EP2435710B1

EP2435710B1 - A ventilation assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2435710B1
Application number: EP10736774.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Russell Wheeler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-27
Filing date: 2010-05-26
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-26
Also published as: WO2010136800A1; GB0909095D0; EP2435710A1

Description

The present invention relates to a ventilation assembly and particularly but not exclusively relates to a building ventilation assembly.
Ventilation assemblies typically comprise a number of elongate, hollow ducts that are connected together. A fan assembly is typically connected to the ducts. The fan assembly typically comprises a motor and a fan impeller mounted within a fan casing. The fan casing itself comprises a short section of duct.
Typically the fan assembly would be mounted on the building using a bracket at each end. Such brackets typically comprise a mounting plate welded to the fan assembly, or comprise a mounting frame to be fixed to the building and then a mounting strap that extends around the fan assembly and through the frame. The first duct would then be lifted up and sealingly connected to the fan assembly, and possibly additionally mounted on the building itself with an additional bracket. The second duct would then be lifted up and sealingly connected to the fan casing and again possibly additionally mounted on the building itself. The use of three separate components, each sometimes having separate brackets, is time consuming and fiddly as it is difficult to ensure all of the components are correctly aligned whilst simultaneously supporting their weight and mounting them on the building. Each bracket and component needs fixing to the building and the adjacent component sequentially and separately.
Additionally, subsequent maintenance of the fan assembly is difficult and time consuming because the ducts and fan assembly described above have to be entirely disassembled to be able to access the fan assembly and identify and remedy the fault.
Such prior systems also suffer from sound breakout in use wherein noise generated by the fan assembly and fluid flow through the ducts breaks out through the exposed fan casing causing undesirable noise pollution.
Despite such problems, the above described type of ventilation assembly has remained in use, substantially unchanged, for many years, with the inertia within this field being such that the need for improvements has not been considered.
GB2276208 A discloses a fan casing comprising an elongate duct of sheet material, one end of which comprises a circumferential mounting flange. A fan and motor are mounted in a separate duct housing which is also provided with a circumferential mounting flange that mates with the flange of the fan casing mount the fan duct housing to the fan casing.
The present invention stems from some work in trying to improve the long standing problematic ventilation assemblies previously used.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ventilation assembly comprising first and second ducts and a mounting bracket, operative to mount the first duct to a building or the like, and a fan assembly comprising a fan support on which is mounted a motor and impeller, the fan support being adapted to be mounted on the first duct such that the fan assembly is at least partially contained within the first duct, the second duct being adapted to be mounted on the ventilation assembly by engaging with the mounting bracket and at least one of the first duct and the fan support, characterised in that, when so engaged, the fan assembly is entirely contained within the two ducts such that no part of the fan assembly is externally exposed, and wherein the mounting bracket is elongate, part of the bracket extending from the end of the first duct, the second duct being mounted in use on the extending part of the mounting bracket.
Preferably when so mounted, part of the fan support forms a boss that protrudes from the first duct, the boss being received within the second duct such that the second duct engages with the boss.
Preferably the fan support is adapted to be mounted on the first duct such that at least the fan motor is contained within the first duct.
The second duct may be mounted on the ventilation assembly by engaging with both of the bracket and the boss.
Preferably the fan support is removably mounted on the first duct to facilitate ease of maintenance and/or replacement of the fan assembly.
Preferably the bracket comprises a female bracket member secured to either the first duct or the building or the like, which receives a male bracket member secured to the other of the first duct or the building or the like.
Preferably the female bracket member comprises an elongate groove in which a male bracket member comprising an elongate tongue is received in use.
The bracket may include anti-vibration mounts.
The or each duct may comprise sound attenuating or thermally insulating material that extends along the or each duct.
The sound attenuating or thermally insulating material may extend along the entire length of the or each duct such that the fan assembly, when contained within the ducts, is at least partially surrounded by the sound attenuating or thermally insulating material.
Alternatively the sound attenuating or thermally insulating material may extend along only part of the length of the or each duct such that the fan assembly, when contained within the ducts, is not surrounded by sound attenuating or thermally insulating material.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fan assembly for a ventilation assembly comprising first and second ducts and a mounting bracket operative to mount the first duct to a building or the like, the fan assembly comprising a fan support on which is mounted a motor and impeller, the fan support being adapted to be secured to the first duct such that the fan assembly is at least partially contained within the first duct with part of the fan assembly forming a boss that protrudes from the first duct, and on which the second duct is received in use, characterised in that, when so engaged, the fan assembly is entirely contained within the two ducts such that no part of the fan assembly is externally exposed, and wherein the mounting bracket is elongate, part of the mounting bracket extending from the end of the first duct, the second duct being mounted in use on the extending part of the mounting bracket.
Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.
The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1a and 1b are front and end views of an assembled ductwork assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 2a and 2b are front and end views of the ductwork assembly of Figure 1, partially disassembled;
Figure 3 is a front sectional view of the ductwork assembly of Figures 1 and 2;
Figures 4 is a front sectional view of the ductwork assembly of Figures 1 to 3, partially disassembled;
Figures 5a and 5b are front and end views of a further assembled ductwork assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 6a and 6b are front and end views of the further ductwork assembly of Figure 5, partially disassembled;
Figure 7 is a front sectional view of the further ductwork assembly of Figures 5 and 6;
Figures 8 is a front sectional view of the further ductwork assembly of Figures 5 to 7, partially disassembled;
Figures 9a and 9b are front and end views of another assembled ductwork assembly in accordance with the present invention;
Figures 10a and 10b are front and end views of the ductwork assembly of Figure 9, partially disassembled;
Figure 11 is a front sectional view of the ductwork assembly of Figures 9 and 10; and
Figures 12 is a front sectional view of the ductwork assembly of Figures 9 to 11, partially disassembled.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4, a ventilation assembly 1 comprises a first duct 3, a second duct 5 and a fan assembly 7.
Each duct 3, 5 is elongate and hollow and, in this example, is of circular transverse cross section.
The majority of the length of the first duct 3 comprises a thin layer of sound attenuating or thermally insulating material 9 extending from one end of the duct 3. This material 9 tapers radially outwardly near the other end of the duct 3 to define a thin walled duct portion 11. The second duct 5 is of similar construction.
A composite mounting bracket 13 is provided comprising a female bracket member 15 that is fixed in use to a support structure on which the ductwork assembly 1 is to be mounted, such a support structure being for example a building wall or ceiling, or the ceiling of a tunnel or underground car park. The female bracket member 15 is of plate metal construction bent to form an elongate groove 16 comprising an inverse 'u' shaped transverse cross section. The elongate groove 16 thus comprises a planar mounting plate 17 having two opposed side wall plates 19. The plates 17, 19 are formed with a plurality of mounting apertures through which bolts or rivets can extend as required.
The composite mounting bracket 13 further comprises two male bracket members 21 each being secured to a respective one of the ducts 3, 5. Each male bracket 21 comprises a sheet of metal bent to be of 'n' shaped transverse cross section so as to define an elongate tongue that extends along part of each duct 3, 5. Each male bracket 21 is also formed with a plurality of mounting apertures to align, in use, with those apertures on the female bracket member 15.
The fan assembly 7 comprises a fan support comprising, in this example, an outer casing 23 of circular transverse cross section on which is mounted a fan motor 25, a fan impellor 27 being mounted on the output shaft of the fan motor 25. The outer casing 23 of the fan assembly 7 is of slightly smaller external dimensions to the internal dimensions of the thin walled duct portion 11 of the first duct 3 and thus is received therein such that part of the fan assembly 7 is contained within the thin walled duct portion 11 and part of the fan assembly 7 protrudes from the end of the thin walled duct portion 11. The part of the fan assembly that protrudes comprises a protruding boss 29. The fan assembly 7 can be secured in place on the first duct 3 using any suitable fixings such as bolts or rivets or the like that pass through the wall of the first duct 3 and through part of the fan support.
In use, the female bracket 15 is secured to the building or the like in which the ventilation assembly 1 is to be used. In most cases the female bracket 15 would be bolted to the building.
Once in place the sub assembly comprising the first duct 3 and fan assembly 7 is lifted into position such that the male bracket 21 on the first duct is received within part of the channel 16 of the female bracket 15. Suitable fixings, such as bolts or rivets, can then be inserted through aligned apertures in the female and male brackets 15, 21 to secure the brackets 15, 21 together.
The first duct 3 and fan assembly 7 thus comprise a sub assembly that may be secured to a building or the like as a single component using a single mounting bracket, rather than using a separate bracket for each of the first duct 3 and fan assembly 7, or using a bracket only on the fan assembly 7.
The second duct 5 can then be lifted into position and the thin walled duct portion 11 slid around the boss 29 of the fan assembly 7 that is protruding from the first duct 3 so that that part of the fan assembly 7 is received in, and contained by, the second duct 5. The male bracket 21 on the second duct 5 is thus aligned with and received in part of the female bracket 15 and again suitable fixings through aligned apertures in each bracket 15, 21 are used to secure the two together.
The use of a composite bracket on which both ducts 3, 5 are mounted considerably reduces assembly time, and reduces the problem of misaligning the various components. The provision of ducts 3, 5 and a fan assembly 7 that are so arranged that the fan assembly 7 is pre-mounted on one of the ducts such that the duct/fan assembly sub assembly can be mounted on the bracket in a single operation, also reduces time and the problem of trying to align the two components whilst simultaneously trying to fix them to the building or the like.
Additionally, if there is a problem with the fan assembly 7, or maintenance is required, it is only required to remove one duct so as to leave the fan assembly 7 exposed. So in many cases, the fan assembly 7 can be maintained in situ without having to also demount the fan assembly 7 from the building.
It will be appreciated that the use of a bracket 13 having closely fitting male and female components, and the mounting of the fan assembly 7 so as to be contained entirely within the ducts 3, 5, also minimises the size/diameter of the ductwork assembly 1, when viewed from one end. The ventilation assembly 1 is thus of relatively low profile as compared to traditional ventilation assemblies.
The ease of assembly and the minimising of the overall profile is also enhanced by the lack of any radially outwardly extending mounting flanges as have always been required in prior art assemblies to secure the various components together.
Referring now to Figures 5 to 8, a further ductwork assembly 51 has some of the features of the ductwork assembly 1 described above and like features have been given like references.
In this embodiment the ductwork assembly 51 is shown in a vertical orientation as might be used to extend up the side of a building for example.
In this embodiment the ductwork assembly 51 comprises first and second ducts 53, 55 and a fan assembly 7.
Each duct 53, 55 comprises a thin walled, non insulated duct portion 57 and a thicker walled, insulated duct portion 59 comprising a sound attenuating/thermally insulating layer of material 61.
In this example, the fan assembly 7 is mounted and contained within the insulated duct potions 59 and thus the noise and heat generated by the fan assembly 7 is to some extent reduced by the sound attenuating/thermally insulating material 61.
Referring additionally to Figures 9 to 12, a further modified duct assembly 91 is shown with like features being given like references.
The further modified duct assembly 91 comprises first and second ducts 93, 95 each of which comprises a relatively thick layer of sound attenuating/thermally insulating material 97 that extends substantially along the entire length of each duct 93, 95.
Thus the duct assembly 91 provides in use increased sound attenuation as might be suitable for higher fluid flow speed ventilation systems.
It is envisaged that the male and female brackets 13, 21 be formed from sheet metal bent into the desired shape. However, any other suitable material and manufacturing method could be alternatively or additionally used.
The fan support may comprise an outer casing 13 of a solid piece of sheet material that extends around the motor and fan impellor to form a solid wall, or may comprise a non-solid wall or a framework as desired. For example, the motor and fan impellor may be mounted on a spider type frame having a central hub and spokes extending radially outwardly from the hub.
It is also envisaged that the ducts and fan casing could be of any desired shape when viewed in transverse cross section and need not only be circular.
The shape and transverse cross section of the ducts may vary along their length so as to have different external/internal dimensions and/or shape. The ducts may for example taper inwardly or outwardly along their length.
The provision of sound insulating/thermally insulating material pre-installed in the ducts enables the fan assembly to be acoustically and thermally insulated simply by inserting the fan assembly in the ducts, without additional material being required.

Claims

A ventilation assembly (1) comprising first and second ducts (3, 5) and a mounting bracket (13), operative to mount the first duct (3) to a building or the like, and a fan assembly (7) comprising a fan support (23) on which is mounted a motor (25) and impeller (27), the fan support (23) being adapted to be mounted on the first duct (3) such that the fan assembly (7) is at least partially contained within the first duct (3), the second duct (5) being adapted to be mounted on the ventilation assembly (1) by engaging with the mounting bracket (13) and at least one of the first duct (3) and the fan support (23), characterised in that, when so engaged, the fan assembly (7) is entirely contained within the two ducts (3, 5) such that no part of the fan assembly (7) is externally exposed, and wherein the mounting bracket (13) is elongate, part of the mounting bracket (13) extending from the end of the first duct (3), the second duct (5) being mounted in use on the extending part of the mounting bracket (13).
The ventilation assembly (1) of claim 1 wherein, when so mounted, part of the fan support (23) forms a boss (29) that protrudes from the first duct (3), the boss (29) being received within the second duct (5) such that the second duct (5) engages with the boss (29).
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the fan support (23) is adapted to be mounted on the first duct (3) such that at least the fan motor (25) is contained within the first duct (3).
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the second duct (5) may be mounted on the ventilation assembly (1) by engaging with both of the mounting bracket (13) and the boss (29).
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the fan support (23) is removably mounted on the first duct (3) to facilitate ease of maintenance and/or replacement of the fan assembly (7).
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting bracket (13) comprises a female bracket member (15) secured to either the first duct (3) or the building or the like, which receives a male bracket member (21) secured to the other of the first duct (3) or the building or the like.
The ventilation assembly (1) of claim 6 wherein the female bracket member (15) comprises an elongate groove (16) in which a male bracket member (21) comprising an elongate tongue is received in use.
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting bracket (13) includes anti-vibration mounts.
The ventilation assembly (1) of any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each duct (3, 5) comprises sound attenuating or thermally insulating material (97) that extends along the or each duct (3, 5).
The ventilation assembly (1) of claim 9 wherein the sound attenuating or thermally insulating material (97) extends along the entire length of the or each duct (3, 5) such that the fan assembly (7), when contained within the ducts (3, 5), is at least partially surrounded by the sound attenuating or thermally insulating material (97).
The ventilation assembly (1) of claim 9 wherein the sound attenuating or thermally insulating material (97) extends along only part of the length of the or each duct (3, 5) such that the fan assembly (7), when contained within the ducts 3, 5), is not surrounded by sound attenuating or thermally insulating material (97).