Integral air intake apparatus

• US 5,201,685 A
• Filed: 04/25/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raydot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Raydot Incorporated
• Inventors: Raisanen, Niilo A. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US07/691,383
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 137/527.6, 137/527.8, 251/359, 454/254, 454/256, 454/259, 454/270, 454/275, 454/292, 454/304
• US Class Current: 454/259
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0058 Construction of air inlets or outlets in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/75 for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1413 using more than one tilting member, e.g. with several pivoting blades F24F13/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/1426 characterised by actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7903 Weight biased

Abstract

An integrally formed air intake apparatus for regulating air flow into a structure such as a barn. The air intake apparatus includes an elongate convex valve seat to minimize contact between the valve seat and its valve and to permit smooth air flow over the rounded valve seat. The apparatus further includes a duct-receiving groove for easily mounting a duct which directs outside air into the valve and a shoulder extending about the duct-receiving groove for bearing against an inner portion of the structure. The housing is molded from one-piece such that the valve seat, duct-receiving groove, and shoulder are integrally formed.

Claims

1. An air intake apparatus for regulating air flow into a structure and for mounting a duct through which the air flows, comprising:

a moldable plastic housing with air inlet and outlet ports, each of the ports including a periphery, the housing including a groove duct seat molded about the air inlet port periphery for seating the duct,

a valve swingably mounted on the housing adjacent the air outlet port and responding to differential air pressure for allowing outside air through the outlet port and into the structure, the valve comprising a foam plastic panel for closing the air outlet port and an adjustable counterweight extending from the panel to set the valve for opening in response to the differential air pressure, and

a valve seat portion engageable with the form plastic panel adjacent the air outlet port and extending from and being integrally formed and molded with the housing, the valve seat portion comprising an integrally formed and molded elongate convex portion which is disposed transversely of where the valve is swingably affixed to the housing and which engages the valve when the valve is closed to minimize contact between the valve and valve seat and to permit the air to flow smoothly over the valve seat portion.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the elongate convex portion extends about the periphery of the air outlet port.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 and the housing having an exterior surface, wherein the elongate convex portion is integrally formed with the housing such that the elongate convex portion forms a groove relative the exterior surface of the housing.

4. An air intake apparatus for regulating air flow into a structure and for mounting a duct through which the air flows, comprising

a moldable plastic housing with air inlet and outlet ports, each of the ports including a periphery, the housing including a grooved duct seat molded about the air inlet port periphery for seating the duct, the housing further including a pair of molded sidewalls extending generally parallel to a direction of air flow,

a valve swingably mounted on the housing adjacent the air outlet port and responding to differential air pressure for allowing outside air through the outlet port in the direction of air flow and into the structure, the valve having side edges extending generally parallel to the direction of flow, the valve mounted to and between the sidewalls, the valve comprising a foam plastic panel for closing the air outlet port, and an adjustable counterweight extending from the panel to set the valve for opening in response to the differential air pressure,

a grooved valve seat adjacent the air outlet port and molded into the housing for engaging the valve, the valve seat including a periphery, and

a should for engaging an inner portion of the structure and being molded integrally with the housing, the shoulder extending entirely about the air inlet port and valve seat periphery and extending away from the side edges of the valve, the grooved valve seat being disposed between the shoulder and the grooved duct seat to space the shoulder from the duct seat, the shoulder extending inwardly to the grooved valve seat which in turn extends inwardly into the grooved duct seat such that insulation may be disposed about the periphery of the air inlet port and confront the shoulder adjacent the side edges of the valve.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a gasket for being pinched between the shoulder and the inner portion of the structure.

6. An air intake apparatus for regulating air flow into a structure and for mounting a duct through which the air flows, comprising

a housing with air inlet and outlet ports and a pair of transversely depending sidewalls, the side walls being integrally formed with the housing, the housing having exterior and interior surfaces, the housing being formed of molded plastic,

a first duct portion on the housing for directing outside air into the air outlet port, the first duct portion comprising an inner groove extending about the air inlet port for seating a second duct portion, the first duct portion being integrally formed with the housing,

a valve swingably mounted between the sidewalls of the housing adjacent the air outlet port and responding to differential air pressure for allowing outside air through the outlet port in a direction of travel and into the structure, the valve comprising a foam plastic panel for closing the air outlet port and an adjustable counterweight extending from the panel to set the valve for opening in response to the differential air pressure, the valve having side edges extending generally parallel to the direction of flow,

a valve seat adjacent the air outlet port and extending from the housing, the valve seat comprising an elongate convex portion which engages the foam plastic panel when the valve is closed to minimize contact between the valve and valve seat, the elongate convex portion extending about the periphery of the air outlet port, the elongate convex portion being integrally formed with the housing, the elongate convex portion being formed by an outer groove relative an exterior surface of the housing, the outer groove being disposed outwardly of the inner groove, the valve seat including a periphery, and

a shoulder for engaging an inner portion of the structure and being formed integrally with the housing, the shoulder extending entirely about the air inlet port and extending away from the side edges of the valve such that insulation may be disposed about the periphery of the air inlet port and confront the shoulder adjacent the side edges of the valve, the shoulder extending about the periphery of the valve seat, the shoulder leading integrally into the outer groove which in turn leads inwardly into the inner groove to space the shoulder from the second duct portion.