Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an outlet vent panel for an air conditioning system where conditioned air is discharged. More particularly, the outlet vent panel is configured to comprise uniquely designed nozzles to achieve the targeted air flow of conditioned air.

Background of the Invention

A typical Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system consists of an air conditioning unit that generates conditioned air, a duct network that distributes conditioned air, and inlet and outlet vents that takes in ambient air and discharges conditioned air respectively. The outlet vent is the point of release of conditioned air into a space and usually can incorporate exit elements, such as diffusers and nozzles, to achieve the target conditioned air delivery. However, such an outlet vent with exit elements is not commonly found in mobile air conditioning units. Furthermore, there exists a need for an improved outlet vent structure to provide more efficient targeted air flow.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an outlet vent panel for an air conditioning system, particularly for a mobile outdoor air conditioning unit. The outlet vent panel of this invention is a uniquely designed structure comprises a plurality of nozzles to provide an efficient delivery of targeted air flow of conditioned air to a specific location. The benefits or advantages of the outlet vent panel of this invention include, but not limited to, providing directionality air flow, increasing air velocity and spatial coverage (wider and longer) of conditioned air, lowering pressure resistance of air flow, minimizing mixing of conditioned air with ambient air, preventing recirculation of conditioned air, lowering noise, improving safety and aesthetic look.

In accordance with embodiments of this invention, there is provided an outlet vent panel for an air conditioning system. The outlet vent panel comprises a body and a plurality of nozzles. The body has a rear side enclosing a heat exchange medium where a conditioned air is produced and a front side discharging the conditioned air. The nozzles are disposed within the body and extending through the rear and front sides. Each nozzle comprises an inlet at the rear side, an outlet at the front side, and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet to allow the conditioned air to flow through. The inlets of the nozzles are configured to have a total surface area greater than effective surface area of the heat exchange medium producing the conditioned air such that the conditioned air can efficiently channel into the nozzles, thereby lowering pressure resistance of air flow and preventing internal vortices from forming in the nozzles. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the pressure resistance is within 40 to 80 Pa.

Preferably, the inlet is configured to have a larger opening than the outlet forming a funnel-like nozzle such that a gradual air compression can be formed from the inlet to the outlet over the channel, thereby increasing air velocity and throw distance of the conditioned air.

Preferably, each nozzle can be tilted by an angle to create a directionality air flow so that to project the conditioned air to a specific direction.

Preferably, the outlet vent panel with the tilted funnel-like nozzles can prevent recirculation of the conditioned air back to the air conditioning system.

Preferably, the nozzles are arranged into arrays having two side columns and at least one central column between the two side columns. The two side columns produce two air walls respectively to act as a protection barrier to against mixing of the conditioned air with ambient air.

Preferably, the nozzles can be tilted upward by 2 to 10 degrees from horizontal to produce an upwardly projected air flow.

Preferably, the nozzles in the two side columns can be tilted outward by 10 to 30 degrees from the at least one central column to produce outwardly projected air flow, thereby increasing spatial coverage of the conditioned air.

Preferably, the inlet is formed in a rectangular shape, and the outlet is formed in a circular shape.

Preferably, the outlet vent panel further comprises a fixture installed in the nozzle to act as a louver to increase directionality and momentum of the conditioned air.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 (a) is a perspective front view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 1 (b) is a perspective rear view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 (a) is a direct front view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 (b) is a direct rear view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional side view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional top view of the outlet vent panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to an outlet vent panel for an air conditioning system where conditioned air is discharged. More particularly, the present invention relates to a uniquely designed outlet vent panel to enhance and achieve the targeted air flow of conditioned air to a specific location. The outlet vent panel is installed to an air conditioning system and adjacent to a heat exchange medium (e.g. heat exchanger or evaporative cooling media) which is a cooling component of the air conditioning system where conditioned air is produced. The outlet vent panel of the present invention is particularly suitable for a mobile outdoor air conditioning unit that can be conveniently transported and positioned at any location where an outdoor air conditioning is required. Further, a plurality of air conditioning units, each installed with an outlet vent panel, may be arranged into any suitable arrangements (e.g. two rows formed in a V shape) to deliver the targeted air flow to a specific area.

The outlet vent panel is adapted to enclose or cover the heat exchange medium in close proximity so that conditioned air can channel into the outlet vent panel efficiently. The outlet vent panel can be securely attached to the air conditioning system, as well as to be detached from the system for cleaning, replacement, or maintenance. The outlet vent panel can be attached to the air conditioning system by screws, latches, or other suitable locking mechanisms. The outlet vent panel can be made of any suitable materials, such as plastic, which are strong, tough, durable, and suitable for use in outdoor environment. The outlet vent panel can be formed in any suitable shapes and sizes which may assume the shape and size of the heat exchange medium producing the conditioned air so that the conditioned air can efficiently channel into the outlet vent panel.

Fig. 1 (a) and (b) show the perspective front view and rear view of outlet vent panel 10 respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 (a) and (b) show the direct front view and rear view of outlet vent panel 10 respectively. Outlet vent panel 10 comprises body 100 and a plurality of nozzles 200 disposed within body 100 and extending therethrough individually. Body 100 has rear side 101 that encloses a heat exchange medium where a conditioned air is produced and front side 102 that discharges the conditioned air. Each nozzle 200 comprises inlet 201 at rear side 101 , outlet 202 at front side 102, and channel 203 (see Fig. 3) connecting inlet 201 and outlet 202 such that conditioned air can flow from inlet 201 to outlet 202 through channel 203. Each nozzle 200 is extending through rear side 101 and front side 102 of body 100. All nozzles 200 are distributed and individually separated in body 100, with each one configured to project conditioned air to a specific direction and collectively produce an efficient and powerful targeted air flow. Nozzles 200 are configured such that the total surface area of all inlets 201 (i.e. sum of opening area of all inlets) is greater than the effective surface area of the heat exchange medium producing the conditioned air. Therefore, conditioned air can efficiently and rapidly channel into outlet vent panel 10 and maintaining a relatively laminar air flow in nozzles 200. This configuration has benefits of lowering pressure resistance of air flow and preventing internal vortices from forming in nozzles. Outlet vent panel 10 may be formed in any suitable shapes and sizes which at least sufficient to cover the effective surface area of the heat exchange medium where conditioned air is produced. For example, outlet vent panel 10 as shown in Figs. 1-3 has a rectangular shape.

Further, nozzles 200 are configured such that each inlet 201 has a larger opening than outlet 202, forming a funnel-like nozzle as can be seen in Fig. 3. Therefore, a gradual air compression can be formed from inlet 201 to outlet 202 over a distance of channel 203, thereby increasing air velocity and throw distance of the conditioned air discharged from outlet vent panel 10. Inlet 201 and outlet 202 can be formed in any suitable shapes. For example, the embodiment as shown in Figs. 1-3, inlet 201 has a rectangular opening, such as having a dimension (height by width) of 0.175 m by 0.23 m which is designed to provide an entering air velocity of 2 to 3 m/s. At the opposite end, outlet 202 has a circular opening (smaller than inlet 201), such as having a diameter of 0.13 m which is designed to provide an exiting air velocity of 6 to 7 m/s (larger than entering air velocity). Inlet 201 and outlet 202 of this embodiment are connected by channel 203 of about 0.15 m. In this configuration, a pressure resistance of about 40 to 80 Pa can be achieved. More particularly, a pressure resistance of about 60 Pa can be achieved. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the dimensions and air velocities for nozzle 200 are not limited to the above values, and they can be any suitable values depending on the shape and size of inlet 201 , outlet 202 and channel 203.

Nozzles 200 can be arranged into any suitable orders in body 100 so as to form the desired targeted air flow. For example, the plurality of nozzles 200 can be arranged into arrays and each array has a certain number of the nozzles. As such, outlet vent panel 10 also can be called as nozzle array panel. More particularly, nozzles 200 can be arranged into arrays having two side columns and at least one central column between the two side columns. The two side columns produce two air walls to act as a protection barrier to against external disturbances and minimize mixing of the conditioned air with ambient air outside the protection barrier. For example, as shown in Figs. 1-3, nozzles 200 are arranged into one central column 21 1 and two side columns 210 and 212. Each column 210, 211 and 212 has five nozzles 200, i.e. comprises fifteen nozzles 200 in total. In another embodiment, nozzles 200 are arranged into three columns with each column having four nozzles.

Each nozzle 200 can be configured to be tilted by an angle to create a directionality air flow such that conditioned air can be projected to a specific direction (e.g. vertically or horizontally) by each nozzle. Therefore, each nozzle 200 or a group of nozzles 200 can be configured to project the conditioned air to a particular direction which may be the same or different from others. For example, all nozzles 200 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3 can be titled upward by 2 to 10 degrees from horizontal to produce an upwardly projected air flow. More particularly, nozzles 200 are titled upward by 5 degrees from horizontal. Further, nozzles 200 in the two side columns 210 and 212 can be tilted outward by 10 to 30 degrees from the at least one central column to produce outwardly projected air flow (i.e. towards left and right of outlet vent panel 10 respectively), thereby increasing spatial coverage of the conditioned air (i.e. wider air flow spread). More particularly, nozzles 200 in the two side columns 210 and 212 are tilted outward by 15 degrees from the at least one central column. Therefore, combined with the increased air velocity due to the funnellike nozzles 200 as described above, outlet vent panel 10 can prevent recirculation of conditioned air back to the air conditioning system.

In addition, a fixture or insert (not shown) can be installed in each nozzle 200, such as adjacent to outlet 202, to act as a miniature louver to increase directionality and momentum of the conditioned air. Further, the fixture or insert can prevent a person from inserting his/her hand into nozzle 200 which may cause injury or damage to the person. Therefore, the fixture or insert also has the benefits of improving safety, as well as the aesthetic look of outlet vent panel 10.

Outlet vent panel 10 also can act as a noise attenuation device which aids in noise reduction of the air conditioning system. This is because outlet vent panel 10 is a front encapsulation panel to the outlet vent of the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the selected materials (e.g. plastic) or manufacturing processes (e.g. rotational molding) could further aid in noise reduction. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary, and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practising the claimed invention.