Modular ventilating exhaust fan assembly and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ventilation exhaust fan, comprising:
- a housing having a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the housing and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the housing, the housing adapted to interchangeably receivea first module having a first support plate; and
a second module having a second support plate, each of the first and second modules having at least one of a motor and a fan wheel operable to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet;
wherein the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the first module has a size different than the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the second module, respectively;
wherein the size is an axial length of each fan wheel;
wherein the size is a diameter of each fan wheel.
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Abstract
A ventilation exhaust fan is provided, and in some embodiments includes a housing adapted to interchangeably receive a first module having a first support plate and a second module having a second support plate. Each of the first and second modules have at least one of a motor and a fan wheel operable to generate a flow of fluid into and out of the exhaust fan. At least one of the motor and fan wheel of the first module is different from the motor and the fan wheel of the second module, respectively.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A ventilation exhaust fan, comprising:
a housing having a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the housing and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the housing, the housing adapted to interchangeably receive a first module having a first support plate; and a second module having a second support plate, each of the first and second modules having at least one of a motor and a fan wheel operable to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet; wherein the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the first module has a size different than the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the second module, respectively; wherein the size is an axial length of each fan wheel; wherein the size is a diameter of each fan wheel.
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2. A ventilation exhaust fan, comprising:
a housing having a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the housing and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the housing, the housing adapted to interchangeably receive a first module having a first support plate; and a second module having a second support plate, each of the first and second modules having at least one of a motor and a fan wheel operable to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet; wherein the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the first module has a size different than the at least one of the fan wheel and the motor of the second module, respectively; wherein each of the first and second modules include a motor, and wherein the motor of the first module has a different size than the motor of the second module. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A replacement ventilation exhaust module for replacement of an existing ventilation module in a fan housing, the existing ventilation module having a first support plate, a first motor coupled to the first support plate, and a first fan wheel drivably coupled to the first motor, the first support plate releasably coupled within the fan housing at a location, the replacement ventilation exhaust module comprising:
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a replacement support plate adapted to be releasably coupled to the fan housing at the location; a replacement motor coupled to the replacement support plate; and a replacement fan wheel drivably coupled to the replacement motor; wherein at least one of the replacement motor and the replacement fan wheel is different in size than the first motor and first fan wheel, respectively; wherein the first motor has a first output power and the replacement motor has a second larger output power. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A replacement ventilation exhaust module for replacement of an existing ventilation module in a fan housing, the existing ventilation module having a first support plate, a first motor coupled to the first support plate, and a first fan wheel drivably coupled to the first motor, the first support plate releasably coupled within the fan housing at a location, the replacement ventilation exhaust module comprising:
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a replacement support plate adapted to be releasable coupled to the fan housing at the location; a replacement motor coupled to the replacement support plate; and a replacement fan wheel drivably coupled to the replacement motor; wherein at least one of the replacement motor and the replacement fan wheel is different in size than the first motor and first fan wheel, respectively; wherein the first motor has a first size and the replacement motor has a different size, and wherein the first module includes a first cover sized to at least partially enclose the first motor and the replacement module includes a replacement cover having a different size to at least partially enclose the replacement motor.
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19. A ventilation exhaust fan, comprising:
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a fan housing having a plurality of walls defining an interior space; and an outlet through which fluid is exhausted from the fan housing; a first mounting plate; a first motor coupled to the first mounting plate; a first fan drivably coupled to the first motor, wherein the first mounting plate, the first motor, and the first fan are removable from and insertable within the fan housing as a single unit; a second mounting plate; a second motor coupled to the second mounting plate; and a second fan drivably coupled to the second motor, wherein the second mounting plate, the second motor, and the second fan are removable from and insertable within the fan housing as a single unit; at least one of the first motor and first fan has a size different than the second motor and second fan, respectively; wherein the first mounting plate is pivotably connectable with the housing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of changing a ventilation exhaust fan, comprising:
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providing a housing defining an interior space and having an opening communicating between the interior space and an exterior of the housing; providing a first module coupled to the housing, the first module having a first support plate, a first fan wheel, and a first motor operably coupled to the first fan wheel, at least a portion of the first module extending into the interior space; uncoupling the first module from the housing; withdrawing the first module from the interior space; removing the first support plate from the opening; inserting at least a portion of a second module into the interior space, the second module having a second support plate; and coupling the second module to the housing; the second module having at least one of a second fan wheel and a second motor coupled to the second support plate, wherein the at least one of the second fan wheel and the second motor is different in size than the first fan wheel and the first motor, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification