Patent ID: 7740530

Claim:
A self-contained intake device configured for connection to an air flow system for a building, said intake device including: a self-contained housing defining a first flow path with a first, open end at an upstream end of the first flow path and a second end at a downstream end of the first flow path configured to be coupled to a duct, the housing further including a plurality of walls extending in the direction of the first flow path; a louver device having a plurality of inclined louvers positioned adjacent the open end dividing the open end into a plurality of second flow paths and operable to redirect flow of air to flow upwardly and inwardly to separate water from air; a baffle device positioned in the first flow path contiguous to a downstream face of the louver device, said baffle device having a plurality of adjacent third flow paths having a third flow path length at least about one times the major cross sectional height dimension of the third flow path and operable to change flow direction of air flowing between the louvers to generally parallel to the extending direction of the plurality of walls of the first flow path; an air heater extending across at least a portion of the first flow path downstream of the baffle device and operable for melting snow conveyed into the first flow path and separating it from the flowing air; and a foraminous device associated with the heater and operable to separate the melted snow from the air flowing through a foraminous portion thereof, the foraminous device extending substantially across the first flow path.