Overhead air distribution system

Abstract

The present invention is an integral heating, ventilation, and cooling ducting that is formed in the bulkheads and overheads of a boat or ship. The ducting is custom designed for each boat or ship and is made of a hard material such as plastic, fiberglass, hard insulation board, etc., which will maintain its integrity and cannot be restricted in size or get crimped. The ducting is formed by attaching opposing sidewalls made from the ducting material to the underside of the deck to so that three sides of the duct are formed. The duct is completed when the interior overhead is put into place. Ducts are also formed in bulkheads wherein opposing bulkhead sidewalls form two opposing sidewalls of the duct and ducting material form the remaining two opposing sidewalls of the duct. In this manner, ducting systems can be designed utilizing the small space between the deckplate and the interior headliner which most commonly have a height of approximately 2½″ or less.

1 . A cooling air distribution system for a marine vessel, comprising: 
 an air conditioning unit;    a high static pressure blower operatively connected to the air conditioning unit; and    one or more ducts in fluid communication with the high static pressure blower for delivering cooling air throughout the marine vessel, the ducts being integrally formed in a bulkhead or overhead of the marine vessel, comprising;    a pair of opposing sidewalls;    a bottom wall connecting said pair of sidewalls; and    a top wall formed from one of either a portion of the deck or a portion of the interior bulkhead connecting said pair of sidewalls and opposed from said bottom wall.    
   
   
       2 . The cooling air distribution system for a marine vessel of claim, wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls and said bottom wall is comprised of sheet fiberglass.  
   
   
       3 . A cooling air distribution system for a marine vessel, comprising: 
 an air conditioning unit;    a high static pressure blower operatively connected to the air conditioning unit; and    one or more ducts in fluid communication with the high static pressure blower for delivering cooling air throughout the marine vessel, the one or more ducts being located in the overhead of the marine vessel.    
   
   
       4 . A method of cooling a marine vessel, comprising: 
 providing an air conditioning unit;    providing a high static pressure blower operatively connected to the air conditioning unit; and    providing one or more ducts in fluid communication with the high static pressure blower for delivering cooling air throughout the marine vessel, the ducts being integrally formed in a bulkhead or overhead of the marine vessel by:    providing a pair of opposing sidewalls;    providing a bottom wall connecting the pair of sidewalls; and    providing a top wall formed from one of either a portion of the deck or a portion of the interior bulkhead connecting the pair of sidewalls opposed from said bottom wall.    
   
   
       5 . A method of cooling a marine vessel, comprising: 
 providing an air conditioning unit;    providing a high static pressure blower operatively connected to the air conditioning unit; and    providing one or more ducts in fluid communication with the high static pressure blower for delivering cooling air throughout the marine vessel, the one or more ducts being located in the overhead of the marine vessel.