# US 11,112,141 B2 · Rain hood with air flow sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,141 B2 - Document ID: US11112141B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/264,435 - Filed: 2019-01-31 - Published: 2020-07-09 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-08 - Assignees: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC - Applicants: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC - Inventors: Timothy A. Vogel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112141B2 ## CPC - F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - F24F 13/082: {Grilles, registers or guards} - F24F 2110/12: of the outside air - F24F 2110/32: of the outside air - F24F 2110/40: Pressure, e.g. wind pressure - F24F 2221/16: mounted on the roof - F24F 2221/52: Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract An air handling unit includes a rain hood configured to receive an air flow from an external environment surrounding the rain hood, and a sensor disposed within the rain hood and configured to monitor air flow parameters indicative of a flow rate of the air flow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air handling unit, comprising: a rain hood configured to receive an air flow passing between the air handling unit and an external environment surrounding the rain hood; and a sensor disposed within the rain hood and configured to monitor a flow rate of the air flow, wherein the sensor is disposed in a location of the rain hood, the location being closer to an air output opening of the rain hood than an air input opening of the rain hood. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a thermal dispersion air flow rate meter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a differential pressure sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, comprising a water-resistant electronics enclosure and electronic circuitry disposed within the water-resistant electronics enclosure, wherein the electronic circuitry is communicatively coupled to the sensor, and wherein the water-resistant electronics enclosure is disposed at least partially within the external environment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air handling unit of claim 4, wherein the rain hood includes a frame having the air input opening configured to receive the air flow therethrough and having a sensor access opening extending through a wall of the frame to enable coupling between the electronic circuitry and the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air handling unit of claim 4, wherein the water-resistant electronics enclosure includes water-resistant components configured to exclude at least 65 gallons per minute (GPM) of water from a 1-inch nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 feet for 5 minutes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the rain hood includes a frame having the air input opening and a mesh filter disposed over the air input opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, comprising: a rain hood frame of the rain hood and the air input opening defined by an edge of the rain hood frame; an electronics enclosure disposed at least partially within the external environment and having electronic circuitry housed therein; and an electrical connection extending between the electronic circuitry and the sensor, wherein the electrical connection extends across the edge of the rain hood frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed in a region adjacent to a back-upper edge of the rain hood, and the back-upper edge is disposed adjacent to the air output opening of the rain hood. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air handling unit of claim 1, comprising an electronics enclosure and electronic circuitry disposed within the electronics enclosure, wherein the electronic circuitry is communicatively coupled to the sensor, and wherein the electronics enclosure is disposed within the rain hood. ### Claim 11 An air handling unit, comprising: a rain hood frame defining a rain hood interior and having an air input opening configured to receive an air flow from an external environment surrounding the rain hood frame; an air flow sensor disposed within the rain hood interior and configured to monitor a flow rate of the air flow, wherein the air flow sensor is disposed closer to an air output opening of the rain hood frame than the air input opening of the rain hood frame; and an electronics enclosure disposed at least partially within the external environment and having electronic circuitry disposed therein, wherein the air flow sensor is communicatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The air handling unit of claim 11, comprising: a sensor access opening formed through a wall of the rain hood frame; and an electrical connection extending through the sensor access opening and communicatively coupling the electronic circuitry and the air flow sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The air handling unit of claim 11, comprising an electrical connection between the electronic circuitry and the air flow sensor, wherein the air input opening of the rain hood frame is defined by an edge of the rain hood frame and the electric connection extends adjacent the edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The air handling unit of claim 11, wherein the electronics enclosure is a water-resistant electronics enclosure having water-resistant components. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The air handling unit of claim 11, wherein the air flow sensor is a thermal dispersion air flow rate meter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The air handling unit of claim 11, wherein the air flow sensor is a differential pressure sensor. ### Claim 17 A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising: a rain hood frame defining a rain hood interior, wherein the rain hood frame includes an air input opening configured to receive an air flow from an external environment surrounding the rain hood frame and includes a sensor access opening formed in a wall of the rain hood frame; an air flow sensor disposed within the rain hood interior and configured to detect a flow rate of the air flow, wherein the air flow sensor is disposed in a location of the rain hood interior that is closer to an air output opening of the rain hood frame than the air input opening of the rain hood frame; and an electronics enclosure disposed at least partially within the external environment and having electronic circuitry disposed therein, wherein the electronic circuitry is coupled to the air flow sensor via the sensor access opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, wherein the rain hood frame includes a filter disposed over the air input opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, wherein the electronics enclosure is a water-resistant electronics enclosure having water-resistant components. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The HVAC system of claim 19, wherein the water-resistant components are configured to exclude at least 65 gallons per minute (GPM) of water from a 1-inch nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 feet for 5 minutes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, wherein the air flow sensor is a thermal dispersion air flow rate meter. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The HVAC system of claim 17, comprising an air handling unit having the rain hood frame, the air flow sensor, and the electronics enclosure.