AU2007100949A4 - Exhaust Fan - Google Patents

Description

ORIGINAL

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For an Innovation Patent Invention title: "Exhaust Fan" Applicant: Thomas Michael Powell Associated Provisional Application No.: The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: "EXHAUST FAN" 0 SField of the Invention

O

The present invention relates to an exhaust fan, particularly to a solar powered exhaust fan for use on vehicles such as caravans.

Background to the Invention Exhaust fans are available for a range of purposes. A common arrangement comprises simply a fan fitted into an aperture provided in a roof or wall which then draws air into the aperture and directs the air directly outward. Such fittings are commonly provided with an ac connection for the power supply.

The present invention relates to an exhaust fan having a physical configuration and power arrangement to make the unit particularly suitable for installation on vehicles such as caravans.

References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an exhaust fan comprising a housing having a solar panel on an upper surface of the housing and an air outlet on a side wall and a fan unit mounted within the housing wherein the fan unit is powered by the solar panel and the fan unit draws air into the housing in a direction towards the upper surface and redirects air to flow out of the air outlet on the side wall.

Preferably, the air outlet includes an aperture in the side wall and an air conduit extending perpendicularly away from the side wall. The air conduit is preferably provided with one or more holes such that movement of the exhaust fan through the air draws air from within the housing via a venturi effect created by the holes. The conduit may include an inner channel extending within the conduit from the aperture in the housing along a portion of the length of the conduit.

Preferably, a heat sink is provided between the fan unit and the solar panel.

SIn a preferred embodiment, the solar panel is mounted in an opening in the upper O surface of the housing. Preferably the opening extends substantially across the entire upper surface of the housing.

The fan unit preferably includes a lower opening into which air is drawn and a side opening oriented in the direction of the aperture in the side wall such that air is drawn upwardly into the fan unit and redirected towards the aperture and air conduit.

In one embodiment, an air inlet vent is provided for mounting in the inner surface of a roof. A securing ring may be provided, the securing ring being located above the roof and secured to the air inlet vent. The securing ring may include a plurality of support posts for locating the fan unit.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the [invention], given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of an exhaust fan in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded lower perspective view of the exhaust fan of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an upper assembled perspective view of the exhaust fan of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a lower assembled perspective view of the exhaust fan of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a top view of the exhaust fan of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a bottom view of the exhaust fan of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a lower perspective of the assembled exhaust fan looking towards ri the air outlet; and SFigure 8 is a close up view looking into the air outlet.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments A preferred embodiment of an exhaust fan 10 in accordance with the invention, as Sillustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprises a housing 12 having a fan unit 14 and an air outlet 16.

ri The housing 12 is arranged to be mounted on a roof of a vehicle such as the roof of a caravan. The housing 12 in the embodiment shown includes an upper surface 18, and four side walls 20. The upper surface 18 is generally rectangular in shape and each of the side walls 20 extends downwardly from the upper surface 18. The side walls 20 are each curved as shown in the figures and a lip 22 is provided around the lower edges of the side walls 20. The lip 22 is generally parallel to the upper surface 18 and is therefore arranged to be mounted on and secured to the roof of the caravan. The height of the housing 12 is small relative to the width and length of the housing 12 such that the housing is relatively low profile and therefore creates relatively little wind resistance on the top of a moving vehicle.

The air outlet 16 is provided in one of the side walls 20. In particular, the air outlet 16 is provided in the side wall 20 which is to be arranged to face to the rear of the caravan. The outlet 16 includes an aperture 22 in the rearward facing side wall and a conduit 24 extending generally perpendicularly away from the conduit 24. The conduit 24 is generally rectangular in transverse cross section such that the conduit 24 is wider than it is high.

The upper surface 18 of the housing includes an opening 26 for receiving a solar panel 28. Preferably, the opening 26 and solar panel 28 extend substantially across the entire upper surface 18 of the housing 12. The solar panel 28 is connected to the fan unit 14 such that the collected solar energy powers the fan unit 14.

The exhaust fan 10 is also provided with an air inlet vent 30. The air inlet vent 30 is arranged to be mounted in a hole provided in the roof of the caravan. The air inlet O vent 30 comprises a first cylindrical portion 32 to be received in the hole and a lower ri circular flange 34 at a lower end of the first cylindrical portion 32 to engage with the 0 inner surface of the roof. The lower end of the first cylindrical portion 32 is also O provided with a cover 36 having a plurality of air holes 38.

A securing ring 40 is provided above the roof to engage with the air inlet vent 30 and thereby secure the air inlet vent 30. The securing ring 40 comprises a second cylindrical portion 42 having an upper circular flange 44. The second cylindrical Sportion 42 of the securing ring 40 is received in the first cylindrical portion 32 of the air inlet vent 30. The securing ring 40 also includes a plurality of support posts between which is secured the fan unit 14.

The fan unit 14 is generally square in horizontal cross section and includes a fan blade mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The fan unit includes a lower opening 46 into which is drawn air by the rotating fan blade and a side opening 48 from which the drawn air exits. The fan unit is received in between the support posts 44 such that the side opening 48 is directed towards the aperture 22 in the housing 12. Therefore, operation of the fan unit 12, draws air upwardly into the housing 12 and then redirects the air flow approximately 90 degrees and directs the air to flow out of the aperture 22 and air conduit 24, which faces to the rear of the caravan.

While the assembled views of the exhaust fan 10 show the fan unit 14 and air inlet vent 30 arrangement centrally mounted below the housing 12, the housing 12 in use may be offset forwardly of the position shown such that the side opening 48 of the fan unit 14 is located adjacent the aperture 22. In this way, air flowing from the side opening 48 of the fan unit 14 flows directly into the conduit 24.

The exhaust fan 10 is also provided with a heat sink 50. The heat sink 50 is mounted on top of the fan unit 14 between the fan unit 14 and the solar panel 28. The heat sink 50 comprises a plate having vanes 52 arranged to dissipate heat from the fan unit 14. As it is expected that heat will build up under the solar panel 28, the heat sink provides cooling to allow efficient operation of the fan unit 14.

The conduit 24 is also provided with venturi holes 54 to increase the flow of air out of the housing 12. The venturi holes 42 are provided on each vertical side of the conduit 24 adjacent the outer end of the conduit 24. Further the conduit 24 is provided with an inner channel 56, as can be seen in Figure 6 where the conduit 24 is shown in cross section. The inner channel 56 extends from the aperture 22 inside the conduit 24, along a portion of the length of the conduit 24. The inner channel 56 is of approximately the same cross sectional area as the aperture 22, being smaller than that of the conduit 24.

The venturi holes 54 are arranged such that when the vehicle is moving, air flowing across the surface of the venturi holes 54 creates a venturi effect in the conduit 24.

This effect draws additional air upwardly from within the vehicle into the housing 12 and out through the air outlet 16.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described and is to be determined from the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. 2. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air outlet includes an aperture in the side wall and an air conduit extending perpendicularly away from the side wall.
2. 3. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 2, wherein air conduit is provided with one or more holes such that movement of the exhaust fan through the air draws air from within the housing via a venturi effect created by the holes.
3. 4. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 3, wherein the conduit includes an inner channel extending within the conduit from the aperture in the housing along a portion of the length of the conduit. An exhaust fan in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a heat sink is provided between the fan unit and the solar panel.
4. 6. An exhaust fan in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solar panel is mounted in an opening in the upper surface of the housing.
5. 7. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 6, wherein the opening extends substantially across the entire upper surface of the housing.
6. 8. An exhaust fan in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan unit includes a lower opening into which air is drawn and a side opening oriented in the direction of the aperture in the side wall such that air is drawn upwardly into the fan unit and redirected towards the aperture and air conduit.
7. 9. An exhaust fan in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein an air inlet vent is provided for mounting in the inner surface of a roof. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 9, wherein a securing ring is provided, the securing ring being located above the roof and secured to the air inlet vent.
8. 11. An exhaust fan in accordance with claim 10, wherein the securing ring includes a plurality of support posts for locating the fan unit.
9. 12. A fan unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Thomas Michael Powell by his Patent Attorneys Janet Stead Associates