Patent Publication Number: US-2016231012-A1

Title: Automated Vent Fan Systems and Methods

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A modern building, whether residential or commercial, has a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. An HVAC system is responsible for cooling and heating the internal space of the building in response to internal temperature changes. 
     A typical HVAC system has a control subsystem that uses a thermostat to maintain a specified temperature. In this regard, when a predetermined temperature, the thermostat automatically initiates the cooling system, and when the temperature detected by the thermostat falls below a predetermined temperature, the thermostat automatically initiates the heating system. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is a vent that has a grate comprising a plurality of louvers and a base. The grate is coupled to the base on an exposed face. The vent further has at least one fan coupled to the base on an opposing face that is adapted for moving air delivered to the grate through the louvers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric side view of an exemplary vent in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the exemplary vent depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary system incorporating the exemplary vent of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary vent  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The exemplary vent  100  comprises a grate  101 , a base  102 , and two fan housings  103 ,  104 . 
     The grate  101  comprises a plurality of louvers  108 . The louvers  108  are attached to a frame  107 . The louvers  108  allow air flow through the vent  100  in a direction indicated by reference arrows  109 . 
     The vent  100  further comprises a base  102 . The frame  107  of the grate  101  is coupled to an exposed face of the base  102 . In addition, the housings  103  and  104  are coupled to an opposing face of the base  102 . 
     In operation, ducts deliver air (cold/warm) to the vent  100  via a series of ducts that connect the cooling/heating systems to an opening in a floor (not shown), wall (not shown), or ceiling (not shown) of a room (not shown) of a building (not shown). The vent  100  is inserted within and to cover the opening. The air delivered blows through the louvers  108  in the direction indicated by reference arrows  109  and cools and/or heats the room. 
     As will be described further herein with reference to  FIG. 2 , a vent  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure facilitates more expeditious and efficient delivery of air (cold or hot) to the room. In this regard, the vent  100  moves the air from the air duct through the louvers  108 , thereby decreasing the power that it takes to cool/heat a room. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the exemplary vent  100  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In this regard, the vent  100  comprises the housings  103 ,  104 . Within the housings  103 ,  104  are fans  200 ,  201 , respectively. Note that the fans  200 ,  201  are exemplary. In other embodiments, the fans  200 ,  201  may have any number or size of blades. Additionally, the pitch and shape of the fins of the fans  200 ,  201  shown are exemplary. Other pitches and shapes of the fins may be used in other embodiments. 
     Each fan  200 ,  201  comprises a motor (not shown) that activates and deactivates the blades of the fans  200 ,  201 . The motors are electrically connected to respective wires  203 ,  204 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts an automated vent fan system  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system  300  comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit  301 . In addition, the system  300  comprises a thermostat  302  and electrical wires  203 ,  204 . 
     The thermostat  302  is electrically coupled to the HVAC unit  301 . In this regard, when a preset maximum temperature is detected by the thermostat  302 , the thermostat  302  automatically transmits a signal to the HVAC unit  301  that activates the cooling system of the HVAC unit  301 . Further, when a preset minimum temperature is detected by the thermostat  302 , the thermostat  302  automatically transmits a signal to the HVAC system  301  that activates the heating system of the HVAC unit  301 . 
     Additionally, the thermostat  302  is electrically coupled to the fans  200 ,  201  ( FIG. 2 ) via the electrical connectors  203 ,  204  ( FIG. 2 ), respectively. In accordance with the present disclosure, when the thermostat  302  activates the cooling or heating system of the HVAC system  301 , the thermostat  302  further activates the fans  200 ,  201  via the electrical wires  203 ,  204 , respectively.