Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WORK STATION WITH CLIMATE CONTROL CAPABILITIES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to work
stations used in office and industrial applications, and
more particularly, to a composite work station that most
advantageously interfaces with specialized arrangements of
services needed by office and technical workers.
Most particularly, one aspect of the invention relates
to a unitized work station which includes a compact,
individually adjustable system for circulating conditioned
air in the vicinity of a worker, that is, to provide both
supply and return air capability suitably localized and
controlled by the user. Another aspect relates to the
provision of electrical/data services including power and
data conductors and other services if desired. A further
aspect is to provide adjustable positioners for work
station equipment such as keyboards, viewing display
equipment, specialized lighting and the like as well as
providing user seating that is desirably positioned
relative to the services being supplied through the
station. Other optional features are readily provided.
In its present form, the apparatus is best utilized in
connection with a multi-level raised floor service
arrangement of the type to be described herein; however
this is not strictly necessary, and alternate arrangements
for supply and return air and/or electrical services, are
also advantageous. In one of its presently preferred
forms, the entire system is mounted on a single platform
such as a round support plate, optionally mounted for
rotation.
In recent years, there has been a constantly
increasing preoccupation with employee productivity.
Attempts of all sorts have been made to improve the
productivity of office and technical workers, including
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secretarial personnel; engineers such as designers,
estimators and the like; workers controlling manufacturing
operations; and a vast array of accountants, bookkeepers
and others who are continually required to work with
technical information
One aspect of this emphasis has been that of providing
more and more highly capable, faster operating equipment.
By way of example, secretarial stations that formerly used
typewriters now include computerized word processors having
not only the capability of word processing, but also
interconnection to other computers by way of local area
networks, communications, connections such as those
required to send messages by telefax, and a variety of so-
called modems or other connections adapted to supply or
exchange information with remote work stations in digital
or other encoded form.
Clerical workers, including office, engineering and
underwriting personnel, for example, have also been
equipped with a wide variety of messaging equipment
including telephones, image display apparatus such as
CRT's, etc., clip-on type miniaturized microphones and
earphones for portable, wireless telephony and like
equipment. These "advances" have become increasingly
common in an continuing effort to increase the productivity
2~ of employees.
However, critical observers of such so-called progress
have noted that mere addition of equipment does not
necessarily mean greater productivity, especially over an
extended time period. Such observers have noted that the
stress level of most employeés so situated and equipped has
also risen significantly in recent years. Managers at
various levels have increasingly noted that the mere
presence of more and faster-operating equipment is not
itself sufficient to insure increased productivity.
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In particular, overcrowding of desks, and creating the
feeling in an employee that he or she is surrounded by
equipment requiring constant attention, has often caused
significantly adverse emotional reactions, ranging from
concern to fear and hostility, all of which have actually
proven counterproductive to the announced and hoped-for
goal of increased employee productivity.
In recent years, managers have reluctantly agreed that
employee comfort in and around the work place has become a
paramount consideration if such an employee is to continue
to work at high levels with sufficient comfort that the
inevitable job-generated stress may be reduced, kept low,
and/or effectively managed. It has been found that true
productivity, which combines work rate with minimizing
mistakes and insuring employee longevity on the job so that
beneficial experience can be taken advantage of, is
facilitated by employee comfort and convenience.
With these realizations regarding psychological
considerations have come the counterpart realizations that
reasonable physical comfort is also a necessity for
effective operation. By "physical comfort" as used in this
sense is not meant simply pampering employees or catering
to unsubstantial whims, but is meant comfort in the broader
sense of adapting the surrounding space to the surrounding
to the physiological needs of the employee. In particular,
it has been recently realized that a supply of truly fresh,
conditioned air at the proper temperature is a requirement
for effective human performance, especially performance of
mental work.
Moreover, a comfortable seating position and
comfortable position of equipment relative to the employee
has become a true necessity. Thus, in recent years,
ergonomics has moved toward becoming a true science rather
than a luxury. For example, proper positioning and/or
variability of positioning of keyboards or other manually
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operated devices have been accepted as a way of greatly
reducing or el=iminating repetitive motion stress such as
carpal tunnel syndrome. Proper positioning of screens and
monitors is able to overcome employee discomfort and even
damage to employees' vision by eliminating glare and
reflections. Most important of these, however, has been
the requirement for air which is fresh, but the circulation
of which need not be and in fact must not be annoying to
the user. Discomfort from improper air circulation need no
longer be considered simply a price to be paid for the
necessity of having fresh air available for the worker.
Regarding prior attempts to provide comfort for office
workers, the widely accepted, conventional system of
` ceiling air supply and ceiling air return has not proved
highly effective in actual practice, pximarily because such
a system basically works again9t natural convection.
Almost everyone is familiar with complaints of workers that
depend on the position of such workers relative to the
conditioned air outlets. For example, being situated
beneath a conditioned air outlet, particularly on a warm
day, is almost certain to create various levels of
discomfort in office workers. Yet, if a significant amount
of air is to be supplied to such offices, their cold air
drafts become inevitable, with the coldest air being the
most dense and moving most rapidly down under towards the
employees with the additional impetus of delivery under
forced air circulation conditions. If hot air is being
supplied, it often stays near the ceiling unless forced
toward the fIoor by strong drafts. Most, if not all,
existing ceiling supply/return systems do not offer the
option of moving the outlets to the vicinity of the
employee.
Supplying conditioned air through the floor has proven
very effective for circulation in environments wherein
human comfort is not a particularly significant factor,
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i.e., computer rooms. However, a large volume of cold air
supply from the floor is simply not acceptable to most
office workers. The concept of reversible supply and
return air, with floor supply and ceiling return for heat
and vice versa for cold are possibilities that have been
mentioned in the past, but such concepts are usually too
expensive, space-intensive and complex to be workable in
reality.
Under these circumstances, it would be greatly desired
to provide an office or like work area where air was
circulated with a view towards increasing individual user
comfort and meeting individual user needs rather than being
laid out as a part of an overall plan into which all
- employees would ultimately be required to fit. Thus, an
ideal air circulation pattern would be one that would
provide individually controllable comfort to each employee,
and, if possible, which would arrange for convective
circulation in the vicinity of the employee, regardless of
the number or positioning of such employees within an
office space.
With the foregoing in mind, and in particularly, the
failure of the prior art to provide a consistently
favorable climate for office workers, it is an object of
the present invention to provide an improved, integrated
work station providing a number of advantages in use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a work
station wherein all the services ordinarily used as well as
generally needed by an employee are immediately available
and can be individually adjusted or controlled by that
employee.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an
integrated employee work station that includes its own
individual supply air space, a return air space, an
electrical space, and also preferably includes an employee
seat and adjustable equipment positioning facilities.
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A further object of the invention is to provide a
modular work station which permits an employee to adjust
the climate in his or her individual work area without
significantly affecting the climate of adjacent areas.
A still further object is to provide a work station
which does not require, but is adaptable for use with a
multi-level underfloor service distribution system.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
work station that is compatible with overhead air supply
and/or return systems.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a
work station that includes a columnar arrangement of
services, providing a generally cylindrical or like column
having its interior subdivided into isolated spaces such as
a center or core air supply area, an intermediate space in
the form of a cylindrical shell adapted to receive return
air and direct it to a return air plenum or other
destination and a third, preferably radially outermost
space dedicated to conductors, including electrical power
and/or signal conductors such as data cables, fiber optic
communication cables or the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide an
arrangement of spaces within a single column whereby supply
air, return air, and communication spaces are isolated from
each other and yet adjacently disposed for compact
packaging and for convenient availability and distribution.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
column-like arrangement, pre~erably circular in cross-
section, that includes air supply, air return, and
communication spaces and which also includes a plurality of
equipment positioners that are individually adjustable by
the user for maximum comfort and effectiveness.
~ further object of the invention is to provide a work
station of the type described wherein the entire structure
of the station is mounted on a single support such as a
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plate or the like and wherein a concentric or parallel but
separate arrangement of service spaces is able to be
integrated with a multi-level distribution system,
preferably but not necessarily a floor system that is
divided into separate levels providing supply air, return
air, and communication and power spaces.
A still further object of the invention is to provide
an arrangement in a work station whereby the same structure
that provides the services also provides support for
equipment that is positionable according to the desires of
the user.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a
work station wherein the equipment positioners are in the
form of rotatable rings, optionally motor driven, supported
on a fixed column, with the rings including inner and outer
mounting areas and vertically open spaces permitting
passage of electrical or data conductors therethrough.
A further object of the invention is to provide a work
station wherein a lower portion includes a return air space
and a dedicated electrical space terminating in a power
outlet area to which removable power and/or data
connections can be made with ease and simplicity, leaving
the upper and middle portions of the station available for
other services.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the
invention are achieved in practice by providing a modular
work station including a column having plural isolated
vertical passages individually dedicated to supply air,
return air and communication and/or power, each of the
services being able to serve a wide angle arc around the
work station area.
The invention also achieves its objects by providing
- such an apparatus that further includes adjustable
equipment positioners, climate and/or accessory control
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systems, and optionally seating, lighting and/or other
operator-positionable equipment.
The exact manner in which the foregoing and other
objects and advantages of the invention are achieved in
practice will become more clearly apparent when reference
is made to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention set forth by way of
example and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein like
reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout.
~3RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of work
station with climate control capabilities made according to
the invention and showing the same with an operator in
position of use and the work station positioned on a
preferred form of floor structure;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the work station of
Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the seating system and
the positioning of various portions of the equipment used
by the operator, including lighting, a telephone, a
keyboard and a viewing monitor and showing the position of
potted trees or plants positionable about the periphery of
the station;
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, with portions
broken away, showing the portions of the work station of
Fig. 1 and the subfloor area beneath the station, taken
along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical
sectional view of the track-style mounting arrangement for
the lights or other lightweight components of the work
station of Figs. 1-3;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional
view of a center portion of the work station of Fig. 2,
showing certain details of the equipment positioning rings
and a form of powered apparatus for positioning the rings;
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Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along
lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing additional constructional
details of the equipment mounting rings shown in Figs. 3-6;
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of one
preferred form of floor usable with the invention and
showing the positioning of the work station relative to the
floor, including the preferred form of conditioned supply
and return air and appropriate electrical connections;
Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of portions of the
preferred form of floor supporting the work station and
illustrating air flow and electric conductor positioning
within the floor disposed beneath the unit;
Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a
modified form of apparatus providing a slightly different
form of supply air distribution;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the
apparatus of Fig. 9, taken along lines 10-10 thereof;
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view, with
portions shown in section, illustrating a form of work
station wherein the supply air and various electrical
services are supplied to a main column from beneath the
floor and the return air is directed through the column
from an inlet near the bottom and to an open upper end
adjacent but spaced apart from a return air plenum or duct
inlet;
Fig. 12 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical
sectional view showing the various spaces for supply air,
return air and electrical/fiber optic services in the upper
middle portion of the column;
Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of
Fig. 12, taken along lines 13-13 thereof;
Fig. 14 is a view similar to that of Fig. 13 and taken
along lines 14-14 of Fig. 12;
Fig. 15 is a view taken along lines 15-15 of Fig. 12;
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Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view o~ the upper portion of
a column somewhat similar to that of Fig. 11, but different
as regards its connection to an overhead return air duct or
plenum; and ~ -
Fig. 17 is a view of a still further embodiment of the
invention illustrating a system wherein supply and return
air are furnished from an overhead source.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
While the work station of the present invention may be
made from different materials and may be embodied in
various shapes and forms, the preferred forms are arranged
to use the m; n; ml~m number of components in the simplest
` 15 form to provide the functions of climate control, power and
communication ~supply and equipment positioners, all
arranged to provide the greatest operational flexibility.
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, one
illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in
Figs. 1-3 to comprise a work station generally designated
20 positioned within an interior office space generally
designated 22 and divided by a work area floor generally
designated 24 into an upper, work area space generally
designated 26 and a lower or subfloor air and electrical
distribution space generally designated 28.
According to the invention, the subfloor space 28 is
subdivided into plural, substantially unobstructed, area-
wide plenums comprising respectively a supply air space 30,
a return air space 32 and a wireway space 34. For this
purpose, the work area floor 24 is preferably comprised of
a plurality of readily removable panels 36 each supported
at its corners by top brackets 38 on the upper ends 40 of
columns generally designated 42 having plural intermediate
brackets 44, 46 each supporting sets of stringers 48 upon
which are supported upper and lower isolator pans 50, 52,
preferably made from 14-18 gauge sheet metal.
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Preferably, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, perimeter
walls formed by vertical peripheral panels 54 close off the
outer ends of the two upper plenums 32, 34. The panels 54
extend between the work floor and the floor just above the
building floor or slab 55 to complete the mechanical
isolation between various levels. In this way, the
services on various levels are mechanically isolated from
each other for a number of reasons, including flexibility
of wire and cable management, low cost compliance with fire
and electrical codes, and more effective, lower cost,
energy-saving air circulation.
Various details of the construction and arrangement of
such floors are illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,630,417,
now Reissue Patent No. Re. 33,220, and U.S. Patent No.
15 4,874,127, the latter of which illustrates a desirable way
of controlling localized climate in a large room in
response to heat load demand from computers or peripheral
equipment.
Referring again to the interior office space 22 in
which the apparatus 20 is positioned, the air supply space
is substantially coextensive with the room interior
subfloor or slab area. This area is substantially free of
obstructions such as a significant volumes of wires,
cables, ducts and the like to provide for air circulation
with minimum impedance. A peripheral space 56 (Figs. 3, 4)
of increased height, (i.e., from the slab 55 to the floor
panels 36, and from the building walls 53 to the wall
panels 54), surrounds the spaces 32, 34 and is in
communication with a conditioned air source schematically
shown as 58. This source may be a downflow unit, but in
most office applications is simply a connection to a
central source of conditioned air.
The next subfloor space 32 is a wide area plenum for
returning the air provided in the supply space or plenum
30. Preferably, the space is also substantially free of
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internal obstructions, except that, occasionally one or
more "chimneys" or vertical passages may extend through
this space, such vertical passages generally designated 60,
62 (Fig. 2) having a cross-section smaller than any one
individual floor panel. The outer periphery of the return
air plenum 32 is preferably, but not necessarily of
slightly less lateral extent than that of the supply air
plenum 30 SO that the peripheral space 56 just referred to
can be provided. Details of the return air system are
shown, schematically, i.e., it is shown in Figs. 7 and 8
that a duct 57 may be placed with one end 59 communicating
with the return air plenum space 32 and its other end (not
shown) in communication with the inlet end of a heat
exchanger forming a part of a climate control system.
While not strictly necessary, the multi-level subfloor
space described herein is normally the most effective and
convenient way of practicing the invention. In some cases,
other supply and return air and wire/cable arrangements may
be preferred or acceptable.
Located above the return air plenum 32 iS a wireway
space 34 which also extends horizontally between peripheral
panels 54 and which extends vertically between the upper
level pans 48 and the work floor-panels 36. This space is
mechanically isolated from the supply and return air spaces
below it and from the work space 26 above the floor 36.
According to applicable electrical codes, this space 34 may
contain electrical power and/or so-called data or signal
cable which, as known to those skilled in the art, may be
electrical, fiber optic, or of other appropriate
construction.
In those applications wherein high and low voltage
power are required to be isolated from each other, an
additional level may be provided, or the higher voltage
wires or cables may be protectively sheathed if this is
more economical than providing a second wireway space or
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level. The wireway space intentionally does not contain
circulated air and accordingly may be comparatively full of
wires, cables, or the like for any necessary or desirable
purpose.
Referring now to the preferred form of work station
itself, and in particular to Figs. 1-3, this unit is shown
to comprise a lower, multi-service portion generally
designated 64, an intermediate, equipment positioning
portion generally designated 66 and an upper air supply and
illumination portion generally designated 68. In addition,
the work station includes a seating portion generally
designated 70 and a base portion generally designated 72
(Figs. 1 and 2). Functionally, the work station 20 may be
thought of as also having three generally parallel but
functionally different spaces, namely an air supply space
generally designated 65, a return air space generally
designated 67, and one or more wireway spaces generally
designated 69. In the preferred form, these spaces are
concentric, but this is not a strict necessity.
Inasmuch as a functional connection must be made
between whatever conditioned and return air sources are
available and connections to one or more electrical sources
must be made, adapters in the form of modular "chimneys" or
the like are preferred for use in connecting these services
to the columnar structure forming the major part of the
work station 20. Accordingly, in the subfloor area 28, a
chimney module generally designated 69 is provided, with
such module including a modified lower floor pan 48a and an
upper modified floor pan 48b. The lower floor pan 48a is
imperforate except that, in one portion thereof, there is
formed in or attached to the pan 48a a rigid metal cylinder
64 extending in use to or just upwardly of a second floor
pan 48b. This cylinder 64 is open at both ends and
provides an adaptor/connector for appropriate parts of the
work station.
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The floor pan 48b includes a larger diameter stub
cylinder 65, concentricaliy arranged with the cylinder 64
and providing an annular access space. According to the
preferred form of invention, both the cylinder 64 and the
stub cylinder 65 have affixed to their respective upper
ends flexible connector tubes 66, 68. When these tubes and
cylinders are connected to the work station 20 as shown in
Fig. 3, there will be a vertical core passage from the air
supply plenum 30 into the supply air passage 88 in the unit
20, and a concentrically arranged annular passage 92 for
return air passing into the return air plenum 32.
Accordingly, wherever it is desired to create vertical
connections between an air supply and/or air return space,
` these modular vertical "chimney" assemblies 69, preferably
with concentrically arranged passages, may be provided.
Because the subfloor area is preferably of modular
construction, these "chimney" or vertical passage modules
may be positioned at any desired place within the overall
floor structure. By reason of their preferred form of
construction, these units may also be relocated as desired
with minimal expenditure and very little labor.
Consequently, once the desired location of a work station
has been determined, the wire-area supply and return air
spaces may simply be "tapped into" by providing panels 48a
that include the cylinder or like portions 64, 66, 68, etc.
forming vertical passages for supplying air to a returning
air from the work area.
Referring now to the preferred form of the work
station structure itself, the base section 72 comprises a
circular flat plate 74 which may optionally include
integral rollers 76 to permit rotary repositioning of the
plate 74. In the preferred form, the lower, multi-service
portion 64 of the apparatus 20 comprises a rigid exterior
structural tube or shell 78 having a radial mounting flange
at the bottom thereof, such flange being used in
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connection with fasteners 82 to secure the shell 78 to the
inner margin 84 of the plate 74.
The lower portion 64 of the apparatus 20 also includes
an innermost rigid tube 86 defining a conditioned air
supply passage 88, the lower portion of which is attached
via the flexible tube 66 to the upper portion of the
cylinder 64 and which places the supply air space 88 in
communication with the subfloor air supply plenum 30. A
radially intermediate, larger diameter tube 90 surrounds
the inner air supply tube 86 and is disposed within the
outer tube or shell 78 so as to define a return air space
92, preferably in the form of a cylindrical shell.
The lower portion of the tube 90 communicates with the
` flexible tube 68 defining the connector passage 62 that
joins the return air plenum space 92 within the apparatus
to the subfloor return air space 32. A plurality of
radially extending tubular passages 94 defined by
imperforate walls 96 and having inlets 98 (Fig. 1) in the
upper portion of the lower section 64 permit return air to
be drawn from the work area space near the worker into the
space 92 and ultimately into the subfloor return air space
32, thus insuring a desirable circulation pattern.
The foregoing arrangement also creates an interior
wireway space 99 between the outer tube 78 and the O.D. of
the intermediate tube 90. A plurality of electrical cables
or the like 100 extend from the subfloor wireway space 34
through the annular opening 102 in the lower portion of the
tube 78. The wires or cables 100 extend upwardly in the
area between radial return air passages 94. As an optional
feature, a door 104 is provided in the outer surface of the
tube 78 to permit access to this wireway space if necessary
for the purpose of making additional electrical
connections.
An annular plate 106 closes off the upper ends of both
the vertical return air space 92 and the wireway space 99.
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This plate 106 also serves as an interface for power and
communication, i.e., the various plug receptacles, jacks
and other outlets generally designated 107 are positioned
by the plate 106 and the wires, cables, or the like 100
extend downwardly from these fixtures 107, through the
vertical space 99, and through the annular passage 102 into
the horizontal wireway space 34. A plug 109 with a power
cord 111 is shown as an example of such arrangement.
Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be noted that,
above the annular plate 106, the column serves additional
functions and is of a different construction. Above the
plate 106, the side walls of the outer tube 78 continue for
a distance of a foot or 80, while the innermost tube 86
forming the alr supply column continues upward beyond the
plate a distance sufficient to permit locating the
equipment positioner rings generally desisnated 108.
Beyond the rings 108, the inner tube or columnar side walls
86 continue toward and terminate at an upper end plate 110
having a center air discharge opening 112. Volume of air
flow through the tube 88 from the air supply plenum 30 and
out the discharge opening 112 is controlled by a motorized
damper assembly generally designated 114. The assembly 114
includes a motor 116 mounted be a bracket 117 to the column
side wall 86. A rotary shaft 118 positions a damper plate
120; the motor is energized by wires 122 and controlled by
a demand thermostat/regulator (not shown) that is operator-
controlled.
Referring now to the center section 66 of the
apparatus 20, an important feature of the invention is the
plurality of mounting rings 108 for positioning worker
equipment. Each of these mounting ring units 108 is shown
in Figs. 5 and 6 to be formed in a generally U-shaped
cross-section, including an outer wall portion 124 which
may include means in the form of captive nuts 126 or the
like to receive fasteners 128 for positioning e~uipment
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support arms 130. A lower portion of the ring outer wall
124 includes plural, circumferentially spaced rollers 132
(only one shown in Fig. 6) each supported by an axle 134
and each being positioned in a pocket 136 formed within the
ring outer wall. To prevent tilting of the ring under the
eccentric load imposed by the equipment positioned by the
support arm 130, the ring 108 also includes an interior
vertical wall 138 which positions plural roller sets 140
adapted to engage the outer surface 142 of the air supply
tube 86.
Each of the rings 108 also includes a radial flange or
web section 144 having circumferentially extending, arcuate
openings 146 permitting one or more bundles 148 of wires or
cables 100 to extend vertically therethrough. Disposed
opposite the portion of the ring 108 containing the slot
146 is a rack and pinion style power drive mechanism that
includes a motor 150 having a drive shaft 152 carrying a
pinion gear 1~4, the motor being mounted by a bracket 156
to the outer surface 142 of the tube 86. The teeth on the
pinion gear 152 engage with counterpart teeth 158 on an
arcuate rack 160 extending around a portion of the inner
axial flange 138 of the ring 106.
Preferably, each of the rings 108 includes the pockets
136 and the rollers 132 at the ring lower end and also
includes a groove 162 at its upper end to engage a
counterpart roller. The uppermost roller set in the group
is disposed in a circumferential carrier 164 extending
around the inside of the outer tube 78. A counterpart
support flange 166 is disposed below the lowermost ring.
In this arrangement, the array of rings 108 is trapped
between support flanges extending inwardly from the outer
surfaces of the outer shell 78 and the entire stack of
rings is held under sufficient compressive load by the
combined action of the inner tube 86 and the outer tube 78
to permit free rotation of the rings about the center line
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axis of the air supply duct, but loosely enough that the
rings are able to be rotated for positioning purposes,
either manually or with the aid of the power device just
described.
Referring now to the uppermost portion of the column
center, Figs. 3 and 4 show that there are a plurality of
"tracks" generally designated 170 in the form of grooves
172 having spaced apart conductors 174 received therein and
positioned so as to expose only a part of the conductors.
These tracks are similar to the tracks of the type used
with track lighting wherein a slidably movable mounting
head 176 carries a spring-loaded pad 177, enabling the head
176 to be positioned within the track and moved when
- desired. Each of the tracks carries electrical connections
and also a mast 178 or the like which may support a light
fixture, such as the fixtures 180 shown in Figs. 1-3, for
example. A wand or mast 182 of another type may be used to
position a board or screen 184 on which information may be
projected or otherwise displayed or which may be used
simply for providing privacy or minimizing distractions to
the operator.
Referring now to the uppermost portion 68 of the
columnar structure forming the major part of the work
station 20, it will be noted that the outer tube 78, which
is interrupted by reason of the rings 108, begins again
above the rings and continues to the top of the column.
The upper portion 68 of the column preferably includes
inner auxiliary side walls 186 in contoured, outwardly
curved or bell-mouthed form. A plurality of inwardly
extending support webs 188 extend between the contoured
walls 186 and the outer contoured walls 190 of the light
assembly generally designated 192 and shown to have an open
top portion 194, the contoured, curvalinear side walls 190
just referred to and a lower support plate 196 to which a
fixture 198 is attached to carry a lightbulb 200.
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Preferably, ventilating passages 202 are provided in the
plate 196 to permit air cooling of the light.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that
the chair or seat generally designated 70 for the user
includes a contoured back rest portion 204, a contoured
seat section 206 supported on a vertically adjustable
pedestal 208, the lower portion of which is secured to the
support plate 74. In one preferred form, the chair 70
includes a side arm 210 having a receptacle 212 for a
telephone handset 214. A combination telephone mouthpiece
and microphone for 215 communication purposes is positioned
by a flexible stalk 216 having a portion thereof secured to
the back 204 of the worker. These components, as well as
the keyboard and head rest unit 218, the video monitor 220,
the monitor support arm 130, the keyboard support arm 222
are all illustrated in the plan view of Fig. 2, which also
shows the spacing of the webs 188 that position the light
assembly 192.
Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, a slightly modified
form of apparatus 20a is shown. Here, the overall
arrangement of components is the same, but a series of
radially outwardly directed ports or openings 300 are
provided for air distribution adjacent the upper portion
368 of the column. An isolator plate 302 includes a few
smaller openings 304 to permit air circulation in the
vicinity of the light, but the major portion of the air
coming from the passage 388 is directed radially outwardly
through the ports or openings 300 as shown in the drawings.
Such an arrangement may be preferred if for some reason it
is desirable to position the light more closely adjacent
the ceiling, to impart a stronger horizontal component to
the air flow, for example.
In the earlier illustrated embodiment, the damper for
air flow control was positioned in the uppermost portion of
the air supply tube 86. However, it is understood that
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such a damper may be positioned in a lower part of the
column, or in fact, outside the apparatus and in an
appropriate portion of the floor, such as where the metal
cylinder 64 forms the connector between the supply air
plenum 30 and the inlet of the central air supply passage
88.
Referring now to the operation of the device, it will
be assumed that a work station apparatus 20 as shown in
Figs. 1-3 and that the operator is desirous of utilizing
the equipment in a controlled atmosphere. Here, the user
takes a seat and may adjustably position the lights 180 by
moving the wands 182, or the support arm 184 to position
these units as desired. The arm 130 is manipulated either
by actuating the motor 150 or by manual operation and the
arms 222 supporting the keyboard assembly 218 are
manipulated into a comfortable position for the operator.
It is further assumed that they wire or cable connections
such as to the cables 100, 111 have been made as desired to
power the existing equipment or other optional equipment,
as by inserting the plug 109 into the receptacle 107
positioned on the plate 106 Under normal operations, a
supply of conditioned air is under sufficient pressure to
cause air flow in the vertical air space 88 defined by the
inner tube 86. Under the control of the motorized damper
120, the air will pass through the opening 112 in the plate
110, and following the contour of the walls 186, 190, will
pass as shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3 into a pattern
of a generally spherical shell, returning through the inlet
openings 98, the passages 96, and into the return air space
92. This space being in communication with the return air
plenum 32, controlled air circulation will be achieved in
the vicinity of the operator. The positioning of the
thermostat or manual control (not shown) may be done by
locating such a control in the arm rest 212 or otherwise
adjacent the chair 70. An automatic control sequence may
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be achieved by positioning an air temperature detector on
the stalk 216 or elsewhere adjacent the user. In this
arrangement, the usual feedback control between the set
point and the supply air control prevails and the
temperature will be maintained as desired in the vicinity
of the user.
According to the invention, the concentric arrangement
of services, with the wireway space being adjacent the
outer part of the column, the return air space in the
middle and the supply air space in the innermost tube is a
desirable feature of construction for several reasons. In
particular, this simplifies a construction of the rings or
the like in that the services requiring the greatest
vertical extent are those of the supply air and to a lesser
extent, the power. The return air is specifically designed
to provide passages above the floor level but preferably
below the waist level of the user, to achieve the most
desirable circulation pattern.
In the preferred form of apparatus, arcuate adjustment
is desirable and shapes that are circular and cross-
sectional are the logical enhanced preferred way of
achieving these design criteria. However, the principles
of the invention are operative even if the services are not
arranged concentrically, i.e., in shells about a center
core. However, this arrangement is preferred in keeping
with the modularity and universality concepts that provide
the greatest flexibility.
As shown in Fig. 2, potted plants 199 or the like may
be positioned on the plate or elsewhere adjacent the user
to assist in 02/CO2 balance and improve indoor air quality,
to absorb sound, provide visual screening, etc. For
clarity of illustration, auxiliary functions such as paper
storage or the like, or the provision of other readily
positionable machines has been omitted, but will be
understood that their presence or absence is not a
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necessary feature of the invention. The height of the main
column and the height of the air supply discharged above
the ground will depend on the ceiling and conditions
generally surrounding the user. Accordingly, the
possibility that air may exit the column above the user but
below the top of the column is shown as an alternative
construction in Figs. 9 and 10.
A form of invention has been illustrated wherein
"chimneys" are shown and described that show concentric
passage of supply and return air from a module and a multi-
level floor construction. In some instances, particularly
those in an office wherein there is only a modest number of
obstructions beneath the floor, and a single subfloor air
supply space exists, the modified form of connection may be
1~ used. In this instance, a booster fan or the like may be
disposed at or near the foot of the air supply tube 88.
The connector arrangement shown would be dispensed with and
a duct would be provided for moving return air from the
base of the column to the inlet of the heat exchanger for
recirculation. Likewise, the electrical or other cables
are shown as coming from their own wireway level; however,
these wires and/or cables may be supplied to the apparatus
by way of exterior sheathing such as trough or conduit, and
enter the wireway space in that way rather than through an
annular opening as illustrated. A door 104 is shown as
providing access for a plug and a representative receptacle
has been shown in a desired position. However, the
provision of spaces that are mechanically isolated from
each other and are individually dedicated to the various
functions may be achieved by different constructions.
As shown and described herein, and as referred to in
the claims, it is anticipated that, in most applications,
the air supply outlet will be in, at or near the top of the
column and that the return air inlets will be near the base
of the column. Naturally, the exact location of these
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outlets and inlets will importantly depend on the
configuration of the room, the overall height of the
column, the distance of the light from the ceiling, the
positioning of the operator and other variables.
Accordingly, expressions such as "adjacent the top" of the
column mean above the worker and within an upper portion of
a normal height column, i.e., 6-9 ft. In an extreme case,
of course the column may for some reason be extremely high
and have lights or outlets well above the user but with the
air supply outlet not truly at or near the top of the
column. In such cases, the uppermost part of such possible
column would not be considered a functional portion of the
column.
Likewise, the return air inlet should preferably be at
or around the knee level of a person standing such that the
return air circulation is passing generally either or both
downwardly and parallel to the floor when returning.
Hence, the height of the return inlets is generally said to
be adjacent the lower portion of the column, but this does
not imply an exact height so much as a functional relation.
Moreover, the positioning of the various rings may
vary with the overall construction of the apparatus, but
the position of such rings also depends upon the type of
equipment being positioned and the extent to which the arms
are arranged. Hence, such rings or tracks for lighting may
be well above or lower on the unit than illustrated,
although this would not be preferred in most circumstances.
Referring now to Fig. 11, a somewhat modified form of
the inventive apparatus generally designated 420 is shown.
With a few exceptions to be discussed herein, this
apparatus is generally the same as the form shown in Figs.
1-8, and particularly insofar as the seating arrangement,
positioning of apparatus such as keyboards, viewing
screens, task lights and the like are concerned. One of
-
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the main differences between the form of apparatus 420 and
the earlier forms relates to the circulation of air.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11, the supply
of conditioned air comes from a plenum or tube 430 and
passes upwardly into a conditioned air supply space 488
defined by an innermost rigid tube 486. This tube 486 lies
within a radially intermediate tube 490, and the tube 490
in turn lies within a rigid exterior tu~e or shell 478. AS
explained in connection with the earlier embodiments, a
conditioned air supply space 488 is defined in the
innermost portion of the column, a return air space 492 is
provided in the form of a cylindrical shell or sleeve lying
between the tubes 4 86, 490. The return air enters the
` annular return air space 4 g2 by moving through radially
extending tubular passages 494 defined in part by
imperforate walls 496 and spaced apart inlets 498. An
interior wireway space 499 iS provided and lies between the
intermediate tube 490 and the exterior tube or shell 478.
Electrical conductors in the form of cables 500 or the like
extend within the wireway space 499 and pass through
openings 501 in an upper end plate 506 to supply current to
a fixture 598 that positions fluorescent or other suitable
light tubes or bulbs 600. The upper end plate 506 serves
several purposes, one being to serve as an end face
2 5 surface for stopping upward flow of conditioned air in the
space 48 8 and thus helping to direct the air flow through
the upper radial passages 608 and out of the outlets 609
(Figs. 12-15) in the shell 478. These passages 608 are
defined in part by radial side walls 611 as well as by
plates 506, 517. In addition, apertures 610 in the plate
506 permit the air to flow from the lower portions to the
upper portions of the return air space 492, from which the
air flows upwardly and ultimately into grilles or grates
(not shown) in a ceiling assembly that includes an air
35 return plenum space or return air ducts~ The plate 506
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also includes apertures 511 in its outer margin where
necessary to permit the conductors 500 to pass into the
upper portion 499 of the electrical space. A plate 517 is
spaced below the plate 506, and is the same as plate 506
except that it includes a center opening 518 and passages
similar to the passages 511, 610 in the plate 506.
In operation, the apparatus of Fig. 11 is similar to
that of the other embodiments, differing primarily in that
the return air is ultimately directed upwardly and out the
free top end generally designated 513 of the column, from
which such return air is picked up as described above by
the inlets to a return air duct or plenum system (not
shown). The rings for positioning the equipment,
positioning electrical outlets and the like are similar to
those described in the earlier embodiments.
In the embodiment of Fig. 11, a circular cylindrical
formation generally designated 330 is shown to include
radial spaces 331, 333, etc. to be used as storage for drop
files, books and manuals, binders or the like if desired by
the operator. As also shown in Fig. 11, a damper 431 is
shown to be provided for controlling the supply of fresh
air to the apparatus. Thus, this form of unit also
includes the positioning rings for equipment, and the
concentric arrangement of separation or isolation whereby
air supply, air return, and electrical or other services
such as power, voice, fiber optic cable and data cable may
be positioned and run in a space that is physically
isolated from air supply or return spaces.
Referring now to Fig. 16, there is shown a fragmentary
portion of the upper end generally designated 513a of an
apparatus similar to the apparatus 420 of Figs. 11-15.
Whereas in Figs. 11-15, the apparatus was shown as free
standing with the upper end portion 513 being spaced apart
from an associated ceiling, in the embodiment of Fig. 16,
the upper portion 513a of the column contacts and forms an
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airtight fit with a lower surface 520 of a return air space
generally designated 522, and shown to be defined by bottom
wall panels 524 and side wall panels 526.
The panels forming these walls may be affixed to a
permanent ceiling and may form ducts positioned there
beneath. In the alternative, the entire ceiling may be a
plenum space suitable for returning air to a conditioning
source, i.e., the evaporator coils of an air conditioner
and/or the heat exchange coils of a furnace.
In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 16, the return
air space within the column communicates with the return
air space 522 in the ceiling. Inasmuch as a plate such as
the plate 506 in the embodiment o~ Fig. ll serves to close
off air supply, only return air is directed to the interior
l~ of the space 522.
Referring now to Fig. 17, another form of apparatus is
shown. Here, a work station generally designated 720 is
shown to be generally similar to its earlier described
counterparts, ~ut also to dlffer in certain respects. This
unit 720 includes a light fixture 798 positioning a bulb
800 to illuminate an overhead space. The base cabinets or
the like generally designated 730 are shown to exiæt for a
similar purpose. The structure of the column is also
similar to that of its counterparts in that there is an
exterior rigid tube or shell 778, an innermost tube 786,
and an intermediate tube 790. These tubes provide
respectively an isolated wireway space 699, an air return
space 792 and an air supply space 688.
As shown in Fig. 17, an imperforate plate 706 iS
positioned within a generally upper middle portion of the
tube 786, just below a plurality of radially arranged
conditioned air outlets 708. Air passing downwardly in the
air space 688 is deflected by the plate 706 and flows out
the opening 708 after passing through radial passages
generally designated 709.
,
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Air thus passing into the interior of the work space
717 in the general direction of the arrows in Fig. 17 then
passes through inlet or pickup return openings 794 in a
lower intermediate portion of the column. These inlets
5 form passages defined in part by plates or the like 498 and
the passages communicate with the interior return air space
792 which, as in its other counterparts, is an annular or
sleeve-like space. In keeping with the invention, the
return air space 792 extends all the way to the top of the
10 column, which is open and provides for this air to return
to a plenum space 722 schematically shown to comprise a
duct or to lie within a false ceiling.
Fig. 17 also shows that the supply air just discussed
- passes from a supply duct 721 under the control of a damper
15 723 into the supply air space 688. The duct 721 is also
preferably positioned within the same false ceiling area as
the return air space.
In this arrangement, as in the others, electricity may
be supplied through conductors in the electrical space 799
20 that may have their origin beneath the floor or in the
ceiling. Although not necessary, it is considered
advantageous with the arrangement shown in Fig. 17 to
position the electrical supply cables and wires beneath the
floor. If such electrical wiring is positioned in an air
25 supply or return space, it is normally necessary to provide
additional isolation in the form of conduit or the like.
Therefore, it is usually preferred, but not necessary to
utilize overhead air supply and return while providing
electrical distribution from beneath the floor.
It will thus be seen that the present invention
provides a new and improved work station with climate
control capabilities having a number of advantages and
characteristics including those herein pointed out and
others which are inherent in the invention. It is
35 anticipated that variations and modifications of a
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described form of apparatus may be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the
appended claims.
