GB2351552A - Ventilation system - Google Patents

Ventilation system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2351552A
GB2351552A GB0012433A GB0012433A GB2351552A GB 2351552 A GB2351552 A GB 2351552A GB 0012433 A GB0012433 A GB 0012433A GB 0012433 A GB0012433 A GB 0012433A GB 2351552 A GB2351552 A GB 2351552A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
water
ventilation means
flow
fan
responsive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0012433A
Other versions
GB0012433D0 (en
Inventor
Robert Donald Aldo Spearman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Smiths Group PLC
Original Assignee
Smiths Group PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Smiths Group PLC filed Critical Smiths Group PLC
Publication of GB0012433D0 publication Critical patent/GB0012433D0/en
Publication of GB2351552A publication Critical patent/GB2351552A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/0001—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/61—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using timers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/74—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
    • F24F11/77—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity by controlling the speed of ventilators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F7/00—Ventilation
    • F24F2007/001—Ventilation with exhausting air ducts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties

Abstract

A ventilation system for a bathroom has a fan 6 controlled by the output of a water flow sensor 50, 50' responsive to flow of water along a pipe 5, 11 supplying a shower 10 or the like. When the shower tap is turned on, water flows along the pipe 5, 11 causing the fan 6 to turn on for a predetermined time. The water flow sensor (50) is also responsive to the operation of a lavatory (2), bath (4) or basin (3). The predetermined time may be around 5 to 25 minutes. The fan may be replaced by a damper in a duct. In some applications, the control unit may be arranged to maintain the fan on continuously at a very low level, and to increase the speed of the fan when water flow is sensed.

Description

2351552 VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND INSTALLATIONS This invention relates to
ventilation systems and to installations such as shower or lavatory installations.
Ventilation systems are often used to remove damp air or smells, such as from bathrooms and lavatories. The system usually includes a wall or ceiling-mounted extractor fan controlled by some form of control unit. The control unit may be a simple on/off manual switch or it may be connected to the room lighting circuit so that the fan is turned on when the room lights are turned on. The control unit often is arranged such that the fan remains on for a predetermined time after the lights are turned off, such as under the control of a simple timer.
Such systems can function satisfactorily but rely on the user turning the fan or the lights on manually. Where the room receives natural light, the lights may not need to be turned on during daylight hours so the ventilation system may not be operated sufficiently to prevent the accumulation of moisture or odours. Also, where the fan is turned on in response to operation of the lights, this may cause unnecessary operation of the fan when the user is not creating water vapour or the like that needs to be extracted.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative ventilation system and installation.
2 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilation system including ventilation means and control means arranged to control operation of the ventilation means, the control means including means responsive to water flow such that the ventilation means is controlled in response to flow of water.
The ventilation means Preferably includes a fan and may include a heat recovery unit. The control means Preferably is arranged to maintain the ventilation means operative for a predetermined time after water flow ceases. The control means may be responsive to flow of water along a pipe supplying at least one of a shower, bath, basin, lavatory cistern and urinal flush.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a shower installation comprising a shower head, a water pipe connected between the shower head and a water supply, ventilation means, a flow sensor responsive to flow of water to the shower head, and a control unit responsive to an output of the flow sensor to control operation of the ventilation means.
According to a finther aspect of the invention there is provided a lavatory installation comprising a lavatory, a water pipe connected between the lavatory and a water supply, ventilation means, a flow sensor responsive to flow of water to the lavatory, and a control unit responsive to an output of the flow sensor to control operation of the ventilation means.
3 A bathroom installation including a ventilation system according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic illustration of the installation.
The bathroom includes a shower 1, a lavatory 2, a basin 3 and a bath 4. The shower head 10 is connected to a bathroom water supply pipe or conduit 5 via a shower supply pipe or conduit 11. Similarly, the lavatory cistern 20 and the taps 30 and 40 on the basin 3 and bath 4 are connected to the same water supply pipe 5 via respective pipes or conduits 21, 31 and 41. A water flow sensor or switch 50 is connected in line with the bathroom supply pipe 5, the sensor being tripped when water flow along the pipe rises above a set, low level, such as when. the shower 1 is turned on, when the basin or bath taps 3 0 and 40 are tumed on, or when water flows to fill the cistern 20 after the lavatory has been flushed.
The bathroom also includes ventilation means in the form of an electric fan 6 mounted in an external wall 7 or window of the bathroom. Alternatively, the fan could be ceiling mounted and coupled to ducting extending externally. Ihe fan could be mounted at some remote location, such as in a loft space, and connected to a ventilation outlet in the bathroom by ducting. Electrical power supply to the fan 6 is controlled by a control unit 60 including an optional timer 61. The control unit 60 is connected via a wire 62 to the water flow sensor 50. Alternatively, the water-flow sensor could transmit a signal to the fan control unit by a wireless connection, such as using radio or infra-red signals. The control unit 60 connects electrical power to the fan 6 when the output of the sensor 50 indicates that water is flowing along the supply pipe 5. The timer 61 sets a time period so that the control unit 60 maintains supply of power to the fan 6 for a predetermined time after water flow along the pipe 5 has 4 ceased, typically around five to twenty-five minutes. In some applications, the control unit may be arranged to maintain the fan on continuously at a very low level, to cause a low level of background ventilation, and to increase the speed of the fan when water flow is sensed.
In use, therefore, the fan 6 remains off until someone uses the shower 1, lavatory 2, basin 3 or bath 4 and thereby causes water to flow along the pipe 5. Immediately water starts flowing along the pipe 5, the control unit 60 turns the fan 6 on and this remains in operation until after water flow has ceased for the time period set by the timer 61. This arrangement ensures that the fan 6 is brought into operation in direct response to an activity of the kind that creates water vapour or odours. The system does not rely on the operation of room lights so is effective even when the room lights are not turned on. Furthermore, the room lights can be turned on without automatically turning on the fan.
It will be appreciated that the water flow sensor need not be mounted in a pipe supplying several outlets. Instead, for example, a sensor 5 0' could be mounted in line with just the pipe 11 supplying the shower head 10. This may make installation easier in some circumstances and would result in the fan turning on only when the user was taking a shower, which is when most water vapour is produced. The ventilation means need not be a fan but could be, for example, a shutter, a damper in a duct or the like. The system could be used in washrooms where the water flow sensor is responsive to flow of water to urinals, lavatory cisterns or basin taps.

Claims (11)

1. A ventilation system including ventilation means and control means arranged to control operation of the ventilation means, wherein the control means includes means responsive to water flow such that the ventilation means is controlled in response to flow of water.
2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the ventilation means includes an electric fan.
3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the ventilation means includes a heat recovery unit.
4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is arranged to maintain the ventilation means operative for a predetermined time after water flow ceases.
5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is responsive to flow Of water along a pipe supplying at least one of a shower, bath, basin, lavatory cistern and urinal flush.
6. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
6
7. A shower installation comprising a shower head, a water pipe connected between the shower head and a water supply, ventilation means, a flow sensor responsive to flow of water to the shower head, and a control unit responsive to an output of the flow sensor to control operation of the ventilation means.
8. A lavatory installation comprising a lavatory, a water pipe connected between the lavatory and a water supply, ventilation means, a flow sensor responsive to flow of water to the lavatory, and a control unit responsive to an output of the flow sensor to control operation of the ventilation means.
9. An installation according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the ventilation means includes an electric fan.
10. An installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.
GB0012433A 1999-06-11 2000-05-24 Ventilation system Withdrawn GB2351552A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9913475.1A GB9913475D0 (en) 1999-06-11 1999-06-11 Ventilation systems and installations

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0012433D0 GB0012433D0 (en) 2000-07-12
GB2351552A true GB2351552A (en) 2001-01-03

Family

ID=10855064

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9913475.1A Ceased GB9913475D0 (en) 1999-06-11 1999-06-11 Ventilation systems and installations
GB0012433A Withdrawn GB2351552A (en) 1999-06-11 2000-05-24 Ventilation system

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9913475.1A Ceased GB9913475D0 (en) 1999-06-11 1999-06-11 Ventilation systems and installations

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9913475D0 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3006751A1 (en) * 2013-06-06 2014-12-12 Atlantic Climatisation Et Ventilation REGULATION OF AN AIR EXTRACTION FACILITY FROM A LOCAL COMPRISING A WATER DISTRIBUTION POINT
GB2525665A (en) * 2014-05-02 2015-11-04 Teresa Hills An extractor fan activation system

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1493516A (en) * 1974-02-14 1977-11-30 Baker J Method and installation for performing an electrical control function in response to temperature variations
US4933995A (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-06-19 Canon Carl E Flush-operated bathroom fan

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1493516A (en) * 1974-02-14 1977-11-30 Baker J Method and installation for performing an electrical control function in response to temperature variations
US4933995A (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-06-19 Canon Carl E Flush-operated bathroom fan

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3006751A1 (en) * 2013-06-06 2014-12-12 Atlantic Climatisation Et Ventilation REGULATION OF AN AIR EXTRACTION FACILITY FROM A LOCAL COMPRISING A WATER DISTRIBUTION POINT
FR3006752A1 (en) * 2013-06-06 2014-12-12 Atlantic Climatisation Et Ventilation REGULATION OF AN AIR EXTRACTION FACILITY FROM A LOCAL COMPRISING A WATER DISTRIBUTION POINT
GB2525665A (en) * 2014-05-02 2015-11-04 Teresa Hills An extractor fan activation system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0012433D0 (en) 2000-07-12
GB9913475D0 (en) 1999-08-11

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)