Air Diffuser

Abstract

An air diffuser includes a body having a body having a substantially flat upper surface and a concave lower surface. A plurality of slots is formed through the body in fluid communication with the upper and lower surfaces. A flow modulator is rotatably affixed to the lower surface, the flow modulator having a plurality of slots configured to selectably cover the slots in the body. The flow modulator and a junction between the flow modulator and the lower surface are configured to provide a substantially constant flow velocity through the slots independent of a rotational position of the flow modulator.

1 . An air diffuser comprising: 
 a body having a substantially flat upper surface and a concave lower surface;    a plurality of slots formed through the body in fluid communication with the upper and lower surfaces;    a flow modulator rotatably affixed to the lower surface, the flow modulator having a plurality of slots configured to selectably cover the slots in the body; and    wherein the flow modulator and a junction between the flow modulator and the lower surface being configured to provide a substantially constant flow velocity through the slots independent of a rotational position of the flow modulator.    
   
   
       2 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the junction is a contact surface between the upper and lower surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the junction forms a substantially fluid tight seal between the upper and lower surfaces.  
   
   
       4 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the periphery of the lower surface includes a substantially flat portion.  
   
   
       5 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface is divided into a plurality of predetermined regions.  
   
   
       6 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of slots is arranged based on a plurality of predetermined regions.  
   
   
       7 . The air diffuser of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of slots is radially disposed.  
   
   
       8 . The air diffuser of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of regions are substantially equally sized.  
   
   
       9 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of slots is arranged based on a plurality of substantially equally sized regions.  
   
   
       10 . The air diffuser of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of slots is radially disposed.  
   
   
       11 . The air diffuser of  claim 6  wherein each region defines a quadrants.  
   
   
       12 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of slots is radially disposed and arranged based on quadrants.  
   
   
       13 . The air diffuser of  claim 12  wherein the ends of each slot is substantially equally spaced from axes defining the quadrants.  
   
   
       14 . The air diffuser of  claim 1  wherein at least one surface of each slot is angled from the upper surface.  
   
   
       15 . The air diffuser of  claim 14  wherein the angles of the at least one surface of adjacent slots increase with increased radial distance from a predetermined point.  
   
   
       16 . The air diffuser of  claim 15  wherein the amount of increase of angles of the at least one surface is substantially the same between adjacent slots.  
   
   
       17 . The air diffuser of  claim 14  wherein the angles of the at least one surface increase with increased radial distance from a predetermined point.  
   
   
       18 . The air diffuser of  claim 17  wherein the distance between opposed surfaces of each slot is substantially equal.  
   
   
       19 . The air diffuser of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of slots of diagonally opposed quadrants are substantially symmetric.  
   
   
       20 . A method for substantially reducing puddling adjacent an air diffuser of an HVAC system, comprising the step of: 
 providing the air diffuser, the air diffuser being configured so that air from the HVAC system flows through the air diffuser, the air diffuser comprising:    a body having a substantially flat upper surface and a concave lower surface;    a plurality of slots formed through the body in fluid communication with the upper and lower surfaces;    a flow modulator rotatably affixed to the lower surface, the flow modulator having a plurality of slots configured to selectably cover the slots in the body; and    wherein the flow modulator and a junction between the flow modulator and the lower surface are configured to provide a sufficiently constant flow velocity through the slots independent of a rotational position of the flow modulator to substantially eliminate puddling adjacent the air diffuser.