System and Method for Inhibiting Moisture and Mold in Structures

Abstract

A structure comprises at least one outer wall having an internal wall section and an outer wall section with an air flow passage therebetween. Air is passed through the air flow passage to inhibit moisture accumulation and/or mold growth. A controller may determines a parameter relating to condition of the air in the air passage and in response thereto control the air flow through the air passage. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

1 . A structure, comprising: 
 an air supply system that supplies air under pressure; and    an inner space enclosed by at least one wall, the at least one wall having an inner section and an outer section, the inner and outer sections defining an air flow passage that is configured to receive at least a portion of the air under pressure at a first opening and to discharge at least a portion of such received air to an outside environment via a second opening.    
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply system supplies the air under pressure to the inner space and the air flow passage receives the at least a portion of air under pressure from the inner space.  
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the structure further comprises a secondary enclosed space and wherein the air supply system supplies the air under pressure to the inner space, the enclosed secondary space receives the air from the inner space and discharges at least a portion of the air received from the inner space to the outside environment via the air flow passage.  
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1  further comprising a conditioning unit that disinfects air received from the inner space.  
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 1  further comprising a treatment unit that treats the air under pressure received at the first opening to inhibit formation of one of humidity, mildew and algae.  
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply system supplies conditioned air that is one of: (i) heated air; (ii) cooled air; (iii) disinfected air; and (iv) air treated with a chemical to inhibit humidity, mildew or bacteria.  
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply system comprises a controller that controls the supply of the air under pressure.  
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein the controller controls the supply of the air under pressure in response to at least one sensor measurement.  
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 1  further comprising a baffle that controls the flow of the air into the air flow passage from the outside environment.  
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air supply system supplies the at least a portion of the air under pressure to the air flow passage in a manner that is one of: (i) directly into the first opening; (ii) via the inner space; (iii) from an attic space associated with the inner space; (iv) from a unit that is placed outside the structure; (v) from a unit that placed inside the structure; (vi) from a unit that is partially placed inside the structure; and (vii) from a space adjacent the inner space that receives the air under pressure.  
   
   
       11 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall further encloses at least one additional inner space above the inner space and wherein the air received by the air flow passage flows in a direction that is one of: (i) upward; (ii) downward; and (iii) at least partially sideways.  
   
   
       12 . A structure, comprising: 
 an air supply system that supplies air under pressure; and    a window unit associated with an enclosed space of a structure, the window including an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner and outer panels defining an air flow passage that is configured to receive at least a portion of the air supplied under pressure at a first opening and to discharge at least a portion of such received air to an outside environment via a second opening.    
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein the air flow passage receives the at least a portion of the air under pressure from one of: (i) the enclosed space; (ii) directly from the air supply unit; and (iii) a conditioning unit associated with the air supply system.  
   
   
       14 . A system, comprising: 
 an air supply system configured to supply air under pressure to an air passage in a wall of a structure via a first opening and to discharge at least a portion of the air supplied to the air passage to an outside environment via a second opening.    
   
   
       15 . A method of inhibiting moisture in a wall of a structure that includes an air flow passage having a first opening to receive air and a second opening to discharge the received air, the method comprising: 
 supplying air under pressure at the first opening and allowing at least a portion of the air supplied under pressure to the air flow passage to discharge to an outside environment from the second opening.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising supplying the air under pressure to the first opening form one of: (i) a space that is enclosed by the wall; (ii) directly from an air supply system; (iii) an attic associated; (iv) an enclosed space above the first opening; and (v) an enclosed space below the second opening.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein supplying air under pressure to the first opening comprises treating the air supplied under pressure to control one of humidity and mildew before supplying the air under pressure to the first opening.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising controlling the supply of the air under pressure to the first opening in response to a sensor measurement.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising inhibiting flow of an outside air into the air flow passage.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the air flow passage runs along a plurality of floors associated with the structure.