Modular distributed ventilation system

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a distributed kitchen ventilation system comprising a master module and a plurality of assistant modules to be installed in respective openings in a wall, each module including a removable panel and a fan. Each of the removable panels are disposed within an inner perimeter of the respective openings such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeter of the panel and the inner perimeter of the opening and the fan is in fluid communication with the opening in the wall. The removable panels comprise a planar expanse and a raised lip around the outer perimeter, such that each panel is configured to have one or more wall covering materials secured thereon. The master module may include a user interface for operating some or all of the modules.

1 . A kitchen ventilation system, comprising:
 a plurality of wall openings;   a plurality of ventilation system modules, each module including:
 a removable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of a respective one of the wall openings, such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeter of the panel and the inner perimeter of the respective wall opening, the removable panel comprising a planar expanse and a raised lip around the outer perimeter, such that the panel is configured to hold one or more wall covering materials within the raised lip; and 
 a fan configured to move air through the at least one airflow gap; 
   wherein one of the plurality of ventilation system modules is a master module further including a controller configured to control the fans of the remaining plurality of ventilation system modules.   
     
     
         2 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wall covering material secured to the removable panel and configured to have a consistent appearance with respect to a surrounding wall. 
     
     
         3 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein a respective front face of each of the removable panels is flush with a surrounding wall when installed. 
     
     
         4 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airflow gap is continuous around all edges of the removable panel. 
     
     
         5 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a user interface configured to receive user commands with respect to one or more of the fans of the remaining plurality of ventilation system modules. 
     
     
         6 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airflow gap provides an air intake to the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one airflow gap provides an air exhaust to the fan. 
     
     
         8 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a first gap along a first edge of the removable panel and a second gap along an opposing second edge of the removable panel. 
     
     
         9 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein the first gap provides an air intake to the fan and the second gap provides an air exhaust to the fan. 
     
     
         10 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall openings are part of a room in a building, and each respective fan is configured to cause air from the room to exhaust to an exterior of the building. 
     
     
         11 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein the kitchen ventilation system further comprises a first duct coupled to the exterior of the building and each ventilation system module includes a respective second duct coupled to the first duct. 
     
     
         12 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airflow gap has a dimension from 0.25 inches to 6 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein each ventilation system module further includes a housing, and wherein each removable panel is pivotably coupled to the housing via a hinge. 
     
     
         14 . A kitchen ventilation system, comprising:
 an opening in a wall;   a ventilation module of a plurality of ventilation modules, the ventilation module including:
 a removable panel disposed within an inner perimeter of the opening in the wall, such that at least one airflow gap is formed between an outer perimeter of the panel and the inner perimeter of the opening; 
 a fan in fluid communication with the opening in the wall, wherein the fan is configured to move air through the at least one airflow gap; and 
 a controller coupled to the fan and configured to receive commands via a user interface and to control a state of the fan; 
 wherein the removable panel comprises a planar expanse and a raised lip around the outer perimeter, such that the panel is configured to hold one or more first wall covering materials secured thereon; and 
 wherein the controller is further configured to control a state of one or more other fans associated with other ventilation modules of the plurality of ventilation modules. 
   
     
     
         15 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 one or more second wall covering materials disposed on the wall;   wherein the first and second wall covering materials have a matching appearance.   
     
     
         16 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein a front face of the removable panel is flush with the wall when installed. 
     
     
         17 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one airflow gap is formed continuously around all edges of the removable panel. 
     
     
         18 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a single gap along one edge of the removable panel. 
     
     
         19 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airflow gap consists of a first gap along a first edge of the removable panel and a second gap along an opposing second edge of the removable panel, wherein the first gap is utilized by the fan as an air intake and the second gap is utilized by the fan as an air exhaust. 
     
     
         20 . The kitchen ventilation system of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing, wherein the removable panel is pivotably attached to the housing via a hinge.