EP1468224A1

EP1468224A1 - Ventilators

Info

Publication number: EP1468224A1
Application number: EP03700381A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Edward Tomlin
Original assignee: Titon Hardware Ltd
Current assignee: Titon Hardware Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-15
Filing date: 2003-01-15
Publication date: 2004-10-20
Also published as: NO20034051D0; NO20034051L; AU2003201681A1; GB0200834D0; WO2003060387A1

Abstract

A ventilator (12) includes a pressure control flap (58) positioned in a horizontal duct portion (56) thereof. The flap (58) is positioned horizontally in an open position thereof and is adapted to pivot against its weight and then against spring means when increasing airflow passes through the flap. A manually operated closure member (88) is also provided.

Description

VENTILATORS

The present invention relates to ventilators for controlling ventilation in ventilation passageways and through building assemblies, such as passageways formed through window or doorframes or through housings of ventilation assemblies to be installed in the region of window or door assemblies.

WO99/09357 discloses a ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a generally horizontal duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap being adapted to move in response to airflow for controlling ventilation through the duct portion. The flap is entirely gravity biased and includes a wedge-shaped section with a thick leading edge and a thin trailing edge, the leading edge being raised such that the flap is orientated at an angle of about 30° to the horizontal when in a maximum airflow position of the flap. The flap blocks about 50% of the airflow through the duct portion when in the maximum airflow condition. EP0327186 discloses a horizontal flap extending directly across and substantially blocking a vertical duct when in a rest position thereof. The present invention aims to provide an improved ventilator and to alleviate at least some of the problems of prior art. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilator with the features of claim 1. Other aspects of the invention are set out in claims 27 to 30. It has been found that the low angle of the flap enables good airflow when the flap is in the open position.

Preferably, the flap is adapted to move, preferably to be lifted, preferably at least at a leading edge thereof to restrict airflow in response to increasing flow of ventilation through the duct portion.

Preferably, the angle is less than 10°, more preferably less than 5°. The flap may be horizontal in the open position thereof. This enables the full width of the duct portion to provide airflow in order to provide reasonably good ventilation at relatively low pressure differentials across the ventilator. Preferably, the duct portion has a horizontal top in a surface.

Preferably, the duct portion has a generally horizontal bottom surface.

Preferably, at least one spacer is provided for spacing the flap, when in the open position thereof from the bottom surface. A said spacer may comprise an elongate rib aligned generally with the direction of airflow, the rib being located on the bottom surface of the duct portion.

Preferably, the bottom surface includes a recess adapted to form a space below a leading edge of the flap when the flap is located in the open position thereof. This is advantageous since the recess enables a high pressure region to develop under the leading edge of the flap for raising the flap from the horizontal position, the formation of turbulence or eddies in the recess accomplishing this function. The recess may be formed by a sloped portion of the bottom surface of the duct portion. The sloped portion may be angled at about 5° to the horizontal. The bottom surface may include a rear portion in the region of a trailing edge of the flap, the rear portion being sloped at about 1° to the horizontal. The flap may be flat in at least one position thereof. Alternatively, the flap may have a curved or aerofoil section, or be wing- shaped.

The flap may have a uniform thickness along a leading edge thereof to a trailing edge thereof. This is advantageous in that the flap may be relatively light at the leading edge thereof, thus enabling the flap to take up a relatively low position in the duct portion when in the open position thereof, such that maximum airflow is enabled at low pressure differentials across the ventilator.

The flap may include a hole or cutout at a trailing edge thereof. The hole or cutout may provide room for a linkage mechanism element of a manually operable closure element of the ventilator. The linkage mechanism may comprise a pivot peg. The manually operable closure element may be movable between open and closed positions thereof relative to the duct portion and may incorporate a hinge enabling the closure element to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the ventilator. Preferably, the flap when moving from the open position, is biased towards the open position by the weight thereof. Preferably, a spring bias adapted to bias the flap towards the open position is provided. The spring bias may be adapted to operate only once the flap is in a partially closed position. The spring bias may include a first spring bias arrangement adapted to operate only once the flap is in a partially closed position. The spring bias may include a first spring bias arrangement adapted to operate once the flap is in a first partially open position and a second spring bias arrangement adapted to operate in addition to the first spring bias arrangement once the flap is in a second partially open position.

The spring bias may at least partly be formed integrally with the flap. The spring bias may comprise at least one finger located at a leading edge of the flap. The finger may have a leading edge adjacent a leading edge of an adjacent main section of the flap. The ventilator may be adapted to be located adjacent an entrance to a ventilation passageway, the entrance being formed through a generally vertical surface. The generally vertical surface may comprise a surface of a frame member of a window frame or sash or a doorframe or door member.

The ventilator may form part of a housing adapted to be located between an edge of a wing of a window or door assembly and a surrounding frame thereof.

The flap may be adapted to pivot about a trailing edge thereof, between the open position and at least one partially closed position thereof.

Preferably, a leading edge (with respect to airflow) of the flap is adapted to be lifted from the open position to at least one raised partially closed position.

A venturi effect may be provided for assisting in lifting the flap. Thus the duct member may incorporate a venturi for causing a pressure drop. According to a still further aspect of the invention, the ventilator may be adapted to be fitted to an exterior side of the ventilation passageway. A lower wall of the ventilator may contain apertures through which an airstream may enter the ventilator and lift the flap.

The various aspects and features of the ventilator described above enable an improved ventilator to be formed. In WO99/09357, the flap needs to be relatively heavy such that weight bias thereof provides sufficient control at high pressure differentials and it is noted that the bias provided to return the flap to the open position becomes weaker as the flap closes and the flap may therefore be unstable, snapping closed directly from the open configuration to the closed configuration. The heavy weight of the flap, particularly in the region of the leading edge means that the leading edge is raised in the open position so as to ensure the generation of lift when the flap is in the open position. The various features described above in relation to the present invention enable a smooth and satisfactory flap position/airflow restriction to pressure differential profile as well as allowing maximum ventilation at low pressure differentials and a simply construction. For example, the recess, where provided enables sufficient lift to be generated for lifting the flap, even when horizontal, in the open position thereof; the uniform thickness of the flap from leading to trailing edges thereof means that the flap is not too heavy; the spring bias, where provided, means that resistance to further deflection of the flap from the open position may increase (rather than decrease as in the prior art) once the spring bias is operational; the spacer, where provided, ensures that the flap may easily move from the fully open position thereof since a slight amount of airflow may quickly and easily fill the space below the flap as movement of the flap up from the open position is initiated; and the slots in the trailing edge of the flap, where provided, enable the size of the ventilator, where a manually operable closure element is provided, to be minimised and additionally, may enable a minimum airflow condition to be ensured as required under some building regulations; and the simple construction also enables the ventilator or at least the flap thereof to be removably installed such that cleaning/servicing thereof may conveniently be carried out. It is envisaged that the ventilator may be modified for operation in different countries with different climates and airflow regulations simply by changing the thickness of the flap (which may also be called a vane or membrane) thereof in order to change weight bias and spring bias characteristics thereof. The present invention may be carried out in various ways and a number of preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which

Fig.lA is a schematic part-sectional side view of a window assembly incorporating a preferred embodiment of a ventilator in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. IB is a schematic side-sectional view of a second window assembly incorporating the ventilator of Fig.1 but having a modified building assembly structure; Fig.2 is an enlarged view of the ventilator shown in Fig.1 ;

Figs.3A and 3B are isometric front and rear exploded views of the ventilator in its open configuration;

Figs.4A and 4B are sliced isometric front and back views of the ventilator in the open position; Figs.5A and 5B are sliced front and back views of the ventilator in a partially closed position thereof;

Figs.όA and 6B are isometric front and back views of the ventilator in a closed position thereof;

Figs.7A and 7B are sliced front and back views of the ventilator with a flap thereof removed for the purposes of clarify;

Fig.8A is a part-section through the ventilator, Fig.8B comprises detail "X" in Fig.8A and Fig.8C comprises detail "Y" in Fig.8A;

Fig.9 comprises an end view of the ventilator together with various sectional views corresponding to the sections in Figs.δA, 8B and 8C; Fig.10 is a perspective of the ventilator in the closed position thereof; Fig.11 is a view of part of a ventilator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figs.l2A to 12C are views of the assembled ventilator of Fig.l 1 in open, intermediate stop and, closed positions thereof; Figs.l3A to 13D are various views of parts of the ventilator of Figs.11 to 12C; and Figs.l4A to 14D are various views of a ventilator in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figs.15 is a schematic part-sectional side view of a window assembly incorporating a still further embodiment of a ventilator in accordance with the present invention;

Figs.lόA and 16B are isometric views of the ventilator of Fig.15 in the closed position;

Fig.17 is an isometric front view of the duct of the ventilator of Fig.15; and Figs.lδA to 18D are various views of a duct of the ventilator in accordance with the still further embodiment of the invention.

Fig.l A shows a window assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment to the invention, including a ventilator 12 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Ventilator 12 is attached to a top member 14 of a rectangular window frame, the top member having a ventilation passage 16 formed therethrough from an outer side 18 to an inner side 20 thereof. A weather canopy 22 is fitted to the outer side of the window frame 14. A rectangular window sash 24 is contained by the window frame 14 and the window sash 24 holds a double-glazing unit 26. The window frame 14 is fitted in an aperture 28 formed through a wall 30 of a building 32. A lintel 34 is provided above the window frame 14.

In an alternative arrangement, the same ventilator 12 may be fitted to a ventilator housing 36 with a weather canopy 38, the housing having a channel

40 adapted to engage the top edge 42 of a double-glazing unit 44, the housing 36 and double-glazing unit 44 being retained by a window sash 46, the window sash in turn being retained by a window frame 48, the window frame in turn being retained in an aperture 50 formed in a wall 52 of a building 54. The ventilator 12 is shown in a rotated open position in Fig. IB.

As shown in Fig.2, the ventilator 12 includes a duct portion 56 containing an automatically operated flap 58 which is adapted to move automatically for controlling ventilation through the duct portion 56 in response to pressure differential across the duct 56 and airflow therethrough from the left to right as shown in Fig.2.

The duct has an upper horizontal wall 60 with a horizontal lower surface 62, the upper wall being spaced from a lower wall 64 of the duct potion 56, the lower wall being generally horizontal as well. The lower wall 64 in fact has a rear portion 66 extending about three-quarters of the way from a trailing edge 68 to a leading edge 70 of the flap 58, the rear portion being angled at about 1° to the horizontal, such that the rear portion 66 and the lower surface 62 of the upper wall 60 are very slightly converging moving from left to right in Fig.2. The lower wall 64 also includes a recess portion extending from the front 70 of the rear portion to the front 72 of the duct. The recess portion is angled at about 5° to the horizontal such that the recess portion 68 and lower surface 62 converge moving from left to right along the duct portion 56. The recess portion includes an optional horizontal mouth 69. The recess portion 68 provides a space 74 under the leading edge 70 of the flap 58. The lower wall 64 of the duct portion 56 also includes a series of ribs 76, each rib extending longitudinally in the direction of airflow through the duct portion 56. Each rib has a horizontal top surface 78. The flap 58 is flat and in the fully open position thereof shown in Fig.2, rests horizontally on the ribs 76. It will be seen from, for example, Fig.3B, that the flap 58 may consist, as it does in this embodiment of several separate flap portions 78,80,82, spaced apart along the ventilator 12. The flap 58 is of uniform thickness from the leading edge 70 to the trailing edge 78 thereof. Spring members 84 are provided at the leading edge of each flap member 78,80,82 in order to provide a spring biasing function to be described below. Apertures 86 are provided as cutouts near the trailing edge 68. The apertures 86 advantageously enable the close positioning of a manual closure member 88 to the front 72 of the duct, in that pivot pins 90 for the manual closure member may be located in the cutouts provided by the apertures 86. Thus, the ventilator 12 need not extend a great distance from the window frame 14. The manual closure member includes linked members 92 with ball 94 and socket 96 joints enabling pivoting of the flap member in accordance with the concepts disclosed in our specification WO95/09333. As shown in Figs.5 A, 6B and 10, the duct portion 56 is also formed with a number of primary 100 as well as secondary 102 spring bias members which, in addition to end stops 104 are adapted to control movement of the flap members 78,80,82. Primary spring bias members 100 are adapted to engage the adjacent flap member when the flap member is partially closed and secondary spring bias members 102 are adapted to engage flap members when further closed. End stops 104 are adapted to engage flap members to prevent further movement. As seen in Figs.6B and 7, the spring members 84 bend when engaged by the spring bias members 100,102. Secured to either end of the duct member 56 are end caps 110 having removable or hinging covers 112 through which screws 114 may be inserted for securing the ventilator 12 through screw holes 116 to the window frame 14 or the housing 36, as desired.

When in the open position shown in Fig.2, the flap 56 enables maximum airflow at low pressure differentials. As the flow increases from left to right as shown in Fig.2, the leading edge 70 of the flap 56 is lifted against the weight of the flap and the flap therefore pivots up about the trailing edge 68 thereof. After a certain closing point, members 100 are engaged by fingers 84 to provide an opening bias then, on further movement, members 102 are engaged and, eventually, stop members 104 are engaged. The flexing fingers 84 and members 102,100 then ensure a smooth opening of the flap 56 again as the pressure differential drops and, as the differential drops further, the flap may fall under its own weight back to the open position shown in Fig.2. Figs.11 to 13D show an alternative embodiment in which the duct portion 56 is formed by two portions 200,202. The first portion 200 holds the linkage mechanism 202 for the manually operable flap 204 and the second portion 202 provides room for the flap 206 and spring bias members 208 within the duct portion 56. As shown in Fig.13 A, the flap is substantially flat and of constant section from the leading edge 210 to the trailing edge 212 thereof. As shown in Fig.l3B the flap includes spring fingers 214 which engage members 208 when the intermediate position shown in Fig.l2B or when further closed as shown in Fig.12C. A further embodiment is shown in Figs.l4A to 14D. In this embodiment the duct member 56 is also in two portions, 300,302, the second portion 302 incorporating the linkage 304 for the manually operable ventilation control member 306. The first portion 300 of the duct 56 incorporates room for substantially rectangular flap 308, spring bias member 310, turbulence generator 312 and trailing edge stop 314. Turbulence generator 312 may assist in the lifting of the flap. The rectangular flap 308 incorporates separately formed spring members 320 for resiliently and flexibly engaging members 310. The thin spring members 320 are positioned adjacent upper flap extensions 332 and a space 324 is created beneath parts 320,322 when the flap is in the fully opened horizontal position. This space 324 enables airflow to form in the space thereunder, when the flap is open, such that the flap may be lifted from this position away from the lower member 330 of the duct.

A still further embodiment is shown in Figs. 15 to 18D. In this embodiment the ventilator 12 is fitted to the outer side of the window frame 14, between the frame and the weather canopy 22. Thus the ventilator may close the ventilation path 16 from the exterior of a building assembly or may act as a storm flap against heavy gusts of wind.

As shown in Figs. 16 to 18, the duct 56 is similar to the duct 56 of the first embodiment. The flap 458 may be an elongate flap (not shown) for use against heavy gusts of wind. Alternatively the flap may be sub-divided into a number of flap members 478,480,482. Duct 56 may be provided with spring bias members 400 and additional stops 404 as in the first embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, each flap member may be provided with a spring member 484. In the example shown in Figs.lόA and 16B the flap is divided into three flap members. However any suitable number may be utilised depending upon the length of the ventilator 12 such that the flap members do not twist when being lifted by non-uniform air flows. The size and material properties of such an arrangement of flaps could be chosen so that the flap members would lift under pre-specified levels of air pressure. A portion of the lower wall 464 of the duct 56 may contain apertures

490. The apertures 490 may be large as seen in Figs. 16A and 16B, or they may be small as seen in Figs. 17 and 18C. Small apertures can prevent the ingestion insects of into the ventilator. The apertures allow air to enter the ventilator through the lower wall 464 of the duct 56. The airstream flowing through the apertures may act substantially perpendicularly to the lower surface of the flap 458 or flap members 478,480,482 whilst they are in the open configuration, to lift the flap against its weight and to pivot it upwards about its trailing edge. If the lower wall 464 contains no apertures, it may be recessed at an angle of about 5° as in the first embodiment, such that the recessed portion provides a space under the leading edge 470 of the flap 458. In this case, air entering the ventilator 12 via the weather canopy 22 may enter in a plane substantially aligned with the plane of the flap, entering the space beneath the flap 458 and lifting it against its weight.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a generally horizontal duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap being adapted to move in response to airflow and by airflow forces for controlling ventilation through the duct portion, wherein the flap is generally oriented at an angle of less than 20° to the horizontal when in an open position thereof, the flap being adapted to be lifted away from a lower surface of the duct portion from the open position, the lower surface extending along the length of the flap from a leading edge to a trailing edge thereof.

2. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 in which the angle is less than 10°.

3. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 in which the angle is less then 5°.

4. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 in which the flap is horizontal in the open position thereof.

5. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the duct portion has a horizontal top surface.

6. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the duct portion has a generally horizontal bottom surface.

7. A ventilator as claimed in claim 6 which includes at least one spacer for spacing the flap, when in the open position thereof, from the bottom surface.

8. A ventilator as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 in which the bottom surface includes a recess adapted to form a space below a leading edge of the flap when the flap is located in the open position thereof.

9. A ventilator as claimed in claim 8 in which the recess is formed by a sloped portion of the bottom surface.

10. A ventilator as claimed in claim 9 in which the sloped portion is angled at about 5° to the horizontal.

11. A ventilator as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10 in which the bottom surface includes a rear portion in the region of a trailing edge of the flap, the rear portion being sloped at about 1° to the horizontal.

12. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flap is planar when in at least one position thereof.

13. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flap has a uniform thickness along from a leading edge thereof to a trailing edge thereof.

14. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flap includes a cutout in a trailing edge thereof, the cutout providing room for a linkage mechanism element of a manually operable closure element of the ventilator.

15. A ventilator as claimed in claim 14 in which the linkage mechanism element comprises a pivot peg.

16. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flap, when moving from the open position, is biased towards the open position by the weight thereof.

17. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim which includes a spring bias adapted to bias the flap towards the open position.

18. A ventilator as claimed in claim 17 in which the spring bias is adapted to operate only once the flap is in a partially closed position.

19. A ventilator as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 in which the spring bias includes a first spring bias arrangement adapted to operate once the flap is in a first partially open position and a second spring bias arrangement adapted to operate in addition to the first spring bias arrangement once the flap is in a second partially open position.

20. A ventilator as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19 in which the flap includes integrally formed spring bias members.

21. A ventilator as claimed in claim 20 in which the spring bias comprises at least one finger located at a leading edge of the flap.

22. A ventilator as claimed in claim 21 in which the spring finger has a leading edge adjacent to a leading edge of an adjacent main section of the flap.

23. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim which is adapted to be located adjacent an entrance to a ventilation passageway, the entrance being formed through a generally vertical surface.

24. A ventilator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22 which forms part of a housing adapted to be located between an edge of a wing of a window or door assembly and a surrounding frame.

25. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which the flap is adapted to pivot about a trailing edge thereof, between an open position and at least one partially closed position thereof.

26. A ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim in which a leading edge (with respect to airflow) of the flap is adapted to be lifted from the open position, to at least one raised partially closed position.

27. A ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a generally horizontal duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap being adapted to be moved by airflow forces for controlling ventilation through the duct portion, wherein the flap is located adjacent to and generally oriented at an angle of less than 20 degrees from a generally horizontal lower surface of the duct portion when in an open position thereof.

28. A ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a generally horizontal duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap being adapted to move in response to airflow and by airflow forces for controlling ventilation through the duct portion, wherein the flap is generally oriented at an angle of less than 20° to the horizontal when in an open position thereof, the flap being generally oriented at an angle of less than 20° to the direction of adjacent mean airflow through the duct portion when in an open position thereof, and being adapted to be lifted away from a lower surface of the duct portion from the open position.

29. A ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap having a spring bias member acting at a leading edge thereof for biasing the flap member.

30. A ventilator for controlling ventilation in a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly, the ventilator comprising a duct portion and a flap located in the duct portion, the flap having a spring bias member and formed as a resilient finger thereof.

31. A ventilator as claimed in claim 29 or 30 which is adapted to be moved in the duct by airflow forces.

32. A ventilator substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. A ventilator as claimed in any previous claim in which the ventilator is adapted to be fitted to an exterior side of a ventilation passageway formed through a building assembly.

34. A ventilator as claimed in claim 33 in which a lower wall thereof contains apertures adapted to allow air to enter the ventilator through the apertures.

35. A window or door assembly having a passageway for providing ventilation from one side to another side thereof, and a ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim mounted thereto for controlling ventilation through the passageway.

36. A window or door assembly having a passageway for providing ventilation from one side to another side thereof, and a ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim mounted to an exterior side thereof for controlling ventilation through the passageway.

37. A window or door assembly having a passageway for providing ventilation from one side to another side thereof, and a ventilator as claimed in any preceding claim mounted to an interior side thereof for controlling ventilation through the passageway.

38. An assembly as claimed in claim 35 or claim 36 or claim 37 in which the passageway comprises a slot formed through a window or doorframe member.

39. A window or door assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.