U.S. patent application number 11/371963 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for powered ridge ventilation system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to BUILDING MATERIALS INVESTMENT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Adem Chich, Sudhir Railkar, Walter Zarate.
Application Number | 20070213003 11/371963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38475470 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070213003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Railkar; Sudhir ; et
al. |
September 13, 2007 |
Powered ridge ventilation system and method
Abstract
There is provided a ridge ventilation system that comprises a
ridge slot disposed longitudinally in a ridge of a roof and a fan
disposed in the ridge slot for actively exhausting air from an
attic substantially enclosed by the roof, sidewalls and ceiling
into the ambient atmosphere. There is further provided a method for
ventilating that comprises disposing a ridge slot longitudinally in
a ridge of the roof and operating a fan disposed in the ridge slot
to actively exhaust air from the attic into the ambient atmosphere.
Lastly, there is provided a method for installing the ridge
ventilation system that comprises constructing a ridge slot
longitudinally disposed in a ridge of the roof and disposing a fan
in the ridge slot to actively exhaust air from the attic into the
ambient atmosphere.
Inventors: |
Railkar; Sudhir; (Wayne,
NJ) ; Chich; Adem; (Kearny, NJ) ; Zarate;
Walter; (Prospect Park, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GAF MATERIALS CORPORATION;Attn: William J. Davis, Esq.
Legal Department., Building No. 8-2
1361 Alps Road
Wayne
NJ
07470
US
|
Assignee: |
BUILDING MATERIALS INVESTMENT
CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
38475470 |
Appl. No.: |
11/371963 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/174 20130101;
F24F 7/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/365 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/02 20060101
F24F007/02 |
Claims
1. A ridge ventilation system comprising: a ridge slot disposed
longitudinally in a ridge of a roof; and a fan disposed in the
ridge slot for actively exhausting air from an attic substantially
enclosed by the roof, sidewalls and a ceiling into the ambient
atmosphere.
2. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the
fan is a centrifugal fan disposed in the ridge slot longitudinally
along the ridge of the roof.
3. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the
fan is an axial fan disposed in the ridge slot perpendicularly to
the ridge of the roof.
4. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the
fan is connected to an electrical power source.
5. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the
fan is connected to a solar power source.
6. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the
switch is an automatic switch or a manual switch.
7. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, further
comprising a sensor enabled for signaling the fan when to start
operating and when to stop operating.
8. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 7, wherein the
sensor is one selected from the group consisting of: a temperature
sensor; a pressure sensor; a moisture sensor; and light sensor.
9. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, further
comprising a switch for signaling the fan when to start operating
and when to stop operating.
10. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 1, further
comprising a fan housing for housing the fan in the ridge slot.
11. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 10, further
comprising a roof ridge vent disposed over the ridge slot and
overlapping the roof adjacent to the ridge slot.
12. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 11, wherein the
fan is disposed in the ridge slot from about one inch to about
twelve inches below the roof ridge vent.
13. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 11, wherein the
roof ridge vent comprises a plurality of vent slots for actively
exhausting the air from the attic.
14. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 11, wherein the
roof ridge vent comprises a plurality of external baffles for
controlling flow of precipitation incident on the roof ridge
vent.
15. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 11, wherein the
roof ridge vent comprises a plurality of internal baffles for
controlling flow of precipitation incident on the roof ridge
vent.
16. The ridge ventilation system according to claim 10, further
comprising an inlet fan guard disposed on the fan housing.
17. A method for ventilating an attic substantially enclosed by a
roof, sidewalls and a ceiling, the method comprising: disposing a
ridge slot longitudinally in a ridge of the roof; and operating a
fan disposed in the ridge slot to actively exhaust air from the
attic into the ambient atmosphere.
18. The method for ventilating according to claim 17, further
signaling the fan when to start operating and when to stop
operating.
19. A method for installing a ridge ventilation system for
ventilating an attic substantially enclosed by a roof, sidewalls
and a ceiling, the method comprising: constructing a ridge slot
longitudinally disposed in a ridge of the roof; and disposing a fan
in the ridge slot to actively exhaust air from the attic into the
ambient atmosphere.
20. The method for installing a ridge ventilation system according
to claim 19, further comprising securing a roof ridge vent over the
ridge slot and overlapping portions of the roof adjacent to the
ridge slot.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to roof ridge vents.
More specifically, the present invention is directed to a powered
ridge ventilation system and method for actively ventilating an
upper part (e.g., attic) of a structure (e.g., building or
house).
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Ventilation systems have been used in buildings for
ventilation of inner parts of the buildings. These ventilation
systems include combinations of roof vents, ridge vents, gable
vents, soffit vents and the like. In particular, a roof ridge vent
is incorporated into a ridge or apex of a roof that encloses the
attic to ventilate (exhaust) excessive heated air that becomes
trapped therein. More specifically, as solar heat becomes incident
on the roof, the air in the attic is heated and becomes trapped if
it remains unventilated.
[0005] Known roof ridge vents are static vents. More specifically,
a fraction of the trapped hot air escapes through the static roof
ridge vent from air currents in the surrounding environment and
from hot air expanding and escaping through the roof ridge vent.
However, the static roof ridge vent cannot ventilate all the excess
heated air in the attic. In addition, the roof ridge vent depends
on incoming external air through a soffit/eave vent to ventilate
the hotter air trapped in the attic. The incoming cooler air
entering the attic displaces the heated air, which is exhausted
through the roof ridge vent. However the static roof ridge vent's
ability to exhaust air is reduced by the transiency of wind speed,
which affects the volume of air entering the soffit/eave vent. This
increases energy costs associated with the cooling and the heating
of the building.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art for providing a ridge
ventilation system and method to overcome the limitation imposed by
the transient wind speed and to improve the efficiency of the
ventilation achieved by a roof ridge vent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a powered ridge venting
system and method for actively ventilating the attic of a
building.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a ridge ventilation system comprising a ridge slot
disposed longitudinally in a ridge of a roof and a fan disposed in
the ridge slot for actively exhausting air from an attic
substantially enclosed by the roof, sidewalls and a ceiling into
the ambient atmosphere.
[0009] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a method for ventilating an attic substantially
enclosed by a root sidewalls and a ceiling, the method comprising
disposing a ridge slot longitudinally in a ridge of the roof and
operating a fan disposed in the ridge slot to actively exhaust air
from the attic or crawl space into the ambient atmosphere.
[0010] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a method for installing a ridge ventilation
system for ventilating an attic substantially enclosed by a roof,
sidewalls and a ceiling, the method comprising constructing a ridge
slot longitudinally disposed in a ridge of the roof and disposing a
fan in the ridge slot to actively exhaust air from the attic into
the ambient atmosphere.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the following
detailed description taken in combination with the attached
drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a partial view of an upper part of a
structure that incorporates the powered ridge ventilation system
according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of the
upper part of the structure in FIG. 1, which incorporates the
powered ridge ventilation system according to the present
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the upper part
of the structure in FIGS. 1 and 2, which incorporates the powered
ridge ventilation system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration depicting a partial view
100 of an upper part of a structure that incorporates the powered
ridge ventilation system according to the present invention. As
depicted in the partial view 100, the upper part of the structure
includes conventional roof 104 and ceiling 116 that substantially
enclose a space typically referred to as the attic 114.
Conventional sidewalls 102 may further bound the attic. The powered
ridge ventilation system 120 comprises a ridge slot 112, a fan 122,
and a roof ridge vent 106 for exhausting or ventilating air from
the attic 114 or crawl space through the ridge slot 112, fan 122
and roof ridge vent 105 into the ambient atmosphere.
[0016] The ridge slot 112 is an opening in the ridge 118 of the
roof 104. More specifically, the ridge slot 112 is constructed at
the ridge of the roof 104. The fan 122 is disposed within the ridge
slot 112 and the roof ridge vent 106 covers the ridge slot 112 and
overlaps the roof 104 to prevent precipitation (e.g., rain, snow),
insects and debris from entering the attic 114. The roof ridge vent
106 is conventionally secured to the roof 104.
[0017] For best operation, it is preferable that the fan 122 is
vertically disposed in the ridge slot 112 to be within a close,
predetermined distance to the roof ridge vent 106. The fan 122 is
preferably disposed from about one to about twelve inches below the
roof ridge vent 106 in the ridge slot 112.
[0018] The roof ridge vent 106 comprises a plurality of vent slots
108 on both sides of the roof ridge vent 106 to exhaust or
ventilate air from the attic 114 into the ambient atmosphere and a
plurality of external baffles 110 to control the flow of
precipitation that is incident on the roof ridge vent 106. Although
the roof ridge vent 106 is depicted with external baffles, it is to
be noted that the roof ridge vent 106 may instead comprise a
plurality of internal baffles (not shown). However, any other known
apparatus, device or vent that allows the exhaust of air from the
attic 114 into the ambient atmosphere, while preventing
precipitation and other unwanted elements from entering the ridge
slot 112 from the ambient atmosphere is applicable herein and is
considered within the scope of the present invention. The powered
ridge ventilation system 120 will be described in greater detail
with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 below.
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration depicting a
cross-sectional perspective view 200 of the upper part of the
structure in FIG. 1, which incorporates the powered ridge
ventilation system according to the present invention. As depicted
in the cross-sectional view 200, the fan 122 is preferably a
centrifugal fan disposed in the ridge slot 112 longitudinally along
the ridge 118 of the roof 104. An inlet fan guard 204 prevents
human injury during operation of the fan 122 and further prevents
debris and insulation in the attic 114 from entering the fan 122.
The inlet fan guard 204 is preferably a wire mesh guard.
Alternatively, the fan guard 204 is a fiberglass filter.
Furthermore, the fan guard 204 may be any other known filter. It is
noted that the fan guard 204 is not limited and may be anything
that can prevent human injury during operation of the fan 112 and
further protect the fan 112 from debris and insulation in the attic
114.
[0020] Further with reference to FIG. 2, the fan 112 comprises a
plurality of blades 202 that create a radial flow of air 210
through the fan 122 when powered via any conventional electrical
power source 206. It is noted the electrical power source 206 may
instead be a solar power source (not shown). More specifically, in
operation the fan 122 intakes air from the attic 114 and exhausts
that air via flow 212 into the ambient atmosphere. That is, the fan
122 creates a pressure differential between the attic 114 and the
ambient atmosphere, thereby actively exhausting the trapped air
from the attic 114 through the roof ridge vent 106 into the ambient
atmosphere. The combination of the centrifugal fan and the roof
ridge vent 106 optimally ventilates the attic 114. Although for
clarity and brevity the powered ridge ventilation system 120
depicts one fan 122 and one roof ridge vent 106, it is within the
scope of the present invention that there may be a plurality of
centrifugal fans (not shown) and corresponding roof ridge vents
disposed longitudinally along the ridge 118 of the roof 104.
[0021] Alternatively to the preferred centrifugal fan 122 of the
powered ridge ventilation system 120, an axial fan (not shown) may
be disposed in the ridge slot 112 perpendicularly to the ridge 118
of the roof 104, to provide flow of air from the attic 114 through
the roof ridge vent 106 into the ambient atmosphere. In addition, a
plurality of axial fans and roof ridge vents 106 may be disposed
along the ridge 118 of the roof 104. Furthermore, other known types
of fans and combinations thereof may easily be incorporated into
the powered ridge ventilation system 120 and are considered to be
within the scope of the present invention.
[0022] The power ridge ventilation system 120 can also be installed
for ridge board applications and truss style attic designs.
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exemplary illustration depicting a side
perspective view 300 of the upper part of the structure in FIGS. 1
and 2, which incorporates the powered ridge ventilation system
according to the present invention. As depicted in the side
perspective view 300, the fan 122 of the power ridge ventilation
system 102 is housed in a fan housing 302 and is protected by the
inlet fan guard 204. The powered ridge ventilation system may
further preferably comprise a temperature sensor 304 that is
enabled to detect when the temperature in the attic 114 exceeds a
first predetermined temperature and signal the fan 122 to switch on
and begin operating. In addition, the sensor 304 is further enabled
to detect when the temperature in the attic 114 is equal to or
falls below a second predetermined temperature and signal the fan
122 to switch off and stop operating. Other known sensing
techniques may easily be incorporated into the powered ridge
ventilation system 120 and are considered to be within the scope of
the present invention. That is, alternatively to the temperature
sensor 304, a pressure sensor or a moisture sensor may be installed
in the attic 114 and provide signals to the fan 122. Yet further, a
light sensor may be installed at a location where daylight is
incident on the sensor. Furthermore, an automatic switch such as a
timer switch, a manual toggle switch, or an automatic/manual
combination switch may be provided for signaling the fan 122 to
start and to stop.
[0024] In operation of the roof ventilation system 120 in
accordance with the preferred implementation of FIG. 3, when solar
heat becomes incident on the roof 104 and heats the air in the
attic 114, the temperature sensor 304 detects when the temperature
is equal to or exceeds a first predetermined temperature and
signals the fan 122 to begin operating. The operation of the fan
creates a pressure differential between the attic 114 and the
ambient atmosphere. This pressure differential causes air currents
306 to flow from the attic 114 into the roof ridge ventilation
system 120. More specifically, air currents 306 enter through the
inlet fan guard 204 and the fan housing 302 and radially flow
through the fan 122. The air currents 306 are actively exhausted
via flows 210 from the fan 122 through vent slots 108 on both sides
of the roof ridge vent 106 into flows 212 in the ambient
atmosphere. Once the temperature sensor 304 detects that the
temperature is equal to or below the second predetermined
temperature, it signals the fan 122 to stop operating. The cycles
of operation of the roof ventilation system 120 are preferably
controlled in accordance with the temperature sensor 304.
[0025] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with regard to a preferred embodiment thereof it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *