Abstract:
A ventilation device includes a passage unit ( 100 ), a wind turbine ( 200 ) and a fan ( 300 ). The wind turbine ( 200 ) is provided above the passage unit ( 100 ), and the fan ( 300 ) is provided within the wind turbine ( 200 ). The rotation of the wind turbine ( 200 ) drives the fan ( 300 ) to rotate, so that the air within the passage ( 100 ) is exhausted by the fan.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to ventilation apparatuses, and more particularly to ventilation apparatuses that can provide functions of air discharge without use of electric power. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, there are two types of conventional ventilation apparatuses disposed on the rooftops of houses. One conventional ventilation apparatus is operated by electric power and is provided with an electric fan. Air can be expelled from a building by the electric fan. Accordingly, operation of this conventional ventilation apparatus consumes electric power. 
         [0005]    The other conventional ventilation apparatus is operated without use of the electric power. Specifically, a spherical drainage fan is disposed on the top of the conventional ventilation apparatus. Based upon the principle of hot-air rising, indoor hot air rises to the top of the building. Then, the indoor hot air drives the spherical drainage fan to rotate and is expelled thereby. Nevertheless, the spherical drainage fan cannot rapidly expel the indoor hot air. Here, the spherical drainage fan is mainly used to expel rainwater by centrifugal force generated by the rotation thereof, thereby preventing the rainwater from entering the building. As the other conventional ventilation apparatus is operated only by the principle of hot-air rising, an expellant speed for the indoor hot air may be very slow if only a minor temperature difference exists between the interior and exterior of the building. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0007]    An object of the invention is to provide a ventilation apparatus utilizing a wind turbine to rotate an exhaust fan. Indoor air is expelled by the exhaust fan, achieving a ventilation effect without use of electric power. 
         [0008]    To achieve the aforementioned object, an exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a ventilation apparatus comprising a channel unit, a wind turbine, and an exhaust fan. The channel unit comprises a first channel. The wind turbine is rotatably disposed on the channel unit and comprises an airflow space communicating with the first channel. A second channel is formed between the inside of the wind turbine and the outside of the channel unit. The exhaust fan is connected to the wind turbine and is disposed in the second channel. The first channel, airflow space, and second channel communicate with each other. When the wind turbine rotates to bring the exhaust fan to rotate, the exhaust fan brings air to the second channel through the first channel and airflow space. 
         [0009]    To achieve the aforementioned object, another exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a ventilation apparatus comprising a channel unit, a wind turbine, and an exhaust fan. The channel unit comprises a first channel. The wind turbine is rotatably disposed on the channel unit and comprises an airflow space communicating with the first channel. A second channel is formed between an inside of the wind turbine and an outside of the channel unit. The exhaust fan is connected to the wind turbine and is disposed in the first channel. The first channel, airflow space, and second channel communicate with each other. When the wind turbine rotates to bring the exhaust fan to rotate, the exhaust fan brings air to the second channel through the first channel and airflow space. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, in the ventilation apparatuses of the invention, outdoor wind can blow the wind turbine to rotate. The wind turbine can then bring the exhaust fan to rotate, expelling air from a building, and further achieving a ventilation effect. Moreover, because of the configuration of the wind turbine and channel unit, rainwater cannot easily enter the channel unit. Thus, a rainproof effect can be provided by the ventilation apparatuses of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a ventilation apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the ventilation apparatus of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross section of the ventilation apparatus of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a third embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , a ventilation apparatus  1  comprises a channel unit  100 , a wind turbine  200 , and a first exhaust fan  300 . The ventilation apparatus  1  may be arranged on a roof of a building and may connect to an indoor space thereof via the channel unit  100 . 
         [0020]    The channel unit  100  comprises a channel body  110 , a plurality of connection units  120 , and a fixing bearing  130 . The channel body  110  may be a hollow cylinder extending along an extension direction D1. The top of the channel body  110  is formed with a first opening  113 . A first channel S 1  is formed in the channel body  110  and communicates with the first opening  113 . 
         [0021]    Each of the connection units  120  may be an elongated structure and connects an inner wall  111  of the channel body  110  to the fixing bearing  130 . The connection units  120  radially extend from the fixing bearing  130  and are alternately arranged. The fixing bearing  130  extends along the extension direction D1 and is located above the channel body  110  and a rotational axis AX of the wind turbine  200 . Here, the rotation axis AX can also be a central axis of the channel body  110 , and the extension direction D1 is parallel to the rotational axis AX. 
         [0022]    The wind turbine  200  is rotatably disposed on the channel unit  100  and rotates about the rotational axis AX. An airflow space S 2  is formed in the wind turbine  200  and communicates with the first channel S 1 . Additionally, a second channel S 3  is formed between an inside of the wind turbine  200  and an outside of the channel body  110 . 
         [0023]    The wind turbine  200  comprises an outer hub  210 , a fan shaft  220 , and a plurality of turbine blades  230 . The outer hub  210  may be a semi-spherical housing. The airflow space S 2  is formed in the outer hub  210 . In this embodiment, the top of the outer hub  210  is configured as a closed housing, and the bottom of the outer hub  210  is formed with a second opening  213  communicating with the airflow space S 2 . The outer hub  210  is disposed above the channel body  110 . One end of the channel body  110  extends to the airflow space S 2  through the second opening  213 , such that the second channel S 3  is formed between an inner surface  211  of the outer hub  210  and an outside wall  112  of the channel body  110 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross section of the ventilation apparatus of the first embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first channel S 1 , airflow space S 2 , and second channel S 3  communicate with each other. The second opening  213  of the outer hub  210  is lower than the first opening  113  of the channel body  110 , and the first opening  113  is covered by the outer hub  210 . Accordingly, rainwater is prevented from entering the first channel S 1  in the channel unit  100  through the first opening  113 . Namely, the ventilation apparatus  1  of this embodiment can provide a rainproof function. 
         [0025]    The fan shaft  220  is rotatably disposed in the fixing bearing  130 . One end of the fan shaft  220  is connected to the outer hub  210  and extends along the rotational axis AX to penetrate the fixing bearing  130 . The turbine blades  230  are disposed on an outer surface of the outer hub  210 . Here, the turbine blades  230  extend outward from the outer hub  210  and are separated from each other. Accordingly, when the wind blows the wind turbine  200 , the outer hub  210 , fan shaft  220 , and turbine blades  230  can rotate about the rotational axis AX. 
         [0026]    The first exhaust fan  300  is connected to the wind turbine  200  and is disposed in the second channel S 3 . The first exhaust fan  300  comprises an outer fixed ring  310 , a plurality of first exhaust blades  320 , and an inner fixed ring  330 . The outer fixed ring  310  extends along the inner surface  211  of the outer hub  210  and is fixed to the inside of the wind turbine  200 . The first exhaust blades  320  are alternately disposed on the outer fixed ring  310  and are connected to the inner fixed ring  330 . The inner fixed ring  330  surrounds the outside of the channel body  110 , but is not connected to the channel body  110 . In another embodiment, the outer fixed ring  310  is integrally formed with the outer hub  210 . Namely, the outer fixed ring  310  may be a part of the outer hub  210 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the outdoor wind blows the turbine blades  230 , the wind turbine  200  rotates to bring the first exhaust fan  300  to rotate about the rotational axis AX. At this point, the first exhaust fan  300  brings air in the first channel S 1  to flow along the extension direction D1. The air flows along an airflow passage F to the second channel S 3  and is then expelled therefrom. Namely, when the ventilation apparatus  1  is arranged on the roof of the building, the channel body  110  may be connected to a ventilation pipe (not shown) disposed on the roof and communicating with the indoor space. Accordingly, the indoor air may flow to the second channel S 3  via the first channel S 1  and airflow space S 2  and may be expelled from the second channel S 3 . 
         [0028]    When there is no wind outdoors, indoor hot air may flow to the first channel S 1  via the ventilation pipe and may then flow to the second channel S 3  via the airflow passage F, first channel S 1 , and airflow space S 2 . The indoor hot air is then expelled from the second channel S 3 . Moreover, if the indoor hot air is provided with a high flow rate, the indoor hot air can blow the first exhaust fan  300  to rotate, accelerating discharge of the indoor air, and thereby enhancing the efficiency of ventilation. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the ventilation apparatus  1  of this embodiment further comprises a second exhaust fan  400  disposed in the first channel S 1 . The second exhaust fan  400  comprises an inner hub  410  and a plurality of second exhaust blades  420 . The inner hub  410  is disposed in the first channel S 1  and is connected to the other end of the fan shaft  220  of the wind turbine  200 . The second exhaust blades  420  are alternately disposed on the inner hub  410  and radially extend outward from the inner hub  410 . 
         [0030]    When the outdoor wind blows the turbine blades  230 , the wind turbine  200  rotates to bring the first exhaust fan  300  and second exhaust fan  400  to rotate about the rotational axis AX. At this point, the first exhaust fan  300  and second exhaust fan  400  bring air in the first channel S 1  to flow along the airflow passage F. Similarly, if the indoor hot air is provided with the high flow rate, the indoor hot air can blow the first exhaust fan  300  and second exhaust fan  400  to rotate. Accordingly, the second exhaust fan  400  additionally included in this embodiment can further increase the speed of the air flowing along the airflow passage F, accelerating the discharge of the indoor air, and thereby enhancing the efficiency of ventilation. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the second exhaust fan  400  is disposed in the first channel S 1 , whilst no exhaust fan is disposed in the second channel S 3 . Similarly, when the wind turbine  200  rotates to bring the second exhaust fan  400  to rotate, the second exhaust fan  400  brings air to the second channel S 3  via the first channel S 1  and airflow space S 2 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a schematic cross section of a ventilation apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a fixing bearing  130   a  of a channel unit  100   a  is disposed in the first channel S 1  of the channel unit  100   a,  and multiple connection units  120   a  are perpendicular to a sidewall of the fixing bearing  130   a  and extend to a channel body  110   a.  An outer hub  210   a  of a wind turbine  200   a  is configured as a cylindrical structure. The wind turbine  200   a  protrudes from the top of the outer hub  210   a.    
         [0033]    The outer hub  210   a  comprises a first housing  214  and a second housing  215 . The second housing  215  is annular and is combined with the first housing  214  along the extension direction D1. A first exhaust fan  300   a  comprises a plurality of first exhaust blades  320   a,  but comprises no outer fixed ring and inner fixed ring. The first exhaust blades  320   a  extend inward from an inner wall of the second housing  215 . In another embodiment, the inner fixed ring may be connected to the first exhaust blades  320   a.    
         [0034]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.