VENTILATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150226443A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Zakula, Mirko, Penlesky, Robert G., Karst, Daniel L., Jonas, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,689,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/20 Casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/205 Mounting a ventilator fan therein
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention include a ventilation apparatus including a housing assembly with at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet, and an exhaust fan assembly coupled to the housing assembly within an inner region. The exhaust fan assembly can include a scroll positioned within and coupled to the main housing, and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll and mechanically coupled to the motor. The ventilation assembly can include a configurable mounting panel including a main panel and at least one tab, and at least one configurable flange coupled to the main panel and extending outwardly from the main panel. The configurable mounting panel can include at least one bending region with at least one aperture. The ventilation apparatus can also include a muffler including an aperture, an electrical box enclosure including a lid, and a duct connector assembly each coupled with the housing assembly.

Claims

1. A ventilation apparatus, comprising:

a housing assembly including a main housing comprising a plurality of sides including at least a first side coupled to a second side and at least partially enclosing an inner region,

the housing assembly including at least one fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a surrounding environment, and at least one fluid outlet positioned through the first side of the main housing;

an exhaust fan assembly coupled to the housing assembly within the inner region, the exhaust fan assembly comprising a scroll positioned within and coupled to the main housing, and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll and mechanically coupled to the motor and capable of generating a fluid flow within the scroll;

a configurable mounting panel coupled to at least one of the plurality of sides,

the configurable mounting panel comprising a main panel and at least one tab and at least one configurable flange coupled to the main panel and extending outwardly from the main panel; and

at least one bending region coupled between the main panel and the at least one configurable flange, the at least one bending region comprising at least one aperture.

2. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a muffler including a muffler aperture,

the muffler positioned within and coupled to the housing assembly.

3. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the muffler includes a top panel top side, a bottom side and an outer periphery region around the muffler aperture, the outer periphery region comprising a substantially convex surface on the top side and a substantially concave surface on the bottom side.

4. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the muffler further includes a plurality of structural ridges coupled to the substantially concave surface in the bottom side.

5. The ventilation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the muffler further includes a plurality of fastening mounts, the plurality of fastening mounts configured and arranged to couple the muffler to the exhaust assembly and the main housing assembly.

6. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configurable mounting panel is coupled to the second side.

7. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side comprises the configurable mounting panel.

8. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one configurable mounting panel includes at least one mounting aperture.

9. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configurable mounting panel includes a first configurable flange and a second configurable flange.

10. The ventilation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first configurable flange and the second configurable flange each comprise at least one mounting aperture.

11. The ventilation apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first configurable flange and the second configurable flange each further comprise an aperture.

12. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical box enclosure.

13. The ventilation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one electrical box enclosure includes at least two anchoring flanges;

and

wherein the electrical box enclosure is secured to the housing assembly by a first anchoring flange coupling with a third side of the main housing, and a second anchoring flange coupling with a fourth side of the main housing.

14. The ventilation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one electrical box enclosure includes an electrical box cover plate.

15. The ventilation apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electrical box cover plate is secured to the electrical box enclosure using at least one screw.

16. The ventilation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electrical box cover plate further comprises a lifting tab.

17. The ventilation apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrical box cover plate can be at least partially opened by pivoting the plate about an edge by applying a lifting force to the lifting tab following loosening and removal of the screw.

18. The ventilation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a duct connector assembly coupled to first side of the main housing.

19. A ventilation apparatus, comprising:

a housing assembly including at least one fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a surrounding environment and a main housing comprising at least a first side coupled to a second side comprising a configurable mounting panel;

a fluid outlet positioned through the first side of the main housing;

an exhaust fan assembly comprising a scroll positioned within and coupled to the main housing, and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll and mechanically coupled to the motor and capable of generating a fluid flow within the scroll and fluid discharge through the fluid outlet; and

wherein the configurable mounting panel comprises a main panel, at least one tab, and at least one configurable flange coupled to and extending outwardly from the main panel; and

wherein the configurable mounting panel comprises at least one bending region coupled between the main panel and the at least one configurable flange,

the at least one bending region comprises at least one aperture; and

a muffler including an aperture, the muffler positioned within and coupled to the housing assembly.

20. The ventilation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an electrical box enclosure coupled within the main housing and a duct connector assembly coupled to the first side.