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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a ventilation device
having a heat exchanger.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been no ventilation device which includes a display means such as
a thermometer for showing to a user temperatures of a fresh environmental
air which is fed into a room after heat-exchange and of a room air to be
discharged outside.
It is, therefore, necessary to show data such as an efficiency for heat
exchange of room temperature to outdoor temperature on a material such as
catalogue or technical information whereby effect of the heat exchange is
informed to a user, thus the user relies on the ventilation device. It is
especially desirable for a user to be able to observe himself a
temperature difference in use of the ventilation device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a ventilation device which includes
thermosensitive elements detecting, respectively, temperature of air in
the outdoor, air in a room and air fed into the room through the
ventilation device, and a display unit for showing temperature detected by
each thermosensitive element.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilation device
which feeds a fresh air from the outdoor into a room without causing any
effect to a room temperature and which allows direct observation of such a
device to increase reliability for a user.
The foregoing and the other objects of the present invention have been
attained by providing a ventilation device which comprises thermosensitive
elements each placed at the inlet of an air-feeding passage, the inlet of
an air-discharging passage and the outlet of the air-feeding passage and a
display unit for showing temperature detected by the respective
thermosensitive element.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a display unit for showing
temperature detected is supported so as to be slanted to the outer surface
of the ventilation device whereby a user can easily and directly observe
the display unit by changing the direction of the unit dependent upon the
position of the ventilation device.
The thermosensitive elements are slidably placed on the respective region
and are fixed at a desired position in that region.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the thermosensitive
elements can be easily fitted without using any special fitting part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better
understood from the following detailed description when considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference
characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several
views and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the ventilation device
of the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively schematic views of embodiments of the
display unit as an important part of the ventilation device of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the display unit of the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the frame of the present
invention;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively enlarged cross sectional views of an
important part of the frame;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the frame of the
present invention; and
FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively schematic views of modified embodiments of
the ventilation device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the
same or corresponding parts.
In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the reference numeral (1) designates a main casing
fixed to a partition wall (C); (2) designates a heat exchanger which is
placed in the casing (1) and has an outer periphery defined by a frame
(3), the heat exchanger including the inlet plane (2e) of an air-feeding
passage, the inlet plane (2f) of an air-discharging passage and the outlet
plane (2g) of an air-feeding passage; (3a), (3b), (3c) and (3d)
respectively designate partitions extending from each edge of the frame
(3) to the inner wall of the casing (1) so as to divide the space of the
casing (1). These partitions (3a)-(3d) and the heat exchanger (2), thus
completely define the air passage in the casing to form the inlet of an
air-feeding passage (E), the inlet of an air-discharging passage (F), the
outlet of the air-feeding passage (G) and the outlet of the
air-discharging passage (H). (3e), (3f) and (3g) designate legs for
holding the thermosensitive elements at predetermined positions of the
frame (3), the leg (3e) being fitted facing the inlet of the air-feeding
passage (E), the leg (3f) being fitted facing the inlet of the
air-discharging passage (F) and the leg (3g) being fitted facing the
outlet of the air-feeding passage (G).
The reference numeral (4) designates an air-feeding blower which is driven
by a motor and placed at the inlet of the air-feeding passage (E) and
which serves to suck air (B) outside of the room through a louver (1a), to
pass the air under the guiding of a casing (4a) and to feed it into a room
A via the heat exchanger (2) through a discharge port (1c). (5) designates
a discharging blower which is placed in parallel to the air-feeding blower
at the outlet of the air-discharging passage (H) and which serves to suck
air A in a room through an intake opening (1d), to pass the air through
the heat exchanger (2) and to discharge it out of the room (toward B) from
a louver (1b) under the guiding of a casing (5a).
The reference numerals (6a), (6b) and (6c) designate thermosensitive
elements each fitted to the legs (3e), (3f) and (3g); (7a), (7b) and (7c)
designate guide tubes each having one end connected to the thermosensitive
element (6a), (6b) or (6c) and the other end connected to a thermometer
unit described just below; (8) designates a thermometer unit as a display
unit for displaying temperatures which are detected by the thermosensitive
elements (6a)-(6c). The thermometer unit (8) is placed on the front
surface of the main casing (1) to be convenient for the observation and
can be provided with three stick-like thermometers which display
temperature detected by the respective thermosensitive elements (6a)-(6c).
The thermometer can be so fabricated that letters of "outdoor temperature"
are labeled for a thermometer corresponding to the thermosensitive element
(6a), "room temperature" is labeled for that corresponding to the
thermosensitive element (6b) and "fed air temperature" is labeled for that
corresponding to the thermosensitive element (6c) whereby temperature in
each region can be compared.
When the ventilation device having the structure described above is
operated, air from the outdoor is guided by the casing (4a) to the heat
exchanger (2). Before passing through the heat exchanger (2), the
temperature of the air is detected by the thermosensitive element (6)
fitted at the inlet of the air-feeding passage (E). The air, after
heat-exchange, is passed to the outlet of the air-feeding passage (G)
where the temperature of the air is detected by the thermosensitive
element (6c), while air discharged from the room is fed to the inlet of
the air-discharging passage (F) where the temperature of the air is
detected by the thermosensitive element (6b). The temperatures thus
detected are displayed on the thermometer unit (8).
A user of the ventilation device can easily read and compare the
temperatures on the thermometer unit (8). According to the ventilation
device of the embodiment of the present invention, the user discriminates
himself that a fresh air is heat-exchanged and ventilated without
disturbing temperature condition in the room, that is, the air is not fed
into the room without heat-exchanging. Reliability on the ventilation
device can be increased without necessity of requiring explanation on a
catalogue.
In the example of the ventilation device, the thermometer unit (8)
including three stick-like thermometers as a display unit. A thermometer
unit (18) of a liquid expansion type (FIG. 3) which shows temperature for
several portions by indication of a pointer, can be used to obtain the
same effect as the former embodiment.
In accordance with the embodiment of the ventilation device of the present
invention, thermosensitive elements are respectively fitted at the inlet
and the outlet of the air-feeding passage and the inlet of the
air-discharging passage and a display unit is attached to show temperature
detected by the respective thermosensitive elements. With this structure,
a user of the ventilation device can directly read the temperature in
separate portions to recognize to be a ventilation device capable of
effective heat exchange thereby improving reliability on the device.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a thermometer unit (8). A pair of
pivotal shafts (8a) are provided at the vertical center of the thermometer
unit (8). The pivotal shafts (8a) are pivotally fitted to the main casing
(1) whereby the thermometer unit (8) can be turned with a predetermined
angle to the left and right side in connection with the front surface of
the casing (1). If the pivotal shafts (8a) of the thermometer (8) are
horizontally fitted to the main casing (1) by turning the meter by
90.degree., that is, the three thermometers arranged in transverse
direction on the thermometer unit are directed in the vertical direction,
the thermometer unit can be vertically slanted with a predetermined angle
in connection with the front surface of the casing (1). With this
structure, the disadvantage that when the display unit is fixed on the
outer surface of the casing, it is difficult for a user to read a correct
scale of temperature dependent upon position of the ventilation device, is
avoided.
Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the
thermometer unit (8) can be turned in the vertical or horizontal direction
in connection with the outer surface of the main casing even though the
ventilation device is placed at any position whereby the thermometer unit
(8) can be directed to a user so that correct temperature are easily
readable and reliability on the device is increased.
FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate an embodiment of attachment of the thermosensitive
elements (6a)-(6c) to the frame (3). The frame (3) is adapted to surround
the heat exchanger (2) and includes the inlet plane of an air-feeding
passage (2e), the outlet plane of an air-feeding passage (2g) and the
inlet plane (2f) of an air-discharging passage (2f). Each slide plate
(9a), (9b), (9c) (the slide plate (9a) is not shown) is provided on each
plane (2e), (2f), (2g) so as to be slidable in the direction of the arrow
mark A. Each slide plate (9a), (9b), (9c) has both ends (only one end is
shown) which are slidably fitted in grooves (10) formed in parallel to the
adjacent edges of the frame (3). Each groove (10) is provided with a
fitting element such as a screw (11) to secure the slide plate (9a), (9b),
(9c) at a desired position in the slidable region. As shown in FIG. 7,
both ends of the slide plates (9a)-(9c) in the longitudinal direction are
bent in the shape of a channel in cross section to form a pair of grooves
(12) in which sliding pieces (13a), (13b), (13c) having a convex shape in
cross section are respectively fitted so as to be slidable in the
direction of the arrow mark B, the sliding pieces (13a), (13b), (13c)
being retained in a desired position in the groove (12). In the FIGS. 5-7,
the sliding piece (13a) is not shown. A through-hole is formed in the
projecting portion of the sliding pieces (13a), (13b), (13c) so that a
stick-like thermometers (6a)-(6c) are fitted into the corresponding holes.
Thus, the sliding pieces (13a)-(13c) holding the thermosensitive elements
(6a)-(6c) and the slide plates (9a)-(9c) holding the sliding pieces
(13a)-(13c) are slidably moved and can be retained at a desired position,
and accordingly, the thermosensitive elements (6a)-(6c) can be retained at
a desired position on the inlet and outlet planes of the passages. This
arrangement is satisfactory with various conditions of restriction in a
specification such as the shape of main casing (1), the position at which
the heat exchanger 2 is mounted and the length of the guide tubes
(7a)-(7c).
FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the frame having legs for fitting
the thermosensitive elements.
Legs (3e), (3f), (3g) for fitting the thermosensitive elements are
respectively formed at a desired position of the frame (3) in one piece,
that is, the leg (3e) is formed near the inlet of the air-feeding passage
(2e) of the heat exchanger, the leg (3f) near the inlet of the
air-discharging passage (2f) and the leg (3g) near the outlet of the
air-feeding passage (2g). Thus, the thermosensitive elements (6a)-(6c) are
directly fitted to the frame (3) which supports the heat exchanger (2)
whereby a special fitting part is unnecessary taking advantage of low
cost.
FIG. 9 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention which
has an improved arrangement of the thermosensitive elements of a liquid
expansion type thermometer unit. In the figure, the character M designates
a motor for actuating the air feeding blower (4) and the discharging
blower (5), (19) designates a by-pass passage and RC designates a constant
temperature chamber. The liquid expansion type thermometer unit (18) holds
three temperature indicating tubes (18a) made of glass which are
positioned side by side. Each indicating tube (18a) is connected to each
thermosensitive element (6a), (6b) or (6c) through a capillary tube (20)
filled with liquid which expands dependent on temperature rise. The
capillary tubes (20) all have the same inner diameter and the same length.
When the ventilation device having the structure described above is
operated, an outdoor temperature, a room temperature and a fed air
temperature are indicated on the thermometer unit (18) through the
respective thermosensitive elements (6a), (6b), (6c). A part of discharged
air is fed into the constant temperature chamber RC through the by-pass
passage (19) to urge room air which tends to stay thereby positively
equalizing temperature distribution of all the capillary tubes (20).
Generally, in case of using a thermometer to confirm heat exchange function
by eyes, it is important to correctly indicate temperature difference in
the measuring points located at plurality of positions. That is, measuring
temperature is varied depending on a position where the capillary tube is
located because the position of the capillary tube is different for each
measuring point whereby expansion of liquid contained in the tubes varies.
Therefore, if temperature at positions where the capillary tubes is not
equalized, correct indication of the temperature for each measuring points
may not be attained.
In the embodiment illustrated in the FIG. 9, temperature circumstance of
the position where the capillary tubes (20) are located is substantially
equalized, whereby temperature distribution for the whole length of the
capillary tubes (20) can be equalized and the temperature at each
measuring point can be accurately measured to correctly confirm heat
exchange function of the device.
FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, similar to that
of the FIG. 9, for improving arrangement of thermosensitive elements. The
embodiment aims to equalize the temperature circumstance of the position
where the capillary tubes (20) are located as similar to the embodiment of
the FIG. 9. In the figure, the reference numeral (21) designates a guide
wall formed in the casing (1).
When the ventilation device having structure described above is operated,
discharged air, sucked through the discharge port (1d) to flow to the heat
exchanger (2), is forcibly contacted to the entire surface of the
capillary tubes (20) by means of the guide wall (21) whereby the
temperature of the capillary tubes (20) is equalized at any point in the
longitudinal direction of the tube. That is, temperature distribution of
each capillary tube (20) is equalized, thus the temperature in each
measuring point can be correctly indicated.
A liquid expansion type thermometer is used in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10. It is possible to attain the same effect even though gas
or solid expansion type thermometer is used.
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be
understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may
be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
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