Patent Application
20170051929
The present invention relates to exhaust devices. More particularly, it relates to roof exhausts such as ones used in combination with apparatuses such as laundry dryers and bathroom or stove ventilators.
Roof exhausts are commonly installed on buildings and serve to expel air or other gases through the building's roof. They generally include an exhaust duct passing through the roof, the exhaust duct having an outlet opening outside the building and an inlet inside the building and connected to a laundry dryer, a bathroom ventilator, a stove ventilator, or the like. Air or other gas originating from inside the building is able to travel outside under pressure generated by a fan or a blower.
It is preferred to design the roof exhaust to prevent foreign objects from entering the building through the exhaust, and to prevent blockage of the exhaust. This is commonly achieved by providing an enclosure to protect the exhaust outlet while allowing air to flow out through the exhaust unobstructed. In some implementations, such roof exhausts include a downward-facing outlet shielded by a deflector. This prevents wind blowing on the exhaust from entering the outlet, and also allows the exhaust to function even when covered with snow.
Existing roof exhaust designs still have room for improvement. Many designs are susceptible to condensation buildup and ice formation which can cause damage to both the exhaust and to the roof. An improved roof exhaust is therefore needed which can overcome at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art.
According to an aspect, a roof exhaust for exhausting gas from a building is provided. The roof exhaust includes: an enclosure including a base and a hollow body extending from said base, the enclosure having side sections and a front section extending between the side sections; a conduit extending within the hollow body along a central axis, the conduit having an inlet connectable to a source of gas and an outlet for exhausting the gas from the conduit; a hood extending in the front section over the outlet, the hood including an aperture and being configured to direct gas exiting the outlet through the aperture in a downward direction towards the base; and a damper hingedly mounted relative to the outlet, the damper being movable between a closed position in which the damper substantially covers the outlet, and an open position in which the damper extends away from the outlet, wherein the damper including a counterweight configured to bias the damper towards the closed position.
In an embodiment, the damper includes a hinge for hingedly mounting the damper relative to the outlet, and the counterweight includes a mass attached to the damper and spaced away from the hinge.
In an embodiment, the counterweight includes an arm secured to the damper, and the mass is secured to an end of the arm away from the damper.
In an embodiment, the damper is angled towards the aperture when in the closed position.
In an embodiment, the roof exhaust further includes a condensation guide extending from a lower portion of the outlet of the conduit and angled towards the aperture, thereby guiding condensation building up in the conduit to exit through the aperture.
In an embodiment, the damper defines a partial opening together with the conduit while the damper is in the closed position.
In an embodiment, the damper is movable between the closed position and the open position in response to a pressure of the gas being exhausted from the conduit.
In an embodiment, the damper includes a flap, and the flap is hingedly mounted to the conduit.
In an embodiment, the roof exhaust further includes a baffle extending in the hood and sloped towards at least one of the side sections, the baffle being configured to deflect gas exiting the aperture in a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the downward direction.
In an embodiment, the baffle has a shape substantially resembling an inversed “V”, thereby deflecting the gas exiting the aperture in two directions opposite one another.
In an embodiment, the baffle defines, together with the hood, at least one channel directing the gas exiting the aperture away from the base.
In an embodiment, the hood includes a shield extending over the at least one baffle.
In an embodiment, the baffle includes an angled plate, the angled plate being angled away from the central axis by approximately 45 degrees.
In an embodiment, the baffle includes a first plate angled between 35 degrees and 55 degrees relative to the central axis, and a second plate extending from the first plate angled between 55 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the central axis.
In an embodiment, the conduit is isolated from the hollow body.
In an embodiment, the hollow body includes inner walls and the conduit includes an outer wall, the roof exhaust including an insulating space extending between said inner walls of the hollow body and said outer wall of the conduit, said insulating space being at least partially filled with an insulating material.
In an embodiment, the outer wall of the conduit is sealingly connected to the enclosure.
In an embodiment, the roof exhaust further includes a sealing element removably affixed to the base, said sealing element including an aperture through which the conduit extends.
According to an aspect, a kit for assembling a roof exhaust for exhausting gas from a building is provided. The kit includes: a conduit having an outer wall, a conduit inlet for connecting to a source of gas and a conduit outlet for exhausting the gas from the conduit; an enclosure positionable over the conduit, and a sealing element affixable to the base for sealingly connecting the conduit to the enclosure. The enclosure includes: a base mountable to a roof of the building; a hollow body extending from said base for housing a portion of the conduit including the conduit outlet; a central aperture in the base opening into the hollow body for allowing the conduit to pass therethrough; an enclosure outlet for exhausting gas from the enclosure; a hood positioned to extend over the conduit outlet when the enclosure is positioned over the conduit, the hood including the enclosure outlet and being configured to direct gas exiting the conduit outlet through the enclosure outlet in a downward direction towards the base; and a damper hingedly mounted relative to the conduit outlet, the damper being movable between a closed position in which the damper substantially covers the conduit outlet, and an open position in which the damper extends away from the conduit outlet, wherein the damper includes a counterweight configured to bias the damper towards the closed position. The sealing element includes: a body sized to sealingly cover the central aperture of the enclosure; a connector for connecting the body to the enclosure; and a central aperture in the body for allowing the conduit to pass therethough, the central aperture being sized to sealingly fit around an outer periphery of the conduit.
According to an aspect, a method for exhausting gas through a roof of a building is provided. The method includes the steps of: channeling gas to an exterior of the building upward through the roof; dampening a flow of the gas using a counterweighted flap; inverting the gas approximately 180 degrees in a downward direction towards the roof; and splitting the gas into at least two streams and exhausting the gas in a direction substantially parallel to the roof.
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are preferred embodiments only, given solely for exemplification purposes.
Moreover, although the preferred embodiment of the roof exhaust and corresponding parts thereof consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the roof exhaust without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, it will be appreciated that positional descriptions such as “above”, “below”, “left”, “right” and the like should, unless otherwise indicated, be taken in the context of the figures and should not be considered limiting.
With reference to
The enclosure 2 has side sections 8, 8′ opposite one another, the side sections 8, 8′ residing in respective planes substantially parallel with the slope of the base 4. The enclosure 2 also has a front section 10 extending between the side sections 8, 8′, and substantially perpendicular thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the front section 10 extends above the base 4 along a lower end thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, a hood 10 is mounted to the front section 10, and includes a shield 16 with a substantially flat face 17 and an angled portion 18. A baffle 20 extends in the hood 14 which defines, together with the hood 14, a channel 45 which directs gas exiting the exhaust 1 away from the enclosure 2. Although in the present embodiment the hood 14 is mounted to the front section 10 of the hollow body 6, it should be understood that hood 14 can instead be formed as part of the hollow body 6 in a unitary piece.
A conduit 28 extends along a central axis 3 within the hollow body 6 for guiding gas through the roof exhaust. The conduit 28 has a lower section 31 extending below the base 4, the lower section 31 having an inlet 30 for connecting to a source of gas inside a building, such as a laundry dryer, a bathroom ventilator, a stove ventilator, a roof ventilator or the like. An upper section 33 of the conduit 28 extends inside the hollow body 6 and includes an outlet 32 for exhausting gas from the conduit 28 outside the building. The conduit 28 is isolated from the enclosure 2 in that an insulating space 54 is defined between inner walls of the hollow body 7 and an outer wall 29 of the conduit 28. The conduit 28 is further provided with a condensation guide 39 at the conduit outlet 32 to discharge condensation building up on the conduit 28.
The conduit 28 is configured to direct the gas and condensation out through an enclosure outlet 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure outlet 15 is provided in the hood 14 and opens to direct gas exiting the exhaust 1 in a downward direction 42 towards the base 4. In this configuration, wind blowing directly on the enclosure 2 is prevented from entering through the enclosure outlet 15. The shield 16 and its flat face 17 can serve deflect wind and further isolate the enclosure outlet 15 from wind. Furthermore, a removable grating 26 can also be provided along the enclosure outlet 15 thereby preventing foreign objects, such as animals or debris, from entering the enclosure outlet 15.
The baffle 20 is provided below the enclosure outlet 15. In other words, the baffle 20 is downstream from the enclosure outlet 15 along the path of the gas, causing gas exiting the enclosure outlet 15 to be redirected by the baffle 20. Preferably, the baffle 20 is sloped downwards towards the side section 8 of the enclosure 2, directing the exhausted gas in a lateral direction 44, and thus substantially parallel with the roof on which the exhaust is installed. Preferably still, the baffle 20 is spaced away from the base 4, creating more clearance for the exhausted gas. The spacing can be, for example, approximately at least one eighth of the height of the hollow body 6. To better redirect the gas, the baffle 20 can be provided with two or more angled plates. In the illustrated embodiment, first 22 and second 24 angled plates are provided. The first plate 22 has a steep angle to redirect the gas: approximately 45 degrees relative to the central axis 3, and preferably between 35 degrees and 55 degrees. The second plate 24 has a shallow angle in that it substantially parallel to the lateral direction 44. The second plate 24 is can be substantially perpendicular to the central axis and is preferably at an angle of between 55 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the central axis 3.
A damper can be provided for regulating gas flow in the conduit 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the damper is a flap 34 with a curved profile 35 hingedly mounted to the conduit 28. The flap 34 is movable between a closed position 36 in which is blocks the conduit outlet 32, and an opened position 37 where it extends away from the conduit outlet 32. Preferably, the flap 34 moves from the closed position 36 to the opened position 37 in response to a pressure of the gas being exhausted from the conduit 28.
In some embodiments, such as the one illustrated in
As can be appreciated, the counterweight 60 can be selected to tune the flap 34 to attain the desired dampening properties. For example, the counterweight 60 can be configured and positioned such that the flap 34 travels through maximum angle of approximately 30° between the open and closed position in response to a nominal pressure of gas exhausting from the conduit 28. It should be understood that the properties of the counterweight 60 can be selected according to the size and/or application of the roof exhaust 1. For example, a heavier and/or larger counterweight can be provided for a 6″ than for a 4″ exhaust, thereby allowing the flap 34 to better dampen a higher volume and/or pressure of gas flow. Moreover, the counterweight 60 can be positioned according to the desired properties of the flap 34. For example, the counterweight 60 can be positioned near a bottom portion of the flap 34, away from a hinge 63 connecting the flap 34 to the conduit 28, thereby creating a larger moment arm and allowing the counterweight 60 to better resist a rotative movement of the flap 34 about the hinge 63.
In the present embodiment, the counterweight 60 comprises a counterweight arm 61 and a mass 62. The arm 61 is fixed at one end to the flap 34 and at the other end to the mass 62. As can be appreciated, the arm 61 serves to secure the mass 62 to the flap 34, while spacing the mass 62 away from the flap 34. In this configuration, the arm 61 further spaces away the mass 62 from the hinge 63, creating a greater moment arm. Preferably, the mass 62 is removably attached to the arm 61, allowing it to be replaced with a different mass according to attain the desired properties of the flap 34. In the current embodiment, the mass 62 is a nut, but other types of commonly-available concentrated masses could also be used.
Although in the present embodiment the counterweight 60 is illustrated as comprising an arm 61 and a concentrated mass 62 in the form of a nut, it should be appreciated that other configurations are possible. For example, the counterweight 60 can comprise a mass distributed along the flap 34, or several masses at different positions on the flap 34. Moreover, although the term “counterweight” is used to describe this mechanism, other types of devices can also be used so long as they allow the flap 34 to attain the desired dampening properties. For example, the counterweight 60 can comprise a tension spring, an extension spring, or the like, configured to bias the flap 34 towards the closed position.
Referring back to the embodiment of
As can be appreciated, the configuration of the conduit 28, flap 34 and baffle 20 provide a drip management mechanism which encourages condensation to escape the enclosure 2. The condensation guide 39 provided on the conduit outlet 32 is angled such that moisture building up thereon slides out through the enclosure outlet 15 and thus towards an exterior of the enclosure 2. The size, shape and angle of the flap 34 are selected such that, even when in the closed position 36, condensation building up on the flap 34 drips onto the condensation guide 39 or drips directly out through the enclosure outlet 15. The baffle 20, being sloped downward towards the side section 8 of the enclosure 2, directs moisture dripping from the enclosure outlet 15 to run off on either side of the enclosure 2. In this fashion, moisture does not get trapped in the enclosure 2.
As can be further appreciated, the conduit 28, flap 34, hood 14 and baffle 20 direct gases flowing through the exhaust to follow a particular path. As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the gas is guided in the lateral direction 44 with the help of a channel 45 defined by the shield 16 and the deflector 20. The channel 45 guides gas exiting through the enclosure outlet 15 in a deliberate path away from the roof and preferably away from the enclosure 2. The channel 45 includes a channel aperture 47 through which the gas is expelled. An angled portion of the deflector 20, such as the first angled plate 22, is disposed opposite the channel aperture 47. In this configuration, gas contacting the deflector 20 is guided out through the channel aperture 47 in a constrained path. The path is further constrained by the angled portion 18 of the shield 16, which can also serve to protect the channel 45 from wind.
To more efficiently diffuse gas exiting the exhaust 1, it is preferred that the gas be separated into different streams as it exits the enclosure outlet 15. With reference to
With reference now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element comprises a sealing element body 46 preferably made from plastic. The sealing element body 46 is configured to fill the space between the conduit 28 and the base 4. The body 46 includes a central aperture 50 for sealingly fitting around the outer walls 29 of the conduit 28, and a periphery 48 for sealingly fitting against the base, preferably along the central aperture 5 where the base 4 opens into the hollow body 6. A connector 52 can be provided for securing the sealing element body 46 to the base 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 52 includes complementary plates on the sealing element body 46 and the base 4 securable by a bolt, screw or the like.
As can be appreciated, the present configuration allows for the conduit 28 to be isolated from the enclosure 2. The conduit 28 is separated from the enclosure 2 via the insulating space 54, thereby preventing condensation buildup on the enclosure 2 due to humidity and temperature differences between the gas in the conduit 28 and ambient air around the enclosure 2. With reference to
The embodiment described above and illustrated herein is intended to be exemplary only. The overall configuration described above is but one possible embodiment of the invention. Other embodiments are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention. One skilled in the art will understand that some elements can be omitted while other can be substituted for equivalents without affecting the overall function of the invention. The embodiment presented herein should therefore be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14830264 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15018428 | US |
