Vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit and use thereof

Abstract

An attic heat reclaimer intended for the recovery of heated air in the attic of houses and other such structures. The unit works on differential air pressure. The unit includes an enclosure having at least one side wall, and being open to airflow at the top and bottom thereof. The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer further includes a barometric damper plate rotatably disposed on a fulcrum within the enclosure. The fulcrum is connected to the barometric damper plate such that the fulcrum is not disposed at the geometric centerline of the barometric damper plate. The barometric damper plate is weighted on one end so as to balance the barometric damper plate in a generally horizontal, closed position when the air pressure above and below unit is equal. The weighting also is such that the barometric damper plate to swings to an open position when the air pressure above the unit is higher than the air pressure below the unit, thereby allowing air to flow through the air reclaimer unit from above to below. The unit further includes stops for the barometric damper plate mounted within the enclosure. The stops prevent the barometric damper plate from swinging beyond the closed generally horizontal position when the air pressure above and below the unit is equal.

1 . A vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit comprising:
 a) an enclosure, said enclosure having at least one side wall, and being open to airflow at the top and bottom thereof;   b) a barometric damper plate rotatably disposed on a fulcrum within said enclosure; said fulcrum connected to said barometric damper plate such that said fulcrum is not disposed at the geometric centerline of said barometric damper plate; said barometric damper plate being weighted on one end so as to:
 i) balance said barometric damper plate in a generally horizontal position within said enclosure when the air pressure above and below said barometric damper plate is equal, thereby blocking airflow through said air reclaimer unit; and 
 ii) allow said barometric damper plate to swing on said fulcrum to an open position when the air pressure above said barometric damper plate is higher than the air pressure below said barometric damper plate, thereby allowing air to flow through said air reclaimer unit from above said barometric damper plate to below said barometric damper plate; and 
   c) stops for said barometric damper plate mounted within said enclosure; said stops holding said barometric damper plate from swinging beyond the closed generally horizontal position when the air pressure above and below said barometric damper plate is equal.   
   
   
       2 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an air filter covering at least one of the top or bottom of said enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an air duct grating over at least one of the bottom or top of said enclosure. 
   
   
       4 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure and said barometric damper plate are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of metals and plastics. 
   
   
       5 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 4 , wherein said enclosure and said barometric damper plate are formed from plastic. 
   
   
       6 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 4 , wherein said enclosure and said barometric damper plate are formed from metal. 
   
   
       7 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 6 , wherein said enclosure and said barometric damper plate are formed from galvanized steel. 
   
   
       8 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 7 , wherein said enclosure and said barometric damper plate are formed from 30 gage galvanized steel. 
   
   
       9 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 1 , wherein said the interior surfaces of said enclosure, the surfaces of said barometric damper plate and the surfaces of said stops are covered with sound dampening material. 
   
   
       10 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 1 , wherein said air reclaimer unit is designed to be mounted between the attic and living space of a residential dwelling and provide for one way flow of air of from said attic to said living space. 
   
   
       11 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 10 , wherein said air reclaimer unit is mounted within a hole in the ceiling board of said living space and projects substantially into said attic. 
   
   
       12 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 10 , wherein said air reclaimer unit is mounted within a said hole in said ceiling board of said living space via spring clips or spring straps. 
   
   
       13 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 3 , wherein said air duct grating is fire damper grating. 
   
   
       14 . The vertically operational barometric air reclaimer unit of  claim 13 , wherein said fire damper grating includes a fusible link.