Intake and Exhaust Method and A Structure Utilizing the Same

Abstract

An intake and exhaust structure includes an outer duct, an inner duct and an air-guiding cover. The outer duct has a first end and a second end. The inner duct has a first end, a second end and an intake air channel. The inner duct is disposed in the outer duct, and a circular air channel is defined between the inner and outer ducts. The air-guiding cover has an inner wall and an air inlet at two ends thereof, wherein the inner wall is coupled with the second end of the inner duct.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an intake and exhaust method and an intake and exhaust structure utilizing the same and, more particularly, to an intake and exhaust method that performs an intake and exhaust operation using natural wind, as well as an intake and exhaust structure utilizing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Intake and exhaust structures are commonly constructed in a variety of infrastructures, industrial architectures or buildings. An intake and exhaust structure of a building can provide air exchange for an interior space of the building by drawing external air into the interior space. In such a manner, waste gas or heat of the building can be expelled. Generally, the intake and exhaust structure has a duct for expelling airs.

Referring to FIG. 9, a conventional duct 9 is shown. The duct 9 is in a tube form and has an air channel 91 and an air outlet 92. The duct 9 has one end connected to an interior space of a building where air exchange is to be performed. In such an arrangement, the heat (or waste gas) in the interior space will rise in the air channel 91 since it has a small density. At this time, an exhaust ventilation device may be used to speed up the rising heat if necessary. The cylindrical duct 9 has a stack effect that will result in an air-pulling force at the air outlet 92 that can pull up the heat or waste gas from the interior space of the building. Then, the pulled heat can rise in the air channel 91 and be expelled via the air outlet 92.

However, the heat in the interior space may not rise quickly enough when the temperature of the heat is not high enough. At this point, the exhaust ventilation device such as a fan will be needed to speed up the heat. Thus, electric power or similar energies will be needed to drive the exhaust ventilation device, resulting in a waste of energy.

Furthermore, the air outlet 92 of the duct 9 usually has an even periphery, which results in turbulence generated by interaction between the rising heat and the wind. As a result, the wind-pulling effect is deteriorated. If the periphery of the air outlet 92 is designed in an uneven form, the wind-pulling effect can be further deteriorated when the wind direction changes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the primary objective of this invention to provide an intake and exhaust structure capable of providing desired air ventilation by interaction between natural wind and expelled heat.

It is therefore another objective of this invention to provide an intake and exhaust structure with enhanced air exchange capability.

It is yet another objective of this invention to provide an intake and exhaust structure that can adjust the direction thereof and therefore attain better air exchange rate.

The invention discloses an intake and exhaust structure comprising an outer duct, an inner duct and an air-guiding cover. The outer duct has a first end and a second end. The inner duct has a first end, a second end and an intake air channel. The inner duct is disposed in the outer duct, and a circular air channel is defined between the inner and outer ducts. The air-guiding cover has an inner wall and an air inlet at two ends thereof, wherein the inner wall is coupled with the second end of the inner duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional duct.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an intake and exhaust structure according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an intake and exhaust structure according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the term “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “inner”, “outer” “top”, “bottom” and similar terms are used hereinafter, it should be understood that these terms refer only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings, and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, an intake and exhaust structure using an intake and exhaust method is disclosed according to a first embodiment of the invention. The intake and exhaust structure includes an outer duct 1, an inner duct 2 and an air-guiding cover 3. The outer duct 1 has an air channel and may have a cross section in any shape, such as a circular shape adopted in this embodiment. In addition, the outer duct 1 has a first end 11 and a second end 12, and the inner duct 2 has a first end 21 and a second end 22. The air-guiding cover 3 is coupled with the second ends 12 and 22 of the outer duct 1 and the inner duct 2.

The inner duct 2 is disposed in the outer duct 1 and may have a cross section in any shape, such as a circular shape adopted in this embodiment. A circular air channel 23 is defined between the outer duct 1 and the inner duct 2. The inner duct 2 further comprises an intake air channel 24. In addition, the inner duct 2 may have an air-spreading member 211 at the first end 21 thereof, and the air-spreading member 211 may extend outwards beyond the first end 11 of the outer duct 1 in a radial direction.

The air-guiding cover 3 has an inner wall 31 and an outer wall 32. The inner wall 31 is coupled with the second end 22 of the inner duct 2, and the outer wall 32 is coupled with the second end 12 of the outer duct 1. In a preferred case, the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32 are in a circular form conforming to the circular cross section of the outer duct 1 and the inner duct 2. The inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32 are coupled with the inner duct 2 and the outer duct 1 in a rotatable manner. The air-guiding cover 3 has an air inlet 33 at one end thereof, and the air inlet 33 allows the air to enter the intake air channel 24 therethrough. The air-guiding cover 3 also has an air outlet 34 between the inner wall 31 and the outer wall 32. An air-blocking portion 35 is preferably formed at the air outlet 34. In particular, the air-blocking portion 35 is arranged at one side of the air outlet 34 where the air inlet 33 is, so as to close the portion of the air outlet 34 adjacent to the air inlet 33. This can avoid turbulence caused by the expelled heat mixing with external air around the air inlet 33.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, when the intake and exhaust structure is in use, the first ends 11 and 21 of the outer duct 1 and the inner duct 2 are connected to an interior space 4 in a way that the air-spreading member 211 of the inner duct 2 extends into the interior space 4. This can provide communication among the circular air channel 23, intake air channel 24 and interior space 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, the air-guiding cover 3 is preferably coupled with the outer duct 1 and the inner duct 2 in a way that allows the air-guiding cover 3 to rotate at the second ends 12 and 22. Therefore, the air inlet 33 can be adjusted in a direction that best receives the wind (facing the wind), so that the airflows can enter the intake air channel 24 via the air inlet 33. The airflows in the intake air channel 24 can then enter the interior space 4 via the air-spreading member 211 to have an air exchange with the heat in the interior space 4. Finally, the heat in the interior space 4 can be expelled via the circular air channel 23, thus completing the air circulation. Moreover, since the air-spreading member 211 has a larger cross-sectional area than the intake air channel 24, the resistance to the intake airflows entering the interior space 4 can be reduced thereby. This allows the inflowing air to enter the interior space 4 more smoothly.

During the air exchange, the heat in the interior space 4 will flow to the air outlet 34 along the circular air channel 23 and be expelled via the air outlet 34. At this time, the air-blocking portion 35 will block the heat so that the heat in the circular air channel 23 will not mix with the external air around the air inlet 33, thereby preventing turbulence from forming. Therefore, the intake and exhaust structure of the invention can operate in a smooth way without the exhaust ventilation device required by the conventional duct 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, an intake and exhaust structure using an intake and exhaust method is disclosed according to a second embodiment of the invention. The intake and exhaust structure of the second embodiment also has the inner duct 2, air-guiding cover 3 and interior space 4 described in the first embodiment. The intake and exhaust structure of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment by that the outer duct 1 consists of a first outer tube 1a and a second outer tube 1b.

The first outer tube 1a and the second outer tube 1b are rotatably coupled with each other to construct the outer duct 1. The first end 11 of the outer duct 1 communicates with the interior space 4. The second end 12 of the outer duct 1 is an air outlet with uneven periphery. The air outlet has a windward opening 13 and an air-guiding opening 14. The direction of the second outer tube 1b can be adjusted based on wind direction in order for the windward opening 13 to face the wind. The air outlet at the windward opening 13 can have an air-blocking portion to prevent turbulence generated by the expelled heat mixing with external air around the air inlet 33. However, the air-blocking portion may or may not be arranged, depending on the distance between the windward opening 13 and the air inlet 33.

Referring to FIG. 3, external air will enter the intake air channel 24 via the air inlet 33. The airflows in the intake air channel 24 can then enter the interior space 4 via the air-spreading member 211. The air-spreading member 211 can reduce the resistance to the intake airflows entering the interior space 4. At this time, the heat in the interior space 4 will flow to the windward opening 13 and the air-guiding opening 14 and be expelled therethrough.

When the heat in the circular air channel 23 is expelled via the windward opening 13, the expelled heat will be brought to the air-guiding opening 14 by the wind blowing over. Since the air-guiding opening 14 is lower than the windward opening 13, the airflow from the windward opening 13 will interact with the airflow of the air-guiding opening 14. As a result, a low air pressure is formed at the air-guiding opening 14, which will enhance the air-pulling effect of the air-guiding opening 14. Thus, the heat in the circular air channel 23 will be expelled via the air-guiding opening 14 more quickly.

The intake and exhaust structure of the invention is capable of providing a fast air circulation based on natural wind without employing additional exhaust ventilation device driven by electrical power. Thus, power saving is attained.

The intake and exhaust structure of the invention is designed in a way that its air outlet has a height difference that can enhance the air-pulling effect at the air-guiding opening thereof. Thus, air circulation is facilitated.

The intake and exhaust structure of the invention enables its second outer tube and air-guiding cover to adjust their direction, thereby preventing inefficient heat expelling caused by change in wind direction. Thus, better air circulation can be maintained regardless how the direction of the wind changes.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferable embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An intake and exhaust method, comprising:

an outer duct having a first end and a second end;

an inner duct having a first end, a second end and an intake air channel, wherein the inner duct is disposed in the outer duct, and a circular air channel is defined between the inner and outer ducts; and

an air-guiding cover having an inner wall and an air inlet at two ends thereof, wherein the inner wall is coupled with the second end of the inner duct;

wherein the first ends of the inner and outer ducts are connected to an interior space to provide communication between the intake air channel and the circular air channel.

2. An intake and exhaust structure, comprising:

an outer duct having a first end and a second end;

an inner duct having a first end, a second end and an intake air channel, wherein the inner duct is disposed in the outer duct, and a circular air channel is defined between the inner and outer ducts; and

an air-guiding cover having an inner wall and an air inlet at two ends thereof, wherein the inner wall is coupled with the second end of the inner duct.

3. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the air-guiding cover further comprises an outer wall surrounding the inner wall and coupled with the second end of the outer duct.

4. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inner and outer walls of the air-guiding cover are coupled with the inner and outer ducts in a rotatable manner.

5. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air-guiding cover further comprises an air outlet between the inner and outer walls.

6. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein an air-blocking portion is arranged at one side of the air outlet where the air inlet of the air-guiding cover is.

7. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer duct comprises a first outer tube and a second outer tube, and the air outlet has a windward opening and an air-guiding opening defined between the inner duct and the second outer tube.

8. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first ends of the inner and outer ducts are connected to an interior space, and the inner duct has an air-spreading member at the first end thereof.

9. The intake and exhaust structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the air-spreading member extends outwards beyond a cross-sectional range of the intake air channel of the inner duct.