GB2165039A - Louvre assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

The louvre assembly comprises a plurality of parallel louvres 14 supported intermediate their ends by a centrally disposed mullion 22. Water accumulated by the louvres both on the upper and lower faces is transmitted to drainage channels 50 which, via tabs 52A, drain into the central mullion. Water from the central mullion drains into a tray provided with a drainage spout 34. A second set of louvres 16 is secured to the set of louvres 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Louvre assemblies This invention relates to louvre assemblies.

The use of louvre assemblies to provide ventilation in industrial buildings, such as power stations, has become increasingly popular because it is possible to provide for large cooling air flows without the attendant problems of opening window lights and other openings which are weather resistant.

Conventional opening window lights can provide for adequate ventilation air flow, but do not prevent the ingress of rain or spray particularly if the ventilator is installed either on board ship or on an off-shore oil or gas platform.

Louvre assemblies capable of fulfilling these requirements have been proposed but the performance of the previous proposals has proved less than fully satisfactory under adverse conditions of high wind forces with the air carrying large quantities of water.

According to the present invention there is provided a louvre assembly comprising a plurality of parallel louvres of chevron form in cross-section and supported intermediate to their ends by a centrally disposed mullion, provision being made for water accumulated by the louvres to be transmitted to drainage passages within said mullion.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a louvre assembly comprising a central drainage mullion, louvres of chevron section extending from both sides of the mullion, means defining a drainage channel secured to and disposed below each chevron louvre, the mullion having openings in side and rear walls thereof which openings receive water both from the upper surface of each louvre and from the drainage channel, and a corresponding number of auxiliary louvres included in the assembly at front faces of the chevon louvres.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a louvre assembly comprising a plurality of generally chevron section louvres, end plates secured at each end of the louvres, a mullion intermediate the end plates which serves to support the chevron louvres and has openings for receiving drainage water from the upper surfaces of the louvres and from chevron section drain channels secured each below a respective chevron louvre, the openings in the mullion receiving the louvres at notches therein.

Yet further according to the present invention there is provided a louvre assembly comprising a support mullion, louvres extending from the mullion, an upper, cover, plate and a lower, collector box or tray, the uppermost and lowermost louvres being so arranged that the space immediately above and respectively immediately below is blanked-off to the flow of air and water.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a louvre assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 1a is a scrap developed view illustrating one form of a mullion of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1; Figure lb is a scrap developed view illustrating another form of the mullion as illustrated in Figure 1a; Figure 1c is a scrap developed view of a further form of the detail as illustrated in Figure 1a; Figure 2 is a plan view of the louvre assembly of Figure 1; Figure 2a is a scrap view illustrating a modification of the construction as illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 3 is an exploded isometric view of the parts of the assembly;; Figure 4a is a perspective view of a mounting detail of louvres of the assembly; and Figure 4b is a perspective view of a modification of the detail illustrated in Figure 4a.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be apparent that Figures 1 and 2 show the louvre assembly in foreshortened form, in practice the number of louvres and the lengths thereof being a matter for individual design considerations but, because of the construction adopted it is possible to make louvres of greater length than comparable conventional louvres using the same gauge of sheet metal. In Figure 1 modifications of one detail are illustrated for the sake of convenience; in practice only one form of this detail would be employed in any given assembly.

The individual parts are best shown in outline in Figure 3 and include a central, two-part, mullion 10, two end plates 12 spaced by the length of the louvres 14,16, an upper cover plate 18, and a lower collection box or tray 20.

The mullion has a main portion 22 of channel section with notches or other openings 24 cut at regular intervals in the side and rear walls. The mullion also includes an auxiliary channel section member 26 having apertures 28 spaced equally along its length by which a vertical portion of each louvre 14 can be secured, and at the same time a corresponding forward louvre 16 can also be mounted.

The mullion 10 is received centrally in the collection box or tray 20 and is provided with openings 30 in each side and rear wall for the passage of water accumulated by the assembly. Only the side wall openings are shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end the mullion 10 engages in the cover plate 18 and is secured thereto by bolts, rivets or screws (not shown). The equally spaced notches 24 of the mullion are best seen in Figure 1, each notch in each side wall of the mullion being of a form including a rectangle and a triangle superimposed on the rectangle at the end remote from the rear edge of the mullion. The opening of the rear wall corresponding to those of the side wall will be of rectangular form.

The collector box or tray 20 is simply a rectangular, upwardly-open, container member having an inturned flange 32 extending along the rear edge at an angle of, preferably, 450 The rear wall of the tray is higher than the front wall. The collector box has drain spouts 34 along its front wall in accord ance with the requirements of the specific building in question, but they may be omitted as discussed hereafter. Similarly, the cover 18 takes the form of a simple rectangular sheet metal member with edge flanges 36 which serve a securing purpose only. It will be noted that the front longitudinal flange is set back from the front edge by an amount equal to the thickness of the sheet metal of the louvres.

As will be best apparent from Figure 1 the plurality of louvre assemblies 14,16, is mounted on the mullion 10 between the cover 18 and the collector box 20 and since all the assemblies are substantially identical only one will be described. The main louvre 14 of each assembly is of generally chevron shape, but differs from a true chevron inasfaras an intermediate horizontal portion 38 is included which substantially coincides, when installed, with the corresponding notch 24 of the mullion 10.Starting from the front of the assembly (the forwards direction is indicated by arrow Z), each chevron section louvre has an upstanding flange 40, a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 42, the horizontally extending portion 38, an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 44, an upstanding rear flange 46 and an inturned continuous tab 48 which lies parallel to the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 44.

The upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 44 has secured thereto adjacent the horizontally extending portion 38, a drain channel 50 which extends the length of the louvre but over the length extending within the mullion 10 a portion 52 of this drain channel is bent downwardly to form a tab 52A opening into the mullion itself. The drain channel is formed so that an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 54 corresponds to the upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 44 of the louvre itself, a horizontal portion 56 corresponds substantially to the horizontal portion 38 of the louvre and the downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 52 lies parallel to the downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 42 of the louvre.

The horizontal portion 56 of the drainchannel and the downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 52 engage corresponding edge portions of the notch 24 and this arrangement ensures stability of the central portion of the louvre which is not otherwise secured to the mullion. It will be apparent that to enable each chevron louvre 14to lie alongside the side walls of the mullion 10, the downwardly and rearwardly extending portions 42 are notched, as indicated at 43 in Figure 3. The notch 43 will extend precisely as far as the point at which the side walls of the mullion are cut to form the notch 24 so that the base of the notch in the portion 42 will coincide with the defining wall of the notch 24 at the line indicated by reference 45. The drainage channel portion 52 likewise extends to the same defining line of the notches 24.This interengagement of louvres and central mullion ensures that rattling and chattering caused by wind forces will be reduced and the secure central mounting on the mullions enables longer louvres to be used than with structures in which the louvres are only supported at the ends.

Figures 1a, 1b and 1c show developed views of various forms of the mullion 10, Figure 1a corresponding to the construction as illustrated in the region of the uppermost louvre of Figure 1 in which the notches are formed in the free edges of the metal sheet, and the closer member 26 is provided on the inside of the mullion;Figure 1b illustrates a mullion with the notches 24 formed symmetrically about the longitudinal centre line, a splash guard 58 being provided which as illustrated in the corresponding portion of Figure 1 is bent rearwardly and contacts the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion of the corresponding louvre, the closer member 26 being provided on the front of the mullion profiles; and Figure 1c illustrates a construction similar to Figure 1b,but with the integral splash guard omitted, an alternative splash guard as illustrated in Figure 1, detail 3, being provided by a separate angle section member 60.

The secondary or auxiliary louvres 16 are secured at the front of each end plate 12 and comprise an upwardly and rearwardly inclined main portion 62, a lower, forward dependant flange 64, an upper, rearward upstanding flange 66 and tabs 68,70 extending parallel to the main portion and being integral with the respective dependant and upstanding flanges. The upstanding flange 66 is secured by riveting bolting or other appropriate means to the end plate 12 details of the securing arrangement being given hereinafter with reference to Figure 4b.

The uppermost one of the forward louvres 16 differs inasfaras the upstanding flange 66 at the upper end of the rearwardly and upwardly sloping portion 62 effectively forms one limb of a channel 78, the other limb 80 of which lies in the same plane as the dependant flanges 64 of the remaining auxiliary louvres. This continuous limb or blade acts as a head flashing.

The lowermost auxiliary louvre 16 takes the same form as the uppermost and it will be apparent from Figure 1 that it effectively blanks off the collecting box 20 and the flange 64 and tab 68 protect the spouts 34 so as to prevent high winds from blocking drainage water. The lowermost drain channel 50 has an integral anti-splash baffle 82 extending into the containing space defined by the collector box.

In addition to the features apparent from Figure 1, the plan view of Figure 2 illustrates means coupling two adjacent louvre assemblies in accordance with the invention. This means takes the form of a coupling mullion built up from the two adjacent end plates 12. A rearward flange 90 of each end plate 12 is secured by bolts, rivets or other appropriate securing means to the portions 46 of the chevron louvres while a forward flange 92 of one end plate 12 is of a width such that it lies forwardly of, as assembled a corresponding, but narrow, flange 94 of the next adjacent assembly. Brackets, such as 84,86 are used to secure the coupling mullion to appropriate structure of the assembled building. A bracket 88 is riveted to the flanges 92, 94 and to flanges 40 of the chevron louvres.The forward louvres 16 are secured to the bracket 88 by their upstanding flanges 66 with the aid of screws 96 and an extension 98 and flange 100 of the bracket provides support for the auxiliary louvres.

At one end of the left hand louvre assembly a bracket 102 is provided by which the assembly is secured to the adjacent wall 104 of a building structure. The end end plate 12 has an inwardly turned flange 106 at the inner edge and an outwardly turned flange 108 at the outer edge considered in the direction of air flow, and the latter flange 108 also has a further flange 110 which abuts a seal 112 which cooperates also with the adjacent wall 104 of the structure. The flange 108 is secured to a bracket 114 to which the upstanding flange 40 of each chevron louvre is secured together with the forward upstanding flange 66 of each auxiliary louvre. The bracket 114, like brackets 72 and 88 is integral with portions which lie within and support the auxiliary louvres.

The bracket arrangement at the coupling mullion is further illustrated in Figure 4a.

One way in which the forward or auxiliary louvres 16 are secured to the coupling mullions is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4b. The upstanding flange portion 66 is secured by a screw, rivet or other securing means to the upstanding forward flange portion 40 of the associated chevron louvre to one limb 76 of a channel section bracket 72 and finally to the flange 92 of the end plate 12. The other limb 74 of the bracket 72 is secured by a screw, rivet or other securing means to the downturned flange portion 64 of the auxiliary louvre.

Similar brackets 72 serve to secure the auxiliary louvres to the central mullion 10; but in this instance securing will be effected on portion 22 or 26 depending upon which of the variations shown in Figs. 1a, 1b and 1c is adopted.

In the modification of Figure 2a the forward louvres 16 are merely supported by a channel section bracket 120 and the chevron louvres 14 are notched so that an end portion is directly secured to the end plate 12. This modification is also illustrated in Figure 4B and from this Figure it is readily seen that the number of fixing holes is reduced, thus simplifying assembly.

Louvre assemblies in accordance with the invention can be installed directly on site having been assembled together in the factory or, if more convenient from a transportation point of view, they can be assembled on site having been transported in a knocked-down condition. The manner of installation is illustrated in Figure 1 where upper and lower concrete structure 126 is shown, and spacers 122 and seals 124 are provided to ensure accurate location. If desired the spouts 34 of the collection box 20 can be omitted and the collection box connected (broken lines) to an existing or newly-installed waste-water pipework system 128 (broken lines) in the structure 126 in which the louvre assembly is installed.

In use water entained by an incoming air flow is partly deposited by the auxiliary louvres and this simply flows down the louvres outside the build ing. Remaining water strikes the portion 42 on the under surface and trickles down into the drain channel 52 from which it passes into the mullion through the notch 24. Any water which collects on the upper surface of portion 42 flows down on to the horizontal portion 38 and then into the mullion through the notches 24. Any final carry-over will impinge on the surface of portion 44 and flows down to the portion 38 and then to the mullion 10 through the notches 24.

Weathering resistance tests have been carried out on the preferred embodiment hereinbefore de scribed in which a series of a louvre assemblies were tested by an independent test establishment.

The results of these weather resistance tests showed that the performance of a louvre assembly as hereinbefore described was superior to that attained by other triple bank louvres assemblies similar to those currently available commercially.

Claims (18)

1. A louvre assembly comprising a plurality of parallel louvres of substantially chevron form in cross-section and supported intermediate their ends by a centrally disposed mullion, provision being made for water accumulated by the louvres to be transmitted to a drainage passage within the mullion.

2. A louvre assembly comprising a central drainage mullion, louvres of substantially chevron section extending from both sides of the mullion, means defining a drainage channel secured to and disposed below each chevron louvre, the mullion having openings in side and rear walls thereof which openings receive water both from the upper surface of each louvre and from the drainage channel, and a corresponding number of auxiliary louvres included in the assembly at front faces of the chevron louvres.

3. A louvre assembly comprising a plurality of generally chevron section louvres, end plates secured at each end of the louvres, a mullion intermediate the end plates which serves to support the chevron louvres and has openings for receiving drainage water from the upper surfaces of the louvres and from chevron section drain channels secured each below a respective chevron louvre, the openings in the mullion receiving the louvres at notches in the louvres.

4. A louvre assembly comprising a support mullion, louvres extending from the mullion, an upper, cover, plate and a lower, collector box or tray,the uppermost and lowermost louvres being so arranged that the space immediately above and respectively immediately below is blanked-off to the flow of air and water.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 comprising channel members having a configuration generally corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of each louvre but being of substantially smaller size and serving to collect water received from the respective louvres and deliver the water to the mullion through the said openings, each channel member extending along the whole length of each louvre and being secured to an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion of that louvre.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 5 wherein openings in the mullion for receiving water from the louvres also serve a constructional purpose in providing support for the individual louvres.

7. An assembly according to claims 5 and 6 wherein each channel member engages a corresponding opening with a portion thereof to provide the said support of the louvres.

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims comprising tabs of the mullion which each engage against a corresponding louvre to assist in retaining the louvre in position.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein each tab also acts as a splash guard, and air flow deflector.

10. An assembly according to any one of claims 1,3,4, or 5 comprising a plurality of auxiliary louvres lying outwardly of the said louvres and being upwardly and rearwardly inclined having regard to the incident weather, the auxiliary louvres being secured to the said louvres at the forward edges thereof.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 1,2 or 6 wherein the openings in the mullion extend in the sides thereof from the rearward edge of the mullion, having regard to the direction of the weather, and take the form of rectangles surmounted by triangles with the apices of the triangles aligned on an imaginary horizontal line.

12. An assembly according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 6 wherein the mullion comprises a channel section part and a closure part for the opening of the channel, the channel part being arranged with the limbs directed outwardly, the openings for receiving drainage water being formed in the base of the channel and extending into the limbs which form the sides of the mullion.

13. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly comprises end plates equally spaced from the central mullion and having vertically extending channel portions along one vertical edge and a flange along the other vertical edge at the front of the assembly, the front flanges extending towards one another.

14. An assembly according to any one of claims 2,6,7,8,9,11,12 or 13 comprising inverted channel section members which span and interconnect a forward edge portion of cetain ones of the auxiliary louvres and an upstanding edge portion of the next lower one of the chevron louvres.

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5 to 13 wherein each chevron louvre includes, in the direction of incident weather, an upstanding front edge portion, a downwardly and rearwardly extending portion, an intermediate horizontal portion, an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion, an upstanding rear edge portion and a downwardly and forwardly extending flange extending from the upper edge of the upstanding rear edge portion.

16. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 5 to 13 comprising an upper, cover, plate, a lower, collector box or tray and means blanking off the collector tray from incident weather.

17. A louvre assembly comprising a plurality of parallel louvres of substantially chevron form in cross-section, a corresponding plurality of auxiliary louvres rearwardly and upwardly extending in relation to the incident weather and secured at their uppermost end portions to an upstanding portion of a corresponding chevron louvre, a water collecting channel member having a form generally similar to that of the chevron louvres and secured to an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion of a corresponding said chevron louvre, a two-part vertical mullion of sheet metal disposed centrally of the length of the chevron louvres and having notches therein to receive and thereby support each water-collecting channel member and the associated chevron louvre, the said notches also serving to drain water received from the channel member into a water drain passage within the mullion and means for supporting the louvres including end plates and inverted channel members spanning and secured respectively to a lower portion of one of the auxiliary louvres and an upper portion of the next lower auxiliary louvre and corresponding an upstanding forward edge portion of a said chevron louvre.

18. A louvre assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.