A sheet metal stamping forming an air duct for use in heating and cooling systems and the like. The stamping has a generally rectangular shaped body portion and a protruding tongue portion extending from at least one side thereof. The stamping is foldable along its end edges and the tongue portion whereby two such stampings may be cooperatively engageable with a pair of side panels to form an air duct section having an inlet, outlet and a diverter or secondary outlet formed by the tongue portions.Organize Your Business With Custom Carbonless Forms Printing The tongue portions are adapted for connection to standard conventional take-off fittings.a prestamped upper and lower spaced panel interconnected by spaced side panels, at least one side panel being shorter in length than said upper and lower panels and defining an opening through which at least a portion of flow through said inlet isdiverted, said upper and lower panels having end edges and a central body portion extending the length and width of said duct section from said inlet to said outlet and formed tongue portions extending laterally beyond said shortened side, said stampingsbeing folded along their end edges and cooperatively engaged with said side panels to form the air duct section, and said tongue portions cooperatively forming a diverter outlet to divert flow through said inlet from said outlet, said duct having adiminishing cross section from said inlet to said outlet.
The prior art has recognized the advantages of a main conduit or trunk duct having reductions in cross sectional area along its length to provide generally equal air flow at each outlet.Such systems are however, relatively expensive andaccordingly have not found commercial acceptance. Partially prefabricated air duct fittings have been proposed for use in heating and ventilating systems, however, in each case a great number of separate component parts are required including top andbottom panels, take-off sections, side panels and the like. In some of prior art systems the top and bottom panels and the side walls are provided with spaced longitudinally extending marginal tabs and corresponding slots. The tabs, when inserted inthe slots are bent over to secure the plate and wall together in a rigid assembly. Such systems, however, require careful handling since the tabs are easily deformed during such handling. Additionally, if an ar tight seal is required, the tabs and slotmust be sealed with putty, or similar sealing substances. In another system known in the prior art, prefabricated assembled components of the duct system are provided. Each component is reduced in cross sectional size from the previous adjacent component whereby they may be nested for shipment andstorage.