GB2076528A

GB2076528A - Roof ventilators

Info

Publication number: GB2076528A
Application number: GB8115703A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wilhelm Gebhardt GmbH
Current assignee: Wilhelm Gebhardt GmbH
Priority date: 1980-05-21
Filing date: 1981-05-21
Publication date: 1981-12-02
Also published as: NL8101877A; FR2483058A1; DE3019269A1; FR2483058B3

Abstract

A roof ventilation unit includes a housing (4) placed at the top open end of a shaft, and a cover for said open end comprising a drum (6) rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said open end, the cylindrical wall of the drum (6) having openings (10, 11) each equal in width and length with said open end. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A roof ventilator unit.

The present invention is with respect to a roof ventilator unit, and more specially to such a unit having an upper structure placed on the roof at the top end of a shaft in a building to be ventilated and made up of an upwardly and downwardly opening housing placed over a base-frame at the top end of the shaft, the upper structure furthermore having a cover for the top of the shaft and able to be moved from a shut into an open position when desired.

For the ventilation of large rooms, for example rooms used for trade purposes roof ventilator units have been designed of late ( and such systems are needed) which, on the one hand, make certain of natural ventilation while keeping out the rain while, on the other hand, making it possible to get the largest possible opening or cross-section in the case of an emergency, for example in case of fire, this being for letting off smoke and other gases produced by the fire.

Known systems of the sort coming into question, see for example German patent 1,276,880 or German patent 2,018,949, are however, complex in structure, while on the other hand, they do not make certain of safely producing the desired function and, in fact, on opening such a ventilation unit, only part of the opening through the housing is uncovered, some of the opening being still covered over by parts of shutters in the way of the air current, or support rods, gutters or the like so that there is no free motion of the air current and undesired effects are produced in this respect. In the case of such known systems, the relation between the size of the opening which is aerodynamically free and the geometrical form of the opening is poor in the open position of the ventilation unit.

One purpose of the present invention is that of designing a system of the sort noted which makes it possible for the largest possible openings to be completely uncovered and freed so that, more specially, the relation between the aerodynamically free opening or area and the geometrically free area which is as near as possible to "1". A further purpose of the invention is to make possible such a unit which has less moving parts than known units of the same sort and, for this reason, may have a simpler driving system.

For effecting this and other purposes, the unit of the invention is so designed that the cover is made up of a drum able to be turned about an axis parallel to the length-direction of the shaft opening, the diameter of the drum being larger than the breadth of the base-frame, of the shaft or of its air opening, the cylindrical wall of the drum having two diametrally opposite openings, each with a breadth and length the same as those of the air opening of the shaft or of the air opening of the roof. More specially, the openings in the drum may be out of line in relation to each other by 1800 and be placed symmetrically in the outer wall of the drum, it is more specially useful if the openings each make an angle of 900 about the axis of turning of the drum.The drum may, in this respect, be placed within the housing, at least in the shut position the two pairs of lengthways edges, each limiting an opening in the drum being: used with lengthways edges, limiting an opening, of the housing for producing a weatherproofing and sealing effect inasfar as at at least one edge of each pair there is a weatherproofing lip.

One useful effect of the unit of the invention is that only a very small number of moving parts is necessary and the structure is very simple. Its driving system may be made very much simpler than is the case with known units of the same sort, such as simple driving system nevertheless making certain of a safe and trouble-free function of the unit and furthermore making certain that the greatest possible part of the opening is uncovered, if this is necessary in an emergency.

It is more specially useful if inside the drum, a shutter is placed which is turningly supported for turning about the drum's axis, the length of the shutter being the same as the breadth of the openings in the drum. More specially, the shutter may be designed to be turned in the opposite direction to the drum and, more specially, with the same speed. The shutter and the drum, may, in this respect, have a common driving system for example, which is so joined up with the two parts by gearing trains that they are turned oppositely but each through the same angle of turn. Such a design is responsible for a specially useful and simple structure making possible of trouble-free functioning at all times.

For making the driving parts for the shutter and for the drum even simpler, use may be made of an air-powered adjustment system, making it possible for the parts to be moved, as desired, into a middle position and to two end positions and so designed that in case of an emergency, when the supply of power from the ventilated building is cut off, the opening through the shaft is completely uncovered. However, for example, it is possible for the driving parts for the shutter and for the drum to be used with an electronic adjustment system making it possible for the parts to be moved into a middle position and two end positions in which case, in the case of an emergency, when power from the building to be ventilated is cut off, the opening through the shaft is completely cleared and uncovered.

In the accompanying figures, working examples of the invention are to be seen.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of one unit of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the unit of figure 1 on a smaller scale and in the shut position.

Figure 3 is a view of the unit of figure 2 in the normal open position.

Figure 4 is a view of the unit of figure 2 in the completely open position for use in an emergency, the view being otherwise on the same lines as in figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view of part of somewhat changed form of the unit of figure 4, again seen diagrammatically looking down onto the unit.

In the working example to be seen first (in figures 1 to 4), it is a question of a roof ventilation unit having an upper structure 1 which is placed at the top end of a shaft within the roof of the building 2 to be ventilated and which is made up of a housing 4 which is placed over a base-frame 3 in the shaft and which is open at its top and lower ends. Furthermore, the upper structure has a cover 5 used for covering over the top end of the shaft and which, if desired, may be moved out of the shut position. As part of the invention the cover 5 takes the form of a drum 6, which is able to be turned about an axis 7, parallel to the lengthways direction of the shaft cross-section.

The drum 6 has a diameter 8 which is greater than the breadth 9 of the shaft. This drum has a cylindrical outer wall (see figures 2,3 and 4) with two openings 10 and 1 diametrally opposite to each other, whose breadth and length are equal to the breadth and length of the opening at the top end of the shaft. These openings are, as may be seen for specially from frigures 2, 3 and 4, out of line by 1 800 and placed symmetrically in relation to each other in the drum wall, each such opening making an angle a of 90" at the axis 7 of turning of the drum.The drum is placed within the housing 4, the two lengthways edges 12 and 13, and, in the other case 14 and 15, limiting an opening in the drum being used with the lengthways edges 1 2a and 1 3a and, in the other case, 1 4a and 1 spa, limiting the openings in the housing, at least in the shut position, for producing a sealing and weatherproofing effect because at at least one of each pair of lengthways edges working together, a weatherproofing lip seal is present. Between the openings there is, in each case, a drum wall part 16, 17 making an angle a of 900 at the axis of turning of drum 7, these wall parts stretching in the length-direction of the opening and one of them being designed with a gutter, see part number 18 in figure 3.

Within the drum, there is a shutter 20, which is turningly supported for turning motion about the drum's axis of turning, the shutter being turningly supported, for this reason, on the shaft of the drum running for the full length of the drum. The length c of the shaft is equal to the breadth of the openings in the drum and the shaft opening. The shutter is, in this respect, of such a size that, even though an opening is uncovered, the ventilation unit keeps out rain. The uncovered opening free for motion of the air current is equal to 900, it stretching over the full length of the opening. The shutter is designed to be turned in the opposite direction to the drum so that, if the drum is turned as marked by arrow 21, the shutter will be turned as marked by 22, it being possible for it to be turned with the same speed as the drum.

The shutter and the drum have a common driving system joining them up by way of gear trains in such a way that the parts are turned in opposite directions but through the same angle.

As part of the working example of figure 1, the shutter may be joined up with the driving system for the drum or with the driving shaft 25 by way of bevel gearing 26, 27, 28, such bevel gearing being designed for driving the sleeve 29 supporting the shutter. This sleeve 29 is turningly supported in the end wall 30 of the drum. Furthermore, the driving shaft 25 is keyed to drum 6 and on it the sleeve 29 is turningly supported. The sleeve 29 is joined up with the driving shaft by way of gearing 26, 27 and 28, and on it the shutter is supported.

As will be seen in the working example of figure 5, the shutter is joined up with the driving system for the drum or its driving shaft using a crank driving system 31, 32,33, 34,35, 36 and 37. Taking a general view, it may be seen that the design is such that the shutter is placed horizontally in the shut position and in the open position in case of emergency such as a fire, is placed so as to be upright.

The driving systems for the shutter and for the drum take the form of an air-powered or electronic adjustment system, which is not to be seen in detail here and which makes it possible for these parts to be moved, as desired into a middle position and two end positions and in case of an emergency, that is to say when the power supply to the building to be ventilated is cut off, the opening through the shaft is completely uncovered and freed.

On its two end faces, the housing has, in each case, a gutter 40 and, in the other case, 41.

The driving system is placed at one of the end faces of the drum (see figure 1) and is furthermore positioned within the housing, the design being such that the unit is burgiar-proof.

It will be seen that the system of the present invention is generally made up of three parts, that is to say a housing, the drum and the shutter, the shutter being moved on the shaft running through the drum oppositely to the drum by the driving system. In the design of figure 2, the unit is to be seen in the shut position, the lower drum wall part 1 6 shutting off the opening cross-section by seals and any rain faliing into the ventilator will be run off by way of gutters 40 and 41, the shutter being horizontal. In the system of figure 2, the opening is open for about 50% for the purpose of ventilation without getting any rain into the building, the drum and the shutter each having been moved through 450 in the opposite direction. The opening running downwards into the building is covered over by plate 3 for keeping rainwater clear of it and any rainwater which does make its way into the system, is taken off by gutters 1 8, 40 and 41 and let off to the outside. In the case of the system of figure 3,the unit is completely open, the drum 6 and the shutter 20 having been turned through 900 in opposite directions, the two parts uncovering the free and complete opening through the unit.

Claims

1. A roof ventilator unit for location on a roof at the top end of a shaft in a building to be ventilated the unit comprising an upwardly and downwardly opening housing to be placed over a base-frame at the top end of the shaft, and a cover for the top of the shaft movable from a shut into an open position when desired, the cover comprising a drum rotatable about an axis parallel to the lengthdirection of the shaft opening, the diameter of the drum being greater than the width of the baseframe, of the shaft or of its air opening, the cylindrical wall of the drum having two diametrally opposite openings, each with a width and length equal to the width and length of the air opening of the shaft or of the air opening of the roof.

2. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the openings in the drum are angularly spaced apart by 1800 and are placed symmetrically in relation to each other in the wall of the drum.

3. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the openings extend over an angle of 900 as measured at the drum axis.

4. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the drum is positioned within said housing and, at least in the shut position, two lengthways edges of the openings in the drum are used together with lengthways edges of the housing at the sides of the housing openings for producing a sealing effect, at least one of the lengthways edges of the pair of edges being used together having a weatherproof lip.

5. A roof ventilator unit as claimed cn any of the preceding claims, wherein the two parts of the drum walls between the drum wall openings extend over an angle of 900 as measured at the drum axis, each part having edges extending parallel to the length-direction of the shaft opening, one such edge on each of the two wall parts having a gutter stretching therealong.

6. A roof ventilation unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a shutter is located within the drum to be rotatable about the drum axis, the length of the shutter along the axis being equal to the length of the openings in the drum wall.

7. A roof ventilation unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shutter is of such a size that, for normal ventilation, the opening through the housing is shut over so as to keep out rain, the air current opening then being equal to 50% of the fully uncovered opening.

8. A roof ventilation unit as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the shutter is rotatably supported on the shaft supporting the drum.

9. A roof ventilation unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shaft has a length running over the full length of the shaft opening.

10. A roof ventilation unit as claimed in any of the claims 6 to 9 wherein a driving system is provided for rotating the shutter and the drum in opposite directions, so that the shutter speed is equal to that of the drum.

11. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shutter is operatively connected with a driving shaft for the drum by means of a bevel gearwheel train.

12. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the drum is keyed on the driving shaft, and a sleeve or the like is rotatably mounted on the driving shaft and is operatively connected with the latter by way of a gear train, the shutter being supported on the sleeve.

13. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shutter is operatively connected with a driving shaft for the drum by means of a crank driving system.

14. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the driving system for the shutter and for the drum includes an airpowered adjustment apparatus for moving the shutter, as desired, into a middle position and into one or other of two end positions, the opening through the shaft being completely cleared and freed in case of an emergency when the supply of power from the ventilated building is cut off.

1 5. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the driving system for the shutter and for the drum has as electronic adjustment apparatus for moving the shutter, as desired, into a middle position and into one or other of two end positions, the opening through the shaft being completely cleared and freed in the case of an emergency when the supply of power from the ventilated building is cut off.

16. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the driving system is positioned near the end faces of the drum and within the housing, the design being such that the ventilation unit is burglar-proof when the drum is moved into the shut position.

17. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the shutter can adopt a horizontal position for shutting the ventilation unit and an upright position for an emergency.

18. A roof ventilator unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing has two rain gutters, one on each of the two ends of the housing.

19. A roof ventilator unit, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.