GB2404437A

GB2404437A - Roof mounted ventilator with processor controlled fan and flap

Info

Publication number: GB2404437A
Application number: GB0317926A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Frost
Original assignee: CONSERVATORY VENTILATION COMPA
Current assignee: CONSERVATORY VENTILATION COMPA
Priority date: 2003-07-31
Filing date: 2003-07-31
Publication date: 2005-02-02
Also published as: GB0317926D0; EP1503150A1

Abstract

A ventilation module 1 comprises an elongate cabinet 3 housing a fan 2 and a control processor 9 therein, the cabinet 3 having an air inlet 4a on one side and an air outlet (4b, figure 2) on another side, the air outlet (4b, figure 2) being selectively occluded by a vent flap 6, there being provided means for moving the vent flap 6 between open and closed positions and the control processor 9 being configured to adjust the operation of the fan 2 and/or the vent flap 6 to control the ventilation effect of the module 1. The vent flap 6 may be hinged along one edge to the cabinet 1. The operation of the module 1 via the control processor 9 may allow for adjustment by the user. The control processor 9 may be linked to one or more temperature sensors linked to the control processor 9 to adjust the extent of opening of the flap 6 and/or the operation of the fan 2. The module 1 may be configured to provide negative feedback control such that the flap 6 is initially opened to allow passive airflow and then dependant on the temperature sensor the fan 2 may be operated by the control processor 9. The module 1 may be located, in use, in the channel of a double ridge roof in a conservatory. Hinged fastening means (15, figure 5) may be provided for pivotable attachment of the module 1 to a structure to facilitate maintenance of the module 1.

Description

ROOF-MOUNTED VENTILATION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a roof-mounted ventilation system and is particularly suited to use in conservatory roofs but may be used in other constructions.

Background to the Invention

Ventilation systems for conservatories are a critical element in conservatory design to ensure usability of the conservatory space. Conservatories that lack efficient ventilation are susceptible to very wide swings in internal temperature or must have their extensive glazing area continuously covered by blinds to minimise the heating effect of solar 1 5 radiation.

In the most basic conservatory constructions the only allowance for ventilation made is the provision of small vent windows around the upper perimeter of the side walls of the conservatory and commonly also with a roof window. More sophisticated designs of conservatory incorporate venting apertures into the roof of the conservatory to allow for effective air circulation and release of the hot air from the roof apex where it will have a tendency to collect.

Better still, however, powered ventilation for induction of airflow and expulsion of air through roof mounted vents gives much greater control over heat build-up. Such a conservatory roof ventilation system is illustrated in, for example, GB 2,332,047 in which a cylindrical fan is mounted within a cowling that is clipped to the underside of the ridge component of the conservatory roof to Induct hot air from within the conservatory and expel it up into the void within the ridge from where it trickles out through the lateral edges of the ridge. This system is substantially more efficient than the passive ventilation systems which preceded but is limited in volume through flow of air and control of the venting process.

It is a general objective of the present invention to provide an improved ventilation system and which may be assembled into the roofing of a conservatory or other building during construction thereof or maybe retrofitted and which is compact, cost effective and optimises ventilation control.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a ventilation module suitable for use to ventilate a conservatory and which comprises an elongate cabinet housing a fan and a control processor therein, the cabinet having an air inlet along one side of the cabinet and an air outlet along the other side of the cabinet, the air outlet being selectively occluded by a vent flap, there being provided powered actuator means for moving the vent flap between open and closed positions and the control processor being configured to adjust operation of the fan and /or the vent flap to control the ventilation effect provided by the ventilation module..

Suitably the vent flap is hinged along one edge to the cabinet.

Preferably adjustment of the operation of the unit via the control processor allows for adjustment by the user. Particularly preferably, however, the control processor is linked to one or more temperature sensors to sense the temperature within the conservatory or other construction in which the module is installed in use, with signals from the temperature sensor(s) being responded to by the control processor to adjust the extent of opening of the flap and/or operation of the fan.

Preferably the module is configured in a system to provide negative feedback control of temperature within the conservatory or other building and particularly preferably the control processor is programmed to initially open the vent flap to allow for passive outflow of air and, if temperature build up is high or not rapidly dissipated by opening of the vent, to power the fan and, if necessary, to increase the rate of operation of the fan.

The ventilation module of the present invention is particularly well suited to use in the roof of a conservatory or like construction, mounted immediately under the ridge cap of the roof to vent air to a void in the ridge.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective schematic views of the preferred embodiment of modular ventilation unit in closed, open passive and open active ventilation states, respectively. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a double ridge roof as an example of where the module may be conveniently installed; and Figure 5 is a schematic plan diagram of the module installed in the channel of a double ridge roof.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the figures, the illustrated modular ventilation unit 1 comprises an elongate circular cylindrical fan 2 housed within a casing 3 and wherein the underside of the casing 3 incorporates an air induction inlet 4a suitably extending substantially the full length of the casing/cabinet 3. A corresponding air outlet aperture 4b is provided extending substantially the length of the cabinet 3 in the upper face of the cabinet 3.

The closure flap 6 is provided mounted to the cabinet 3 by hinges/pivot pins 7 and which in the closed state illustrated in Figure 1 substantially closes the outlet aperture 4b to thereby substantially prevent venting of air via the unit.

The closure flap 6 is moveable between its closed and open states by a powered actuator 8 which may, for example, be powered directly by an electric stepper motor or via a rack and pinion, gearing or other linkage or may comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement.

The power-assisted opening and closure of the vent closure flap 6 is under negative feedback control from a control processor 9 which receives signals from one or more temperature sensors 10 located in the conservatory or other building in which the module is installed. Should the temperature rise above a desired threshold level the control processor 9 will send a signal to the powered actuator 8 to open the vent closure flap 6. The degree of opening of the vent flap 6 is suitably also controllable by the control processor 9 and powered actuator 8. This may be used in alternative to or together with variable speed control of the operation of the fan 2 within the unit.

As shown in the respective illustrations, the unit may be used to allow passive airflow through simply adjusting whether the vent flap 6 is open, shut or even at any one of a range of different intermediate positions but with the fan 2 not operating. Alternatively, the unit may be used for active expulsion of air with the fan 2 operating, and suitably adjustable to operate at a range of different speeds.

The control processor 9 suitably has an integral control pad to enable the user to select the operative state of the unit dictating the state of opening of the flap 6 or the operative state and/or rate of operation of the fan 2. A remote control pad 11 may be provided linked to the main control processor 9 if the processor is housed in the cabinet 3. The control processor 9 may alternatively be provided co-housed with the remote control pad 11 unit.

Provision of the system with negative feedback control elements, including the temperature sensor(s) to adjust the operative state of the module is highly desirable, not least since hot air can accumulate very quickly within a conservatory and the temperature within the conservatory is easiest regulated through continuous regulation rather than leaving it to the user alone to adjust the operative settings of the unit.

Although the module is illustrated as being housed in a cabinet that it is generally box shaped - i.e. rectangular in section, the shape of the casing is suitably adapted to the shape of the underside of the roof ridge to which the module is to be mounted. The rectangular section shape of cabinet is reasonably versatile and suits use in widely spaced doubleridge conservatory roofs. However, other shapes such as, for example, hexagonal or octagonal section are also relatively versatile.

In the preferred installation the module 1 is mounted within a double ridge beam 12 (Figure 4). The double ridge beam 12 has the form of a short flattened tube having a cross section that is an elongate rectangle and has no base wall so that the ridge beam defines a channel 13. The module 1 is inserted into the channel 13 between the opposing sidewalls 14 of the ridge beam 12 and is bolted or otherwise secured in place between the sidewalls 14.

Suitably, as shown schematically in Figure 5, hinged fastening means 15 are used to pivotably secure one end of the module 1 within the channel 13. When a non-hinged fastening means 16, eg a latch bolt, at the other end is released then that other end of the module 1 may be lowered while the first end remains engaged with the walls 14 of the ridge beam 12, facilitating mounting and demounting of the lengthy module 1 by one person and also being useful for maintenance when it is desired to only partially demount the module 1 from the ridge 12. The hinged fastening means 15 is suitably fully Remountable for complete demounting of the module 1 when required.

Although the module is particularly suited to use for installation in conservatory roofs it could be installed in the loft of a conventional building and can readily be installed during the build or later as a retrofit.

Claims

Claims 1 A ventilation module suitable for use to ventilate a conservatory

and which comprises an elongate cabinet housing a fan and a control processor therein, the cabinet having an air inlet along one side of the cabinet and an air outlet along the other side of the cabinet, the air outlet being selectively occluded by a vent flap, there being provided powered actuator means for moving the vent flap between open and closed positions and the control processor being configured to adjust operation of the fan and /or the vent flap to control the ventilation effect provided by the ventilation module..
2. A ventilation module as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the vent flap is hinged along one edge to the cabinet.
3. A ventilation module as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein adjustment of the operation of the unit via the control processor allows for adjustment by the user.
4. A ventilation module as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the control processor is linked to one or more temperature sensors to sense the temperature within the conservatory or other construction in which the module is installed in use, with signals from the temperature sensor(s) being responded to by the control processor to adjust the extent of opening of the flap and/or operation of the fan.
5. A ventilation module as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein, the module is configured in a system to provide negative feedback control of temperature within the conservatory or other building and the control processor is programmed to initially open the vent flap to allow for passive outflow of air and, if temperature build up is high or not rapidly dissipated by opening of the vent, to power the fan and, if necessary, to increase the rate of operation of the fan.
6. A ventilation module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ventilation module is mounted within the channel of a double ridge roof.
7. A ventilation module as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the module is adapted to be demountably mounted in place and has a hinged fastening means at one end whereby the module may be pivotted about that end.
8. A ventilation module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.