PASSIVE VENTILATION TRICKLE VENT WITH VOLUME CONTROLLED AIR CONDITIONING

EVENT DE VENTILATION PASSIVE GOUTTE A GOUTTE AVEC CLIMATISEUR A REGULATION DE DEBIT

English Abstract

A trickle vent incorporates an automatically controlled movable damper or multiple movable dampers to control the volume of fresh air entering an occupied space of a building through the trickle vent. The trickle vent includes a heating element to condition the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space. A directional grille is provided to initiate circulation within the occupied space.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un évent d'entretien qui incorpore un amortisseur mobile régulé automatiquement ou plusieurs amortisseurs mobiles destinés à réguler le volume d'aire frais entrant dans un espace occupé d'un bâtiment à travers un évent d'entretien. L'évent d'entretien comporte un élément chauffant destiné à conditionner l'air frais avant l'entrée dans l'espace occupé. L'invention concerne enfin une grille directionnelle qui amorce la circulation à l'intérieur de l'espace occupé.

Claims

I claim:
1. A trickle vent mounted in an exterior wall of a building for providing
communication between an outside environment and an occupied space
within the building comprising:
a. a trickle vent housing with:
i. an air inlet for receiving fresh air from the outside
environment; and
ii. an outlet for introducing the fresh air into an occupied space;
b. a movable damper mounted in the housing between the air inlet and
the outlet to control the volume of fresh air entering the occupied
space through the trickle vent;
c. an actuator connected to the movable damper for controlling any
movement of the movable damper in response to a control signal;
and
d. an air conditioning element mounted in the housing between the
damper and the outlet to heat or cool the fresh air entering the
occupied space through the trickle vent.
2. The trickle vent of claim 1, further comprising fixed louvers mounted
adjacent to the air inlet, wherein said trickle vent is protected from the
ingress of precipitation.
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3. The trickle vent of claim 1 comprising a plurality of movable dampers
mounted in the housing between the air inlet and the outlet to control the
volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent.
4. The trickle vent of claim 1, further comprising a thermal break to prevent
to conduction of heat from the building interior to the outside
environment.
5. The trickle vent of claim 1, wherein said outlet further comprises a
grille,
wherein said grille directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the
occupied space in a displacement-type pattern.
6. The trickle vent of claim 1, wherein said control signal is based upon the
temperature within the occupied space.
7. The trickle vent of claim 1, wherein said control signal is based upon the
differential between two or more temperatures within the occupied space.
8. The trickle vent of claim 1, wherein said control signal is based upon an
elapsed time.
9. A method for ventilating a heated occupied space of a building by
introducing fresh air from an outside environment into the occupied space
within the building comprising:
a. installing a trickle vent in an opening in an exterior wall of the
building, wherein the trickle vent comprises:
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i. a trickle vent housing with:
(a) an air inlet for receiving fresh air from the outside
environment, and
(b) an outlet for introducing the fresh air into the occupied
space;
ii. a movable damper mounted in the housing between the inlet
and the outlet to control the volume of fresh air entering the
occupied space through the trickle vent;
ii. an actuator connected to the movable damper for controlling
the movement of the movable damper in response to a
control signal;
iii. an air conditioning element mounted in the housing between
the damper and the outlet to heat or cool the fresh air
entering the occupied space through the trickle vent; and
b. providing a displaced exhaust opening in an exterior wall.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing fixed louvers
adjacent to the air inlet, wherein said trickle vent is protected from the
ingress of precipitation.
11. The method of claim 9, said trickle vent further comprising a thermal
break to prevent to conduction of heat from the building interior to the
outside environment.
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12. The method of claim 9, wherein said outlet further comprises a grille,
wherein said grille directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the
occupied space in a displacement-type pattern.

Description

CA 02664272 2009-03-24
PASSIVE VENTILATION TRICKLE VENT WITH
VOLUME CONTROLLED AIR CONDITIONING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to trickle vents and more particularly to a
trickle
vent that automatically controls the volume of air flow through the trickle
vent
and conditions the air flowing through the trickle vent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ventilation is an important characteristic in a modern home, school, or
office building. With increasing air tightness of such buildings, provisions
must
be made for exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air within an
occupied space of a building. Ventilation air, which is insufficiently
conditioned, however, may result in drafts and additional heating or cooling
costs. Further, too little ventilation can produce an unpleasant and unhealthy
environment in the occupied space within the building.
[0003] In order to properly ventilate an occupied space within a building,
leaks in the building are first sealed to minimize the uncontrolled air
infiltration
into the building. By minimizing uncontrolled air infiltration, a proper
ventilation system can then be designed and constructed to produce controlled
and conditioned ventilation of the occupied space within the building.
[0004] There are three main types of ventilators used to control ventilation
in
a naturally ventilated building: (1) windows, (2) traditional vents, often
with
sliding dampers, and (3) trickle vents, which are small manually adjustable
ventilation openings that provide controllable background ventilation.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In order to control ventilation to an occupied space within a building,
a trickle vent in accordance with the present invention controls the volume of
fresh air entering the occupied space and conditions the fresh air as it
enters the
occupied space through the trickle vent. Particularly, the trickle vent
incorporates a movable damper or multiple movable dampers to control the
volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent. An
actuator that receives a control signal from the heating and air-conditioning
system of the building automatically controls the opening and closing of the
dampers. In addition, the trickle vent includes a heating element to condition
the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space.
100061 In accordance with the present invention, the trickle vent is mounted
in an opening through an exterior wall of the building. Fixed louvers on the
outside of the building cover the opening and protect the trickle vent from
the
ingress of precipitation. The trickle vent comprises a rectangular enclosed
housing with an inlet adjacent the louvers for entry of fresh air and an
outlet for
introducing fresh air into the occupied space. The housing may include a
thermal break to prevent conduction of heat from the building interior to the
outside environment. The damper or dampers are mounted adjacent the inlet
and open and close to control the volume of fresh air entering the housing of
the
trickle vent. The heating element is mounted within the housing in the path of
the fresh air that enters the housing past the dampers. The outlet of the
housing
has a grille that directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the occupied
space.
[0007] For controlling ventilation within the occupied space, fresh air enters
the occupied space through the trickle vent and stale air leaves the occupied
space through an exhaust opening displaced from the trickle vent. The dampers
of the trickle vent are controlled by a motorized actuator that opens and
closes
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the dampers in response to a signal from a control system for the HVAC system
of the building. The control signal may be based on the temperature within the
occupied space, the differential between two or more temperatures within the
occupied space, elapsed time, or other sensed parameters relating to
ventilation
of the occupied space.
[0008] The heating element mounted within the housing of the trickle vent
conditions the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space to inhibit
drafts
and condensation within the occupied space. For winter ventilation, a heating
element is used to preheat the cooler fresh air before it enters the occupied
space. By preheating the fresh air, cold drafts can be minimized. In addition,
condensation is minimized because the fresh air does not cool surfaces within
the occupied space on which water might condense from the warm air within
the occupied space.
[0009] The grille attached to the outlet of the trickle vent is configured to
direct the incoming fresh air in a displacement-type pattern to ensure proper
circulation of the fresh air and the stale air within the occupied space.
[0010] Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when
taken
in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Figure 1 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a building with a
trickle vent mounted in an opening in an exterior wall of a building for
ventilation in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trickle vent in accordance with the
present invention.
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[0013] Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the trickle vent in accordance
with
the present invention.
[0014] Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of the trickle vent showing the
progressive steps involved in mounting the trickle vent within the opening in
the exterior wall of the building in accordance with the present invention.
100151 Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent mounted within
the opening of the exterior wall in accordance with the present invention.
[0016] Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille
removed)
mounted within the opening of the exterior wall in accordance with the present
invention.
[0017] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille in
place)
in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] Figure 8 is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille
removed)
in accordance with the present invention.
[0019] Figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals
represent like parts throughout the several views, Fig. 1 shows a building 10
with an exterior wall 16 that separates an occupied space 12 from the outside
environment 14. The outside environment 14 represents a source of fresh air.
[0021] With reference to Figs. 2 - 4, a trickle vent 28 comprises a
rectangular
enclosed housing 30 with an air inlet 32 and an air outlet 34. A set of fixed
louvers 24 is mounted in an opening 18 of the exterior wall 16 of the building
10, which keeps precipitation from entering the opening 18. Dampers 40 are
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mounted for rotation about pivot rods 42 adjacent the inlet 32. The dampers 40
open and close to control the volume of fresh air passing through the housing
30
of the trickle vent 28.
[0022] With reference to Fig. 4, a grille 36 is attached by means of a grilled
frame 37 to the housing 30 of the trickle vent 28 and covers the air outlet 34
(Figs. 2 and 3). Fresh air from the outside environment 14 enters the trickle
vent 28 through the louvers 24 and the inlet 32 and exits the trickle vent 28
into
the occupied space 12 through the outlet 34 and the grille 36.
[0023] The operation of the dampers 40 of the trickle vent 28 are controlled
by
a motorized actuator 46 that opens and closes the dampers in response to a
control signal on input line 48 (Fig. 9). A control system (not shown) for the
heating and cooling system of the building 10 generate the control signal on
input line 48. The control signal for controlling the operation of the
actuator 46
may be based on the temperature within the occupied space 12, the differential
between two or more temperatures within the occupied space 12, elapsed time,
or other sensed parameters relating to ventilation of the occupied space 12.
In
response to the control signal, the motorized actuator 46 rotates the top
pivot
rod 42 (Fig. 3), which in turn is connected to the bottom pivot rod 42 by
means
of a connector arm 44. Consequently, both of the dampers 40 rotate in unison
in response to operation of the actuator 46.
[00241 A heating element or cooling element 38 is mounted within the housing
30 in the path of the fresh air that enters the housing 30 past the dampers
40.
The heating element or cooling element 38 mounted within the housing 30 of
the trickle vent 28 conditions the fresh air from the outside environment 14
prior to entry into the occupied space 12 to inhibit drafts and condensation
on
surfaces within the occupied space 12. For winter ventilation, a heating
element
38 is used to preheat the cooler fresh air before it enters the occupied space
12.

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By preheating the fresh air, cold drafts can be minimized within that the
occupied space 12. In addition, condensation on surfaces within the occupied
space 12 is minimized.
[0025] As shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, and 7, the grille 36 attached to the outlet
34
of the housing 30 of the trickle vent 28 directs the fresh air as it leaves
the
housing 30 of the trickle vent 28 and enters the occupied the space 12 to
ensure
proper circulation of the fresh air and the stale air within the occupied
space 12
in a displacement-type pattern.
[0026] Fig. 4 shows the progressive steps involved in installing the trickle
vent
28 within the opening 18 of the exterior wall 16. The trickle vent 28 is first
installed within the opening 18 of the exterior wall 16. Next, the grilled
frame
37 is connected to the housing 30. The grille 36 is then connected to the
grilled
frame 37.
[0027] In operation, the trickle vent 28 automatically controls the volume of
fresh air that enters the occupied space 12 and conditions the fresh air prior
to
entry into the occupied space 12. With reference to Fig. 1, fresh air enters
the
occupied space 12 through the trickle vent 28 and stale air leaves the
occupied
space 12 through a displaced exhaust opening 26.
[0028] While this invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications
can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described
herein
and as described in the appended claims.
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Representative Drawing