Abstract:
A trickle vent incorporates an automatically controlled movable damper or multiple movable dampers to control the volume of fresh air entering an occupied space of a building through the trickle vent. The trickle vent includes a heating element to condition the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space. A directional grille is provided to initiate circulation within the occupied space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to trickle vents and more particularly to a trickle vent that automatically controls the volume of air flow through the trickle vent and conditions the air flowing through the trickle vent. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Ventilation is an important characteristic in a modem home, school, or office building. With increasing air tightness of such buildings, provisions must be made for exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air within an occupied space of a building. Ventilation air, which is insufficiently conditioned, however, may result in drafts and additional heating or cooling costs. Further, too little ventilation can produce an unpleasant and unhealthy environment in the occupied space within the building. 
         [0003]    In order to properly ventilate an occupied space within a building, leaks in the building are first sealed to minimize the uncontrolled air infiltration into the building. By minimizing uncontrolled air infiltration, a proper ventilation system can then be designed and constructed to produce controlled and conditioned ventilation of the occupied space within the building. 
         [0004]    There are three main types of ventilators used to control ventilation in a naturally ventilated building: (1) windows, (2) traditional vents, often with sliding dampers, and (3) trickle vents, which are small manually adjustable ventilation openings that provide controllable background ventilation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In order to control ventilation to an occupied space within a building, a trickle vent in accordance with the present invention controls the volume of fresh air entering the occupied space and conditions the fresh air as it enters the occupied space through the trickle vent. Particularly, the trickle vent incorporates a movable damper or multiple movable dampers to control the volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent. An actuator that receives a control signal from the heating and air-conditioning system of the building automatically controls the opening and closing of the dampers. In addition, the trickle vent includes a heating element to condition the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, the trickle vent is mounted in an opening through an exterior wall of the building. Fixed louvers on the outside of the building cover the opening and protect the trickle vent from the ingress of precipitation. The trickle vent comprises a rectangular enclosed housing with an inlet adjacent the louvers for entry of fresh air and an outlet for introducing fresh air into the occupied space. The housing may include a thermal break to prevent conduction of heat from the building interior to the outside environment. The damper or dampers are mounted adjacent the inlet and open and close to control the volume of fresh air entering the housing of the trickle vent. The heating element is mounted within the housing in the path of the fresh air that enters the housing past the dampers. The outlet of the housing has a grille that directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the occupied space. 
         [0007]    For controlling ventilation within the occupied space, fresh air enters the occupied space through the trickle vent and stale air leaves the occupied space through an exhaust opening displaced from the trickle vent. The dampers of the trickle vent are controlled by a motorized actuator that opens and closes the dampers in response to a signal from a control system for the HVAC system of the building. The control signal may be based on the temperature within the occupied space, the differential between two or more temperatures within the occupied space, elapsed time, or other sensed parameters relating to ventilation of the occupied space. 
         [0008]    The heating element mounted within the housing of the trickle vent conditions the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space to inhibit drafts and condensation within the occupied space. For winter ventilation, a heating element is used to preheat the cooler fresh air before it enters the occupied space. By preheating the fresh air, cold drafts can be minimized. In addition, condensation is minimized because the fresh air does not cool surfaces within the occupied space on which water might condense from the warm air within the occupied space. 
         [0009]    The grille attached to the outlet of the trickle vent is configured to direct the incoming fresh air in a displacement-type pattern to ensure proper circulation of the fresh air and the stale air within the occupied space. 
         [0010]    Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a building with a trickle vent mounted in an opening in an exterior wall of a building for ventilation in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of the trickle vent showing the progressive steps involved in mounting the trickle vent within the opening in the exterior wall of the building in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent mounted within the opening of the exterior wall in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille removed) mounted within the opening of the exterior wall in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille in place) in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the trickle vent (grille removed) in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the trickle vent in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a building  10  with an exterior wall  16  that separates an occupied space  12  from the outside environment  14 . The outside environment  14  represents a source of fresh air. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , a trickle vent  28  comprises a rectangular enclosed housing  30  with an air inlet  32  and an air outlet  34 . A set of fixed louvers  24  is mounted in an opening  18  of the exterior wall  16  of the building  10 , which keeps precipitation from entering the opening  18 . Dampers  40  are mounted for rotation about pivot rods  42  adjacent the inlet  32 . The dampers  40  open and close to control the volume of fresh air passing through the housing  30  of the trickle vent  28 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a grille  36  is attached by means of a grilled frame  37  to the housing  30  of the trickle vent  28  and covers the air outlet  34  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Fresh air from the outside environment  14  enters the trickle vent  28  through the louvers  24  and the inlet  32  and exits the trickle vent  28  into the occupied space  12  through the outlet  34  and the grille  36 . 
         [0023]    The operation of the dampers  40  of the trickle vent  28  are controlled by a motorized actuator  46  that opens and closes the dampers in response to a control signal on input line  48  ( FIG. 9 ). A control system (not shown) for the heating and cooling system of the building  10  generate the control signal on input line  48 . The control signal for controlling the operation of the actuator  46  may be based on the temperature within the occupied space  12 , the differential between two or more temperatures within the occupied space  12 , elapsed time, or other sensed parameters relating to ventilation of the occupied space  12 . In response to the control signal, the motorized actuator  46  rotates the top pivot rod  42  ( FIG. 3 ), which in turn is connected to the bottom pivot rod  42  by means of a connector arm  44 . Consequently, both of the dampers  40  rotate in unison in response to operation of the actuator  46 . 
         [0024]    A heating element or cooling element  38  is mounted within the housing  30  in the path of the fresh air that enters the housing  30  past the dampers  40 . The heating element or cooling element  38  mounted within the housing  30  of the trickle vent  28  conditions the fresh air from the outside environment  14  prior to entry into the occupied space  12  to inhibit drafts and condensation on surfaces within the occupied space  12 . For winter ventilation, a heating element  38  is used to preheat the cooler fresh air before it enters the occupied space  12 . By preheating the fresh air, cold drafts can be minimized within that the occupied space  12 . In addition, condensation on surfaces within the occupied space  12  is minimized. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6 , and  7 , the grille  36  attached to the outlet  34  of the housing  30  of the trickle vent  28  directs the fresh air as it leaves the housing  30  of the trickle vent  28  and enters the occupied the space  12  to ensure proper circulation of the fresh air and the stale air within the occupied space  12  in a displacement-type pattern. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the progressive steps involved in installing the trickle vent  28  within the opening  18  of the exterior wall  16 . The trickle vent  28  is first installed within the opening  18  of the exterior wall  16 . Next, the grilled frame  37  is connected to the housing  30 . The grille  36  is then connected to the grilled frame  37 . 
         [0027]    In operation, the trickle vent  28  automatically controls the volume of fresh air that enters the occupied space  12  and conditions the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space  12 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , fresh air enters the occupied space  12  through the trickle vent  28  and stale air leaves the occupied space  12  through a displaced exhaust opening  26 . 
         [0028]    While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.