Calibrated airflow measurement system for a ceiling vent

Abstract

The disclosure is a calibrated airflow measurement system for measuring air flow through a ceiling vent having a moveable vane. The airflow flows through the ceiling vent in laminar flow into a ceiling. This allows the moveable vane of the ceiling vent to be reversibly responsive to airflow through the room and allows for the vent to be calibrated to disperse a predetermined amount of air into the room.

1 . An improved ceiling vent for dispersing airflow from an airflow generated by a ventilation system into a room in laminar flow with respect to a ceiling of said room, wherein said vent comprises:
 a vent housing configured to be mounted in a ceiling, wherein said vent housing comprises a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a third side, and a forth side, wherein said first side and said second side are generally opposite, wherein said third side and said fourth side are generally opposite, wherein said vent housing defines a plenum on an interior of said housing, wherein said vent housing comprises at least two openings, wherein said openings comprise at least one first opening in at least one of said first side, said second side, said third side, or said fourth side of said vent housing for permitting inflow of said airflow from said ventilation system into said plenum, wherein said openings comprise at least one second opening in said bottom side of said vent housing for permitting said airflow to flow from said plenum into said room;   a vane comprising a concave curvature along its length, wherein said vane comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said vane is hingedly attached to said interior of said vent housing to form a movable side of said second opening for adjustment of said width of said opening and being positioned to receive inflow of airflow into said plenum, wherein said vane is configured and positioned such that when said ventilation system is not generating airflow said vane is biased to generally close said second opening, wherein said vane is configured such that when airflow is flowing from said first opening toward said second opening said airflow moves said vane such that said airflow flows from said first opening through said second opening, wherein said vane is configured to regulate said amount of airflow from said first opening through said second opening such that said position of said vane is reversibly responsive to said airflow against said concave curvature of said vane and into said plenum to vary said size of said second opening with movement of said vane by said airflow while maintaining a curved flow path which discharges said airflow in laminar flow along said ceiling, wherein said vane stabilizes a velocity of airflow that flows out from said plenum through said second opening into said room, wherein said vane is configured to be calibrated to distribute a predetermined amount of airflow into said room; and   wherein said improvement comprises an airflow measurement system attached to said ceiling vent, wherein said airflow measurement system is positioned and configured such that when said vane position responds to said airflow, said airflow measurement system indicates said outflow level of airflow out of said vent such that said ceiling vent can be calibrated to distribute a prescribed amount of airflow into said room.   
     
     
         2 . The ceiling vent of  claim 1  wherein said airflow measurement system comprises a calibrated scale comprising airflow measurement indicia, wherein said calibrated scale is positioned and configured such that when airflow flows through said ceiling vent, said calibrated scale indicates said amount of said outflow of airflow out of said second opening. 
     
     
         3 . The ceiling vent of  claim 2  wherein said calibrated scale is positioned such that when said airflow moves said vane and flows through said second opening, said vane points to one of said airflow indicia on said calibrated scale to indicate said airflow out of said second opening. 
     
     
         4 . The ceiling vent of  claim 1  wherein said ceiling vent comprises an airflow catch attached to said housing, wherein said airflow catch comprises a generally circular sheet continuous with an edge of said vent housing at said second opening, wherein said airflow catch is configured and positioned to partition said airflow from said first opening to said second opening to facilitate mixing of said airflow flowing into said plenum. 
     
     
         5 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 4  wherein said airflow catch is in a generally curved shape and configured to generate a circular flow path of airflow within said plenum to facilitate mixing of airflow flowing into said plenum. 
     
     
         6 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 4  wherein said airflow catch comprises an extension of said vent housing. 
     
     
         7 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 1  further comprising means for biasing said movable vane toward said generally closed position such that said vane is configured to be calibrated such that when airflow is flowing through said ceiling vent, said vane can be calibrated to define said amount of airflow flowing out of said second opening. 
     
     
         8 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 7  wherein said means for biasing said movable vane toward said vent housing comprises a spring or a weight attached to said movable vane and configured for biasing said movable vane toward said generally closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 1  wherein said second opening comprises a slot in said bottom wall of said vent housing. 
     
     
         11 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 1  wherein said movable vane forms one side of a narrowing passage having a concave curvature extending to said second opening for directing said outflow of airflow from said vent in laminar flow along said ceiling of said room to stabilize airflow throw said ceiling vent. 
     
     
         12 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 10  wherein said airflow catch comprises an edge of said bottom wall and an edge of said slot, wherein said airflow catch curves generally upward and toward said first opening, wherein said airflow catch forms a generally circular structure such that said airflow catch and said movable vane are configured to form a generally circular airflow path through at least a portion of said ceiling vent when said airflow is flowing through said ceiling vent. 
     
     
         13 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 1 , wherein said airflow measurement system is attached to at least one of said movable vane or said vent housing. 
     
     
         14 . An improved ceiling vent for dispersing airflow from an airflow generated by a ventilation system into a room in laminar flow with respect to a ceiling of said room, wherein said vent comprises:
 a vent housing configured to be mounted in a ceiling, wherein said vent housing comprises a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a third side, and a forth side, wherein said first side and said second side are generally opposite, wherein said third side and said fourth side are generally opposite, wherein said vent housing defines a plenum on an interior of said housing, wherein said vent housing comprises at least two openings, wherein said openings comprise at least one first opening in at least one of said first side, said second side, said third side, or said fourth side of said vent housing for permitting inflow of said airflow from said ventilation system into said plenum, wherein said openings comprise at least one second opening in said bottom side of said vent housing for permitting said airflow to flow from said plenum into said room;   a vane comprising a concave curvature along its length, wherein said vane comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said vane is hingedly attached to said interior of said vent housing to form a movable side of said second opening for adjustment of said width of said opening and being positioned to receive inflow of airflow into said plenum, wherein said vane is configured and positioned such that when said ventilation system is not generating airflow said vane is biased to generally close said second opening, wherein said vane is configured such that when airflow is flowing from said first opening toward said second opening, said airflow moves said vane such that said airflow flows from said first opening through said second opening, wherein said vane is configured to regulate said amount of airflow from said first opening through said second opening such that said position of said vane is reversibly responsive to said airflow against said concave curvature of said vane and into said plenum to vary said size of said second opening with movement of said vane by said airflow while maintaining a curved flow path which discharges said airflow in laminar flow along said ceiling, wherein said vane stabilizes a velocity of airflow that flows out from said plenum through said second opening into said room, wherein said vane is configured to be calibrated to distribute a predetermined amount of airflow into said room;   an airflow catch attached to said housing, wherein said airflow catch comprises a generally circular sheet continuous with an edge of said vent housing at said second opening, wherein said airflow catch is configured and positioned to partition said airflow from said first opening to said second opening to facilitate mixing of said airflow flowing into said plenum; wherein said airflow catch and said movable vein are configured to form a generally circular airflow path of air flowing from said first opening through said vent housing; and   wherein said improvement comprises an airflow measurement system attached to said ceiling vent, wherein said airflow measurement system is positioned and configured such that when said vane position responds to said airflow, said airflow measurement system indicates said outflow level of airflow out of said vent such that said ceiling vent can be calibrated to distribute a prescribed amount of airflow into said room.   
     
     
         15 . The ceiling vent of  claim 14  wherein said airflow measurement system comprises a calibrated scale comprising airflow measurement indicia, wherein said calibrated scale is positioned and configured such that when airflow flows through said ceiling vent, said calibrated scale indicates said amount of said outflow of airflow out of said second opening. 
     
     
         16 . The ceiling vent of  claim 15  wherein said calibrated scale is positioned such that when said airflow moves said vane and flows through said second opening, said vane points to one of said airflow indicia on said calibrated scale to indicate said airflow out of said second opening. 
     
     
         17 . The ceiling vent according to  claim 14 , wherein said airflow measurement system is attached to at least one of said movable vane, said vent housing, or said air catch. 
     
     
         18 . The improved ceiling vent according to  claim 14  further comprising means for biasing said movable vane toward said generally closed position such that said vane is configured to be calibrated such that when airflow is flowing through said ceiling vent, said vane can be calibrated to define said amount of airflow flowing out of said second opening. 
     
     
         19 . An improved ceiling vent for dispersing airflow from an airflow generated by a ventilation system into a room in laminar flow with respect to a ceiling of said room, wherein said ceiling vent comprises:
 a vent housing configured to be mounted in a ceiling, wherein said vent housing defines a plenum on said interior of said housing, wherein said vent housing comprises at least one first opening for permitting inflow of airflow from said ventilation system into said plenum, wherein said vent housing comprises at least one second opening for permitting outflow of airflow from said plenum into said room; and   an airflow catch attached to said housing, wherein said airflow catch comprises a generally concave curvature continuous with an edge of said vent housing at said second opening such that said airflow catch is positioned and configured to diffuse a part of said inflow of airflow from said first opening; and   a vane comprising a concave curvature along its length, wherein said vane comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said vane is hingedly attached to said interior of said vent housing to form a movable side of said second opening for adjustment of said width of said opening and being positioned to receive said force of said inflow of airflow into said plenum, wherein said vane is configured and positioned such that when said ventilation system is not generating airflow said vane is biased to close said second opening, wherein said vane is configured such that when airflow is flowing from said first opening toward said second opening said airflow moves said vane such that said airflow flows from said first opening to said second opening, wherein said vane is configured to regulate said amount of airflow from said first opening through said second opening such that said position of said vane is reversibly responsive to said force of said inflow of airflow against said concave curvature of said vane and into said plenum to vary said size of said second opening with movement of said vane by said force while maintaining a curved flow path which discharges in laminar flow along said ceiling, wherein said vane stabilizes a velocity of airflow that flows out from said plenum through said second opening into said room, wherein said vane is configured to be calibrated to distribute a predetermined amount of airflow into said room; and   a means for biasing said movable vane toward said generally closed position such that said vane is configured to be calibrated such that when airflow is flowing through said ceiling vent, said vane can be calibrated to define said amount of airflow flowing out of said second opening; and   wherein said improvement comprises an airflow measurement system attached to said ceiling vent and positioned and configured such that when said vane position responds to said force of said inflow of airflow, said airflow measurement system indicates said outflow level of airflow out of said vent such that said ceiling vent can be calibrated to distribute a prescribed amount of airflow into said room, wherein said airflow measurement system comprises a calibrated scale comprising airflow measurement indicia, wherein said calibrated scale is positioned and configured such that when airflow flows through said ceiling vent, said calibrated scale indicates said amount of said outflow of airflow out of said second opening by pointing generally to one of said indicia on said calibrated scale.   
     
     
         20 . The improved ceiling vent of  claim 19  wherein said means for biasing said movable vane toward said vent housing comprises a spring or a weight attached to said movable vane and configured for biasing said movable vane toward said generally closed position.