Ventilation system and method
AssigneeWoodlane Environmental Technology, Inc.
InventorGregory M. McCarren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A balanced building ventilation system that employs a fireplace as an element of the ventilation system. The fireplace includes a firebox, and an exhaust gas flue is connected to the firebox for exhausting gas from the firebox to the outdoor ambient. A ventilation channel conveys outdoor ambient air into the building interior. A motor-driven draft inducer is connected to the exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient. A motor-driven blower is provided for forcing ventilation airflow through the channel to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow.
Claims34
A system for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said system comprising:
- a fireplace including a firebox;
- an exhaust gas flue connected to said firebox for exhausting gas from said firebox to the outdoor ambient;
- a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;
- a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- a motor-driven blower within said channel for forcing ventilation airflow into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow;
- and
- a temperature sensor responsive to a temperature rise caused by a fire in the fireplace, and connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for initiating forced exhaust gas flow and forced ventilation airflow when there is a fire in said fireplace.
A system for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said system comprising:
- a fireplace including a firebox;
- an exhaust gas flue connected to said firebox for exhausting gas from said firebox to the outdoor ambient;
- a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;
- a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- a motor-driven blower within said channel for forcing ventilation airflow into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow;
- and
- a temperature sensor responsive to a temperature rise caused by a fire in the fireplace, and connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in said fireplace.
A system for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said system comprising:
- a fireplace including a firebox;
- an exhaust gas flue connected to said firebox for exhausting gas from said firebox to the outdoor ambient;
- a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;
- a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- a motor-driven blower within said channel for forcing ventilation airflow into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow;
- a first thermostat responsive to a relatively lower temperature and connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at reduced speeds when there is a relatively smaller fire in said fireplace;
- and
- a second thermostat responsive to a relatively higher temperature and connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at full speed when there is a relatively larger fire in said fireplace.
A system for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said system comprising:
- a fireplace including a firebox;
- an exhaust gas flue connected to said firebox for exhausting gas from said firebox to the outdoor ambient;
- a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;
- a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- a motor-driven blower within said channel for forcing ventilation airflow into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow;
- and
- an adjustment to facilitate adjustment of either the ventilation airflow or the exhaust gas flow so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow.
A method for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said method comprising:
- providing a fireplace which includes an exhaust gas flue open to the outdoor ambient;
- providing a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- forcing exhaust gas flow out through the exhaust gas flue;
- forcing ventilation airflow through the channel into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow;
- and
- increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace.
A method for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said method comprising:
- providing a fireplace which includes an exhaust gas flue open to the outdoor ambient;
- providing a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- forcing exhaust gas flow out through the exhaust gas flue;
- forcing ventilation airflow through the channel into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow;
- employing a first temperature sensor responsive to a relatively lower temperature to determine when there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace, and automatically forcing the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow at reduced rates when the first temperature sensor has determined there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace;
- and
- employing a second temperature sensor responsive to a relatively higher temperature to determine when there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace, and automatically forcing the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow at increased rates when the second temperature sensor has determined there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace.
A method for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said method comprising:
- providing a fireplace which includes an exhaust gas flue open to the outdoor ambient;
- providing a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;
- forcing exhaust gas flow out through the exhaust gas flue;
- forcing ventilation airflow through the channel into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow;
- and
- making an adjustment so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.