curtain according to the present invention is determined substantially by the frame, and the frame module and the airflow module are in fact little more than a closure of the interior of the space formed by the frame in order to conceal it from view and to be able to define an airflow through the air curtain. It has already been noted that the airflow module can here form a kind of outlet nozzle to enable orienting of the exiting airflow.

In a preferred embodiment it is precisely the frame which comprises coupling means with which the air curtain can be positioned in or close to a passage in a building, preferably in a selected one of a diverse number of possible orientations. These orientations will then substantially be related to the chosen orientation of the airflow module relative to the frame module of the housing. In addition, the frame is preferably used as structural framework, since the structural integrity of the air curtain can hereby be determined in this embodiment of the invention. Engagement of the coupling means on the frame then has the advantage that a reliable placing, suspension or positioning of the air curtain can be realized by coupling the coupling means to the frame .

In an embodiment according to the present invention an air curtain preferably has the feature that the frame module takes a form on the air inlet or air outlet side which corresponds with the form of the airflow module on the side directed toward the airflow module. A good connection between the frame module and the airflow module can thus be obtained so as to allow an airflow flowing through the air curtain in this embodiment of the invention to be able to flow in suitable manner through both the frame module and the airflow module, and to thus be able to impart a desired direction to an exiting airflow. It is moreover possible here to adapt the

design of the assembly of the frame module and the airflow module in optimal manner to the conditions at the location of use.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention an air curtain has the feature that the airflow module has a curvature for causing the airflow flowing through the air curtain to flow in a desired direction. In such an embodiment the airflow module can therefore fulfil the function of a outlet nozzle, and the direction of the airflow leaving the air curtain can be determined with such an airflow module. A direction which suits the location of use can thus be imparted to the exiting airflow, while the basic configuration of the frame, the air displacing means assembled with the frame and the frame module of the housing can be embodied substantially uniformly and in the same manner for all applications. The production process thus acquires a flexibility not heretofore provided.

In an embodiment with an airflow module having a curvature, the curvature preferably forms a space-saving canting of the assembly of the frame module and the airflow module. This is particularly the case compared to embodiments where the airflow module does not have such a curvature. In embodiments with a curvature forming such a space-saving canting the frame module does however preferably have, at the position of the airflow module arranged thereon, a form corresponding with the curvature of the airflow module. Practically all positions and conditions of use can thus be optimized, and this optimization can also be attributed to the frame module and is substantially related to the shape of the space formed by the frame. It can also be favourable here for the frame module to have a form substantially corresponding to a tangent to the curve of the airflow module. The designs of both the frame module and the airflow

module will here together produce a further improved space- saving.

The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings of diverse embodiments and positions of use of an air curtain according to the present invention, wherein the same and similar parts and components are designated with the same reference numerals, and wherein: fig. 1 shows a first position of use of an air curtain according to the present invention; fig. 2 shows another position of use; fig. 3 shows a view corresponding with the position of use in fig. 1; fig. 4 shows a partly cut-away perspective view of the position of use of fig. 1 and fig. 3; fig. 5 shows the manner in which an air curtain according to the present invention is suitable for use in both the positions of use shown in fig. 1 and in fig. 2; fig. 6 shows a position of use as depicted in fig. 5; and fig. 7 shows another of the positions of use depicted in fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows a first position of use of an air curtain 1 according to the present invention. Air curtain 1 is disposed to the side of an opening 2 in a wall 3 of a building. Opening 2 can be a door or a normally open passage, and air curtain 1 is adapted to generate an airflow 4 in the plane formed by opening 2 in order to separate spaces on either side of wall 3 to some extent from each other. Airflow 4 here serves to reduce heat exchange between the spaces in front of and behind wall 3, but can also serve to form an odour barrier and so forth.

Air curtain 1 can be mounted on brackets 5 on wall 3 to the side of opening 2. Use can also be made of an upright 6

for placing and/or suspension of air curtain 1. The continuation of air curtain 1 will be discussed in more detail below.

Fig. 2 shows a position of use of an air curtain 1 according to the present invention other than that shown in fig. 1. Air curtain 1 herein hangs from a beam 7 above and at an opening 2 in a wall 3 in order to generate an airflow 4 in the plane formed by opening 2. A roll-down shutter 8 is movable reciprocally over air curtain 1 and over beam 7 in order to selectively, temporarily and physically close the opening 2. This is an application for instance where wall 3 is an outside wall of the building in which opening 2 is arranged. By closing the roll-down shutter 8 a closure from the outside world can be brought about in more effective manner than is possible with air curtain 1. However, when the roll-down shutter is open and passage 2 is left clear, air curtain 1 can be selectively set into operation to generate airflow 4 and thus realize separation of the spaces on either side of wall 3 using airflow 4. A visual comparison of the possible applications of fig. 1 and fig. 2 teaches that wholly different outflow directions of the airflow 4 to be generated can be achieved, while substantially the same mounting options are utilized, i.e. the brackets in fig. 5 and the beam in fig. 7. For this purpose the air curtain 1 comprises a housing with a modular structure. The housing of air curtain 1 comprises for this purpose a frame module 9 and an airflow module 10, which will be described in more detail below. Fig. 3 shows a side view of an air curtain 1 in the position of use of fig. 2. It can clearly be seen that frame module 9 and airflow module 10 are connected to each other such as to generate an airflow 4 flowing in downward direction. As will be further described below with reference

to fig. 5, the orientation of frame module 9 and airflow module 10 is freely adjustable during on-site assembly or already during the production process, or even after air curtain 1 has been placed and taken into use. It is noted that elements and components can also be exchanged, modified or added before, during or after placing and taking into use, as a result of the modular properties of the air curtain according to the present invention.

Along the sides directed toward each other the forms of frame module 9 and airflow module 10 are adapted to each other in order to obtain a good fit and thus be effectively able to generate an airflow 4 with the highest possible efficiency. Frame module 9 and airflow module 10 have for this purpose inclining, mutually connecting sides. Owing to the orientation of airflow module 10 relative to frame module 9 as shown in fig. 3, blowing out of an airflow takes place in a direction transversely of the axis 11 of air curtain 1.

Fig. 5 shows an opposite side view of the same orientation of airflow module 10 and frame module 9 relative to each other. The orientation of airflow module 10 corresponding to fig. 3 is in any case shown in fig. 5 in full lines. The broken lines in fig. 5 however show another orientation of airflow module 10 with which an airflow running at 90° to the direction of arrow A can be realized. An airflow can thus be oriented as according to arrow A or arrow A' depending on the orientation of airflow module 10 relative to frame module 9. Fig. 6 and fig. 7 once again show in perspective views these different orientations of airflow module 10 relative to frame module 9. It is further noted that in the free outer end of airflow module 10 remote from frame module 9 an outlet grating 12 can be arranged to bring about a further orientation of the

airflow to be realized with air curtain 1. Various standard techniques can be applied for this purpose.

It is noted that, compared to the embodiment of air curtain 1 shown in fig. 5, various other orientations of airflow module 10 and frame module 9 relative to each other can be realized. It is a main aspect of the present invention that diverse orientations of the airflows for generating can be achieved.

Another property clearly apparent from fig. 3 and fig. 5 is that the shape of frame module 9, at least in the vicinity of airflow module 10 which has a curvature, substantially corresponds to this curvature. Frame module 9 thus appears to continue with a smooth fit in the line of the curvature of airflow module 10. It can be stated that the form of frame module 9 follows the tangent 13 to the curve of airflow module 10. A space-saving can thus be achieved which, particularly in the arrangement of fig. 3 with a roll-down shutter 8 running over air curtain 1, can result in a considerable saving of space. The airflow 4 to be generated with air curtain 1 can moreover be generated so as to follow very closely the opening 2 in wall 3, which will enhance the efficiency of the air curtain.

It is further also noted that air curtain 1 comprises a structural frame 14. In the embodiment of fig. 4 the frame is formed by plates 14, wherein the frame forms a carrier for air displacing means 15, these being cyclo-motors in the embodiment shown here in fig. 4. Cyclo-motors 15 are disposed in plate frame 14 such that the airflow to be generated therewith is generally directed toward an outlet 16 of frame module 9, which forms a part of the housing together with airflow module 10 and in fact forms a skin or closure of the plate frame 14 with cyclo-motors 15 mounted thereon. Cyclo- motors 15 are disposed at an angle such that the airflow to

be generated by cyclo-motors 15 can be oriented optimally- through outlet 16 of frame module 9 with the airflow module 10 in one of the two positions as shown schematically in fig. 5. The plate frame 14 forming the frame of air curtain 1, is structurally the basic component with which the other parts and components are assembled. For suspension from beams 7 or from brackets 5 a coupling will in each case be employed which is connected to the frame formed by plates 14, so that a reliable suspension or fitting of air curtain 1 can be realized. As will be apparent from the differences between figures 1 and 2, the same side (in fig. 4 the top side) can be used in each case to suspend or mount air curtain 1, wherein the orientation of airflow module 10 and frame module 9 relative to each other defines the direction of the airflow 4 to be generated with air curtain 1.

It is further noted that frame module 9 does not necessarily have to wholly enclose the space around frame 14 and cyclo-motors 15 except for outlet opening 16, but that an opening can also be provided for maintenance and repairs, which opening can then be closed with a closing plate 17. By simply unscrewing closing plate 17 access can be readily gained to the interior of air curtain 1 for inspection and/or maintenance. Locations other than that of closing plate 17 can also be and/or be made suitable for this purpose. Other parts of frame module 9 can take a releasable form for this purpose, this applying also to opening 16 when airflow module 10 is releasable, although a position closer to motors 15 is preferred. Many alternative and additional embodiments will occur to the skilled person after examination of the foregoing, which further embodiments will then not be deemed as being among the possible embodiments of the present invention only when

they depart from the spirit or the letter of the scope of protection defined in the appended claims. It is thus possible for air treatment means to be arranged opposite airflow module 10 relative to the interior of frame module 9, i.e. on an air inlet side of the air curtain. This may then involve heating, such as gas heating, electrical heating etc., or a cooling comprising for instance a correspondingly formed heat exchanger. These and other parts and components can also be added as required and needed when the device has already been taken into use, for instance through the opening to be closed with closing plate 17. The airflow module can also be reoriented after it has been taken into use. Alternative or additional measures can further also be taken on the inlet side, where such air treatment means can be arranged, for infeed of air in suitable manner for the purpose of generating an airflow 4 therewith. When for instance in the embodiment of fig. 3 the roll-down shutter 8 is positioned very closely above and behind air curtain 1, it is possible to opt for a similar solution so as to draw in sufficient air from an orientation other than directly behind air curtain 1 by for instance arranging an airflow module 10 on the left-hand side of air curtain 1 in fig. 3, and thus drawing in air from another position. The air curtain can also be connected to an external feed so as to thereby feed to the air curtain air subjected to a remote treatment, and to thereby generate airflow 4. Where the embodiments of air curtains according to the present invention shown in the figures have in each case a narrowed form on the outlet side for expelling an airflow 4, another suitable form at random can also be considered, such as a semicircular form, an elliptical form etc. Allowance must however be made here for a good fitting of the airflow module and frame module 9 to each other.