Roof ventilation system

Abstract

This application relates to ventilation systems, more particularly to a roof vent with one or more fan assemblies and/or an associated solar panel. The roof vent has an upper member including at least one opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member. The vent further includes a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member. The lower member includes a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof deck and the region below the upper member. The lower member further includes a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fan resides in a fan housing positioned below the second opening.

1 . A roof vent, comprising:
 an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member; and   a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member, the lower member comprising:
 a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member; and 
 a fan configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fan resides in a fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening to a third opening below the roof, the fan housing having a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at the third opening, wherein the second lateral cross sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower members form an integrated vent. 
     
     
         3 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the upper member is configured to simulate an appearance of one or more roof tiles. 
     
     
         4 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the upper member is laterally displaced with respect to the lower member. 
     
     
         5 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a solar panel in electrical communication with the fan. 
     
     
         6 . The roof vent of  claim 5 , further comprising a battery in electrical communication with the solar panel and the fan, the battery being configured to store power from the solar panel for use by the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket for selectively receiving a solar panel. 
     
     
         8 . The roof vent of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket includes at least one rotatable axis to alter the orientation of the solar panel relative to the direction of the sun. 
     
     
         9 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the fan housing has a substantially frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The roof vent of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral cross sectional area is less than or substantially equal to 144 sq. in. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A roof vent, comprising:
 an upper member comprising a first opening that permits air flow between regions above and below the upper member; and   a lower member in fluid communication with the region below the upper member, the lower member comprising:
 a second opening permitting air flow between a region below the roof and the region below the upper member; and 
 at least two fans configured to generate air flow through the second opening, wherein the fans reside in a fan housing positioned below the second opening, the fan housing extending downwardly from the second opening, the fan housing having a first lateral cross sectional area at the second opening and a second lateral cross sectional area at a bottom end of the fan housing, wherein the second lateral cross-sectional area is greater than the first lateral cross sectional area. 
   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A roof ventilation system, comprising:
 a lower vent member having an opening and a base portion extending outwardly from the opening, the base portion adapted to rest upon a roof deck approximately at an opening in the roof deck, such that air can flow through the roof deck and vent member by flowing through the roof deck opening and the vent member opening;   an upper vent member configured to be secured to the lower vent member or to a field of roof cover elements above the roof deck;   a solar panel secured to the upper vent member;   a first actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a first axis;   a second actuator configured to rotate the solar panel about a second axis that is substantially transverse with respect to the first axis;   a controller configured to electronically control the first actuator to rotate the solar panel about the first axis; and   a data storage system in electronic communication with the controller, the data storage system storing position data that the controller uses to operate the first and second actuators to move the solar panel to face the sun at a plurality of different times, the position data based on empirical observation of the sun's position relative to the Earth.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , further comprising a sensor in electronic communication with the controller, the sensor configured to sense at least one environmental condition, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and/or second actuator in response to an incoming signal from the sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises a position of the sun relative to the solar panel. 
     
     
         23 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises sunlight intensity. 
     
     
         24 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one environmental condition comprises wind speed. 
     
     
         25 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first actuator so as to move the solar panel to a retracted position if an amount or rate of power collected by the solar panel is less than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         26 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein the data storage system stores predetermined positions of the solar panel, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second actuator to selectively move the solar panel to the predetermined positions. 
     
     
         27 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , further comprising a fan assembly secured with respect to one of the vent members, the fan assembly configured to receive electrical power from the solar panel. 
     
     
         28 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 27 , further comprising a battery configured to receive electrical power from the solar panel. 
     
     
         29 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein a position of the upper vent member is offset from a position of the lower vent member when both vent members are installed in a roof. 
     
     
         30 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein the upper vent member is secured to the lower vent member. 
     
     
         31 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein the roof cover elements comprise roof tiles, the upper vent member replacing one or more tiles in a field of the roof tiles, the upper vent member simulating an appearance of the roof tiles. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The roof ventilation system of  claim 19 , further comprising a timer that the controller uses to move the solar panel at specific times or time intervals.