U.S. patent application number 14/309991 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-26 for air exchange device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ming-Tsung Li, Tsung-Chi Wang.
Application Number | 20150087222 14/309991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51212689 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150087222 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Ming-Tsung ; et
al. |
March 26, 2015 |
AIR EXCHANGE DEVICE
Abstract
An air exchange device includes: an air-guiding tube having a
first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end
having a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second end having
a second inlet and a second outlet; a partition settled inside the
air-guiding tube and dividing a room inside the air-guiding tube
into a first air-guiding space and a second air-guiding space, the
first air-guiding space communicating with the first inlet and
second outlet, and the second air-guiding space communicating with
the first outlet and the second inlet; a fan arranged with the
air-guiding tube and adapted to induce an airflow; and a control
module connecting with at least one of the first and second ends of
the air-guiding tube and electrically connecting with the fan.
Inventors: |
Li; Ming-Tsung; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) ; Wang; Tsung-Chi; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. |
Kaohsiung City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
51212689 |
Appl. No.: |
14/309991 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20130101;
F24F 7/08 20130101; F24F 11/0001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/338 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/00 20060101
F24F011/00; F24F 7/007 20060101 F24F007/007 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2013 |
TW |
102134854 |
Apr 16, 2014 |
TW |
103113874 |
Claims
1. An air exchange device, comprising: an air-guiding tube having a
first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end
having a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second end having
a second inlet and a second outlet; a partition settled inside the
air-guiding tube and dividing a room inside the air-guiding tube
into a first air-guiding space and a second air-guiding space, the
first air-guiding space communicating with the first inlet and
second outlet, and the second air-guiding space communicating with
the first outlet and the second inlet; a fan arranged with the
air-guiding tube and adapted to induce an airflow; and a control
module connecting with at least one of the first and second ends of
the air-guiding tube and electrically connecting with the fan.
2. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
control module connects with the second end of the air-guiding
tube, and at least one of the second inlet and second outlet faces
the control module.
3. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
control module has a housing with an opening, an auxiliary outlet,
and an auxiliary inlet, the housing connects with the second end of
the air-guiding tube by an edge defining the opening, and the
opening communicates with the second inlet and the second
outlet.
4. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a board
is disposed inside the housing, divides an inner room of the
housing into a first branch space and a second branch space, and
also divides the opening into a first opening and a second opening,
wherein the first branch space communicates with the first opening
and the auxiliary outlet, and wherein the second branch space
communicates with the second opening and the auxiliary inlet.
5. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a driving
circuit or a control circuit is disposed in the first branch space
or the second branch space and electrically connects with the
fan.
6. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a light
emitter is arranged in the first branch space or the second branch
space.
7. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein an alarm
is arranged in the first branch space or the second branch
space.
8. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a
negative air ions generator is arranged in the first branch space
or the second branch space.
9. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fan
is settled in the first air-guiding space, the control module has
an auxiliary fan disposed in the second branch space of the housing
and aligned with the second air-guiding space through the second
section, and a driving circuit or a control circuit is disposed
inside the second branch space and electrically connects with the
fan.
10. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fan
is settled in the second air-guiding space, the control module has
an auxiliary fan disposed in the first branch space of the housing
and aligned with the first air-guiding space through the first
opening, and a driving circuit or a control circuit is disposed
inside the first branch space and electrically connects with the
fan.
11. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first end of the air-guiding tube has a first surface and a second
surface adjacent to or opposite to each other, at least one bent
portion is formed between the first and second surfaces, the first
inlet is formed in the first surface, and the first outlet is
formed in the second surface.
12. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first end of the air-guiding tube has a first surface and a second
surface adjacent to each other, a bent portion is formed between
the first and second surfaces, the first inlet is formed in the
first surface, and the first outlet is formed in the second
surface.
13. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
partition has a first section, a second section and an inclined
connecting section linking the first and second sections.
14. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan
is arranged in the first air-guiding space or second air-guiding
space.
15. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fan
is arranged in the first air-guiding space, and the control module
has an auxiliary fan corresponding to the second air-guiding
space.
16. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fan
is arranged in the second air-guiding space, and the control module
has an auxiliary fan corresponding to the first air-guiding
space.
17. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 14, further
comprising another fan, with the two fans arranged in the first and
second air-guiding spaces respectively.
18. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
air-guiding tube is a tube with an adjustable axial length.
19. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the
air-guiding tube further has a sleeve moveably mounted on the first
end, the sleeve independently forms a first room and a second room
inside, two apertures are formed in the wall of the sleeve and
communicate with the first and second rooms respectively, the first
room communicates with the first air-guiding space, and the second
room communicates with the second air-guiding space.
20. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first inlet or first outlet of the air-guiding tube has a
filter.
21. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
auxiliary inlet or auxiliary outlet has a filter.
22. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a layer
of sound-insulating material is applied to an inner surface of the
air-guiding tube.
23. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan
electrically connects with a rotation control circuit.
24. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
auxiliary fan electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit.
25. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
auxiliary fan electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit.
26. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
auxiliary fan electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit.
27. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
auxiliary fan electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit.
28. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a cover connecting with the air-guiding tube and
covering the first end of the air-guiding tube.
29. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
cover comprises an inner wall spaced from the first inlet and the
first outlet.
30. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 28, wherein the
cover has an opening.
31. The air exchange device as claimed in claim 30, wherein a
filter is mounted in the opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an air exchange
device and, more particularly, to an air exchange device for
exchange of air inside and outside of a room.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional air exchange device 9
settled in a building's wall or the housing of an electrical
product is shown. Taking a wall 91 of a building as an example, the
wall 91 is formed to separate an internal space and an external
space. The wall 91 includes an inlet 911 and an outlet 912, and
both inlet 911 and outlet 912 communicate the internal and external
spaces, with a fan 92 settled across the inlet 911 and another fan
92 settled across the outlet 912. Therefore, when the fans 92
operates, air in the external space enters the internal space via
the inlet 911, and air in the internal space is expelled via the
outlet 912. Accordingly, the air exchange device 9 can exchange air
inside and outside the building cyclically.
[0005] However, in order to settle this air exchange device 9, two
through holes serving as the inlet 911 and outlet 912 are
necessary, and this dual hole arrangement may result in decreasing
of structural strength of the wall 91. Moreover, the necessary area
on the surface of the wall 91 for these two through holes is so big
that the use of the surface is thus largely limited. Besides, since
a side of the fans 92 is exposed to the external space via the
inlet 911 or the outlet 912, the heat and humidity of the external
space may easily damage the fans 92, and thus lower the lifetime of
the fans 92.
[0006] Furthermore, the fans 92 are conventionally connected with
control modules composed by driving circuits, control circuits or
other electronic elements, so that the fans 92 can be driven to
inwardly or outwardly guide the air. However, since the control
modules tend to generate a large amount of heat during the
operations, an additional cooling sink or cooling device is
required to lower the working temperature of said modules. This
will increase the cost of the air exchange device 9.
[0007] Additionally, since the fans 92 are simply connected to the
wall 91 without any sound-insulating design, the operational noise
of the fans 92 can easily transmit to the environment as noise
pollution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] What is needed is an air exchange device unnecessary to be
mounted on a divider via two openings of this divider but still
able to provide a desirable performance in air convection about the
divider, to maintain the structural strength of the divider, and to
provide an area of the surface of the divider large enough for any
further use.
[0009] Another need is an air exchange device able to perform the
air convection as well as to cool a control module.
[0010] A still another need is an air exchange device able to lower
or shade the noise made during operation of the fan.
[0011] A further need is an air exchange device capable of
increasing the structural strength of the divider without having to
drill through holes on the divider.
[0012] A still further need is an air exchange device which ensures
that the necessary amount of area of the divider is sufficient
without having to drill through holes on the divider.
[0013] In one implementation, an air exchange device includes: an
air-guiding tube having a first end and a second end opposite to
the first end, the first end having a first inlet and a first
outlet, and the second end having a second inlet and a second
outlet; a partition settled inside the air-guiding tube and
dividing a room inside the air-guiding tube into a first
air-guiding space and a second air-guiding space, the first
air-guiding space communicating with the first inlet and second
outlet, and the second air-guiding space communicating with the
first outlet and the second inlet; a fan arranged with the
air-guiding tube and adapted to induce an airflow; and a control
module connecting with at least one of the first and second ends of
the air-guiding tube and electrically connecting with the fan.
[0014] In this implementation, one or more of the following
features may be included: the control module connects with the
second end of the air-guiding tube, and at least one of the second
inlet and second outlet faces the control module; the control
module has a housing with an opening, an auxiliary outlet, and an
auxiliary inlet, the housing connects with the second end of the
air-guiding tube by an edge defining the opening, and the opening
communicates with the second inlet and the second outlet; a board
is disposed inside the housing, divides an inner room of the
housing into a first branch space and a second branch space, and
also divides the opening into a first section and a second section,
wherein the first branch space communicates with the first section
and the auxiliary outlet, and wherein the second branch space
communicates with the second section and the auxiliary inlet; a
driving circuit or control circuit is disposed in the first branch
space or the second branch space and electrically connects with the
fan; a light emitter is arranged inside the first branch space or
the second branch space; an alarm is arranged inside the first
branch space or the second branch space; a negative air ions
generator is arranged inside the first branch space or the second
branch space; the fan is settled inside the first air-guiding
space, the control module has an auxiliary fan disposed in the
second branch space of the housing and aligned with the second
air-guiding space through the second section, and a driving circuit
or a control circuit is disposed inside the second branch space and
electrically connects with the fan; the fan is settled inside the
second air-guiding space, the control module has an auxiliary fan
disposed in the first branch space of the housing and aligned with
the first air-guiding space through the first section, and a
driving circuit or control circuit is disposed inside the first
branch space and electrically connects with the fan; the first end
of the air-guiding tube has a first surface and a second surface
adjacent to or opposite to each other, at least one bent portion is
formed between the first and second surfaces, the first inlet is
formed in the first surface, and the first outlet is formed in the
second surface; the first end of the air-guiding tube has a first
surface and a second surface adjacent to each other, a bent portion
is formed between the first and second surfaces, the first inlet is
formed in the first surface, and the first outlet is formed in the
second surface; the partition has a first section, a second section
and an inclined connecting section linking the first and second
sections; the fan is arranged inside the first air-guiding space or
second air-guiding space; the fan is arranged inside the first
air-guiding space, and the control module has an auxiliary fan
corresponding to the second air-guiding space; the fan is arranged
inside the second air-guiding space, and the control module has an
auxiliary fan corresponding to the first air-guiding space; the air
exchange device further comprising another fan, with the two fans
arranged inside the first and second air-guiding spaces
respectively; the air-guiding tube is a tube with an adjustable
axial length; the air-guiding tube further has a sleeve moveably
mounted on the first end, the sleeve independently forms a first
room and a second room inside, two apertures are formed in the wall
of the sleeve and communicate with the first and second rooms
respectively, the first room communicates with the first
air-guiding space, and the second room communicates with the second
air-guiding space; the first inlet or first outlet of the
air-guiding tube has a filter; the auxiliary inlet or auxiliary
outlet has a filter; a layer of sound-insulating material is
applied to an inner surface of the air-guiding tube; the fan
electrically connects with a rotation control circuit; the
auxiliary fan electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit; the air exchange device further comprising a cover
connecting with the air-guiding tube and covering the first end of
the air-guiding tube; the cover comprises an inner wall spaced from
the first inlet and the first outlet; the cover has an opening; and
a filter is mounted in the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, including:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional air
exchange device.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air exchange device
according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air exchange
device.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air exchange device
with an arrow showing a shift motion of a sleeve.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an air exchange device
according to another preferred embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an air exchange device
with an auxiliary fan.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a sketch diagram showing the connection among a
rotation control circuit, a fan and an auxiliary fan of an air
exchange device according to the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an air exchange device
with a cover.
[0024] In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals
designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the term
"first," "second," "inner," "external," "internal," "downwards,"
and similar terms are used hereinafter, it should be understood
that these terms refer only to the structure shown in the drawings
as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings, and are
utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] In the following contents, a "divider" is a structure
adapted to separate an external space and an internal space. For
example, when a housing of an electronic product serves as the
divider, the external space is the space outside the housing, and
the internal space is the space inside the housing. As another
example, when a wall of a building serves as the divider, the
external space is the space outside the building, and the internal
space is the space inside the building. Furthermore, in the
following contents, a "control module" is a module including
electronic elements, such as driving circuit, control circuit, or
user interface, which is capable of fan driving and control, for
controlling the operation of a disclosed air exchange device.
Besides, according to user's need, the control module can also
include various electronic members with function of lighting,
alarm, or air-filtering, such as light emitter, alarm, and negative
air ions generator.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the air exchange device of the
preferred embodiment of this disclosure is mounted on a divider
"D," with a first side of the divider "D" exposing to an external
space "S1" and a second side of the divider "D," opposite to the
first side, exposing to an internal space "S2." The divider "D" has
a through hole "D1" extending from the first side to the second
side. This air exchange device includes an air-guiding tube 1, a
partition 2, a fan 3, and a control module 4. The air-guiding tube
1 is arranged in and extending through the through hole "D1." The
partition 2 and the fan 3 are settled inside the air-guiding tube
1. The control module 4 electrically connects with the fan 3.
[0027] The air-guiding tube 1 can be a tube with any kind of
sectional shape, and the one shown in FIG. 2 is a tube with round
sectional shape. The air-guiding tube 1 has a first end 11 and a
second end 12 opposite to the first end 11. For guiding air to
enter or exit the air-guiding tube 1, the first end 11 has a first
inlet 111 and a first outlet 112, and the second end 12 has a
second inlet 121 and a second outlet 122.
[0028] The partition 2 settled inside the air-guiding tube 1 can be
integrally formed within the air-guiding tube 1 or detachably
connected with the air-guiding tube 1. Specifically, the partition
2 divides the room inside the air-guiding tube 1 into two
independent spaces: a first air-guiding space 21 and a second
air-guiding space 22. In this embodiment, the partition 2 includes
a first section 2a, a second section 2b and an inclined connecting
section 2c, which links the first and second sections 2a, 2b. With
the inclined connecting section 2c, airflow can be smoothly guided
from the first section 2a to the second section 2b.
[0029] The fan 3 settled inside the air-guiding tube 1 is adapted
to generate airflow. The position of the fan 3 is not limited as
long as the airflow generated by the fan 3 can finally enter or
exit the air-guiding tube 1. For example, the fan 3 can be arranged
in the first air-guiding space 21 or second air-guiding space 22;
specifically, the fan 3 can be arranged at the first inlet 111, the
first outlet 112, the second inlet 121, or the second outlet 122.
Therefore, it is not necessary to largely increase the size of the
air-guiding tube 1 for containing the fan 3. Alternatively, there
can also be another fan 3 settled inside the air-guiding tube 1 as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the two fans 3 are arranged in the
first and second air-guiding spaces 21, 22 respectively, so as to
improve the air-driving efficiency. Specifically, with the fan 3
settled inside the air-guiding tube 1, the air-guiding tube 1 can
provide a certain degree of sound insulation to lower the noise
pollution around the air-guiding tube 1 when the fan 3 operates.
Particularly, the efficiency of sound insulation can be further
improved if a layer of sound-insulating material is applied to the
inner surface of the air-guiding tube 1. The fan 3 has a structure
designed to be driven by a motor, such as axial fan, centrifugal
fan, blower, or exchange fan.
[0030] The control module 4 connects with at least one of the first
and second ends 11, 12 of the air-guiding tube 1 integrally or
detachably, and the control module 4 also electrically connects
with and operates the fan 3. Preferably, the control module 4
connects with the second end 12 and is disposed in the internal
space "S2," so that the repair and maintenance processes of the
control module 4 can be easily performed when the divider "D" is a
wall of a building. The control module 4 is preferably in a
position where at least one of the second inlet 121 and second
outlet 122 faces, so that the heat generated by the control module
4 can be easily dispelled when the airflow driven by the fan 3
enters or exits the air-guiding tube 1. In this embodiment, the
control module 4 has a housing 41. The housing 41 has an opening
411, an auxiliary outlet 412 and an auxiliary inlet 413, with the
housing 41 connecting with the second end 12 by an edge defining
the opening 411. The opening 411 communicates with the second inlet
121 and second outlet 122. A board 42 is disposed inside the
housing 41 and across the opening 411, so as to divide the inner
room of the housing 41 into a first branch space 41a and a second
branch space 41b, and also to divide the opening 411 into a first
opening 411a and a second opening 411b. Specifically, the first
branch space 41a communicates with the first opening 411a and the
auxiliary outlet 412; and the second branch space 41b communicates
with the second opening 411b and the auxiliary inlet 413. Besides,
the first opening 411a faces the second outlet 122, and the second
opening 411b faces the second inlet 121. With the above
arrangement, when a driving circuit or control circuit of the fan 3
is disposed in the first branch space 41a or the second branch
space 41b and electrically connects with the fan 3, the heat
generated by this circuit can be dissipated by the airflow passing
through the first branch space 41a or the second branch space 41b.
Furthermore, an electronic member with function of lighting, alarm,
or air-filtering can also be arranged inside the first branch space
41a or the second branch space 41b. The electronic member is
adapted to provide said function of lighting, alarm, or
air-filtering, therefore, the electronic member may be a light
emitter, an alarm, or a negative air ions generator.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, in use of the disclosed air exchange
device, only one hole, that is, the through hole "D1" in the
divider "D" is necessary. With the air-guiding tube 1 arranged in
and extending through the through hole "D1," the airflow from the
external space "S1" passes through the first inlet 111, the first
air-guiding space 21, the second outlet 122, the first section
411a, the first branch space 41a, and the auxiliary outlet 412
sequentially, so as to enter the internal space "S2." On the other
hand, a reverse airflow from the internal space "S2" passes through
the auxiliary inlet 413, the second branch space 41b, the second
opening 411b, the second inlet 121, the second air-guiding space
22, and the first outlet 112 sequentially, so as to be expelled to
the external space "S1." In this way, the disclosed air exchange
device can be functioned for air convection.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 now, preferably, the axial length
of the air-guiding tube 1 is able to be adjusted. In order to
implement the above idea, the air-guiding tube 1 may further
include a sleeve 13 moveably mounted on the first end 11. The
sleeve 13 independently includes a first room 131 and a second room
132 inside, and two apertures 133 are formed in the wall of the
sleeve 13 and communicate with the first and second rooms 131, 132
respectively. The first room 131 communicates with the first
air-guiding space 21 and the second room 132 communicates with the
second air-guiding space 22. Specifically, the first room 131 and
second room 132 serve as extensions of the first air-guiding space
21 and second air-guiding space 22, and the apertures 133
respectively serve as inlet and outlet of the air-guiding tube 1.
As a result, referring to the arrow shown in FIG. 4, with the shift
of the sleeve 13 in an axial direction of the air-guiding tube 1,
positions of the inlet and outlet toward the external space "S1,"
which are the apertures 133 now, can be adjusted according to
need.
[0033] Additionally, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, positions of
the first inlet 111, first outlet 112, second inlet 121, and second
outlet 122 are not limited. In this embodiment, the first inlet 111
and first outlet 112 face in the same direction. Alternatively, in
order to provide different performance in air convection, as shown
in FIG. 5, the first end 11 in the external space "S1" includes a
first surface 11a and a second surface 11b, which are non-coplanar
surfaces with at least one bent portion 113 formed between the
first and second surfaces 11a, 11b. For example, when there is only
one bent portion 113 formed between and linking the first and
second surfaces 11a, 11b, they are two adjacent and non-coplanar
surfaces; alternatively, if there are more than one bent portions
113, the first and second surfaces 11a, 11b, are two opposite and
non-coplanar surfaces. Specifically, the first inlet 111 is formed
in the first surface 11a, and the first outlet 112 is formed in the
second surface 11b. With the above arrangement, the first inlet 111
and the first outlet 112 face in different directions due to the
bent portion 113 between the first and second surfaces 11a, 11b, so
that the airflow going to enter the air-guiding tube 1 and the
other airflow expelled thereby do not disturb each other.
Preferably, the first surface 11a is perpendicular to the second
surface 11b, so that the airflow may enter the air-guiding tube 1
via the first inlet 111 in a direction perpendicular to the axial
direction of the air-guiding tube 1, and the other airflow may exit
the air-guiding tube 1 via the first outlet 112 in a direction
parallel to the axial direction of the air-guiding tube 1.
Therefore, an improved performance of air convection is thus
provided since airflow disturbance is efficiently avoided.
Moreover, at least one of the first inlet 111, first outlet 112,
auxiliary outlet 412, and auxiliary inlet 413, especially the
auxiliary outlet 412 or auxiliary inlet 413, may have a filter 14
to avoid unwanted object such as dust or insects entering the
air-guiding tube 1. When the filter 14 is arranged at the auxiliary
outlet 412 or auxiliary inlet 413, the filter 14 is inside the
internal space "S2" and may provide a preferable filtering
performance. Besides, maintenance or replacement of the filter 14
in the internal space "S2" can be easily performed when the divider
"D" is a wall of a building.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 6 now, when the fan 3 is settled inside
the second air-guiding space 22, the control module 4 may further
include an auxiliary fan 43 aligning with the first air-guiding
space 21. Specifically, the auxiliary fan 43 is disposed in the
first branch space 41a of the housing 41, so that the auxiliary fan
43 aligns with the first air-guiding space 21 through the first
opening 411a. By the auxiliary fan 43 of the control module 4, if
the driving circuit or control circuit is disposed inside the first
branch space 41a, the heat generated by the driving circuit or
control circuit can be dispelled rapidly. Furthermore, since the
auxiliary fan 43 corresponds with the first air-guiding space 21,
the auxiliary fan 43 can provide functions similar to those of fan
3, such as helping performance of air convection. Alternatively,
the auxiliary fan 43 may be disposed in the second branch space 41b
if the fan 3 is settled in the first air-guiding space 21, so that
the auxiliary fan 43 aligns with the second air-guiding space 22
through the second opening 411b. Accordingly, the auxiliary fan 43
not only rapidly dispels the heat generated by the driving circuit
or control circuit if the driving circuit or control circuit is
disposed inside the second branch space 41b, but also helps
performance of air convection.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, at least one of the fan 3 and the
auxiliary fan 43 electrically connects with a rotation control
circuit 5, which is adapted to control the fan 3 or auxiliary fan
43 to rotate in a forward direction or a reverse direction.
Therefore, when the rotation control circuit 5 controls the fan 3
or the auxiliary fan 43 to rotate in a first direction, the airflow
induced by the fan 3 or the auxiliary fan 43 goes in a way shown by
the arrow "I" in FIG. 3 or 6 for air convection; when the rotation
control circuit 5 controls the fan 3 or the auxiliary fan 43 to
rotate in a second direction, the airflow induced by the fan 3 or
the auxiliary fan 43 goes in a reverse way of the arrow "I" in FIG.
3 or 6 for expelling the dust from inside the air-guiding tube 1 to
prevent the first inlet 111 from being blocked by the accumulated
dust. As such, the dust will not accumulate in the air-guiding tube
1 and hinder the air from entering the air-guiding tube 1, thereby
maintaining an ideal performance of air convection. Specifically,
the rotation control circuit 5 may decide the timing to change the
rotational direction of the fan 3 or auxiliary fan 43. For example,
the fan 3 or auxiliary fan 43 may be cyclically controlled to
rotate in the first direction for a convection time, such as 30-60
minutes, and then be reversely controlled to rotate in the second
direction for a cleaning time, such as 10-20 seconds.
Alternatively, the cleaning time can be arranged to be prior to the
convection time.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 8, the disclosed air exchange device may
further include a cover 6 in the external space "S1," connecting
with the air-guiding tube 1, and covering the first end 11 of the
air-guiding tube 1, with the cover 6 having an opening 61. With
this cover 6, the air-guiding tube 1 does not expose to external
factors in the external space "S1," such as humidity, wind, and
dust, and the look of the air exchange device is also improved.
Specifically, the cover 6 comprises an inner wall spaced from the
first inlet 111 and the first outlet 112 for the air in the
external space "S1" to smoothly enter the air-guiding tube 1 via
the opening 61 and the inlet 111, or for the air in the air-guiding
tube 1 to be expelled to the external space "S1" via the outlet 112
and the opening 61. Besides, when the divider "D" is a lateral wall
of a building or a lateral side of a housing, the opening 61 faces
downwards preferably, so as to relieve the accumulation of dust.
Furthermore, there can also be another filter 14 mounted in the
opening 61 to avoid unwanted object entering the air-guiding tube
1.
[0037] In sum, with the above illustrated air exchange device, for
air convection between the external space "S1" and the internal
space "S2," only the single through hole "D1" has to be set in the
divider "D" for arrangement of this air exchange device. Therefore,
the structural strength of the divider "D" is maintained, and the
necessary amount of area of the divider "D" is also significantly
limited. Moreover, the area of the air exchange device exposed to
the external space "S1" is small, and thus damages caused by heat
or humidity can be efficiently avoided. As a result, the disclosed
air exchange device has advantages such as high efficiency in
cooling and air-convection, long lifetime, and high degree in
convenience of usage.
[0038] Additionally, since the fan 3 is settled inside the
air-guiding tube 1, the internal space "S2" can get ride of the
noise pollution due to the operational sound of the fan 3,
especially when most parts of the air-guiding tube 1 and the fan 3
are outside the internal space "S2." Besides, with the control
module 4 connecting with the second end 12 of the air-guiding tube
1 and corresponding to the second inlet 121 and second outlet 122,
the heat generated by the control module 4 can be dissipated when
airflows are induced by the fan 3. Therefore, there is no need to
additionally arrange any fin or fan for cooling the control module
4, and thus the cost of the air exchange device is limited.
[0039] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to its presently preferable embodiments, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
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