GB2417316A - An extractor fan with configurable internal airflow pipes and plural air exhaust outlets - Google Patents

Abstract

An extractor fan 100 is arranged to adopt, during installation, one of a plurality of configurations, wherein each configuration of the extractor fan 100 provides a different direction of exhaust airflow from the extractor fan 100. The different configurations may be achieved using an exhaust airflow director which may comprise two relatively adjustable tubing portions 12, 13, the tubing portions 12, 13 each featuring an end face at an angle of 45 degrees. The end faces may be slidably connectable. There may be provided a removable duct connector 5 fixable over an outlet 7, 61 through which exhaust airflow is directed. The duct connector 5 may be fitted in two respective positions selected according to the direction of exhaust airflow. The duct connector 5 may have a bayonet fitting and may feature a hinged backdraft shutter flap (33, figure 7a). There may be provided an exit cover 6 arranged to cover an outlet 61 through which exhaust airflow is not directed.

Description

Extractor Fan The present invention relates to an extractor fan.

An extractor fan may be used to remove air from an interior space in a building Such a fan is suitable for mounting on a generally planar surface such as a wall or ceiling, and may also be suitable for mounting in a window The fan will usually be in communication with a duct which allows the withdrawn air to escape An extractor fan generally comprises a fan housing having a backplate and a body, wherein the body is mounted on the backplate and has an air- intake aperture.

A fan impeller driven by an electric motor is mounted within the housing between the body and the backplate. In addition, an exhaust aperture leading to a duct is provided in the fan housing, through which exhaust air is directed The duct typically comprises a length of ducting connected to the exhaust aperture and is in communication with the space into which air is to be exhausted, for example the exterior of the building.

Such known extractor fans allow exhaust air to be directed from the fan through a single exhaust aperture in a single direction The present invention provides an extractor fan arranged to adopt, during installation, one of a plurality of configurations, wherein each configuration of the fan provides a different direction of exhaust airflow from the fan.

The invention also provides such a fan, installed in a building to extract air from an interior space thereof.

With such a fan, it can be appropriately configured so that exhaust airflow will be directed in a direction convenient for the site where the fan is to be installed For example if the fan is to be wall mounted it may be desirable for the exhaust airflow to be directed rearwardly to pass through a hole in the wall, or alternatively it may be desirable for the airflow to be directed to pass upwardly through an upper side wall of the fan and into a ceiling space e g. via ducting If the fan is to be ceiling mounted, either on the surface of the ceiling or recessed into the ceiling, then it may be desirable for the exhaust airflow to be directed rearwardly whereby air is directed into the ceiling space In the case of recessed mounting of the fan into the - 2 ceiling, a sideways direction of exhaust airflow may be preferable to a rearward direction, if for example this suits better the space available for ducting The fan may be designed to provide several configurations each providing a different direction of exhaust airflow A fan body having four sides may for example be arranged to provide exhaust airflow directions via one or more of those sides, and/or a rearward exhaust airflow direction. In a preferred embodiment, the fan is able to adopt two configurations, one sideways and one rearwards The fan may be provided in kit form with a choice of exhaust airflow directors each selectable to provide a corresponding configuration, for example a straight tubing for one direction of exhaust airflow and a bent tubing for another direction. At the time of installation the builder would choose the appropriate exhaust airflow director for the particular site Preferably however the fan comprises an exhaust airflow director that is adjustable to provide the selected configuration This preferred arrangement can minimise the provision of components that will not be used The exhaust airflow director will generally be adjustable during the installation procedure. It may also be adjustable after installation, although in most situations this will not be necessary The exhaust airflow director may be flexible, e.g flexible tubing, to provide the different configurations. In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust airflow director comprises two tubing portions adjustable relative to each other to provide the selected configuration Preferably, each tubing portion has an end face at an angle of about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion, the end faces being connectable to each other Therefore, the end faces can be connected in two different ways to form either a straight tube or a tube having a bend of about 90 degrees. Thus, the exhaust airflow director can direct exhaust air either in a straight line or at an angle of 90 degrees In alternative embodiments, each tubing portion may have an end face at an angle other than 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion. In such embodiments, when the end faces are connected in each of the two different ways, they form tubes having bends of a different angle Thus, the exhaust airflow director can direct exhaust air in one of two different directions - 3 Prefcrably, the tubing portions are cylindrical In a preferred embodiment, the end faces are slidably connectable They may be for example rotationally or linearly slidably. This enables the tubing portions to be easily connected and disconnected One tubing portion may be provided with hooking portions that slidably engage with flanges provided on the second tubing portion In an alternative embodiment, the end faces may be clipped together.

A removable duct connector may be fixable over an outlet through which exhaust airflow is directed This duct connector can connect a duct to the outlet, thereby allowing airflow directed therethrough to be exhausted through the duct The duct connector may be fixable to the fan in two respective positions selected according to the direction of exhaust airflow Preferably, the two respective positions correspond to two outlets provided in the fan Thus, the duct connector can be fixed to the f an over the outlet through which the exhaust airflow is directed Preferably, one outlet is provided in the rear of the fan body and the second outlet is provided in the side of the fan. In particular, a side outlet may be provided in the top side of the fan Preferably, the duct connector is fixable via a bayonet fitting A bayonet fitting allows the duct connector to be fixed in place quickly and easily The duct connector may be directly fixable to the fan, or it may be indirectly fixable via another component, such as e.g a frame which is attachable to the fan.

Preferably, the duct connector is directly fixable to the fan over an outlet in the rear of the fan. Preferably, the duct connector is fixable over an outlet in the side of the fan via a frame The fan may comprise a fan main body and a backplate Preferably, the frame is fitted to the edge of a backplate. It may then project substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the backplate.

The duct connector may be of a hollow cylindrical shape. However more preferably, the duct connector comprises a hinged backdraft shutter flap fitted to the duct connector This flap may be substantially circular and have a diameter similar to that of the duct connector. Preferably, the hinges are arranged to allow the flap to open when the force of exhaust air is applied thereon, thus allowing the exhaust air - 4 to pass through Preferably, the flap is mounted so that it cannot open in the opposite direction thus preventing backdraft air entering the fan from the duct In an embodiment in which a flexible duct is used, a hinged backdraft flap is not provided.

A cosmetic sleeve may be provided around the fan body in order to improve the appearance of the fan Such a sleeve may be of a hollow rectangular shape and be fitted around the sides of the fan body An aperture may be provided in the sleeve corresponding to the position of an outlet in the fan body In a preferred embodiment, at least one exit cover is arranged to cover an outlet through which exhaust airflow is not directed Such an exit cover can provide a cosmetic benefit. It may also prevent air escaping from or foreign bodies entering into an outlet through which airflow is not directed, i e. through an outlet which is not being 'used' More preferably, an exit cover is provided to cover an outlet in the side of the fan body when the fan has been configured to direct airflow through the rear of the fan An exit cover will generally not be necessary for the rear outlet in the alternative situation wherein exhaust airflow is directed through a side outlet, since the rear of the fan will generally be fitted against, for example, a wall The exit cover may be fitted directly to the fan body, or it may be fitted indirectly via another component, such as a cosmetic sleeve. Thus, for example, where a cosmetic sleeve is provided, an exit cover may be fitted directly into an aperture in the cosmetic sleeve to cover an outlet through which exhaust airflow is not directed Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is an exploded perspective view of various components of an extractor fan assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a further exploded perspective view of various components of the extractor fan assembly shown in Figure I, Figures 3a and 3b are isometric views and Figure 3c is an end view of one tubing portion of the airflow director, Figure 4a is an isometric view, Figure 4b is a view of an end face and Figure 4c is a side view of another tubing portion of the airflow director, - 5 Figure 5a is an isometric view, Figure 5b is an end view and Figure 5c is a side view of a duct connector, Figures 6a and 6c are isometric views and Figures 6b and 6d are end views of a frame into which a duct connector may be fitted; Figure 7a is an isometric view and Figure 7b is an end view of a hinged backdraft flap, Figure 8a is an isometric view and Figure 8b is an end view of an exit cover; Figure 9 illustrates a cosmetic sleeve; Figures lea and I Ob are end views of the interior and exterior sides of a back 1 0 plate; Figures I] a to 1 lh illustrate some of the stages involved in installing in a wall a fan with a rear exhaust, Figure 12 is a perspective view of an assembled fan having a rear exhaust, when installed in a wall; Figures 1 3a to 1 3k illustrate some of the stages involved in installing in a wall a fan with a side exhaust, and Figure 14 illustrates a ceiling mounted fan.

The extractor fan 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a front cover 1 having an air intake aperture 2, a cosmetic sleeve 3, a fan main body 10, a backplate 4 and a duct connector 5. The fan is shown in a configuration adapted to direct airflow through a rear exhaust outlet 7 The rear exhaust outlet 7 is provided in the top left corner of the backplate. Ducting 8 is provided to communicate the rear exhaust outlet with an external grille 9 An aperture 38 is provided in the cosmetic sleeve corresponding to an exhaust outlet 61 in the side of the fan, this aperture being fitted with an exit cover 6.

As seen in Figure 2, front cover 1 and cosmetic sleeve 3 fit to the main body of the fan A scroll tube 15 is located downstream of an impeller housing An exhaust airflow director I I is connected downstream of the scroll tube 15 to direct air taken in through the air intake aperture 2 out through the rear exhaust outlet 7.

The exhaust airflow director comprises two tubing portions 12 and] 3, each having an end face at an angle of 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion These end faces are connected together to form a tube having a bend of 90 degrees. - 6

A side exhaust outlet 61 is also provided in the top side of fan main body 10.

Figures 3a to 3d further illustrate the first tubing portion 12 of airflow director 11 An angle A of 45 degrees is formed between the end face 18 and the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion Clips 14 are provided around the edge of an opening 17 to clip the tubing portion 12 to scroll tube 15 in communication with the air intake via the fan impeller. A flange 16 having recess portions 19 is provided around end face 18.

Figures 4a to 4c further illustrate the second tubing portion 13 of airflow director 11 An angle B of 45 degrees is formed between the end face 20 and the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion. Hook portions 21 are provided on a flange around end face 20, for connecting with flange 16 of the first tubing portion 12 Figures 5a to 5c further illustrate duct connector 5 Duct connector 5 is of a hollow cylindrical shape of substantially the same diameter as exhaust outlet 7. It has two hinge receiver portions 22 formed in the circumference of the downstream end. A flange 25 is provided extending around and protruding from the outer circumference at the upstream end, having two circumferentially extending recesses formed therein on opposite sides. Two circumferentially extending flanges 23 are provided longitudinally offset from the recesses 55 in the upstream direction Flanges 23 and 25 form one half of a bayonet fitting.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate the upstream side of a frame 26, whilst Figures 6c and 6d illustrate the downstream side of frame 26. The outside of frame 26 has three substantially straight sides at the left, right and base, with the top side being semi-circular Projections 40 extend from the left, centre and right of the semi circular side. A substantially circular aperture 31 is provided in the frame 26, having substantially the same diameter as duct connector 5. A flange 30 is provided around and protruding radially inwardly from the inner circumference of the circular aperture. The flange 30 is interrupted by two circumferentially extending recesses 28 and 29. A pair of circumferentially extending slide surfaces 71 and 72 are formed in the flange 30 circumferentially adjacent to the recesses 28 and 29 respectively. The slide surfaces are slanted in the axial direction of the frame and terminate in respective abutments 73 and 74. The flange 30 and its profile provide the other half of the bayonet fitting when the frame 26 is used as part of the fan - 7 - Figures 7a and 7b illustrate a hinged backdraft flap 33, comprising a flap portion 34, a pair of hinges 35 defining a pivot axis in the general plane of the flap portion and offset from the centre thereof The flap portion 34 is of a circular shape having two shaped portions 76 and 77 cut therefrom, and is substantially the same diameter as duct connector 5 In use, the hinged backdraft flap 33 is fitted over the downstream end of duct connector 5 so that hinges 35 engage with the hinge receiver portions 22.

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate the exit cover 6 Exit cover 6 has three substantially straight adjoining sides forming a partial rectangle, and one substantially semi-circular side. Projections 37 are provided at the left, centre and right of the semi-circular side of the exit cover 6 Figure 9 further illustrates cosmetic sleeve 3 The sleeve is of a hollow rectangular shape and has open ends. An aperture 38 is provided in the cosmetic sleeve 3, having three straight adjoining sides forming a partial rectangle, and a fourth semi-circular side Three recesses 39 are provided in the inner side of the cosmetic sleeve 3 adjoining semi- circular side of aperture 38, for receiving the projections 37 when the exit cover 6 is used to close the aperture 38.

Figures I Oa and 1 Ob illustrate the interior and exterior sides of the backplate 4 respectively. A substantially circular rear exhaust outlet 7 is provided in the backplate 4 A flange 50 is provided around and protruding radially inwardly from the inner circumference of the exhaust outlet 7. The flange 50 is interrupted by two circumferentially extending recesses 51 and 52 A pair of circumferentially extending slide surfaces 77 and 78 are formed in the flange 50 circumferentially adjacent to the recesses 51 and 52 respectively. The slide surfaces are slanted in the axial direction of the frame and terminate in respective abutments 79 and 80. The flange 50 and its profile provide the other half of the bayonet fitting when the duct connector 5 is fitted to the backplate 4 Figures 11 a to I lh show some of the stages involved in installing in a wall an extractor fan configured to have a rear exhaust Initially, a hole 65 is made in a wall 66 in order to provide a vent, and external grille 9 is placed over the exterior of the hole - 8 An exhaust airflow director 11 having a 90 degree bend is assembled by connecting tubing portions 12 and 13 to form a 90 degree tube To do this, the respective end faces 18 and 20 of the first and second tubing portions 12 and 13 are brought together face-to-face with the pair of tubing portions in the 90 degree configuration, and then one end face is slid relative to the other so that hooking portions 21 engage respective parts of the flange 16, thereby mating the two tubing portions to form the air flow director 11 This is then fitted within main body 10 by engagement of the clips 14 of the first tubing portion 12 with scroll tube 15 Alternatively, the airflow director 11 may be supplied pre-instal]ed in the 90 degree configuration, in which case the user does not have to carry out these steps of the procedure.

Duct connector 5 is placed over the rear exhaust outlet 7 in backplate 4 as shown in Figure 1 1 e. Flanges 23 and 25 of the bayonet fitting part of the duct connector 5 are received within recesses 51 and 52 in flange 50 of the bayonet fitting part of the rear exhaust outlet 7. Duct connector 5 is rotated to engage and lock itself in position such that the duct connector is connected to backplate 4, as shown in Figure I If. As the duct connector 5 is rotated the flanges 23 slide along slide surfaces 77 and 78 until they engage the respective abutments 79 and 80 to prevent further rotation Because the slide surfaces are slanted in the axial direction of the duct connector, they engage the flanges 23 with progressively more force in the axial direction as the duct connector is turned, thereby providing a tight fit by the time the end position is reached.

Cosmetic sleeve 3 having aperture 38 is fitted to the main body 10 of the fan as shown in Figure I Ig Exit cover 6 is slid into aperture 38 in the fan main body 10 such that pro sections 37 engage with recesses 39 in the cosmetic sleeve (Figure I] h).

Backplate 4 having duct connector 5 attached thereto is secured to the wall and then the fan main body 10 is attached to the backplate Figure 12 shows the fully assembled extractor fan installed in a wall.

Ducting 8 is located in the hole 65 in the wall 66 to be in communication with external grille 9 at one end The fan 100 is fitted over the ducting which is connected to rear exhaust outlet 7 of the fan via duct connector 5 In use, the exhaust airflow director 11 directs airflow rearwardly through rear exhaust outlet 7 in backplate 4 and into ducting 8 fitted to duct connector 5 The ducting channels the exhaust air through the wall to the exterior of the building Backdraft air is prevented from flowing from the exterior of the building mto the fan by backdraft shutter flap 33 provided over the duct connector.

Figures 13 a to 13k show some of the stages involved in installing in a wall an extractor fan configured to have a side exhaust In order to gain access to the exhaust airflow director 11, cover 1 is removed from the main body 10 as shown in Figures 13a and 13b. Should the tubing portions be preassembled to form a 90 degree tube, the exhaust airflow director 11 must be removed *om the fan main body 10 as shown in Figure 13c The portions are then disconnected by sliding the end face 20 of tubing 13 against end face 18 oftubing 12, thus disengaging hooking portions 21 from flange 16 of tubing 12, as shown in Figure 13d. The end face of one of the tubing portions is then rotated about 180 degrees with respect to the end face of the other tubing portion A straight exhaust airflow director 11 is assembled by reconnecting tubing portions 12 and 13 to form a straight tube. In order to reconnect the tubing portions, hooking portions 21 of tubing portion 13 are arranged to hook around flange 16 of tubing portion 12 Figure 13e shows how the end face of tubing 13 is slid against the end face of tubing l 2, thus causing hooking portions 21 of tubing 13 to slide along recesses l9 and engage with flange 60 oftubing 12. The straight exhaust airflow director 11 is then fitted within fan main body] 0 by use of the clips 14 engaging the scroll tube 15 As illustrated in Figure lag, hinged backdraft flap 33 is fitted over the downstream end of duct connector 5 so that hinges 35 engage with hinge receiver portions 22. However, in an embodiment wherein flexible ducting is used, the hinged backdraft flap 33 is not fitted to the duct connector Frame 26 is fitted to an edge of the backplate 4 such that the frame 26 extends at a right angle to the interior face of the backplate as shown in Figure 13h.

Cosmetic sleeve 3 having aperture 38 is fitted around the fan main body 10 which is then attached to the backplate 4, the backplate having been secured to the

- - 10

wall (Figure 13i) When the fan main body 10 and the backplate 4 are connected, frame 26 attached to the backplate slides into aperture 38 in the cosmetic sleeve Pro sections 40 of the frame engage with recesses 39 in the cosmetic sleeve.

Duct connector 5 is placed over the side exhaust outlet 61 in main body 10 as shown in Figure 13k. Flanges 23 ofthe duct connector 5 are received within recesses 28 and 29 in flange 30 of the frame 26 Duct connector 5 is rotated to engage and lock itself in position such that the duct connector becomes connected to the fan main body via frame 26 As the duct connector 5 is rotated the flanges 23 slide along slide surfaces 71 and 72 until they engage the respective abutments 73 and 74 to prevent further rotation. Because the slide surfaces are slanted in the axial direction of the duct connector, they engage the flanges 23 with progressively more force in the axial direction as the duct connector is turned, thereby providing a tight fit by the time the end position is reached.

The fully assembled fan is thus installed on a wall. The fan may be mounted at the top of the wall such that the top side exhaust aperture communicates with a ceiling space via ducting extending through the ceiling. In use, the exhaust airflow director 11 directs airflow upwardly through side exhaust outlet 61 in the top side of the fan main body 10, through aperture 38 in cosmetic sleeve 3, and into a duct fitted to duct connector 5. It may be vented via upwardly extending ducting 8 as seen in Figure 13k The extractor fan may also be surface mounted to a ceiling as illustrated in Figure 14a. Alternatively, the extractor fan may be recess mounted in a ceiling as illustrated in Figure 14b. The ceiling mounted extractor fan may be configured to have a rear exhaust as shown in Figures 14a and 14b, or a side exhaust as shown in Figure 14c. - 1 1

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. An extractor fan arranged to adopt, during installation, one of

   a plurality of configurations, wherein each configuration of the fan provides a different direction of exhaust airflow fi-om the fan 2 An extractor fan as claimed in claim 1, comprising an exhaust airflow director that is adjustable to provide the selected configuration 3 An extractor fan as claimed in claim 2, wherein the exhaust airflow director comprises two tubing portions adjustable relative to each other to provide the selected configuration 4 An extractor fan as claimed in claim 3, wherein each tubing portion has an end face at an angle of about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tubing portion, the end faces being connectable to each other.

   An extractor fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein the end faces are slidably

   connectable.

   6. An extractor fan as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a removable duct connector fixable over an outlet through which exhaust airflow is directed 7 An extractor fan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the duct connector is fixable to the main body of the fan in two respective positions selected according to the direction of exhaust airflow 8 An extractor fan as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the duct connector is fixable via a bayonet fitting - 12 9. An extractor fan as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein said duct connector comprises a hinged backdraft shutter flap An extractor fan as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one exit cover arranged to cover an outlet through which exhaust airflow is not directed.

   11. An extractor fan as claimed in any preceding claim, installed m a building to extract air from an interior space thereof.

   12. An extractor fan substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.