Window fan with rain sensing control
AssigneeH. P. Intellectual Corp.
InventorVictor A. Krasenics, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A window fan assembly comprising a housing with openings therein for an air stream through the housing; at least one fan is mounted in the housing for generating the air stream through the openings of the housing; and a sensor connected to the housing, the sensor being disposed on the housing for detecting moisture particles associated with the air stream, upon the detection of a moisture particle of a predetermined size, the sensor causes an interruption of the air stream by stopping the fan operation.
Claims16
A window fan assembly comprising:
- a housing with openings therein for an air stream through the housing;
- at least one fan mounted to the housing for generating the air stream through the openings of the housing;
- and
- a sensor connected to the housing, the sensor being disposed on the housing for detecting moisture particles associated with the air stream, upon the detection of a moisture particle of a predetermined size, the sensor causes interruption of the air stream by stopping the fan operation.
A method of controlling a window fan assembly having at least one fan in a housing with openings therein for an air stream during fan operation, said method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a sensor in close proximity to the openings for the air stream for sensing the presence of moisture particles therein;
- providing a sensor circuit to control the fan operation;
- providing the sensor circuit with a sensor element having two separated conductive grid works, the grid works being separated by a predetermined distance;
- and
- in the presence of moisture particles of a predetermined size, the sensor circuit interrupts fan operation to prevent the air stream from carrying the moisture particles through the fan housing.
A window fan comprising:
- a housing configured to fit within a window opening, the housing having at least one air opening with a fan mounted in the housing;
- and
- a rain sensor device for controlling the fan in the presence of precipitation, said rain sensor device comprising a rain sensor element having a pair of substantially parallel conductive grids, a lower grid and an upper grid, one above the other, separated by an insulating layer with a plurality of channels therein for allowing moisture particles to pass therethrough, the parallel grids being held a predetermined distance apart by the insulating layer to effect simultaneous contact with the moisture particle of a given diameter and a controller for turning off power to the fan upon at least one moisture particle contacting both the parallel conductive grids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.