The present invention concerns an air inlet component, in particular for air heating systems of small (one-family) houses and intended to be placed between the air inlet duct and the air inlet grille.

The air inlet component to which this invention refers is meant to operate as a part in an air heating system built into small (one- family) houses. The inlet air, treated with the aid of the air heating unit, is carried by the aid of a duct to the air inlet component, which is usually located in the floor structure under a window. In the air inlet component, guiding and regulation of the air takes place, and possibly sound deadening. A floor grille connects as a separate part to the air inlet component.

Commonly known in prior art are two types of air inlet component made of galvanized sheet steel. One of the types, having the duct connection on one side, is intended to be installed under the floor. Since the duct has a variable height from the floor, the air inlet component provides for height adjustment. The other type, made of sheet steel, is intended for installation in the false ceiling. It has the duct connection at the bottom, and the height of the compo¬ nent is fixed.

In connection with the use of both air inlet components difficulties are encountered. The installation of the components requires high accuracy. Protection while construction is in progress is difficult to provide, because the aperture in the floor must be open for heating during this period. The requirement is nowadays also imposed that the metallic floor grille connecting with the air inlet compo¬ nent should be electrically insulated from ground; for this reason, one is compelled to insulate the air inlet grille from the air inlet component made of steel.

The object of the invention is to avoid the drawbacks mentioned. Furthermore, the object is to provide an air inlet component where

for height adjustment no sliding fit between parts entering each other is required.

In order to achieve the above objects, and others which will become apparent later on, the invention is mainly characterized in that the air inlet component has its connectors on one side and on both opposed end faces, and that the air inlet component can be divided substantially at its central plane into two parts which both are usable as independent air inlet components e.g. in installation in the false ceiling.

When using an air inlet component according to the invention, one may use one and the same component for below-floor as well as false ceiling installation. The air inlet component of the invention has been so designed that it has a connector on one side and on each end, and that the air inlet component can be divided along its central line into two parts, both which may operate as an independent air inlet component in false ceiling installation.

The invention is described in the following in detail with reference to an embodiment example presented in the figures of the attached drawing.

Fig. 1 shows the air inlet conponent, seen from its broader side.

Fig. 2 shows the same as Fig. 1, seen from its narrower side.

Fig. 3 shows the air inlet component of Figs 1 and 2, seen from the underside.

Fig. 4 shows the air inlet coaponent of Figs 1 and 2, in top view.

The air inlet component displayed in the figures has been made of plastic with a comparatively small wall thickness. The air inlet component 10 is a container-like body having on its broader sides, stiffening ribs 15. The air inlet component 10 has in the lower part of its broader side, a connector 14 and on its top and bottom

faces, mutually opposed connectors 12 and 13.

At the horizontal central plane 11 of the air inlet component 10 have been provided two closely spaced reinforcing ribs 17 running all the way around the air inlet component 10, and between which the air inlet component can be cut into two parts 10a and 10b,, one of them having one connector 13 and the other having two connectors, 12 and 14. Such division can be made at another point as well, if required. The connectors 12,13 and 14 can be closed, if required, with a round cap 16, which can be fixed in its place e.g. by cementing.

In installation under the floor, the duct is connected to the side connector 14. The connector at the end, 13, and part of the body 10 remain above floor level, whereby the opened connector 13 may serve as heating air inlet nozzle during progress of the construction work. The ingress of dirt and foreign bodies into the air inlet chamber is prevented because the connector 13 extends considerably over the floor level. The extra part protruding from the floor is not cut away until just before the floor covering is laid; it follows that no high requirements have to be imposed on the accuracy of installation.

The easiest way, in installation in the ceiling, is to carry out the duct connection through the connector 12 on the bottom of the air inlet component. The air inlet component of the invention can be divided, by cross-cutting along the centreline 11, into two parts 10a and 10b, which are both suitable to be used in false ceiling installation each as an independent air inlet component. In that case, the connectors 12 and 13 on the ends are used for duct connection.

When using an air inlet component 10 as taught by the invention, one may connect the grille directly to the air inlet component without any insulation because the air inlet component 10, made of plastic material, provides the requisite insulation between the metallic air inlet grille and ground. Furthermore, the use of

plastic for raw material endows the air inlet component 10 with good resistance to corrosion.

In the following are stated the claims, various details of the invention being free to vary within the scope of the inventive idea expressed by them.