GB2479781A - An air brick including an automatic flood seal - Google Patents

An air brick including an automatic flood seal Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2479781A
GB2479781A GB1006786A GB201006786A GB2479781A GB 2479781 A GB2479781 A GB 2479781A GB 1006786 A GB1006786 A GB 1006786A GB 201006786 A GB201006786 A GB 201006786A GB 2479781 A GB2479781 A GB 2479781A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
air brick
air
brick
sealing means
cam
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1006786A
Other versions
GB201006786D0 (en
Inventor
Philip William Harvey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timloc Building Products Ltd
Original Assignee
Timloc Building Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timloc Building Products Ltd filed Critical Timloc Building Products Ltd
Priority to GB1006786A priority Critical patent/GB2479781A/en
Publication of GB201006786D0 publication Critical patent/GB201006786D0/en
Publication of GB2479781A publication Critical patent/GB2479781A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
    • E04B1/62—Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor
    • E04B1/70—Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents
    • E04B1/7069—Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents by ventilating
    • E04B1/7076—Air vents for walls
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
    • E04C1/39—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra
    • E04C1/392—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra for ventilating, heating or cooling
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H9/00—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate
    • E04H9/14—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate against other dangerous influences, e.g. tornadoes, floods
    • E04H9/145—Floods
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F7/00—Ventilation
    • F24F2007/0025—Ventilation using vent ports in a wall
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
    • F24F2221/52—Weather protecting means, e.g. against wind, rain or snow

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air brick with an outer body having first and second surfaces. The first surface comprising at least one first air inlet and the second surface comprising at least one second air inlet. The air brick further having an air passage exceeding between the or each first end inlet and the or each second air inlet through the body of the air brick; a fluid detection means; and a sealing means. The sealing means is adapted to seal at least one of the said at least one first air inlet and the said at least one second air inlet upon detention of fluid by fluid detection means. The sealing means may be connected to the fluid detection means, which may be a float, via an actuating means which may be a cam and actuator arrangement.

Description

Improvements in Relation to Air Bricks The present invention relates to an air brick for use in a building. In particular, the invention relates to an improved air brick adapted to provide a seal against the air inlets in the brick when the presence of water is detected, to prevent water entering the building through the air brick.
Air bricks are used in buildings to provide ventilation and ensure that air is circulated through the building, and below suspended ground floors and especially through cavity walls and the like. This prevents the build-up of damp in walls and stagnant air within under floor voids.
Air bricks comprise at least one air inlet, which is traditionally a channel running through a brick. However, these inlets provide an easy way for water, for example flood water, to enter a building and cause damage. Therefore, there is a need to provide an air brick which can prevent this easy entry of water.
It is known to provide a hollow air bricks which comprise a floating ball that floats on the surface of the water when water enters the brick, and is pushed against an inlet into the building by the pressure of the water thus preventing any water passing through the inlet. However, these devices are not always reliable.
If the floating ball develops a hole, it will fill with water, therefore it will no longer float and close the inlet.
Furthermore, the float does not seal the inlet fully due to floating debris. Therefore, even if the float is pushed into place correctly by the water, some water will still be able to seep through the inlet.
Finally, the presence of the float in the brick combined with the reduced aperture that requires sealing means that a smaller volume of air is allowed to pass through the brick under normal circumstances. The consequence of this is that far more vent bricks or air bricks of this design are required per unit of area to comply with current building regulations in the UK when compared to air bricks of a traditional design.
It is an object of the present invention to address the above and other disadvantages
associated with the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air brick comprising: an outer body having first and second surfaces, the said first surface comprising at least one first air inlet and the second surface comprising at least one second air inlet, an air passage extending between the or each first air inlet and the or each second air inlet through the body of the air brick; a fluid detection means; and a sealing means; wherein the sealing means is adapted to seal at least one of the said at least one first air inlet and the said at least one second air inlet upon detection of a fluid by the fluid detection means.
Preferably, the first and second surfaces substantially oppose each other. Preferably, the first and second surfaces are opposing surfaces of the air brick.
Preferably, the first surface of the air brick is adapted to face substantially outwardly from a building when in place in the building. Preferably, the second surface of the air brick is adapted to face substantially inwardly to a building when in place in the building.
Preferably, the first surface is releasably secured to the air brick.
Preferably, the air brick is hollow. Preferably, the body comprises a cuboidal box.
Preferably, the body is defined by the first surface, the second surface and connecting surfaces between the first surface and the second surface. Preferably, the first surface, second surface and connecting surfaces define an internal cavity in the air brick.
Preferably, the first surface and the second surface are rectangular, preferably having substantially the same dimensions. Preferably, there are four connecting surfaces between the first surface and second surface.
Preferably, the first surface of the air brick comprises a plurality of first air inlets.
Preferably, the plurality of first air inlets extends substantially over the majority of the first surface. Preferably, the first air inlets are arranged in a grid pattern.
Preferably, the or each second air inlet is located within an upper half of the second surface. Preferably, the or each second air inlet is located towards an upper edge of the second surface.
Preferably, the fluid detection means are located within the cavity of the air brick.
Preferably, the fluid detection means are operable to detect the presence of a fluid in the cavity of the air brick.
Preferably, the fluid detection means comprise a sensor. Preferably, the sensor has a 1 5 density of less than that of a liquid, more preferably of less than that of water. The sensor may comprise a hollow block, namely a float.
Preferably, the fluid detection means are adapted to float on the surface of any liquid which enters the air brick.
Preferably, the sealing means comprises a rubber seal. Preferably, the sealing means is adapted to cover and seal the or each second air inlet in the second surface of the air brick. Preferably, when sealed, the or each second air inlet prevents the flow of air or liquid therethrough.
Preferably, the seal formed by the sealing means around the said at least one first air inlet and/or at least one second air inlet is adapted to be increase as the water pressure inside the air brick increases.
Preferably, the sealing means are operable to seal any and all vent apertures in the air brick.
Preferably, the fluid detection means are connected to the sealing means. Preferably, the fluid detection means are connected to a sealing means via an actuating means.
Preferably, the actuating means comprise a cam and a cam actuator. Preferably, the cam is movably connected to the cam actuator. Preferably, the cam is operable to move from a first configuration to a second configuration within the cam actuator.
Preferably, the cam is operable to move within the cam actuator upon detection of a liquid by the liquid detection means.
Preferably, the cam actuator is a trigger arm. Preferably, the cam is a first end of the trigger arm.
Preferably, the sealing means is secured to the cam. Preferably, the sealing means is secured to the cam by a spring.
Preferably, the sealing means is under spring tension.
Preferably, the sealing means is operable to move from a first, open configuration, in which the or each second air inlet is open, to a second, sealed configuration, in which the or each second air inlet is covered and sealed by the sealing means, upon the movement of the cam in the cam actuator.
Preferably, the cam is operable to move the sealing means from the first configuration to the second configuration under spring tension.
Preferably, the sealing means remains in the second configuration until reset.
Preferably, the sealing means comprises a reset device. The reset device may be manual or automatic.
In the case of an automatic reset device, the sealing means is preferably reset once the fluid detection means detects that there is no longer liquid in the air brick.
In the case of a manual reset device, the sealing means is preferably reset by a user either through the first surface of the air brick, or by temporarily removing the first surface of the air brick.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of sealing an air inlet in an air brick, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the presence of a fluid within an air brick using a liquid detection means; and sealing an air inlet in an air brick with a sealing means upon detection of the fluid by the fluid detection means.
Preferably, the air brick, liquid detection means, and sealing means referred to in the second aspect of the invention are those described in the first aspect of the invention.
In this document, references to habovehhlhtophhlhupper and "belowIdownIlower refer to directions and positions relative to an air brick in its normal orientation for installation in a building, i.e. with the or each second air inlet presented towards the uppermost edge of the second surface.
All of the above aspects of the invention may be taken in any combination and with any aspect of the invention.
An embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated further, by way of example only, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of an air brick according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open configuration; Figure 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the components of the air brick of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an alternative exploded, perspective view of the components of the air brick of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a schematic, cross-sectional view of the air brick of Figure 1 in a sealing configuration.
Referring to the Figures, an air brick 2 according to the present invention comprises a body portion comprising a first surface 4 and a second surface 6. The first 4 and second 6 surfaces are situated substantially opposite each other. The first surface 4 is adapted to face outwardly from a building. The second surface 6 is adapted to face substantially inwardly to a building.
The first surface 4 comprises a plurality of small inlets 8. The inlets 8 are arranged in a grid system forming a plurality of substantially square-shaped inlets. The inlets 8 are adapted to allow the passage of air therethrough in normal use. However, the inlets 8 also allow the passage of water (or other fluids) therethrough.
The first surface 4 is removable from the air brick 2. This allows for the cleaning of 1 0 the internal cavity of the air brick 2, and for the resetting of the sealing means.
The second surface 6 of the air brick 2 comprises a row of inlets 10. The inlets 10 are located towards an upper edge of the second surface 6. The upper edge is defined as the edge of the second surface 6 towards which a water level would rise should water enter the air brick 2 through the inlets 8 in the first surface 4 of the air brick 2.
The inlets 10 in the second surface 6 of the air brick 2 are adapted to allow the passage of air therethrough.
The air brick 2 further comprises a float 12 adapted to float on the surface of any water entering the air brick through the inlets 8 on the first surface 4. The float 1 2 is substantially cuboidal in shape, with a shallow V along the bottom surface to aid in the buoyancy of the float 12. The float 12 is free standing in the air brick 2 between the first surface 4 and the second surface 6.
The float 12 sits below an assembly platform 14 in the air brick 2. Alternatively, the upper surface of the float 12 may define an assembly platform 14.
The assembly platform 14 comprises a base for the parts of an air brick 2 sealing means. The assembly platform 14 comprises a trigger arm 16, a locking pin arm 18, a lever arm 20 and a spring 22. These features along with a pivot arm 32, seal support plate 34 and seal 36 form the sealing means of the air brick. These features will be described in more detail below.
The trigger arm 16 is pivotally connected to the assembly platform 14 at one end 24 thereof. The distal end 26 is free to rotate about the pivoted connection 24 below the assembly platform 14. The distal end 26 of the trigger arm 16 rests on the upper surface of the float 12. The trigger arm 16 is, therefore, movable about its pivoted connection 24 by the movement of the float 12. The end 24 of the trigger arm 16 which is connected to the assembly platform 14 comprises a shoulder. The shoulder 24 has a non-uniform radius which allows the shoulder to act as a cam.
The locking pin arm 18 is held in place by the trigger arm 16. The locking pin arm 18 itself in turn holds the lever arm 20 in place under spring tension from the spring 22.
The locking pin arm 18 is adapted to release the lever arm 20 to allow the sealing means to move from a first position to a second position. The locking pin arm 18 is released when the trigger arm 16 is pushed upwards towards the assembly platform 14 by the float 12 causing the shoulder 24 of the trigger arm 16 to act as a cam.
The lever arm 18 is pivotably connected at one end 28 to the assembly platform 14 where it is held in place by the locking pin arm 18. The other end of the lever arm 18 is pivotably connected to the pivot arm 32. The pivot arm 32 is connected at its other end to the seal support plate 34.
The seal support plate 34 is pivotably secured at its top edge by a strip clamp 36. The strip clamp 36 extends along the second surface 6 of the air brick 2 at a height just above the second air inlets 10. The seal support plate 34 has a first, open position and a second, closed position.
The seal support plate 34 supports the seal 38. The seal 38 is adapted to surround and seal the second air inlets 10 when the seal support plate 34 is moved from its first position to its second position.
In use, the float 12 rests on the bottom of the cavity in the air brick 2. Upon the movement of liquid through the grid 8 in the first surface 4 into the air brick cavity, the float 12 starts to float on the surface of that liquid due to its buoyancy. The float 12 rises upwards within the cavity on the surface of the liquid, as shown in Figure 4. In the course of this movement, the upper surface of the float 12 applies pressure to the trigger arm 16.
The pressure applied to the trigger arm 16 causes the distal end 26 of the trigger arm 16 to move upwards towards the assembly platform 14. The movement of the distal end 26 of the trigger arm 16 causes the arm 16 to rotate about its pivoted connection 24 to the assembly platform 14. The rotation of the arm 16 causes the shoulder 24 of the trigger arm 16 to rotate. The non-uniform radius of the shoulder 24 causes the movement of the locking pin arm 18 to which the shoulder 24 is connected.
The movement of the locking pin arm 18 releases the end 28 of the lever arm 20 which is pivotably connected to the assembly plate 14. The end 28 of the lever arm consequently becomes free to rotate. The lever arm 20 is under spring tension from the spring 22 which is attached at one end to the lever arm 20 and at the other end to the assembly platform 14.
When the locking pin arm 18 is moved by the trigger arm 16, the spring 22 contracts to its equilibrium length. As the spring 22 contracts, the lever arm 20 is pulled towards the assembly platform 14. This causes the lever arm 20 to rotate about its pivoted connection to the assembly platform 14.
As the lever arm 20 moves towards the assembly platform 14, the pivot arm 32 also is moved towards the assembly platform 14. As the pivot arm 32 moves towards the assembly platform 14, the end of the pivot arm 32 connected to the seal support plate 34 applies pressure to the seal support plate 34.
The pressure from the pivot arm 32 causes the seal support plate 34 to rotate about the strip clamp 36. The seal support plate 34 is therefore moved towards the second surface 6 of the air brick 2 and pushes the seal 38 against the surface 6 surrounding the second air inlets 10. This configuration is shown in Figure 4.
Once the seal 38 has been brought into contact with the second surface 6 of the air brick 2, the sealing means remain in the sealing configuration until reset. Whilst the seal 38 is in place, any increase in the liquid pressure inside the air brick 2 will increase the pressure of the seal support plate 34 and seal 38 against the second surface 6. Therefore, the sealing effect is reinforced.
The resetting of the sealing means involves the movement of the seal support plate 34 away from the second surface 6 of the air brick 2 and the replacing of the locking pin arm 18 to hold the lever arm 20 in place.
The first surface 4 of the air brick 2 can be removed to facilitate the resetting and cleaning of the sealing means and the internal cavity of the air brick 2.
The sealing means itself can also be removed from the cavity of the airbrick for cleaning. This is particularly useful since it allows for the removal of mud and dirt that is commonly associated with flood water.
The device of the present invention provides a simple solution to the problem of flood water entering buildings through air bricks. The solution does not involve any electric parts and provides an effective seal on every activation.
The seal formed by the device of the present invention is not dependent on the water pressure or on any turbulent or unusual circulations or flows of water in the internal cavity of the air brick. The seal is therefore effective in every flood situation.
The device of the present invention provides a seal which remains in place after flood water has emptied out of the air brick. This prevents any mud or silt that has been left in the air brick from the flood water being transported through the second air inlet(s) by the wind or other external factors. Therefore, the device of the present invention ensures that flood damage does not occur even after the flood water has receded.
Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (49)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. An air brick comprising: an outer body having first and second surfaces, the said first surface comprising at least one first air inlet and the second surface comprising at least one second air inlet, an air passage extending between the or each first air inlet and the or each second air inlet through the body of the air brick; a fluid detection means; and a sealing means; wherein the sealing means is adapted to seal at least one of the said at least one first air inlet and the said at least one second air inlet upon detection of a fluid by the fluid detection means.
  2. 2. The air brick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces substantially oppose each other.
  3. 3. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposing surfaces of the air brick.
  4. 4. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface of the air brick is adapted to face substantially outwardly from a building when placed in the building.
  5. 5. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second surface of the air brick is adapted to face substantially inwardly to a building when in place in the building.
  6. 6. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface is releasably secured to the air brick.
  7. 7. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the air brick is hollow.
  8. 8. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises a cuboidal box.
  9. 9. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is defined by the first surface, the second surface and connecting surfaces between the first surface and the second surface.
  10. 10. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface, second surface and connecting surfaces define an internal cavity in the air brick.
  11. 11 The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface and the second surface are rectangular, preferably having substantially the same dimensions.
  12. 12. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are four connecting surfaces between the first surface and second surface.
  13. 13. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface of the air brick comprises a plurality of first air inlets.
  14. 14. The air brick as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of first air inlets extends substantially over the majority of the first surface.
  15. 15. The air brick as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein the first air inlets are arranged in a grid pattern.
  16. 16. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each second air inlet is located within an upper half of the second surface.
  17. 17. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each second air inlet is locate towards an upper edge of the second surface.
  18. 18. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means are located within the cavity of the air brick.
  19. 19. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means are operable to detect the presence of a fluid in the cavity of the air brick.
  20. 20. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means comprise a sensor.
  21. 21. The air brick as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sensor has a density of less than that of a liquid.
  22. 22. The air brick as claimed in claim 21, wherein the liquid is water.
  23. 23. The air brick as claimed in claims 20 to 22, wherein the sensor may comprise a hollow block, namely a float.
  24. 24. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means are adapted to float on the surface of any liquid which enters the air brick.
    Q
  25. 25. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means comprises a rubber seal.
  26. 26. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means is adapted to cover and seal the or each second air inlet in the second surface of the air brick.
  27. 27. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein when sealed, the or each second air inlet prevents the flow of air or liquid therethrough.
  28. 28. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the seal formed by the sealing means around the said at least one first air inlet and/or at least one second air inlet is adapted to be increase as the water pressure inside the air brick increases.
  29. 29. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means are operable to seal any and all vent apertures in the air brick.
  30. 30. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means are connected to the sealing means.
  31. 31. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid detection means are connected to the sealing means via an actuating means.
  32. 32. The air brick as claimed in claim 31, wherein the actuating means comprise a cam and a cam actuator.
  33. 33. The air brick as claimed in claim 32, wherein the cam is movably connected to the cam actuator.
  34. 34. The air brick as claimed in claim 33, wherein the cam is operable to move from a first configuration to a second configuration within the cam actuator.
  35. 35. The air brick as claimed in claims 33 to 34 wherein, the cam is operable to move within the cam actuator upon detection of a liquid by the liquid detection means.
  36. 36. The air brick as claimed in claims 32 to 35, wherein the cam actuator is a trigger arm.
  37. 37. The air brick as claimed in claims 32 to 35, wherein the cam is a first end of the trigger arm.
  38. 38. The air brick as claimed in claims 32 to 35, wherein the sealing means is secured to the cam.
  39. 39. The air brick as claimed in claim 38, wherein the sealing means is secured to the cam by a spring.
  40. 40. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means is under spring tension.
  41. 41. The air brick as claimed in claims 32 to 40, wherein the sealing means is operable to move from a first, open configuration, in which the or each second air inlet is open, to a second, sealed configuration, in which the or each second air inlet is covered and sealed by the sealing means, upon the movement of the cam in the cam actuator.
  42. 42. The air brick as claimed in claims 32 to 41, wherein the cam is operable to move the sealing means from the first configuration to the second configuration under spring tension.
  43. 43. The air brick as claimed in claims 41 to 42, wherein the sealing means remains in the second configuration until reset.
  44. 44. The air brick as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sealing means comprises a reset device.
  45. 45. The air brick as claimed in claim 44, wherein the reset device may be manual or automatic.
  46. 46. The air brick as claimed in claim 45, wherein in the case of an automatic reset device, the sealing means is reset once the fluid detection means detects that there is no longer liquid in the air brick.
  47. 47. The air brick as claimed in claim 45, wherein the case of a manual reset device, the sealing means is preferably reset by a user either through the first surface of the air brick, or by temporarily removing the first surface of the air brick.
  48. 48. A method of sealing an air inlet in an air brick, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the presence of a fluid within an air brick using a liquid detection means; and sealing an air inlet in an air brick with a sealing means upon detection of the fluid by the fluid detection means.
  49. 49. The method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the air brick is in accordance with any of claims 1 to 47.
GB1006786A 2010-04-23 2010-04-23 An air brick including an automatic flood seal Withdrawn GB2479781A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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GB2479781A true GB2479781A (en) 2011-10-26

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Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106968577A (en) * 2017-05-09 2017-07-21 重庆宜居门业有限公司 Current-limiting type is entered the room timber
GB2599480A (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-04-06 Walters David Flood defence system

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CN109750135A (en) * 2018-12-15 2019-05-14 江苏盛耐新材料有限公司 A kind of novel ventilated brick
CN111774325B (en) * 2020-05-28 2022-06-07 涡阳县沪涡多孔矸石砖有限公司 Conveyor is used in hollow brick production

Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2382374A (en) * 2000-07-26 2003-05-28 George Clark Douglas Apparatus for flood prevention
GB2410973A (en) * 2004-02-14 2005-08-17 Jack Tovey Automatic flood barrier for a building vent
GB2461754A (en) * 2008-07-17 2010-01-20 Frank Kelly Air vent for use as an air brick with a float valve and insect mesh
WO2010060705A2 (en) * 2008-11-01 2010-06-03 Kelly, John Vent

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2382374A (en) * 2000-07-26 2003-05-28 George Clark Douglas Apparatus for flood prevention
GB2410973A (en) * 2004-02-14 2005-08-17 Jack Tovey Automatic flood barrier for a building vent
GB2461754A (en) * 2008-07-17 2010-01-20 Frank Kelly Air vent for use as an air brick with a float valve and insect mesh
WO2010060705A2 (en) * 2008-11-01 2010-06-03 Kelly, John Vent

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106968577A (en) * 2017-05-09 2017-07-21 重庆宜居门业有限公司 Current-limiting type is entered the room timber
GB2599480A (en) * 2020-07-29 2022-04-06 Walters David Flood defence system

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