Air Handling System

Abstract

A system and method are provided which capitalize on heating and air conditioning ductwork to draw fresh air through a house and cool the attic. Outside air enters through open windows and is drawn into return air vents. A blower fan, which is housed within the duct assembly or an air handling unit, draws air through the return duct work and exhausts into an exhaust duct. A damper in the exhaust duct has an exhaust position and a return position. In the exhaust position, air exhausts through a vent in an attic space, where the attic space is vented to the outside. In the return position air continues to the heating and air conditioning unit. The present invention provides a means to direct the fresh air flow through a house using return vents while cooling the attic space without the use of an attic fan.

1 . An air handling apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one return air source;   duct work connecting the at least one return air source to an electric fan;   an exhaust air duct for air exhausted out of the fan; and   a damper to redirect air from traversing the exhaust air duct to an attic vent.   
   
   
       2 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor which positions the damper.   
   
   
       3 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a thermostat which controls the motor for positioning the damper.   
   
   
       4 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the thermostat also controls the electric fan.   
   
   
       5 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an ambient temperature sensor which controls the motor for positioning the damper.   
   
   
       6 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the ambient temperature sensor also controls the fan.   
   
   
       7 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a control unit, wherein said control unit receives inputs from a thermostat and an ambient temperature sensor; and   wherein the control unit controls at least one of the fan and the motor which positions the damper.   
   
   
       8 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fan is any of an axial propeller fan or a radial squirrel cage fan.   
   
   
       9 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a screen at the attic vent to prevent particulate from accumulating in the duct when air is not exhausted out of the attic vent.   
   
   
       10 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the exhaust air duct runs through at least a portion of attic space, and wherein the attic vent is positioned on any side of the exhaust air duct.   
   
   
       11 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first seal for each of first damper positions and a second seal for a second damper position.   
   
   
       12 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a wall console for turning on the fan.   
   
   
       13 . The air handling apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 damper position is selected via the wall console.   
   
   
       14 . A method of moving air through an attic, the method comprising:
 directing air exhausted from a fan to an air duct which runs at least partially into an attic;   positioning a damper to direct air from the air duct to a vent within an interior attic space, wherein air exhausts out of the vent into the attic; and   providing exterior vents which allow exhausted air to vent out from the interior attic space to the outside.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the fan is an inline fan or a booster fan.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising
 opening at least one window or at least one door, wherein outside air is drawn to an at least one return air vent;   directing return air via at least one duct to the fan.   
   
   
       17 . A method of directing fresh air through a house, the method comprising:
 opening a window in a first floor;   closing a return air vent in a second floor;   opening a return vent in a first floor;   rotating a damper within an exhaust duct to an exhaust position;   activating a blower fan just upstream of the damper and drawing fresh air from the opened first floor window through the open return vent to the blower fan; and   exhausting air from the fan to the exhaust duct and out a vent into an attic space, wherein the attic is vented to the outside.   
   
   
       18 . A system to selectively direct fresh air flow through a house and to cool an attic, the system comprising:
 at least two closeable return air vents;   a return duct work which connects to the at least to closeable return air vents;   an air handling unit which connects to the return duct work, wherein the air handling unit comprises a fan;   an exhaust duct which connects to the air handling unit, wherein the exhaust duct comprises a vent directed towards an attic space and houses a damper; and   at least one vent from the attic space to an outside space,   wherein the damper is rotate-able between an exhaust position and a return position and when the damper is in the exhaust position fresh air exhausts through the vent into the attic space.