Bypass Ventilator

Abstract

A ventilator comprising a housing comprising a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet, and a second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet. The housing further comprises a partition defining a first chamber therein. The ventilator further comprises a second chamber. The first flow path extends through the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second flowpath extends through the first chamber. The ventilator further includes a movable damper disposed in the first flowpath and configured to apportion a quantity of a first fluid flowing therein between the first and second chambers. The second chamber and the movable damper are configured in a removable part adapted to be fitted in place of a cover part of the housing of the ventilator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilator comprising:
 a housing comprising a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet, and a second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet; and a partition defining a first chamber therein;   a second chamber,   wherein the first flow path extends through the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second flowpath extends through the first chamber; and   a movable damper disposed in the first flowpath, and configured to apportion a quantity of a first fluid flowing therein between the first and second chambers,   wherein the second chamber and the movable damper are configured in a removable part adapted to be fitted in place of a cover part of the housing of the ventilator.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the movable damper is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein, in the second position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator of  claim 2 , wherein the movable damper is positioned, such that the first flowpath and the second flowpath cross in at least one of the first chamber and second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator of  claim 2 , wherein the movable damper is positioned, such that the first flowpath and the second flowpath do not cross in any of the first chamber and second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a ventilator core configured to be removably fitted in the first chamber and comprising at least one first passageway and at least one second passageway, wherein the at least one first passageway is in fluid communication with the first flowpath, and the at least one second passageway is in fluid communication with the second flowpath. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator of  claim 5 , wherein the ventilator core is any one of a blank core, a thermal energy recovery core, and a thermal energy and moisture recovery core. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fans disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber for moving any or both of the first fluid and a second fluid flowing in the second flowpath through the housing along the respective flowpath. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a first fan configured in the first flowpath and a second fan disposed in the second flowpath, disposed upstream or downstream of the first chamber, the first fan and the second fan being configured to control flow of the first fluid and a second fluid flowing in the second flowpath to achieve a balanced ventilation. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the cover part of the housing does not comprise the second chamber and the movable damper. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the movable damper comprises a flap configured to move between a first position and a second position, and wherein the flap is operable by an actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein the movable damper comprises a movable door configured to slide between a first position and a second position, wherein the movable door is operable by an actuator. 
     
     
         12 . A removable part for a ventilator adapted to be fitted in place of a removable cover part of a housing of a ventilator, the removable part comprising:
 a second chamber, wherein, when the removable part is fitted in place of the removable cover part of the housing of the ventilator, a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet extends through a first chamber of the ventilator, and the second chamber, and wherein a second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet extends through the first chamber; and   a movable damper, wherein, when the removable part is fitted in place of the removable cover part of the housing of the ventilator, the movable damper is disposed in the first flowpath, and is configured to apportion a quantity of a first fluid flowing therein between the first and second chambers.   
     
     
         13 . The removable part of  claim 12 , wherein, when the removable part is fitted in place of the removable cover part of the housing of the ventilator, the movable damper is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein, in the second position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The removable part of  claim 13 , wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first flowpath and the second flowpath cross in at least one of the first chamber and second chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The removable part of  claim 13 , wherein the movable damper is positioned such that the first flowpath and the second flowpath do not cross in any of the first chamber and second chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The removable part of  claim 12 , wherein the cover part of the housing of the ventilator does not comprise the second chamber and the movable damper. 
     
     
         17 . The removable part of  claim 12 , wherein the movable damper comprises a flap configured to move between a first position and a second position, and wherein the flap is operable by an actuator. 
     
     
         18 . The removable part of  claim 12 , wherein the movable damper comprises a movable door configured to slide between a first position and a second position, wherein the movable door is operable by an actuator. 
     
     
         19 . A method of converting a ventilator to a bypass ventilator, comprising:
 providing a ventilator comprising: a housing comprising a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet, and a second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet;   providing a removable part comprising: a second chamber, wherein, when the removable part is fitted in place of the removable cover part of the housing of the ventilator, a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet extends through a first chamber of the ventilator, and the second chamber, and wherein the second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet extends through the first chamber; and a movable damper, wherein, when the removable part is fitted in place of the removable cover part of the housing of the ventilator, the movable damper is disposed in the first flowpath, and is configured to apportion a quantity of a first fluid flowing therein between the first and second chambers; and   moving the movable damper from a first position to a second position, wherein, in the first position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the first chamber, and wherein, in the second position, the movable damper is configured to divert a substantial portion of the first fluid flowing therein through the second chamber.