GB2442829A

GB2442829A - Retrofit ventilation for glazed assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2442829A
Application number: GB0717103A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Molesworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-01
Filing date: 2004-10-01
Publication date: 2008-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-01
Also published as: GB0717103D0; GB2442829B

Abstract

Glazed assembly having more than one elongate glazing component, each with a ventilation channel, the glazing components being arranged such that air can flow through the ventilation channels of two or more of the glazing components in turn, each glazing component having an air inlet and an air outlet, arranged to allow air to flow through the ventilation channels in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate glazing components and the ventilation channels being open to air flow at at least one of the longitudinal ends of the glazing components, wherein the glazing components have been retro-fitted to external surfaces of existing glazing components in the assembly, and further wherein each ventilation channel is open to air flow, between the channel and the interior of the assembly, along the entire length of at least one face and/or edge.

Description

Glazed assembly

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a glazed assembly incorporating a ventilation system, to a ventilation system for use in a glazed assembly and to a glazing component for use as part of such a ventilation system or glazed assembly.

Backmound to the invention It is known to construct glazed assemblies, for example windows, doors or more complex assemblies such as conservatories and glazed rooves, from elongate glazing components made for instance from extruded aluminium or poly vinyl chloride io (PVC). A whole range of such components is available. Glazing bars are used to hold and support glazed panels such as of glass or polycarbonate. So-called "ring beams", "eaves beams" and "wall plates" are used to attach a number of glazing bars, each carrying a glazed roof panel, to a wall such as a conservatory wall or its supporting structural wall. Ridge bars, valley gutters and the like are used to attach together a number of roof glazing bars, and the roof panels which they carry, in an appropriate arrangement to provide a complete roof assembly.

Ventilating such assemblies can be problematic, particularly those with glazed rooves where on sunny days interior temperatures can rise rapidly. Moreover security often dictates that when the assemblies are unattended, all doors and windows must be left shut, again restricting ventilation and leading to undesirable fluctuations in interior temperature and/or humidity.

It is known to incorporate so-called "trickle vents" either as part of or adjacent to door or window frames. These vents allow the passage of a small volume of air from the outside to the inside of the assembly, in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the window or door. They can also be inserted into for instance an eaves beam or a door or window sill, or into a door or window panel itself. They are incorporated as discrete elements at appropriate locations, and their installation can often be less than straightforward particularly when they have to be set into a door or window panel or a frame element.

If more powerful ventilation is required, air conditioning systems must generally be installed; these can often be cumbersome, awkward to instal, intrusive in appearance and expensive to run and maintain. Again because a large surface area of the assembly is likely to be at least partially transparent to sunlight, high power systems can be needed in order adequately to condition the air within it.

It would be desirable to provide a more efficient way of ventilating a glazed assembly, io which can be flexible as to the location of air-flow vents and if desired provide all-round-ideally continuous -ventilation, which can be easy to instal and maintain and which can be efficient and cost-effective to run.

Statements of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a glazed assembly having (a) a ventilation channel provided in an elongate glazing component which forms part of the assembly, (b) an air inlet and (c) an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow through the ventilation channel in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate glazing component.

To our knowledge, a ventilation channel has not before been integrated into a glazing component in this way, certainly not in a manner which allows air flow in a direction generally parallel to, as opposed to transversely across, the longitudinal axis of the component. Ventilation systems have previously had to be secured to the exterior of such components or to a completely separate part of a glazed assembly incorporating the components; their installation has also typically involved cutting through part of the assembly to provide the necessary air flow between the interior and exterior.

The advantage of including a ventilation channel as part of the glazing component structure is that ventilation can be provided at any point along the length of the component, and thus at virtually any position in the overall glazed assembly. If

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desired, ventilation can be provided along the entire length of a component or component section, for instance to run along the top of a window or door, or around the ring beam defining a conservatory perimeter. This can provide extremely efficient yet cost-effective air flow throughout the inside of the assembly, yet the ventilation s channels can be concealed within glazing components to give a discreet finish.

In accordance with the invention, a ventilation system can also be retro-fitted with relative ease, even to an existing glazed assembly. The invention can moreover provide ease of access to the ventilation system for repair and maintenance.

A glazed assembly according to the first aspect of the invention may for example be a glazed window, door, wall or roof assembly, but is typically a conservatory (such as of the traditional "Victorian", "Edwardian" or "lean-to" types) or a part thereof such as a glazed wall or roof.

The ventilation channel may be provided in the eaves region of the assembly, or at any other desired location for instance in a mid-height frame region (eg, in a transom or similar frame element), in a window or door sill, at floor level or in the roof.

The glazed assembly preferably comprises means for driving air flow through the ventilation channel. Such air driving means might typically comprise a fan or pump, which may for instance be electrically driven. It may be capable of driving air flow in more than one direction. The air driving means may incorporate, or be provided with, other elements such as heat exchangers, dehumidifiers, air conditioning units, heat pumps, thermostats and humidistats, as well as control means for controlling its operation for instance in response to signals received from thermostats, humidistats, timers and/or movement or light sensors. Such control means may for instance be electrical or electronic in operation.

In particular a heat pump may be used to extract heat energy from warm air inside the glazed assembly, and may be associated with means for re-directing that energy to another location such as a water heating system, for example in a house to which the glazed assembly is attached.

Elements such as air driving means, heat exchangers, stats, controls arid the like may be provided in the ventilation channel. More preferably however they are provided in one or more separate units positioned elsewhere in the glazed assembly or even outside of the assembly.

If the ventilation channel incorporates a heat exchanger, this may take the form of one or more fins positioned within the air flow region. Such fins may be made from a metal such as aluminium, or a plastics materials such as PVC. They may be coextruded with the ventilation channel, and/or with the main body of the glazing component in which the ventilation channel is provided.

The glazing component in which the ventilation channel is provided may be any type of glazing component, for example a roof glazing bar, a ring beam or eaves beam, a wall plate, a roof ridge bar, a window or door sill or a frame element such as a transom. The component need not necessarily itself carry a glazing panel or glazing bar; indeed it could be adapted to form part of a non-glazed building structure, for instance as part of a wall panel frame. It is most suitably an eaves beam, wall plate or other similar component which in use will be located in an eaves region of a glazed assembly -the component can then be used to provide ventilation around all or part of the perimeter of for instance a conservatory rather than just at its host walls or around door or window regions. Such components may be of the type which inter-engage with other glazing components (eg, roof glazing bars), ideally with a variable attachment angle. Alternatively the component may be part of a window or door frame or sill, or of a glazing frame to be incorporated in a glazed wall or roof. It may be a component capable of perfonning two or more functions -for instance, a combined eaves beam and frame element for use at the top edges of a conservatory wail.

The component wi 11 typically have a ventilation channel in addition to the structural features it would ordinarily have in order to achieve its primary function(s). The ventilation channel may however be combined with some existing feature of the component -for example, a single channel may function as both ventilation channel and glazing bead or seal receiving channel.

As a yet further alternative, the component may be separate to other components of a glazed or other assembly of which it is intended to form a part; it may in other words be provided solely for the purpose of introducing ventilation into the assembly, and adapted to be positioned adjacent another glazing or structural component or between two such components. For example, the component may be shaped to locate between an eaves beam and glazing frames forming part of a side wall below the eaves beam.

Alternatively it may be suitable for securing to the external surface of an existing glazing component -. this embodiment is of particular use when a ventilation system is to be retro-fitted to an existing glazed assembly.

The glazing component carrying the ventilation channel may be made from any suitable material such as wood, glass-reinforced fibre, aluminium, a plastics material such as uPVC, or a combination of two or more of these such as in known aluminium/PVC composite components. It is preferably made from aluminium or a PVC arid it can suitably be manufactured by extrusion.

The ventilation channel can be provided in the glazing component using known techniques, in particular by extruding for instance an aluminium, or a PVC or other plastics, component into a profile which incorporates an additional ventilation channel. In other words, the ventilation channel may be co-extruded with the rest of the glazing component or at least with the extrudable parts of it. Glazing components already include channels in which for instance glazing panels, glazing beads or seals or inter-engaging parts of other components can be located.

The ventilation channel is thus preferably integral with the rest of the glazing component, but it may alternatively be provided in the form of a separate elongate element which can be secured to the main body of the glazing component for instance using screws, bolts, adhesives and/or inter-engaging members provided on the two profiles. Where inter-engaging members are involved, the ventilation channel may be capable of "snap-fitting" or sliding onto the main component body. It may be attachable via a hinge or other means which can allow a variable attachment angle.

The ventilation channel should be so shaped and positioned that air can flow into and/or out of it, ideally from at least one location intermediate its two ends, for instance into and/or from the interior of the glazed assembly. For example the channel may be open to air flow at at least one face and/or edge, allowing air flow and also allowing easy access to instal, remove, replace or repair any elements such as heat exchangers carried within it. This open face and/or edge may constitute the air outlet and/or the air inlet for the ventilation channel. Ideally the ventilation channel is open to air flow at at least one of its ends, preferably both. The open end(s) may then be connected, either directly or indirectly, to an air source or sink such as the exterior of the glazed assembly and/or to a ventilation channel in another glazing component.

The ventilation channel may be open to air flow along its entire length, along a o portion of its length or in one or more discrete locations along its length. It may for instance have one or more apertures provided in its outer walls, preferably a series of apertures along its length, through which air can be exchanged between the ventilation channel and the interior of the glazed assembly. These apertures may be provided with removable or at least openable covers, such as slidable or hinged flaps, to improve control over the amount of air movement.

The ventilation channel may itself be provided with a removable or openable cover or cover section. The cover or cover section may contain one or more apertures as described above, again conveniently with their own covers such as slidable or hinged flaps.

In a glazed assembly according to the invention, a glazing component may be provided with or without such a cover. Conveniently the cover can be slotted into one or more appropriately shaped and positioned grooves provided in the component, preferably along its length. The cover may therefore be of a "snap-fit" type.

Additional grooves may be provided to allow more than one cover to be mounted over the ventilation channel, for instance to allow different types of filter to be mounted in the air flow. A cover may be attached via a hinge to facilitate its opening and closing.

The cover be made from for example a PVC or polycarbonate or other plastics material, or alternatively from a metal such as aluminium. Preferably it is flexible. It may suitably be curved, eg, convex, although flat covers inay also be of use. It may incorporate an air filter.

Generally speaking, any open regions of the ventilation channel may be protected by air filters, such as wire mesh or other air-permeable panels of an appropriate pore size, for instance to protect the ventilation channel from insects and/or air-borne pollutants, and/or to dehumidify or otherwise modify air flowing between the channel and the exterior of the glazing component.

The ventilation channel is preferably elongate, more preferably a continuous channel, and ideally runs the entire length of the glazing component which incorporates it.

This allows such glazing components to be mass produced by extrusion and easily cut to a desired length. It also allows ventilation to take place at a range of different positions along the length of the component.

The ventilation channel may be of any desired shape and size, depending for instance on the amount and direction of air flow it is intended to allow, and whether it is intended to accommodate additional elements such as heat exchangers. A generally square or rectangular box section may be appropriate, as may a generally C-shaped or U-shaped cross section, in each case with either square or rounded corners.

In an assembly according to the invention, a glazing component may incorporate more than one ventilation channel, for instance so as to provide air flow in different parts of the assembly and/or in different directions. Preferably the component has two ventilation channels; in this case one channel may be arranged, in use, to direct air from the exterior to the interior of the assembly and the other to extract air from inside the assembly towards its exterior. However it is also possible for two or more ventilation channels in the same glazing component to allow air flow in the same direction, or for both to be capable of directing air in more than one direction depending for instance on the operation of associated air driving means.

The glazing component may have one channel which in use can direct air flow generally upwardly, and another which in use can direct air flow generally downwardly. Either of these could of course be wholly or partially blocked off if desired. Other arrangements are possible, such as forwardly directed ventilation channel(s), ie, channels having a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of adjacent glazing panels.

In general any ventilation channel, and/or its cover(s), may be so shaped and positioned as to direct air flow in any desired direction, The ventilation channel may for instance be open to air flow in more than one direction. Additional air-directing components such as baffles may be provided with the glazing component, and these S may be adjustable in position.

The glazing component may include meaas for receiving additional air-directing components, such as baffles or plates. Such air-directing components may be secured to the glazing component for instance via inter-engaging elements on the two profiles, such as hooks and flanges or flanges and grooves. They may serve generally to enhance the appearance of the overall ventilation system, for example by concealing fixings.

The ventilation channel may additionally function as a lighting channel, being adapted to accommodate a light source within it. It may be adapted to house other elements such as power supply cables. Alternatively a glazing component within the assembly may have both ventilation and lighting and/or cable channels.

Ideally an assembly according to the invention will comprise more than one glazing component, each of which has a ventilation channel, these components preferably being arranged such that air can flow through the ventilation channels of two or more of, conveniently each of, the glazing components in turn The glazing components may for example be arranged end to end, with their ventilation channels connected so that air may flow from the downstream end of one ventilation channel into the upstream end of another, the flow being in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of each glazing component it passes through. Two or more, preferably three or more, more preferably four or five or six or more and on occasions up to ten, fifteen or twenty or more glazing components, and their respective ventilation channels, may be arranged in this way.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, ventilation channels are provided in a series of glazing components arranged end to end around at least part of the perimeter of the glazed assembly, such that air can flow continuously around that part of the perimeter through the ventilation channels. In this embodiment the glazing

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components will typically be eaves beams, ring beams or wall plates, although they may be window or wall frame components.

Especially when the assembly includes several connected ventilation channels as described above, elements such as fans, filters, heat exchangers, stats and other controls may be positioned at either or both of the furthest ends, for example where an eaves beam or similar glazing component attaches to a host wall against which a glazed assembly such as a conservatory is positioned. It is preferably at these locations that one or more primary air inlets/outlets are provided, which primary inlets/outlets allow air flow into or out of the ventilation channel(s) provided in the glazing component(s). A primary air inlet/outlet may take the form of a duct, in the simplest case a channel provided as part of a glazing component (for instance analogous to the ventilation channels described above), and ideally allows air flow between the exterior of the assembly and internally located ventilation channels. Fans and other additional elements may be positioned in or adjacent a primary air inlet/outlet. More than one primary inlet/outlet may be provided, for instance at both ends of, and/or at intervals around, a ventilated eaves beam arrangement.

Such a ventilation system may therefore include air driving means at either or both ends of the series of connected ventilation channels. The air driving means is conveniently able to direct air in more than one direction through the connected channels, for instance either to extract air from or to blow air into the interior of the glazed assembly according to requirements. Optional elements such as heat exchangers, dehumidifiers, stats and the like may be provided with such air driving means. Alternatively an open end of the series of connected channels may simply be provided with an air filter.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, one driving means may be connected to a first series of connected ventilation channels and another to a second series of connected ventilation channels, for instance so as to allow air to be extracted from the interior of the assembly via the first series of channels and directed into the interior from outside via the second series of channels. In this embodiment the glazing components which carry the ventilation channels may each include two channels, one forming part of the first series and the other forming part of the second series.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a ventilation system for use in a glazed assembly, the system comprising (a) at least one elongate glazing component with a ventilation channel provided in it, (b) an air inlet and (c) an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow, when the ventilation system is in use in a glazed assembly, through the ventilation channel in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate glazing component.

Preferred features of the second aspect of the invention may be as described above in connection with the first aspect. In particular, the ventilation system preferably comprises more than one ventilation channel carrying glazing component, which are Jo or which can be arranged adjacent one another with connecting ventilation channels.

The system may include additional elements such as fans, heat exchangers, dehumidiflers, air conditioning units, heat pumps, thermostats, humidistats and the like, which may be provided in, or connected to, ventilation channel(s).

A third aspect of the invention provides a glazing component for use as part of a glazed assembly according to the first aspect or a ventilation system according to the second, the glazing component comprising (a) a ventilation channel, (b) an air inlet and (c) an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow, when the glazing component is in use as part of a glazed assembly, through the ventilation channel in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glazing component.

Again, preferred features of this third aspect may be as described above in connection with the first and second aspects. In particular the ventilation channel may contain, or may be adapted to contain, elements such as heat exchangers to form part of an overall ventilation system.

A glazing component according to the invention may include other features such as are conventionally incorporated in glazing components, for example thermal breaks or barriers, condensation covers, reinforcing elements such as internal steel reinforcing plates, glazing beads or seals, end caps, screw ports or other fixing elements, window or door furniture and/or security fittings, or regions (such as appropriately profiled channels, hooks, flanges or hinge members) adapted to accommodate or otherwise to be attached to such additional elements.

The glazing component can in use be secured to adjacent glazing components in any suitable manner, for example using fixing means such as screws, using an appropriate adhesive and/or via inter-engaging portions provided as part of the profiles of the component of the invention and another component it has to be secured to. Again the attachment may be hinged. Ideally the component of the invention is so profiled as to conceal such fixings, or can carry additional concealing components for that purpose.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following examples. Generally speaking the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims and drawings). Moreover unless stated otherwise, any feature disclosed herein may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same or a similar purpose.

Is The present invention will now be descnbed by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, of which: Fig I is a part plan view of a glazed conservatory incorporating a ventilation system in accordance with the invention; Fig 2 is a part section through the eaves region of the Fig I conservatory; Figs 3 and 5 to 7 are part sections through the eaves regions of other glazed conservatories according to the invention; and Figs 4 and 8 are sections through alternative glazing components for use in for instance the Fig I conservatory.

All drawings are schematic.

Detailed description

The conservatory 1 shown in Fig 1 is attached to a host wall 2 such as the external wall of a house. Around its perimeter a number of elongate eaves beam components 3 are attached together with mitred corners. These eaves beams contain ventilation channels, as seen in Fig 2, which are connected end to end so as to allow air to flow continuously around the entire eaves beam perimeter.

At one side of the assembly a control unit 4 communicates with one end of the eaves beam ventilation channels. The unit 4 contains a fan (not shown), ideally with heat exchangers, and allows air flow between the outside 5 of the conservatory and the eaves beam ventilation channels. The ventilation channels in turn allow air flow into io or out of the interior 6 of the conservatory.

In this case the fan can operate either to draw air from the outside into the conservatory, or to extract air from the inside of the conservatory.

Fig 2 is a schematic transverse section through part of the eaves region of the Fig 1 conservatory. It shows the eaves beam component 3 positioned above a glazed window/wall region 10 of the conservatory. The wall plate carries roof glazing bars such as 11, which in turn carry glazed roof panels 12 such as of glass or polycarbonate.

The eaves beam 3 is constructed in accordance with the present invention. In addition to that part which engages, in conventional fashion, with the roof bar 11, the beam also has two integral ventilation channels 13,14, which in use are located inside the conservatory. Channel 13 provides ventilation in a generally upwards direction, channel 14 generally downwards.

In use, channels 13 and 14 may be connected, either directly or indirectly, to one or more fans such as in unit 4 of Fig 1, which can drive air flow through the channels either into or out of the glazed assembly. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the upper channels 13 of the eaves beams are all connected (again, either directly or indirectly) to a first fan and the lower channels 14 to a second fan, so that air can be driven in different directions through the two series of connected channels.

The ventilation channels 13,14 have air filter panels 15,16 held in place in grooves 17 provided in the eaves beam profile. These panels are removable so as to allow access to the ventilation channel for maintenance and repair or to allow their replacement.

They may be made for example from a flexible plastics or metal mesh material, their flexibility facilitating their removal and re-fitting.

Additional grooves 18 may be used to hold baffles, typically elongate baffle plates, to direct air flow and/or to improve the outward appearance of the eaves beam (for instance to conceal fixings).

The component 3 is elongate and has the same transverse cross section along its entire length. It is manufactured by extrusion, preferably from aluminium or a PVC, and can be cut to a desired length prior to assembly of the conservatory which incorporates it. The provision of integral ventilation channels is relatively straightforward by altering the profile of the component at the extrusion stage, yet is an extremely efficient and cost-effective way of introducing a ventilation system into the finished assembly. The result is an aesthetically pleasing, neat and unobtrusive ventilation arrangement, which can be used to provide eaves-level ventilation around all or part of the conservatory perimeter.

Integral filter/baffle holding grooves 17 and 18 are also co-extruded with the main body of the component 3.

Component 3 is secured to the walllwindow frames 10 and the roof bar 11 in entirely conventional fashion, typically using fixing screws driven through the components at intervals along their lengths or (in the case ofthe roof bar connection) via the inter-engaging ball and socket-type connection shown at 19.

Ventilation channels similar to 13 and 14 may be incorporated into other glazing components, such as for example window or door frames, roof glazing bars or ridge bars.

As an alternative to the "open" ventilation channels shown in Fig 2, with filter inserts, the channels may instead be manufactured closed and then appropriate parts of their outer walls (for instance, all or part of one face and/or edge region, or alternatively one or more apertures) machined away to allow air flow.

Fig 3 shows part of a conservatory similar to that of Figs I and 2, but in this case the eaves beam 21 is of standard design and the ventilation channels are provided in a separate glazing component 22 located between the eaves beam and the window/wall frames 23. The eaves beam 21 supports roof bars such as 24 which in turn carry roof panels such as 25.

The separate ventilation component 22 has two integral ventilation channels 26,27, one directed upwardly and one downwardly. Again the channels cany filter panels 28,29 which can suitably be "snap-fitted" into grooves 30. Additional grooves 31 allow for baffles and similar elements to be secured to the top and bottom of the component.

Component 22, like the component 3 in Fig 2, is an elongate plastics (typically PVC) or aluminium extrusion of constant cross section along its length. It can be secured to the eaves beam 21 and to the window/wall frames 23 in conventional fashion, typically using screws. Its manufacture can be as described for the component 3 shown in Fig 2.

An alternative form of separate ventilation component is shown as 41 in Fig 4. It comprises a flange 42 for securing between for instance an eaves beam and a window/wall frame component, and integrally extruded ventilation channels 43,44.

Again the ventilation channels have filters 45,46. This component can be secured to adjacent glazing components via flange 42, through which a screw may be driven for instance from a frame element and into the lower part of an eaves beam.

Alternatively screws may be driven through the back walls of the ventilation channels, prior to installation of their filters.

Fig 5 shows a ventilation component 51, also in accordance with the invention, which can be added to an existing glazed assembly so as to "retro-fit" a ventilation system.

Component 51, also formed in this case from extruded PVC or aluminium, has two integral ventilation channels 52,53 and filter panels 54,55. it also incorporates an upper flange 56 through which a screw or other fixing (not shown) may be driven to attach the component to in this case an eaves beam or wall plate 57. The flange 56 may be integral with the main body of the component, as shown, or a separate element attached to it. It may be continuous along all or part of the length of the glazing component, or alternatively several discrete fixing plates may be provided at intervals along the component. Again such plates or flanges may be made from any suitable material, for instance aluminium or a PVC. The fixing region is ideally concealed from the intended user, for instance by an elongate plate (not shown) held in top groove 58.

o Alternatively component 51 can be secured to the existing assembly (shown in Fig 5 as including eaves beam 57, side window/wall frames 62, roof glazing bar 63 and roof panel 64) by means of screws driven through the back walls 65 of the ventilation channels, prior to fitting their removable filter panels 54,55.

Alternative glazing components in accordance with the invention are illustrated in is Figs 6 to 8. That shown as 71 in Fig 6 is an eaves beam/wall plate having two ventilation channels 72,73. Both channels are closed along their length but provided with spaced apertures (not shown) to provide a series of discrete ventilation points; these apertures may for instance be drilled into the component following its extrusion.

Continuous elongate filter panels 74,75 are held in grooves 76 so as to filter air across all the apertures. "Hit-miss" type slidable flaps, or indeed any other form of reversible closure mechanism, may be provided above each aperture so as to open and close it according to requirements. The filter panels may also be provided as a series of discrete panels positioned at appropriate points along the channel, rather than as continuous panels as shown.

The component 81 in Fig 7 is adapted to locate between an eaves beam or wall plate such as 82 and a window or wall frame 83, and has two integral ventilation channels 84,85 with filter panels 86,87. These channels face generally forwards in normal use.

The filter-receiving grooves of the component 81 are shaped to facilitate "snap-fitting" of the filter panels. For each filter, the upper grooves 88 are deeper than the lower ones 89, allowing the user firstly to insert the upper filter panel edges into the deeper grooves and then to drop the lower panel edges into the shallower grooves so as to secure the panels in position. This arrangement can be adopted in any ventilation component according to the invention, and may be of particular use with less flexible filter panels.

Fig 8 shows how a glazing component according to the invention (for instance, any of the components shown in the previous figures) may contain heat exchanging elements within its ventilation channel(s). Glazing component 91 has two ventilation channels 92,93 and integral, in this case co-extruded, aluminium or PVC heat exchanging fins 94. Similar heat exchangers may of course be provided as separate elements for insertion into ventilation channels.

Where heat exchangers are present within a ventilation channel, it may be necessary to provide drainage routes for condensed moisture accumulating on the exchanger fins.

A glazing component in accordance with the invention is preferably open at at least one, ideally both, of its longitudinal ends. It can then be connected end to end with similar glazing components and air can flow through the ventilation channels of all connected components. Depending on the direction of air flow, an open end of the component may function as the air inlet and/or outlet. Similarly any open regions of the ventilation channel(s) intermediate the two longitudinal ends may function as either air inlet and/or outlet since they permit air flow between the ventilation channel(s) and the interior of the glazed assembly.

It can be seen from the above examples that the present invention provides an extremely versatile form of ventilation, allowing vents to be positioned -even by retro-fitting -at any location along the length of a glazing component, or if desired for continuous venting to be installed around key frame areas such as the eaves.

Ventilation components according to the invention can be incorporated in a glazed assembly without compromising either its appearance or more importantly its structural integrity -they need not, for example, interfere with internal reinforcing plates, drainage channels or thermal barriers.

Claims

Claims 1. A glazed assembly having more than one elongate glazing

component, each of which has a ventilation channel, the glazing components being arranged such that air can flow through the ventilation channels of two or more of, or each of, the glazing components in turn, each elongate glazing component having an air inlet and an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow through the ventilation channels in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate glazing components and the ventilation channels being open to air flow at at least one of the longitudinal ends of the glazing components, wherein the glazing components have been retro-fitted to external surfaces of existing glazing components in the assembly, and further wherein each ventilation channel is open to air flow, between the channel and the interior of the assembly, along the entire length of at least one face and/or edge.
2. A glazed assembly according to claim 1, which is a conservatory or part thereof.
3. A glazed assembly according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the ventilation channels are provided in an eaves region of the assembly.
4. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, which compnses air driving means for driving air flow through the ventilation channels.
5. A glazed assembly according to claim 4, wherein the air driving means is capable of driving air flow in more than one direction.
6. A glazed assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the air driving means incorporates a heat exchanger.
7. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the ventilation channels incorporates a heat exchanger.
8. A glazed assembly according to claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger takes the form of one or more fins positioned within the ventilation channel.
9. A glazed assembly according to claim 8, wherein the fins are co-extruded with the ventilation channel, and/or with the main body of the elongate glazing component.
10. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate glazing components are made from aluminium or a poly vinyl chloride (PVC).
11. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate glazing components are manufactured by extrusion.
12. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation channels are integral with the rest of the elongate glazing components.
13. A glazed assembly according to claim 12, wherein the ventilation channels are co-extruded with the rest of the glazing components or at least with extrudable parts of the components.
14. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an open region of a ventilation channel is protected by an air filter.
15. A glazed assembly according to claim 14, wherein the air filter is removable and can be "snap-fitted" into grooves provided in the elongate glazing component.
16. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation channels are continuous channels running the entire length of their respective elongate glazing components
17. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an elongate glazing component has more than one ventilation channel.
18. A glazed assembly according to claim 17, wherein the elongate glazing component has two ventilation channels.
19. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an elongate glazing component includes means for receiving additional air-directing components.
20. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an elongate glazing component includes both a ventilation channel and a lighting channel, the lighting channel being adapted to accommodate a light source within it.
21. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a ventilation channel is provided with a removable or openable cover.
22. A glazed assembly according to claim 21, wherein the cover can be slotted into one or more appropnately shaped and positioned grooves provided in the glazing component which carries the ventilation channel.
23. A glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of connected ventilation channels are provided in a series of elongate glazing components arranged end to end around at least part of the perimeter of the assembly, such that air can flow continuously around that part of the perimeter through the ventilation channels.
24. A glazed assembly according to claim 23, wherein elements such as fans, heat exchangers, thermostats and controls are positioned at one of the furthest ends of the plurality of connected ventilation channels, at a location where an eaves beam or similar glazing component attaches to a host wall against which the assembly is positioned.
25. A glazed assembly according to claim 23 or claim 24, comprising a primary air inlet/outlet duct through which air can flow between the ventilation channels and the exterior of the assembly, the primary air inlet/outlet duct being positioned at the furthest end of the plurality of connected ventilation channels, at a location where an eaves beam or similar glazing component attaches to a host wall against which the assembly is positioned.
26. A glazed assembly according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein each glazing component in the series has both first and second ventilation channels, the first ventilation channels all being arranged end to end and connected so that air can flow continuously through them and the second ventilation channels all being arranged end to end and connected so that air can flow continuously through them, the assembly further comprising first air driving means connected either directly or indirectly to the first ventilation channels and second air driving means connected either directly or indirectly to the second ventilation channels.
27. A glazed assembly which is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
28. A ventilation system for use in a glazed assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the system comprising more than one elongate glazing component, each of which has a ventilation channel, the glazing components being arranged such that air can flow through the ventilation channels of two or more of, conveniently each of, the glazing components in turn, each elongate glazing component having an air inlet and an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow, when the ventilation system is in use in a glazed assembly, through the ventilation channels in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate glazing component, and the ventilation channels being open to air flow at at least one of the longitudinal ends of the glazing components, wherein the glazing components are capable of being retro-fitted to external surfaces of existing glazing components in the assembly, and further wherein each ventilation channel is open to air flow, between the channel and the interior of the assembly, along the entire length of at least one face and/or edge.
29. A ventilation system for use in a glazed assembly, which ventilation system is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.
30. An elongate glazing component for use as part of a glazed assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 27 andior a ventilation system according to either claim 28 or claim 29, the glazing component comprising (a) a ventilation channel, (b) an air inlet and (c) an air outlet, the inlet and outlet being arranged to allow air to flow, when the glazing component is in use as part of a glazed assembly, through the ventilation channel in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glazing component, and the ventilation channel being open to air flow at at least one of its longitudinal ends, wherein the glazing component is capable of being retro-fitted to external surfaces of existing glazing components in the assembly, and further wherein each ventilation channel is open to air flow, between the channel and the interior of the assembly in use, along the entire length of at least one face andlor edge.
31. An elongate glazing component having a ventilation channel, which component is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.