Hybrid ventilator

Abstract

A ventilator ( 10 ) comprises a ventilator stator ( 12 ) for mounting to a structure and a ventilator rotor ( 14 ) for mounting and rotation with respect to the stator. One or more wind drivable elements ( 44 ) are mounted to the ventilator rotor. A motor ( 20 ) is provided for operation between the ventilator rotor and ventilator stator for selective motor-driven rotation of the ventilator rotor.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A selectively wind- or motor-driven ventilator, comprising:
 a stator configured to be mounted to a structure;   a rotor having a plurality of wind-drivable elements that are substantially exposed to the wind when in use,   said rotor rotatable with respect to said stator when said rotor is caused to rotate by the wind when in use;   a low rotational resistance motor mounted between the stator and rotor and arranged such that, when the motor is not activated, the wind is able to rotate the rotor with respect to the stator, and when the motor is activated, the motor rotates the rotor with respect to the stator.   
     
     
         21 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the low rotational resistance motor comprises an external rotor arranged such that, when the motor is activated, the motor rotates the external rotor which thereby rotates the ventilator rotor with respect to the ventilator stator. 
     
     
         22 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the external rotor of the motor is directly connected to the ventilator rotor. 
     
     
         23 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the motor contains a motor stator that is directly connected to the ventilator stator. 
     
     
         24 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein each wind-drivable element is a vane or blade. 
     
     
         25 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the ventilator stator is part of a frame configured to be mounted to the structure, and the motor contains a motor stator that is fixed to the frame. 
     
     
         26 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the motor is an external rotor motor, with a body of the motor defining the external rotor of the motor that rotates with the ventilator rotor in use, and with a base of the motor defining the motor stator that is fixed to the frame. 
     
     
         27 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the motor body is connected to a surrounding motor housing and the motor housing is connected to the ventilator rotor. 
     
     
         28 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the ventilator rotor has an in-use top plate and an in-use bottom plate, and wherein the plurality of wind-drivable elements extend between and are connected at respective opposing element ends to said top and bottom plates, and wherein the motor housing is connected to the top plate, thereby rotating the rotor. 
     
     
         29 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the ventilator stator is part of a frame configured to be mounted to the structure, with a shall mounted to and projecting from the frame, the shaft supporting the motor at a remote end thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the motor has a motor body that rotates with the ventilator rotor, and has a motor base that is a stator fixed to the frame. 
     
     
         31 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the motor base is mounted to a flange located at the shaft remote end, with a projection from the motor body being supported for rotation within a recess at the shaft remote end. 
     
     
         32 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the projection is a shaft of the motor body that is supported tor rotation in a bush which is in turn supported for rotation within a ball bearing assembly located within the flange recess. 
     
     
         33 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the motor comprises a ball bearing that functions as a thrust bearing. 
     
     
         34 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising a control system that selectively activates the motor. 
     
     
         35 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the control system comprises a microprocessor based controller that selectively activates the motor when receiving inputs selected from the group consisting of ambient temperature, enclosed space temperature, humidity, and ambient wind velocity. 
     
     
         36 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said structure is an enclosed space, a building roof, a house, a portable dwelling, a shed, or an automobile. 
     
     
         37 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the ventilator rotor has an in-use top plate and an in-use bottom plate, and wherein the plurality of wind-drivable elements extend between and are connected at respective opposing element ends to said top and bottom plates. 
     
     
         38 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the motor is located at least partially within the rotor. 
     
     
         39 . A ventilator as claimed in  claim 20 , the ventilator having a rotational axis, with the motor located on the rotational axis.