EP2133504A1

EP2133504A1 - Ventilation unit

Info

Publication number: EP2133504A1
Application number: EP08157828A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johan Cornelis Phaff; Bastiaan Knoll; Marius Leonardus Robertus Van der Linden
Original assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO; TNO Institute of Industrial Technology
Current assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO; TNO Institute of Industrial Technology
Priority date: 2008-06-09
Filing date: 2008-06-09
Publication date: 2009-12-16
Also published as: EP2313594A2; WO2009151319A2; WO2009151319A3

Abstract

Ventilation unit, comprising an elongated casing comprising having two long sides and two short sides (4), and comprising an elongated air inlet (1) and an elongated air outlet (2). The ventilation unit, moreover, comprises an elongated foil (3), extending between both short sides of the casing and being fixed, at those both short sides, to the outlet side. The foil, moreover, is supported between its fixed ends (5) by a resilient support member (6), exerting a spring force (a) to the foil into the direction of the inlet. Preferably, the support member is arranged such that said spring force acts on about the middle of the length of the foil. The outlet may be provided with a grid or mesh (7).

Description

The present invention refers to a ventilation unit, comprising an elongated casing having two long sides and two short sides, and comprising an elongated air inlet and an elongated air outlet. Such ventilation units are commonly known and may be applied e.g. in the upper parts of windows etc. aiming to provide a room with fresh air from the outside.
A problem of the commonly known ventilation units is that, especially at higher and/or fluctuating wind and thermal pressures to the ventilation unit's inlet, especially at high wind, excess energy loss will occur and draught may be experienced inside the room to be ventilated.
The present invention aims to provide ventilation by a unit having a simple but effective self-regulating throughput mechanism, meeting the drawback of the prior art ventilation units.
Preferably, the self-regulating throughput mechanism comprises an elongated, flexible foil, extending between both short sides of the casing and being fixed, at those both short sides, to the outlet side, said foil, moreover, between its fixed ends being supported by a resilient support member, exerting a spring force to the foil into the direction of the inlet.
It may be preferred that said support member is arranged such that said spring force acts on about the middle of the length of the foil. Besides, it may be preferred that at least the outlet is provided with a grid or mesh, serving, besides as a filter for insects etc., as a stop layer for the foil.
The invention will be elucidated now by a non-restrictive exemplary embodiment of the ventilation unit according to the invention, referencing to

Figure 1: showing a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment;
Figure 2: showing a transverse section of the exemplary embodiment.

In figure 1, showing a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment of the ventilation unit, comprises an elongated casing having two long sides with an elongated inlet 1 for fresh air and an elongated air outlet 2 respectively, intended to transfer fresh air from the outside to a room within e.g. a house and/or air from that room to the outside.
According to the invention it is preferred that the ventilation unit comprises an elongated foil 3, extending between both short sides 4 of the casing and being fixed, at those both short sides 4, to the outlet side 2, e.g. by means of clamping plates 5. Moreover, the foil 3 is, between its fixed ends 4, supported by a resilient support member 6, which exerts a spring force to the foil into the direction of the inlet 1 (see arrow a). In this exemplary embodiment the support member is arranged such that the spring force (arrow a) acts on about the middle of the length of the foil 3. Here the support member is configured as an elongated, about U-shaped metal spring, which supports the foil 3 with the movable middle portion of its U-shape at the location of arrow a, and which is fixed, at the ends of the U-shape at the outlet plate. The outlet 2 is provided with a grid or mesh 7.
The ventilation unit may e.g. be installed into a window frame. Fresh air, indicated by arrows b, can flow from the outside to the inside room. The advantage of the ventilation unit according to the invention is that when the inlet air (wind) pressure exceeds a certain level, the foil 3 will be forced (arrow b) against the force (arrow a) of the spring 3. Due to the flexibility of the foil 3, the foil 3 will, at rather low wind pressure in first instance be pressed to the mesh 7 in the areas in the vicinity of the short sides 4 and close (or reduce) the opening areas between the air inlet and outlet. If the wind pressure increases, those areas will extend toward the central part of the ventilation unit. At high wind pressure, the ventilation unit may be closed entirely, until the wind subsides again.
In this way the room can be ventilated (with minimal draught risk) without causing wind flows in the room which may be experienced as draught. If the e.g. fixing clamps 8 are configured as adjusting screws the spring tension of element 6 (and thus force a), and thus the admissible wind flow, can be made adjustable.
In many cases the unit will act as an inlet provision of outside air into the room. However, under all circumstances the provision is able to act as an outlet provision too, in the case an overpressure is created inside the room.

Claims

Ventilation unit, comprising an elongated wall with an elongated passage (2) for air, wherein the passage (2) can at least partly be covered by a flexible foil (3) that is fixed at both ends (5), said foil (3) being supported at an intermediate location between said fixed ends (3) by a resilient support member (6), exerting a spring force (a) to the foil (3) into a direction acting away from said passage (2).
Ventilation unit according to claim 1, wherein said support member is arranged such that said spring force (a) on the intermediate location acts on about the middle of the length of the foil (3).
Ventilation unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said passage is provided with a grid or mesh (7).
Ventilation unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foil (3) extends over the total length of said passage (2).
Ventilation unit according to claim 4, wherein the foil (3) is fixed with both ends (5) to the longitudinal wall at both extremities of the passage (2) in said wall.
Ventilation unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the foil (3) extends over the total width of the passage (2).
Ventilation unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation unit (1) is arranged so that the spring force (a) is acting in the opposite direction of the air flow to be expected.
Ventilation unit according to claim 1, wherein the resilient support member (6) is formed by a U-shaped spring with a movable middle portion supporting the foil (3) and legs by which the spring is connected to the wall by its ends.
Ventilation unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall with the passage (2) is part of an elongated casing with a second elongated wall provided with an elongated opening to allow air to be ventilated through the casing via both openings.
Ventilation unit according to claim 9, wherein the second elongated opening is provided with a grid or mesh.
Ventilation unit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein both walls with an elongated opening are opposite walls of the casing.
Ventilation unit according to claim 9 or 10 or 11, wherein both walls with elongated openings are connected by two connecting walls and that the width of the foil (3) is smaller than the distance between said connecting walls so as to create a passageway for the air between the foil (3) and said connecting walls.
Window or door provided with a ventilation unit according to any of the preceding claims.
Window or door according to claim 13, wherein the casing of the ventilation unit is at least partly formed by the window or door.