US4387629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for extracting air from the interior of a structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-10-26
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2001-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A device which is capable of being mounted on a structure and extracting air from the interior of the structure includes a housing having a hollow interior and open front and rear openings into the interior. Air is capable of moving into the front opening, through the interior of the housing and exiting out of the rear opening. A member, located within the interior of the housing, is capable of creating an area of reduced air pressure within the housing in response to air movement through the interior of the housing. A port is associated with the area of reduced air pressure and connects to a connecting member, which also attaches the housing to the structure. The connecting member is such that it allows for free rotation of the housing on the structure and simultaneously provides an air pathway between the interior of the structure and the interior of the housing. In response to an air pressure differential between the interior of the structure and the area of reduced pressure in the housing, air is extracted from the interior of the structure into the housing and expelled into the air moving through the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Ross A. Bolton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:38
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23L; F23L17/00; F23L17/02; F23L17/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
499 words
A device for extracting air from the interior of a structure which comprises: a housing having a hollow interior and including a front opening and a rear opening, each of which opens into said interior of said housing, said front and said rear openings allowing for air flow into said front opening through said interior of said housing and exiting out of said rear opening, said housing including a shell at least a portion of which is formed as an elongated chamber, said front opening and said rear opening of said housing located at respective front and rear ends of said chamber; baffle means positioned within the interior of said housing, said baffle means forming a constricted cross sectional area within the interior of said housing and capable of creating an area of reduced air pressure within the interior of said housing in response to air moving through said interior of said housing; port means formed in said housing and located in association with said baffle means and said area of reduced air pressure and including said port means comprising a bottom opening located on the bottom surface of said chamber adjacent to said front opening; connecting means associated with said port means and rotatably connecting said housing to said structure such that said housing can freely rotate on said structure about an axis of rotation, said connecting means in association with said port means further connecting said area of reduced air pressure within the interior of said structure to allow said air to move from the interior of said structure into said housing in response to a pressure differential between the interior of said structure and the area of reduced air pressure; orientation means associated with said housing and capable under the influence of moving air of causing said housing to rotate about said axis of rotation to orient said front opening of said housing in a direction pointing into said moving air, said orientation means comprising said housing being elongated in shape and said connecting means and said port means both being located proximal to said front opening and said portion of said housing located between said rear opening and said axis of rotation being of a substantially greater elongated dimension than said portion of said housing located between said front opening and said axis of rotation such that said axis of rotation of said housing is positioned proximal to said front opening and the portion of said housing located between said axis of rotation and said rear opening is capable of being contacted by said moving air whenever said front opening is not oriented in a direction pointing into said moving air and when said portion of said housing located between said axis of rotation and said rear opening is contacted by said moving air, the force of said moving air against said portion rotates said housing about said axis of rotation until said front opening is oriented in a direction pointing into said moving air.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
499 words
A device for extracting air from the interior of a structure which comprises: a housing having a hollow interior and including a front opening and a rear opening, each of which opens into said interior of said housing, said front and said rear openings allowing for air flow into said front opening through said interior of said housing and exiting out of said rear opening, said housing including a shell at least a portion of which is formed as an elongated chamber, said front opening and said rear opening of said housing located at respective front and rear ends of said chamber; baffle means positioned within the interior of said housing, said baffle means forming a constricted cross sectional area within the interior of said housing and capable of creating an area of reduced air pressure within the interior of said housing in response to air moving through said interior of said housing; port means formed in said housing and located in association with said baffle means and said area of reduced air pressure and including said port means comprising a bottom opening located on the bottom surface of said chamber adjacent to said front opening; connecting means associated with said port means and rotatably connecting said housing to said structure such that said housing can freely rotate on said structure about an axis of rotation, said connecting means in association with said port means further connecting said area of reduced air pressure within the interior of said structure to allow said air to move from the interior of said structure into said housing in response to a pressure differential between the interior of said structure and the area of reduced air pressure; orientation means associated with said housing and capable under the influence of moving air of causing said housing to rotate about said axis of rotation to orient said front opening of said housing in a direction pointing into said moving air, said orientation means comprising said housing being elongated in shape and said connecting means and said port means both being located proximal to said front opening and said portion of said housing located between said rear opening and said axis of rotation being of a substantially greater elongated dimension than said portion of said housing located between said front opening and said axis of rotation such that said axis of rotation of said housing is positioned proximal to said front opening and the portion of said housing located between said axis of rotation and said rear opening is capable of being contacted by said moving air whenever said front opening is not oriented in a direction pointing into said moving air and when said portion of said housing located between said axis of rotation and said rear opening is contacted by said moving air, the force of said moving air against said portion rotates said housing about said axis of rotation until said front opening is oriented in a direction pointing into said moving air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said connecting means includes a first upstanding member having a hollow interior and open bottom and top ends, said first member capable of being attached to said structure in a position wherein said bottom opening of said first member connects to the interior of said structure in a manner allowing for air to move from the interior of said structure into the interior of said first member; a second upstanding member having a hollow interior and open bottom and top ends, said top end of said second member attaching to said housing about said port means connecting the interior of said second member to said area of reduced air pressure within said housing; said first and second members associated with each other such that said second member is capable of rotating with respect to said first member and air is capable of moving between said respective interiors of said first and said second members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 2 wherein: each of said first and said second members are cylindrical in shape and are coaxial with each other with one of said first or said second members being capable of fitting within at least a portion of the other of said first or said second members such that said second member is capable of rotating with respect to said first member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: said baffle means has a first side and a second side, said front opening being located on said first side of said baffle means and said port means being located on said second side of said baffle means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said baffle means comprising a baffle located within said chamber and positioned between said front opening and said bottom opening, said baffle is arcuate in shape and includes a bottom edge and a top edge, said bottom edge of said baffle located between said bottom opening and said front opening, said baffle extending upwardly and inwardly from said bottom edge into said chamber, locating said top edge of said baffle in said constricted cross sectional area such that air moving through said chamber and through said constricted cross sectional area forms said area of reduced air pressure beneath said baffle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The device of claim 5 wherein: said constricted cross sectional area is further formed by including a waisted section in said shell between said front end and said rear end of said chamber, said waisted section being a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of said chamber at said front and said rear ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 6 wherein: said chamber is quadrilaterally shaped in cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 7 wherein: said rear openings is serrated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 8 wherein: said connecting means includes a positioning means located in one of said first member or said housing, and an elongated projection means attaching to the other of said first member or said housing and projecting along said axis of rotation axially through said second member, said projection means operatively associated with said positioning means supporting said housing on said first member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
The device of claim 9 wherein: said positioning means comprises a tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end and located axially within said first member on said axis of rotation, said projection means comprising a rod attaching at its upper end to said baffle and projecting downwardly through said second means, and fitting through said open upper end of said tube into said tube and further including a bearing means located against said closed bottom end of said tube such that said lower end of said rod contacts said bearing means and is supported by said bearing means and said closed end of said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
The device of claim 7 wherein: said shell includes a top wall, left and right side walls, and a bottom wall, said top wall projecting horizontally and upwardly from said front opening, said left and right side walls projecting rearwardly and inwardly to said waisted section and then rearwardly and outwardly to said rear opening, the forward edge of said top wall and said side walls defining a portion of said front opening; said orientation means comprising said portion of said side walls positioned between said waisted section and said rear opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 11 wherein: said bottom edge of said baffle defines the bottommost portion of said front opening and the uppermost portion of said front opening defined by the front edge of said top wall is displaced at a greater distance from said axis of rotation than is said bottom edge of said baffle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB189520554A
Cited
US761680A
Cited
FR10694E
Cited
US1362342A
Cited
US1993622A
Cited
US2310331A
Cited
GB681457A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |