GB2465338A

GB2465338A - Combined light and ventilation device

Info

Publication number: GB2465338A
Application number: GB0820642A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil David Williams
Original assignee: Applied Energy Products Ltd
Current assignee: Applied Energy Products Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-12
Filing date: 2008-11-12
Publication date: 2010-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-12
Also published as: GB2465338B; GB0820642D0

Abstract

A combined light and ventilation device (10, fig 1) for extracting air from a room comprises a plate 12 used to mount the device (10) on a structural surface (wall or ceiling) of the room, a fan comprising of a motor 18 and an impeller 20 drawing air through the device (10), a circuit board 24 having at least one light emitting diode (26, fig 3) to provide light to the room through a translucent cover 30, which also protects the circuit board 24 from moisture. The diode(s) (26) may be arranged in an array at the periphery of the circuit board 24 and the circuit board (52, fig 5) may have diodes (54 and 64) at the centre and periphery of the board (52). The light source may be obscured from direct view (fig 2) and the central diodes (54) may be viewed directly through a conical reflector (60). The diodes (26, 54, 64) may be different colours.

Description

This invention relates fans for extracting air from a room, in particular it relates to in wall mounted duct fans having integral lighting.

Wall mounted duct fans are known in the art and are commonly used in such applications as bathrooms where a flush mounted wall unit is required. The fans are then ducted to carry the air (and often water vapour) to expel it at a remote location.

In some instances it is beneficial to have a light located in the wall mounting.

Traditionally this is achieved by separating the air inlet from the fan and having an inlet mounting having a light and a in duct fan located further up the duct.

Typically the lights used are incandescent bulbs which produce a directional light source, directed outwards from the fitting. These fittings are commonly mounted above a shower to both light the shower and extract water vapour therefrom.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an alternative duct fan having integral lighting.

According to the present invention there is provided a duct fan unit comprising: a wall mounting plate, by which the fan can be attached to a wall; a motor, an impeller, to draw air thought the fan unit, and a circuit board having a plurality of LED's arranged thereon, said motor, impeller and circuit board recessed from said wall mounting plate; and an at least partially translucent cover to protect the circuit board from moisture.

Preferably the LED's are arranged at the exterior of the circuit board and are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular the axis of the fan. The LED's may be arranged to emit light to reflect off as internal wall, or other internal component, of the duct fan unit. The LED's may be mounted substantially radially.

Preferably the cover comprises a substantially tubular section and an end face and wherein at least the substantially tubular section is translucent.

By arranging the LED's perpendicular to the axis of the fan and having a cover having a translucent tubular section surrounding it, light emitted from the LED's can escape perpendicular the axis of the fan into the recessed interior of the fan.

In a preferred arrangement the cover comprises a substantially tubular section and an end face and wherein at least end face is translucent. In this arrangement light can escape axially from the unit.

In one preferred arrangement the substantially tubular section is recessed and the end face is opaque such that, in use, light emitting from the LED's only lights the interior of the duct in the vicinity of the impeller and motor. In this arrangement light is not emitted directly outwardly from the fan unit.

Alternatively the end face may be translucent to allow some light to escape in an axial direction to enhance the illumination provided by the unit. The end face may be made of a material having a lower translucence than the tubular section.

Preferably, in use, light emitted from the LED's is emitted internally within the fan unit and the light source is obscured from direct view. This enables the user to look directly at the fan unit when in use without the light shining directly in the users eyes. Not only is this more subdued lighting effect less harsh on the user but it allows the user to see up into the duct, which is illuminated which may have advantages, e.g. if the user is unsure if the impeller is turning this arrangement will allow that area of the fan to be more easily viewed.

The duct may have the light source is arranged to give the effect of an internal glow within the fan ducting. In this manner, the fan light can double as a night light so that it can be turned on in the night to give enough illumination for the user to see by, but will not create a harsh lighting. A further effect of this lighting is that the ambient lighting is also considered beneficial in increasing the visual appeal of the fan units which are generally considered functional rather than aesthetical.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembled duct fan according to the invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a fan in accordance to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows the detail of the PCB of the first embodiment; Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a fan in accordance to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 shows the detail of the PCB of the second embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a Duct fan 10 is shown comprising a wall mounting plate 12 having mounting holes 14 at the corners thereof. A body 16 attaches to the rear of the mounting plate and has a tubular exterior profile for, in use, receiving a conduit or flexible ducting thereon. A motor 18 and an impeller 20, which is driven by the motor 18, are located within the rear of the body 16. In use the motor 18 drives the impeller to draw air through the duct fan 10. Facing towards the inlet end, the body has a mounting section 22 for recessed therein for receiving a circuit board 24. The circuit board has mounted thereon an array of LEDs 26 arranged around its perimeter, orientated generally parallel to the board such that the majority of the light is emitted radially from the board 24. The circuit board may of course, in addition to the LEDs carry other circuitry for the control of the unit, for example timing circuits. Surrounding the board is a cover 28 which comprises a wall section 30 and an end section 32. The wall section 30 is made of a translucent material such that light can escape thererthrough, from the LEDs, and the end section 32 is made of an opaque material substantially blocking the passage of light therethrough. A front cover 34 having a central opening 36, affixes over the wall mounting plate, preventing access to the interior of the fan when in use. The end section 32 of the cover aligns with the central opening 36 in the front cover 34 when assembled. In use, light from the LEDs 26 passes through the wall section 30 within the body 16 and creates a glow therein that is visible through the front cover giving a soft and diffuse light. As the end section is opaque, even when directly looked at the actual light source is obscured thereby preventing it shining in a users eye. The LEDs 26 may be white but are preferably coloured. It is anticipated that the LEDs 26 could be programmed to change colour, either on demand or automatically on a time sequence. As the light source is internal to the fan 10, it is in close proximity to the motor 18 that, in use creates a lot of heat. The use of LEDs 26 ensures that the light source does not contribute to problems associated with dissipation of heat from the unit, as they are far more efficient than incandescent bulbs, which would quickly overheat in such an enclosed space.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 an alternative fan unit 50 is shown having a largely similar construction to that described above. The circuit board 52 has a central light source comprising a small cluster of LEDs 54 extending therefrom in an axial direction. A cover 56 covers the circuit board 52 and prevents it from being directly in the air flow path entering the fan unit. The cover 56 comprises a wall section 58 a reflector 60 and an end section 62. The reflector 60 is substantially conical in shape when assembled, sits between the circuit board 52 and the end section 62 such that light emitting from the central light source 54 is directed towards the end section 62, which is made of a translucent or semi translucent material, such that a light emits axially from the fan unit 50. In a variation of this embodiment, the circuit board 52 can have additional LEDs 64 around its periphery and the wall section 60 of the cover 56 may be made of a translucent material so that, in addition to light emitting from the end section 62, a soft light also emits from within the ducting. The LED's at the centre 54 and around the periphery 64 can be different colours, either one colour or differing colours enabling the colour of the light to be changed. In particular groups of red, green and blue LED's may be used to generate intermittent colours.

As the LEDs of this invention are integral with an existing circuit board the unit is of a reduced complexity and a consumable part (the light bulb) of pre existing designs is avoided as the life of the LED's can exceed the life of the motor. Not only does this give improved lifetime cost as repeat purchases are avoided but reduces the maintenance time needed in changing bulb.

Claims

Claims I A duct fan unit comprising: a wall mounting plate, by which the fan can be attached to a wall; a motor, an impeller, to draw air thought the fan unit, and a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs arranged thereon, said motor, impeller and circuit board recessed from said wall mounting plate; and an at least partially translucent cover to protect the circuit board from moisture.
2 A duct fan according to claim 1 wherein the LEDs are arranged at the periphery of the circuit board and are arranged in a direction perpendicular the axis of the fan.
3 A duct fan according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cover comprises a substantially tubular section and an end face and wherein at least the substantially tubular section is translucent.
4 A duct fan according to claim any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cover comprises a substantially tubular section and an end face and wherein at least end face is translucent.
A duct fan according to claim 3 wherein the substantially tubular section is recessed and the end face is opaque such that, in use, light emitting from the LEDs lights the interior of the duct in the vicinity of the impeller and motor.
6 A duct fan according to claim 5 wherein light is not emitted directly outwardly from the fan unit.
7 A duct fan according to claim 1 wherein, in use light emitted from the LEDs is emitted internally within the fan unit.
8 A duct fan according to claim 7 wherein, in use, the light source is obscured from direct view.
9 A duct fan according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the light source is arranged to give the effect of an internal glow within the fan ducting.
A duct fan according to claim I wherein the LEDs are arranged substantially at the centre of the circuit board.
11 A duct fan according to claims 4 and 10 further comprising a reflector arranged for directing light from said LEDs in the centre of the board towards said end face.
12 A duct fan according to 11 when dependant on claims 2 and 3 wherein the centrally arranged LEDs and the LEDs at eh periphery of the circuit board have different colours.