Turbine ventilator

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved ventilator comprising a turbine, and a fan configured to force air from a ventilated space, the fan being coupled to the turbine so that rotation of the turbine results in rotation of the fan at a rotational speed greater than that of the turbine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ventilator comprising: 
 a turbine; and    a fan configured to force fluid from a ventilated space, the fan being coupled to said turbine so that rotation of the turbine provides a driving force for the fan and results in rotation of the fan at a rotational speed greater than that of the turbine.    
     
     
         2 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the fan is mechanically coupled to the turbine.  
     
     
         3 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the fan is coupled to the turbine by a hydraulic connection.  
     
     
         4 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the turbine is configured to drive an electric generator, and wherein the electric generator is configured to provide electric energy to a fan motor, the fan motor being configured to drive the fan.  
     
     
         5 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the fan is configured to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the turbine.  
     
     
         6 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the fan is configured to rotate in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the turbine.  
     
     
         7 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the turbine is coupled to a gear assembly and wherein the gear assembly is configured to transfer rotational energy from the input drive shaft to the output drive shaft so that each revolution of the turbine results in more than one revolution of the fan.  
     
     
         8 . The ventilator of  claim 1  wherein the ventilator is configured so that each revolution of the turbine results in at least about 1.5 revolutions of the fan.  
     
     
         9 . A ventilator comprising: 
 a turbine;    a fan configured to force fluids from a ventilated space; and    a gear assembly coupled to the turbine, and coupled to the fan, the assembly having one or more gears configured to transfer rotational energy from the turbine to the fan.    
     
     
         10 . The ventilator of  claim 9  wherein the one or more gears are configured so that each rotation of the turbine results in multiple rotations of the fan.  
     
     
         11 . The ventilator of  claim 9  wherein the one or more gears are configured so that each revolution of the turbine results in at least about 1.5 revolutions of the fan.  
     
     
         12 . The ventilator of  claim 9  wherein the gear assembly comprises a input shaft coupled to the turbine, an output shaft coupled to the fan, and wherein the one or more gears are configured to transfer rotational energy from the turbine to the fan.  
     
     
         13 . The ventilator of  claim 11  wherein the one or more gears are configured so that each rotation of the input drive shaft results in multiple rotations of the output drive shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The ventilator of  claim 9  wherein the one or more gears are configured so that each revolution of the input shaft results in at least about 1.5 revolutions of the output shaft.