This application is related to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0023195, filed Jun. 13, 2012, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

This application is also related to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0011254, entitled Columnar Air Moving Devices, Systems and Methods, filed Jun. 13, 2012, and to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0027950, entitled Columnar Air Moving Devices, Systems and Methods, filed Jun. 13, 2012, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. This application is also related to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0227381, filed May 30, 2008, and to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0266400, filed Mar. 16, 2010, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Field of the Inventions

The present application relates generally to systems, devices and methods for moving air that are particularly suitable for creating air temperature de-stratification within a room, building, or other structure.

Description of the Related Art

The rise of warm air and the sinking of cold air can create significant variation in air temperatures between the ceiling and floor of buildings with conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Air temperature stratification is particularly problematic in any spaces with any ceilings such as warehouses, gymnasiums, offices, auditoriums, hangers, commercial buildings, offices, residences with cathedral ceilings, agricultural buildings, and other structures, and can significantly increase heating and air conditioning costs. Structures with both low and high ceiling rooms can often have stagnant or dead air, as well, which can further lead to air temperature stratification problems.

One proposed solution to air temperature stratification is a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are relatively large rotary fans, with a plurality of blades, mounted near the ceiling. The blades of a ceiling fan have a flat or airfoil shape. The blades have a lift component that pushes air upwards or downwards, depending on the direction of rotation, and a drag component that pushes the air tangentially. The drag component causes tangential or centrifugal flow so that the air being pushed diverges or spreads out. Conventional ceiling fans are generally ineffective as an air de-stratification device in relatively high ceiling rooms because the air pushed by conventional ceiling fans is not maintained in a columnar pattern from the ceiling to the floor, and often disperses or diffuses well above the floor.

Another proposed solution to air temperature stratification is a fan connected to a vertical tube that extends substantially from the ceiling to the floor. The fan can be mounted near the ceiling, near the floor or in between. This type of device can push cooler air up from the floor to the ceiling or warmer air down from the ceiling to the floor. Such devices, when located away from the walls in an open space in a building, interfere with floor space use and are not aesthetically pleasing. When confined to locations only along the walls of an open space, such devices may not effectively circulate air near the center of the open space. Examples of fans connected to vertical tubes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,342 to Hughes, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,479 to Whiteley.

A more practical solution is a device, for example, with a rotary fan that minimizes a rotary component of an air flow while maximizing axial air flow quantity and velocity, thereby providing a column of air that flows from a high ceiling to a floor in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion without a physical transporting tube. Examples of this type of device are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/130,909, filed May 30, 2008, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,842, filed Mar. 16, 2010, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein includes the realization that it would be beneficial to have a columnar air moving device that has a low vertical profile, such that the device can fit into the ceiling structure of a building without extending below the ceiling to an extent that it is distracting or obstructive, and can fit within two generally horizontal ceiling structures.

Another aspect of at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein includes the realization that it would be beneficial to have a columnar air moving device that is designed specifically to fit within a ceiling grid structure, such that it is easy to install, remove, and replace the columnar air moving device if required.

Another aspect of at least one of the embodiments disclosed herein includes the realization that rooms within a building often have support beams or other structures that can make it difficult to install a columnar air moving device (or devices) within the room and direct the air to a pre-defined area. It would be advantageous to have a columnar air moving device that is configured to have a nozzle or other structure that can be rotated or moved, so as to direct the column of air towards a desired area generally away from an area directly below the columnar air moving device.

Thus, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein, an air moving system can comprise a ceiling structure comprising a first ceiling level forming a base portion of the ceiling, the first ceiling level having a plurality of grid cells, each grid cell bordered by a grid cell periphery structure, the ceiling structure further comprising a second ceiling level separated from the first ceiling level by a first height, an air moving device positioned at least partially within one of the grid cells in the first ceiling level, the air moving device comprising a housing member forming an interior space within the air moving device, the housing member having a top surface, the housing member being positioned within the ceiling structure such that the top surface is located between the first and second ceiling levels, a lip member forming an outer peripheral edge of air moving device, at least part of the lip member supported by the grid cell periphery structure, the housing member comprising a plurality of air vents for directing a volume of air into the interior space of the air moving device, a rotary fan assembly mounted in the interior space, the rotary fan assembly comprising an impeller and a plurality of blades, the rotary fan assembly configured to direct the volume of air within the interior space, and a nozzle communicating with and extending downwardly from the rotary fan assembly, the nozzle comprising a structure for further directing the volume of air out of the air moving device.

In accordance with at least another embodiment, an air moving device can comprise a housing member forming an interior space within the air moving device, the housing member comprising a plurality of air vents for directing a volume of air into the interior space of the air moving device, a rotary fan assembly mounted in the interior space, the rotary fan assembly comprising an impeller and a plurality of blades, the rotary fan assembly configured to direct the volume of air within the interior space, and a nozzle communicating with and extending downwardly from the rotary fan assembly, the nozzle comprising a structure for further directing the volume of air out of the air moving device, wherein the air moving device comprises a longitudinal axis, the housing member comprises an opening for insertion of the nozzle, and the nozzle comprises at least one spherical surface configured to fit within the opening such that the nozzle can be adjusted preferably at various angles relative to the longitudinal axis.

In accordance with at least one embodiment described herein, an air moving device can include a housing member forming an interior space within the air moving device, the housing member having a first opening for fluidly connecting the interior space with an air flow duct and for directing a first volume of air from the air flow duct into the interior space, and a second opening having a plurality of air vents for directing a second volume of air into the interior space of the housing member. The air moving device can also include a rotary fan assembly mounted in the interior space, the rotary fan assembly having an impeller and a plurality of blades, the rotary fan assembly configured to direct the first and second volumes of air within the interior space.

In accordance with at least one embodiment described herein, an air moving device can include a housing member forming an interior space within the air moving device, the housing member having an opening that fluidly connects the interior space with air outside of the housing; a ceiling support structure connected to the housing member and forming an outer peripheral edge of the air moving device; and an air vent grill assembly configured to be positioned at least partially within the housing member, the air vent grill assembly having an outer rim, a plurality of air vents for directing a volume of air into the interior space of the air moving device, and at least one projection configured to releasably attach to the ceiling support structure, the projection including a hinge that allows the air vent grill assembly to rotate relative to the ceiling support structure. The hinge can be a tool-less hinge requiring no tools to move the hinge out of engagement with the ceiling support structure.

In accordance with at least one embodiment described herein, a method of removing an air vent grill assembly from an air moving device can include: disconnecting a first portion (e.g., an outer rim) of an air vent grill assembly from a ceiling support structure of an air moving device, wherein the air vent grill assembly comprises at least one projection extending from the first portion and releasably attached to the ceiling support structure; rotating the first portion about a hinge in the at least one projection; disconnecting the at least one projection from the ceiling support structure; and removing the air vent grill assembly from the ceiling support structure.

