Energy recovery ventilator

Abstract

An energy recovery ventilator wherein two of the air flow openings are in direct communication with either the fresh air space or the stale air space. The energy recovery ventilator has a housing with at least a first face panel holding a heat exchange device. The housing includes two air flow openings in the first face panel of the housing, in direct communication with the stale air space, and two other air flow openings in the housing in communication with the fresh air space through duct pipes. Alternatively, the first two air flow openings are in direct communication with the fresh air space, and the other two air flow openings are in communication with the stale air space through duct pipes. The energy recovery ventilator also includes a hinged bar mounting system and a control system. The features of the present invention facilitate ease of installation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to air-to-air heat exchangers, otherwise known as energy recovery ventilators, and more particularly to an energy recovery ventilator with features facilitating ease of installation. The design of the present invention provides a more efficient and more cost effective method for installing an energy recovery ventilator. [0002] An energy recovery ventilator is generally used to exhaust stale air from a stale air space to a fresh air space and bring in fresh air from the fresh air space to the stale air space while exchanging heat or cool energy, thereby reducing heating or cooling requirements associated with fresh air introduction. Energy recovery ventilators are often used in connection with a heating or cooling system, wherein the stale air space is sometimes a return air duct of the heating or cooling system, and the fresh air space is generally the outdoors. [0003] When in use with a heating or cooling sy...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The energy recovery ventilator of the present invention also includes a hinged bar mounting system to make installation easier and more efficient. The hinged bar mounting system comprises two hinge brackets, a first hinge bracket removably fastened to a mounting surface, such as a return air duct or a wall, and a second hinge bracket removably fastened to the housing. The first hinge bracket is shaped to engageably receive the second hinge bracket. The two hinge brackets thus engaged support the energy recovery ventilator with respect to the mounting surface, thereby enabling an installer to more easily connect the energy recovery ventilator to the return air duct or wall.

[0017] There are a number of advantages of the present invention. First, the housing can mount directly to the return air duct of a heating or cooling system. Also, the housing requires only two separate duct pipes to be installed instead of four, saving installation time and cost. Installation of the energy recovery ventilator of the present invention is also very flexible because it can be installed in a number of different orientations and locations on the return air duct of a heating or cooling system, or on a wall, ceiling, or other mounting location as a stand-alone unit.

[0018] In addition, the hinged bar mounting system allows one person to easily install the energy recovery ventilator, again saving time and cost associated with installation. Further, a built-in control system with a plug-in power source eliminates the need to further wire the control system to an existing electrical system in the building, unless concurrent operation with the heating or cooling system fan is desired. The control system can also facilitate good fresh air distribution in the building by minimizing fresh air stagnation in the return air duct through operation of the heating or cooling system fan concurrently with the energy recovery ventilator.

Problems solved by technology

The prior art energy recovery ventilator units are costly and cumbersome to install in that they require the installation of four separate duct pipes to carry each air stream to or from the fresh air or stale air spaces.

Further, it is difficult for a single person to efficiently and easily install a prior art energy recovery ventilator, and contractors often go to the expense of sending two installers to the job to ensure that the installation is completed within specific time parameters.

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