초록 ▼

A vent fan is for directing a fluid along a vent pipe. The vent fan has a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space for a fluid flow path. A separating wall divides the internal space into an inlet and outlet chamber. The vent fan also includes first and second baffles to block the

A vent fan is for directing a fluid along a vent pipe. The vent fan has a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space for a fluid flow path. A separating wall divides the internal space into an inlet and outlet chamber. The vent fan also includes first and second baffles to block the fluid flow from traveling into the outlet and inlet chambers respectively. The separating wall may also include at least one fin for directing the fluid flow towards a first passageway.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A powered vent fan comprising: an impeller with a vane that is rotated around an axis; a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space

The invention claimed is: 1. A powered vent fan comprising: an impeller with a vane that is rotated around an axis; a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the inlet spaced radially from the first passageway, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet radially to and through the inlet chamber towards the first passageway, axially from the inlet chamber to the first passageway, from the first passageway to the outlet chamber and to and from the outlet; at least one fin residing in the inlet chamber and situated to intercept fluid adjacent to the inlet, and directing the fluid flow from the inlet towards the first passageway; a first baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; and a second baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber. 2. The powered vent fan of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises two joinable halves. 3. The powered vent fan of claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet are aligned along a common axis. 4. The powered vent fan of claim 1 wherein the fin extends away from the separating wall. 5. The powered vent fan of claim 1 further comprising a flow restricter operable to selectively control the flow rate of the fluid through the first passageway. 6. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; a first baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; and a second baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber; and at least one condensate port on the housing for draining condensate from the vent fan. 7. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; a first baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; a second baffle surface extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber; and a flow restricter operable to selectively control the flow rate of the fluid through the first passageway, wherein the flow restricter comprises a curved plate. 8. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 7 wherein the flow restricter comprises a controller located external to the housing for rotating the flow restricter about a passage axis. 9. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing having an interior and an exterior, the interior having a first internal side and a second internal side spaced substantially opposite the first internal side, the housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; at least one fin residing in the inlet chamber and intercepting, and directing the fluid flow from the inlet towards the first passageway; a first baffle surface formed as one piece with the first internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; a second baffle surface formed as one piece with the second internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber; and a variable flow restricter that is configured to direct fluid flow in the inlet chamber in a circular direction and towards the first passageway. 10. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises two joinable halves. 11. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the inlet and outlet are aligned along a common axis. 12. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the fin extends away from the separating wall. 13. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 9 wherein the flow restricter is movable around a passage axis without moving axially along the passage axis. 14. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing having an interior and an exterior, the interior having a first internal side and a second internal side spaced substantially opposite the first internal side, the housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; a first baffle surface formed as one piece with the first internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; a second baffle surface formed as one piece with the second internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber; and at least one condensate port on the housing for draining condensate from the vent fan. 15. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing having an interior and an exterior, the interior having a first internal side and a second internal side spaced substantially opposite the first internal side, the housing defining an inlet, an outlet and an internal space through which a fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; a first baffle surface formed as one piece with the first internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the inlet into the outlet chamber; a second baffle surface formed as one piece with the second internal side and extending transversely to the flow path and blocking passage of the fluid at the outlet back into the inlet chamber; and a flow restricter operable to selectively control the flow rate of the fluid through the first passageway, wherein the flow restricter comprises a curved plate. 16. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 15 wherein the flow restricter comprises a controller located external to the housing for rotating the flow restricter about a passage axis. 17. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet for directing a fluid along a first axis into an interior of the housing, an outlet for discharging fluid from the interior of the housing substantially along the first axis and an internal space through which the fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway having a central axis and a diameter communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; and at least one fin residing in the inlet chamber and intercepting, and directing the fluid flow from the inlet towards the first passageway, the at least one fin spaced radially relative to the central axis of the first passageway a substantial distance from the diameter of the first passageway. 18. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 17 wherein the fin extends away from the separating wall. 19. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 17 wherein the fin extends away from the separating wall. 20. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 17 further comprising a flow restricter operable selectively to control the flow rate of the fluid through the first passageway, the flow moving through the first passageway along a second axis and the flow restricter has a surface facing radially relative to the second axis that blocks passage of flow from the inlet chamber into the first passageway. 21. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet for directing a fluid along a first axis into an interior of the housing, an outlet for discharging fluid from the interior of the housing substantially along the first axis and an internal space through which the fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; and at least one condensate port on the housing for draining the condensate from the vent fan. 22. A powered vent fan assembly comprising: a housing defining an inlet for directing a fluid along a first axis into an interior of the housing, an outlet for discharging fluid from the interior of the housing substantially along the first axis and an internal space through which the fluid moves along a flow path between the inlet and outlet; a separating wall dividing the internal space so as to define an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber; a first passageway having a central axis and a diameter communicating between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber; the fluid in the flow path moving from the inlet to and through the inlet chamber, the first passageway, the outlet chamber and the outlet; and a flow restricter operable selectively to control the flow rate of the fluid through the first passageway, wherein the flow restricter comprises a curved plate. 23. The powered vent fan assembly of claim 22 wherein the flow restricter comprises a controller located external to the housing for rotating the flow restricter about a passage axis. 24. The powered vent fan assembly of any of claims 2, 7 14, 15, 21, and 22 further comprising at least one fin residing in the inlet chamber and intercepting, and directly the fluid flow from the inlet towards the first passageway. 25. The powered vent fan assembly of any of claims 6, 7, 9, 14, 15 17, 21, and 22 further in combination with a rotatable impeller for inducing flow of fluid through the powered vent fan assembly.