Air Curtain

Air curtain producing an outward ramping effect for use with an access way or enclosure

Air Curtain Abstract
An apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising a central opening bounded by a frame on the top, bottom, and sides which defines internal channels which fluidly communicate with one another. The bottom and sides of the frame define apertures of varying diameter proximate to the lower portion of the central opening. The apertures are arranged in an array whereby rows of apertures more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening have diameters greater than the diameters of the apertures in rows more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening. Air is drawn into the channels through the apertures, and the array of apertures produces a forwardly biased pressure gradient, the result of which is to cause a stream of air being expelled downwardly from the top of the central opening to ramp or curl forwardly toward the front edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening. This forward ramping propels airborne particles and contaminants outwardly away from the front edge of the central opening. The air drawn through the apertures is recirculated through the channels, may be filtered and heated, and is expelled downwardly through an outlet at the top of the central opening as the stream of air. The array of apertures may be reversed so that the ramping or curling is directed rearwardly. The apparatus may be utilized in an access way such as a drive-through service window, or an enclosure for instruments.

Air Curtain Claims
What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing an air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a front edge and a rear edge, a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, said apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising:

a top frame extending along the top side of the central opening substantially between the open sides thereof, said top frame defining a top channel and an air outlet, said air outlet facing generally downward toward the central opening and fluidly communicating with said top channel;

a bottom frame extending along the bottom of the central opening substantially between the opposing sides thereof, said bottom frame having a top surface disposed facing generally upward toward the central opening, said bottom frame defining a bottom channel, said top surface defining a plurality of bottom apertures extending therethrough ad fluidly communicating with said bottom channel, said plurality of apertures being disposed between the front edge and the rear edge of the central opening; and

a blower, said blower having at least one blower outlet and at least one blower intake, said blower being capable of blowing air under pressure from said blower outlet and drawing air into said blower intake, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet in said top frame such that a stream of air is expelled downwardly from said air outlet in a generally linear direction traversing the central opening, said blower intake being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said bottom channel and said plurality of bottom apertures such that said stream of air traversing the central opening is drawn into said bottom channel through said plurality of bottom apertures, said plurality of bottom apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening due to the apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge having a greater area and number than the apertures disposed closer to the rear,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in the generally linear direction will ramp or curl forwardly toward the front edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening due to the effect of the air being drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures.

2. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

3. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

4. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of rows, each of said plurality of rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a first row more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a second row more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

5. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 wherein the air outlet is disposed more closely adjacent to the rear edge of the central opening. PG,37

6. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one side frame extending along at least one of the pair of opposing sides of the central opening substantially from the bottom to the top thereof, said side frame being connected to the bottom frame and defining a side channel fluidly communicating with said bottom channel, said side frame having an inner surface disposed facing generally inward toward the central opening, said inner surface further defining a plurality of side apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said side channel, said plurality of side apertures being disposed along at least a lower region of said side frame between the front edge and the rear edge of the central opening, the blower intake being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said side channel and said plurality of side apertures such that the stream of air traversing the central opening is drawn into said side channel through said plurality of side apertures, said plurality of side apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in the generally linear direction will ramp or curl forwardly toward the front edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening.

7. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 wherein the plurality of side apertures are confined within the lower region of the side frame, the lower region of the side frame extending upwardly from the bottom frame to not more than one half the height of the central opening.

8. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 whereby air drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures into the bottom channel is drawn from the bottom channel into and through the side channel to the blower intake.

9. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

10. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

11. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of side rows, each of said plurality of side rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a first side row more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a second side row more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

12. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 6 wherein the number of side frames is two, each of the side frames being disposed on one of the opposing sides of the central opening and connected to the bottom frame, the side channel of each of the side frames fluidly communicating with the bottom channel, the plurality of side apertures extending through the inner surfaces of each of the side frames fluidly communicating with each of the side channels, the blower intake being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with each of the side channels such that air drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures into the bottom channel is drawn from the bottom channel into and through the side channels to the blower intake.

13. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 12 further comprising:

at least one duct, said duct defining an air flow passage and a pair of air return passages, said duct being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the blower outlet and the air outlet such that air expelled by the blower outlet will flow through said air flow passage to the air outlet, said duct being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the blower intake and each of the side channels such that air drawn into the side channels will flow through said pair of air return passages to the blower intake.

14. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 13 wherein the duct is partitioned to define both the air flow passage and the pair of air return passages.

15. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 14 wherein the air flow passage is disposed between the pair of air return passages.

16. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 13 further comprising:

a blower housing, said blower housing substantially enclosing the blower and being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the air flow passage and the pair of air return passages.

17. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 16 wherein the blower housing further encloses a filter means, said filter means being disposed between the pair of air return passages and the blower intake and including at least one filter element, whereby substantially all of the air being drawn from the pair of air return passages into the blower intake must pass through said filter element.

18. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 17 wherein the number of blower intakes is two, each of the blower intakes being disposed on one of two opposing sides of the blower, and wherein the number of filter elements is two, each of the filter elements being disposed on one of said two opposing sides of the blower.

19. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 17 wherein the blower housing includes a means for measuring the pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake, said means for measuring the pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake being capable of responsively register a change in pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake caused by the filter element becoming obstructed.

20. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one duct, said duct defining an air flow passage and an air return passage, said duct being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the blower outlet and the air outlet such that air expelled by the blower outlet will flow through said air flow passage to the air outlet, said duct being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the blower intake and the side channel such that air drawn into the side channel will flow through said air return passage to the blower intake.

21. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 20 wherein the duct is partitioned to define both the air flow passage and the air return passage.

22. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 21 wherein the air flow passage is disposed at least partially within the air return passage.

23. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 20 further comprising:

a blower housing, said blower housing substantially enclosing the blower and being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with the air flow passage and the air return passage.

24. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 23 wherein the blower housing further encloses a filter means, said filter means being disposed between the air return passage and the blower intake and including at least one filter element, whereby substantially all of the air being drawn from the air return passage into the blower intake must pass through said filter element.

25. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 24 wherein the blower housing includes a means for measuring the pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake, said means for measuring the pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake being capable of responsively indicating a change in pressure within the blower housing adjacent to the blower intake caused by the filter element becoming obstructed.

26. An apparatus for producing an air curtain across a central opening in an access way such as a drive-through service window, said central opening having a front edge and a rear edge, a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, said apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising:

a top frame extending along the top of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said top frame defining an air outlet facing generally downward toward the central opening;

a bottom frame extending along the bottom of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said bottom frame having a top surface disposed facing generally upward toward the central opening, said bottom frame defining a bottom channel therein, said top surface defining a plurality of bottom apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said bottom channel;

at least one side frame extending along at least one of the pair of opposing sides of the central opening substantially from the bottom to the top thereof, said side frame fuming connected to said bottom frame and defining an side channel therein, said side channel fluidly communicating with said bottom channel a duct, said duct having an air flow passage an air return passage, said air flow passage being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet, said air outlet, said air return passage being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said side channel; and

a blower, said blower having a blower intake and a blower outlet, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air flow passage, said blower inlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air return passage, said plurality of bottom apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed mare closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed mare closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening, whereby air is expelled by the blower from the blower outlet and through the flow passage of the duct, and is expelled downwardly as a stream of air from the air outlet in a generally linear direction central opening, said stream of air generally curving from the rear edge toward the front edge of the central opening as said stream of air traverses the central opening due to said stream of air being drawn into the bottom channel through the plurality of bottom apertures, said stream of air being recirculated to the blower through the bottom channel, the side channel, the air return passage, and the blower intake.

27. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 26 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

28. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 27 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

29. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 27 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of rows, each of said plurality of rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a first row more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a second row more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

30. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 26 wherein the side frame has an inner surface disposed facing generally inwardly toward the central opening, said apparatus for producing an air curtain further comprising:

a plurality of side apertures defined by the side frame and extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said side channel, said plurality of side apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

31. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 30 wherein the central opening has a height and wherein the plurality of side apertures are confined within a lower region of the side frame, said lower region of the side frame extending upwardly from the bottom frame to not more than one half said height of the central opening.

32. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 30 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

33. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 30 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

34. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 30 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of side rows, each of said plurality of side rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a first side row more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a second side row more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

35. An apparatus for producing an air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a first edge and a second edge and a depth measured therebetween, a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, said apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising:

a top frame extending along the top of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said top frame defining an air outlet facing generally downward toward the central opening;

a bottom frame extending along the bottom of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said bottom frame having a top surface disposed facing generally upward toward the central opening, said bottom frame defining a bottom channel therein, said top surface defining a plurality of bottom apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said bottom channel, said plurality of bottom apertures being generally uniform in cross sectional area and arranged such that a first density of said plurality of bottom apertures located with a first zone disposed more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening is greater than a second density of said plurality of bottom apertures located with a second zone disposed ore closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening, at least one side frame extending along at least one of the of opposing sides of the central opening substantially from the bottom to the top thereof, said side frame being connected to said bottom frame and defining an side channel therein, said side channel fluidly communicating with said bottom channel;

a duct, said duct having an air flow passage an air return passage, said air flaw passage being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet, said air return passage being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said side channel blower, said blower having a blower intake and a blower outlet, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air flow passage, said blower inlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air return passage, whereby air is expelled downwardly as a stream of air from the air outlet in a generally linear direction traversing the central opening, said stream of air generally ramping or curving from the second edge toward the first edge of the central opening as said stream of air traverses the central opening due to the stream of air being drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures.

36. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 35 wherein the side frame has an inner surface disposed facing generally inwardly toward the central opening, said apparatus for producing an air curtain further comprising:

a plurality of side apertures defined by the side frame and extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said side channel, said plurality of side apertures being generally uniform in cross sectional area and arranged such that a first density of said plurality of side apertures located within a first zone disposed more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening is greater than a second density of said plurality of side apertures located within a second zone disposed more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening.

37. An apparatus for producing an air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a front edge and a rear edge, a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, said apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising:

a top frame extending along the top side of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said top frame defining an air outlet, said air outlet facing generally downward toward the central opening;

a bottom frame extending along the bottom of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said bottom frame having a surface disposed facing generally upward toward the central opening, said bottom frame defining a bottom channel, said surface defining a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said bottom channel;

a blower, said blower having at least one blower outlet and at least one blower intake, said blower being capable of blowing air under pressure from said blower outlet, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet in said top frame such that a stream of air is expelled downwardly from said air outlet in a generally linear direction traversing the central opening, said stream of air traversing the central opening being drawn into said bottom channel through said plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first portion of said plurality of apertures disposed more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second portion of said plurality of apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening due to the apertures disposed ore closely proximate to the front edge having a greater area and number than the apertures disposed closer to the rear,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in a generally linear direction will ramp or curl rearwardly toward the rear edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening due to the stream of air being drawn through said plurality of apertures.

38. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 37 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

39. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 37 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

40. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 37 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of rows, each of said plurality of rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a first row more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a second row more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening.

41. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 37 wherein the air outlet is disposed more closely adjacent to the front edge of the central opening.

42. An apparatus for producing an air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a height and a width and a depth, said central opening further having a pair of opposing edges between which is measured said depth of said central opening, said apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising:

a first frame extending along a side of the central opening, said first frame defining an air outlet, said air outlet facing generally toward the central opening;

a second frame extending along a second side of the central opening opposing said first side, said second frame having a surface disposed facing generally toward the central opening, said surface defining a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;

a blower, said blower having at least one blower outlet and at least one blower intake, said blower being capable of blowing air under pressure from said blower outlet and drawing air into said blower intake, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet such that a stream of air is expelled from said air outlet in a generally linear direction traversing the central opening, said blower intake being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said plurality of apertures such that said stream of air traversing the central opening is drawn through said plurality of apertures, said plurality of apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first portion of said plurality of apertures disposed more closely proximate to a first one of the pair of apposing edges of the central opening than is drawn through a second portion of said plurality of apertures disposed more closely proximate to a second one of the pair of opposing edges of the central opening due to the apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge having a greater area and number than the apertures disposed closer to the rear,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in a generally linear direction will ramp or curl toward the first one of the pair of apposing edges of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening due to the stream of air being drawn through the plurality of apertures.

43. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 42 wherein the plurality of apertures in the first portion have a first combined cross sectional area, the plurality of apertures in the second portion have a second combined cross sectional area, said first combined cross sectional area being greater than said second combined cross sectional area.

44. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 42 wherein each of the plurality of apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of apertures in the first portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of apertures in the second portion.

45. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 42 wherein each of the plurality of apertures is disposed in a plurality of rows, each of said plurality of rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that a first combined cross sectional area of the plurality of apertures in a first row more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening is greater than a second combined cross sectional area of the plurality of apertures in a second row more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening.

46. The apparatus for producing an air curtain of claim 42 wherein the air outlet is disposed more closely adjacent to the second edge of the central opening.

47. In a partial enclosure in which an instrument may be placed, said partial enclosure including a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of opposing side walls, and a back wall, with said bottom wall, said top wall, said pair of opposing side walls, and said back wall being connected together and defining an interior region into which said instrument is placed and a central opening through which said instrument may be accessed by a user, said central opening having a first edge and a second edge and a depth measured therebetween, a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposing sides, the improvement comprising:

a bottom frame extending along the bottom of the central opening substantially between the pair of opposing sides thereof, said bottom frame having a surface disposed facing generally upward toward the central opening, said bottom frame defining a bottom channel, said surface defining a plurality of bottom apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said bottom channel;

a top frame extending along the top of the central opening and defining an air outlet, said air outlet facing generally downward toward the central opening;

a blower, said blower having at least one blower outlet and at least one blower intake, said blower being capable of blowing air under pressure from said blower outlet, said blower outlet being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said air outlet in said top frame such that a stream of air is expelled downwardly from said air outlet in a generally linear direction traversing the central opening, said stream of air traversing the central opening being drawn into said bottom channel through said plurality of bottom apertures, said plurality of bottom apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second portion of said plurality of bottom apertures disposed more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening, due to the apertures disposed more closely proximate to the front edge having a greater area and number than the apertures disposed closer to the rear,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in a generally linear direction will ramp or curl toward the first edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening due to the stream of air being drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures.

48. The partial enclosure of claim 47 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion.

49. The partial enclosure of claim 47 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the first portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in the second portion

50. The partial enclosure of claim 47 wherein each of the plurality of bottom apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of rows, each of said plurality of rows being oriented generally parallel with the first edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a first row more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of bottom apertures in a second row more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening.

51. The partial enclosure of claim 47 wherein the air outlet is disposed more closely adjacent to the first edge of the central opening.

52. The partial enclosure of claim 51 wherein the central opening has a front edge and a rear edge, the first edge of the central opening being said front edge and the second edge of the central opening being said rear edge.

53. The partial enclosure of claim 51 wherein the central opening has a front edge and a rear edge, the first edge of the central opening being said rear edge and the second edge of the central opening being said front edge.

54. The partial enclosure of claim 47 further comprising:

at least one side frame extending along at least one of the pair of opposing sides of the central opening substantially from the bottom to the top thereof, said side frame being connected to the bottom frame and defining a side channel fluidly communicating with said bottom channel, said side frame having an inner surface disposed facing generally inward toward the central opening, said inner surface further defining a plurality of side apertures extending therethrough and fluidly communicating with said side channel, said plurality of side apertures being disposed between the first edge and the second edge of the central opening, the blower intake being operatively connected to and fluidly communicating with said side channel and said plurality of side apertures such that the stream of air traversing the central opening is drawn into said side channel through said plurality of side apertures, said plurality of side apertures being arranged such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though a first side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening than is drawn through a second side portion of said plurality of side apertures disposed more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening,

whereby the stream of air being expelled through the air outlet in the generally linear direction will ramp or curl forwardly toward the first edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening.

55. The partial enclosure of claim 54 wherein the side frame has a lower region, the plurality of side apertures being confined within said lower region of the side frame, said lower region of the side frame extending upwardly from the bottom frame to not more than one half the height of the central opening.

56. The partial enclosure of claim 54 whereby air drawn through the plurality of bottom apertures into the bottom channel is drawn from the bottom channel into and through the side channel to the blower intake.

57. The partial enclosure of claim 54 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area, said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

58. The partial enclosure of claim 54 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures is generally circular and has a diameter, said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the first side portion being greater than said diameter of each of the plurality of side apertures in the second side portion.

59. The partial enclosure of claim 54 wherein each of the plurality of side apertures has a cross sectional area and is disposed in a plurality of side rows, each of said plurality of side rows being oriented generally parallel with the front edge of the central opening, such that the cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a first side row more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening has a cross sectional area greater than said cross sectional area of each of the plurality of side apertures in a second side row more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening.

60. A method for producing a ramped air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a top, a bottom, a pair of opposing sides, a first edge, and a second edge, said central opening having a height and a width and a depth, said depth being measured between said first edge and said second edge, said method for producing a ramped air curtain comprising the steps of:

providing the central opening with an air outlet disposed adjacent to the top of the central opening;

providing the central opening with a bottom frame disposed adjacent to the bottom of the central opening, said bottom frame defining a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said plurality of apertures being configured such that a first portion of the plurality of apertures each have a first area and a second portion of the plurality of apertures each have a second area, said first area being generally greater than said second area, said first area being more closely proximate to the first edge than to the second edge;

expelling a stream of air downwardly from said air outlet in a generally linear direction such that said steam of air traverses the central opening; and

drawing said stream of air through said plurality of apertures such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though said first portion of said plurality of apertures than is drawn through said second portion of said plurality of apertures to produce the ramped air curtain.

61. A method for producing a ramped air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a pair of opposing sides, a first edge, and a second edgar said central opening having a height and a width and a depth, aid depth being measured between said first edge and said second edge, said method for producing a ramped air curtain comprising the steps of:

providing the central opening with an air outlet disposed adjacent to a first one of the pair of opposing sides of the central opening;

providing the central opening with a frame, said frame being said frame defining a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said plurality of apertures being configured such that a first portion of the plurality of apertures each have a first area and a second portion of the plurality of apertures each have a second area, said first area being generally greater than said second area, said first area being more closely proximate to the first edge than to the second edge;

expelling a stream of air from said air outlet in a generally linear direction such that said steam of air traverses the central opening; and

drawing said stream of air through said plurality of apertures such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn through said first portion of said plurality of apertures than is drawn through said second portion of said pluraltiy of apertures to produce the ramped air curtain.

62. A method for producing a ramped air curtain across a central opening, said central opening having a pair of opposing sides, a first edge, and a second edge, said central opening having a height and a width and a depth, aid depth being measured between said first edge and said second edge, said method for producing a ramped air curtain comprising the steps of:

providing the central opening with an air outlet disposed adjacent to a first one of the pair of opposing sides of the central opening;

providing the central opening with a frame, said frame being disposed on a second one of the pair of opposing sides, said frame defining a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said plurality of apertures being configured such that a first portion of said plurality of apertures is disposed more closely proximate to the first edge of the central opening and a second portion of said plurality of apertures is disposed more closely proximate to the second edge of the central opening, said plurality of apertures in said first portion having a first combined cross sectional area, said plurality of apertures in said second portion having a second combined cross sectional area, said first combined cross sectional being greater than said second combined cross sectional area;

expelling a stream of air from said air outlet in a generally linear direction such that said steam of air traverses the central opening; and

drawing said stream of air through said plurality of apertures

such that a greater volume of air per unit time is drawn though said first portion of said plurality of apertures than is drawn through said second portion of said plurality of apertures to produce the ramped air curtain.

Air Curtain Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to air curtains, and particularly to a vertical air curtain producing a forward or outward ramping effect which may be used with access ways such as drive-through service windows or enclosures such as protective hoods for user-accessible electronic equipment or laboratory instruments.

Various air curtain devices are known to the art, especially for use in situations where a person requires unobstructed access to a workpiece that is kept in a sterile or contaminant free environment, and where a glove box would not be suitable. Conversely, air curtains can work to prevent the escape of chemical vapors, contaminants, or biologically active materials from an enclosure into the surrounding atmosphere, such as in negative pressure hoods. There are several representative examples of conventional air curtain devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,935 to Berlant discloses a conventional vertical air curtain which permits variable air intake and output volumes.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,408,914 to Bayern discloses a fume hood for a work bench which diverts air out through the front access port when the port is open, and through an exhaust system when the port is closed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,301,167 to Howard discloses a similar fume hood in which the air is recirculated through a sub-micron filter and blown forwardly and downwardly in a linear direction at an angle relative to the front access port and floor plate. Air which does not pass through the access port is drawn back through the perforated floor plate by the blower, and recirculated to the filter.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,006 to Scott discloses a clean room structure in which recirculated air is blown through a centrally located arcuate sub-micron filter. The air expelled from the arcuate filter travels linearly in an outward radial pattern to create a continuum of progressively decreasing ambient air pressure surrounding the arcuate filter. Consequently, since the ambient air pressure is greatest directly beneath the arcuate filter, air will travel away from that zone and towards the perimeter of the clean room. While air may be recirculated through vents in the floor and conduits in the walls of the clean room, the clean room may also have one or more open walls.

While suitable for complete or partial enclosures in which a positive pressure environment may be maintained within the enclosure, these devices are not effective when the enclosure itself provides a negative pressure environment, or needs to be separately ventilated. Furthermore, these devices do not mitigate against ambient air being drawn from the exterior of the enclosure into the current of recirculating air.

Also, while the types of air curtains and devices discussed above operate with both full and partial enclosures, they become ineffective in screen- or tunnel-like access ways. To any extent that they might be operational in a screen- or tunnel-like access way, they would function as a source of undirected positive pressure rather than a vertical air curtain. Consequently, while a device such as Scott '006 or Howard '167 could be modified to operate in a tunnel-like system, the tunnel would need to be relatively long, have distinct opposing ends with outwardly directed air flow, and the pressure would decrease rather than increase with proximity to the access ports. In addition, any intermediate area of the tunnel would need to maintain a balancing positive pressure environment, and would restrict ventilation of the intermediate area.

For their most effective operation, conventional air curtain devices rely on two interrelated concepts: creating a generally vertical stream of air, and creating a pressure differential on opposing sides of that stream of air with the pressure differential oriented to assist the air curtain in either excluding air (and particles or contaminants) from the controlled environment or retaining air (and contaminants or fumes) within the controlled environment. These air curtains are not effective, however, where the pressure differential between the controlled environment and the surrounding atmosphere is oriented in direct opposition to the proper functioning of the air curtain (i.e., where the desire is to exclude outside air from a negative pressure controlled environment, or retaining air within a positive pressure controlled environment.)

One particular example relates to drive-through service windows found in "fast-food" type restaurants. In these restaurants, the cooking is generally performed using large frying, grilling, or broiling surfaces which produce a great deal of smoke and spattered grease, and require a significant amount of ventilation. The blowers used to produce this ventilation create strong low pressures within the restaurant which tend to draw air, rain or snow, bugs, exhaust fumes, and oter wind-blown debris through the drive-through windows when the doors thereto are open. Restaurant employees must frequently stand by these drive-through windows for long periods of time, and are therefore exposed to those fumes and objects being drawn forcibly through the windows. In such an instance, the vertical air curtain having an outward ramping effect of this invention has proven very effective in preventing the ingress of fumes, bugs, rain and snow, and many wind-blown objects when the air curtain is mounted across the accessway of the drive-through window, while still permitting continuous access by employees working at the window.

A second example relates to precision equipment or electronic instruments found in extremely dusty environments or those contaminated by airbourne particlate materials, including grain terminals and plants where containers are filled with de-aerated powders such as titanium dioxide Many types of mechanical and electronic instruments (such as weigh scales or the central processing units controlling automated filling lines) can be very susceptible to damage by dust or other fine particulate materials which accumulate on the instruments or are drawn into their housings by cooling fans. Furthermore, heat and electrical sparks within some equipment can pose a serious threat of dust-explosions in certain very contaminated environments. However, it is also often necessary for portions of the instruments to remain readily accessible to workers operating the equipment or using the instruments in those environments. In such instances, it has proven effective to place the instrument or equipment within a partial box-like enclosure having an open front accessway, with the vertical air curtain of this invention mounted to produce an outward ramping effect across that accessway. As such, workers can gain immediate and frequent access to an instrument without it being exposed to the contaminated environment, and while still permitting the instrument to be properly ventilated if necessary.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of this invention to design a generally vertical air curtain having a forward or outward ramping or curling effect for use with either an access way or enclosure.

It is a related object of this invention to design the above air curtain such that it may be utilized in situations such as drive-through service windows or ventilated enclosures where there is a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of a structure, the interior pressure being normally lower than the exterior pressure, but where the objective is to prevent particles or contaminants from passing through the air curtain from the exterior to the interior.

It is another object of this invention to design the above air curtain for an access way or enclosure such that the air curtain may utilize recirculated air, and such that the air being recirculated may also be filtered and temperature controlled.

It is a distinct object of this invention to design the above apparatus for producing an air curtain such that it may be utilized with an enclosure to maintain a positive pressure interior controlled environment when placed within a negative pressure external atmosphere, and maintain the sterility of that interior controlled environment.

Briefly described, the apparatus for producing an air curtain of this invention comprises a central opening bounded by a frame or walls on the top, bottom, and sides. The frame or walls define internal channels which fluidly communicate with one another. A generally vertical downward stream of air is expelled downwardly from an outlet at the top of the central opening. The bottom and side frame or walls define apertures of varying diameter proximate to the lower portion of the central opening. The apertures are arranged in an array whereby rows of apertures more closely proximate to the front edge of the central opening have diameters greater than the diameters of the apertures in rows more closely proximate to the rear edge of the central opening. Air is drawn into the channels through the apertures, and the array of apertures produces a forwardly biased pressure gradient, the result of which is to cause the stream of air being expelled downwardly at the top of the central opening to ramp or curl forwardly toward the front edge of the central opening as that stream of air traverses the central opening. This forward ramping or curling of the stream of air propels airborne particles and contaminants outwardly or away from the front edge of the central opening and prevents those particles or contaminants from entering the stream of air. The air is recirculated through the channels, and may be filtered and heated. The array of apertures may be reversed so that the ramping or curling is directed rearwardly. The apparatus may be utilized in such applications as drive-through service windows and instrument enclosures.