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I wish to introduce a remote control heating vent. These maybe available in high priced homes as part of integrated home heating control systems, where a computer controls all the vents for example. The R-Vent (Remote Vent) would be the poor mans version.
The R-Vent would allow users to open and
close room vents without having to climb on ladders. You could close vents in infrequently used rooms and open them when necessary. You could also, for example, close all the vents downstairs when you go upstairs to bed. There are many variations and uses, but hopefully you see the idea.
The R-Vent would fit standard ceiling (or floor) vents and would contain a receiver that would respond to a remote control. One universal remote would control every vent in the house (so you wouldn't need a different remote for each vent). This would be ideal for the elderly or handicap.
By keeping costs low and selling either individual vents or in “home packages”, I can see this becoming a standard new home install as well as a popular do-it-yourself upgrade.
Remote Control Vents
http://members.aol....cvent/more_fans.htm
For Home Use [Letsbuildafort, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]
#1 VAV Diffuser
http://www.acutherm...ers/tk-diffuser.php
Needs no power - set heating and cooling temperature once, and you're done (although this is a commercial, not residential product) [Worldgineer, Jan 12 2010]
#2 Young Regulator
http://www.youngregulator.com/
Cable-based damper control. You can run this cable inside a wall to any location (within 50' or so). [Worldgineer, Jan 12 2010]
#3 VAV Box
http://www.titus-hv...prodid=118&catid=43
To really do this right, you'll need these and a simple control system. [Worldgineer, Jan 12 2010]
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A problem you'll run into is how to power the things. It does sound like a good idea though. |
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An alternative solution would be a more involved product that consists of a box that is placed in a central location in the ducts and could be wired to a switch (or remote). |
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What sort of vent are you talking about that requires people to climb ladders? |
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Surely X10 has something that will perform this function. |
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Could this be called, Reverse Cycle Air ducted conditioning, where you can shut down zones withing your house, or are you talking about actually opening and closing the ceiling vents? |
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You could put little windmills in the air vents instead of running wires to every vent. |
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The point here is the remote control and that it's a self contained unit...run on long lasting batteries. No need to rewire your home or mess with duct work.
Ceiling vents would actually close and open. Not really sure that the website cited is the same product (unclear site) but if it is, the price point seem out of line. |
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"run on long lasting batteries" - these would still run out eventually, making you climb on a ladder and change the battery. A mechanical system like this (motor to open and close vent) would probably go through batteries fairly quickly. |
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I love dintlu's idea of putting windmills on the vent - then your home's air system would be basically powering the vents - excellent! |
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Using wireless networking, you could have a master console that could run your heat/AC and also open and close the vents, all with very little installation. I would buy that. |
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ok...I like your suggestions...how do I make this come to life...I'm an invention newbie :) |
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The link is intended to be a generic example of another form of motors operating vents of various applications |
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Sorry, [agrace], but bringing things to life is out of the scope of the HB. Better talk to God about that, or the Blue Fairy. |
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You mean nobody's going to actually build the blackholeapult? |
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if you had only one remote for the intire house it is sure to get lost, my remote for TV goes missing all the time and it's only for one room. perhaps switches, like light switches, would be better. |
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I've been wokring on this for a while as I live in an old (120 years) 3 story row home and unless I run around all the time opening and closing vents - especially when there are rooms we don't use that often. My idea was to just plug the damn things into the house power and use that to run the temperature sensors, rf-tranceivers, and actuators. They would all be controlled by a central coordinator that would chart room temperature over time, open and close vents to maintain temperature, and so forth - you'd need a manual override as well. It would probably run around $50 or less per unit as you don't need a very advanced tranceiver to do this. |
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How about a broom stick with a cup hook on the end that would enable you to open and close the existing vents without resorting to a ladder? |
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The easiest way to do this would be using either a
manual control damper (see link #2), an electric
damper (couldn't find link), or simply use thermally
controlled dampers (link #1). |
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Of course changing each damper individually will
introduce problems. Because of the non-linear
nature of airflow, if you change one damper
position in the house you've thrown all of the
other dampers out of balance. Also, ratchet down
your airflow too much and you waste fan energy,
since your constant volume fan is now working
against a mostly-closed system. |
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To really make a well-run system - theoretically for
a reasonable amount of extra money (maybe $50
per room + $100 controls and $200 extra for fan
motor) - you'll want to go with a variable air
volume system (VAV). This includes a damper for
each room that modulates based on a thermostat
(link #3). Your main fan would have a variable
speed motor that would adjust based on a
pressure sensor mounted in your ductwork - when
little heat is called for, the fan slows down and
uses less energy. This is all but standard in
commercial buildings, and maybe it's time to make
inexpensive systems for houses as well. |
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