Air make-up unit

• US 4,362,922 A
• Filed: 11/26/1980
• Issued: 12/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Standex International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Standex International Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Leroy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Application Number:
  US06/210,269
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 219/342, 219/343, 219/345, 219/365, 219/366, 219/367, 219/368, 219/369, 219/370, 219/371, 219/375, 98/29, 98/31, 237/79, 165/121, 165/126
• US Class Current: 392/368
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/013 using wall or window fans, displacing air through the wall or window
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0488 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/909 Radon prevention

Abstract

Disclosed is an air make-up unit mounted within the confines of a conventional outside wall of a frame building between the 16" on-center studs. The unit includes a rotary blower with a horizontal tangential discharge, the latter having heating elements therein and being encased in a vertical wall of insulation which extends within an insulated air chamber defined by a telescoping outer casing. Positive air pressure is maintained within the building by air-pressure-sensitive controls located within the building and controlling the two-speed motor. The latter is thermostatically controlled to be operated at a slower speed when colder weather prevails. It is also controlled and energized by a humidistat located within the building to force outside air into the building and diminish the humidity therein when needed.

Claims

1. An air make-up system comprising:

(a) a frame building having a standard exterior wall with vertical studs having standard horizontal distances therebetween, said wall being of standard or greater thickness;

(b) an elongated metal casing mounted in an opening in said exterior wall between a pair of said studs and having a depth no greater than the thickness of said wall;

(c) an air intake housing having a tubular forward portion surrounding said casing and extending inwardly in close sliding telescoping relation and having an imperforate shielding wall outside said exterior wall and extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portions of said housing;

(d) said housing including a generally horizontal screen member extending inwardly thereacross from the lower portions of said imperforate wall toward said tubular portion of said housing to admit outside air into the interior thereof;

(e) side, top and bottom wall structure within said casing defining an interior air chamber within said casing and open at the front and rear thereof;

(f) a rotary blower mounted within said air chamber and having an air-intake in communication with the interior of said housing and having a tangential discharge throat extending horizontally and inwardly therefrom;

(g) at least one electrical heating element mounted within said blower throat to warm the air driven thereacross by said blower;

(h) a vertical wall extending longitudinally of said casing and across the interior of said chamber and around said blower throat and sealing the interior of said housing from the interior of said building except for through said blower throat;

(i) insulation within said vertical wall completely surrounding and insulating the portions of said throat in which said heating element is mounted and insulating the interior of said housing and the outside air from the interior of said building;

(j) insulation within said side, top and bottom wall structure defining said chamber and completely insulating the outer surfaces of said walls and their surrounding wall structure from the heat generated by said heating element;

(k) a controllable electric motor mounted within said chamber and connected to said rotary blower in driving relation for driving the same and thereby causing a positive air pressure to be built up within said frame building; and

(l) means for energizing said heating element as desired.

2. The structure defined in claim 1,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) air-pressure-sensitive control means located within said frame building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, to energize and de-energize said motor at pressures below and above, respectively, a predetermined positive air pressure for the interior of said building whereby the interior of said building may be maintained under desirable positive-pressure conditions.

3. The structure defined in claim 1,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) humidity-sensitive control means located within said building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing and de-energizing said motor at humidity levels above and below, respectively, a predetermined humidity level for the interior of said building, whereby outside air will be controllably introduced into the interior of said building to maintain the humidity level therein at the predetermined level.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said motor is a two-speed motor,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) temperature-sensitive speed control means located outside said building in the open air and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, to energize said motor at a predetermined speed in response to outside air temperatures above a predetermined temperature and at a slower speed in response to outside air temperatures below said predetermined temperatures, whereby the air moved across said electrical heating element by said blower will be more adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low air temperatures outside said building.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein it includes a plurality of said heating elements so mounted, and means electrically connecting each of said heating elements with an electric supply;

and

(m) temperature-sensitive control means located outside said building and interposed within said means electrically connecting each of said heating elements with an electric supply, for energizing at least one of said heating elements at outside air temperatures below a predetermined temperature and for energizing at least an additional one of said heating elements at outside air temperatures below a second and lower predetermined temperature, whereby the air moved over said heating elements by said blower will be adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low air temperatures outside said building.

6. The structure defined in claim 1,

(m) means electrically connecting said heating element with an electrical supply;

and

(n) temperature-sensitive control means located outside said building and interposed within said means electrically connected said heating element with an electrical supply, and energizing and de-enegizing said heating element at outside air-temperatures below and above, respectively, a predetermined air temperature, whereby outside air forced into said building by said blower will be adequately preconditioned as to temperature as desired prior to its introduction.

7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein it includes a plurality of said heating elements so mounted,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply,

(n) air-pressure-sensitive control means located within said frame building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing and de-energizing said motor in response to pressures below and above respectively, a predetermined positive air pressure for the interior of said building whereby the interior of said building may be maintained under desirable positive pressure conditions, and

(o) temperature-sensitive control means located outside said building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said heating elements with the electrical supply, and energizing at least one of said heating elements in response to outside air temperatures below a predetermined temperature and energizing at least an additional one of said heating elements in response to outside air temperatures below a second and lower predetermined temperature whereby the air moved over said heating elements by said blower will be adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low outside air temperatures.

8. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein it includes a plurality of said heating elements so mounted, and said motor is a variable speed motor,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply,

(n) air-pressure-sensitive control means located within said frame building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing and de-energizing said motor at pressures below and above, respectively, a predetermined positive air pressure for the interior of said building whereby the interior of said building may be maintained under desirable positive pressure conditions, and

(o) temperature-sensitive speed control means located outside said building in the open air and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing said motor at a predetermined speed in response to outside air temperatures above a predetermined temperature and at a slower speed in response to outside air temperatures below said predetermined temperature, whereby the air moved across said electrical heating element by said blower will be more adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low air temperatures outside said building.

9. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said motor is a variable speed motor,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply,

(n) humidity-sensitive control means located within said building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing and de-energizing said motor at humidity levels above and below, respectively, a predetermined humidity level for the interior of said building, whereby outside air will be controllably introduced into the interior of said building to maintain the humidity level therein at the predetermined level, and

(o) temperature-sensitive speed-control means located outside said building in the open air and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing said motor at a predetermined speed in response to outside air-temperatures above a predetermined temperature, and at a slower speed in response to outside air-temperatures below said predetermined temperatures whereby the air moved across said electrical heating element by said blower will be more adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low air temperatures outside said building.

10. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said motor is a two-speed motor,

(m) means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and

(n) temperature-sensitive control means located within said building and interposed within said means electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, and energizing said blower and said heating element in response to temperatures within said builing below a predetermined temperature and de-energizing said blower and said heating element in response to temperatures within said building above said predetermined temperature.

11. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the axis of said rotary blower is in substantially the same vertical plane as the rear end of said casing.

12. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the upper portion of said heating element is in substantially the same horizontal plane as the axis of said rotary blower.

13. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein approximately one-half of said rotary blower extends into said housing.

14. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary blower has a housing which has an upwardly facing air-intake opening in its upper portions.

15. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the depth of said casing is less than 5.5 inches.

16. An air make-up unit comprising:

(a) an elongated metal casing constructed and arranged to be mounted within an opening between the studs of a standard exterior wall of a building;

(b) said casing having a length less than the spacing between the studs of such a standard exterior wall of a building and having a depth substantially no greater than the thickness of such a wall;

(c) an air intake housing having a tubular forward portion surrounding said casing in close sliding telescoping relation and having an imperforate end wall extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portions thereof;

(d) said housing including a generally horizontal screen member extending inwardly thereacross from the lower rear edge portions of said imperforate wall toward said tubular portion to admit outside air into the interior of said housing;

(e) side, top and bottom wall structure within said casing defining an interior air chamber open at the front and rear ends of said casing;

(f) a rotary blower mounted within said air chamber and in communication with the interior of said housing and having a tangential discharge throat extending horizontally and forwardly therefrom;

(g) at least one electrical heating element mounted within said blower throat to warm the air passed therethrough by said blower;

(h) vertical wall extending longitudinally of said casing and across the interior of said chamber and around said blower throat and sealing the interior of said housing from the discharge of said blower throat except for through said blower throat;

(i) insulation within said vertical wall completely surrounding and insulating the portions of said throat in which said heating element is mounted and insulating the interior of the housing from the opposite side of said vertical wall;

(j) insulation within said side, top and bottom wall structure defining said chamber and completely insulating the outer surfaces of said walls from the heat generated by said heating element;

(k) a controllable electric motor mounted within said chamber and connected to said rotary blower for driving the same as desired to cause a positive air pressure to be built up within such a building when said casing is so mounted;

(l) means for energizing said heating element as desired.

17. The structure defined in claim 16

(m) means for electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) room air-pressure-sensitive control means interposed within said means for connecting said motor with an electric supply, to energize and de-energize said motor at pressures below and above, respectively, a predetermined air pressure level for the interior of a room whereby interior of the room may be maintained under positive pressure conditions.

18. The structure defined in claim 16

(m) means for electrically connecting said heating element with an electric supply;

and

(n) outside-air temperature-sensitive control means interposed within said means for connecting said heating element with an electric supply to energize and de-energize said heating element at outside air temperatures below and above, respectively, a predetermined air temperature, whereby outside air forced into such a residence by said blower will be pre-conditioned as to temperature as desired prior to its introduction.

19. The structure defined in claim 16

(m) means for electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) room-humidity sensitive control means interposed within said means for connecting said motor with an electric supply to energize and de-energize said motor at humidity levels above and below, respectively, a predetermined humidity level for the interior of a room whereby outside air will be controllably introduced into the interior of the room to maintain the humidity level therein at the predetermined level.

20. The structure defined in claim 16 wherein said motor is a two-speed motor

(m) means for electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply;

and

(n) outside-air temperature-sensitive control means interposed within said means for electrically connecting said motor with an electric supply, to energize said motor at a predetermined speed at outside air-temperatures above a predetermined temperature and at a slower speed at outside air-temperatures below said predetermined temperature, whereby the air moved across said electrical heating element by said blower will be adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low outside air temperatures.

21. The structure defined in claim 16 wherein it includes a plurality of said heating elements so mounted, and means for electrically connecting each of said heating elements with an electric supply;

and

(m) outside-air temperature-sensitive control means for electrically connecting each of said heating elements with an electric supply for energizing at least one of said heating elements at outside air-temperatures below a predetermined outside-air temperature, and for energizing at least an additional one of said heating elements at outside air temperatures below a second and lower predetermined air temperature, whereby the air moved over said heating elements by said blower will be adequately warmed despite the existence of relatively low outside-air temperatures.

22. The structure defined in claim 16, and

(m) damper means controllable from the front of said casing and located within said air intake housing in opening and closing relation with said screen member to control the admission of outside air therethrough.