Trickle vent

Abstract

A trickle vent incorporates an automatically controlled movable damper or multiple movable dampers to control the volume of fresh air entering an occupied space of a building through the trickle vent. The trickle vent includes a heating element to condition the fresh air prior to entry into the occupied space. A directional grille is provided to initiate circulation within the occupied space.

1 . A trickle vent mounted in an exterior wall of a building for providing communication between an outside environment and an occupied space within the building comprising:
 a. a trickle vent housing with:
 i. an air inlet for receiving fresh air from the outside environment; and 
 ii. an outlet for introducing the fresh air into an occupied space; 
   b. a movable damper mounted in the housing between the air inlet and the outlet to control the volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent;   c. an actuator connected to the movable damper for controlling the movement of the movable damper in response to a control signal; and   d. an air conditioning element mounted in the housing between the damper and the outlet to heat or cool the fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent.   
   
   
       2 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , further comprising fixed louvers mounted adjacent to the air inlet, wherein said trickle vent is protected from the ingress of precipitation. 
   
   
       3 . The trickle vent of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of movable dampers mounted in the housing between the air inlet and the outlet to control the volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent. 
   
   
       4 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal break to prevent to conduction of heat from the building interior to the outside environment. 
   
   
       5 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet further comprises a grille, wherein said grille directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the occupied space in a displacement-type pattern. 
   
   
       6 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , wherein said control signal is based upon the temperature within the occupied space. 
   
   
       7 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , wherein said control signal is based upon the differential between two or more temperatures within the occupied space. 
   
   
       8 . The trickle vent of  claim 1 , wherein said control signal is based upon an elapsed time. 
   
   
       9 . A method for ventilating a heated occupied space of a building by introducing fresh air from an outside environment into the occupied space within the building comprising:
 a. installing a trickle vent in an opening in an exterior wall of the building, wherein the trickle vent comprises:
 i. a trickle vent housing with:
 (a) an air inlet for receiving fresh air from the outside environment, and 
 (b) an outlet for introducing the fresh air into the occupied space; 
 
 ii. a movable damper mounted in the housing between the inlet and the outlet to control the volume of fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent; 
 ii. an actuator connected to the movable damper for controlling the movement of the movable damper in response to a control signal; 
 iii. an air conditioning element mounted in the housing between the damper and the outlet to heat or cool the fresh air entering the occupied space through the trickle vent; and 
   b. providing a displaced exhaust opening in an exterior wall.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising installing fixed louvers adjacent to the air inlet, wherein said trickle vent is protected from the ingress of precipitation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , said trickle vent further comprising a thermal break to prevent to conduction of heat from the building interior to the outside environment. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said outlet further comprises a grille, wherein said grille directs the flow of conditioned fresh air into the occupied space in a displacement-type pattern.