AU2006252127A1

AU2006252127A1 - An apparatus and method for ventilation

Info

Publication number: AU2006252127A1
Application number: AU2006252127A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chee Pang Teng; Tuck Hoong Wong; Tee Siong Yeow
Original assignee: Oyl Res & Development Centre Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: Oyl Research & Development Centre Sdnbhd
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2007-07-05
Also published as: EP1801510A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S):: Oyl Research Development Centre SDN.BHD.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia INVENTION TITLE: An apparatus and method for ventilation The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5102 -la- FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for introducing fresh air from the outside into a closed air-conditioned room or building.

\O BACKGROUND ART 0 Conventional air-conditioning systems provide a comfortable air-conditioned environment by circulating the conditioned air within the closed room or building without the active introduction of fresh air from the outside. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a typical split-type air-conditioning indoor unit in a building. As can be observed, fresh air (16) from the outside may passively enter the closed room or building by infiltration However, the infiltration process is slow and the quality of the enclosed indoor air will deteriorate when the room or building is occupied or inhabited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus and a method to introduce fresh air from outside into the closed environment inside the room or building and thereby improve the indoor air quality and ventilation rate. One embodiment of a ventilation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a tubular housing for a miniature motor with a fan (10) at one end and a filter at the other end. The miniature motor regulates the rotational movement of the mounted fan (10) to draw the air (16) from outside into the room or building. However, the air may be drawn in the other direction i.e. from inside the room or building to the other side by rotating the fan in the other direction or the use of an additional fan to expel any expired or odorous air. A controller regulates the speed of the miniature motor and fan -2- O One method for introducing fresh air from the outside into a closed air-conditioned room or building comprises the steps of making an opening on the wall (14) during the installation of the indoor air-conditioner unit custom fit the tubular housing in accordance with the thickness of the wall The tubular housing contains a fan, motor and filter will be hidden fiom view by mounting the indoor air-conditioner unit (18) over it.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled INO in the art from :he following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying

O

0 0 drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative examples only, preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: FIG. I is a schematic view of a conventional split-type air-conditioning system: 0 FIG. 2 is an exploded view assembly of the parts of a preferred form of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the installed ventilation apparatus.

-3- V DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a ventilation apparatus and a method to introduce fresh air from outside into the closed environment inside the room or building and thereby improve the indoor air quality and ventilation rate Figure 2 show:; an exploded assembly parts of one embodiment of the ventilation in apparatus of the present invention. The ventilation apparatus comprises a tubular housing \C a miniature motor a fan a filter and connection means to the controller 0 0 The tubular housing is used to house a miniature motor a fan (10) and C,1 connection means to a controller The tubular housing in the present invention is not limited to a tubular shape as it may be of any suitable shape. The diameter of the tube housing is preferably between 5.08cm to 7.62cm. Further, the length of the tubular housing may be designed to be adjustable to the thickness of the installation wall (14).

A miniature motor provides the rotational movement for a fan The fan (10) may be mounted on a motor to draw the air from outside into the inside. Both the miniature motor and fan (10) may be regulated by a controller The air from outside (16) is channeled through a filter before it is ventilated into the room or building. The dimensions of the assembly parts of the aforesaid ventilation system are '0 dependent on the diameter or size of the tubular housing.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the ventilation apparatus of the present invention as installed. The ventilation apparatus is mounted inside opening in the wall (14) with the length of the tubular housing adjusted according to the thickness of the wall (14).

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the ventilation system of the presented w-th the indoor air-conditioning unit (18) mounted on the wall (14) over the tubular housing Further, the ventilation apparatus discharge outlet may be ducled to the indoor air-conditioning unit (18).

-4- The present ventilation system may he in the form of an easy to install and removable kit.

It may be turned on and off and controlled via a wireless controller/handset. As it may be installed behind an indoor air-conditioner unit it will be hidden from view. Furher.

the fresh air fiom the outside may be channeled to the head exchanger of the indoor airconditioning unit before it is circulated into the room or building.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art ihat the invention is 0 susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference numerals in the following claims do not in any way limit the scope of the respective claims.

Claims

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the housing is adjustable according to the t thickness of the partition. O 0 0 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the housing is tubular.
4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means for drawing the air from one side of the partition to the other is at least one fan (10) driven by a motor with a filter An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the fan or fans (10) and motor are regulated by a controller and may be switched on and off remotely.
6. An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the air-conditioning unit is mounted over the '0 apparatus hiding it from view.
7. A method of introducing air from one side of a partition to the other by installing a housing in an opening on the partition containing a means (8 10) to draw the air from one side to the air as part of an air-conditioning unit.
8. A method as in claim 7. wherein the opening and housing is hidden from view by the air-conditioning unit (18).