GB2149906A - Ventilation grills - Google Patents

Abstract

The grill comprises a vane assembly 10 including a sub-frame formed by a pair of side rails 11 in which vanes 14 are adjustably mounted, and a perimeter frame 2 defining a recess into which the sub-frame is inserted. This construction of the grill enables easy assembly. In a modification two sets of orthogonal blades are mounted in the sub-frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in and relating to grilles This invention relates to a grille assembly apparatus and more particularly to a grille assembly suitable for an outlet of a ducting system as, and for example, an air conditioning system.

In the past, grilles such as air conditioning grilles have had a number of difficulties. Usually an air conditioning or ventilation system such as that installed in a building, vessel and the like requires a substantial number of grilles and further, as the grilles are often the only external evidence of a system, it is essential that the grilles be aesthetically pleasing and well made.

Hitherto, such grilles have been assembled on a production-line basis from a number of prefabricated parts such as common elongate extrusions, frames being provided with mitred corners; the corners being conjoined to form the frame and deline a recess within which parallely arranged, spaced apart vanes are mounted for controlling the direction of air flow.

Previously, the manufacture of grilles has 'also involved individual preforming of each part required, also assembly has required the use of jigs. As the work is relatively complex grille assemblies also require forward planning, operator skill.

In view of the need for skilled workers, jigging and other requirements it has previously been necessary for grille manufacture to be undertaken in a factory, this introduces a relatively high cost and overhead component in the grilles and further reduces the opportunities of the manufacturer to offset such costs by providing for subcontract or purchaser assembly also precluded is the possibility of the manufacturer in preforming a large variety of parts to maintain stocks of standard components.

As each job has to be planned ahead there has been a relatively slow turn around time from order to delivery by the manufacturer this has lead to reduced sales and missed opportunities.

The invention is particularly suited to directional grilles, that is, grilles where vanes for the grilles are variable in their orientation (and therefore deflection) so as to direct the flow of air in a desired direction, particularly by-directional grilles, that is, grilles which are able to direct the air flow in two directions.

Directional grilles in particular are the more complicated form of grille and have required individual assembly especially the insertion of each directional vane within the frame surround, this requires the whole assembly to be aligned in a jig and then brought together and completed as a unit. A substantial investment in jigging, and operator skill results and leads to a relatively high unit cost.

Further, should a grille be defective in any way, it is difficult to repair or replace the vanes without completely disassembling the grille, this necessitates great care and strict quality control in a manufacturing plant.

A significant difficulty arises with traditional directional grilles in preventing looseness of the mounting of the directional vanes with the remaining portions of the grille and furthermore in preventing rattling of the grilles owing to the effect of airflow past the grilles and inherent vibration as a result.

The need to avoid vibration and looseness of mountings between vane and frame has resulted in complex constructions, intricate manufacturing techniques and has additionally, contributed to high unit cost.

It will be appreciated that as a result of the number of grilles in a ventilation or air conditioning system a reduction in the grille cost reduces significantly the cost of the ventilation of air conditioning assembly as a whole.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to come some way in overcoming the abovementioned problems or at least provide the public with a useful choice. Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a grille including a surround frame and a vane assembly, said vane assembly mounted into said frame on a subframe, said sub-frame including at least one rail member with which adjacent end portions of the vanes are engaged in a spaced apart, substantially parallel relationship, said subframe engageable in the frame in a receiving area to mount said vane assembly in said frame.

Other aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novels aspects will become apparent from the following description.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cut away cross sectional plan view of a uni-directional grille assembly showing a moveable vane member engaged in said frame Figure 2 is a cut away perspective view shown from the side and above showing the arrangement of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in substantially side view Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of a bidirectional grille of this invention showing the sub-frame assembly with a corner portion of the sub-frame cut away to expose the vanes.

With reference to the drawings, the grille as generally indicated by arrow 1 in this form of the invention includes a perimeter frame 2 which is preferably formed in this assembly as an integral injection moulded plastics frame however, the invention is not limited to this configuration and it is envisaged in alternative forms that the perimeter frame 2 could be formed in alternative materials for example extruded, folded or sheet fabricated metal, ceramics and other materials as are suitable for the requirements of use.

The perimeter frame 2 in this form of the invention is preferably provided with a facing flange 3 and a rearwardly directed flange 4 arranged in a generally odd-legged T-shaped configuration which provides a cover portion 3a including the facing flange 3, a vane assembly receiving area 3b formed as a recess in association with an inner portion 3c of the facing flange 3 and an adjacent inwardly directed face 4a of the rearwardly directed flange 4 (see particularly Fig. 1).

It should be appreciated that whilst the present forms of the invention described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 include a rearwardly accessible vane assembly receiving area 3b inwardly of the frame 2 with the adjacent portions of the face flange 3 and rearwardly directed flange 4 defining the periphery of the opening through the grille, in alternative forms of the invention the provision of a recess in the first instance, and the provision of a recess accessible from the rear of the frame in the second instance is nonessential to the performance of the invention and merely forms the preferred formation of the invention.

It will be appreciated that whilst the use of plastics is generally undesirable in relation to air flow owing to the static electrical effect and the subsequent dirt attractant properties that the material has, the use of a plastics perimeter frame 2 is generally acceptance in view of it being somewhat distant from the proximity of the main air flow.

The grille assembly 1 of this invention pre- ferably includes a vane assembly as generally indicated by arrow 10, the vane assembly 10 in this form of the invention will be firstly described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and subsequently, in relation to Fig. 3; Figs. 1 and 2 disclosing a uni-directional vane assembly 10 and Fig. 3, a bi-directional vane assembly 10.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the vane assembly 10 in this preferred form of the invention includes a pair of oppositely arranged spaced apart rail members 11 in this form of the invention formed of elongate strip material, for example plastics material and of a length arranged to span a distance between opposing faces 4a of adjacent side portions of the rearwardly directed portions 4 to sit tightly therebetween.

In this form of the invention, preferably the length of the rail members 11 is such that they are engaged in a friction fit owing to end portions (not shown) of the rail members 11 impinging against the adjacent portions of the faces 4a.

In alternative forms of the invention it is envisaged that a fixing means for example adhesives, clips, screws, bolts and the like could alternatively be utilized to hold the rail members 11 which are in this form of the invention, preferably formed in a unitory construction for example in plastics strip material.

Each rail member 11 is provided with a plurality of apertures 1 2 therein at predetermined spaced intervals within which an engaging portion of peg 1 3 (see Fig. 1) of preferably substantially round cross section is engageable to mount a vane 14 therewith in formation of the vane assembly 10.

In this form of the invention, preferably a plurality of spaced apertures 1 2 are provided in the rail members 11 to mount a corresponding plurality of vane members 14 is spaced apart, substantially parallel relation.

Preferably the apertures 1 2 and pegs 1 3 are provided of a size to be an interference fit, the plastics material from which the side rails 11 are formed being sufficiently resilient to enable the vane to be pivoted upon the peg 1 3 within the aperture 1 2 yet to maintain a substantially tight fit to prevent rattling of the vanes 14 and to hold the vanes 14 in a position where they are left.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rail members 11 are provided in an alternative material such as metal, ceramics, timber and the like and may have an insert or bearing adjacent the aperture 1 2 to provide a bush for the aperture 1 2. However, this is a lesser preferred embodiment of the present assembly.

In this form of the invention, preferably the elongate rail members 11 are preformed in a substantially strip formation with the required spacing of apertures 1 2 therein and are subsequently cut to the required size for the grille. It will be appreciated that the material from which the side rails 11 are formed can be substantially held as a stock item with a variety of aperture 1 2 spacings to suit the vane 14 material stock held by the manufacturer.

The vane assembly 10 also includes the vane members 14 engaged with said elongate side rail members 11 to be individually pivotable relative to remaining portions of said grille so as to vary an angle to incidence of said vanes 14 relative to an air flow through said grille and thus, the deflection of the air.

Preferably, although not essentially the vanes 14 are substantially curved and/or aerofoil shaped in cross section and each includes a substantially outwardly extending peg member 1 3 as has been hereinbefore described. In this form of the invention, preferably the vane members 14 are preformed from stock extruded metal material (however other materials are envisaged) and the end portions are formed by punching off a section of the extrusion so as to leave a remainding peg portion 1 3 extending outwardly a predetermined distance for friction fit engagement in an aperture 12.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the provision of the peg 1 3 and aperture 1 2 in substantially round cross section and of an interference fit, in alternative embodiments of the invention it is envisaged that the peg 1 3 and/or aperture 1 2 can alternatively be provided in a non round cross section to provide the interference fit required so as to provide the required degree of resistance to rattling and friction fit of the vanes 14 relative to the remaining assembly.

Now turning to Fig. 3, the frame assembly 2 as has been previously described has the vane assembly 10, with the exception that the vane assembly 10 includes a pair of orthogonally arranged vane assemblies 10 each mounted upon adjacent oppositely arranged side rails 11, with the vane members 14 extending orthogonally relative to each other.

A first vane assembly 1 Oa is mounted with side rail members 11 a provided as hereinbefore described and with end portions extending between the opposing faces 4a of the recess.

A second vane assembly 1 Ob is mounted between opposingly arranged second side rails 11 b provided substantially similarly to the first side rails 11 a. However, with the spaced apart apertures 1 2 provided adjacent an opposite side edge thereof to mount said vane portions 14 spaced from the vanes 14 of the first vane assembly. End portions 1 5 of the second side rail members 11 b are provided to cut short so as to interfit within adjacent inside faces 1 6 of the first side rails 1 1a so that the assembly can be preformed into the arrangement as is shown by Fig. 3 prior to insertion within the perimeter frame 2.The orientation of the vanes 14 provides for a clearance between the vanes 14 so that they can be individually orientated so as to provide in use, a bi-directional grille assembly.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the interfitting of the adjacent end portions of the side rails 11 in a substantially overlapping condition, in alternative forms of the invention, it is envisaged that the side rails 11 may be provided with the end portions 11 in a substantially mitred joint configuration, half joint or other joint configurations such as dovetail and the like.

It will thus be appreciated that the invention enables the manufacturer of a grille which can be prefabricated or constructed in a configuration suitable for stock holding for either prefinished or unfinished material and thereafter, the assembly can be assembled either within the factory or provided for purchaser assembly after despatch in a knocked down condition, the arrangement also enables the use of the low cost plastics materials in areas acceptable in a ventilation system and this, enables the manufacturer to benefit from the low cost of such materials without compromising the quality of the product and further, the arrangement provides a simple and effective yet relatively low cost self restricting and rattle free bearing for the vanes.

Furthermore, the arrangement provides for the convenient assembly by relatively unskilled operators without the need for extensive jigging.

Claims (20)

1. A grille including a surround frame and at least one vane assembly, said at least one vane assembly mounted into said frame on at least one sub-frame member, said sub-frame member including at least one elongate side rail with which end portions of vanes are engageable so as to be moveable relative thereto.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the vane assembly includes a pair of oppositely arranged rail members within which opposite ends of elongate vanes are engageable in a spaced apart substantially parallel relationship and are pivotable relative to said rail members.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vane assembly is engageable in the frame in a recess therein.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the recess is rearwardly directed.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a friction fit is provided between the at least one side rail member and the adjacent end portion of said vane mounted therewith.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one subframe portion is provided as an elongate member to span an opening in said frame in which the subframe is engageable.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vane portions are engageable with the sub-frame via a pivot peg extending outwardly from end portions thereof and engaging within an aperture in the at least one side rail member thereadjacent.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame portion is provided integrally formed.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 wherein the frame portion is formed in a plastics material.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one side rail is formed in a plastics material.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a pair of subframes are engaged in said recess with said vanes longitudinally orientated at an angle to one another.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the subframes are engaged with one another with end portions of side rails thereof inter-fitted adjacent one another at substantially right angles.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in claims 11 or 1 2 wherein two pair of vane assemblies have oppositely arranged side rails and a plurality of vanes standing therebetween mounted adjacent each end, said side rails arranged orthogonally relative to one another, one pair of side rails arranged to interfit between the side rails of the other vane assembly.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 11 to 1 3 wherein the adjacent end portion of the side rail members are arranged in an overlapping relationship one overlapping the other.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 2 to 14 wherein the adjacent end portions of the side rails are impinged one against the other.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the claims 1 2 or 1 3 wherein the end portion is in substantially mitred or halved joint assembly.

1 7. Apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A method of forming a grille having an outer frame and a directional vane assembly incliiding the steps of, forming a surround frame portion having a vane assembly receiving area therein, forming a vane assembly having a plurality of moveable vane members mounted on a sub-frame and mounting said sub-frame and vanes within said vane assembly receiving area.

19. A method of forming a grille as claimed in claim 1 5 including forming a pair of vane assemblies and arranging said vane assemblies with side rails of said vane assemblies arranged orthogonally relative each other, interfitting end portions of said side rails with one another with said vane portions thereof arranged orthogonally of one another and to engaging the formed assembly in the perimeter frame.

20. A method as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.