US20100330898A1 - Roof ventilation system - Google Patents
Roof ventilation system Download PDFInfo
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- US20100330898A1 US20100330898A1 US12/918,799 US91879909A US2010330898A1 US 20100330898 A1 US20100330898 A1 US 20100330898A1 US 91879909 A US91879909 A US 91879909A US 2010330898 A1 US2010330898 A1 US 2010330898A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- roof
- vent
- solar panel
- opening
- fan
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F7/00—Ventilation
- F24F7/02—Roof ventilation
- F24F7/025—Roof ventilation with forced air circulation by means of a built-in ventilator
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
- E04D13/00—Special arrangements or devices in connection with roof coverings; Protection against birds; Roof drainage; Sky-lights
- E04D13/17—Ventilation of roof coverings not otherwise provided for
Definitions
- This invention relates to ventilation systems, more particularly to active ventilation systems that can be used in a roof of a building.
- Ventilation of a building has numerous benefits for both the building and its occupants.
- ventilation of an attic space can prevent the attic's temperature from rising to undesirable levels, which also reduces the cost of cooling the interior living space of the building.
- increased ventilation in an attic space tends to reduce the humidity within the attic, which can prolong the life of lumber used in the building's framing and elsewhere by diminishing the incidence of mold and dry-rot.
- ventilation promotes a more healthful environment for residents of the building by encouraging the introduction of fresh, outside air.
- Ventilation systems require a relatively lengthy and confusing installation procedure, which may involve the use of more than one kind of tradesperson. Such systems are more expensive to install and may suffer failures during operation due to faulty installation. Accordingly, a ventilation system that is relatively easy to install and operate is desirable.
- a ventilation system that improves on one or more of these concerns is needed.
- Embodiments of the roof ventilation systems of the present invention have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. However, not all of the following features are necessary to achieve the advantages of the system. Therefore, none of the following features should be viewed as limiting. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments,” one will understand how the features of the preferred embodiments provide advantages over prior art.
- the presently disclosed embodiments seek to address the issues discussed above by utilizing a solar panel to power a fan associated with a roof vent system.
- the fan can be positioned in the attic space in order to accommodate fans with larger blades, capable of moving greater amounts of air.
- the fan housing can be sized and shaped to simplify installation, such as by employing a substantially cylindrical housing that is generally free of protrusions.
- the fan housing has a substantially frustoconical shape, facilitating the use of a relatively larger fan without necessitating a large hole in the roof.
- Some embodiments include a one-piece vent, which can be of particular utility in a composition roof. Other embodiments can utilize an upper vent having an appearance that mimics one or more tiles, for use in a tile roof.
- a roof vent in accordance with one embodiment, includes an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member.
- the vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member.
- the lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member.
- the lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening.
- the fan resides in a fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening to a third opening below the roof.
- the fan housing has a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at the third opening. The second lateral cross sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area.
- a method of installing a roof vent comprising a fan includes providing an opening in a roof deck.
- a roof vent having a lower member and an upper member is provided, the lower member having a downwardly extending fan housing.
- a portion of the fan housing is inserted through the opening.
- a base portion of the lower member of the roof vent is permitted to rest above the roof deck while the fan housing is attached to the base portion.
- the method further includes providing a layer of tiles positioned above the roof deck, such that a batten cavity is defined between the roof deck and the layer of tiles.
- the upper member is positioned within the layer of tiles, such that the upper member replaces one or more of the tiles.
- the positioning of the upper member comprises displacing the upper member from the opening in the roof deck, so that air can flow along a flow path extending from a space below the roof, through the batten cavity and along the roof, and through the upper member of the vent.
- a roof vent in accordance with another embodiment, includes an upper member including a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member.
- the vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member.
- the lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member.
- the lower member further includes at least two fans configured to generate air flow through the second opening. The fans reside in a fan housing positioned below the second opening.
- a roof ventilation system comprising a lower vent member, an upper vent member, a solar panel, a first actuator, and a controller.
- the lower vent member has an opening and a base portion extending outwardly from the opening.
- the base portion is adapted to rest upon a roof deck approximately at an opening in the roof deck, such that air can flow through the roof deck and vent member by flowing through the roof deck opening and the vent member opening.
- the upper vent member is configured to be secured to the lower vent member or to a field of roof cover elements above the roof deck.
- the solar panel is secured to the upper vent member, and the first actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a first axis.
- the controller is configured to electronically control the first actuator to rotate the solar panel about the first axis.
- a roof vent in accordance with still another embodiment, includes an upper member including a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member.
- the vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member.
- the lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member.
- the lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening.
- the fan resides in a substantially cylindrical fan housing positioned below the second opening. The fan housing is substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of the housing.
- FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a section of a roof including one embodiment of a roof vent;
- FIG. 1B is a schematic top view of an upper member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 1A ;
- FIG. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the upper member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 1A ;
- FIG. 1D is a schematic front view of the upper member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 1A ;
- FIG. 1E is a schematic illustration of a control system of the roof vent shown in FIG. 1A , including a battery and a controller;
- FIG. 1F is a schematic side view of a roof vent, including a movable solar panel
- FIG. 1G is a schematic top view of the roof vent shown in FIG. 1F ;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including a fan housing;
- FIG. 2A is a schematic top view of one embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including two fan assemblies;
- FIG. 2B is a schematic front view of the lower vent member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 2A in accordance with an embodiment
- FIG. 2C is a schematic front view of the lower vent member of FIG. 2A in accordance with a different embodiment than shown in FIG. 2B ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including a frustoconical fan housing;
- FIG. 3A is a schematic front view of another embodiment of a roof vent, comprising two or more fan assemblies housed within a fan housing that has a larger cross-sectional area at its lower end than at its top end;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of another embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including one embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 5B is another schematic cross-sectional view of the roof section shown in FIG. 5A ;
- FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including another embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including another embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 7 is perspective front view showing a rooftop having one embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an upper member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a roof section with a lower member of an embodiment of a roof vent
- FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of a roof vent with a solar panel
- FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the roof vent shown in FIG. 10 without a solar panel;
- FIG. 11A is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a roof vent, including two fan assemblies
- FIG. 11B is a schematic side view of the roof vent shown in FIG. 11A ;
- FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the roof vent shown in FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 13 is a front view of the roof vent shown in FIG. 10 .
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a building with a roof ventilation system in accordance with an embodiment.
- FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a section of a tile roof including one embodiment of a roof vent 10 .
- a roof vent 10 is shown including an upper member 16 and a lower member 18 .
- the lower member 18 is sometimes referred to as a “subflashing” or “primary vent member,” and the upper member 16 is sometimes referred to as a “vent cover” or “secondary vent member.”
- the upper member 16 either lies on top of the roof or rests upon the lower member 18 , and in some embodiments can be secured to the lower member 18 .
- the roof vent is described herein as a “non-integrated” roof vent.
- the roof vent is described herein as an “integrated” roof vent.
- the upper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated (e.g., colored) to simulate the appearance of the surrounding tiles 54 so that the roof vent 10 visually blends into the appearance of the roof.
- the upper member 16 can be shaped to simulate many different types of tiles, such as tiles with “S”, “M”, or “Flat” profiles, as such profiles are known in the art.
- the upper member 16 in FIG. 1A simulates an “M” profile tile for illustration purposes only. In other kinds of roofs, such as slate or shingle, the upper member 16 may be configured differently to resemble those roof coverings.
- the upper member 16 includes a solar panel 20 , such as a photovoltaic (PV) panel.
- the solar panel 20 can be in electrical communication with and provide power to a fan assembly 38 , and/or one or more control systems, as described further below.
- the upper member 16 can include a bracket 60 that selectively receives the solar panel 20 , thus facilitating maintenance and/or replacement of the solar panel 20 .
- the bracket 60 may have grooves sized and shaped to slidably receive the solar panel 20 .
- the bracket 60 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1D maintains the solar panel 20 in a low profile, which can be advantageous for aesthetics as well as for preserving the solar panel 20 against wind damages.
- the bracket 60 may be movable, such as by rotating the solar panel 20 about at least one and preferably two axes, such that solar panel 20 can face substantially any direction.
- FIGS. 1F and 1G are a side and top schematic view, respectively, showing a roof vent 10 with a bracket 60 that can rotate about two axes.
- Bracket 60 can comprise a hinge 27 for rotating a section of bracket 60 that holds panel 20 an angle ⁇ 1 about a first axis 29 .
- the first axis 29 can extend through a portion of solar panel 20 , such as through and approximately parallel to an edge of solar panel 20 .
- the hinge 27 can comprise any element capable of rotating the solar panel 20 about the first axis 29 , such as bearings or pins at opposing ends of the edge of panel 20 and/or bracket 60 , or an axle extending through the edge of the panel 20 and/or bracket 60 .
- Bracket 60 can also comprise a rotatable connection 22 for rotating a section of bracket 60 and panel 20 an angle ⁇ 2 about a second axis 34 .
- the second axis 34 can extend approximately perpendicular to the roof field, and preferably, can extend approximately perpendicular to axis 29 .
- the rotatable connection 22 can comprise any element for rotating the solar panel 20 about the second axis 34 , such as a bearing or a rotatable table.
- the rotation of solar panel 20 about the first axis 29 and/or the second axis 34 allows a user to move solar panel 20 relative to the position of the sun.
- Moving solar panel 20 allows a user to adjust the amount of solar energy received by the solar panel 20 .
- a user may adjust the solar panel 20 to directly face the sun.
- Solar panel 20 can be moved to account for the sun's position due to the time of day and/or the time of year.
- solar panel 20 can be moved to a retracted position in which it is substantially parallel with and close to the roof and/or upper member 16 ( FIG. 1A ). Solar panel 20 is in a retracted position when ⁇ 1 is approximately zero, or when ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 are both approximately zero.
- the angle ⁇ 2 is approximately zero when two edges of a rectangular solar panel 20 are substantially parallel to the ridge and eave of the roof on which the vent 10 and solar panel 20 are installed. It may be desirable to move solar panel 20 to a retracted position to prevent damage thereto, such as during heavy rains and/or wind. It may also be desirable to move solar panel 20 to a retracted position when it is not being used or when it is not providing a power output above a desired predetermined threshold (such as during heavy cloud cover). In a preferred embodiment, solar panel 20 is moved to a retracted position automatically with a controller (as described further below), when the power output from the solar panel 20 is zero.
- solar panel 20 and bracket 60 can be moved manually by using the hinge 27 and/or rotatable connection 22 , such as when a user grasps solar panel 20 and/or bracket 60 by hand or with a tool.
- a first actuator 41 and second actuator 42 may be provided to move solar panel 20 and bracket 60 .
- each actuator 41 , 42 can comprise an electric actuator with a motor controllable by a control system.
- Using a control system and electric actuators to move solar panel 20 and bracket 60 can increase the efficiency with which the solar panel 20 receives solar energy from the sun, because electric actuators can be activated more easily and frequently without the need to climb onto the roof, so as to track the position of the sun as it moves with respect to the panel 20 .
- FIG. 1E shows a schematic view of a control system 40 that can be used to move solar panel 20 and bracket 60 shown in FIGS. 1F and 1G described above.
- Control system 40 can receive power from the solar panel 20 and/or an associated battery 25 (described further below), or from an alternative power source.
- first actuator 41 and second actuator 42 can preferably move solar panel 20 automatically, or electronically, instead of or in addition to manually.
- Actuators 41 and 42 can comprise electric actuators, such as motor-driven electric actuators.
- Actuators 41 and 42 can be in communication with a controller 43 such that actuators 41 and 42 move in response to one or more electronic signals from controller 43 .
- Controller 43 may comprise, for example, an electronic circuit or a computer microchip.
- controller 43 may comprise hardware, firmware, software, or some combination thereof. Controller 43 can further comprise an optional timer 46 , so that the solar panel 20 and bracket 60 can be moved at specific times or intervals. Timer 46 can be integrated with controller 43 or it can be separate, as shown in the illustration. Controller 43 can control the movement of actuators 41 and 42 to increase or optimize the solar energy solar panel 20 receives from the sun, or to automatically move solar panel 20 to a retracted position, as described above.
- control system 40 can comprise one or more sensors 44 that send electronic signals, or feedback, to controller 43 .
- Sensor 44 can comprise many types, such as an optical sensor that can sense the position of the sun relative to the position of sensor 44 .
- controller 43 can be configured to analyze the incoming signal sent from sensor 44 and adjust the outgoing signal to actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 accordingly. As such, actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 can move to a desired position in response to the signal received by controller 43 from sensor 44 .
- sensor 44 is positioned on solar panel 20 or bracket 60 , forming a closed loop system for controlling the position of solar panel 20 .
- actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 can move solar panel 20 to follow the position of the sun or, alternatively, to move solar panel 20 to a retracted position, based on the signals that controller 43 receives from sensor 44 .
- sensor 44 can be configured to sense sunlight intensity or windspeed velocity.
- sensor 44 comprises a sunlight intensity sensor
- sensor 44 can send a signal triggering controller 43 to move solar panel 20 from or to a retracted position, respectively. For example, it may be desirable to retract the solar panel if the sunlight intensity is low.
- sensor 44 comprises a windspeed velocity sensor
- sensor 44 can send a signal triggering controller 43 to move solar panel 20 to or from a retracted position, respectively.
- more than one sensor 44 can be used, such as embodiments in which multiple sensed conditions (e.g., sun position, sunlight intensity, wind speed) are used as inputs to the controller 43 .
- actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 can move solar panel 20 to correspond to one or more desired predetermined position(s).
- the desired predetermined position(s) can comprise a retracted position, or a plurality of different positions to which solar panel 20 can be moved at different times to optimize the solar energy it receives from the sun, as described above.
- the desired predetermined position(s) can be stored in a data storage system 45 .
- Controller 43 can adjust its output signals so that actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 move solar panel 20 to predetermined positions stored in data storage system 45 .
- controller 43 can adjust its signal to move actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 in a sequence of predetermined positions, separated by time intervals by using the timer 46 .
- Data storage 45 can comprise any data storage system known in the art, such as a hard drive integrated with controller 43 , or separate from controller 43 .
- the predetermined positions can be paired with corresponding times of day and/or year at which the predetermined positions will efficiently orient the solar panel 20 to receive solar energy from the sun, and the controller 43 can be configured to move the solar panel 20 to each predetermined position at its corresponding time of day and/or year.
- data storage system 45 comprises sun position data that controller 43 uses to adjust its output signals so that actuator 41 and/or actuator 42 move solar panel 20 to face the sun throughout the day and/or the year, as described above.
- the sun position data may comprise empirically observed information detailing the sun's position relative to the Earth, for a variety of times of the day and/or year.
- the accuracy in using the sun position data stored in storage system 45 to move solar panel 20 may be related to the geographic position or the orientation of solar panel 20 .
- controller 43 it may be desirable for controller 43 to receive the solar panel's geographic position and/or orientation.
- the controller 43 is configured to use the actuators 41 and 42 to move the solar panel 20 to an optimal position for receiving solar energy, based at least on (1) the position and orientation of the solar panel in its installed, retracted position, and (2) the sun position data in the data storage system 45 .
- control system includes a user interface (e.g., keypad, touch screen, and/or network interface) for receiving the solar panel's position (e.g., longitude, latitude, city, zip code, state, country, street address, or the like) and orientation (e.g., the direction in which it faces, its angle with respect to the local horizon, north, south, east, west designations, etc.) in the panel's installed, retracted position.
- the control system includes a GPS or like device for determining the solar panel's location, and other sensors (e.g., accelerometers) for determining the panel's orientation.
- controller 43 can be used with sensor(s) 44 to move solar panel 20 as described above, without the use of the position data 45 .
- controller 43 can be used with position data 45 to move solar panel 20 as described above, without the use of the sensor(s) 44 .
- the solar panel 20 can be moved using both the position data 45 and sensor(s) 44 .
- the Solar Panel 20 can be in electrical communication with and can provide power to the fan assembly 38 of the lower member 18 .
- the fan assembly 38 can be used to provide forced air flow through the roof vent 10 , and in some embodiments, to hinder the ingress of rain, snow, embers, vermin, insects, leaves, or other debris through the vent.
- the solar panel 20 may provide power to the battery 25 , which can store power for later use by the fan assembly 38 .
- Battery 25 can provide stored power to fan assembly 38 when solar energy from the sun is not available, for example, if cloud cover prevents the solar panel 20 from providing power to the fan assembly.
- battery 25 can provide power to fan assembly 38 through the controller 43 , which controls fan assembly 38 .
- Controller 43 can comprise a timer 46 and/or sensors 44 , as described above, that provide(s) one or more signals to controller 43 .
- Controller 43 can use the signal from timer 46 and/or sensors 44 to determine whether fan assembly 38 should be powered by the solar panel 20 , the battery 25 , or not powered at all, as in an “off” position.
- the battery 25 can provide the increased power required to start the fan assembly 38 from an off position, such as in the morning (e.g., just after sunrise) when solar energy from the sun may not be sufficient to initiate fan rotation.
- the increased power from battery 25 allows fan assembly 38 to operate with a smaller or lower wattage solar panel 20 , decreasing the cost of the ventilation system.
- Control systems for controlling fans in vent systems using batteries powered by rooftop solar panels are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/736,498, entitled “AUTOMATIC ROOF VENTILATION SYSTEM,” filed Apr. 17, 2007, and the publication of the same application in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0243820, published Oct. 18, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
- the solar panel 20 may provide power to the local power grid.
- fan assembly 38 can comprise either an AC or a DC system, regardless of whether the ventilation system includes battery 25 .
- an AC fan can be used with the battery 25 if the power is provided after an inverter in the system (not shown).
- FIGS. 1E-1H and described above can be implemented with any of the ventilation systems described herein, and that the ventilation system design in these figures is for illustration purposes only. Further, the dashed lines connecting the components in FIG. 1E are for illustrative purposes only.
- the electronic communication between the components described above can be achieved through electrical conduits (e.g. wires), or wirelessly, as is known in the art.
- the components are in electronic communication, even if a dashed line is not shown in FIG. 1E .
- the panel 20 can be connected to and/or in electronic communication with controller 43
- the battery 25 can be connected to and/or in electronic communication with fan 38 .
- the upper member 16 can have a first part 16 a spaced closely above a second part 16 b .
- the first and second parts 16 a and 16 b are joined together but separated by a space 16 c .
- FIG. 1B is a top view of the first part 16 a of the upper member 16 , with the solar panel 20 attached.
- the first part 16 a includes apertures 22 , or openings, through which air can flow between regions above and below upper member 16 . In other embodiments, other openings, such as louver slits, grating or screened openings, can be used in place of apertures 22 .
- FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the second part 16 b of the upper member 16 .
- the second part 16 b includes screened openings 24 through which air can flow.
- other openings such as louver slits or apertures, can be used in place of screened openings 24 .
- a fan housing 30 of the lower member 18 projects through a hole 50 in the roof deck into the attic space.
- the lower member 18 includes a preferably planar top portion, or base, 19 and the fan housing 30 .
- the top portion 19 sits on top of the roof deck (e.g., on top of a wooden roof deck underneath the tiles 54 , wherein the hole 50 is cut into the roof deck) and can be secured to the roof deck in a sealed manner, such as by nailing the top portion 19 to the roof deck and then sealing the top portion to the roof deck.
- the top portion 19 includes a hole 21 that is sized and shaped to match or be smaller than the hole 50 in the roof deck.
- a rise 31 extends upward from the hole 21 in the top portion 19 in order to prevent the ingress of water flowing along the top portion 19 through the hole 50 in the roof deck.
- the rise 31 can have a height that is effective to divert the flow of water, such as between about 3 ⁇ 8 inch to about 3 ⁇ 4 inch, particularly about 1 ⁇ 2 inch.
- the fan housing 30 Extending downwardly from the hole 21 in the top portion 19 is the fan housing 30 .
- Positioning the fan housing 30 below the roof deck in the attic space advantageously permits a larger size fan assembly 38 , as compared to systems in which a fan is positioned above the roof deck but below a top portion of the vent. In such systems, the size of the fan is constrained by the limited space available between the roof deck and the top portion of the vent.
- the larger fan assembly 38 afforded by embodiments disclosed herein are capable of moving a greater volume of air per minute. This increased air flow capacity can enhance the performance of the roof vent 10 .
- this application refers to the space beneath the roof deck as an attic space. However, skilled artisans will appreciate that embodiments can be used in buildings that do not have attics, such as buildings with vaulted ceilings.
- the fan assembly 38 powered by the solar panel 20 , causes air to flow from the attic space, through the fan housing 30 to a space between the upper and lower members 16 , 18 , then through the upper member 16 as described above.
- this application generally describes air flow in an upward direction, from the attic to a space above the roof, or as also used herein, to exhaust air, as in an exhaust fan.
- vents are sometimes designed to draw air from above the roof into the attic, and in those cases the fan can be mounted to direct air in the opposite direction, or as used herein to induct air, as in an induction fan.
- the roof vent 10 in those uses will perform substantially as described but with the air flows substantially reversed.
- U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0243820 which was incorporated by reference hereinabove, and FIG. 14 in the present application, described below, disclose roof vents near a roof's eaves that have fans that draw outside air into the attic, and roof vents near the roof's ridge that have fans that expel attic air to the outside.
- FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a lower member 18 having a substantially cylindrical fan housing 30 .
- the fan housing 30 may also include a screen 39 at its bottom opening, which helps to prevent the ingress of leaves, debris, insects, or vermin.
- the screen 39 is shown detached from fan housing 30 for illustrative purposes only.
- the screen 39 can additionally be configured to prevent the ingress of embers.
- the screen can comprise a baffle structure or mesh material as shown and described in Provisional Patent Application No. 61/052,862, filed May 13, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the screen 39 may be positioned at the top opening of the fan housing 30 , as shown in FIG. 12 .
- the fan housing 30 is preferably substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of the housing 30 , which greatly simplifies installation of the lower member 18 .
- an installer can simply drop the cylindrical housing 30 from above the roof deck and through the hole in the roof deck, until the top portion 19 rests upon the roof deck.
- the size of the hole 21 of the top portion 19 , and the lateral cross section of the cylindrical fan housing 30 is less than or substantially equal to 144 square inches, or an alternative size limit imposed by a building code.
- Building codes in some areas require extra structural enhancements, sometimes called blocking, when a hole in the roof exceeds a certain value, such as 144 square inches. Blocking may require the work of a workman in a different trade than the person ordinarily tasked with installing roof vents. The involvement of another trade and another workman can delay and increase the expense of installation. Accordingly, it may be preferable to employ a cylindrical fan housing 30 with a cross sectional area less than or substantially equal to a size required under a building code (such as 144 sq. in.), in order to avoid the need for blocking. A smaller hole in the roof deck can be desirable for other reasons as well, including to preserve the structural integrity of the roof and building against seismic events, and to guard against wind shear and lateral uplift.
- FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic top and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of a roof vent 10 a that comprises two fans to provide greater air flow.
- the roof vent 10 a includes two or more openings 21 , two or more fan assemblies 38 , and two or more cylindrical fan housings 30 , each hole 21 and fan housing 30 having a cross sectional area less than the size limit imposed by the building code.
- the roof vent 10 a can comprise two adjacent and connected top portions 19 , or as the exemplary illustrated embodiments show, a single top portion 19 a , that can function similar to that described above for a single fan embodiment. Using this configuration, the necessity for blocking may be obviated while still increasing potential airflow.
- a single fan housing 30 a that extends around the two or more fan assemblies 38 and downwardly from the top portion 19 a can be used.
- An exemplary illustration of a side view of the roof vent 10 a that comprises two or more fan assemblies 38 and a single fan housing 30 a is shown in FIG. 2C .
- An example of a commercially available component for a two-fan assembly is Sofasco—DC Brushless Fan Motor Model: sD12038V12HBL-55) DC 12V Motor 0.90 Amps.
- FIG. 3 Another embodiment of a lower member 18 is shown in FIG. 3 .
- This embodiment increases airflow while still avoiding the need for blocking.
- the increased airflow is achieved with a fan housing 30 comprising an opening 21 a at its bottom end.
- the bottom opening 21 a has a larger, or greater, lateral cross sectional area than the opening 21 at the upper end of the housing 30 .
- This larger bottom opening 21 a permits a larger fan assembly 38 capable of moving larger amounts of air.
- the fan housing 30 has a frustoconical shape.
- the opening 21 at the upper end of the frustoconical fan housing 30 may be sized such that the cross sectional area is less than or substantially equal to a size required under a building code, such as 144 sq. in.
- a building code such as 144 sq. in.
- the shape of the frustoconical fan housing 30 can preclude installation from above the roof. Accordingly, installation of the frustoconical housing 30 shown in FIG. 3 typically involves a two-step process. In one step, the planar top portion 19 is placed above the roof, and in the other step, the frustoconical housing 30 is connected to the top portion 19 from within the attic.
- a roof vent 10 b comprising two or more fan assemblies 38 can comprise a housing 30 b that flares outwardly and downwardly.
- the outwardly flaring housing 30 b functions similarly to housing 30 a described above and shown in FIG. 2C , but extends outwardly to provide the additional functionality of the frustoconical housing 30 shown in FIG. 3 .
- housing 30 b can extend outwardly from and around one or more fan assemblies 38 and downwardly from top portion 19 a .
- Housing 30 b can also comprise a bottom opening 21 a with a larger, or greater, lateral cross sectional area than the opening 21 at the upper end of the housing 30 b .
- roof vent 10 b can generate greater air flow through the use of two or more fans, and can provide increased airflow through the use of housing 30 b .
- fan assembly or assemblies 38 described herein can be positioned anywhere within the fan housing described herein. For example, although FIG.
- fan assemblies 38 can be positioned anywhere within housing 30 b , such as at or near the bottom opening 21 a . Positioning fan assemblies 38 near the bottom opening 21 a allows fan assemblies 38 to be larger, thus promoting increased airflow without needing blocking.
- a cylindrical fan housing 30 may be employed in which the cross sectional area is greater than a size limit imposed by a building code (such as 144 sq. in.), wherein blocking is also carried out.
- a fan housing 30 with an increasing (e.g., gradually increasing) cross section from top to bottom in some shape other than a frustocone, such as the shape of a layer cake or an inverted funnel.
- a roof vent with two or more fans as described above is possible for other ventilation designs, such as the integrated vent embodiments described below and shown in FIGS. 4 and 10 - 13 .
- FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of an integrated roof vent 10 .
- the integrated vent shown in FIG. 4 may be of particular use in so-called composition roofs formed of composite roof materials.
- FIG. 4 shows the system with its upper and lower portions separated, in use these two portions can be joined together and sold and installed as a single unit.
- the lower portion can include all the variations described above with reference to the lower member 18 of the non-integrated roof vents shown in FIGS. 1A-1D .
- the upper portion of the vent can be configured to selectively receive a solar panel 20 .
- the upper portion can include a tapered top 33 with louver slits 26 on its top surface and an opening 28 on its front edge (See also FIG. 13 ).
- a cavity which may include screens, baffles, or other filtering structures to prevent the ingress of debris, wind-driven rain, and pests.
- air from the attic is directed through the fan housing 30 by the fan assembly 38 , then through a cavity between the lower portion and the upper portion, then through the louver slits 26 and/or the opening 28 .
- the tapered design of the integrated vent may advantageously increase the velocity of air flowing through the vent into the building, as the tapered top acts as a kind of nozzle or flow restriction on the air inducted into the vent.
- air flow into the building can occur naturally or can be assisted by using a fan assembly 38 that draws air into the building rather than exhausts air therefrom.
- the controller 43 FIG. 1E
- the fan assembly 38 can simply have fan blades designed to only draw air into the building.
- An increased air flow velocity through the vent and into the building may be particularly advantageous in some applications.
- the tapered design of the integrated vent reduces resistance to the exhaust of the air flow out of the building.
- FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the air flow in a non-integrated roof vent 10 as described with reference to FIGS. 1A-1D .
- FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of a sloped roof along the sloped direction. Battens 53 traverse the roof in a direction parallel to the roofs ridge and eave and support the tiles 54 . The battens 53 separate the tiles 54 from the roof deck 56 , thereby providing a batten cavity 52 through which air can flow.
- the battens 53 can be designed to provide pathways for airflow through or across the battens. For example, a batten 53 can be perforated or can be installed with a spacer to allow air flow through batten 53 .
- FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of the roof along the direction perpendicular to the sloped direction (i.e., parallel to the roofs ridge and eave).
- the upper member 16 is positioned substantially directly above the lower member 18 .
- the upper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated to simulate the appearance of many different types of tiles as described above.
- the upper member 16 in FIG. 5B simulates an “M” profile tile for illustration purposes only.
- FIG. 6A is a cross sectional view of a sloped roof along the sloped direction.
- FIG. 6B is a cross sectional view of the roof along the direction perpendicular to the sloped direction. As shown in FIGS.
- Airflow within a batten cavity is typically referred to by those skilled in the art as “Above Sheathing Ventilation” (ASV).
- ASV Above Sheathing Ventilation
- the upper member 16 is upwardly offset, or upslope from the lower member 18 , and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” is in an upward direction.
- the upper member 16 can alternatively be downwardly offset, or downslope, from the lower member 18 , and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” can be in a downward direction.
- the upper member 16 is laterally offset from the lower member 18 , and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” is lateral.
- the members 16 and 18 can be in a single course of tiles (if in a tile roof), both equidistant from the roofs ridge or eave.
- the distance the upper member 16 is offset from lower member 18 can vary, and the distance shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is for illustrative purposes only.
- upper member 16 is offset from lower member 18 by within 2-5 courses of tiles when upper member 16 is upwardly or downwardly offset from lower member 18 , as in FIG. 6A . In another preferred embodiment, upper member 16 is offset from lower member 18 by within 2-5 tiles when upper member 16 is laterally offset from lower member 18 , as in FIG. 6B .
- only the solar panel 20 is offset from the lower vent member 18 .
- the solar panel 20 is preferably still hardwired to the fan assembly 38 and/or other elements of the control system of FIG. 1E .
- Offsetting the upper and lower members 16 , 18 can have other performance advantages. For example, it has been found that offsetting can help to prevent backloading of the vent. Backloading occurs when unusual conditions, such as strong winds or violent storms, force air to flow through a vent system in a direction opposite from the direction for which the vent system was designed. Backloading can be particularly problematic in an active vent system because the reversed air flow can cause the fan to reverse the direction in which it is driven, potentially leading to severe mechanical damage or failure.
- the upper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated to simulate the appearance of many different types of tiles as described above.
- the upper member 16 in FIG. 6B is shown simulating an “M” profile tile for illustrative purposes only.
- fan assembly 38 is shown in FIGS. 5A-6B for illustrative purposes only, and the vents can be used without a fan assembly to achieve the airflow described above.
- a wire or plurality of wires can extend above and/or below the roof deck 56 and/or tiles 54 , and/or within batten cavity 52 .
- the wires can be used to provide power and/or communication between solar panel 20 , fan assembly 38 , battery 25 , timer 46 , sensor 44 , controller 43 , actuators 41 , 42 , and/or position data device 45 , as described above and shown in FIG. 1E .
- FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of a roof vent.
- FIG. 7 is a top schematic view showing a rooftop with the roof vent installed.
- the upper member 16 of the roof vent, with the solar panel 20 attached, is shown in FIG. 7 .
- apertures 22 are visible. The apertures can allow air to flow from the space 16 c between the first part 16 a and second part 16 b of the upper member 16 when the vent is in use, as described above and shown in FIG. 1D .
- FIG. 8 is a bottom schematic view of the upper member of the roof vent shown in FIG. 7 .
- Screened openings 24 in the second part 16 b of the upper member 16 are shown in FIG. 8 , which openings can allow air to flow from the batten cavity into the space between the first and second parts of the upper member when the vent is in use.
- FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view showing a lower portion of member 18 (e.g., FIG. 2 ) of an embodiment of a roof vent.
- the lower portion of member 18 can be used as part of a non-integrated roof vent, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , or as part of an integrated vent, as shown in FIGS. 10-13 .
- the opening 50 in the roof deck need not be the same size or shape as the hole 21 in the lower member 18 of the vent.
- the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 includes mounting brackets 32 for the fan assembly 38 that extend laterally beyond the outer surface of the fan housing 30 .
- the fan housing can be substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of the housing, such as by using mounting brackets that are joined to the interior of the fan housing.
- FIGS. 10-13 are illustrations of an embodiment of an integrated roof vent 10 b .
- the integrated roof vent 10 b includes a solar panel 20 , and in some embodiments, the integrated vent 10 b does not include a solar panel 20 .
- FIG. 10 is a top view of the integrated vent 10 b with a solar panel 20 attached.
- FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the integrated vent 10 b without a solar panel.
- the integrated vent 10 b can comprise two or more fans that function similarly to the embodiments described above and illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C and 3 A.
- An exemplary illustration of an embodiment of the integrated vent 10 b with two fans 38 is shown in FIG. 11A (top view) and 11 B (side view).
- the integrated roof vent 10 b illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B can comprise a rectangular fan housing 30 c .
- the rectangular fan housing 30 c is shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B for illustrative purposes only.
- a rectangular fan housing can be employed with the other roof vents described above, and the other fan housing embodiments 30 , 30 a , 30 b can be employed with the integrated roof vent 10 b shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B .
- the rectangular fan housing 30 c can flare outwardly and downwardly to function similarly to the fan housing 30 b described above.
- FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the integrated vent with the fan assembly 38 removed.
- FIG. 13 is front view of the integrated vent.
- an integrated vent can include a bracket 60 ( FIG. 1F ) for selectively attaching and/or moving the solar panel 20 .
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a building 100 having roof vents 6 , 7 in accordance with an embodiment.
- the building can comprise a roof 2 with a ridge 4 and two eaves 5 .
- Roof 2 can be a sloped roof, as shown in the illustrated embodiment.
- the ventilation system can be modified for other types of roofs.
- Between the ridge 4 and each eave 5 is a roof field 3 , one of which is shown in the figure. It will be understood that more complex roofs may have more than two fields 3 .
- At least one of the fields 3 of the building 100 can include a plurality of field vents 6 , 7 , at least one of which comprises one of the roof vents described above, such as vents 10 , 10 a or 10 b .
- a plurality of field vents 6 is provided near the ridge 4 , preferably aligned substantially parallel to the ridge.
- the field vents 6 are spaced by 1-4 courses of roof cover elements (e.g., tiles) from the ridge 4 .
- the field vents 6 are spaced one course of roof cover elements from the ridge 4 .
- a plurality of field vents 7 is provided near the eave 5 , preferably aligned substantially parallel to the eave.
- the field vents 7 are spaced by 1-4 courses, and preferably 2-3 courses, of roof cover elements (e.g., tiles) from the eave 5 .
- the plurality of field vents 6 , 7 can be positioned non-linearly or non-parallel relative to each other.
- field vents 6 , 7 can be positioned a distance from eave 5 and ridge 4 such that field vents 6 , 7 will not interfere with eave 5 and ridge 4 , or other structures within building 100 .
- field vent 7 can be positioned so that housing 30 does not interfere with the structure of building 100 proximate to eave 5 (e.g., an attic floor and possibly an insulation layer on said floor) or an upper portion of a sidewall 9 of building 100 .
- field vents 6 and/or 7 can be positioned to be a desired distance from structures within building 100 .
- field vents 6 and/or 7 can be positioned so that a desired clearance (e.g., 6-18 inches, and more preferably about 12 inches) is provided between the top of an insulation layer in an attic of building 100 to the bottom of the field vents 6 and/or 7 .
- vents 6 , 7 in this arrangement promote air flow through the building as indicated by the arrow 8 . That is, air tends to flow into the building (e.g., into an attic or crawlspace of the building or into an area below a vaulted ceiling defined by the roof fields 3 ) through the vents 7 , and air tends to exit the building through the vents 6 .
- the roof can also have a batten cavity, as described above, through which air may also flow. This airflow can be provided without fan assemblies in vents 6 , 7 , such as from the thermal effects of air rising through the attic, along the vaulted ceiling, or through the battens and/or tiles, or through the effect of wind blowing across the roof 2 and ridge 4 .
- fan assemblies 38 can also be used in vents 6 , 7 to increase these natural thermal and wind effects.
- fan assemblies 38 are provided in the vents 6 but not the vents 7 .
- fan assemblies 38 are provided in the vents 6 and 7 , wherein the fan assemblies in the vents 7 are configured to draw air into the building, and the fan assemblies in the vents 6 are configured to exhaust air from the building.
Abstract
This application relates to ventilation systems, more particularly to a roof vent with one or more fan assemblies and/or an associated solar panel. The roof vent has an upper member including at least one opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member. The vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member. The lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof deck and the region below the upper member. The lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fan resides in a fan housing positioned below the second opening.
Description
- This application is a U.S. National Stage application, under 35 U.S.C. 371, of International Application No. PCT/US2009/035346, filed Feb. 26, 2009, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/067,280, filed Feb. 26, 2008, entitled “Roof Ventilation System,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to ventilation systems, more particularly to active ventilation systems that can be used in a roof of a building.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Ventilation of a building has numerous benefits for both the building and its occupants. For example, ventilation of an attic space can prevent the attic's temperature from rising to undesirable levels, which also reduces the cost of cooling the interior living space of the building. In addition, increased ventilation in an attic space tends to reduce the humidity within the attic, which can prolong the life of lumber used in the building's framing and elsewhere by diminishing the incidence of mold and dry-rot. Moreover, ventilation promotes a more healthful environment for residents of the building by encouraging the introduction of fresh, outside air. These and other benefits of ventilation tend to compound as ventilation increases. That is, the greater the flow rate of air that is vented through the building, the greater the benefits.
- Consequently, power devices such as fans have been employed in active ventilation systems to force greater air flow into and out of an attic space. One drawback of some such active ventilation systems is their consumption of electricity from the local power grid. With increasing energy costs and heightening concerns for environmental impacts, devices that can operate with little or no electricity from the power grid are becoming more attractive.
- Another consideration is ease of installation. Some ventilation systems require a relatively lengthy and confusing installation procedure, which may involve the use of more than one kind of tradesperson. Such systems are more expensive to install and may suffer failures during operation due to faulty installation. Accordingly, a ventilation system that is relatively easy to install and operate is desirable.
- A ventilation system that improves on one or more of these concerns is needed.
- Embodiments of the roof ventilation systems of the present invention have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. However, not all of the following features are necessary to achieve the advantages of the system. Therefore, none of the following features should be viewed as limiting. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments,” one will understand how the features of the preferred embodiments provide advantages over prior art.
- The presently disclosed embodiments seek to address the issues discussed above by utilizing a solar panel to power a fan associated with a roof vent system. The fan can be positioned in the attic space in order to accommodate fans with larger blades, capable of moving greater amounts of air. In one embodiment, the fan housing can be sized and shaped to simplify installation, such as by employing a substantially cylindrical housing that is generally free of protrusions. In other embodiments, the fan housing has a substantially frustoconical shape, facilitating the use of a relatively larger fan without necessitating a large hole in the roof. Some embodiments include a one-piece vent, which can be of particular utility in a composition roof. Other embodiments can utilize an upper vent having an appearance that mimics one or more tiles, for use in a tile roof.
- In accordance with one embodiment, a roof vent is provided. The vent includes an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member. The vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member. The lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member. The lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening. The fan resides in a fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening to a third opening below the roof. The fan housing has a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at the third opening. The second lateral cross sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area.
- In accordance with another embodiment, a method of installing a roof vent comprising a fan is provided. The method includes providing an opening in a roof deck. A roof vent having a lower member and an upper member is provided, the lower member having a downwardly extending fan housing. A portion of the fan housing is inserted through the opening. A base portion of the lower member of the roof vent is permitted to rest above the roof deck while the fan housing is attached to the base portion. The method further includes providing a layer of tiles positioned above the roof deck, such that a batten cavity is defined between the roof deck and the layer of tiles. The upper member is positioned within the layer of tiles, such that the upper member replaces one or more of the tiles. The positioning of the upper member comprises displacing the upper member from the opening in the roof deck, so that air can flow along a flow path extending from a space below the roof, through the batten cavity and along the roof, and through the upper member of the vent.
- In accordance with another embodiment, a roof vent is provided. The vent includes an upper member including a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member. The vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member. The lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member. The lower member further includes at least two fans configured to generate air flow through the second opening. The fans reside in a fan housing positioned below the second opening.
- In accordance with still another embodiment, a roof ventilation system is provided. The ventilation system comprises a lower vent member, an upper vent member, a solar panel, a first actuator, and a controller. The lower vent member has an opening and a base portion extending outwardly from the opening. The base portion is adapted to rest upon a roof deck approximately at an opening in the roof deck, such that air can flow through the roof deck and vent member by flowing through the roof deck opening and the vent member opening. The upper vent member is configured to be secured to the lower vent member or to a field of roof cover elements above the roof deck. The solar panel is secured to the upper vent member, and the first actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a first axis. The controller is configured to electronically control the first actuator to rotate the solar panel about the first axis.
- In accordance with still another embodiment, a roof vent is provided. The vent includes an upper member including a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member. The vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member. The lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member. The lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening. The fan resides in a substantially cylindrical fan housing positioned below the second opening. The fan housing is substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of the housing.
- All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.
- The appended drawings are schematic, not necessarily drawn to scale, and are meant to illustrate and not to limit embodiments of the invention.
-
FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a section of a roof including one embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 1B is a schematic top view of an upper member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 1A ; -
FIG. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the upper member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 1A ; -
FIG. 1D is a schematic front view of the upper member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 1A ; -
FIG. 1E is a schematic illustration of a control system of the roof vent shown inFIG. 1A , including a battery and a controller; -
FIG. 1F is a schematic side view of a roof vent, including a movable solar panel; -
FIG. 1G is a schematic top view of the roof vent shown inFIG. 1F ; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including a fan housing; -
FIG. 2A is a schematic top view of one embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including two fan assemblies; -
FIG. 2B is a schematic front view of the lower vent member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 2A in accordance with an embodiment; -
FIG. 2C is a schematic front view of the lower vent member ofFIG. 2A in accordance with a different embodiment than shown inFIG. 2B ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a lower member of a roof vent, including a frustoconical fan housing; -
FIG. 3A is a schematic front view of another embodiment of a roof vent, comprising two or more fan assemblies housed within a fan housing that has a larger cross-sectional area at its lower end than at its top end; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of another embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including one embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 5B is another schematic cross-sectional view of the roof section shown inFIG. 5A ; -
FIG. 6A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including another embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a roof section including another embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 7 is perspective front view showing a rooftop having one embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an upper member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a roof section with a lower member of an embodiment of a roof vent; -
FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of a roof vent with a solar panel; -
FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the roof vent shown inFIG. 10 without a solar panel; -
FIG. 11A is a schematic top view of an embodiment of a roof vent, including two fan assemblies; -
FIG. 11B is a schematic side view of the roof vent shown inFIG. 11A ; -
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the roof vent shown inFIG. 10 ; and -
FIG. 13 is a front view of the roof vent shown inFIG. 10 . -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a building with a roof ventilation system in accordance with an embodiment. -
FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a section of a tile roof including one embodiment of aroof vent 10. In particular, aroof vent 10 is shown including anupper member 16 and alower member 18. Thelower member 18 is sometimes referred to as a “subflashing” or “primary vent member,” and theupper member 16 is sometimes referred to as a “vent cover” or “secondary vent member.” Theupper member 16 either lies on top of the roof or rests upon thelower member 18, and in some embodiments can be secured to thelower member 18. In the embodiments wherein the upper member is not secured to thelower member 18, the roof vent is described herein as a “non-integrated” roof vent. In the embodiments wherein the upper member is secured to thelower member 18, the roof vent is described herein as an “integrated” roof vent. Theupper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated (e.g., colored) to simulate the appearance of the surroundingtiles 54 so that theroof vent 10 visually blends into the appearance of the roof. Theupper member 16 can be shaped to simulate many different types of tiles, such as tiles with “S”, “M”, or “Flat” profiles, as such profiles are known in the art. Theupper member 16 inFIG. 1A simulates an “M” profile tile for illustration purposes only. In other kinds of roofs, such as slate or shingle, theupper member 16 may be configured differently to resemble those roof coverings. - The
upper member 16 includes asolar panel 20, such as a photovoltaic (PV) panel. Thesolar panel 20 can be in electrical communication with and provide power to afan assembly 38, and/or one or more control systems, as described further below. In some embodiments, theupper member 16 can include abracket 60 that selectively receives thesolar panel 20, thus facilitating maintenance and/or replacement of thesolar panel 20. Thebracket 60 may have grooves sized and shaped to slidably receive thesolar panel 20. Thebracket 60 shown inFIGS. 1A and 1D maintains thesolar panel 20 in a low profile, which can be advantageous for aesthetics as well as for preserving thesolar panel 20 against wind damages. - In other embodiments, the
bracket 60 may be movable, such as by rotating thesolar panel 20 about at least one and preferably two axes, such thatsolar panel 20 can face substantially any direction.FIGS. 1F and 1G are a side and top schematic view, respectively, showing aroof vent 10 with abracket 60 that can rotate about two axes.Bracket 60 can comprise ahinge 27 for rotating a section ofbracket 60 that holdspanel 20 an angle θ1 about afirst axis 29. Thefirst axis 29 can extend through a portion ofsolar panel 20, such as through and approximately parallel to an edge ofsolar panel 20. A skilled artisan will understand that thehinge 27 can comprise any element capable of rotating thesolar panel 20 about thefirst axis 29, such as bearings or pins at opposing ends of the edge ofpanel 20 and/orbracket 60, or an axle extending through the edge of thepanel 20 and/orbracket 60. -
Bracket 60 can also comprise arotatable connection 22 for rotating a section ofbracket 60 andpanel 20 an angle θ2 about asecond axis 34. Thesecond axis 34 can extend approximately perpendicular to the roof field, and preferably, can extend approximately perpendicular toaxis 29. A skilled artisan will understand that therotatable connection 22 can comprise any element for rotating thesolar panel 20 about thesecond axis 34, such as a bearing or a rotatable table. - The rotation of
solar panel 20 about thefirst axis 29 and/or thesecond axis 34 allows a user to movesolar panel 20 relative to the position of the sun. Movingsolar panel 20 allows a user to adjust the amount of solar energy received by thesolar panel 20. For example, a user may adjust thesolar panel 20 to directly face the sun.Solar panel 20 can be moved to account for the sun's position due to the time of day and/or the time of year. In some embodiments,solar panel 20 can be moved to a retracted position in which it is substantially parallel with and close to the roof and/or upper member 16 (FIG. 1A ).Solar panel 20 is in a retracted position when θ1 is approximately zero, or when θ1 and θ2 are both approximately zero. In one embodiment, the angle θ2 is approximately zero when two edges of a rectangularsolar panel 20 are substantially parallel to the ridge and eave of the roof on which thevent 10 andsolar panel 20 are installed. It may be desirable to movesolar panel 20 to a retracted position to prevent damage thereto, such as during heavy rains and/or wind. It may also be desirable to movesolar panel 20 to a retracted position when it is not being used or when it is not providing a power output above a desired predetermined threshold (such as during heavy cloud cover). In a preferred embodiment,solar panel 20 is moved to a retracted position automatically with a controller (as described further below), when the power output from thesolar panel 20 is zero. - In some embodiments,
solar panel 20 andbracket 60 can be moved manually by using thehinge 27 and/orrotatable connection 22, such as when a user graspssolar panel 20 and/orbracket 60 by hand or with a tool. In other embodiments, afirst actuator 41 andsecond actuator 42 may be provided to movesolar panel 20 andbracket 60. For example, each actuator 41, 42 can comprise an electric actuator with a motor controllable by a control system. Using a control system and electric actuators to movesolar panel 20 andbracket 60 can increase the efficiency with which thesolar panel 20 receives solar energy from the sun, because electric actuators can be activated more easily and frequently without the need to climb onto the roof, so as to track the position of the sun as it moves with respect to thepanel 20. -
FIG. 1E shows a schematic view of acontrol system 40 that can be used to movesolar panel 20 andbracket 60 shown inFIGS. 1F and 1G described above.Control system 40 can receive power from thesolar panel 20 and/or an associated battery 25 (described further below), or from an alternative power source. Referring toFIGS. 1E-1G ,first actuator 41 andsecond actuator 42 can preferably movesolar panel 20 automatically, or electronically, instead of or in addition to manually.Actuators Actuators controller 43 such thatactuators controller 43.Controller 43 may comprise, for example, an electronic circuit or a computer microchip. Further,controller 43 may comprise hardware, firmware, software, or some combination thereof.Controller 43 can further comprise anoptional timer 46, so that thesolar panel 20 andbracket 60 can be moved at specific times or intervals.Timer 46 can be integrated withcontroller 43 or it can be separate, as shown in the illustration.Controller 43 can control the movement ofactuators solar panel 20 receives from the sun, or to automatically movesolar panel 20 to a retracted position, as described above. - In an embodiment,
control system 40 can comprise one ormore sensors 44 that send electronic signals, or feedback, tocontroller 43.Sensor 44 can comprise many types, such as an optical sensor that can sense the position of the sun relative to the position ofsensor 44. In this embodiment,controller 43 can be configured to analyze the incoming signal sent fromsensor 44 and adjust the outgoing signal toactuator 41 and/oractuator 42 accordingly. As such,actuator 41 and/oractuator 42 can move to a desired position in response to the signal received bycontroller 43 fromsensor 44. In a preferred embodiment,sensor 44 is positioned onsolar panel 20 orbracket 60, forming a closed loop system for controlling the position ofsolar panel 20. In this embodiment,actuator 41 and/oractuator 42 can movesolar panel 20 to follow the position of the sun or, alternatively, to movesolar panel 20 to a retracted position, based on the signals thatcontroller 43 receives fromsensor 44. - In certain embodiments,
sensor 44 can be configured to sense sunlight intensity or windspeed velocity. Whensensor 44 comprises a sunlight intensity sensor, if the sunlight intensity moves above or below a predetermined threshold,sensor 44 can send asignal triggering controller 43 to movesolar panel 20 from or to a retracted position, respectively. For example, it may be desirable to retract the solar panel if the sunlight intensity is low. Similarly, whensensor 44 comprises a windspeed velocity sensor, if the windspeed moves above or below a predetermined threshold,sensor 44 can send asignal triggering controller 43 to movesolar panel 20 to or from a retracted position, respectively. For example, it may be desirable to retract thesolar panel 20 at high wind speeds, to prevent damage thereto. A skilled artisan will understand that more than onesensor 44 can be used, such as embodiments in which multiple sensed conditions (e.g., sun position, sunlight intensity, wind speed) are used as inputs to thecontroller 43. - In another embodiment,
actuator 41 and/oractuator 42 can movesolar panel 20 to correspond to one or more desired predetermined position(s). The desired predetermined position(s) can comprise a retracted position, or a plurality of different positions to whichsolar panel 20 can be moved at different times to optimize the solar energy it receives from the sun, as described above. The desired predetermined position(s) can be stored in adata storage system 45.Controller 43 can adjust its output signals so thatactuator 41 and/oractuator 42 movesolar panel 20 to predetermined positions stored indata storage system 45. In an embodiment,controller 43 can adjust its signal to moveactuator 41 and/oractuator 42 in a sequence of predetermined positions, separated by time intervals by using thetimer 46.Data storage 45 can comprise any data storage system known in the art, such as a hard drive integrated withcontroller 43, or separate fromcontroller 43. The predetermined positions can be paired with corresponding times of day and/or year at which the predetermined positions will efficiently orient thesolar panel 20 to receive solar energy from the sun, and thecontroller 43 can be configured to move thesolar panel 20 to each predetermined position at its corresponding time of day and/or year. - In another embodiment,
data storage system 45 comprises sun position data thatcontroller 43 uses to adjust its output signals so thatactuator 41 and/oractuator 42 movesolar panel 20 to face the sun throughout the day and/or the year, as described above. For example, the sun position data may comprise empirically observed information detailing the sun's position relative to the Earth, for a variety of times of the day and/or year. - The accuracy in using the sun position data stored in
storage system 45 to movesolar panel 20 may be related to the geographic position or the orientation ofsolar panel 20. Thus, it may be desirable forcontroller 43 to receive the solar panel's geographic position and/or orientation. In some embodiments, thecontroller 43 is configured to use theactuators solar panel 20 to an optimal position for receiving solar energy, based at least on (1) the position and orientation of the solar panel in its installed, retracted position, and (2) the sun position data in thedata storage system 45. In one embodiment, the control system includes a user interface (e.g., keypad, touch screen, and/or network interface) for receiving the solar panel's position (e.g., longitude, latitude, city, zip code, state, country, street address, or the like) and orientation (e.g., the direction in which it faces, its angle with respect to the local horizon, north, south, east, west designations, etc.) in the panel's installed, retracted position. In another embodiment, the control system includes a GPS or like device for determining the solar panel's location, and other sensors (e.g., accelerometers) for determining the panel's orientation. - A skilled artisan will appreciate that certain embodiments of
system 40 do not include all the components shown inFIG. 1E . For example, in some embodiments,controller 43 can be used with sensor(s) 44 to movesolar panel 20 as described above, without the use of theposition data 45. In other embodiments,controller 43 can be used withposition data 45 to movesolar panel 20 as described above, without the use of the sensor(s) 44. In yet other embodiments, thesolar panel 20 can be moved using both theposition data 45 and sensor(s) 44. -
System 40 can further comprise abattery 25. Referring to bothFIG. 1E andFIG. 1A , thesolar panel 20 can be in electrical communication with and can provide power to thefan assembly 38 of thelower member 18. Thefan assembly 38 can be used to provide forced air flow through theroof vent 10, and in some embodiments, to hinder the ingress of rain, snow, embers, vermin, insects, leaves, or other debris through the vent. In some embodiments, thesolar panel 20 may provide power to thebattery 25, which can store power for later use by thefan assembly 38.Battery 25 can provide stored power tofan assembly 38 when solar energy from the sun is not available, for example, if cloud cover prevents thesolar panel 20 from providing power to the fan assembly. In an embodiment,battery 25 can provide power tofan assembly 38 through thecontroller 43, which controlsfan assembly 38.Controller 43 can comprise atimer 46 and/orsensors 44, as described above, that provide(s) one or more signals tocontroller 43.Controller 43 can use the signal fromtimer 46 and/orsensors 44 to determine whetherfan assembly 38 should be powered by thesolar panel 20, thebattery 25, or not powered at all, as in an “off” position. In an embodiment, thebattery 25 can provide the increased power required to start thefan assembly 38 from an off position, such as in the morning (e.g., just after sunrise) when solar energy from the sun may not be sufficient to initiate fan rotation. The increased power frombattery 25 allowsfan assembly 38 to operate with a smaller or lower wattagesolar panel 20, decreasing the cost of the ventilation system. - Control systems for controlling fans in vent systems using batteries powered by rooftop solar panels are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/736,498, entitled “AUTOMATIC ROOF VENTILATION SYSTEM,” filed Apr. 17, 2007, and the publication of the same application in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0243820, published Oct. 18, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. In other embodiments, the
solar panel 20 may provide power to the local power grid. A skilled artisan will appreciate thatfan assembly 38 can comprise either an AC or a DC system, regardless of whether the ventilation system includesbattery 25. For example, an AC fan can be used with thebattery 25 if the power is provided after an inverter in the system (not shown). This can improve the efficiency of the system. Additionally, using an AC fan may allow the roof ventilation system to use certain commercially available solar panel systems, such as the photovoltaic system marketed by Eagle Roofing Systems as the SolarSave™ integrated panel system. A skilled artisan will understand that the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1E-1H and described above can be implemented with any of the ventilation systems described herein, and that the ventilation system design in these figures is for illustration purposes only. Further, the dashed lines connecting the components inFIG. 1E are for illustrative purposes only. For example, the electronic communication between the components described above can be achieved through electrical conduits (e.g. wires), or wirelessly, as is known in the art. Further, in some embodiments, the components are in electronic communication, even if a dashed line is not shown inFIG. 1E . For example, thepanel 20 can be connected to and/or in electronic communication withcontroller 43, and thebattery 25 can be connected to and/or in electronic communication withfan 38. - As shown in
FIG. 1D , theupper member 16 can have afirst part 16 a spaced closely above asecond part 16 b. The first andsecond parts space 16 c.FIG. 1B is a top view of thefirst part 16 a of theupper member 16, with thesolar panel 20 attached. Thefirst part 16 a includesapertures 22, or openings, through which air can flow between regions above and belowupper member 16. In other embodiments, other openings, such as louver slits, grating or screened openings, can be used in place ofapertures 22.FIG. 1C is a bottom view of thesecond part 16 b of theupper member 16. Thesecond part 16 b includes screenedopenings 24 through which air can flow. In other embodiments, other openings, such as louver slits or apertures, can be used in place of screenedopenings 24. In use, air flows through the screenedopenings 24 in thesecond part 16 b, then through thespace 16 c, and then through theapertures 22 in thefirst part 16 a. - Referring again to
FIG. 1A , afan housing 30 of thelower member 18 projects through ahole 50 in the roof deck into the attic space. Thelower member 18 includes a preferably planar top portion, or base, 19 and thefan housing 30. Thetop portion 19 sits on top of the roof deck (e.g., on top of a wooden roof deck underneath thetiles 54, wherein thehole 50 is cut into the roof deck) and can be secured to the roof deck in a sealed manner, such as by nailing thetop portion 19 to the roof deck and then sealing the top portion to the roof deck. Thetop portion 19 includes ahole 21 that is sized and shaped to match or be smaller than thehole 50 in the roof deck. In some embodiments, arise 31 extends upward from thehole 21 in thetop portion 19 in order to prevent the ingress of water flowing along thetop portion 19 through thehole 50 in the roof deck. Therise 31 can have a height that is effective to divert the flow of water, such as between about ⅜ inch to about ¾ inch, particularly about ½ inch. - Extending downwardly from the
hole 21 in thetop portion 19 is thefan housing 30. Positioning thefan housing 30 below the roof deck in the attic space advantageously permits a largersize fan assembly 38, as compared to systems in which a fan is positioned above the roof deck but below a top portion of the vent. In such systems, the size of the fan is constrained by the limited space available between the roof deck and the top portion of the vent. Thelarger fan assembly 38 afforded by embodiments disclosed herein are capable of moving a greater volume of air per minute. This increased air flow capacity can enhance the performance of theroof vent 10. For convenience and simplicity, this application refers to the space beneath the roof deck as an attic space. However, skilled artisans will appreciate that embodiments can be used in buildings that do not have attics, such as buildings with vaulted ceilings. - With continued reference to
FIG. 1A , in use, thefan assembly 38, powered by thesolar panel 20, causes air to flow from the attic space, through thefan housing 30 to a space between the upper andlower members upper member 16 as described above. For convenience, this application generally describes air flow in an upward direction, from the attic to a space above the roof, or as also used herein, to exhaust air, as in an exhaust fan. Skilled artisans will appreciate that vents are sometimes designed to draw air from above the roof into the attic, and in those cases the fan can be mounted to direct air in the opposite direction, or as used herein to induct air, as in an induction fan. Theroof vent 10 in those uses will perform substantially as described but with the air flows substantially reversed. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0243820, which was incorporated by reference hereinabove, andFIG. 14 in the present application, described below, disclose roof vents near a roof's eaves that have fans that draw outside air into the attic, and roof vents near the roof's ridge that have fans that expel attic air to the outside. -
FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of alower member 18 having a substantiallycylindrical fan housing 30. As shown inFIG. 2 , thefan housing 30 may also include ascreen 39 at its bottom opening, which helps to prevent the ingress of leaves, debris, insects, or vermin. Note that thescreen 39 is shown detached fromfan housing 30 for illustrative purposes only. Also, thescreen 39 can additionally be configured to prevent the ingress of embers. For example, the screen can comprise a baffle structure or mesh material as shown and described in Provisional Patent Application No. 61/052,862, filed May 13, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, thescreen 39 may be positioned at the top opening of thefan housing 30, as shown inFIG. 12 . Referring again toFIG. 2 , thefan housing 30 is preferably substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of thehousing 30, which greatly simplifies installation of thelower member 18. Once an appropriate sized hole has been created in the roof deck, an installer can simply drop thecylindrical housing 30 from above the roof deck and through the hole in the roof deck, until thetop portion 19 rests upon the roof deck. - In some embodiments, the size of the
hole 21 of thetop portion 19, and the lateral cross section of thecylindrical fan housing 30, is less than or substantially equal to 144 square inches, or an alternative size limit imposed by a building code. Building codes in some areas require extra structural enhancements, sometimes called blocking, when a hole in the roof exceeds a certain value, such as 144 square inches. Blocking may require the work of a workman in a different trade than the person ordinarily tasked with installing roof vents. The involvement of another trade and another workman can delay and increase the expense of installation. Accordingly, it may be preferable to employ acylindrical fan housing 30 with a cross sectional area less than or substantially equal to a size required under a building code (such as 144 sq. in.), in order to avoid the need for blocking. A smaller hole in the roof deck can be desirable for other reasons as well, including to preserve the structural integrity of the roof and building against seismic events, and to guard against wind shear and lateral uplift. - In certain applications, greater air flow may be required than can be accommodated using a
roof vent 10 with a singlecylindrical fan housing 30 as described above and shown inFIGS. 1A and 2 .FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic top and side views, respectively, of an embodiment of aroof vent 10 a that comprises two fans to provide greater air flow. In the illustrated embodiment, theroof vent 10 a includes two ormore openings 21, two ormore fan assemblies 38, and two or morecylindrical fan housings 30, eachhole 21 andfan housing 30 having a cross sectional area less than the size limit imposed by the building code. In these embodiments with two ormore fan assemblies 38, theroof vent 10 a can comprise two adjacent and connectedtop portions 19, or as the exemplary illustrated embodiments show, a singletop portion 19 a, that can function similar to that described above for a single fan embodiment. Using this configuration, the necessity for blocking may be obviated while still increasing potential airflow. In some embodiments with two ormore fan assemblies 38, asingle fan housing 30 a that extends around the two ormore fan assemblies 38 and downwardly from thetop portion 19 a can be used. An exemplary illustration of a side view of theroof vent 10 a that comprises two ormore fan assemblies 38 and asingle fan housing 30 a is shown inFIG. 2C . An example of a commercially available component for a two-fan assembly is Sofasco—DC Brushless Fan Motor Model: sD12038V12HBL-55) DC 12V Motor 0.90 Amps. - Another embodiment of a
lower member 18 is shown inFIG. 3 . This embodiment increases airflow while still avoiding the need for blocking. In the illustrated embodiment, the increased airflow is achieved with afan housing 30 comprising anopening 21 a at its bottom end. Thebottom opening 21 a has a larger, or greater, lateral cross sectional area than theopening 21 at the upper end of thehousing 30. This larger bottom opening 21 a permits alarger fan assembly 38 capable of moving larger amounts of air. In a preferred embodiment, shown inFIG. 3 , thefan housing 30 has a frustoconical shape. However, theopening 21 at the upper end of thefrustoconical fan housing 30 may be sized such that the cross sectional area is less than or substantially equal to a size required under a building code, such as 144 sq. in. Unlike the substantially cylindrical fan housing illustrated inFIG. 2 , the shape of thefrustoconical fan housing 30 can preclude installation from above the roof. Accordingly, installation of thefrustoconical housing 30 shown inFIG. 3 typically involves a two-step process. In one step, the planartop portion 19 is placed above the roof, and in the other step, thefrustoconical housing 30 is connected to thetop portion 19 from within the attic. - A skilled artisan will understand that it may be desired to employ two or more fans (e.g., as shown in
FIGS. 2A-2C ) in combination with a fan housing with a larger lower end to promote increased airflow (e.g., as illustrated inFIG. 3 ). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 3A , aroof vent 10 b comprising two ormore fan assemblies 38 can comprise ahousing 30 b that flares outwardly and downwardly. The outwardly flaringhousing 30 b functions similarly tohousing 30 a described above and shown inFIG. 2C , but extends outwardly to provide the additional functionality of thefrustoconical housing 30 shown inFIG. 3 . As such,housing 30 b can extend outwardly from and around one ormore fan assemblies 38 and downwardly fromtop portion 19 a.Housing 30 b can also comprise abottom opening 21 a with a larger, or greater, lateral cross sectional area than theopening 21 at the upper end of thehousing 30 b. In this way, roof vent 10 b can generate greater air flow through the use of two or more fans, and can provide increased airflow through the use ofhousing 30 b. A skilled artisan will appreciate that fan assembly orassemblies 38 described herein can be positioned anywhere within the fan housing described herein. For example, althoughFIG. 3A showsfan assemblies 38 positioned near opening 21 and an upper portion ofhousing 30 b,fan assemblies 38 can be positioned anywhere withinhousing 30 b, such as at or near the bottom opening 21 a. Positioningfan assemblies 38 near the bottom opening 21 a allowsfan assemblies 38 to be larger, thus promoting increased airflow without needing blocking. - Skilled artisans will appreciate that many other variations are also possible. For example, a
cylindrical fan housing 30 may be employed in which the cross sectional area is greater than a size limit imposed by a building code (such as 144 sq. in.), wherein blocking is also carried out. Other configurations may employ afan housing 30 with an increasing (e.g., gradually increasing) cross section from top to bottom in some shape other than a frustocone, such as the shape of a layer cake or an inverted funnel. Further, a roof vent with two or more fans as described above is possible for other ventilation designs, such as the integrated vent embodiments described below and shown in FIGS. 4 and 10-13. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of anintegrated roof vent 10. The integrated vent shown inFIG. 4 may be of particular use in so-called composition roofs formed of composite roof materials. AlthoughFIG. 4 shows the system with its upper and lower portions separated, in use these two portions can be joined together and sold and installed as a single unit. The lower portion can include all the variations described above with reference to thelower member 18 of the non-integrated roof vents shown inFIGS. 1A-1D . - The upper portion of the vent can be configured to selectively receive a
solar panel 20. As shown more clearly inFIGS. 11 and 12 , the upper portion can include a tapered top 33 with louver slits 26 on its top surface and anopening 28 on its front edge (See alsoFIG. 13 ). Between the upper portion and the lower portion is a cavity, which may include screens, baffles, or other filtering structures to prevent the ingress of debris, wind-driven rain, and pests. In use, air from the attic is directed through thefan housing 30 by thefan assembly 38, then through a cavity between the lower portion and the upper portion, then through the louver slits 26 and/or theopening 28. The tapered design of the integrated vent may advantageously increase the velocity of air flowing through the vent into the building, as the tapered top acts as a kind of nozzle or flow restriction on the air inducted into the vent. It will be appreciated that air flow into the building can occur naturally or can be assisted by using afan assembly 38 that draws air into the building rather than exhausts air therefrom. For example, the controller 43 (FIG. 1E ) can be configured to select a direction of rotation of thefan assembly 38 based on whether it is desired to induct air into the building or exhaust air therefrom. Alternatively, thefan assembly 38 can simply have fan blades designed to only draw air into the building. An increased air flow velocity through the vent and into the building may be particularly advantageous in some applications. In other embodiments, wherein thefan assembly 38 is used or configured to exhaust air, the tapered design of the integrated vent reduces resistance to the exhaust of the air flow out of the building. -
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the air flow in a non-integrated roof vent 10 as described with reference toFIGS. 1A-1D .FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of a sloped roof along the sloped direction.Battens 53 traverse the roof in a direction parallel to the roofs ridge and eave and support thetiles 54. Thebattens 53 separate thetiles 54 from theroof deck 56, thereby providing a battencavity 52 through which air can flow. Thebattens 53 can be designed to provide pathways for airflow through or across the battens. For example, a batten 53 can be perforated or can be installed with a spacer to allow air flow through batten 53. As such, a batten 53 can comprise a “flow through batten”.FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of the roof along the direction perpendicular to the sloped direction (i.e., parallel to the roofs ridge and eave). In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B , theupper member 16 is positioned substantially directly above thelower member 18. Note that theupper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated to simulate the appearance of many different types of tiles as described above. Theupper member 16 inFIG. 5B simulates an “M” profile tile for illustration purposes only. - In some embodiments, it may be desirable to position the
upper member 16 in a different portion of the roof than thelower member 18. For example, the shadow cast by a tree may hinder the performance of thesolar panel 20 in certain areas of the roof. In such cases, theupper member 16 can be offset (i.e., displaced) from the position of thelower member 18, such as illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B .FIG. 6A is a cross sectional view of a sloped roof along the sloped direction.FIG. 6B is a cross sectional view of the roof along the direction perpendicular to the sloped direction. As shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B , air flows from below the roof, up through thelower member 18, then through the battencavity 52, and along the roof, between theroof deck 56 and thetiles 54 until it reaches theupper member 16, then through theupper member 16. Airflow within a batten cavity is typically referred to by those skilled in the art as “Above Sheathing Ventilation” (ASV). In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6A , theupper member 16 is upwardly offset, or upslope from thelower member 18, and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” is in an upward direction. A skilled artisan will appreciate that theupper member 16 can alternatively be downwardly offset, or downslope, from thelower member 18, and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” can be in a downward direction. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 6B , theupper member 16 is laterally offset from thelower member 18, and the aforementioned flow “along the roof” is lateral. In other words, inFIG. 6B , themembers upper member 16 is offset fromlower member 18 can vary, and the distance shown inFIGS. 6A and 6B is for illustrative purposes only. In a preferred embodiment,upper member 16 is offset fromlower member 18 by within 2-5 courses of tiles whenupper member 16 is upwardly or downwardly offset fromlower member 18, as inFIG. 6A . In another preferred embodiment,upper member 16 is offset fromlower member 18 by within 2-5 tiles whenupper member 16 is laterally offset fromlower member 18, as inFIG. 6B . - In an alternative embodiment, only the
solar panel 20 is offset from thelower vent member 18. In such an embodiment, thesolar panel 20 is preferably still hardwired to thefan assembly 38 and/or other elements of the control system ofFIG. 1E . - A skilled artisan will also appreciate that some air flow may be permitted between the
various tiles 54, such that some of the air leaves the battencavity 52 without flowing through theupper member 16. Tile roofs employing tiles of this nature are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,579, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Further, although the foregoing description describes a primary direction of air flow in some embodiments, other air currents may also be present in the battencavity 52, including air flow in a reverse direction from that described above. In some embodiments, thetiles 54 overlying thelower member 18 can be replaced with a solar panel or an array of solar panels. In such embodiments, the air flow along the underside of the panels between theupper member 16 and thelower member 18 can advantageously aid in the cooling of the solar panels, thereby preventing overheating of the panels and enhancing their energy collection performance. - Offsetting the upper and
lower members - Note that the
upper member 16 can be shaped and/or decorated to simulate the appearance of many different types of tiles as described above. Theupper member 16 inFIG. 6B is shown simulating an “M” profile tile for illustrative purposes only. Further note thatfan assembly 38 is shown inFIGS. 5A-6B for illustrative purposes only, and the vents can be used without a fan assembly to achieve the airflow described above. Also note that when theupper member 16 is offset from thelower member 18 as described above, a wire or plurality of wires (not shown) can extend above and/or below theroof deck 56 and/ortiles 54, and/or within battencavity 52. The wires can be used to provide power and/or communication betweensolar panel 20,fan assembly 38,battery 25,timer 46,sensor 44,controller 43,actuators position data device 45, as described above and shown inFIG. 1E . -
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of a roof vent.FIG. 7 is a top schematic view showing a rooftop with the roof vent installed. Theupper member 16 of the roof vent, with thesolar panel 20 attached, is shown inFIG. 7 . On either side of thesolar panel 20,apertures 22 are visible. The apertures can allow air to flow from thespace 16 c between thefirst part 16 a andsecond part 16 b of theupper member 16 when the vent is in use, as described above and shown inFIG. 1D .FIG. 8 is a bottom schematic view of the upper member of the roof vent shown inFIG. 7 .Screened openings 24 in thesecond part 16 b of theupper member 16 are shown inFIG. 8 , which openings can allow air to flow from the batten cavity into the space between the first and second parts of the upper member when the vent is in use. -
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view showing a lower portion of member 18 (e.g.,FIG. 2 ) of an embodiment of a roof vent. The lower portion ofmember 18 can be used as part of a non-integrated roof vent, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 , or as part of an integrated vent, as shown inFIGS. 10-13 . As shown inFIGS. 1A and 9 , theopening 50 in the roof deck need not be the same size or shape as thehole 21 in thelower member 18 of the vent. The embodiment shown inFIG. 9 includes mountingbrackets 32 for thefan assembly 38 that extend laterally beyond the outer surface of thefan housing 30. However, as noted above, in other embodiments, the fan housing can be substantially free of protrusions extending laterally from the outer surface of the housing, such as by using mounting brackets that are joined to the interior of the fan housing. -
FIGS. 10-13 are illustrations of an embodiment of anintegrated roof vent 10 b. In some embodiments, theintegrated roof vent 10 b includes asolar panel 20, and in some embodiments, theintegrated vent 10 b does not include asolar panel 20.FIG. 10 is a top view of theintegrated vent 10 b with asolar panel 20 attached.FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of theintegrated vent 10 b without a solar panel. In some embodiments, theintegrated vent 10 b can comprise two or more fans that function similarly to the embodiments described above and illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2C and 3A. An exemplary illustration of an embodiment of theintegrated vent 10 b with twofans 38 is shown inFIG. 11A (top view) and 11B (side view). Theintegrated roof vent 10 b illustrated inFIGS. 11A and 11B can comprise arectangular fan housing 30 c. Therectangular fan housing 30 c is shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B for illustrative purposes only. For example, a rectangular fan housing can be employed with the other roof vents described above, and the otherfan housing embodiments integrated roof vent 10 b shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B . Further, therectangular fan housing 30 c can flare outwardly and downwardly to function similarly to thefan housing 30 b described above.FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the integrated vent with thefan assembly 38 removed.FIG. 13 is front view of the integrated vent. As described above, in some embodiments, an integrated vent can include a bracket 60 (FIG. 1F ) for selectively attaching and/or moving thesolar panel 20. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of abuilding 100 havingroof vents eaves 5. Roof 2 can be a sloped roof, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. In certain other embodiments, the ventilation system can be modified for other types of roofs. Between the ridge 4 and eacheave 5 is a roof field 3, one of which is shown in the figure. It will be understood that more complex roofs may have more than two fields 3. In an embodiment, at least one of the fields 3 of thebuilding 100 can include a plurality offield vents vents eave 5, preferably aligned substantially parallel to the eave. In certain embodiments, the field vents 7 are spaced by 1-4 courses, and preferably 2-3 courses, of roof cover elements (e.g., tiles) from theeave 5. In other embodiments, the plurality offield vents eave 5 and ridge 4 such that field vents 6, 7 will not interfere witheave 5 and ridge 4, or other structures withinbuilding 100. For example, in an embodiment whereinfield vent 7 comprises ahousing 30 as shown inFIG. 1A ,field vent 7 can be positioned so thathousing 30 does not interfere with the structure of building 100 proximate to eave 5 (e.g., an attic floor and possibly an insulation layer on said floor) or an upper portion of asidewall 9 ofbuilding 100. In some embodiments, field vents 6 and/or 7 can be positioned to be a desired distance from structures withinbuilding 100. For example, field vents 6 and/or 7 can be positioned so that a desired clearance (e.g., 6-18 inches, and more preferably about 12 inches) is provided between the top of an insulation layer in an attic of building 100 to the bottom of the field vents 6 and/or 7. - In use, the
vents arrow 8. That is, air tends to flow into the building (e.g., into an attic or crawlspace of the building or into an area below a vaulted ceiling defined by the roof fields 3) through thevents 7, and air tends to exit the building through thevents 6. The roof can also have a batten cavity, as described above, through which air may also flow. This airflow can be provided without fan assemblies invents vents fan assemblies 38 are provided in thevents 6 but not thevents 7. In some embodiments,fan assemblies 38 are provided in thevents vents 7 are configured to draw air into the building, and the fan assemblies in thevents 6 are configured to exhaust air from the building. - Although the invention has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments herein.
Claims (34)
1. A roof vent, comprising:
an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member; and
a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member, the lower member comprising:
a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member; and
a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fan resides in a fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening to a third opening below the roof, the fan housing having a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at the third opening, wherein the second lateral cross sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area.
2. The roof vent of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower members form an integrated vent.
3. The roof vent of claim 1 , wherein the upper member is configured to simulate an appearance of one or more roof tiles.
4. The roof vent of claim 1 , wherein the upper member is laterally displaced with respect to the lower member.
5. The roof vent of claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel in electrical communication with the fan.
6. The roof vent of claim 5 , further comprising a battery in electrical communication with the solar panel and the fan, the battery being configured to store power from the solar panel for use by the fan.
7. The roof vent of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket for selectively receiving a solar panel.
8. The roof vent of claim 7 , wherein the bracket includes at least one rotatable axis to alter the orientation of the solar panel relative to the direction of the sun.
9. The roof vent of claim 1 , wherein the fan housing has a substantially frustoconical shape.
10. The roof vent of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral cross sectional area is less than or substantially equal to 144 sq. in.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. A roof vent, comprising:
an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member; and
a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member, the lower member comprising:
a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member; and
at least two fans configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fans reside in a fan housing positioned below the second opening, the fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening, the fan housing having a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at a bottom end of the fan housing, wherein the second lateral cross-sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area.
18. (canceled)
19. A roof ventilation system, comprising:
a lower vent member having an opening and a base portion extending outwardly from the opening, the base portion adapted to rest upon a roof deck approximately at an opening in the roof deck, such that air can flow through the roof deck and vent member by flowing through the roof deck opening and the vent member opening;
an upper vent member configured to be secured to the lower vent member or to a field of roof cover elements above the roof deck;
a solar panel secured to the upper vent member;
a first actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a first axis;
a second actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a second axis that is substantially transverse with respect to the first axis;
a controller configured to electronically control the first actuator to rotate the solar panel about the first axis; and
a data storage system in electronic communication with the controller, the data storage system storing position data that the controller uses to operate the first and second actuators to move the solar panel to face the sun at a plurality of different times, the position data based on empirical observation of the sun's position relative to the Earth.
20. (canceled)
21. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , further comprising a sensor in electronic communication with the controller, the sensor configured to sense at least one environmental condition, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and/or second actuator in response to an incoming signal from the sensor.
22. The roof ventilation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises a position of the sun relative to the solar panel.
23. The roof ventilation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises sunlight intensity.
24. The roof ventilation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises wind speed.
25. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator so as to move the solar panel to a retracted position if an amount or rate of power collected by the solar panel is less than a predetermined threshold.
26. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , wherein the data storage system stores predetermined positions of the solar panel, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second actuator to selectively move the solar panel to the predetermined positions.
27. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , further comprising a fan assembly secured with respect to one of the vent members, the fan assembly configured to receive electrical power from the solar panel.
28. The roof ventilation system of claim 27 , further comprising a battery configured to receive electrical power from the solar panel.
29. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , wherein a position of the upper vent member is offset from a position of the lower vent member when both vent members are installed in a roof.
30. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , wherein the upper vent member is secured to the lower vent member.
31. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , wherein the roof cover elements comprise roof tiles, the upper vent member replacing one or more tiles in a field of the roof tiles, the upper vent member simulating an appearance of the roof tiles.
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. The roof ventilation system of claim 19 , further comprising a timer that the controller uses to move the solar panel at specific times or time intervals.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/918,799 US20100330898A1 (en) | 2008-02-26 | 2009-02-26 | Roof ventilation system |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US6728008P | 2008-02-26 | 2008-02-26 | |
PCT/US2009/035346 WO2009108813A1 (en) | 2008-02-26 | 2009-02-26 | Roof ventilation system |
US12/918,799 US20100330898A1 (en) | 2008-02-26 | 2009-02-26 | Roof ventilation system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100330898A1 true US20100330898A1 (en) | 2010-12-30 |
Family
ID=41016471
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/918,799 Abandoned US20100330898A1 (en) | 2008-02-26 | 2009-02-26 | Roof ventilation system |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100330898A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2009219239B2 (en) |
MY (1) | MY159046A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009108813A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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AU2009219239A1 (en) | 2009-09-03 |
MY159046A (en) | 2016-12-15 |
AU2009219239B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 |
AU2009219239A8 (en) | 2010-09-23 |
WO2009108813A1 (en) | 2009-09-03 |
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