Apparatus and method for air circulation

Abstract

An air circulation module ( 700 ) includes a housing and at least one fan ( 712 ) that is enclosed within the housing. The at least one fan ( 712 ) receives an airflow moving through the housing. An airflow re-circulation valve ( 701 ) that is disposed within the housing so as to not substantially interfere with the airflow moving through the housing. The airflow re-circulation valve ( 701 ) is selectively opened so as to divert a first portion of the airflow into and through the airflow re-circulation valve ( 701 ) and out of the housing via an exhaust port ( 713 ).

1 . An air circulation module comprising:
 a housing;   at least one fan enclosed within the housing, wherein the at least one fan receives an airflow moving through the housing; and   an airflow re-circulation valve that is disposed within the housing so as to not substantially interfere with the airflow moving through the housing, the airflow re-circulation valve being selectively opened so as to divert a first portion of the airflow into and through the airflow re-circulation valve and out of the housing via an exhaust port.   
   
   
       2 . The air circulation module of  claim 1  wherein the airflow re-circulation valve comprises a bi-metallic spring. 
   
   
       3 . The air circulation module of  claim 2  wherein the bi-metallic spring expands and contracts a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount based at least in part upon a temperature change. 
   
   
       4 . The air circulation module of  claim 3  wherein the air re-circulation valve further comprises a rotary member and the bi-metallic spring is arranged to rotate the rotary member. 
   
   
       5 . The air circulation module of  claim 1  further comprising a feeder arrangement, the feeder arrangement being coupled to the airflow re-circulation valve, the feeder arrangement being adapted to direct the first portion of the airflow into the airflow re-circulation valve. 
   
   
       6 . The air circulation module of  claim 5  wherein the feeder arrangement comprises a re-circulation plate. 
   
   
       7 . The air circulation module of  claim 1  wherein a second portion of the airflow is directly exhausted from the housing after being received by the fan. 
   
   
       8 . A system for circulating air comprising:
 a housing having an entrance portal and a first exit portal;   at least one fan enclosed within the housing;   an airflow moving though the entrance portal and being received by the at least one fan; and   an air re-circulation valve positioned within the housing so as to not interfere with the movement of the airflow, the air re-circulation valve communicating with the first exit portal, the air re-circulation valve selectively being opened to divert a first portion of the airflow through the air re-circulation valve and out of the housing via the first exit portal.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the housing further comprises a second exit portal and wherein a second portion of the airflow is directly exhausted from the housing through the second exit portal after being received by the at least one fan. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the airflow re-circulation valve comprises a bi-metallic spring. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the bi-metallic spring expands and contracts a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount based at least upon a temperature change. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the air re-circulation valve further comprises a rotary member and the bi-metallic spring is arranged to rotate the rotary member. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a feeder arrangement, the feeder arrangement being coupled to the air re-circulation valve, the feeder arrangement being adapted to direct at least a portion of the airflow into the air re-circulation valve. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the feeder arrangement comprises a re-circulation plate. 
   
   
       15 . A method of moving air through an air circulation module comprising:
 drawing an airflow into the air circulation module;   moving the airflow along a direct path about at least one fan enclosed within the air circulation module; and   automatically and selectively opening a re-circulation valve positioned within the air circulation module so as to not substantially interfere with the direct path of the air flow in order to exhaust a first portion of the air flow from the air circulation module, an amount of opening of the re-circulation valve determined at least in part based upon a temperature.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the amount of the opening is determined by an amount of deflection of a bi-metallic spring. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising exhausting a second portion of the airflow directly from the air circulation module along the direct path.