Exterior wall assembly

Abstract

An exterior wall assembly includes an interior wall portion, an exterior wall portion having an inner surface, insulation disposed adjacent to the interior wall portion, and a flexible grid disposed between the insulation and the inner surface of the exterior wall portion. The flexible grid defines an air passage between the insulation and the exterior wall portion and is configured to transport moisture away from the insulation and the exterior wall portion.

1 . An exterior wall assembly comprising: 
 an interior wall portion;    an exterior wall portion having an inner surface;    insulation disposed adjacent to the interior wall portion; and    a flexible grid disposed between the insulation and the inner surface of the exterior wall portion, wherein the flexible grid defines an air passage between the insulation and the exterior wall portion and is configured to transport moisture away from the insulation and the exterior wall portion.    
   
   
       2 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible grid defines a core providing at least one air passageway through the core enabling airflow between the insulation and the inner surface of the exterior wall portion and at least one air passageway extending along the core approximately orthogonal to the at least one air passageway through the core.  
   
   
       3 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core comprises: 
 a first plurality of parallel strands oriented in a first direction; and    a second plurality of parallel strands oriented in a second direction different from the first direction, the second plurality of parallel strands overlapping the first plurality of parallel strands.    
   
   
       4 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the overlapping strands define voids between the strands that define a plurality of air passageways through the core, and the overlapping strands define longitudinal air channels aligned along the first direction and lateral air channels aligned along the second direction.  
   
   
       5 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core is a reticulated core defining a honeycomb lattice, the lattice defining a plurality of chambers providing air passageways through the core to enable airflow between the insulation and the inner surface of the exterior wall portion.  
   
   
       6 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a film layer coupled to one side of the core; and    a porous backing coupled to an opposing side of the core.    
   
   
       7 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the film layer is permeable to moisture vapor and impermeable to liquid water and includes one of a perforated porous film and a mesh netting.  
   
   
       8 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core comprises: 
 a surface energy-reducing additive.    
   
   
       9 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the porous backing comprises: 
 one of a plastic mesh netting and an air and water permeable fabric.    
   
   
       10 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the honeycomb lattice defines porous walls that enable airflow longitudinally and laterally along the core.  
   
   
       11 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core comprises: 
 an expanded polymeric film that is porous to air and liquid and is at least 0.1 inch thick.    
   
   
       12 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the core comprises: 
 a felted network of fibers that is porous to air and liquid and is at least 0.1 inch thick.    
   
   
       13 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the interior wall portion comprises: 
 a sheathing board, and an air barrier sheeting attached to the sheathing board and contacting the insulation.    
   
   
       14 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall portion comprises: 
 a sheathing board, a water barrier sheeting attached to the sheathing board, and exterior cladding attached to the water barrier sheeting.    
   
   
       15 . The exterior wall assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible grid is adhesively attached to the sheathing board.  
   
   
       16 . An exterior wall portion configured to be employed in a sealed exterior wall assembly, the exterior wall portion comprising: 
 a sheathing board defining an inner surface; and    a flexible grid attached to the inner surface, wherein the flexible grid defines a core providing at least one air passageway through the core extending away from the inner surface and at least one air passageway extending along the inner surface.    
   
   
       17 . The exterior wall portion of  claim 16 , wherein the core comprises: 
 a honeycomb lattice defining a plurality of chambers extending away from the inner surface, wherein the lattice includes porous walls configured to permit airflow longitudinally and laterally along the core.    
   
   
       18 . The exterior wall portion of  claim 16 , wherein the core comprises: 
 a first plurality of parallel strands coupled to the inner surface of the sheathing board and oriented in a first direction; and    a second plurality of parallel strands oriented in a second direction not equal to the first direction, the second plurality of parallel strands overlapping the first plurality of parallel strands.    
   
   
       19 . A method of removing moisture from within an exterior wall assembly, the method comprising: 
 providing a sealed and insulated exterior wall assembly including insulation between opposing interior and exterior wall portions;    disposing a flexible grid defining a porous core between the exterior wall portion and the insulation; and    transporting moisture through the flexible grid and away from at least one of the interior wall portion and the exterior wall portion.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein transporting moisture through the flexible grid comprises passively venting the flexible grid and moving condensate away from one of the interior wall portion and the exterior wall portion.