RADON VENT FAN SYSTEM

Abstract

A radon vent fan system includes an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another, and an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure. The enclosure provides a first condensate path between the air inlet and the air outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet, with the first condensate path being formed of a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to ventilation. The invention further relates to a radon vent fan system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. Accumulation of radon in enclosed spaces such as residential settings is particularly dangerous because this gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and thus may remain unnoticed while posing a health risk. The EPA recommends intervention to provide radon reduction when a radon level is found to be 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

Ventilation equipment is known for use in radon applications. In order to address the potential for buildup of elevated or dangerous levels of radon, mitigation equipment such as a radon fan may be installed to create a low pressure area under the slab so that the radon gas is extracted and expelled outside before it can migrate into the structure. Radon fans can be installed inside or outside a structure, and operate 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

In prior art radon mitigation systems, as shown for example in FIG. 1, inlet and outlet portions 10a, 10b, respectively, of a fan unit 10 typically are connected to vent pipe portions 12a, 12b using a variety of external fittings 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 while a separate condensate bypass pipe 19 also extends intermediate vent pipe portions 12a, 12b, as shown for example in FIG. 1. Such use of external fittings and a separate condensate bypass pipe increases installation complexity, time, and expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A radon vent fan system includes an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another, and an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure. The enclosure provides a first condensate path between the air inlet and the air outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet, the first condensate path formed of a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure.

In some embodiments, the enclosure may have a front portion and a rear portion demountably coupled to each other, and the front portion and rear portion may be coupled to each other in a clamshell fashion. The air inlet may be entirely formed in the rear portion, and the air outlet may be formed by combining the front portion and rear portion. The front portion may have a cover demountably coupled thereto. The channel may be integrally formed with the front portion, and the motor may be coupled to the front portion.

A compartment may be provided adjacent the air inlet and in communication therewith. The compartment may include an opening in communication with a region proximate the impeller. The channel may be in communication with the compartment.

The channel may be formed when the front portion and the rear portion are demountably coupled to each other.

The air inlet and air outlet may be in aligned relation with respect to a first axis, and the channel may substantially extend parallel to the first axis. The enclosure may further include a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure capability of the impeller.

The air inlet may be disposed transverse to the air outlet, and in some embodiments the air inlet may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the air outlet.

The channel may be integrally formed with the enclosure.

In addition, a radon vent fan system may include an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another with respect to a first axis, the enclosure being formed of a first portion and a second portion demountably coupled to each other. The system further may include an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly being retained in the enclosure. A first condensate path may be provided between the inlet and the outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and toward the inlet, the first condensate path including a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure and substantially extending parallel to the first axis, the channel being in communication with a compartment adjacent to the inlet and the compartment being in communication with the inlet. A second condensate path may be provided between a region proximate the impeller and the compartment.

In some embodiments, the enclosure further includes a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure. Also, the inlet may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art radon mitigation system;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an enclosure of a radon vent fan system;

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is another font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is another font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2 (with the tabs of the rear portion of the enclosure also visible);

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the rear portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the rear portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2 with a fan disposed therein covered by a scroll;

FIG. 15 is another side perspective view of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2 with a fan disposed therein without the scroll being installed;

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the scroll of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the scroll of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of the inlet of the rear portion of the enclosure of FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 shows additional views of the rear portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2 including an inside perspective view (19A), an outside perspective view (19B), a side view (19C), a cross-sectional side view through A-A (19D), an outside top view (19E), and another side view (19F);

FIG. 20 shows additional views of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2 including an outside perspective view (20A), an inside perspective view (20B), a cross-sectional side view through B-B (20C), an outside top view (20D), a side view (20E), and another side view (20F);

FIG. 21 shows additional views of the scroll of the radon vent fan system including an top perspective view (21A), a bottom perspective view (21B), a cross-sectional side view through C-C (21C), a top view (21D), a side view (21E), and another side view (21F);

FIG. 22 shows additional views of the electrical cover of the radon vent fan system including an outside perspective view (22A), an inside perspective view (22B), a cross-sectional side view through D-D (22C), an inside top view (19D), a side view (22E), and another side view (22F);

FIG. 23 shows a cross-section of the enclosure of FIG. 2 with a condensate drain therein;

FIG. 24 shows another front perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 shows a side perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 26 shows a side perspective view of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front” and “rear” as used herein are provided as a non-limiting examples of the orientation of features.

In one exemplary application, a radon fan is installed on the exterior of a house and connected to an exterior venting pipe. For example, an exemplary radon mitigation system includes a radon vent pipe such as a 3 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe extending from sub-slab gravel up to a vent stack discharge point above the highest eave of the roof (e.g., 12 inches above the roof surface), and an electric vent fan connected to the vent pipe. The radon vent fan is installed in a vertical run of the vent pipe, for example near where the radon vent pipe protrudes from the basement level of the house to the outside.

An exemplary embodiment of an inventive radon vent fan system is shown in FIGS. 1-26.

As shown for example in FIGS. 2-10, a radon vent fan system includes a housing or enclosure 20 formed with a rear portion 22 and a front portion 24 coupled together in a clamshell fashion. Enclosure 20 includes an inlet 32 which is integrally formed with rear portion 22 in the exemplary embodiment. Enclosure 20 also includes an outlet 34 of which a first portion 34a of outlet 34 is integrally formed with rear portion 22 and a second portion 34b of outlet 34 is integrally formed with front portion 24.

As can be seen for example in FIG. 13, in the exemplary embodiment, rear portion 22 includes an outer rim 22a while front portion 24 includes a protruding rim 24a. Outer rim 22a mates within protruding rim 24a of front portion 24, as shown for example in FIG. 3. Portions 22, 24 may be coupled to one another for example using protrusions such as posts, for example a post at corner 24b extending through a hole at corner 22b. Moreover, as shown for example in FIGS. 8 and 14, front portion 24 of housing 20 may include a removable cover 42 for an electric compartment 44b. Cover 42 may be coupled to rear portion 22 for example with fasteners extending through holes 42a, 42b and received in rear portion 22. A hole 45 for example may be provided in rear portion 22 so that wires from electrical compartment 44b may extend therethrough.

Rear portion 22 of enclosure 20 includes a three point mounting system in the form of tabs 30. Each of tabs 30 includes a hole therein to accommodate a fastener such as threaded fastener 31. The vent fan enclosure thus may be fastened to the side of a structure such as a house. Two tabs 30 are disposed proximate the inlet 32 (low pressure end), while one tab 30 is disposed proximate the outlet 34 (high pressure end). Such a three point mounting system assists in minimizing vibration and noise transferred between the radon vent fan system and the house.

In addition, rear portion 22 includes a central wall disposed transverse to line 38 which permits build-up of static pressure capability of the fan.

Turning to FIG. 2, the positioning of the inlet 32, outlet 34, and motor/fan unit 36 with respect to one another is shown. Inlet 32 and outlet 34 preferably are aligned about line 38, while being offset from motor/fan unit 36. Inlet 32 and outlet 34 may open in directions perpendicular to one another, such that if the inventive radon fan system were installed in place of fan unit 10 in FIG. 1, inlet 32 would be coupled to pipe portion 12a, while outlet 34 would be coupled to pipe portion 12b. Preferably, the inventive radon fan system would not require external fittings or a separate condensate bypass pipe as shown in FIG. 1.

The exemplary inventive radon vent fan system permits condensate to migrate from outlet 34 to inlet 32 without interacting with motor/fan unit 36. By placing the motor/fan unit 36 out of the direct path of the condensate, motor failures due to moisture can be decreased. It is known that significant moisture can accumulate in the vent pipe, for example in cold weather when warm, moist air from underground is circulated through the vent pipe which is exposed to colder temperatures. The exemplary inventive radon vent fan system provides positive drainage to the ground beneath the slab or soil-gas-retarder. Thus, condensate drips into the high pressure scroll region (an open region although covered by cover 44) such as in direction D, where it flows to region E (as shown in FIG. 15) and then through a small opening such as a notch 60 (shown in FIG. 20B) which may be provided so that the condensate further passes back to chamber 24c and then down through inlet 32.

Motorized impeller unit 36 includes a motor 36a and an impeller 36b. The motor for example may be an external rotor motor, typically with the rotor external, as known in the art. The impeller for example may be a backward curved impeller as known in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the impeller may have a diameter of 7.48 inches, while the motor may have a power of 88 watts.

As shown in FIG. 14, fan inlet 32 is located at the lowest point of the fan housing, remote from the Venturi inlet 40, such that condensate can exit the fan housing from the low pressure section of the fan. Also shown in FIG. 14, the electrical compartment 44b is disposed in a corner region and is covered by electrical cover 42 shown in detail in FIG. 22. In addition, a scroll 44 is shown in installed position in FIG. 14, and is separately shown for example in FIG. 21.

The water path for condensate is shown for example in FIGS. 23-26. With reference initially to FIG. 14, condensate may accumulate in chamber 24c, which is an enclosed space formed between the wall 24d of front portion 24 and a wall 27 formed proximate a portion of a fan covered by scroll 44, as well as rear portion 22. The condensate flows on the inside wall of ducting communicating with housing 20 above the air flow outlet 34. In the exemplary embodiment, such condensate is directed through a channel 50 generally disposed along line 50a (shown in FIG. 24) proximate the perimeter of housing 20 which extends from proximate inlet 32 to proximate outlet 34. Channel forms a condensate drain, and may be in the form of a tube created by the coupling of opposing portions of rear and front portions 22, 24, respectively. As shown in the cross-section of FIG. 23, channel 50 need not be circular, but in some exemplary embodiments may be circular. In particular, as seen in FIG. 15, a coupling 43 (partially shown) is attached to and extends around air flow outlet 34, being coupled thereto at the circumference of the region of greater diameter 34c (which includes the portions of outlet 34 on both rear and front portions 22, 24, respectively). A space 35 thus is created between coupling 43 and outlet 34 proximate the region thereof of lesser diameter 34d (with space 35 preferably extending all the way around outlet 34, such that condensate flowing on the inside wall of the ducting is directed into channel 50, which in the exemplary embodiment is disposed substantially vertical except a short dogleg region 50b.

Advantageously, in the exemplary embodiment, channel 50 is disposed substantially parallel to the direction of condensate flow (e.g., vertical). By orienting channel 50 substantially parallel to the direction of condensate flow between inlet 32 and outlet 34, rather than perpendicular to the direction of condensate flow, the likelihood of freezing and clogging of channel 50 is lowered. During very cold weather, it is important to facilitate draining of condensate and the exemplary embodiment permits condensate to flow with gravitational assistance.

Advantageously, the condensate drain of the exemplary embodiment may be molded into the housing 20. Moreover, because relatively warm air enters cavity 24c through inlet 32, the space therein may be maintained at relatively warm temperature to resist freezing of condensate during cold weather.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 18, a gasket 52 may be disposed around inlet 32 such that inlet 32 may be press fit to a pipe portion 12a thereby eliminating the need to apply any sealant to the interface as necessary with prior art devices. The gasket thus reduces installation and service time as well as associated costs.

In the exemplary embodiment, rear portion 22 has a length d₁ of about 44.7 cm, a width d₂ of about 33.1 cm, and a height d₃ of about 11.5 cm. In the exemplary embodiment, front portion 24 has a height d₄ of about 7.3 cm, a length d₅ of about 40.4 cm, a length d₆ of about 45.1 cm, and a width d₇ of about 34.0 cm. In the exemplary embodiment, cover 44 has a length d₈ of about 31.4 cm and a length d₉ of about 27.8 cm. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, cover 42 has a height d₁₀ of about 4.18 cm, a length d₁₁ of about 15.0 cm, and a length d₁₂ of about 9.6 cm.

Finally, the inventive system is provided in an aesthetically pleasing outer shape suitable for use on the side of a house.

While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features can be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the specifically preferred embodiments depicted herein.

Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A radon vent fan system comprising: an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another;an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure;wherein the enclosure provides a first condensate path between the air inlet and the air outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet, the first condensate path formed of a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure.

2. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a front portion and a rear portion demountably coupled to each other.

3. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the front portion and rear portion are coupled to each other in a clamshell fashion.

4. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the air inlet is entirely formed in the rear portion.

5. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the air outlet is formed by combining the front portion and rear portion.

6. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the front portion has a cover demountably coupled thereto.

7. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the channel is integrally formed with the front portion.

8. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the motor is coupled to the front portion.

9. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, further comprising a compartment adjacent the air inlet and in communication therewith.

10. The radon vent fan system of claim 9, wherein the compartment comprises an opening in communication with a region proximate the impeller.

11. The radon vent fan system of claim 9, wherein the channel is in communication with the compartment.

12. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the channel is formed when the front portion and the rear portion are demountably coupled to each other.

13. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the air inlet and air outlet are in aligned relation with respect to a first axis, and the channel substantially extends parallel to the first axis.

14. The radon vent fan system of claim 13, wherein the enclosure further includes a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure capability of the impeller.

15. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is disposed transverse to the air outlet.

16. The radon vent fan system of claim 15, wherein the air inlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the air outlet.

17. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the channel is integrally formed with the enclosure.

18. A radon vent fan system comprising: an enclosure comprising an inlet and an outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another with respect to a first axis, the enclosure formed of a first portion and a second portion demountably coupled to each other;an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure;a first condensate path between the inlet and the outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and toward the inlet, the first condensate path comprising a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure and substantially extending parallel to the first axis, the channel in communication with a compartment adjacent to the inlet and the compartment in communication with the inlet;a second condensate path between a region proximate the impeller and the compartment.

19. The radon vent fan system of claim 18, wherein the enclosure further comprises a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure.

20. The radon vent fan system of claim 18, wherein the inlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the outlet.