TRICKLE VENT

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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

Ventilation is an important characteristic in a modem 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.

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.

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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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

FIG. 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.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 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.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent mounted within the opening of the exterior wall in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 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.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille in place) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille removed) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Claims

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 the 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.

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: 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.

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.