U.S. patent application number 12/859224 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-23 for solar powered active roof ridge vent.
Invention is credited to Edward Walfred Eskola, III.
Application Number | 20120045983 12/859224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45594442 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120045983 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eskola, III; Edward
Walfred |
February 23, 2012 |
Solar Powered Active Roof Ridge Vent
Abstract
A solar powered roof ridge vent apparatus is provided for
actively conducting warm air from an attic space of a home or
building to the ambient environment. The roof ridge vent apparatus
includes a series of electrically powered axial fans fastened to
openings formed in a laterally flexible main panel which is
installed at the ridge opening of a roof on a home or building. The
laterally flexible main panel seals to the roofline. The series of
fans are protected from the elements by a shroud. The shroud is
fastened to the laterally flexible main panel and forms a cavity
surrounding the fans in which the fan drawn air is first introduced
prior to passing through a vent to the ambient environment. The
fans are powered using electricity generated by a solar panel,
which is mounted to the main panel. A thermostat is employed to
deactivate the electrical fans at lower ambient temperatures when
attic ventilation is undesirable. The apparatus can be installed as
a single unit to the exterior of the home.
Inventors: |
Eskola, III; Edward Walfred;
(Seabrook, TX) |
Family ID: |
45594442 |
Appl. No.: |
12/859224 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/341 ;
454/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/025 20130101;
F24F 2005/0064 20130101; Y02A 30/272 20180101; Y02B 10/24 20130101;
Y02B 10/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/341 ;
454/365 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/06 20060101
F24F007/06; F24F 7/02 20060101 F24F007/02 |
Claims
1. An attic ventilation apparatus for use with structure having a
pitched roof, with a ridge vent opening at the apex, the
ventilation apparatus comprising: A main panel to be mounted over a
roof's ridge vent opening; A fan or fans fastened to the main panel
to exhaust air from the attic space; and A shroud assembly,
fastened to the main panel enclosing the fan or fans along said
panel
2. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel is installed on top of the ridge opening.
3. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel is attached to the exterior periphery of the ridge
vent opening using fasteners.
4. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel provides spacing for said fan or fans above the said
ridge opening and/or ridge beam (ridge board).
5. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel provides a fluid path for said fan or fans above the
said ridge opening and/or ridge beam (ridge board).
6. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel seals along the exterior of the ridge opening
(lengthwise).
7. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel is flexible to allow panel fit to the roof
ridgeline.
8. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel is hinged to allow panel fit to the roof
ridgeline.
9. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said panel and shroud will facilitate the installation of
roofing shingles to their exterior.
10. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said fan or fans are axial fan(s).
11. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 6, where in
the said fan or fans incorporate electric motors.
12. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 6, where in
said fan or fans have a plurality of fan blades.
13. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said fan or fans are fastened over openings in the main panel
to allow airflow through the openings in the main panel via the fan
activity.
14. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said fan or fans are mounted parallel to the tangent of the
roofs apex, above the ridge slot and/or ridge beam (ridge
board)
15. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where the
said fan or fans are powered by a solar panel.
16. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where
said fan or fans are activated by a thermostat.
17. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
said main panel has a solar panel fastened to its exterior.
18. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said shroud is forms a secondary air cavity above said fans
above the ridge slot and above the main panel.
19. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said shroud mates with an integral solar panel to form
secondary cavity above the ridge slot and above the main panel.
20. The attic ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, where in
the said shroud includes vents to exhaust air to the ambient
environment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT: Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM: Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] This invention relates to roof vents, and more specifically
to roof ridge vents.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] In areas of warmer climates, the attic spaces of homes or
buildings tend to accumulate air much warmer than the ambient
environment. The warm air in the attic then drives up the
temperature of the home or for homes with air conditioners the
cooling load on the air conditioning system of the home, thus
increasing energy cost to the home owner. Attic ventilation is
known to play an important role in reducing the heat transferred to
the interior volume of the home especially in homes with inadequate
attic insulation. Many techniques, systems, and devices, some
passive, some active, have been developed for ventilation of the
attic spaces of homes. Passive systems include passive attic vents,
ridge vents and soffit vents. Passive ridge vents have become the
most common passive solution to attic ventilation on new homes and
new roof installations due to ease of installation and low cost.
The passive ridge vent systems are placed over an opening at the
upper ridge of a roof. The airflow moves through the attic via
convection (hot air rising to the towards the ridge), flows around
the ridge beam, through the slot, then turns over the roofline and
flows through vents a short distance away. The limitations of the
passive device are that they use natural convection and thus do not
drive down attic temperatures as much as an active system, which
may take advantage of natural convection but also augment the air
flow with a powered device. Active systems, meaning a powered
device is used to forcibly flow air to or from the attic space,
include acreage deck mounted power fans (both grid powered and
solar powered), wind powered turbines, gable louvers in combination
with an attic exhaust fan, ridge vent outlet mounted impellers,
large two piece ridge slot interior mounted impellers (for roofs
without ridge beams) and sub-ridge mounted fan assemblies.
[0005] Active solutions to the high attic temperature problem can
generally produce lower attic air temperatures. Active solutions
currently proposed, on the market and in prior art have several
chief impairments limiting their effectiveness and ubiquitousness.
The main impairments of prior art outlined here include difficulty
in installation, aesthetic inadequacy, common roof type
incompatibility, and cost. Other miscellaneous inadequacies
discussed include inefficiency and debris ingestion.
[0006] A critical driving factor in determining the implementation
of active attic ventilation by contractors, homebuilders or the
average home owner/do-it-yourselfer is the difficulty of
installation and complexity of installation of the active device.
All of the proposed active solutions described by prior art fall
short of the preferred embodiment described here in this regard. Of
the active solutions proposed in prior art many require roofing
shingle removal and cutting a pass through in the decking of the
rooftop. Many require wiring and associated electrical components
to be installed to receive power from the home or buildings power
source. Such installations may require a certified electrician.
Others forms of prior art require installation of multiple
components inside and outside of the attic space. Accessing the
ridge area of many attics from the inside can be very difficult due
to reach and interior structural member interference. The
installation factors described are difficult, overly complicated
and require some carpentry or electrician expertise. All of these
reasons contribute substantially to the hesitance of the average
do-it-yourselfer to endeavor such a project. The complexity
involved with installation of existing prior art also deters
contractors and homebuilders from use.
[0007] Many active solutions are also not aesthetically pleasing,
forming a large protuberance on the acreage areas of a rooftop's
decking. Such protuberances limit the device's installation
locations to positions on the rooftop out of view of the front the
home or building. Wherever installed, they create discontinuity in
the profile of the home or buildings roofline which diminishes the
aesthetic appeal of the home. Aesthetic appeal directly correlates
to home value. Maximizing appeal is a great advantage to the
homeowner.
[0008] Some of the active attic ridge ventilation solutions in
prior art are not compatible with roofs with a ridge beam or ridge
board. This is because many proposed and patented solutions require
there to be a void space beneath the roof ridge's roofline for
placement of the active device (e.g. Impeller) and/or an air
sealer. Since a ridge board is a common structural roof element
that occupies the space at the apex of a roof just beneath the roof
ridge's roofline, compatibility with such an element ensures that
the active device's potential for future use is maximized.
[0009] Some proposed active solutions are not attractive to the
consumer due to their expense. The cost of proposed solutions is in
some cases relatively high due to complexities in the design of the
device and in the cost associated with installation of the device
(previously discussed). For example, some prior art includes
complex electrical controllers for managing the active devices.
Such control may marginally enhance efficiency of the device but
consequently drives up the cost of the device to the consumer.
Higher initial device cost makes the device less attractive to the
consumer.
[0010] The added complexity also increases the power demands of the
device, prohibiting the effective use of a solar panel as the sole
source powering the device.
[0011] For prior proposed solutions involving impellers or other
active devices placed at the ridge vent outlet, difficulty with
debris ingestion, exposure of moving parts to the elements,
inherent inefficiencies with impeller fan designs driving the need
to provide grid derived power to the device and impeller device
size limitations due to positioning are all challenges present.
SUMMARY
[0012] The preferred embodiment of this invention employs a panel,
referred to as the main panel, replicating the look of a passive
ridge vent panel, having a laterally flexible section but with edge
extremities that enable sealing to the roofline and to adjacent
ridge mounted panels. The panel has holes cut at the apex at which
axial fans are installed. The fans are shielded from precipitation,
debris, and other menaces of the natural environment by a flexible
shroud. The shroud surrounds the fan area forming a cavity in which
the fan drawn air flows and mimics the appearance of a roof
ridgeline. The shroud has vents present to allow the fan drawn air
to flow to the ambient environment.
[0013] An alternate embodiment of the invention includes similar
elements such as a main panel and axial fans but also includes
structural members that are mounted to the main panel extending
upwards and attached to a solar panel. The structural elements have
movable joints to facilitate the movement of the main panel's edges
during rooftop installation. The solar panel resides above the
axial fans protecting them from the natural environment. At the
periphery of the solar panel's bottom edge, a shroud extends down
to the main panel surrounding and enclosing the fans. The shroud
has a vent in it to allow attic-born fan drawn air to flow to the
ambient environment. The shroud is flexible on 2 sides to allow
bending of the main panel during roof top installation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0014] FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of the preferred embodiment
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cut away diagram of preferred embodiment
performing function
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view of the preferred embodiment installed on
the roof ridgline of a home
[0017] FIG. 4 is an orthogonal view of an alternate embodiment
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cut away diagram of an alternate embodiment
performing function
[0019] FIG. 6 is a view of an alternate embodiment installed on the
roof ridgline of a home
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred Embodiment
[0020] FIG. 1 shows the ventilation apparatus according to the
preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown, the apparatus
includes a rectangular panel, the main panel, (23) with a laterally
flexible section allowing the panel to be installed over, to cover
and seal the apex of a roof in which the upper section of the
decking has been removed to allow air flow through the ridge. The
laterally flexible panel is sealed along its edges using standard
flexible sealing material to promote airflow through the active
portion of the device (133). Holes are cut in to the laterally
flexible panel's central section to allow for the installation of a
series of axial fans (53) enabling them to extract air (113,63)
from beneath the panel and exhaust it into the panels upper cavity
formed by a flexible shroud (43). The fans are held in position on
the main panel with standard fasteners. The flexible shroud (43)
forms a cavity above the flexible main panel in which the hot
exhaust air flows (113). The shroud serves to protect the fans from
precipitation, debris and mimics the roofline of the home. The
shroud (43) itself is also flexible allowing it to flex with the
main panel (23) during installation. The shroud is of sufficient
consistency to allow for standard roofing shingles to be attached
via standard fasteners if desired. The wiring for powering the fans
is bundled and run along the length of the flexible panel (83). The
bundle runs to a thermostat (153) and from there extends to an
electrical box (153) beneath a solar panel (143), which is mounted
to the main panel (163). The thermostat prevents power flow to the
axial fans at cooler ambient temperatures. The flexible shroud that
forms the secondary air collection cavity above the main panel is
fastened to the main panel by a standard fastener type (33). The
flexible shroud has portions removed (73) along the edge interface
with the main panel to form external vents. The removed portions
are covered with a fine mesh screen to preclude the entrance of
debris. The vents formed by the removed portions and the main panel
permit the air removed from the attic to be flowed to the ambient
environment. For installation the main panel is fastened over the
roof ridge using standard fasteners (123). The main panel is
fastened to the roof top decking over the existing shingle (13)
which are held in pace by decking fastened to the rafters (93). The
axial fans are suspended over the ridge's ridge beam/ridge board
(103) in the ridge opening (173) allowing air to flow from the
attic space through the ridge opening, through the fan, into the
collection cavity over the main panel formed by the shroud and
subsequently out through the mesh covered vents in the shroud to
the ambient environment. FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment
installed on the ridgeline of a roof.
Alternate Embodiment
[0021] There are various possibilities with regard to the relative
disposition of the essential components of this invention (flexible
sealing main panel, fans, solar panel, and shroud). FIG. 4 shows
the ventilation apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of
the invention. As shown, the apparatus includes a rectangular
panel, the main panel, (21) with a laterally flexible section
allowing the panel to be installed over, to cover and seal the apex
of a roof in which the upper section of the decking has been
removed to allow air flow through the ridge. The laterally flexible
panel is sealed along its edges to promote airflow through the
active portion of the device (131). Holes are cut in to the
laterally flexible panels central section to allow for the
installation of a series of axial fans (51) enabling them to
extract air (111,61) from beneath the panel and exhaust it into the
panels upper cavity formed by a flexible shroud (41) which
surrounds a solar panel. The fans are held in position on the main
panel by standard fasteners. The flexible shroud (41) extends from
the main panel to the periphery of a solar panel (141). The solar
panel is attached to the main panel by rigid members (161) with
flexible joints to allow for installation over the ridge of a
roofline. The rigid members support the solar panel and suspend it
above the main panel. Together with the flexible shroud, the solar
panel form a cavity above the flexible main panel in which the hot
exhaust air flows (111). The shroud and solar panel serve to
protect the fans from precipitation and debris. The shroud (41)
itself is also flexible allowing it to flex with the main panel
(21) during installation. The wiring for powering the fans, routed
from an electrical box beneath the solar panel (151), runs to a
thermostat contained within the cavity and then runs to the fans
within the cavity formed by the flexible shroud and solar panel
above the main panel (81). The thermostat prevents power flow to
the axial fans at cooler ambient temperatures. The flexible shroud
that along with the solar panel forms the air collection cavity
above the main panel is fastened to the main panel and solar panel
by standard fasteners (31). The flexible shroud has holes (71) cut
into it. The holes are covered with a fine mesh screen to preclude
the entrance of debris. The holes permit the air removed from the
attic to be flowed to the ambient environment. For installation,
the main panel is fastened over the roof ridge using standard
fasteners (121). The main panel is fastened to the roof top decking
over the existing shingle (11) which are held in place by decking
fastened to the rafters (91). The axial fans are suspended over the
ridge's ridge beam (101) (if present) in the ridge opening allowing
air to flow from the attic space through the ridge opening, through
the fan and into the collection cavity over the main panel and
subsequently out through the mesh covered vents to the ambient
environment. FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment installed on the
ridgeline of a roof.
[0022] The preferred and alternate embodiments uniquely incorporate
a main panel for roofline sealing, axial fans, a shroud forming a
secondary cavity and power source into a single device that can be
installed at the exterior ridge of a home. As a result, the
preferred embodiment and alternate embodiment solve many of the
problems associated with prior forms of attic ventilation,
including installation difficulty, aesthetics, roof compatibility,
efficiency, debris and cost.
[0023] Installing the apparatus as one piece and installing the
apparatus on the exterior simplify the installation process by
minimizing work needed to be performed to fasten the device to the
roof and allows the user to avoid reach, heat, and interference
concerns associated with working from within the attic space.
Installation from the exterior of the rooftop or attic also
requires no modifications to the internal structural members of the
attic space. In many instances it is expected that the preferred
embodiment and alternate embodiment will be installed on roofs with
existing passive ridge vents. This will allow homeowners to take
advantage of existing ridge passthrough and thus eliminating the
need, work and risks associated with cutting a hole in the roof
decking. The preferred and alternate embodiments do not require an
external electrical power source. This eliminates the need of an
electrician or other electrical expert during the installation.
[0024] The preferred embodiment and the alternate embodiment are
designed to be incorporated with an existing roof ridge vent or to
mimic the look of a passive roof ridge vent. The key to this
feature is placing the axial fans at the main panel's apex beneath
a shroud that mimics the appearance of the existing ridge roofline
and minimizes the disruption to the roof profile. This maintains a
low profile stance, which makes the device as installed
aesthetically pleasing.
[0025] As mentioned, unlike many prior forms of attic ventilation,
the preferred and alternate embodiments are installed entirely on
the exterior of the roofline. This feature not only enables ease of
installation but is also makes the device compatible with roofs
utilizing a ridge beam or ridge board. This will make the preferred
and alternate embodiments useful to a larger percentage of
homeowners when compared to prior art.
[0026] The use of a shroud to create a secondary cavity above the
main panel at the panel's apex has advantages in that it allows the
use of axial fans which can be larger and more efficient than would
be permissible if fans or other devices were placed at a passive
ridge vent outlets (as is done in some prior art). The efficiency
enabled by the use of axial fans mounted at the main panel's apex
is an import quality of the preferred embodiment and alternate
embodiment. They reduce the power needed to obtain an adequate
airflow through device. Additionally, power requirements of the
described embodiments is reduced by not needing or using a
sophisticated controller. The device's operation is directly
moderated by the intensity of the sun. Minimizing the power needed
for adequate airflow is important especially for solar powered
applications. Power requirements drive the size of solar panel
needed to operate the powered vent. As the preferred and alternate
embodiments, contain all of the essential elements of a ventilation
system minimizing size of the onboard solar panels is important.
Additionally, the solar panel itself is the most costly feature of
the device and minimizing its size/power output requirements
reduces its cost. Component cost reductions make the described
embodiments less expensive which intern makes the devices more
attractive to the consumer.
[0027] For the preferred embodiment, placing the fans at the apex
also allows enables use of a shroud that can protect the fans from
debris and the natural environment by forming a secondary cavity.
For the alternate embodiment, having the fans at a central location
enables the single shroud/solar panel assembly to cooperate in
protecting the fan or fans from the elements. Completely enclosing
the active devices prevents debris from prohibiting fan operation,
an advantage that the embodiments described have over some prior
art.
[0028] Although the description above contains much specificity,
these should not be construed to as limiting the scope of the
embodiments but as merely providing illustration of some of the
presently preferred embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments
should be determined by the appended claims ant their legal
equivalent, rather than by examples given.
* * * * *