GB2285860A

GB2285860A - Louvres:water collection

Info

Publication number: GB2285860A
Application number: GB9421864A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Mawdsley; Ian Michael Brown
Original assignee: GILBERTS
Current assignee: GILBERTS
Priority date: 1993-10-30
Filing date: 1994-10-31
Publication date: 1995-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-31
Also published as: GB2285860B; GB9421864D0

Abstract

A louvred ventilation apparatus 2 comprises louvre blades 14 fixed within a housing 4. Outwardly facing sunfaces of each louvre blade 14 include spaced apart curved horizontally extending channels 40, 42 and four equidistantly spaced apart elongate ledges 44 which project perpendicularly from the main plane of the blades. Each of the channels 40, 42 and ledges 44 define, with the outwardly facing surface of a louvre blade, an elongate receptacle for rain water. A hole (46, not shown) is associated with each receptacle and is arranged directly above a respective rearwardly sloping drainage channel 24, in order to allow water to pass from a respective receptacle to a respective drainage channel 24 and, subsequently, to an upright drainage tube 32. When rain water impinges the blades, it is captured in the receptacles defined thereon before passing into the drainage tube 32 and exiting the apparatus through an opening (50, not shown) in tube 32. A bird guard (Figs. 5 to 7, not shown) may be secured vertically between, and to, adjacent louvres. Each guard may carry a fly screen. <IMAGE>

Description

LOUVRED APPARATUS This invention relates to a louvred apparatus and particularly, although not exclusively, to a louvred ventilation apparatus.

A louvred apparatus may be provided in an outside wall of a building so as to provide an air inlet or outlet for the building or a screen to conceal certain areas of the building. The apparatus may comprise a louvre array of inclined substantially horizontally extending, vertically spaced apart louvre blades. One problem associated with known louvred ventilation apparatus is that of minimising the amount of rain water passing through the apparatus and into the building. One solution to the problem that has previously been proposed includes the provision of two or three louvre arrays, one being spaced behind another, and the arrays being arranged so as to define a tortuous path for air and rain water passing from the outside into the building.Although this arrangement may reduce the amount of water passing into the building, it may, disadvantageously, be costly, heavy and, in view of tortuous air path defined, the air pressure drop across the apparatus may be relatively high.

Another problem associated with known louvred apparatus is that of the "cascading" of rain water down the louvre blades. In this respect, when rain water impinges upon the uppermost louvre blade in the louvre array, it is deflected downwardly onto the adjacent blade in the array and so on down the array. Thus, a relatively large amount of water passes downwardly and impinges on the lowermost blade in the array. This cascading effect tends to lead to an increase in the amount of water which passes between the blades and into the building.

Additionally, when rain water hits known louvre blades, it tends to 'splatter', resulting in the production of a multiplicity of small droplets which are more easily carried with the air through the apparatus and into the building.

It is also known to provide bird or insect guards behind the louvre array in a louvred ventilation apparatus in order to stop birds and/or insects entering the building. Known guards comprise a large sheet of fenestrated material which is superimposed behind the louvre array and secured in position, for example by strapping it to the ventilation apparatus. Known guards are, however, bulky, making them both relatively difficult to fit and difficult to remove. This latter disadvantage may make it difficult to clean the guards.

Preferred embodiments of the invention aim to address problems associated with known louvred apparatus.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a louvred apparatus which comprises a louvre blade arranged in an array of louvre blades, water collection means associated with said louvre blade for collection of water which impinges on the blade, and drainage means arranged to remove water from the water collection means.

By providing such an apparatus, the cascading of water from said louvre blade may be reduced or eliminated and, additionally, the amount of water passing through the apparatus into a building in which the apparatus may be fixed may also be reduced.

Said louvre blade preferably extends horizontally, is inclined to the vertical and is, preferably, superimposed upon another blade in said array.

Said water collection means preferably defines a receptacle on an outwardly facing surface of said blade.

Said water collection means is preferably provided along substantially the whole extent of said blade. Said receptacle may be defined by means of a projecting part which extends outwardly from the outwardly facing surface of said blade. Said projecting part is preferably provided substantially along the whole extent of said blade. Said projecting part preferably defines a dam wall on the outwardly facing surface of said blade.

A plurality of said water collection means is preferably provided at spaced apart positions on the outwardly facing surface of the said blade.

It has been found that the provision of water collection means as described above may reduce the amount of water "splatter" since incoming rain water may impinge against water held in the water collection means and not directly against the hard surface of the blades which would tend to cause the water droplets to fragment and, therefore, "splatter". Additionally, any water that does "splatter" will generally be caught by a water collection means.

Said drainage means preferably includes an opening for the passage of water away from said water collection means. Said opening is preferably defined in said blade and is arranged to allow water to pass from said water collection means away from said blade. Said opening is preferably provided in a lower portion of said water collection means. Where said blade includes a plurality of water collection means, a respective said opening is preferably provided for each water collection means. Said openings for said plurality of water collection means are preferably generally in line with one another.

Said drainage means is preferably arranged to remove water which passes through said opening(s) and, preferably, to direct removed water to a predetermined location. Said drainage means preferably includes a drainage channel arranged to receive water which passes through said opening(s). Preferably, said drainage channel is positioned below, more preferably directly below, the or each of said openings. Said channel is preferably arranged to receive water which falls from said opening(s). Said drainage channel preferably slopes downwardly in order to direct water therein to a predetermined location.

Said drainage means preferably also includes a generally upright, more preferably, a substantially vertically extending, conduit. Said conduit is preferably in generally the same plane as said opening(s) and said drainage channel. Said drainage channel is preferably arranged to co-operate with said conduit. For example, said drainage channel may slope towards said conduit for delivering water thereto. A lower part of said conduit is preferably arranged to direct water to a predetermined location. Said predetermined location is preferably below the level of the lowermost louvre blade in said array of louvre blades.

Said conduit is preferably provided downstream of said blade. Said conduit may be part of an upright mullion of the apparatus.

Preferably, a plurality of said blades as described above are provided in the array of louvre blades.

Preferably, substantially all louvre blades in said array of louvre blades are as described above.

Where the array includes a plurality of said blades, preferably a drainage channel as described above is provided for each of said plurality. Each drainage channel of said plurality of drainage channels is preferably arranged to co-operate with the aforesaid conduit and deliver water thereto.

A plurality of drainage means as described above may be provided at spaced apart positions along the extent of each blade. In this case, a plurality of upright conduits may be provided at spaced apart positions. Each conduit is suitably a part of an upright mullion and, preferably, therefore, the apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart mullions. The mullions preferably are arranged to support the blades. In a preferred embodiment, clips are provided between a blade and a mullion for supporting the blade in position. The mullions may be provided inwardly of edges of the apparatus or may be provided adjacent the edge of the apparatus. In this latter case, a mullion adjacent one edge of a first array of blades may be arranged to be fixed to a mullion adjacent one edge of a second array of blades. A preferred fixing means includes male and female elements.

The apparatus preferably includes a guard means for restricting the passage of unwanted solid material (e.g.

insects or birds) through the apparatus. Said guard means preferably includes a guard element which is arranged to be releasably secured to blades in the array of louvre blades in order to overlie a portion of the array. Said guard element. is preferably arranged to be releasably secured to a pair of adjacent vertically spaced apart blades in said array of louvre blades in order to restrict the passage of unwanted solid material between said pair of adjacent blades. Said guard means is preferably arranged to be releasably secured to a downstream part of said blades. Said downstream part of said blades and said guard means preferably include co-operable male and female elements. Preferably, said downstream part of said blades include male elements and said guard means includes female elements arranged to co-operate with said male elements.

The invention extends to a guard means for a louvred apparatus ner se.

The invention extends to a method of ventilating a building or screening an area, the method using a louvred apparatus as described above.

The invention further extends to a method of directing water impinging upon a louvred apparatus to a predetermined location, the method comprising collecting water which impinges upon a blade of the apparatus in a water collection means which is associated with the blade and removing water from the water collection means using a drainage means which is arranged to direct removed water to the predetermined location.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a louvred ventilation apparatus; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section through the apparatus of Figure 1 in the direction of arrow "X".

Figure 3 is a cross-section along line A-A1 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 of part of an alternative ventilation apparatus; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section through part of a louvred ventilation apparatus which includes a bird guard and an insect guard; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the bird guard and insect guard of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a cross-section along line VII - VII of Figure 6.

In the Figures, the same or similar parts have the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the ventilation apparatus 2 includes a housing 4 defined by a bottom wall 6, a back wall 8, a front wall 9, a top wall 10 and two spaced apart side walls 12. (Only one side wall 12 is shown in the Figures, in the interests of clarity). The front wall 9 includes an inwardly-turned lip 11.

Three louvre blades 14 are fixed within the housing 4 so that the blades 14 extend generally horizontally; are vertically spaced apart but adjacent blades are superimposed; and are inclined to the vertical.

wore particularly, a rearmost vertically extending flange portion 16 of each respective blade 14 is fixed, by means of clips, to a narrow mullion 30. A forward portion 18 of the blades includes an inwardly facing horizontally extending channel 20 having a slot 22 in which a forward part 23 of a narrow drainage channel 24 is received. The drainage channel 24 slopes slightly downwardly on going from forward part 23 to a rearward part 26 thereof. The rearward part 26 of the drainage channel 24 is secured by means of clip 28 to the mullion 30. The mullion 30 is hollow and defines a vertically extending drainage tube 32. The lowermost blade 14 does not receive a channel 24.

A support clip 34, which is flush to an upper surface of the bottom wall 6, is secured within the horizontally extending channel 20 of the lowermost blade 14. A plurality of mullions 30 are provided at spaced apart positions along the extent of the blades 14 for supporting the blades 14 and for co-operation with drainage channels 24.

The outwardly facing surfaces of each louvre blade 14 include spaced apart curved horizontally extending channels 40, 42. The channels 40, 42 are arranged to define screw ports in which screws may be received for securing the blades 14 in position. Between the channels 40, 42 are provided four equidistantly spaced apart elongate ledges 44 which project perpendicularly from the main plane of the blades.

Each of the channels 40, 42 and ledges 44 define, with the outwardly facing surface of a louvre blade, an elongate receptacle for water. A hole 46 (Figure 3) is associated with each receptacle and is arranged directly above a respective drainage channel 24, in order to allow water to pass from a respective receptacle to a respective drainage channel 24 and, subsequently, to the drainage tube 32.

Lower surface 47 of each blade 14 is substantially flat.

The ventilation apparatus 2 may function as follows: Air and rain water travel towards the apparatus 2 in the directions generally shown by arrows 49 in Figure 2.

The majority of the air/water will impinge upon the louvre blades 14 and not travel straight between the blades. When rain water impinges the blades, it will tend to flow down the blades. However, in view of the provision on the outwardly facing surfaces of the blades of elongate receptacles defined by channels 40, 42 and ledges 44, water may be retained for a short time in the receptacles on the blades so that it does not cascade down the blades.

From the receptacles on the blades, the water passes through the holes 46 in the blades and falls into the drainage channels 24 below. The water then flows down the inclined drainage channels 24 and into the drainage tube 32. The water falls down the drainage tube and passes through openings 50 provided on both sides of support clip 34. The passage of water is represented by arrows 51 in Figure 3.

It should be appreciated that the apparatus described above may reduce the amount of rain water passing into the building, since most of the rain water which passes into the apparatus is collected in the receptacles provided on the vanes and subsequently directed out of a lower part of the apparatus via openings 50. Furthermore, "splatter" of impinging rain water may be reduced, since much incoming rain water will impinge upon water held in a receptacle defined on a vane rather than directly on the hard surface of a vane itself. It has been found that "splatter" is reduced if incoming water impinges upon a mass of water rather than on a hard surface, since a hard surface tends to cause water droplets to break up and produce smaller droplets.

If water does "splatter", then it may hit an underside surface of channels 40, 42 or ledges 44 and subsequently fall into one of the water receptacles provided on blades 44. If water contacts lower surfaces 47 of the blades it will run down the blades to a forward portion thereof, from which it will fall downwardly.

The arrangement of Figures 1 to 3, may be used in relation to louvred ventilation apparatus of any shape, for example, square, rectangular, triangular, oval or circular.

Referring to Figure 4, the ventilation apparatus 60 shown therein is very similar to the apparatus described in Figures 1 to 3, and the same or similar parts have the same reference numerals. However, whereas apparatus 2 of Figures 1 to 3 is a unitary component which includes a mullion 30 spaced from side wall 12 of the housing, apparatus 60 comprises modules 62a and 62b which are fixed to one another. The modules 62 include respective mullions close to respective side walls 66. The mullion 30 close to the right hand end of module 62a (as seen in Figure 4) includes a recess 68 arranged to receive a joining member 70 which extends from the mullion 30 close to the left hand end of module 62b. The mullion close to the left hand end of module 62a and the mullion close to the right hand end of module 62b are identical to the corresponding mullions on modules 62b and 62a respectively. Modules 62a and 62b are, therefore, identical and arranged so that a louvred ventilation apparatus of a desired size may be constructed from a plurality of modules 62.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a bird/insect guard 70 which is elongate and extends between a pair of adjacent louvre blades 14. The guard 70 includes a main body portion 72 which includes a plurality of openings 74 which are small enough to resist penetration by a bird. Outwardly open elongate tabs 76 are defined adjacent to the lower edge of the body portion 72.

Each tab 76 is arranged to co-operate with and releasably engage a respective portion 80 of a respective flange portion 16 and an upper end portion 78 of a guard 70a directly below so that the guards 70 may be releasably secured one on top of the other. An optional insect screen 82 of a fine mesh material is releasably engaged within opposing recessed portions 84 of the guard 70. A respective guard 70 may be provided for each vertically adjacent pair of louvre blades 14. Advantageously, the guards 70 can easily be securely fitted in position and removed from position for cleaning when required.

It should now be appreciated that the louvred ventilation apparatus described herein may be relatively cheap to manufacture and assemble and may reduce the tendency for rain water to pass into a building.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

hll of the features disclosed i this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A louvred apparatus which comprises a louvre blade arranged in an array of louvre blades, water collection means associated with said louvre blade for collection of water which impinges on the blade, and drainage means arranged to remove water from the water collection means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said water collection means defines a receptacle on an outwardly facing surface of said blade.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said receptacle is defined by means of a projecting part which extends outwardly from an outwardly facing surface of said blade.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said water collection means is provided along substantially the whole extent of said blade.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of said water collection means is provided at spaced apart positions on the outwardly facing surface of said blade.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said drainage means includes an opening for the passage of water away from each said water collection means.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said drainage means includes a drainage channel arranged to receive water which passes through said opening and to direct water to a predetermined location.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein said drainage means includes a generally upright conduit into which said drainage channel is arranged to deliver water.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein a lower part of said conduit is arranged to direct water to a predetermined location below the level of the lowermost louvre blade in said array of louvre blades.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein said conduit is a part of an upright mullion of the apparatus.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a plurality of said louvre blades.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of drainage means is provided at spaced apart positions along the extent of each blade.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein a plurality of upright conduits are provided at spaced apart positions, each conduit being a part of one upright mullion of a plurality of spaced apart mullions.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including guard means for restricting the passage of unwanted solid materials through the apparatus.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein said guard means is arranged to be releasably secured to an inward part of said blades.

16. Appara'us according to Claim 15, wherein said inward part of said blades and said guard means include cooperable male and female elements.

17. A guard means for a louvred apparatus, the guard means including a guard element which is arranged to be releasably secured to blades in an array of louvre blades in order to overlie a portion of the array.

18. A method of ventilating a building or screening an area, the method using a louvred apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 16.

19. A method of directing water impinging upon a louvred apparatus to a predetermined location, the method comprising collecting water which impinges upon a blade of the apparatus in a water collection means which is associated with the blade and removing water from the water collection means using a drainage means which is arranged to direct removed water to the predetermined location.

20. A method according to Claim 19, using apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 16.

21. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

22. A guard means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

23. A method of ventilating a building or screening an area substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

24. A method of directing water impinging upon a louvred apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.