Air flow hood

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring airflow through a diffuser of an HVAC system includes a hood for being positioned adjacent the diffuser so that airflow discharged from the diffuser is directed into the hood. The hood is configured to divide and direct the airflow through a plurality of discharge channels. Sensor probes measure the airflow through each discharge channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring airflow through a diffuser of an HVAC system, comprising:
 a hood for being positioned adjacent the diffuser so that airflow discharged from the diffuser is directed into the hood;   one or more sensor probes for measuring the airflow through the hood; and   a pole centrally mounted on an underside of the hood, the pole being for maneuvering the hood to a desired position adjacent the diffuser.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a pole mounting structure located centrally on an underside of the hood, the pole mounting structure comprising a swivel mechanism for receiving and connecting to the pole and being configured to permit the pole to pivot relative to the hood. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pole has a first end connected to the hood and an opposite second end comprising a base, wherein the pole has a telescoping tubular construction that permits the length of the pole to be adjusted lengthwise, and wherein the pole is configured to facilitate positioning the hood adjacent the diffuser and adjusting the length of the pole telescopically to rest the base against a surface so that the surface supports at least a portion of the weight of the hood. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus recited in  claim 3 , wherein the base of the pole has an end portion constructed to facilitate a frictional grip with the surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the end portion has a ribbed or knurled construction. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 electronics supported on the hood, the electronics being configured to obtain flow measurement readings from the probes; and   a smart device configured to communicate wirelessly with the electronics to control the electronics and to receive the flow measurement readings obtained from the probes.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus recited in  claim 6 , wherein the pole is configured to support the smart device. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus recited in  claim 7 , wherein the smart device comprises a smart phone equipped with an application that is configured to walk a user through steps for balancing the HVAC system using the flow measurement readings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus recited in  claim 6 , wherein the smart device is configured to process the flow measurement readings and display data related to the readings for the user to interpret. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pole comprises a handle that the user can grasp to maneuver the hood. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hood is configured to divide and direct the airflow through a plurality of discharge channels. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the hood comprises internal walls that divide the airflow and funnel the airflow into the discharge channels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12 , wherein the internal walls have a peaked configuration and slope in a converging manner toward the discharge channels. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus recited in  claim 12 , wherein the hood comprises an upper portion that defines an open space into which airflow is discharged, the internal walls and the discharge channels being positioned downstream of the upper portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , wherein the hood comprises four quadrants through which the divided airflow is directed, each quadrant including one of the discharge channels, the hood further comprising internal walls that help define the quadrants and that divide the airflow in the hood and funnel the airflow into the discharge channels. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a planar surface, positioned in an upper portion of the hood, which streamlines and directs the airflow toward the discharge channels. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the planar surface reduces the volume of the upper portion and thereby helps prevent swirling in the airflow in the upper portion of the hood. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus recited in  claim 16 , wherein the planar surface is an upper portion of a cover under which the electronics are located. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus recited in  claim 6 , wherein the smart device comprises one of a smart phone or tablet equipped with an application for processing the airflow measurement data and comprising a graphical user interface for displaying information related to the measurement data and the HVAC system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor probes comprise hot point anemometer sensors.