In A Chamber Connected Passage Traversing The Structure Patents (Class 165/54)
  • Patent number: 8033322
    Abstract: A space has inlet and outlet registers and outside and exhaust air ducts. The outside air duct is located adjacent to the inlet register. The exhaust air duct is located adjacent to the outlet register. The space has an outside air passageway through the outside air duct adjacent to the inlet register. The space has an exhaust air passageway through the exhaust air duct adjacent to the outlet register. A thermosyphon run around heat pipe assembly includes outside air coils and exhaust air coils. Vapor lines and liquid lines couple the coils. The outside air coils are positioned adjacent to the air inlet duct. The exhaust air coils are located adjacent to the air outlet duct. A control device, in the form of a modulating return damper, is located between the air ducts. An air filter is provided upstream of and adjacent to the outside air coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Richard W. Trent
  • Patent number: 7992322
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dryer having a heater-integrated intake duct capable of reducing thermal loss and preventing overheating of the dryer. The dryer includes a support panel having a through-hole, an intake duct communicating with the through-hole, a drum into which air flows via the through-hole, a heater disposed inside the intake duct to heat the air flowing into the drum, and a heat exchanging part transferring heat of the heated air into the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Hoo Kim
  • Patent number: 7942193
    Abstract: A defrost system for a heat recovery ventilator/energy recovery ventilator (HRV/ERV), uses the interior space supply air of an integrated fan coil for defrosting a HRV/ERV core without creating negative pressure in the interior space, which wastes energy, without need of an external fifth port from which to draw defrost air from the interior space, which increases costs, and without re-circulating exhaust air into the interior space. During the defrost cycle, automatically controlled dampers close off the fresh air and exhaust air inputs, and exhaust output, and circulate supply air through the heat exchange core and into to the living space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Nu-Air Ventilation Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley D. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 7878236
    Abstract: In an HVAC system in which ambient air is supplied by the system to a building through an ambient air intake airstream and is exhausted from the building through an exhaust airstream energy is conserved by transferring heat between the intake airstream and the exhaust airstream. A heat exchange fluid is circulated between heat exchangers located in the intake airstream and in the exhaust airstream. An air turbine is placed in the exhaust airstream for being driven by the exhaust airstream, and the air turbine is coupled with a pump arranged to circulate the heat exchange fluid between the heat exchangers such that upon being driven by the exhaust airstream, the air turbine, in turn, drives the pump to circulate the heat exchange fluid between the heat exchangers and thereby effects the transfer of heat from one to the other of the intake airstream and the exhaust airstream and a concomitant conservation of energy in the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph G. Breen
  • Patent number: 7841381
    Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator and method for monitoring and maintaining an environmental condition inside a structure such as a house, building, or dwelling is provided. The ventilator may include a housing having mating halves of a molded polymeric material, first and second chambers disposed within the housing to convey separate first and second streams of air, a heat exchanger configured to intersect the first and second chambers, a first fan to circulate the first air stream through the first chamber, a second fan to circulate the second air stream through the second chamber, and a fan motor driving the first and second fans. The ventilator may also be configured to prevent frost build-up in or on the energy ventilator, to provide efficient cooling, and maintain one or more desired environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignees: Stirling Technology, Inc., Sulfstede Consulting Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine J. Chagnot, Jason Morosko, Louis Sulfstede
  • Patent number: 7837127
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilation system for exchanging the air in a room with outside air, which system comprises: A fine wire heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel, which channels are in heat-exchanging contact with each other, and wherein the first channel has an inlet connected to outside air and an outlet connected to the air in the room, and wherein the second channel has an inlet connected to the air in the room and an outlet connected to the outside air; balancing means for balancing the flow in both channels, such that the heat transfer is maximized. The invention also relates to a combination of a façade, a room on the inside of and adjacent to the façade and a ventilation system, wherein the inlet of the first channel of the system is connected to outside air on the outside of the façade and the outlet is connected to the air in the room, and wherein the inlet of the second channel is connected to the air in the room and the outlet is connected to the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Kristinsson-Reitsema B.V., Fiwihex B.V.
    Inventors: Jon Kristinsson, Björn Kristinsson, Eleonoor Europeo Van Andel, Eleonoor Van Andel
  • Publication number: 20100288467
    Abstract: Enclosures for use in hazardous areas include heat exchangers for active thermal management. The enclosures are coupled to a device having heat transfer capabilities. Equipment within the enclosures produces heat within the enclosure. The heat exchanger removes heat produced from the equipment and manages the internal temperature of the enclosures to a level suitable for hazardous locations. The enclosures can be actively cooled or heated using the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Manahan, Marc Raymond Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 7802443
    Abstract: A self-contained air conditioner unit incorporates an energy recovery ventilator portion that brings about several changes of room air per hour with outdoor fresh air. There is an outdoor air intake plenum which furnishes the fresh air and the condenser air for the condenser coil, and a return air plenum. Air from the room return air plenum is HEPA filtered and conducted to the evaporator coil and evaporator fan, and is supplied back into the conditioned space. The energy recovery ventilator has a counterflow heat exchanger core situated between the return air plenum and the fresh air intake plenum, as well as two ventilation fans, one (or both) of which may be of variable or multiple speed. By controlling the fan speeds, it is possible to produce a neutral pressure, a positive or overpressure, or a negative or underpressure in the conditioned space. The unit can be wheeled into place and installed easily by personnel without special training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Air Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 7644754
    Abstract: A recuperator for transferring thermal energy from a warm gas flow to a cold gas flow, comprising: a first group of ducts with a first connection and a second connection; a second group of ducts with a third connection and a fourth connection, wherein the ducts of both groups extend mutually parallel; a first supply for supplying the cold gas flow to the first connection; a first discharge for discharging the cold gas flow from the second connection; a second supply for supplying the warm gas flow to the third connection; and a second discharge for discharging the warm gas flow from the fourth connection. The device provides temporarily and repeatedly alternating connections from the first supply to the fourth connection; the first discharge to the third connection; the second supply to the second connection; and the second discharge to the first connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Level Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Bart Veltkamp, Peter Hoogendoorn
  • Publication number: 20090314480
    Abstract: This invention relates in general to air exchange systems and, in particular, to an improved energy recovery ventilator, a cross flow plate core associated therewith and a method of conditioning air for a building. In one aspect, the invention provides a cross flow plate core comprising: a left hand wafer comprising a left hand spacer with a first of a plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the left hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a first stream of air; and a right hand wafer comprising a right hand spacer with a second of the plurality of membranes bonded thereto, the right hand spacer comprising a plurality of parallel curvilinear rails which form channels for receiving a second stream of air, wherein the left hand spacer of the left hand wafer is bonded to the top of the membrane of the right hand wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Karl Grinbergs, William Kwan
  • Publication number: 20090294116
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measure for minimizing an undesired passage of fluid from a first sector (1) to a second sector (2) separated by a non-fluid-tight separation (3), wherein a first pressure (P1-1) prevails in the first sector (1) and a lower second pressure (P2-1) than the first pressure (P1-1) prevails in the second sector (2). An intermediate chamber (4) which separates the two sectors (1, 2) from one another is arranged at the separation (3). A conveyor mechanism (5) is further provided which is designed to convey fluid from the intermediate chamber (4) to the first sector (1) in order to generate a lower pressure in the intermediate chamber (4) than the first pressure (P1-1) prevailing in the first sector (1), wherein the pressure (P4-1) generated in the intermediate chamber (4) is just as high or higher than the second pressure (P2-1) prevailing in the second sector (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: AMRONA AG
    Inventor: Michael Kind
  • Patent number: 7572179
    Abstract: A ventilation system includes a ventilation module having a heat exchanger module, an IAQ module for improving quality of air passing through the ventilation module, and a case for guiding the air that consecutively passes through the ventilation module and the IAQ module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Hwan Choi, Kyung Hwan Kim, Nam Sik Yim, Ho Seon Choi, Keun Hyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 7565924
    Abstract: An air handling system for an indoor space comprising a first forced indoor air treatment component, an input indoor air duct element and an output treated air duct element respectively coupling said first forced indoor air treatment component to said indoor space, a second forced air treatment component a stale air duct element coupled to said second forced air treatment component and to said input indoor air duct, a return air duct element coupling said second forced air treatment component to said output treated air duct element characterized in that said system comprises a secondary air path means for coupling said return air duct element to said input indoor air duct element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Venmar Ventilation Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Gagnon, Daniel Marcoux, Michel Julien, Jean-Bernard Piaud, Eric Charlebois
  • Patent number: 7563160
    Abstract: A ventilating apparatus is disclosed, by which an installation of the apparatus is conveniently facilitated. The present invention includes a blower device supplying an outdoor air to an indoor space and discharging an indoor air to an outdoor space, a heat exchange unit performing heat exchange between the outdoor air supplied to the indoor space and the indoor air discharged to the outdoor space, and a case having a first chamber receiving the heat exchange unit therein and a second chamber receiving the blower device therein to communicate with the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Hwan Kim, Jeong Yong Kim, Ho Seon Choi, Gi Seop Lee
  • Publication number: 20090156115
    Abstract: A ventilation system is disclosed for a space comprising a first ducting means for ducting fresh air from outside to inside the space and a second ducting means for ducting stale air from inside to outside the space. The modular system of the present invention also includes an ultra-high efficiency heat recovery double pass exchanger unit and is provided with a separate motor box for better sound isolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: RR ADVANCED ENERGY SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Rejean P. MIRON
  • Publication number: 20090133851
    Abstract: A defrost system for a heat recovery ventilator/energy recovery ventilator (HRV/ERV), uses the interior space supply air of an integrated fan coil for defrosting a HRV/ERV core without creating negative pressure in the interior space, which wastes energy, without need of an external fifth port from which to draw defrost air from the interior space, which increases costs, and without re-circulating exhaust air into the interior space. During the defrost cycle, automatically controlled dampers close off the fresh air and exhaust air inputs, and exhaust output, and circulate supply air through the heat exchange core and into to the living space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Bradley D. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 7530385
    Abstract: A rotary-type total heat exchanger (10) includes two blowers (21, 22), a rotary wheel (33), an air-guiding member (41) and an air-regulating member (42). The blowers are used to provide a first airflow and a second airflow into the total heat exchanger. The rotary wheel defines therein a plurality of air passageways (331). Upon rotation, the rotary wheel is capable of exchanging heat and moisture between the airflows when the airflows separately flow though the air passageways of the rotary wheel. The air-guiding member is in fluid communication with one of the blowers for guiding one of the airflows toward the rotary wheel. The air-regulating member is located between the rotary wheel and the air-guiding member for distributing the guided airflow over the air passageways of the rotary wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tay-Jian Liu, Shun-Yuan Jan, Shang-Chih Liang, Chih-Feng Fan
  • Patent number: 7511101
    Abstract: A plug flow reactor having an inner shell 27 surrounded by outer shell 21 and having at least one annular flow passage 35 therebetween can be used to prepare compositions, including polymers. The plug flow reactor also includes inlet port 36, an outlet port 37 and a plurality of exchanger tubes 26 wherein the exchanger tubes are in fluid communication to the at least one annular flow passage. Polystyrene and high impact polystyrene can be prepared using the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Jay L. Reimers
  • Publication number: 20090056909
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust recirculation cooler for transferring heat between engine exhaust and a coolant. The cooler can include a housing having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, a heat transfer region extending through the housing and including a plurality of tubes positioned along a flow path for the coolant, and an internal bypass extending through the housing between the first end and the second end adjacent to the heat transfer region. Together, at least one of the plurality of tubes and the internal bypass provide an exhaust flow path through the cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Catherine R. Braun
  • Patent number: 7497247
    Abstract: The heat exchanger is made economically by using thermoplastic sheets with hollow tubes and spacers between the sheets and fusing the edges of the sheets together to form an integral housing. Preferably, the heat exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Klas C. Haglid, Building Performance Equipment
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Publication number: 20080283217
    Abstract: A stackable spacer element for use in a energy recovery core formed by stacking a plurality of relatively thin energy transfer media (e.g. sheets, panels, or plates (un-perforated exchanger sheets) so as to define a plurality of stacked energy transfer stages providing air passages for two separate air flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Gagnon, Martin Gamelin, Michel Julien
  • Publication number: 20080271874
    Abstract: A thermal energy exchanger assembly (100) includes an exchanger housing (138). The exchanger housing (138) houses a pair of core support assemblies (174) formed of individual core supports (200). The core supports (200) are coupled together so as to form apertures 228. Core tubes (180) are received within the apertures (228). A fresh airstream (122) is made to flow through the core tubes (180) while a stale airstream (114) is made to flow between and around the core tubes (180). In this manner, an exchange of thermal energy occurs between the fresh airstream (122) and the stale airstream (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: John Gietzen
  • Patent number: 7445038
    Abstract: A rotary total heat exchange apparatus (30) includes at least an air-providing member (3301), a first air passage and a second air passage, and a total heat exchange wheel (3311). The air-providing member provides a first airflow from outdoors and a second airflow from indoors into the rotary total heat exchange apparatus. The first and second air passages isolate from each other for guiding the first and second airflows respectively passing through the heat exchange wheel. The total heat exchange wheel faces to the first and second airflows provided by the air-providing member, and is capable of rotating through the first and second air passages for conducting a total heat exchange between the first and second airflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tay-Jian Liu, Ming-Chun Lee, Lien-Jin Chiang, Shu-Cheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7441588
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger unit that can save space, even when performing air conditioning in addition to ventilation. The heat exchanger unit performs heat exchange ventilation with a supply air channel flowing from an outdoor space to an indoor space and an exhaust air channel flowing from the indoor space to the outdoor space and includes an optical deodorization portion and a first blowing portion. The optical deodorization portion is provided so as to be linked to at least the indoor space and performs air conditioning with a circulation channel. The circulation channel is provided in the vicinity of either the supply air channel or the exhaust air channel. The first blowing portion includes a double-suction first impeller having a first suction inlet and a second suction inlet. Here, one of the supply air channel and the exhaust air channel that is provided in the vicinity of the circulation channel is provided at the first suction inlet side of the first impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Matsugi, Akira Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7413007
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioner and an air outlet for opening and closing an opening formed in a rear part of a vehicle body. A control unit causes the air outlet to open and close the opening in accordance with changes in air conditions in a passenger compartment, so as to keep the passenger compartment environmentally good condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20080128956
    Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layerwise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers that correspond to the object is provided. The device comprises a machine frame (2, 3, 4, 5) and a building space (10) that is positioned in the machine frame; an energy source (6) that emits a beam (9) for selectively solidifying the building material; and a ventilator (54) that generates an airflow (T) for cooling the energy source (6). There are provided connecting channels (55), which lead the airflow (T) onto a partition wall (56) that is limiting the building space (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
    Inventor: Hans Perret
  • Patent number: 7334629
    Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermo-plastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 7331853
    Abstract: Ventilating system including a total heat exchanger at a region where an air supply duct, a passage for supplying outdoor air to a room, and an air discharge duct, a passage for discharging room air to an outside of the room, cross for making room air and outdoor air to heat exchange, an air supply fan connected to the air supply duct for drawing the outdoor air and discharging the outdoor air to the room, an air discharge fan connected to the air discharge duct for drawing the room air and discharging the room air to an outside of the room, and a flow guide between the air supply/discharge fans and the total heat exchanger for guiding flow directions of the room air and the outdoor air, thereby reducing a flow resistance and making the heat exchange efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gi Seop Lee, Kyung Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7331376
    Abstract: A stackable spacer element for use in a energy recovery core formed by stacking a plurality of relatively thin energy transfer media (e.g. sheets, panels, or plates (un-perforated exchanger sheets) so as to define a plurality of stacked energy transfer stages providing air passages for two separate air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Venmar Ventilation Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Gagnon, Martin Gamelin, Michel Julien
  • Patent number: 7247090
    Abstract: A structure comprises at least one outer wall having an internal wall section and an outer wall section with an air flow passage therebetween. A circulation system circulates air through the flow passage to inhibit moisture accumulation and mold growth. A sensing system determines the presence of moisture in the flow passage and generates a signal in response thereto. A controller receives the signal from the sensing system and controls the circulation system to maintain a predetermined temperature and relative humidity in the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Sam S. Vacek
  • Patent number: 7231967
    Abstract: The ventilator system and method use a heat exchanger to selectively transfer heat between fresh outside air entering and exhaust air leaving an enclosed space whenever energy can be recovered from the exhaust air by doing so. The system uses a microprocessor-based controller which stores one or more profiles indicating the time-varying needs of the enclosed space for heating and cooling. The transfer of heat between the exhaust and fresh air is reduced or eliminated simply by reducing the speed of or stopping the exhaust air handler while the fresh air handler continues to run. Evaporative cooling for the exhaust air can be provided, and an all-plastic plate type heat exchanger preferably is used, together with an air handler at the exhaust outlet of the heat exchanger to pull exhaust air through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 7188666
    Abstract: A heat exchanger of a ventilating system includes: heat exchange plates having first air passage through which indoor air being discharged to outside of a building passes and a second air passage through which outdoor air being introduced to the interior of the building passes which are sequentially formed: first corrugation plates attached to the first air passage; and second corrugation plates attached to the second air passage, wherein the heat exchange plates are made of a paper material with numerous fine holes that are able to generate a capillary phenomenon and loess which radiates far infrared ray. Heat exchange and moisture exchange between the indoor air and the outdoor air are performed simultaneously, and a cleaning function of removing a harmful material contained in outdoor air can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong-Hwan Lee, Min-Chul Cho, Soo-Yeon Shin
  • Patent number: 7150314
    Abstract: A heat recovery arrangement. The arrangement has a housing including a bathroom exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a bathroom exhaust airflow path through the housing from the bathroom exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet, a return air inlet, and a return air path through the housing from the return air inlet to the exhaust outlet. The housing also has an outside air inlet, a supply air outlet, an outside air path through the housing from the outside air inlet to the supply air outlet; and a heat recovery device extracting heat from the exhaust airflow path and the return airflow path and transferring heat to the outside airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventor: Ronnie R. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 7100682
    Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an inner part of an approximately sealed box includes a casing and a heat exchanger disposed in the casing. Plural inside air passages through which air inside the box flows and plural outside air passages through which air outside the box flows are alternately adjacently arranged in the heat exchanger. In the cooling device, both outside air introduction port and outside air discharge port are provided in an outer side plate of the casing, and a drain space is provided between the heat exchanger and the outer side plate of the casing so that outside air passages communicate with the outside air discharge port through the drain space. Thus, even when rain water is introduced into the casing from the outside air discharge port, almost rain water flows downwardly through the drain space, and it can restrict rain water from being introduced into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Koji Kishita
  • Patent number: 7090000
    Abstract: A heat recovery ventilator is provided which includes a heat exchanger having discrete inlet and exhaust passageways extending therethrough for providing heat transfer between respective fluids flowing along the inlet and the exhaust passages. The inlet passageway provides fluid communication between a supply inlet plenum and a supply discharge plenum. The outlet passageway provides fluid communication between an exhaust inlet plenum and an exhaust discharge plenum. The supply inlet plenum has a supply port for admitting supply air into the supply inlet plenum. The exhaust discharge plenum has an exhaust port for discharging air from the exhaust discharge plenum. A transfer port extends between the supply inlet plenum and the exhaust discharge plenum for providing fluid communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Trent Metals Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Taylor
  • Patent number: 7086239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a condenser for an air-based climate control system, having an inlet and an outlet for the air to be cooled, an inlet and an outlet for the cool air, a heat exchange unit for heat transfer between the air to be cooled and the cool air, a bypass that circumvents the cool-air side of the heat exchange unit at least within a certain area, and a hot-air inlet on the cool-air side by means of which hot air can be fed into the condenser. A particularly low humidity even in partial power operation with continued high flow-through capacity of the climate control system is achieved according to the invention in that the hot-air inlet is positioned in such a way that the hot air essentially flows in a partial area of the inlet on the cool-air side of the condenser and that the bypass inlet is positioned in the partial area downstream from the hot-air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Haas, Norbert Brutscher
  • Patent number: 7073566
    Abstract: An apparatus for ventilation systems includes an element for the transfer of heat from warm exhaust air (taken from inside a building) to cooler exterior fresh air which is drawn into the building. The present invention in particular provides an apparatus whereby, during a defrost cycle, interior air may circulate through both of the fresh air and exhaust air paths for delivery back into the building, i.e. the warm interior air, used as defrost air, may be able to circulate from the interior of the building into the ventilation apparatus and back to the interior of the building. The apparatus can thus use interior air as defrost air while diminishing or avoiding the creation of a negative air pressure in the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Venmar Ventilation Inc.
    Inventors: Frederic Lagace, Jean-Francois Grondin, Pierre Cusson, Michel Julien, Daniel Marcoux
  • Patent number: 7036560
    Abstract: The invention concerns an independent heat exchange unit designed to be fixed inside a building comprising a box provided with walls defining two fluid passages with an undulating cross-section and means for circulating air capable of causing countercurrent circulation in the two fluid passages of a fresh air stream drawn from outside the building and a stale air stream drawn from inside the building. The walls defining the fluid passages comprise a flexible and thin foil forming undulations capable of being deformed depending on the respective pressure levels of the fresh air stream and the stale air stream. The invention is useful for ventilating and/or air-conditioning the inside of buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Eugeniusz Rylewski
  • Patent number: 7028752
    Abstract: An incoming air duct (9) and an exhaust air duct (12) which connect an incoming air inlet (14) and an exhaust air outlet (10), respectively, in an outside side-wall (1b) to an incoming air outlet (13) and an exhaust air inlet (11) in a room-facing side wall (1a) are arranged side by side, separated only by partitions (8) of aluminium sheet, to permit heat exchange between the exhaust air flow and the opposite incoming air flow over a plurality of straight sections (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e) of a double duct which are connected by deflections (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) of in each case 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Fensterfabrik Albisrieden AG
    Inventors: Sandor Palffy, Christoph Holliger
  • Patent number: 7013950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilation device for ventilation room by room and/or zone by zone and comprises: a) a device casing (12), which is provided in or adjacent an outer wall of a building or the like and which connects room air to outside air, b) a heat-exchange (22) of counter flow type, provided in the casing (12) and transferring heat from the outgoing and in-going airflows, respectively, c) two fans (18,20) arranged in said casing (12), of which one is connected to the ingoing air duct (14) of the heat-exchanger (22) and the other to the outgoing air duct (16) of the heat-exchanger (22), d) at least one sensor (30) for determination of the airflow's relative deviation in velocity from a neutral value of the airflows passing through each respective duct (14, 16), and e) a control means (32), which, depending on the values given by the sensor (30), is arranged to regulate the rotation speed of the fans (18, 20), for the purpose of substantially balancing the airflow, so that it is substantially equa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventors: Bengt Steneby, Torsten Mattsson
  • Patent number: 7007740
    Abstract: A novel system for and method of balancing fresh air flow and exhaust air flow through a ventilator. The ventilator has an air-to-air heat exchanger operably mounted within a principal fresh air flow passage and a principal stale air flow passage. A flow meter is provided for connection to the principal fresh air flow passage and the principal stale air flow passage, across the air-to-air heat exchanger. The flow meter is proportionally responsive to mass flow of the air flow passages to which they are connected. Further involved is at least one damper within at least one of the air flow passages. To ensure that both air flow measurements indicate a substantially equal response, each damper can be adjusted to change the amount of air flow within its respective air flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Nutech R. Hldgs Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Karl Grinbergs, William Kwan
  • Patent number: 7004231
    Abstract: A system including active heat balance device and fluid transmission pipelines provided inside a solid, liquid, or gaseous thermo carrier with comparatively reliable thermo reservation capacity in the nature to reclaim heat from the fluid flowing in opposite direction by releasing heat to the fluid of relatively lower temperature flowing through the pipelines, or to absorb the heat to cool the fluid of relatively higher temperature flowing through the pipelines in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 6983794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger unit that can appropriately inhibit freezing of a heat exchange element even in cold climates. The heat exchanger unit performes heat exchange and ventilation between an indoor space and an outdoor space, and is provided with a heat exchange element, a supply air passage and an exhaust air passage that are routed via the heat exchange element, a temperature sensor, and a control unit. The temperature sensor detects the outside air temperature. The control unit executes a first freeze inhibit control mode, which inhibits freezing of the heat exchange element, if the outside air temperature falls below a first level, and a second freeze inhibit control mode, which inhibits freezing of the heat exchange element more strongly than the first freeze inhibit control mode, if the outside air temperature falls below a second level, which is lower than the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6983788
    Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermoplastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6966356
    Abstract: A compact air-ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and air filter in which the thermal exchanger utilize a light-weight assembly of parallelly stacked thin metallic plates with pre-formed spaces. The high efficiency air filter includes a combination of filter elements including a mesh grid, an activated carbon layer and a HEPA filter. This air-ventilator can be built-in as part of an air-conditioner or as a stand alone unit to provide additional air circulating to conventional air-conditioners to improve indoor air quality. The thermal exchanger as well as the filters can be made with modular design to allow for easy periodic maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Housely Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6962191
    Abstract: A device for fixing and sealing a replaceable heat-exchanger cassette in an air/air heat exchanger, wherein two spatially separated conducting areas are formed by separating strips and the heat exchanger cassette. In this case a releasable and satisfactory sealing support of the heat exchanger cassette is achieved because in the area of its separating strips the air/air heat exchanger has sealing receivers. The heat exchanger cassette rests against the sealing receivers by sealing faces. The air/air heat exchanger has at least one movable slide which maintains the heat exchanger cassette in the sealing receivers under prestress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Immel, Reiner Hartmann, Joachim Maul
  • Patent number: 6951242
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for both sensible and latent energy, enthalpy, has walls or plates that extend between two air streams that also permit and assist recirculation and filtration. The walls between air streams consist of a substrate with a coating on the substrate. The coating, in combination with the substrate material original porosity, is used to control final porosity and hydrophilic/oleophilic characteristics. By control of the pore size and surface material characteristics, there can be almost a total recirculation, a recirculation of only gases (filtering out solid particles), a transfer of only moisture and heat, or a transfer of only heat. The pore size and characteristics of the coating along the path of the air streams can be varied so that different types of exchange can be obtained along the path of the air streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventors: Nicholas H. Des Champs, Benjamin R. Tritt
  • Patent number: 6948552
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ceiling embedded type indoor unit which is reduced in height to provide a compact unit body size and which provides a large cooling/heating capability. The ceiling embedded type indoor unit comprising two air blowoff ports and embedded in a ceiling comprises a heat exchanger formed in a U-shape with sides of the U-shape being disposed on long sides of a unit body and connected to a header pipe for circulating a coolant at one end of an open side of the U-shape, air blowoff ports disposed to extend from a bottom side the U-shape, and a centrifugal blower disposed aside to the bottom side of the U-shape relative to a substantial center of a length direction of the sides of the U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kosugi, Takashi Sano, Yoshiki Hata, Naoki Shikazono
  • Patent number: 6948553
    Abstract: A modular heat recovery ventilation system includes a modular heat exchanger and a modular apparatus spaced from the heat exchanger for delivering both fresh air and exhaust air to the heat exchanger. The apparatus includes separate blowers for generating two separate air streams. The apparatus includes an access plate at the bottom thereof allowing access to the interior of the enclosure of the apparatus through a ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Beutler Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Calvin Richard Wylie, Tristan Adair Venzke
  • Patent number: 6915841
    Abstract: A room air conditioner is provided which includes a compressor, a condenser coil, an evaporator coil, a wall positioned between the condenser coil and the evaporator coil, a chassis for supporting said compressor, condenser coil and wall, with the evaporator coil being secured to and supported by the wall, and at least a portion of the evaporator coil extending forwardly of a front edge of the chassis. The chassis is preferably formed of metal while the wall is preferably formed at least partially of plastic, in an upper and a lower mating piece. A plastic front panel may be positioned in front of the evaporator coil and secured to the wall. A series of air conditioners can be provided with a single sized chassis, but differing sized evaporator coils, to provide models with different cooling capacities utilizing a single sized chassis, with smaller cooling capacity air conditioners having a smaller size than larger capacity air conditioners of the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: WhirlPool Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Campbell, Jatin C. Khanpara