Vent cover with paddle wheel

Abstract

A duct vent cover attaches to an exterior wall at a duct exhaust point. The duct vent cover comprises a hood, mounting bracket, and a paddle wheel. The duct vent cover shields the duct vent from weather effects. The paddle wheel deters the ingress of wildlife, such as, for example, birds, squirrels and other animals which nest in vents, while allowing the egress of exhaust air, lint, and other debris.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A duct cover with a paddle wheel comprising:
 a hood comprising an inner cavity, the inner cavity defined by a top wall, an inner wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;   a paddle wheel disposed at least partially within the inner cavity, the paddle wheel comprising a plurality of paddles, the paddle wheel rotating freely around an axle, the axle terminating at a first end at the first side wall and terminating at a second end at the second side wall; and   the top wall having a bottom edge, a first side edge from which extends the first side wall, a second side edge from which extends the second side wall, and a top edge from which extends the inner wall.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom wall extending from the bottom edge of the top wall, the bottom wall comprising an exhaust aperture, the center of the exhaust aperture is approximately vertically aligned with the axle of the paddle wheel.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the top wall comprises an inner surface that curves from the top edge to the bottom edge;   the hood directs exhaust air from the duct exhaust point past the paddle wheel; and   the paddle wheel rotates responsive to the flow of the exhaust air.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the paddle wheel is visible through the exhaust aperture to provide a visual indication of the relative rate of flow of the exhaust air past the paddle wheel.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of paddles are spaced with such proximity on the paddle wheel as to hinder ingress of small animals into the duct exhaust point.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting bracket having an aperture, the aperture receiving and positioning a duct vent at the duct exhaust point;   the mounting bracket attaching to the hood at the inner wall.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of backflow flappers, each of the plurality of backflow flappers hingedly attached to the mounting bracket; and   each of the plurality of backflow flappers opening responsive to exhaust air from the duct exhaust point.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of backflow flappers, each of the plurality of backflow flappers hingedly attached to the inner wall; and   each of the plurality of backflow flappers opening responsive to exhaust air from the duct exhaust point.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each paddle of the plurality of paddles comprises a brush seal.   
     
     
         10 . A device for regulating flow through a vent hood comprising:
 a paddle wheel comprising a plurality of paddles, the paddle wheel rotating freely around an axle, wherein the paddle wheel rotates with the passage of air and is dimensioned to prevent the ingress of wildlife and dimensioned to permit the egress of air and debris.