U.S. patent number 3,896,509 [Application Number 05/459,907] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for ventilating system for bathrooms.
Invention is credited to Hull H. Craven, Donald Stipp.
United States Patent |
3,896,509 |
Stipp , et al. |
July 29, 1975 |
Ventilating system for bathrooms
Abstract
This invention relates to a ventilating system for bathrooms and
embodies a two speed exhaust fan located at any suitable position
remote from the bathroom to cut down fan noise. An air collecting
box is located at a suitable position in a wall of the bathroom and
has an upper and lower compartment, the upper compartment is
connected by a suitable duct to the air intake side of the fan and
has connecting thereto a duct which opens out at the toilet bowl as
well as an opening in the partition between the upper and lower
compartments of the air collection box. A suitable loaded check
valve of any preferred construction is located in this opening and
is closed during operation of the fan at its low speed operation
and is opened by the suction pressure of the fan at its high speed
operation to permit the fan to withdraw moist air and steam from
the interior of the bathroom. This check valve prevents withdrawing
of air directly from the bathroom during withdrawing odorous air
from the toilet bowl. Suitable electrical current central apparatus
is provided to control the operation of the fan, including such
elements as a manually operated switch for controlling the full
speed operation of the fan and a second switch operated by weight
on the toilet seat for controlling operation of the fan at its
lower speed and including, if desired time control elements to
maintain operation of the fan at either speed for predetermined
time limits.
Inventors: |
Stipp; Donald (Sarasota,
FL), Craven; Hull H. (Sarasota, FL) |
Family
ID: |
23826628 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/459,907 |
Filed: |
April 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/209R; 4/218;
4/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
7/06 (20130101); E03D 9/052 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E03D
9/04 (20060101); E03D 9/052 (20060101); F24F
7/06 (20060101); E03d 009/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/209,211,210,213,214,215,216,218 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Artis; Henry K.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a ventilating system for bathrooms, a fan, means connecting
the suction of the fan to the bathroom for withdrawing steam and
moist air from the entire bathroom, and means for connecting the
suction of the fan to a toilet in the bathroom for withdrawing
odorous air from the toilet bowl, said means comprising an air
collection box having a plurality of compartments, one compartment
of said air collection box opening out into the bathroom to permit
entrance of steam and moist air into the compartment from which it
is drawn when the fan is operating at full speed, and an electrical
system connected to the fan and embodying means for reducing the
speed of operation of the fan during the withdrawal of odorous air
from said toilet bowl and for operating the fan at full speed when
withdrawing moist air and steam directly from the bathroom.
2. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said air-collection box has a compartment directly
connected to a toilet bowl structure and to the suction of said fan
whereby when the fan is operated at its low speed odorous air will
be drawn from the toilet bowl into the fan.
3. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said air collection box has a partition therein dividing it
into an upper and lower compartment, said lower compartment having
open communication with the interior of a bathroom, a conduit
connecting the upper compartment to the suction of the fan, a check
valve located in said partition to cut off communication between
the upper and lower compartment of the air collection box and
operable by the suction pressure of full speed operation of the fan
to open and permit direct communication of the suction fan through
the lower compartment of the air collection box to the interior of
the bathroom.
4. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 3,
including a second conduit connecting the upper compartment in said
air collection box with a toilet to withdraw odorous air from the
toilet, an electric switch carried by the seat of the toilet and
normally held open and closed by weight upon the toilet seat, and
means operated by the closing of the circuit under weight on the
toilet seat to permit a reduced flow of electric current to the fan
to operate the fan at a reduced speed.
5. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 4,
wherein said check valve is so constructed and arranged as to
remain closed under the reduced suction of the fan caused by its
reduced speed to prevent communication of the suction of the fan
with the entire interior of the bathroom.
6. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 4,
wherein the switch structure embodies a mercury switch embedded in
the rear of the toilet seat, the toilet seat includes hinge pins
made of electrical conducting material, said mercury switch
electrically connected to said hinge pins and wiring connecting
said hinge pins to the means in the circuit to reduce the
electrical current flow to the fan.
7. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 6,
wherein said electrical circuit means for controlling the flow of
the reduced electric current to the fan embodies a control circuit
including said seat operated mercury switch, a transformer for
reducing the voltage of the electrical current and a transformer
for reducing the voltage of the current flowing to the toilet seat
carried mercury switch to preclude appreciable electrical shock to
a person seated on the seat.
8. In a ventilating system for bathrooms as claimed in claim 7,
including an electrical relay connected in the control circuit with
the seat carried mercury switch, a choke coil, said choke coil
connected to the relay and said relay having connection with the
main power source, whereby when the relay is energized by closing
of a circuit through the seat carried mercury switch full power
electric current will be transmitted through the relay to the choke
coil, said choke coil connected to said fan and choking or reducing
the full current flow to the fan to cause the fan to be operated at
reduced speed.
Description
This invention embodies a ventilating system for bathrooms and the
primary object of the invention is to provide a ventilating system
embodying an exhaust fan placed at any suitable position remote
from the bathroom to cut down fan noises and further provides a fan
operated at its maximum speed to withdraw steam and moist air from
the bathroom and at its lower speed to withdraw odors from the
toilet, the speed of the fan being controlled through suitable
electrical apparatus to independently through a suitable air
collection box in the wall of the bathroom to withdraw either steam
and moist air from the entire bathroom or to withdraw odors from
the toilet, thus providing an energy saving system which will
efficiently perform its functions and provide a substantial power
savings during the withdrawal of odors from the toilet.
Another object of the invention is to provide an air collection box
in the wall of the bathroom divided into two compartments, one of
which has a suitable air extraction conduit connected to the
suction of the fan and a second conduit opening thereinto which has
its suction opening located so as to withdraw odors from the toilet
bowl. In the partition separating these compartments is a suitably
loaded check valve which will cut off communication between the
compartments at the low speed operation of the exhaust fan and will
be unseated by the suction pressure of the high speed operation of
the fan. This second compartment, whose connection to the fan is
controlled by the check valve, is open to the interior of the
bathroom so that when the fan is operating at high speed steam and
moist air will be drawn out of the bathroom. The check valve will
also prevent, during toilet ventilating operation, the withdrawal
of heated or cooled air from the bathroom.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of
toilet seat operated switch which is inconspicious and is operated
by the weight of a person sitting on the seat, this providing in
effect wholly automatic operation of the system independently of
any controlling action by the operator other than sitting on the
seat and with the fan in its remote position, noise in the bathroom
will be greatly reduced and also to provide suitable time
controlling elements which will maintain a predetermined time of
operation of the fan to insure thorough ventilation either of the
toilet or of the entire bathroom.
With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the
accompanying specification, the invention consists of various
features of construction and combination of parts, which will be
first described in connection with the accompanying drawings,
showing a Ventilating System for Bathrooms of a preferred form
embodying the invention and the features forming the invention will
be specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a bathroom showing the
installation of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuits
embodied in the ventilating system.
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the air-collecting box with its
louvered front removed.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the weighted check valve which is
located in the partition in the collection box.
FIG. 4a is a plan view of the weighted check valve.
FIG. 5 is a view of the toilet illustrating the switch connections
to the toilet seat and a spring for holding the toilet seat in
non-switch closing position until a weight is applied to the toilet
seat.
FIG. 5a is a detailed view of the spring which engages the toilet
seat.
FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the toilet seat with the switch
located therein with the hinges for the toilet seat spaced
therefrom for clarity.
Referring more particularly to the drawings and with reference to
FIG. 1, a fan 1 with the capacity of approximately 100 CMF and
capable of two speed operation is shown located in the attic of a
house but the fan may be located in the roof or wall of the house.
The fan is located far enough away from the bathroom so as to
minimize the noise of its operation in the bathroom.
The fan 1 is connected by a conduit 2 which may be made of any
suitable material, but preferably of a suitable flexible material
to cut down noise transmission to the upper compartment of an
air-collecting box 3 located in the wall of the bathroom but
preferably at approximately a six foot level above the toilet in
the bathroom.
The air-collection box 3 has a partition 4 therein dividing it into
the upper compartment 5 and the lower compartment 6. The front of
the lower compartment 6 has a louvered plate (not shown) over its
open face to permit air, etc. to enter this compartment from the
bathroom. The flexible conduit 2 opens into the upper compartment 5
and a second conduit 8 also opens into the upper compartment 5 and
extends downwardly to the toilet to collect odoriferous air from
within the toilet. The conduit 8 is shown in the drawings as
opening into the water box of the toilet to draw the air from
within the toilet through the normal stand pipe (not shown) which
connects the interior of the toilet with the interior of the flush
water box 9.
As hereinafter specifically described electrical apparatus and
circuits are provided so that during removal of odorous air from
the toilet the fan will operate at a much lower speed with
consequent reduced suction power since a materially reduced amount
of odorous air is contained in the toilet than the air in the
bathroom.
The partition 4 in the air collection box has an opening therein
connecting the upper and lower compartments in the air-collection
box. This opening has a check valve located therein which check
valve may be of any suitable construction but a specific type of
flap check valve 10 is shown since it has proved quite efficient
and simple in construction. The check valve 10 includes a circular
disk 11 which seats on a cushioned seat 12 surrounding the opening
in the partition 4. The hinge of the flap valve disk 11 is
counter-balanced by suitable weights 13. The flap valve is held
seated by a weighted arm 14 extending from the hinge outwardly
beneath the disk and suitable adjustable means 15 is provided to
adjust the angle of this seating weight, thus loading the valve
disk to be sensitive to opening at different pressures. A flat arm
16 having a disk formed on its outer end is connected to the
circular disk 11 and projects downwardly at a greater angle than
the seating weight 14 to present a flat space to be acted upon by
air to facilitate the complete opening of the circular disk or flap
valve 11 when it starts to open under the suction action of the fan
when the latter is operating at full speed.
A bumper stop 15' projects upwardly from the valve disk and
presents the valve disk from moving beyond center at its open
position.
The function of the check valve just described is to cut off
communication between the upper and lower compartments of the
air-collection box when the fan is operating at its reduced speed
to withdraw air from the toilet and to open the lower compartment
of the air-collection box to direct action of the fan suction when
the fan is operating at full speed for the purpose of withdrawing
steam and moist air from the bathroom.
While in the drawings the conduit 8 is shown connected to the flush
water box of a toilet to permit withdrawing the odorous air
therefrom, it is to be understood that any suitable type of
connection between the conduit and toilet may be employed since
several structures are well known and the connection to the flush
box shown and described is merely one example to show an operative
system.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings which shows the electrical
circuits involved in the operation of the bathroom ventilating
system of the present invention, a suitable power source connection
is shown at 20, that is, the connection of the electrical system of
the ventilating system to an outside source of power.
The electrical circuit operation of this bathroom ventilator takes
the first circuit off of the power input 20 and goes through the
manually operated switch 21 directly to the fan 1 so that when this
circuit is energized the fan operates at full speed causing the
clap check valve 10 in the air collection box 3 to open and thus
air is drawn from the bathroom into the fan to remove steam and
damp air from the bathroom. A second circuit is taken off of the
power input 20 and first goes through a transformer 23 which
provides a 24 volt control circuit. The control circuit goes
through a main relay 26 or contactor which includes a 24 volt coil
and 115 volt contacts. The circuit continues through the 24 volt
coil to a time delay relay 24 which is thermostatically operated to
provide a delay in the conductivity of the choking coil 25 which is
connected through the time delay relay to the 115 volt contacts on
the main relay 26. The 24 volt circuit continues through a fuse 27
to the seat operated switch 28. When the seat operated switch is
operated the 24 volt control circuit energizes the heater or
thermostat controlling time delay relay 24. When the time delay
relay 24 operates it closes the 115 voltage current through the
choke coil 25 and the choke coil is connected to the fan 1 for
operating it. The choke coil 25 reduces the current flow to the fan
and consequently its speed of operation, thus providing the reduced
suction into the upper compartment 5 of the air collector box 3 and
allowing the check valve 10 therein to remain closed. The suction
of the fan 1 created at the low speed operation of the fan thus is
drawn through the pipe to the air collector space at the toilet
seat extracting the air and odors from the seat.
While any suitable type of switch may be employed in the toilet
seat, a particular type of switch is shown in FIG. 6 of the
drawings.
This switch 28 constitutes a mercury switch 30 which is embedded in
the back of the toilet seat and connected by suitable wiring to the
hinges 31 of the toilet seat and through these hinges to the proper
element in the electrical circuit as described in connection of
FIG. 2 of the drawings. The hinges or hinge pins 31 are made of one
continuous rod of copper so that they provide in connection with
the embedded mercury switch a seat operated switch structure which
is completely hidden from anyone using the toilet.
As shown in FIG. 5 a suitable spring element 36 is attached to the
under surface of the toilet seat and engages the bowl of the toilet
normally holding the seat in a slightly elevated position so as to
break the electric circuit through the mercury switch.
The manually operated switch 21 may be an ordinary toggle switch or
it may be any suitable type of time control switch so that it will
provide a predetermined length of time of operation of the fan,
sufficient to clear the air in the bathroom and a time element may
be provided in the mechanism controlling operation of fan at low
speed so as to provide its operation for a sufficient length of
time to thoroughly ventilate the toilet. All of the current
operated elements embodied in the electrical circuits of the
ventilating system are well known and may be purchased upon the
open market, so that these elements have not been shown in detail
in the drawings specifically described in the specification.
It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to
the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that
they may be modified within the invention defined by the
claims.
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