CA2076959A1 - Passive building vents - Google Patents
Passive building ventsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2076959A1 CA2076959A1 CA002076959A CA2076959A CA2076959A1 CA 2076959 A1 CA2076959 A1 CA 2076959A1 CA 002076959 A CA002076959 A CA 002076959A CA 2076959 A CA2076959 A CA 2076959A CA 2076959 A1 CA2076959 A1 CA 2076959A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- building
- membrane
- mixing chamber
- vent according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F7/00—Ventilation
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
- F24F13/082—Grilles, registers or guards
Abstract
A passive building vent (10) on an outside wall (18), is connected to an opening (25) provided in the wall (10). A housing (30) disposed between the confined air (20) and the outside air (16) forms an air mixing chamber (32). A movable membrane (35) is mounted within the housing (30) at one end of the passageway (25). The other end of the passageway (34) communicates with the confined air (20). The membrane means (35) has a closed position, substantially blocking the passageway (34) and an open position, permitting the free flow of air therethrough. The membrane (35) is in its closed position when at rest. The flow of outside air (16) entering through the passageway (34) impinges upon a deflector (70) and is forced to exit through the vent (46) providing a pressure differential causing the membrane (35) to move to its open position permitting the flow of air (20) through the passageway (34) into the air mixing chamber (32).
Description
WO92/1~388 P~T/US9t/0976~
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PASSIVE BUILDING VENTS
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to vents, and more par-ticularly to a pa~sive building vent which is suitable for installation in the outside wall of a multi-story building thereby equalizing the air pressure within the building to the outside atmospheric pressure.
10 2. Discussion of the Relevant Art Numerous types of buildinq vents are in use today.
Their specific purpose is to provide a device for --exhausting air from a confined space to the outside when~
the confined air either reaches a prescribed temperature 15 or odoriferous p~rticles have been trapped within the con-fined space and it is desiraDle to release the confined air to the outside atmosphere. In some instances these ;~ vents are utilized in conjunction with attic vents, which may be passive or powered, and they assist in the 20 discharge of the confined air to the outside atmosphere.
T~pical of these vents is an ener~y saver damper assembly disclosed in U.S. Pa~ents 4,591,092, 4,596,181 r and 4,567,816 invented by the inventor of the subject invention. In addition to providing the normal venting 25 function, the uni~irectional vent provides for the ~ equalizing of air pressures should a sudden drop in the - outside or atmospheric air occur, such as experienced during tornados or other violent air disturbances. The ~;
u~ique property of the unidirectional vent is that it per-30 mits a prescribed amount of air to escape from a confined air space yet it provides for an instantaneous increase in the amount of air permi~ted to escape with sudden drops in outside or atmospheric air pressure. The feature prevents the confined air f~om causing damage to windows, and the s_ like, with sudden drops of atmospheric air pressure.
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. .` `` ` .. .` ~ ::.. ., .. - .,. , .,. .- . - , WO92/1~3X8 PCT/U~91/097 The instant invention is ideally suited for use in multi-~tory buildings wherein the confined inner space may be continuously equali2ed with the outside atmospheric air 5 and when combined with the unidirectional air vent can compensate for sudden drops in the outside atmospheric pressure. Thus the normal "chimney-like" effect which is caused in multi-story or high rise buildings when they are provided with a central heating or air conditioning system 10 may now be eliminated, since the air pressure at each story is equalized to the outside air pressure. This decreases if not eliminates the drawing in of additional - outside air into the system which would require-additional capacity for the heating and air conditioning systems uti-15 lized therein.
Water seeks its own level. In a similar way, if moisture is not provided an engineered path, it will find its own way out of a building. Most often this will be in the least desirable fashion through the structure 20 itself, causing, at worst, severe structural degradation.
Common symptoms are failed pointing on walls (which results in months of effort and huge dollar outlays), and the impairment of the roof through - successively -blistering, cracking, leaking, and ultimately disin-25 tegration. If ambient (airborne, environmentnal) moistureremains trapped, micro-organisms (mold, fungus) will grow.
This has an adverse effect on the health and productivity of tenants and employeesO
If buildings are vented in accordance with the pre-30 sent invention, moisture exits through designed pathways.The structural integrity of the building is maintained.
Building facia remains intact and walls do not accumulate mold. The roof underlayment remains dry and roof life is extended. In addition, ambient moisture leaves through 3~ the vents, the conditions which enable mold to thrive are ~uE3s~lr~ S~tEE~
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WO92/123~ PCT/~S91/09764 2 0 7 ~
eliminated, and both health and productivity of occupants are maintained. A well-vented, dry building will not manifest the "sick building" syndrome.
The passive venting system of the present invention uses no fans, motors, or electricity, and is continuously working. The passive vent is also easily retrofitted into most shapes and styles of window. It also has the advan-tage of moving air in one direction only, exhausts in-ternal air continuously, allows no infiltration, conserves energy, windows remain closed and is tamper~resistant.
The passive vent also addresses all indoor air quality problems--i-n-apartments and office buildings, which are mold and mildew, condensation and dripping windows, odors and obnoxious smells, and sick building syndrome.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent which is reliable and easily installable in multi-story buildings.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reliable building vent capable of equalizing the air pressures between the confined air space and the atmospheric air with sudden drops in atmospheric air pressure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent suitable for use in high rise buildings which insures that the confined building air may be vented to the outside even when circulating atmospheric air currents flow in an upwardly direction.
It is yet another object of the present invention to ;~
provide a method for venting a multi-story building when low velocity outside atmospheric winds impinge directly upon the passive building vent.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent that provides for SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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venting the confined air into the outside atmospheric air automatically as normal winds impinge directly upon the passsive building vent.
The present apparatus overcomes the shortcomings of the known art by providing a reliable, relatively inexpen-sive, venting apparatus which is passive and contains only one moving part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A passive building vent disposed in an outside ver-tical building wall, in operative relationship to an opening provided in the outside building wall for com-municating between the outslde atmospheric air and the confined air within the building that includes a hou~ing 15 means adapted to be disposed in the-building opening bet-ween the confined air and the outside air forming an air ; mixing chamber and having a passageway disposed there-`` through. Movable membrane means are mounted within the housing means at one end of the passageway, the other end 2n of the passageway communicating with the confined air and disposed outside of the vertical building wall, with the membrane means having a closed position, substantially blocking the passageway and an open position, permitting the free flow of air there-through, and the membrane means 25 being in its closed position when at rest.
` Air passage means is disposed on the housing maans for permitting the flow of outside air into the air mixing ` chamber, with venting means disposed in the upper sur~ace of the housing means communicating with the air mixing 30 chamber for permitting the fiow of air to exit from the air mixing chamber, and deflector means mounted on the housing means proximate the venting means and com-; municating with the air mixing chamber. The deflector means being inclined relative to the membrane means and interposed between the membrane neans and the venting SuE~srlTuTE SHFET
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means, wherein the ~low of outside air entering through the air passage means impinges upon the deflector means and is forced to exit through the venting means providing 5 a pressure differential such that the membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of the air through tbe passageway into the air mixing chamber for venting the building.
The air passage means is provided with vanes for 10 diverting the outside air towards the venting means and may include a plurali~y of horizontally extending louvres with upwardly extending openingsO The air passage means ls disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle relative to the membrane means in its closed posltion, 15 wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building rise and can pass through the vanes into the air mixing chamber.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear in the description to follow. In the description ~0 reference is made to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, and which is shown by way of illustratio specific embodiments in which the invention may be prac-, ~iced. The embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the 25 invention and it is to be understood ~hat othex embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of ~he invention.
In addition the passive building vent may be mounted in an inverted or vertical position relative to that shown in 30 the drawings and also be used. The following detailed description is, tberefore, not to be taken in a limited sense wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and the scope of the present invention it is best to find by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
SUBSTITUl E SHEET
, ;, . , ., ; , W~g2/1238~ PCT/US91/0976 In order that the invention may be more fully unders~ood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. l is a perspective pictorial representation of a multi-story building in which the apparatus of the ^~
instant invention is installed;
FIG. lA is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus of the present invention installed in an outside 10 wall of the building;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l installed in an outside wall of the building; - --FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of the pre- :
15 sent invention installed in an outside wall of the building;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the passive air vent, according to the principles of the pra-sent invention;
FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of the appara-tus in elevation, showing the position of the venting membrane with relatively low velocity air passing therethrough;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of the appara-25 tus in elevation with relatively high velocity air passing therethrough;
FIG. 7 is a front view, partially broken away, of the apparatus of the present invention;
. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodi~ent 30 of the present invention, partially in section installed in an outside wall of the building;
FIG. 9A is a pictorial representation of the appar-tatus in elevation, showing the position of the venting membrane ~ith relatively low velocity air passing 35 therethrough; and ~:
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FIG. 9B is a pictorial repr0sentation of the appar-tus in elevation with relatively high velocity air passing therethrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4, which show the passive building vent 10 installed in a plurality of positions proximate the ceilings of each of a plurality of floors in a multi-story ~:
10 building 12. Typically these multi-story buildings are used for apartment houses, industrial or commercial use.
The windows 14 provided therein may be of the type ~:
generally not made to open or of a conventional-style in - :
apartment houses that can be opened. Thus, each of the 15 floors in a multi-story commercial type building is at-a different atmospheric pressure, since there is no opening or venting to the outside atmosphere 16. As is well known by those Knowledgeable in the art, when providing:heating and cooling, normally positioned in the basement of the 20 building, to the various floors, a chimney effect occurs, thus causing additional atmospheric air to enter the .
building a- the forced air is pushed to the upper stories during heating and air conditioning. The addition of out- ;
side or atmospheric air into the building increa3es the 25 load on the heating and cooling systems. A plurality of the passive building vents 10 being installed in or on the outside vertical wall 18 which communicates between the confined air space in the building causes the equalization of the confined air 20 with the outside atmospheric air 30 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 7 which show the .
passive building vent 10 installed in an outside bullding wall 18 which may be installed from the outside or exterior surface 22 of the wall 18 and communicates with 35 the inside or interior surface 24. An opening 25 is pro-SlJBSTlTUTE SHEET
WO 9~/~23g~ Pcr/ussl/os764 ~ 3 vided between the interior surface 24 and exterior surface22. The opening 25 may be formed by a conduit 2Ç formed of a plastic or metallic material formed to coincide with the shape of the vent 10, to permit a flow of confined air 20 in the direction of arrows 28 in the manner hereinafter described in detail.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the passive building vent 10 may be disposed on the outside 0 building wall 22, in operative relationship to the opening 25 provided in the outside building wall 22 for com-municating between the outside atmospheric air 16 and the confined air 20 within the building 12. The vent 10-includes housing means 30 adapted to be disposed in com-5 municating relationship with the building opening 25 bet-ween the confined air 20 and the outside air 16 forming an air mixing chamber 32 and having a passageway 34 disposed therethrough and communicating with opening 25. Movable membrane means 35 is mounted within the housing means 30 20 at one end of the passageway 34, the other end of the passageway 34 communicating with the confined air 20 and disposed out~ide of the vertical bui:Lding wall 22, with the membrane means 35 having a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 5, substantially blocking the passa-~5 geway 34 and an open position as illllstrated in FIG. 6,permitting the free flow of confined air 20 therethrough in the direction of arrows 28. The membrane means 35 is in its closed position when at rest by gravitational for-ces as illustrated in FIGS, 4 and 5 and has a lower free 30 edge or end 36 and an upper fixed ~dge or end 38 at each end of the flexible member 37. The flexible member 37 may be fabricated from Mylar and is between ~ mils and approximately 2 mils thick. An ideal thickness has been f~und to be ~ mils thick~ The upper edge 38 may be con-35 nected to support means 39 coupled to the housing mea~s SUBS~ITUTE SHEET
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30. The upper edge 38 may be adhesively secured to thesupport means 39 as one form of attachment. Other forms of securment may also be used as well as various other 5 flexible materials.
Air passage means 40 is disposed at the outside distal end 42 of the housing means 30 for permitting the flow of outside air 16 as illustrated in the direction of arrows 44 into the air mixing chamber 32, with venting 10 means 45 disposed in the upper surface 46 of the housing means communicating with the air mixing chamber 32 for permit~ing the flow of air to exit from the air mixing chamber 32. The venting means 45 may include a plurality of spaced apart slots or grooves 47 that may vary in con-15 figuration and size to permit air to exit therethrough asillustrated by the arrows 49.
The housing means 30 may have an elongated con-figuration as seen in FIGS. 2 and 7 and fabricated from a plastic material to include a front wall 48 connected to a 20 pair of side wall portions 50 and 52 affixed to the front wall 48. One configuration of the housing means 30 may be in which the side walls 50 and 52 are about 7" apart and ~he height of the housing means 30 is about 2.75".
obviously the dimensions may vary accordingly. A rear 25 wall 54 is affixed to the side walls 50 and 52, and an upper wall 55 forms the upper ~urface 46 of the housing means 30. A bottom wall 56 connects the rear wall 54 to the front wall 48. ~he passage means 40 is in com-municating relationship to the front wall 48 and the 30 venting means 45 is in communicating relationship to the upper surface 46.
The upper surface 46 may be inclined upwardly rela-tive the vertical wall 54 at an angle of approximately 5 degrees to 15 degrees or be fabricated in a horizontal plane. An angle OL approximately 9 degrees has been found S~JBs~lT~l~E SHE~T
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to operate well. The side walls 50 and 52 may have a con-toured configuration with rear sections or portions 58 or 60, respectively. The sections 58 and 60 may be tapered 5 to terminate at the rear wall 54. In addition, to guide the flow of air 20 in the direction of arrows 28, the bot-tom wall 56 may have a tapered rear end or section 62 and the upper wall 55 may have a tapered rear end or section 64.
Deflector means 65 is mounted on the housing means 30 proximate ~he venting means 45 and communicating with the air mixing chamber 32. The deflector means 65 being inclined relative to the membrane means 35 and interposed between the membrane means 35 and the venting means 45, 5 wberein the flow of outside air 16 entering through the air passage means 40 impinges upon the deflector means 65 as illustrated by arrows 66 in FIG. 4, and is forced to exit through the venting means 45 providing a pressure differential such that the membra~e means 35 is caused to 20 move to its open position as illustrated in FIG. 6, per-mitting the free flow OL the air 20 through the passageway 34 into the air mixing chamber 32 for venting the building 12. The deflector means 65 includes a deflector member 68 that is inclined at an angle relative to the vertical 25 plane defined by the rear wall 54 or the movable membrane ~;
means 35 when in its vertical position as illustrated in FIGS 4 and 5. The inclined angle of deflector member 68 may be in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees and pre-ferably at approximately 45 degrees.
The air passage means 40 is provided with vanes 69 for diverting the outside air 16 towards the deflector means 45 and may include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres 70 with upwardly extending or inclined shoulders 72. The air passage means 40 is disposed at an 35 upwardly and outwardly extending angle which may be in the Sl~BSTlTU~E ~EET
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range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the membrane `: means 35 in its closed position, wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building 12 rise and can 5 pass through the vanes 69 into the air mixing chamber 32.
An angle approximately 20 degrees has been found suitable.
The passive ~uilding vent 10 further includes mounting means 75 for removably coupling the housing means 30 to the building 12. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the 10 mounting means 75 is adapted at one end thereof for affixing the building vent lO to the outside vertical wall 22 of the building 12. The mounting means 75 may include ; spaced apart holes 76 that are adapted to receive a bolt . _ .. . . ................. . . . .
~ or fastener 78 therethrough which as illustrated in FIG. 4 : -l5 may extend through the wall 18. It is understood that holes will be provided in the wall 18 which may be the frame of the window 14 or even the glass itself. An adhe-sive bonding could also be used to secure the building ven~ 10 in fixed relationship to the building 12.
The operation of the passive building vent is best illustrated together ~ith FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. FIG. 2 and disclo~e the position of the movable membrane means 35 under steady sta~te conditions with the vent lO installed in the building 12 and without atmospheric air flow 2~ impinging upong the deflector means 65. The unidirec-tional vent lO is initially in its clo~ed positioned, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In its open position or fully open condition, as shown in the broken lines in FIG. 2 or the open position in FIG. 6 the mylar membrane means 35 is 30 free to move with air currents as shown .
The atmospheric air impinges on the passive building vent lO through the air passage means 40 in the direction of arrows 44 and 66 (FIG. 4), with a certain amount of air impinging upon the deflector means 65 to essentially cause 35 the free end 36 of the flexible member 37 to move to the SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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open position illustrated in FIG. 6. Air exiting from the confined air space 20 will take the path shown by the arrows 28, through elongated apertures 80 (See FIG. 7), 5 around the free end 36 of the flexible member 37 and will then move into the air mixing chamber 32 and essentially move in a manner as illustrated by arrows 81 and then move upwardly as illustrated by arrows 82 that exit through the openings or slots 47 illustrated in FIG. 3. Obviously the 10 configuration of the slots 47 and apertures 80 m2y vary in size, shape and configuration.
The air paths will be as that shown in FIG. 6 and will flow in the direction of arrows 28, 81 and 82 and the .. . ... .
confined air 20 will be removed from the building 12. The 15 ~xiting confined air 20 in the building 12 will combine with the atmospheric air 16 and exit from the venting means 45 in a unique method. Thus, regardless of the velocity of the atmospheric air speed or its direction, venting can be accomplished from the confined air space 20 20 to the outside atmosphere 16. If a sudden drop of atmospheric pressur- should occur, the membrane 37 moves toward its vertical or rest position as illustrated in ~FIGS. 4 or 5 thereby preventing the confined air 20 to exit the building and thus, equalize the pressure instan-25 taneously. Accordingly the angle of inclination of thelouvres 70 forces the inwardly directed air indicated by arrows 44 to be projected against the surface of the deflector means 65 which is inclined relative to the membrane means 35 and thereafter exiting through the 30 venting means 4;. The surface formed by the venting means 45 may he inclined as illustrated or perpendicular to the vertical plane of the building 12. Concurrently as the external air 16 flows as above described, an initial dif-ferential o~ pressure is created causing the free end 36 3~ of the flexible member to move outwardly creating a path SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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for the exiting of the confined air 20 such that the air can flow and exit from the building through the mixing : chamber 32 and thereafter exit through the venting means 5 45 in the same direction as the outside air 16.
To prevent the membrane means 35 from being deflected under pressure towards the passageway 34, such as by a strong rain or water from a hose which could per-~; mit the entry of water or other liquid into the passageway 10 34 and in turn the building 18, there is provided resisting or ~top means 85. One such embodiment being ~-illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates that the resisting means includes a plurality of steps 86 contained on the rear end 62 with a front step or stop 88 in 15 abutting relationship to the flexible member 37. In this manner a dual function is performed in that the stop 88 prevents the rearward flexing of the membrane 37 and further the s~ops 86 also prevent water from flowing upstream in case any would seep through.
Referring now to FIGS. R, 9A and 9B, which show the passive buildinq vent 10a installed in a position similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 of a multi-story building 12a. The windows 14a provided therein may be of the type generally not made to open or of a conventional style in 25 apartment houses that can be opened. Thus, each of the floors in a multi-story commercial type building is at a different atmospheric pressure, since ther~ is no opening or venting to the outside atmosphere 16a. As is well known by those kno~ledgeable in the art, when providing 30 heating and cooling, normally positioned in the basement :~ of the building, to the various floors, a chimney effect occurs, thus causing additional atmospheric air to enter the building as the forced air is pushed to the upper stories during heating and air conditioning. The addition of out~ide or atmospheric air into the building increases SUBSTITUTE SHEET
WO92/123~8 PCT/US91/~97 ~ -14-the load on the heating and cooling systems. A plurality of the passive building vents lOa being installed in or on the outside vertical wall 18a which communicates between 5 the confined air space in the building causes the equali-zation of the confined air 20a with the outside atmos-atmospheric air 16a.
The passive building vent lOa is installed in an out-side building wall 18a which may be installed from the out-10 side or exterior surface 22a of the wall 18a andcommunicates with the inside or interior surface 24a. An opening 25a is provided between the interior surface 24a and exterior 3urface 22a. The opening 25a may be formed by a conduit 26a formed of a plastic or metallic material formed 15 to coincide with the shape of the ven~ lOa, to permit a flow of confined air 20a in the direction of arrows 28a in the manner hereinafter described in detail.
The passive building vent lOa may be disposed on the outside building wall 22a, in operative relationship to the 20 opening 25a provided in the outside building wall 22a for communicating between the outside atmospheric air 16a and the confined air 20a within the building 12a. The vent lOa includes housing means 30a adapted to be disposed in com~
municating relationship with the building opening 25a bet-25 ween the confined air 20a and the outside air 16a forming anair mixing chamber 32a and having a passageway 34a disposed therethrough and communicating with opening 25a. Movable membrane m0ans 35a is mounted within the housing means 30a at one end of the passageway 34a, the other end of the 30 passageway 34a communicating with the confined air 20a and disposed outside of the vertical building wall 22a, with the membrane means 35a having a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 9A, substantially blocking the passageway 34a and an open position as illustrated in FIG. 9B, permitting the free flow of confined air 20a therethrough in the direction of SUBSTITUTE SHEFT
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WO92/12388 ~ PCT/U~91/09/64 297~9~9 -l5-arrows 28a. The membrane means 35a is in its closed posi-tion ~hen at rest by gravitational forces as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9A and has a lower free edge or end 36a and 5 an upper fixed edge or end 38a at each end of the flexible member 37a. The flexible member 37a may be fabricated from Mylar and is between ~ mils and approximately 2 mils thick. An ideal thickness has been found to be ~ mils thick. The upper edge 38a may be connected to the housing 10 means 30a in a variety of ways. The upper edge 38a may be adhesively secured to the deflector means 65a as one form of attachment. Other forms of securment may also be used as well as various other flexible materials. The free edge 36a may be spaced from the housing partition or neck 88a to provide an air gap therebetween.
Air passage means 40a is disposed at one outside end 42a of the housing means 30a for permitting the flow of out- ;
side air 16a as illustrated in the direction of arrows 44a ; into the air mixing chamber 32a, with venting means 45a 20 disposed in the upper surface 46a of the housing means 30a communicating with the air mixing chamber 32a for permitting the flow of air to exit from the air mlxing chamber 32a.
~he venting means 45a may include a plurality of spaced apart slots, grooves or louvers 47a 1:hat may vary in con-25 figuration and size ~o permit air to exit therethrough asillustrated by the arrows 49a.
The housing means 30a may have an elongated con- ~
figuration as seen in FIG. 8 and fabricated from a plastic ~;
material to include a front wall 48a connected to a pair 30 of side w211 portions 50a and 52a affi~ed to the front wall 48a. One configuration of the housing means 30a may be in which the side housing means 30a is about 2.75".
Obviously the dimensi~ns may vary accordingly. A rear wall 54a is a~fixed to the side walls 50a and 52a, and an 3~ upper wall 55a forms the upper surface 46a of the housing SUBSTITIJTE SHEET
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W~92/lZ388 PCT/US9l/09764 ~ 16-means 30a. A bottom wall 56a connects the rear wall 54a to the front wall 48a. The passage means 40a is in com-municating relationship to the front wall 48a and the 5 venting means 45a is in co~nunicating relationship to the upper surface 46a.
The upper surface 46a may be inclined upwardly rela-tive the vertical wall 54a at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to 60 degrees. An angle of approximately 45 10 degrees has been found to operate well. The side walls 50a and 52a may have a contoured configuration with the housing partition or neck 88a extending upwardly from the bottom wall 56a.
Deflector means 65a is mounted on thë housing means 30a proximate the venting means 45a and communicating with the air mixing chamber 32a. The deflector means 65a in this embodiment of the invention may be in vertical align- ;
ment with the membrane means 35a. The flow of outside air 16a entering through the air passage means 40a may in part impinge upon the deflector means 65a as illustrated by arrows 66a in FIG. 9B, and is forced to exit through the venting means 45a providing a pressure differential such that the membrane means 35a is caused to~ move to its open position as illustr~ted in FIG~ 9B, permitting the free flow of the aix 20a through the passageway 34a into the air mixing chamber 32a for venting the building 12a. The - deflector means 65a includes a deflector member 68a that may be parallel to the rear wall 54a or the movable membrane means 35a when in its vertical position as illustrated in FIG. 9A.
The air passage means 40a is provided with louvers or vanes 69a for diverting the outside air 16a into the -mixing chamber 32a and towards the deflector means 45a and may include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres ~ 70a with upwardly extending or inclined shoulders 72a~
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SU85TITUTE S/lEET
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WO92/12388 2 ~ ~ 5~ PCT/~S91/09764 The air passage means 40a is disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle which may be in the range of 15 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the membrane means 35a 5 in its closed position, wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building 12a rise and can pass through the vanes 69a into the air mixing chamber 32a. An angle approximately 45 degrees has been found suitable.
The passive building vent l~a further includes 10 mounting means ror removably coupling the housing means 30a to the building 12a, which may be in the form illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.
The operation of the passive building vent 10a is best position of the movable membrane means 35a under steady state the conditions with the vent 10a installed in the building 1~ and without atmospheric air flow impinging upong the deflector means 65a. The unidirectional vent 10a is initially in its closed positioned, as shown in FIG. 9A. In its open position or fully open condition, as 2~ shown in FIG. 9B or the open position in FIG. 8 the mylar membrane means 35a is free to move with air currents as shown and the air 20a may exit therethrough.
The atmospheric air 16a impinges on the passive building vent 10a through the air passage means 40a in the 25 direction of arxow 44a and 66a (FIG. 4), with a certain amount of air impinging upon the deflector means 65a ~o ess~ntially cause the free end 36a of the flexible member 37a to move to the open position illustrated in FIG. 9B.
Air exiting fram the confined air space 20a wLll take the path shown by the arrows 28a, around the free end 36a of the flexible member 37a and will then move into the air mixing chamber 32a and essentially move in a manner as - illustrated by arro~ 81a and then move upwardly as illustrated by arrows 82a that exit through the openings or ~lots 47a illustrated in FIG. 8. Obviously the con~
SUBSl lTUTE SHEET
' ' ' , ' ' , ' ' ,, ' ; ' ' ' ' ~ ', ' '', : , ' , WO92/12388 PCT/U~91/09764 figuration of the slots 47a and apertures 80a may vary in size, shape and configuration.
The air paths will be as that shown in FIG. 9~ and 5 will flow essentially in the direction of arrows 28a, 81a, and 82a and the confined air 20a will ~e removed from the building 12a. The exiting confined air 20a in the building 12a will combine with the atmospheric air 16a and exit from the venting means 45a in a unique method. Thus, regardless of the velocity of the atmospheric air speed or its direction, venting can be accomplished from the con- -fined air space 20a to the outside atmosphere 16a. If a sudden drop of atmospheric pressure should occur, the--~
membrane 37a moves toward a closed position illustrated in 15 FIG. 9A thereby preventing the confined air 20a to exit the building and thus, equalize the pressure instan-taneously. Accordingly the angle o~ inclination of the louvres 7Ca forces the inwardly directed air indicated by arrows 44a to be projected against t:he surface of the 20 deflector means 65a and thereafter exiting through the venting means 45a. The surface formed by the venting means 45a may be inclined relative t:o the vertical plane of the building 12a. Concurrently as the external air 16a flows as above described, an initial differential of 25 pressure is created causing the free end 36a of the flexible member to move outwardly creating a path for the exiting of the confined ~ir 20a such tha~ the air can flow and exit from the building through the mixing chamber 32a and thereafter exit through the venting means 45a in the 30 same direction as the outside air 16a. In this embodiment a certain amount of external air 16a will flow through the housing ~eans 30a as illustrated by arrows 90a by entering the venting means 45a and exiting through the air passage means 40a. This flow through aids in creating the 35 pressure differential to obtain the movement of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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membrane means 35a from its normal position to its open position in FIG. 9B.
Accordingly a strong rain or water from a hose would 5 not enter the passageway 34a and in turn the building 18a.
A dual function is performed by the rearward flexing of the membrane 37a as seen in FIG. 9A -ince it prevents water from flowing upstream in case any would seep through.
Hereinbefore has been disclosed a passive building vent which is inexpensive, reliable and capable of venting confined air within a building to the outside atmosphere under all conditions oî and velocities of the atmospheric air impinging upon the passive building vent such that a 15 novel method of venting a building is also obtained.
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PASSIVE BUILDING VENTS
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to vents, and more par-ticularly to a pa~sive building vent which is suitable for installation in the outside wall of a multi-story building thereby equalizing the air pressure within the building to the outside atmospheric pressure.
10 2. Discussion of the Relevant Art Numerous types of buildinq vents are in use today.
Their specific purpose is to provide a device for --exhausting air from a confined space to the outside when~
the confined air either reaches a prescribed temperature 15 or odoriferous p~rticles have been trapped within the con-fined space and it is desiraDle to release the confined air to the outside atmosphere. In some instances these ;~ vents are utilized in conjunction with attic vents, which may be passive or powered, and they assist in the 20 discharge of the confined air to the outside atmosphere.
T~pical of these vents is an ener~y saver damper assembly disclosed in U.S. Pa~ents 4,591,092, 4,596,181 r and 4,567,816 invented by the inventor of the subject invention. In addition to providing the normal venting 25 function, the uni~irectional vent provides for the ~ equalizing of air pressures should a sudden drop in the - outside or atmospheric air occur, such as experienced during tornados or other violent air disturbances. The ~;
u~ique property of the unidirectional vent is that it per-30 mits a prescribed amount of air to escape from a confined air space yet it provides for an instantaneous increase in the amount of air permi~ted to escape with sudden drops in outside or atmospheric air pressure. The feature prevents the confined air f~om causing damage to windows, and the s_ like, with sudden drops of atmospheric air pressure.
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. .` `` ` .. .` ~ ::.. ., .. - .,. , .,. .- . - , WO92/1~3X8 PCT/U~91/097 The instant invention is ideally suited for use in multi-~tory buildings wherein the confined inner space may be continuously equali2ed with the outside atmospheric air 5 and when combined with the unidirectional air vent can compensate for sudden drops in the outside atmospheric pressure. Thus the normal "chimney-like" effect which is caused in multi-story or high rise buildings when they are provided with a central heating or air conditioning system 10 may now be eliminated, since the air pressure at each story is equalized to the outside air pressure. This decreases if not eliminates the drawing in of additional - outside air into the system which would require-additional capacity for the heating and air conditioning systems uti-15 lized therein.
Water seeks its own level. In a similar way, if moisture is not provided an engineered path, it will find its own way out of a building. Most often this will be in the least desirable fashion through the structure 20 itself, causing, at worst, severe structural degradation.
Common symptoms are failed pointing on walls (which results in months of effort and huge dollar outlays), and the impairment of the roof through - successively -blistering, cracking, leaking, and ultimately disin-25 tegration. If ambient (airborne, environmentnal) moistureremains trapped, micro-organisms (mold, fungus) will grow.
This has an adverse effect on the health and productivity of tenants and employeesO
If buildings are vented in accordance with the pre-30 sent invention, moisture exits through designed pathways.The structural integrity of the building is maintained.
Building facia remains intact and walls do not accumulate mold. The roof underlayment remains dry and roof life is extended. In addition, ambient moisture leaves through 3~ the vents, the conditions which enable mold to thrive are ~uE3s~lr~ S~tEE~
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WO92/123~ PCT/~S91/09764 2 0 7 ~
eliminated, and both health and productivity of occupants are maintained. A well-vented, dry building will not manifest the "sick building" syndrome.
The passive venting system of the present invention uses no fans, motors, or electricity, and is continuously working. The passive vent is also easily retrofitted into most shapes and styles of window. It also has the advan-tage of moving air in one direction only, exhausts in-ternal air continuously, allows no infiltration, conserves energy, windows remain closed and is tamper~resistant.
The passive vent also addresses all indoor air quality problems--i-n-apartments and office buildings, which are mold and mildew, condensation and dripping windows, odors and obnoxious smells, and sick building syndrome.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent which is reliable and easily installable in multi-story buildings.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reliable building vent capable of equalizing the air pressures between the confined air space and the atmospheric air with sudden drops in atmospheric air pressure.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent suitable for use in high rise buildings which insures that the confined building air may be vented to the outside even when circulating atmospheric air currents flow in an upwardly direction.
It is yet another object of the present invention to ;~
provide a method for venting a multi-story building when low velocity outside atmospheric winds impinge directly upon the passive building vent.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a passive building vent that provides for SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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venting the confined air into the outside atmospheric air automatically as normal winds impinge directly upon the passsive building vent.
The present apparatus overcomes the shortcomings of the known art by providing a reliable, relatively inexpen-sive, venting apparatus which is passive and contains only one moving part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A passive building vent disposed in an outside ver-tical building wall, in operative relationship to an opening provided in the outside building wall for com-municating between the outslde atmospheric air and the confined air within the building that includes a hou~ing 15 means adapted to be disposed in the-building opening bet-ween the confined air and the outside air forming an air ; mixing chamber and having a passageway disposed there-`` through. Movable membrane means are mounted within the housing means at one end of the passageway, the other end 2n of the passageway communicating with the confined air and disposed outside of the vertical building wall, with the membrane means having a closed position, substantially blocking the passageway and an open position, permitting the free flow of air there-through, and the membrane means 25 being in its closed position when at rest.
` Air passage means is disposed on the housing maans for permitting the flow of outside air into the air mixing ` chamber, with venting means disposed in the upper sur~ace of the housing means communicating with the air mixing 30 chamber for permitting the fiow of air to exit from the air mixing chamber, and deflector means mounted on the housing means proximate the venting means and com-; municating with the air mixing chamber. The deflector means being inclined relative to the membrane means and interposed between the membrane neans and the venting SuE~srlTuTE SHFET
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means, wherein the ~low of outside air entering through the air passage means impinges upon the deflector means and is forced to exit through the venting means providing 5 a pressure differential such that the membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of the air through tbe passageway into the air mixing chamber for venting the building.
The air passage means is provided with vanes for 10 diverting the outside air towards the venting means and may include a plurali~y of horizontally extending louvres with upwardly extending openingsO The air passage means ls disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle relative to the membrane means in its closed posltion, 15 wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building rise and can pass through the vanes into the air mixing chamber.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear in the description to follow. In the description ~0 reference is made to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, and which is shown by way of illustratio specific embodiments in which the invention may be prac-, ~iced. The embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the 25 invention and it is to be understood ~hat othex embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of ~he invention.
In addition the passive building vent may be mounted in an inverted or vertical position relative to that shown in 30 the drawings and also be used. The following detailed description is, tberefore, not to be taken in a limited sense wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and the scope of the present invention it is best to find by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
SUBSTITUl E SHEET
, ;, . , ., ; , W~g2/1238~ PCT/US91/0976 In order that the invention may be more fully unders~ood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. l is a perspective pictorial representation of a multi-story building in which the apparatus of the ^~
instant invention is installed;
FIG. lA is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus of the present invention installed in an outside 10 wall of the building;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l installed in an outside wall of the building; - --FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of the pre- :
15 sent invention installed in an outside wall of the building;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the passive air vent, according to the principles of the pra-sent invention;
FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of the appara-tus in elevation, showing the position of the venting membrane with relatively low velocity air passing therethrough;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of the appara-25 tus in elevation with relatively high velocity air passing therethrough;
FIG. 7 is a front view, partially broken away, of the apparatus of the present invention;
. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodi~ent 30 of the present invention, partially in section installed in an outside wall of the building;
FIG. 9A is a pictorial representation of the appar-tatus in elevation, showing the position of the venting membrane ~ith relatively low velocity air passing 35 therethrough; and ~:
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FIG. 9B is a pictorial repr0sentation of the appar-tus in elevation with relatively high velocity air passing therethrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4, which show the passive building vent 10 installed in a plurality of positions proximate the ceilings of each of a plurality of floors in a multi-story ~:
10 building 12. Typically these multi-story buildings are used for apartment houses, industrial or commercial use.
The windows 14 provided therein may be of the type ~:
generally not made to open or of a conventional-style in - :
apartment houses that can be opened. Thus, each of the 15 floors in a multi-story commercial type building is at-a different atmospheric pressure, since there is no opening or venting to the outside atmosphere 16. As is well known by those Knowledgeable in the art, when providing:heating and cooling, normally positioned in the basement of the 20 building, to the various floors, a chimney effect occurs, thus causing additional atmospheric air to enter the .
building a- the forced air is pushed to the upper stories during heating and air conditioning. The addition of out- ;
side or atmospheric air into the building increa3es the 25 load on the heating and cooling systems. A plurality of the passive building vents 10 being installed in or on the outside vertical wall 18 which communicates between the confined air space in the building causes the equalization of the confined air 20 with the outside atmospheric air 30 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 7 which show the .
passive building vent 10 installed in an outside bullding wall 18 which may be installed from the outside or exterior surface 22 of the wall 18 and communicates with 35 the inside or interior surface 24. An opening 25 is pro-SlJBSTlTUTE SHEET
WO 9~/~23g~ Pcr/ussl/os764 ~ 3 vided between the interior surface 24 and exterior surface22. The opening 25 may be formed by a conduit 2Ç formed of a plastic or metallic material formed to coincide with the shape of the vent 10, to permit a flow of confined air 20 in the direction of arrows 28 in the manner hereinafter described in detail.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the passive building vent 10 may be disposed on the outside 0 building wall 22, in operative relationship to the opening 25 provided in the outside building wall 22 for com-municating between the outside atmospheric air 16 and the confined air 20 within the building 12. The vent 10-includes housing means 30 adapted to be disposed in com-5 municating relationship with the building opening 25 bet-ween the confined air 20 and the outside air 16 forming an air mixing chamber 32 and having a passageway 34 disposed therethrough and communicating with opening 25. Movable membrane means 35 is mounted within the housing means 30 20 at one end of the passageway 34, the other end of the passageway 34 communicating with the confined air 20 and disposed out~ide of the vertical bui:Lding wall 22, with the membrane means 35 having a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 5, substantially blocking the passa-~5 geway 34 and an open position as illllstrated in FIG. 6,permitting the free flow of confined air 20 therethrough in the direction of arrows 28. The membrane means 35 is in its closed position when at rest by gravitational for-ces as illustrated in FIGS, 4 and 5 and has a lower free 30 edge or end 36 and an upper fixed ~dge or end 38 at each end of the flexible member 37. The flexible member 37 may be fabricated from Mylar and is between ~ mils and approximately 2 mils thick. An ideal thickness has been f~und to be ~ mils thick~ The upper edge 38 may be con-35 nected to support means 39 coupled to the housing mea~s SUBS~ITUTE SHEET
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30. The upper edge 38 may be adhesively secured to thesupport means 39 as one form of attachment. Other forms of securment may also be used as well as various other 5 flexible materials.
Air passage means 40 is disposed at the outside distal end 42 of the housing means 30 for permitting the flow of outside air 16 as illustrated in the direction of arrows 44 into the air mixing chamber 32, with venting 10 means 45 disposed in the upper surface 46 of the housing means communicating with the air mixing chamber 32 for permit~ing the flow of air to exit from the air mixing chamber 32. The venting means 45 may include a plurality of spaced apart slots or grooves 47 that may vary in con-15 figuration and size to permit air to exit therethrough asillustrated by the arrows 49.
The housing means 30 may have an elongated con-figuration as seen in FIGS. 2 and 7 and fabricated from a plastic material to include a front wall 48 connected to a 20 pair of side wall portions 50 and 52 affixed to the front wall 48. One configuration of the housing means 30 may be in which the side walls 50 and 52 are about 7" apart and ~he height of the housing means 30 is about 2.75".
obviously the dimensions may vary accordingly. A rear 25 wall 54 is affixed to the side walls 50 and 52, and an upper wall 55 forms the upper ~urface 46 of the housing means 30. A bottom wall 56 connects the rear wall 54 to the front wall 48. ~he passage means 40 is in com-municating relationship to the front wall 48 and the 30 venting means 45 is in communicating relationship to the upper surface 46.
The upper surface 46 may be inclined upwardly rela-tive the vertical wall 54 at an angle of approximately 5 degrees to 15 degrees or be fabricated in a horizontal plane. An angle OL approximately 9 degrees has been found S~JBs~lT~l~E SHE~T
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to operate well. The side walls 50 and 52 may have a con-toured configuration with rear sections or portions 58 or 60, respectively. The sections 58 and 60 may be tapered 5 to terminate at the rear wall 54. In addition, to guide the flow of air 20 in the direction of arrows 28, the bot-tom wall 56 may have a tapered rear end or section 62 and the upper wall 55 may have a tapered rear end or section 64.
Deflector means 65 is mounted on the housing means 30 proximate ~he venting means 45 and communicating with the air mixing chamber 32. The deflector means 65 being inclined relative to the membrane means 35 and interposed between the membrane means 35 and the venting means 45, 5 wberein the flow of outside air 16 entering through the air passage means 40 impinges upon the deflector means 65 as illustrated by arrows 66 in FIG. 4, and is forced to exit through the venting means 45 providing a pressure differential such that the membra~e means 35 is caused to 20 move to its open position as illustrated in FIG. 6, per-mitting the free flow OL the air 20 through the passageway 34 into the air mixing chamber 32 for venting the building 12. The deflector means 65 includes a deflector member 68 that is inclined at an angle relative to the vertical 25 plane defined by the rear wall 54 or the movable membrane ~;
means 35 when in its vertical position as illustrated in FIGS 4 and 5. The inclined angle of deflector member 68 may be in the range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees and pre-ferably at approximately 45 degrees.
The air passage means 40 is provided with vanes 69 for diverting the outside air 16 towards the deflector means 45 and may include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres 70 with upwardly extending or inclined shoulders 72. The air passage means 40 is disposed at an 35 upwardly and outwardly extending angle which may be in the Sl~BSTlTU~E ~EET
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range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the membrane `: means 35 in its closed position, wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building 12 rise and can 5 pass through the vanes 69 into the air mixing chamber 32.
An angle approximately 20 degrees has been found suitable.
The passive ~uilding vent 10 further includes mounting means 75 for removably coupling the housing means 30 to the building 12. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the 10 mounting means 75 is adapted at one end thereof for affixing the building vent lO to the outside vertical wall 22 of the building 12. The mounting means 75 may include ; spaced apart holes 76 that are adapted to receive a bolt . _ .. . . ................. . . . .
~ or fastener 78 therethrough which as illustrated in FIG. 4 : -l5 may extend through the wall 18. It is understood that holes will be provided in the wall 18 which may be the frame of the window 14 or even the glass itself. An adhe-sive bonding could also be used to secure the building ven~ 10 in fixed relationship to the building 12.
The operation of the passive building vent is best illustrated together ~ith FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. FIG. 2 and disclo~e the position of the movable membrane means 35 under steady sta~te conditions with the vent lO installed in the building 12 and without atmospheric air flow 2~ impinging upong the deflector means 65. The unidirec-tional vent lO is initially in its clo~ed positioned, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In its open position or fully open condition, as shown in the broken lines in FIG. 2 or the open position in FIG. 6 the mylar membrane means 35 is 30 free to move with air currents as shown .
The atmospheric air impinges on the passive building vent lO through the air passage means 40 in the direction of arrows 44 and 66 (FIG. 4), with a certain amount of air impinging upon the deflector means 65 to essentially cause 35 the free end 36 of the flexible member 37 to move to the SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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open position illustrated in FIG. 6. Air exiting from the confined air space 20 will take the path shown by the arrows 28, through elongated apertures 80 (See FIG. 7), 5 around the free end 36 of the flexible member 37 and will then move into the air mixing chamber 32 and essentially move in a manner as illustrated by arrows 81 and then move upwardly as illustrated by arrows 82 that exit through the openings or slots 47 illustrated in FIG. 3. Obviously the 10 configuration of the slots 47 and apertures 80 m2y vary in size, shape and configuration.
The air paths will be as that shown in FIG. 6 and will flow in the direction of arrows 28, 81 and 82 and the .. . ... .
confined air 20 will be removed from the building 12. The 15 ~xiting confined air 20 in the building 12 will combine with the atmospheric air 16 and exit from the venting means 45 in a unique method. Thus, regardless of the velocity of the atmospheric air speed or its direction, venting can be accomplished from the confined air space 20 20 to the outside atmosphere 16. If a sudden drop of atmospheric pressur- should occur, the membrane 37 moves toward its vertical or rest position as illustrated in ~FIGS. 4 or 5 thereby preventing the confined air 20 to exit the building and thus, equalize the pressure instan-25 taneously. Accordingly the angle of inclination of thelouvres 70 forces the inwardly directed air indicated by arrows 44 to be projected against the surface of the deflector means 65 which is inclined relative to the membrane means 35 and thereafter exiting through the 30 venting means 4;. The surface formed by the venting means 45 may he inclined as illustrated or perpendicular to the vertical plane of the building 12. Concurrently as the external air 16 flows as above described, an initial dif-ferential o~ pressure is created causing the free end 36 3~ of the flexible member to move outwardly creating a path SUBSTITUTE SHEET
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for the exiting of the confined air 20 such that the air can flow and exit from the building through the mixing : chamber 32 and thereafter exit through the venting means 5 45 in the same direction as the outside air 16.
To prevent the membrane means 35 from being deflected under pressure towards the passageway 34, such as by a strong rain or water from a hose which could per-~; mit the entry of water or other liquid into the passageway 10 34 and in turn the building 18, there is provided resisting or ~top means 85. One such embodiment being ~-illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates that the resisting means includes a plurality of steps 86 contained on the rear end 62 with a front step or stop 88 in 15 abutting relationship to the flexible member 37. In this manner a dual function is performed in that the stop 88 prevents the rearward flexing of the membrane 37 and further the s~ops 86 also prevent water from flowing upstream in case any would seep through.
Referring now to FIGS. R, 9A and 9B, which show the passive buildinq vent 10a installed in a position similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 of a multi-story building 12a. The windows 14a provided therein may be of the type generally not made to open or of a conventional style in 25 apartment houses that can be opened. Thus, each of the floors in a multi-story commercial type building is at a different atmospheric pressure, since ther~ is no opening or venting to the outside atmosphere 16a. As is well known by those kno~ledgeable in the art, when providing 30 heating and cooling, normally positioned in the basement :~ of the building, to the various floors, a chimney effect occurs, thus causing additional atmospheric air to enter the building as the forced air is pushed to the upper stories during heating and air conditioning. The addition of out~ide or atmospheric air into the building increases SUBSTITUTE SHEET
WO92/123~8 PCT/US91/~97 ~ -14-the load on the heating and cooling systems. A plurality of the passive building vents lOa being installed in or on the outside vertical wall 18a which communicates between 5 the confined air space in the building causes the equali-zation of the confined air 20a with the outside atmos-atmospheric air 16a.
The passive building vent lOa is installed in an out-side building wall 18a which may be installed from the out-10 side or exterior surface 22a of the wall 18a andcommunicates with the inside or interior surface 24a. An opening 25a is provided between the interior surface 24a and exterior 3urface 22a. The opening 25a may be formed by a conduit 26a formed of a plastic or metallic material formed 15 to coincide with the shape of the ven~ lOa, to permit a flow of confined air 20a in the direction of arrows 28a in the manner hereinafter described in detail.
The passive building vent lOa may be disposed on the outside building wall 22a, in operative relationship to the 20 opening 25a provided in the outside building wall 22a for communicating between the outside atmospheric air 16a and the confined air 20a within the building 12a. The vent lOa includes housing means 30a adapted to be disposed in com~
municating relationship with the building opening 25a bet-25 ween the confined air 20a and the outside air 16a forming anair mixing chamber 32a and having a passageway 34a disposed therethrough and communicating with opening 25a. Movable membrane m0ans 35a is mounted within the housing means 30a at one end of the passageway 34a, the other end of the 30 passageway 34a communicating with the confined air 20a and disposed outside of the vertical building wall 22a, with the membrane means 35a having a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 9A, substantially blocking the passageway 34a and an open position as illustrated in FIG. 9B, permitting the free flow of confined air 20a therethrough in the direction of SUBSTITUTE SHEFT
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WO92/12388 ~ PCT/U~91/09/64 297~9~9 -l5-arrows 28a. The membrane means 35a is in its closed posi-tion ~hen at rest by gravitational forces as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9A and has a lower free edge or end 36a and 5 an upper fixed edge or end 38a at each end of the flexible member 37a. The flexible member 37a may be fabricated from Mylar and is between ~ mils and approximately 2 mils thick. An ideal thickness has been found to be ~ mils thick. The upper edge 38a may be connected to the housing 10 means 30a in a variety of ways. The upper edge 38a may be adhesively secured to the deflector means 65a as one form of attachment. Other forms of securment may also be used as well as various other flexible materials. The free edge 36a may be spaced from the housing partition or neck 88a to provide an air gap therebetween.
Air passage means 40a is disposed at one outside end 42a of the housing means 30a for permitting the flow of out- ;
side air 16a as illustrated in the direction of arrows 44a ; into the air mixing chamber 32a, with venting means 45a 20 disposed in the upper surface 46a of the housing means 30a communicating with the air mixing chamber 32a for permitting the flow of air to exit from the air mlxing chamber 32a.
~he venting means 45a may include a plurality of spaced apart slots, grooves or louvers 47a 1:hat may vary in con-25 figuration and size ~o permit air to exit therethrough asillustrated by the arrows 49a.
The housing means 30a may have an elongated con- ~
figuration as seen in FIG. 8 and fabricated from a plastic ~;
material to include a front wall 48a connected to a pair 30 of side w211 portions 50a and 52a affi~ed to the front wall 48a. One configuration of the housing means 30a may be in which the side housing means 30a is about 2.75".
Obviously the dimensi~ns may vary accordingly. A rear wall 54a is a~fixed to the side walls 50a and 52a, and an 3~ upper wall 55a forms the upper surface 46a of the housing SUBSTITIJTE SHEET
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W~92/lZ388 PCT/US9l/09764 ~ 16-means 30a. A bottom wall 56a connects the rear wall 54a to the front wall 48a. The passage means 40a is in com-municating relationship to the front wall 48a and the 5 venting means 45a is in co~nunicating relationship to the upper surface 46a.
The upper surface 46a may be inclined upwardly rela-tive the vertical wall 54a at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to 60 degrees. An angle of approximately 45 10 degrees has been found to operate well. The side walls 50a and 52a may have a contoured configuration with the housing partition or neck 88a extending upwardly from the bottom wall 56a.
Deflector means 65a is mounted on thë housing means 30a proximate the venting means 45a and communicating with the air mixing chamber 32a. The deflector means 65a in this embodiment of the invention may be in vertical align- ;
ment with the membrane means 35a. The flow of outside air 16a entering through the air passage means 40a may in part impinge upon the deflector means 65a as illustrated by arrows 66a in FIG. 9B, and is forced to exit through the venting means 45a providing a pressure differential such that the membrane means 35a is caused to~ move to its open position as illustr~ted in FIG~ 9B, permitting the free flow of the aix 20a through the passageway 34a into the air mixing chamber 32a for venting the building 12a. The - deflector means 65a includes a deflector member 68a that may be parallel to the rear wall 54a or the movable membrane means 35a when in its vertical position as illustrated in FIG. 9A.
The air passage means 40a is provided with louvers or vanes 69a for diverting the outside air 16a into the -mixing chamber 32a and towards the deflector means 45a and may include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres ~ 70a with upwardly extending or inclined shoulders 72a~
:. .
SU85TITUTE S/lEET
, .
. ~. . . . ,, , I
WO92/12388 2 ~ ~ 5~ PCT/~S91/09764 The air passage means 40a is disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle which may be in the range of 15 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the membrane means 35a 5 in its closed position, wherein wind or warm thermals that radiate off of the building 12a rise and can pass through the vanes 69a into the air mixing chamber 32a. An angle approximately 45 degrees has been found suitable.
The passive building vent l~a further includes 10 mounting means ror removably coupling the housing means 30a to the building 12a, which may be in the form illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.
The operation of the passive building vent 10a is best position of the movable membrane means 35a under steady state the conditions with the vent 10a installed in the building 1~ and without atmospheric air flow impinging upong the deflector means 65a. The unidirectional vent 10a is initially in its closed positioned, as shown in FIG. 9A. In its open position or fully open condition, as 2~ shown in FIG. 9B or the open position in FIG. 8 the mylar membrane means 35a is free to move with air currents as shown and the air 20a may exit therethrough.
The atmospheric air 16a impinges on the passive building vent 10a through the air passage means 40a in the 25 direction of arxow 44a and 66a (FIG. 4), with a certain amount of air impinging upon the deflector means 65a ~o ess~ntially cause the free end 36a of the flexible member 37a to move to the open position illustrated in FIG. 9B.
Air exiting fram the confined air space 20a wLll take the path shown by the arrows 28a, around the free end 36a of the flexible member 37a and will then move into the air mixing chamber 32a and essentially move in a manner as - illustrated by arro~ 81a and then move upwardly as illustrated by arrows 82a that exit through the openings or ~lots 47a illustrated in FIG. 8. Obviously the con~
SUBSl lTUTE SHEET
' ' ' , ' ' , ' ' ,, ' ; ' ' ' ' ~ ', ' '', : , ' , WO92/12388 PCT/U~91/09764 figuration of the slots 47a and apertures 80a may vary in size, shape and configuration.
The air paths will be as that shown in FIG. 9~ and 5 will flow essentially in the direction of arrows 28a, 81a, and 82a and the confined air 20a will ~e removed from the building 12a. The exiting confined air 20a in the building 12a will combine with the atmospheric air 16a and exit from the venting means 45a in a unique method. Thus, regardless of the velocity of the atmospheric air speed or its direction, venting can be accomplished from the con- -fined air space 20a to the outside atmosphere 16a. If a sudden drop of atmospheric pressure should occur, the--~
membrane 37a moves toward a closed position illustrated in 15 FIG. 9A thereby preventing the confined air 20a to exit the building and thus, equalize the pressure instan-taneously. Accordingly the angle o~ inclination of the louvres 7Ca forces the inwardly directed air indicated by arrows 44a to be projected against t:he surface of the 20 deflector means 65a and thereafter exiting through the venting means 45a. The surface formed by the venting means 45a may be inclined relative t:o the vertical plane of the building 12a. Concurrently as the external air 16a flows as above described, an initial differential of 25 pressure is created causing the free end 36a of the flexible member to move outwardly creating a path for the exiting of the confined ~ir 20a such tha~ the air can flow and exit from the building through the mixing chamber 32a and thereafter exit through the venting means 45a in the 30 same direction as the outside air 16a. In this embodiment a certain amount of external air 16a will flow through the housing ~eans 30a as illustrated by arrows 90a by entering the venting means 45a and exiting through the air passage means 40a. This flow through aids in creating the 35 pressure differential to obtain the movement of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET
. . .. .
, . ,.~, . . .
., ,, . :.
WO92/12388 PCT/US91/0976~
2~7~
membrane means 35a from its normal position to its open position in FIG. 9B.
Accordingly a strong rain or water from a hose would 5 not enter the passageway 34a and in turn the building 18a.
A dual function is performed by the rearward flexing of the membrane 37a as seen in FIG. 9A -ince it prevents water from flowing upstream in case any would seep through.
Hereinbefore has been disclosed a passive building vent which is inexpensive, reliable and capable of venting confined air within a building to the outside atmosphere under all conditions oî and velocities of the atmospheric air impinging upon the passive building vent such that a 15 novel method of venting a building is also obtained.
"' .
. ', .
, . . .. . , . . . - . . ~ . . .
.,
Claims (45)
1. A passive building vent adapted to be disposed in an outside vertical building wall, in operative rela-tionship to an opening provided in said building wall for communicating between the outside atmospheric air and the confined air within said building comprising:
(A) housing means including an air mixing chamber and a passageway communicating therewith, said passageway adapted to be disposed continguous to said building opening wherein said confined air can flow through said pass-ageway and into said air mixing chamber;
(B) movable membrane means mounted within said housing means at one end of said passageway, the other end of said passageway communicating with said confined air, said membrane means movable between a closed position substan-tially blocking said passageway and an open position permitting the free flow of air therethrough;
(C) air passage means communicating with said housing means for permitting the flow of out-side air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) venting means disposed in the upper surface of said housing means communicating with said air mixing chamber or permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber, and (E) deflector means mounted on said housing means proximate said venting means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, wherein the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector means and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differen-tial such that said membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of said air through said passageway into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
(A) housing means including an air mixing chamber and a passageway communicating therewith, said passageway adapted to be disposed continguous to said building opening wherein said confined air can flow through said pass-ageway and into said air mixing chamber;
(B) movable membrane means mounted within said housing means at one end of said passageway, the other end of said passageway communicating with said confined air, said membrane means movable between a closed position substan-tially blocking said passageway and an open position permitting the free flow of air therethrough;
(C) air passage means communicating with said housing means for permitting the flow of out-side air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) venting means disposed in the upper surface of said housing means communicating with said air mixing chamber or permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber, and (E) deflector means mounted on said housing means proximate said venting means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, wherein the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector means and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differen-tial such that said membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of said air through said passageway into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
2. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said air passage means is provided with vanes for diverting said outside air towards said venting means.
3. A passive building vent according to Claim 2 wherein said vanes include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres with upwardly extending openings.
4. A passive building vent according to Claim 3 wherein said air passage means is disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle relative to said membrane means in its closed position, wherein wind or warm ther-mals that radiate off of said building rise and can pass through said vanes into said air mixing chamber.
5. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said membrane means is disposed in its closed position responsive to gravitational forces.
6. A passive building vent according to Claim 5 wherein said membrane means has a free edge and is affixed to said housing means along the edge opposite from said free edge.
7. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said membrane means is made from MYLAR.
8. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said membrane means is between approximately ? mil and 2 mil thick.
9. A passive building vent according to Claim 8 wherein said membrane means is approximately ? mil thick.
10. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said housing means includes:
(a) a front wall, (b) a pair of side wall portions affixed to said (b) front wall, (c) a rear wall affixed to said side walls, and (d) an upper wall forming the upper surface of said housing means.
(a) a front wall, (b) a pair of side wall portions affixed to said (b) front wall, (c) a rear wall affixed to said side walls, and (d) an upper wall forming the upper surface of said housing means.
11. A passive building vent according to Claim 10 wherein said air passage means is in communicating rela-tionship to said front wall.
12. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 and further including mounting means for removably coupling said housing means to said building.
13. A passive building vent according to Claim 12 wherein said mounting means is adapted at one end thereof for affixing the building vent to the outside vertical wall of said building.
14. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said deflector means is inclined relative to said membrane means at an angle from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
15. A passive building vent according to Claim 14 wherein said angle is approximately 45 degrees.
16. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said venting means includes a plurality of slots to permit said free flow of air.
17. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 and further including resisting means in operative relation to said membrane means to prevent said membrane means from being forced inward under pressure which would permit rain to enter said air passage means.
18. A passive building vent according to Claim 17 wherein said resisting means includes at least one stop in abutting relationship to said membrane means.
19. A passive building vent according to Claim 18 wherein said stop includes a series of steps extending into said air passageway.
20. A passive building vent according to Claim 1 wherein said deflector means is in substantial vertical alignment with said membrane means.
21. A passive building vent adapted to be mounted in operative relationship to an outside vertical building wall having an opening provided in said building wall for communicating between the outside atmospheric air and the confined air within said building comprising:
(A) housing means adapted to be disposed in opera-tive relation said building opening between said confined air and said outside air forming an air mixing chamber and having a passageway disposed therethrough;
(B) movable membrane means mounted within said housing means at one end of said passageway, the other end of said passageway communicating with said confined air, and disposed outside of said vertical building wall, said membrane means having a closed position, substantially blocking said passageway and an open position, permitting the free flow of air therethrough, said membrane means being in said closed position when at rest;
(C) air passage means disposed at the outside distal end of said housing means for per-mitting the flow of outside air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) venting means disposed in the upper surface of said housing means communicating with said air mixing chamber for permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber, and (E) deflector means mounted on said housing means proximate said venting means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, said deflector means being inclined relative to said membrane means and interposed between said membrane means and said venting means, wherein the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector means and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differen-tial such that said membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of said air through said passageway into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
(A) housing means adapted to be disposed in opera-tive relation said building opening between said confined air and said outside air forming an air mixing chamber and having a passageway disposed therethrough;
(B) movable membrane means mounted within said housing means at one end of said passageway, the other end of said passageway communicating with said confined air, and disposed outside of said vertical building wall, said membrane means having a closed position, substantially blocking said passageway and an open position, permitting the free flow of air therethrough, said membrane means being in said closed position when at rest;
(C) air passage means disposed at the outside distal end of said housing means for per-mitting the flow of outside air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) venting means disposed in the upper surface of said housing means communicating with said air mixing chamber for permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber, and (E) deflector means mounted on said housing means proximate said venting means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, said deflector means being inclined relative to said membrane means and interposed between said membrane means and said venting means, wherein the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector means and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differen-tial such that said membrane means is caused to move to its open position permitting the free flow of said air through said passageway into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
22. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said air passage means is provided with vanes for diverting said outside air towards said venting means.
23. A passive building vent according to Claim 22 wherein said vanes include a plurality of horizontally extending louvres with upwardly extending openings.
24. A passive building vent according to Claim 23 wherein said air passage means is disposed at an upwardly and outwardly extending angle relative to said membrane means in its closed position, wherein wind or warm ther-mals that radiate off of said building rise and can pass through said vanes into said air mixing chamber.
25. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said membrane means is disposed in its closed position responsive to gravitational forces.
26. A passive building vent according to Claim 25 wherein said membrane means has a free edge and is affixed to said housing means along the edge opposite from said free edge.
27. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said membrane means is made from MYLAR.
28. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said membrane means is between approximately ? mil and 2 mil thick.
29. A passive building vent according to Claim 28 wherein said membrane means is approximately ? mil thick.
30. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said housing means includes:
(a) a front wall, (b) a pair of side wall portions affixed to said front wall, (c) a rear wall affixed to said side walls, and (d) an upper wall forming the upper surface of said housing means.
(a) a front wall, (b) a pair of side wall portions affixed to said front wall, (c) a rear wall affixed to said side walls, and (d) an upper wall forming the upper surface of said housing means.
31. A passive building vent according to Claim 30 wherein said passage means is in communicating rela-tionship to said front wall.
32. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 and further including mounting means for removably coupling said housing means to said building.
33. A passive building vent according to Claim 32 wherein said mounting means is adapted at one end thereof for affixing the building vent to the outside vertical wall of said building.
34. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said deflector means is inclined relative to said membrane means at an angle from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
35. A passive building vent according to Claim 34 wherein said angle is approximately 45 degrees.
36. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 wherein said venting means includes a plurality of slots to permit said free flow of air.
37. A passive building vent according to Claim 21 and further including resisting means in operative rela-tion to said membrane means to prevent said membrane means from being forced inward under pressure which would permit rain to enter said air passage means.
38. A passive building vent according to Claim 37 wherein said resisting means includes at least one stop in abutting relationship to said membrane means.
39. A passive building vent according to Claim 38 wherein said stop includes a series of steps extending into said air passageway.
40. The method of providing a continuous air path in a building with a passive building vent comprising the steps of:
(A) providing an air mixing chamber within a housing means communicating between the con-fined air space within said building and the outside atmospheric air;
(B) providing a movable membrane mounted within said housing means at one end of said air mixing chamber, whereby said membrane has a closed position, substantially blocking said air mixing chamber and an open position, permitting the free flow of air from within said building into said air mixing chamber, said membrane being in said closed position when at rest;
(C) providing an air passage disposed on said housing means for permitting the flow of outside air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) providing venting means on said housing means in communicating relationship with said air mixing chamber for permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber; and (E) providing a deflector mounted on said housing means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, whereby the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differential such that said membrane is caused to move to its open position per-mitting the free flow of said air into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
(A) providing an air mixing chamber within a housing means communicating between the con-fined air space within said building and the outside atmospheric air;
(B) providing a movable membrane mounted within said housing means at one end of said air mixing chamber, whereby said membrane has a closed position, substantially blocking said air mixing chamber and an open position, permitting the free flow of air from within said building into said air mixing chamber, said membrane being in said closed position when at rest;
(C) providing an air passage disposed on said housing means for permitting the flow of outside air into said air mixing chamber;
(D) providing venting means on said housing means in communicating relationship with said air mixing chamber for permitting the flow of air to exit from said air mixing chamber; and (E) providing a deflector mounted on said housing means and communicating with said air mixing chamber, whereby the flow of outside air entering through said air passage means impinges upon said deflector and is forced to exit through said venting means providing a pressure differential such that said membrane is caused to move to its open position per-mitting the free flow of said air into said air mixing chamber for venting the building.
41. A method according to claim 40 further including the step of mounting said housing means to said building.
42. A method according to claim 40 further including the step of providing a passageway communicating with said air mixing chamber at one end thereof and said confined air space at said other end outside of said building.
43. A method according to claim 40 further in-cludinq the step of preventing the flow of liquid past said movable membrane and into said air passageway.
44. A method according to claim 43 further including the step of providing a stop in abutting rela-tion to said movable membrane whereby rain is prevented from entering said air passageway and in turn said building.
45. A method according to claim 40, further including the step of positioning said deflector proximate said venting means and relative to said membrane and interposed between said membrane and said venting means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/639,045 US5080005A (en) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-01-09 | Passive building vents |
| US639,045 | 1991-01-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2076959A1 true CA2076959A1 (en) | 1992-07-10 |
Family
ID=24562508
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002076959A Abandoned CA2076959A1 (en) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-12-17 | Passive building vents |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5080005A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0519065A4 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU646326B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2076959A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992012388A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2691789B1 (en) * | 1992-05-27 | 1999-04-23 | Michel Zaniewski | IMPROVEMENTS TO DEVICES PROVIDING THE AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION AND REGULATION OF AIR FLOWS, PARTICULARLY FOR VENTILATION OF PREMISES. |
| US5603657A (en) * | 1994-06-30 | 1997-02-18 | Cor-A-Vent | Ventilating device |
| US5921863A (en) * | 1994-06-30 | 1999-07-13 | Cor-A-Vent Incorporated | Roof ventilating device |
| US5919582A (en) * | 1995-10-18 | 1999-07-06 | Aer Energy Resources, Inc. | Diffusion controlled air vent and recirculation air manager for a metal-air battery |
| US5766073A (en) * | 1997-01-23 | 1998-06-16 | O'kelley; Charles H. | Exhaust header for building ventilator fan |
| US6087029A (en) * | 1998-01-06 | 2000-07-11 | Aer Energy Resources, Inc. | Water recovery using a bi-directional air exchanger for a metal-air battery |
| US6350537B1 (en) | 1998-12-18 | 2002-02-26 | Aer Energy Resources, Inc. | Load responsive air door for an electrochemical cell |
| US6213868B1 (en) | 1999-07-12 | 2001-04-10 | Cor-A-Vent, Inc. | Roof ventilator with movable member to prevent entry of moisture |
| US6223473B1 (en) * | 1999-09-10 | 2001-05-01 | Cid Associates, Inc. | Explosion relief system including an explosion relief panel and a blast shaft having two openings |
| BE1019153A4 (en) * | 2010-01-21 | 2012-04-03 | Reynaers Aluminium Nv | VENTILATION UNIT FOR A WINDOW, A DOOR OR THE LIKE. |
| WO2015191425A1 (en) * | 2014-06-13 | 2015-12-17 | Ploeger Kurt | High wind event pressure equalization device |
| US10935276B2 (en) | 2015-10-20 | 2021-03-02 | Steven Michalski | Air mixing device |
| US11186144B2 (en) * | 2017-04-21 | 2021-11-30 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Pressure relief assembly having a liquid-diverting cover |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1081195A (en) * | 1911-01-13 | 1913-12-09 | Frederick C Austin | Window-ventilator. |
| US1623286A (en) * | 1926-06-01 | 1927-04-05 | Louden Machinery Co | Air control for ventilating systems |
| CH254733A (en) * | 1947-05-27 | 1948-05-31 | Holliger August | Ventilation device built into a facade wall of a room. |
| US2790377A (en) * | 1953-07-24 | 1957-04-30 | Pryne & Co Inc | Wall cap for ventilating duct |
| DE1915719C3 (en) * | 1969-03-27 | 1979-06-13 | Ab Electrolux, Stockholm | Ventilation device for installation in a vertical outer wall of a room containing a heat-generating device |
| US4593504A (en) * | 1985-02-14 | 1986-06-10 | Jimco Products | Pressure equalizing roof vent |
-
1991
- 1991-01-09 US US07/639,045 patent/US5080005A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-12-17 WO PCT/US1991/009764 patent/WO1992012388A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1991-12-17 EP EP19920904740 patent/EP0519065A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-12-17 AU AU12664/92A patent/AU646326B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-12-17 CA CA002076959A patent/CA2076959A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0519065A4 (en) | 1993-06-09 |
| AU646326B2 (en) | 1994-02-17 |
| US5080005A (en) | 1992-01-14 |
| EP0519065A1 (en) | 1992-12-23 |
| WO1992012388A1 (en) | 1992-07-23 |
| AU1266492A (en) | 1992-08-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |