GB2228080A - Ceiling ventilator - Google Patents

Abstract

A ceiling ventilator 12 comprises ventilation apparatus preferably including first and second members 16, 18, with a spacer 20 mounted on the first member 16 e.g. by a spider 22 and supporting the second member 18. The spacer 20 has a rim 42 with six sections each having a curved cam surface defining lower and upper positions 44, 46. Formations on the member 18 slide on the cam surfaces as the member 18 is rotated thus to move the member 18 towards or away from the member 16, whereby to vary the size of the ventilation path. A ceiling rose 14 is secured to the spacer 20 to support an electrical wire 58. The ventilator provides unobtrusive ventilating means for upper spaces of a room. <IMAGE>

Description

CEILING VENTILATOR This invention relates to a ceiling ventilator. The invention also relates to a ventilated ceiling rose.

Provision of adequate ventilation in a room is important for comfort; commonly ventilation by means of windows or ventilators in window frames or doors is adopted. However, this tends to direct the main air flows at the same level as the occupants - possibly creating uncomfortable draughts - and, furthermore, no ventilation of the upper spaces of the room is achieved. Ventilation through the ceiling may be more convenient, also. Unobtrusive ventilation of the upper spaces of a room is thus desirable.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a ceiling ventilator comprising ventilation apparatus adapted to define a ventilation path through an aperture in a ceiling.

Advantageously, the ventilation apparatus comprises a first member adapted to be secured to the ceiling, and a second member which is spaced from the first member to define the ventilation path between the first and second members.

In one embodiment the first and second members may be integral.

However, in the preferred embodiment, the first and second members are movable relative to one another in order to enable the size of the ventilation path to be varied.

Desirably, the ventilator comprises screw thread type connection means between the first and second members so constructed and arranged that rotational movement of the second member relative to the first member causes movement of parts of the first and second members towards and away from each other thus to vary the size of the ventilation path.

In the preferred construction the first member is generally cylindrical or conical and the second member is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the first member. A spacer can be provided on the longitudinal axis to which the second member is rotatably secured. A support member can be provided which is secured to or integral with the first member and which supports the spacer on the longitudinal axis; the support member may comprise a spider, for example.

The second member may be provided with a depression adapted to collect any condensation which forms in the ventilation apparatus. It is expected that the amount of condensation would be very small and the capacity of the depression can be selected so that the condensation would evaporate sufficiently rapidly to avoid overflow of the collection member.

The ventilation apparatus may be provided with a top and/or side ventilation outlet which is disposed above the ceiling.

Desirably the part of the ventilation apparatus disposed above the ceiling is provided with an insulation layer to reduce condensation within the ventilation member.

The ventilation apparatus can be secured to the ceiling by any suitable means, for example, by fixing nails or screws. It is preferred that self-tapping screws are employed, which may extend through the first member, the support member and a fixing rigid with the ceiling.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment the ceiling ventilator also comprises a ceiling rose conveniently supported by the ventilation apparatus. It will be understood that the expression ceiling rose" refers to any means for supporting or enclosing an electrical wire in the vicinity of a ceiling.

In the preferred construction the ceiling rose is secured to the bottom of the spacer. The electrical wiring may extend from the ceiling rose through the spacer into the space above the ceiling. A specially shaped and sized aperture can be provided in the first member through which the wiring can pass.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a ventilated ceiling rose comprising ventilation apparatus adapted to define a ventilation path through an aperture in a ceiling and a ceiling rose which is supported by the ventilation apparatus.

The ventilated ceiling rose can be provided with any combination of the features described above with reference to the ceiling ventilator.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a ventilated ceiling rose embodying the invention disposed in a ceiling; Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of part of the ventilated ceiling rose shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of another part of the ventilated ceiling rose shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a spacer for the ventilated ceiling rose embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings a ceiling comprises a plasterboard layer 10 which defines an aperture 11 for receiving a ventilated ceiling rose generally designated 12; the aperture 11 is typically about 250mm diameter.

The ventilated ceiling rose 12 comprises a combination of a conventional ceiling rose 14 and a ceiling ventilator (itself illustrative of the invention in one of its aspects) which supports the rose 14.

The ceiling ventilator basically comprises ventilation apparatus including a first member 16, a second member 18, a spacer 20 and a spider 22.

The first member 16 is of generally frustro-concial configuration and is provided with a bottom rim 24 which is of greater diameter than the rest of the first member 16. The first member 16 can be inserted into the ceiling aperture 11 from below until the rim 24 engages the lower surface of the plasterboard layer 10.

The first member 16 is provided with a top ventilation outlet 26 and a side ventilation outlet 28. Typically each outlet 26 and 28 would have a diameter of about 150mum. A cap 30 is optionally provided for covering one of the outlets. The or each uncovered outlet is preferably connected by suitable ducting, when the ventilator is installed to the outside atmosphere or to air conditioning apparatus.

The spider 22 comprises a central portion 32 with four radially extending legs 34; the free end of each leg 34 is provided with an aperture 36, whilst the central portion 32 is provided with two apertures 37. The spider 22 is secured to the underside of the first member 16 by means of self-tapping screws 38, which extend through the aperture 36 and through corresponding apertures (not shown) in the first member 16. The screws 38 also extend into a fixing 40, which is rigid with the plasterboard layer 10, in order to secure the first member 16 to the layer 10. If desired additional screws may be provided to fix the first member 16 to the fixing 40.

The spacer 20 is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a rim 42 which is not shown in detail in Figure 1 or 3; the detail of the rim 42 is shown in Figure 4. It is clear from Figure 4 that the rim 42 is divided into six sections each of which comprises a curved cam surface which defines a lower position 44 and an upper position 46 for the second member 18; this feature is described in detail hereinbelow.

The spacer 20 is provided with a notch-like recess 48, and is arranged in abutment with the central portion 32 of the spider 22, as can be seen from Figure 1.

The second member 18 is generally disc-shaped with a central aperture 50 into which six formations 52 extend. Each formation 52 is adapted to engage and be supported by a respective one of the sections of the rim 42. In this way the spacer 20 acts to hold the second member 18 below the ceiling.

The formations 52 are slidable on the rim 42 when the second member 18 is rotated.

The area of the ventilation path depends upon the spacing between the rim 24 of the first member 16 and the second member 18. By rotating the second member 18 the area of the ventilation path can be varied between a minimum in which the formations 52 are disposed in the upper position 46, and a maximum in which the formations 52 are disposed in the lower position 44.

The outer edge of the second member 18 is upturned slightly to provide a depression 54 in the second member 18. The depression 54 acts to collect any condensation which forms within the first member 16. The collection capacity of the depression 54 is selected so that the condensation evaporates at a rate sufficient to prevent any overflow. The formation of condensation is minimised by insulation 57 (only partly shown) which is disposed on the outer surface of the first member 16.

The ceiling rose 14 is disposed underneath the spacer 22 in abutment therewith (this abuting relationship is not shown in Figure 1). The rose 14 is secured to the spider 20 by means of a screw 56, so that the rose 14 supports the spacer 22 and the second member 18 in position. However, a body 14a of the rose may be formed integrally with the spacer if desired.

An electrical wire 58 extends from the ceiling rose 14 through the spacer 22, through the recess 48, and through an aperture 60 in the first member 16, to an electricity supply (not shown).

A light fitting (not shown) can be provided under the ceiling rose 14 in the usual way.

The air flow path through the ventilated ceiling rose 12 is shown by arrows A.

It will be appreciated that the number of formations 52 and corresponding sections of the rim 42 can be varied to suit requirements. In addition, it is possible to provide more than two ventilation positions on the rim 42.

Claims (12)

1. A ceiling ventilator comprising ventilation apparatus adapted to define a ventilation path through an aperture in a ceiling and a ceiling rose supported by the ventilation apparatus.

2. A ventilator according to Claim 1 wherein the ventilation apparatus comprises a first member adapted to be secured to the ceiling, and a second member which is spaced from the first member to define the ventilation path between the first and second members.

3. A ventilator according to Claim 2 wherein the first and second members are movable relative to one another in order to enable the size of the ventilation path to be varied.

4. A ventilator according to Claim 3 comprising screw thread type connection means between the first and second members so constructed and arranged that rotational movement of the second member relative to the first member causes movement of parts of the first and second members towards and away from each other thus to vary the size of the ventilation path.

5. A ventilator according to Claim 4 wherein the connection means comprises a spacer secured to the first member having a rim portion having a plurality of similar curved cam surfaces equiangularly disposed around the rim each extending between at least two retaining positions, and cam follower formations on the second member equiangularly disposed about a central aperture therein and adapted to be supported by the cam surface thus to support the second member in such a manner that rotation of the second member causes the formations to slide along the cam surface between said positions in one of which the size of the ventilation path is a minimum and in another of which the size of the ventilation path is a maximum.

6. A ventilator according to Claim 5 comprising a ceiling rose secured to the spacer.

7. A ventilator according to any one of Claims 2 to 6 comprising a support member secured to or integral with the first member by which the second member is supported.

8. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second member is provided with a depression to collect any condensation which forms in the apparatus.

9. A ventilator wherein the ventilation apparatus comprises a top outlet and a side outlet, and means for closing one of said outlets, if desired.

10. A ventilator according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the part of the ventilation apparatus disposed above the ceiling is provided with an insulation layer.

11. A ventilator according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 comprising an aperture in the first member through which wiring connected to the ceiling rose can pass.

12. A ceiling ventilator constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.