Range hood fan with atmospheric humidity sensor

• US 5,232,152 A
• Filed: 12/08/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard W.B. Tsang
• Original Assignee: Richard W.B. Tsang
• Inventors: Tsang, Richard W. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/987,933
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 236/44 A, 236/44 R, 454/67, 454/341, 454/343, 126/299 D
• US Class Current: 236/44.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/2021 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A kitchen range hood fan electrically connectable to an atmospheric humidity sensor, such as a dehumidistat. The fan motor is automatically activated when atmospheric humidity readings measured within a dwelling exceed a pre-set limit.

Claims

1. A kitchen range hood fan operable in a manual or an automatic mode comprising:

(a) a housing having an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture;

(b) at least one fan blower mountable within said housing;

(c) at least one motor mountable within said housing for optionally driving said fan blower at either a high speed setting for maximal air output or a low speed setting for minimal air output, wherein said fan has a sound level not exceeding 65 dBA when operating at said low speed setting;

(d) manual control means for manually operating said motor in said manual mode at either said high speed setting or said low speed setting; and

(c) automatic control means for automatically operating said motor in said automatic mode at said low speed setting, wherein said automatic control means is responsive to electrical signals received from a humidity sensor located at a position remote from said fan.

2. The range hood fan of claim 1, wherein said humidity sensor is a dehumidistat and wherein said automatic control means comprises an electrical circuit for electrically connecting said dehumidistat directly to said fan motor.

3. The range hood fan of claim 2, wherein the minimum ventilation rate of said fan when operating at said low speed setting is 50 Cfm.

4. The range hood fan of claim 2, wherein the minimum ventilation rate of said fan when operating at said high speed setting is 100 Cfm.

5. The range hood fan of claim 2, further comprising an exhaust duct in communication with said air outlet having a minimum inner diameter of 5 inches and a length of at least 12 inches readily accessible for cleaning and servicing.

6. The range hood fan of claim 1, wherein said manual control means comprises a control switch movable between high, low and stand-by settings and wherein said fan is operable in said automatic mode when said manual control switch is at said stand-by setting.

7. The range hood fan of claim 1, wherein said manual control means comprises a first switch moveable between an on and a stand-by setting and a second switch moveable between a high and a low setting, and wherein said fan is operable in said automatic mode when said first switch is at said stand-by setting.

8. The range hood fan of claim 1, comprising first and second motors mountable within said housing for driving first and second blowers, wherein said automatic control means is adapted to operate one of said first and second motors at said low speed setting in response to electrical signals received from said humidity sensor.

9. A mechanical ventilating device operable in a manual or an automatic mode for use in a multiple-room dwelling, comprising:

(a) a range hood fan mountable in the kitchen of said dwelling, said fan comprising;

(i) a housing having an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture;

(ii) at least one fan blower mountable within said housing; and

(iii) at least one motor mountable within said housing for optionally driving said fan blower at either a high speed setting for maximal air output or a low speed setting for minimal air output, wherein said fan has a sound level not exceeding 65 dBA when operating at said low speed setting;

(b) a remote humidity sensor located in a dwelling room other than said kitchen for measuring changes in humidity within said dwelling;

(c) manual control means for manually operating said motor in said manual mode at either said high speed setting or said low speed setting; and

(d) automatic control means for automatically operating said fan motor in said automatic mode at said low speed setting in response to electrical control signals received from said remote sensor.

10. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, wherein the minimum ventilation rate of said fan at said low speed setting is 50 Cfm.

11. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, wherein the minimum ventilation rate of said fan at said high speed setting is 100 Cfm.

12. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, further comprising an exhaust duct in communication with said air outlet having a minimum inner diameter of 5 inches and a length of at least 12 inches readily accessible for cleaning or servicing.

13. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, wherein said manual control means comprises a control switch movable between high, low and stand-by settings and wherein said fan is operable in said automatic mode when said manual control switch is at said stand-by setting.

14. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, wherein said manual control means comprises a first switch moveable between an on and a stand-by setting and a second switch moveable between a high and a low setting, and wherein said fan is operable in said automatic mode when said first switch is at said stand-by setting.

15. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, comprising first and second motors mountable within said housing for driving first and second blowers, wherein said automatic control means is adapted to operate one of said first and second motors at said low speed setting in response to electrical signals received from said humidity sensor.

16. The mechanical ventilating device of claim 9, wherein said humidity sensor is a dehumidistat wired directly to said fan motor.

17. A mechanical ventilating device operable in a manual or an automatic mode for use in a multiple-room dwelling, comprising:

(a) a range hood fan mountable in the kitchen of said dwelling, said fan comprising;

(i) a housing having an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture;

(ii) at least one fan blower mountable within said housing; and

(iii) at least one motor mountable within said housing for optionally driving said fan blower at either a high speed setting for maximal air output or a low speed setting for minimal air output, wherein said fan has a sound level not exceeding 65 dBA when operating at said low speed setting;

(b) a humidity sensor mounted on said fan housing for measuring changes in humidity within said dwelling;

(c) manual control means for manually operating said motor in said manual mode at either said high speed setting or said low speed setting; and

(d) automatic control means for automatically operating said fan motor in said automatic mode at said low speed setting in response to electrical control signals received from said humidity sensor.