Integrated ceiling and hvac duct system

Abstract

An integrated ceiling mainly includes an air supply system, an air return system, a frame system and a multifunctional system. The air supply system and air return system include a plurality of air duct modules assembled together. The frame system supports all air system modules on the ceiling, so the frame system should be installed first. The multi-function system is a ceiling module system that can be installed with functions other than ventilation, and has a plurality of ceiling multi-function modules. In addition to the above hardware systems, an HVAC routing aid design system can automatically design one or more indoor air system plans based on the actual installation conditions, space, and requirements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular duct system comprising:
 a ceiling framework;   at least a first ceiling panel and a second ceiling panel, each of the first and second ceiling panels operable to be supported in the ceiling framework, each of the first and second ceiling panels having a lower side, facing a living area of an interior space, and an upper side, facing away from the living area;   at least a first duct assembly and a second duct assembly, integrated into respective upper sides of each of the first and second ceiling panels; and   a mating structure operable to fluidly interconnect the first duct assembly of the first ceiling panel with the second duct assembly of the second ceiling panel, when the first ceiling panel is mounted in the ceiling framework adjacent to the second ceiling panel.   
     
     
         2 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third ceiling panel formed as a return air inlet module, wherein   the third ceiling panel including a third duct assembly integrated into an upper side of the third ceiling panel; and   the third ceiling panel has a mating structure operable to fluidly interconnect the third duct assembly with at least one of the first and second duct assemblies when the third ceiling panel is mounted in the ceiling framework adjacent to at least one of the first and second ceiling panels.   
     
     
         3 . The modular duct system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the return air inlet module is fluidly interconnected with at least one of the first and second ceiling panels; and   the return air inlet module includes a diffuser providing fluid communication between the third duct assembly and the interior space to remove air from the interior space through the diffuser and the third duct assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third ceiling panel formed as an air supply register module, wherein   the third ceiling panel including a third duct assembly integrated into an upper side of the third ceiling panel; and   the third ceiling panel has a mating structure operable to fluidly interconnect the third duct assembly with at least one of the first and second duct assemblies when the third ceiling panel is mounted in the ceiling framework adjacent to at least one of the first and second ceiling panels.   
     
     
         5 . The modular duct system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the air supply register module is fluidly interconnected with at least one of the first and second ceiling panels; and   the air supply register module includes a diffuser providing fluid communication between the third duct assembly and the interior space to supply air to the interior space through the diffuser and from the third duct assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a one-way air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends, permitting the one-way air module to fluidly interconnect to two additional duct assemblies of two additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         7 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a T-shaped air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at one side thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open side, permitting the T-shaped air module to fluidly interconnect to three additional duct assemblies of three additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         8 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a two-way air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at opposite sides thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open opposite sides, permitting the two-way air module to fluidly interconnect to four additional duct assemblies of four additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         9 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the mating structure is formed from first and second curved cutouts of respective first and second duct assemblies, wherein the first and second curved cutouts mate to fluidly interconnect the first duct assembly to the second duct assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The modular duct system of  claim 9 , further comprising a seal disposed along at least one of the first and second curved cutouts, the seal preventing inadvertent air release from the first and second duct assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . The modular duct system of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling framework includes a plurality of corner mounts operable to receive a recess in the first and second ceiling panels. 
     
     
         12 . A modular duct system comprising:
 a ceiling framework;   a return air system including:
 at least a first ceiling panel operable to be supported in the ceiling framework, the first ceiling panel having a lower side, facing a living area of an interior space, and an upper side, facing away from the living area; 
 at least a first duct assembly integrated into the upper side of the first ceiling panel; 
 a second ceiling panel operable to be supported in the ceiling framework, the second ceiling panel having a lower side, facing the living area of the interior space, and an upper side, facing away from the living area; 
 a second duct assembly integrated into the upper side of the second ceiling panel, the second duct assembly formed as a return air inlet module with a diffuser fluidly communicating the interior space with an interior of the second duct assembly; and 
 a first mating structure operable to fluidly interconnect the second duct assembly with the first duct assembly when the second ceiling panel is mounted in the ceiling framework adjacent to the first ceiling panel; and 
   a supply air system including:
 at least a third ceiling panel operable to be supported in the ceiling framework, the third ceiling panel having a lower side, facing the living area of the interior space, and an upper side, facing away from the living area; 
 at least a third duct assembly integrated into the upper side of the third ceiling panel; 
 a fourth ceiling panel operable to be supported in the ceiling framework, the fourth ceiling panel having a lower side, facing the living area of the interior space, and an upper side, facing away from the living area; 
 a fourth duct assembly integrated into the upper side of the fourth ceiling panel, the fourth duct assembly formed as a supply air register module with a supply air diffuser fluidly communicating the interior space with an interior of the fourth duct assembly; and 
 a second mating structure operable to fluidly interconnect the third duct assembly with the fourth duct assembly when the third ceiling panel is mounted in the ceiling framework adjacent to the fourth ceiling panel, wherein 
   the first duct assembly is operable to receive air flow from the interior space via the diffuser in the second duct assembly; and   the third duct assembly is operable to provide air flow into the living space via the supply air diffuser in the fourth duct assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The modular duct system of  claim 12 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a one-way air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends, permitting the one-way air module to fluidly interconnect to two additional duct assemblies of two additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         14 . The modular duct system of  claim 12 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a T-shaped air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at one side thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open side, permitting the T-shaped air module to fluidly interconnect to three additional duct assemblies of three additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         15 . The modular duct system of  claim 12 , wherein the first ceiling panel is a two-way air module, the first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at opposite sides thereof, the first duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open opposite sides, permitting the two-way air module to fluidly interconnect to four additional duct assemblies of four additional adjacent ceiling panels. 
     
     
         16 . The modular duct system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second mating structures are formed from first and second curved cutouts of respective first and second or third and fourth duct assemblies, wherein the first and second curved cutouts mate to fluidly interconnect the first duct assembly to the second duct assembly and the third duct assembly to the fourth duct assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The modular duct system of  claim 16 , further comprising a seal disposed along at least one of the first and second curved cutouts, the seal preventing inadvertent air release from the first and second duct assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . The modular duct system of  claim 12 , wherein the ceiling framework includes a plurality of corner mounts operable to receive a recess in the first and second ceiling panels. 
     
     
         19 . A modular duct system comprising:
 a ceiling framework creating a plurality of evenly spaced openings;   a plurality of ducted ceiling modules, each of the plurality of ducted ceiling members including a duct assembly integrated therewith, wherein select ones of the duct assemblies are operable to fluidly interconnect with select others of the duct assemblies when one of the plurality of ceiling modules is disposed in the ceiling framework adjacent another one of the plurality of ceiling modules; and   a plurality of non-ducted ceiling modules, wherein   each of the plurality of ducted ceiling modules and the plurality of non-ducted ceiling modules fit into respective ones of the plurality of evenly spaced openings; and   the plurality of ducted ceiling modules interconnect to provide a flow path through the duct assemblies of adjacent ones of the plurality of ducted ceiling modules.   
     
     
         20 . The modular duct system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of ceiling panels include at least one of (1) a first ceiling panel formed as a one-way air module, the first ceiling panel having a first duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof, the first duct assembly having a first mating structure at the open opposite ends, permitting the one-way air module to fluidly interconnect to two additional duct assemblies of two additional adjacent ones of the plurality of ceiling panels; (2) a second ceiling panel formed as a T-shaped air module, the second ceiling panel having a second duct assembly, the second duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at one side thereof, the second duct assembly having a second mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open side, permitting the T-shaped air module to fluidly interconnect to three additional duct assemblies of three additional adjacent ones of the plurality of ceiling panels; (3) a third ceiling panel formed as a two-way air module, the third ceiling panel having a third duct assembly, the third duct assembly being open at opposite ends thereof and open at opposite sides thereof, the third duct assembly having the mating structure at the open opposite ends and the open opposite sides, permitting the two-way air module to fluidly interconnect to four additional duct assemblies of four additional adjacent ones of the plurality of ceiling panels.