Closed air handling system with integrated damper for whole-building ventilation

Abstract

A closed air handling system for heating and / or cooling has an integrated damper mechanism for diverting discharge air into the attic or crawl space of a house, apartment, or other building, and for facilitating the introduction of fresh air into such building. Optionally, the damper has integrated louvers for use during an open position such that a venturi effect increases airflow by creating a vacuum between the louvers and the ducts connected to the discharge plenum.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES [0001] Applicant claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 224,764, filed Sep. 13, 2005.GOVERNMENTAL RIGHTS [0002] None. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Before the advent of evaporative air cooling systems, now commonly known as air conditioning, many homes were cooled by the movement of air via fans. Even today, the high cost of heating and cooling indoor living spaces makes moderating indoor air temperatures using fresh air highly desirable when outdoor temperatures allow. Not only can fresh air be used to moderate temperature, the simple movement of air can create a cooling sensation on the human skin. [0004] Attic fans are capable of both creating air movement and bringing fresh air into a dwelling. Attic ventilations systems date back to at least 1938, when U.S. Pat. No. 2,130,660 issued on such a system. However, the prior art relating to attic ventilation systems is deficient as applied to contemporary dwellings for several reasons. Many struc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] A semi-closed central heating and / or air conditioning system is provided in which the system further facilitates the entry of fresh air into a dwelling. A typical central heating and / or air conditioning system has a central air handler that is comprised of a return air vent, a discharge plenum, and a plurality of ducts coupled to the plenum for distributing air to a plurality of areas in the building. For heating, the system has a blower and a heat exchanger for heating interior air. For cooling, the system has an inside evaporator coil coupled to the air handler and an outside condenser unit for cooling interior air.

[0016] In the present invention, the discharge plenum contains an integrated damper mechanism. The damper, when closed, allows the system to operate as a normal central heating and / or air conditioning system. When opened, the damper allows the air to be discharged into the attic or crawl space, and further discharged through attic or crawl space vents into the atmosphere. The discharge of air from the system blower through the damper creates suction by which the central air system pulls air from outside the dwelling via windows or door, which increases the ventilation rate for the dwelling.

[0017] The present invention is designed to complement pre-existing central heating and / or air conditioning systems. The circuitry for controlling the present invention simply connects into the unit board of a pre-existing central heating and / or air conditioning system of the prior art. The circuitry of the present invention turns on power to the central heating / cooling system blower, and locks out the thermostat signals, so no air is conditioned with heating or cooling during operation as an attic fan system. Further, when the invention is installed in an attic, the discharge of air from the damper into the attic serves to carry away the solar heating load of the roof, which keeps such load from reaching the living quarters without the necessity of operating the high-energy cooling system.

Problems solved by technology

However, the prior art relating to attic ventilation systems is deficient as applied to contemporary dwellings for several reasons.

Many structures may not be designed such that installation of an attic fan is feasible.

Attic fans may not be aesthetically pleasing to builders, owners, and potential purchasers of modern homes as such devices require a large opening inside the dwelling.

Attic fans are typically very noisy.

Finally, when not in use, an attic fan usually does not form a sufficient protective barrier between the hot, cold, or dusty attic and the living spaces of the dwelling in which the fan is installed.

Other attempts to improve the attic fan have not remedied the above-listed deficiencies of the prior art.

Because this design necessarily includes an attic fan, it is deficient for the similar reasons as an attic fan, including unsuitability for installation in modern dwellings, noise, and unpleasing aesthetics.

However, central heating and / or air conditioning systems have one major deficiency in that such systems merely circulate air already inside the dwelling.

That is, central heating and / or air conditioning systems have no means by which to facilitate the introduction fresh air to the dwelling.

Certainly an inhabitant can open the windows to a home to allow entry of fresh air, but the central heating and / or air conditioning system of such a home does nothing to speed such entry.

Indeed, many scientific studies demonstrate that indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air even in the most heavily populated and industrialized cities.

These studies conclude that the poor ventilation rates provided by central heating and / or air conditioning systems are unsatisfactory.

High moisture and dust content of air continually recycled by central heating and / or air conditioning systems may be a contributing factor to indoor air pollution.

This design suffers from four known flaws.

First, in many applications, the blower cannot draw sufficient air from outside the building through the ducts to positively pressurize the interior of the building, so very little air actually moves through the port into the attic; such a deficiency defeats the purpose of the invention.

Second, the utility of the invention is wholly compromised if the interior of the building is not a closed system; for instance, if someone were to open a window, the port would be rendered useless.

Third, the '585 patent requires a stand-alone damper that, due to the outside port, can be expensive to purchase and install.

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