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EP-4474279-B1 - OVERHEAD AMBIENT AIR CONTROL SYSTEMS

EP4474279B1EP 4474279 B1EP4474279 B1EP 4474279B1EP-4474279-B1

Inventors

  • TESSELE, Samantha Gonzalez
  • GONALVES PIRES, Divanir Fernando Neves Fernandes
  • DESAI, Beenal
  • BORTHOLIN, Thais
  • PAPA, Ramon
  • CHAGAS, Patricia Silva Madeira
  • DE LIMA, Patricia Greff
  • Beever, Jay
  • CASTANHA, BRUNO KIMURA
  • MOCHIDUKY, SILVIO HIDEO LEMOS
  • MOTOYAMA, Hugo
  • COTRIM, Victor Hugo de Oliveira
  • DA SILVA, Erik Vasconcelos
  • MAIA, Alan Felipe Castilho
  • Rea, Joshua

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240516

Claims (10)

  1. An overhead passenger comfort module (10) which includes a module segment comprising: a support frame member (11a, 11b) which includes a peripheral trim frame member (16a, 16b); and a ventilation system (14a, 14b) supported by the support frame member (11a, 11b), wherein the ventilation system (14a, 14b) comprises: (i) a supply conduit (24a, 24b) adapted to being fluid-connected to a supply of ventilation air; and (ii) first and second branch conduits (24a1, 24a2, 24b1, 24b2) fluid-connected at one end to the supply conduit (24a, 24b) and terminating in elongate first and second ventilation openings (26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2) at first and second edge regions of the support frame member (11a, 11b), and wherein the trim frame member (16a, 16b) includes first and second concavely curved edge diffuser portions (16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2) which are adjacently positioned to and spaced from the first and second ventilation openings (26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2) respectively, wherein ventilation air discharged from the first and second ventilation openings (26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2) impinges on the concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions (16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2) of the trim frame member (16a, 16b) so as create a diffused volume of air which envelops substantially a passenger seated therebelow to establish a personal ambient air zone for the passenger; wherein the overhead passenger comfort module (10) further comprises first and second valves operatively associated with the first and second branch conduits (24a1, 24a2, 24b1, 24b2) and operable to control air flow therethrough, respectively.
  2. The overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 1, which further comprises a control unit (30a, 30b) operably connected to the first and second valves to allow passenger control of the air flow through the first and second branch conduits (24a1, 24a2, 24b1, 24b2), respectively.
  3. The overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a front face plate (12a, 12b) attached to the support frame (11a, 11b) and visibly covering the ventilation system (14a, 14b).
  4. The overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 3, wherein the front face plate (12a, 12b) is substantially planar.
  5. The overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ventilation openings (26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2)are positioned at side and bottom edge regions of the support frame member (11a, 11b), and wherein the concavely curved first and second edge diffuser portions (16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2) are adjacently positioned to and spaced from the first and second ventilation openings (26a1, 26a2, 26b1, 26b2) at the side and bottom edge regions of the support frame member (11a, 11b), respectively.
  6. The overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a speaker system, annunciator light system and information display screen.
  7. A vehicle which comprises a passenger seat and the overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 1 positioned over the passenger seat.
  8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle is a passenger aircraft, a passenger bus or a passenger train car.
  9. An overhead passenger comfort module (10) which includes a mirror image pair of adjacent module segments (10a, 10b), wherein each of the module segments (10a, 10b) comprises the features of a overhead passenger comfort module (10) as defined in one of the preceding claims.
  10. An aircraft which comprises a pair of facing passenger seats and the overhead passenger comfort module (10) according to claim 9 positioned over the passenger seats so that passengers in the passenger seats have a respective one of the module segments (10a, 10b) positioned overhead.

Description

FIELD The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to overhead ambient air control systems that are provided for the comfort of vehicle passengers, for examples, passengers being transported by mass transit vehicles such as aircraft, buses, trains and the like. BACKGROUND It is conventional in many mass transit vehicles, such as aircraft, to have an overhead passenger comfort module that may include personal lights and forced air ventilation devices. The forced air ventilation devices are typically poppet valves that the passenger can screw/unscrew which in turn causes the poppet of the valve to close/open relative to a vent opening and thereby regulate the amount of air ventilation being delivered. The air flow direction can also be manipulated by providing a ball and socket connection of the poppet valve to the overhead passenger comfort module. These types of conventional forced air ventilation devices are colloquially known as "gaspers" in aircraft parlance. One problem associated with conventional gaspers is that the devices cannot typically be employed for long periods of time during transport due to the rather narrow jet of ventilation air that is discharged which can cause passenger discomfort during prolonged use. For example, if the rather narrow jet of ventilation air is directed towards the passenger's face, a feeling dryness in the passenger's eyes and nose may occur. The passenger may then redirect the jet of ventilation air to different areas of the face or even close the gasper completely after short periods of use. The conventional gaspers are also not conducive to the aesthetics of modern executive transport cabins. What has been needed in this art therefore are forced air ventilation devices that reduce or eliminate entirely the problems associated with conventional gasper devices. It is towards providing a solution to such a problems that the embodiments disclosed herein are directed. US 2020/148367 A1 discloses an aircraft air distribution assembly providing integrated personally controllable air flow and cabin air flow. The aircraft air distribution assembly comprises a plenum and a flow restriction system. The plenum is connected to a plurality of personal air outlets configured to provide the personally controllable air flow. The flow restriction system extends through at least one wall of the plenum, the flow restriction system configured to set a pressure for the cabin air flow. US 2022/057094 A1 discloses device, system, and method for creating air capsules enclosing passengers in vehicles. The device for creating air capsules enclosing passengers in vehicles includes an attachment portion. The attachment portion is removably attached to a gasper within a vehicle and receives airflow from an outlet port of the gasper. The device further includes a diffuser portion integrated with the attachment portion. The diffuser portion is configured to intake the airflow from the attachment portion. Further, the diffuser portion includes a flow control portion configured to generate at least one airflow stream from the airflow. A first airflow stream of the at least one airflow stream creates an air capsule configured to enclose a passenger in the vehicle. SUMMARY Broadly, the embodiments disclosed herein are directed toward personal overhead air ventilation devices for vehicle passengers that distribute the air flow between two possible output paths into a concave frame that diffuses and widely disperses the air flow thereby generating a personalized ambient air zone establishing a personal microclimate for the passenger. Further, the existence of two air outlet paths having their respective openings electronically controlled allows for different air flow intensity and greater air flow coverage for the ambient air zone. The ambient air zone will thereby in turn create a personalized atmosphere for the vehicle passenger that, when used for long periods of time, is more comfortable (e.g., less noisy, does not dry the passenger's eyes/nose and the like). According to the embodiments disclosed herein, air ventilation devices are included in an overhead passenger comfort module and are responsible for providing air to passengers through one or both of the two electronically controlled outlets. The air ventilation device receives air from the on-board air conditioning or outside air ventilation distribution system and directs the air through vents into the cabin and into the passenger comfort module located above each passenger. As soon as the air leaves the supply tubes of the air supply system, it freely impinges on a concavely curved profiled edge frame that causes the air to lose velocity and gain dispersion in the flow area thereby creating a kind of "mist" close to the passenger's face. This mist of diffused air provides freshness (e.g., ambient air effect) without the need to have an air jet being directed onto the passenger's body and causing discomfort due to high air flow velocity t