GB2545891A

GB2545891A - Improvements in or relating to organic material

Info

Publication number: GB2545891A
Application number: GB1521118.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Maton Gary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-11-30
Filing date: 2015-11-30
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Also published as: GB201521118D0

Abstract

A ventilation outlet 10 comprises a vent 22 and a ventilation pipe fitting 30 which is shaped to connect to a standard plumbing pipe. The vent 22 may be provided on a plate 20 with mounting holes 28 to allow the outlet 10 to be used on an internal wall of a building. The vent 22 may have baffles 26 forming vent openings. The vent opening may be closable and the ventilation outlet 10 may be used for trickle ventilation. A ventilation system (60, Fig. 12) comprising a ventilation outlet (61, Fig. 12) and one or more ventilation pipes (62, Fig. 12), and a ventilation connector 50 comprising a ventilation pipe fitting 52, a frustoconical flow section 54 and a ventilator adapter 56 is also claimed. The ventilation system (60, Fig. 12) may comprise a positive input ventilation device such as an extractor fan.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ORGANIC MATERIAL

[001] The invention provides a ventilation outlet, ventilation adaptor and ventilation system which is suitable for use in providing ventilation in a building.

[002] Modern housing is designed to be as energy efficient as possible with well fitted triple glazed windows, uPVC front doors and wall insulation. Under the Building Regulations, adequate ventilation must be installed in new builds. However in practice, this ventilation is often insufficient. These problems are amplified further when older housing is retrofitted with energy saving measures which have no provisions for additional ventilation. For example, new well fitted windows and doors, blocking up chimneys, installing loft insulation which prevents ventilation from soffits, and so on. As a result, many houses are suffering from condensation and mould.

[003] Currently, there are three common methods of adding additional ventilation in a building which are to install one or more of a staggered airbrick, a 100mm-150mm circular vent or a ‘trickle vent' in a window. Installing a staggered airbrick is labour intensive and requires a lot of making good in terms of patching plaster, repairing render, cutting bricks, and so on. It has the advantage that as the airbricks are staggered, there is no direct/horizontal passage through the wall which reduces cold draughts from wind impinging on the external airbrick.

[004] Installing a 100mm-150mm circular vent is easier than the staggered airbrick but requires a large and powerful core-drill which is often beyond the equipment of a normal tradesman and unlikely to be available to a homeowner. Circular 100mm-150mm vents are horizontal and so whenever the wind blows against the vent, there will be a cold draught indoors. External 100mm-150mm vent covers, which are designed to prevent draughts, often do not work well in practice.

[005] Installing trickle vents in windows is a good solution to prevent condensation on windows whilst still allowing a room to retain warmth. Unfortunately, trickle vents are difficult to install as the common method is to drill a horizontal row of small holes before covering them with a cowl. This is a difficult job for a tradesman as it is hard to do accurately because for upstairs windows, it requires a lot of time spent up a ladder. The cost of making a mistake is very high as windows are expensive to replace. Furthermore, not all windows are suitable but this may only become known once a first hole has been drilled.

[006] A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

[007] According to the invention there is provided a ventilation outlet comprising a vent and a ventilation pipe fitting wherein the pipe fitting is shaped to connect to a standard plumbing pipe.

[008] According to the invention there is further provided a ventilation connector comprising a ventilation pipe fitting which is shaped to connect to a standard plumbing pipe, a flow section and a ventilator adaptor which is shaped to connect to a standard ventilation pipe.

[009] According to the invention there is also provided a ventilation system comprising one or more ventilation outlets according to the invention and one or more ventilation pipes and/or accessories.

[0010] The advantages of the invention include that the ventilation system allows easy installation of ventilation which is suitable for helping with the problems of condensation and mould. By shaping the pipe fittings used in the invention to connect to standard plumbing pipes, advantages include that such plumbing pipes are widely available, low cost, have a wide range of accessories (such as elbow joints and T-shaped connectors), easy to work with and to install, available in different lengths and different types of material, proven for environment (for example they are UV stable, temperature stable, rugged and suitable for use with condensate), easier to drill holes for a standard plumbing pipe (typically 30mm to 60mm diameter) than a standard ventilation pipe (typically 100mm to 150mm diameter), and suitable size for use in ceiling voids or under floorboards and when used with a fan, smaller bore pipes have a higher velocity of airflow and are therefore less likely to have build-up of condensates.

[0011] In some embodiments, the ventilation outlet according to the invention may be suitable for use in providing trickle ventilation. Trickle ventilation is a form of ventilation having a low air flow rate suitable for use in an airtight home, for example a home having double glazing, sealed chimneys, loft insulation and airtight windows and doors. For example, trickle ventilation has a typical flow rate of not less than 0.3 litres per second per square metre of floor space in a building. A person of skill in the art would be aware of a suitable flow rate from Part F of the UK Building Regulations.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ventilation outlet may have a plate which provides the vent. In some embodiments, the plate may have a square or rectangular shape and may form one or more holes such that the ventilation outlet can be mounted on a wall. In an alternative embodiment, the ventilation outlet may be a pipe-mounted ventilation outlet; for example the ventilation outlet may be shaped to be supported by a standard plumbing pipe.

[0013] In some embodiments, the vent may have one or more baffles which form vent openings; a baffle may be a waffle shaped baffle, radial baffle, annular baffle, elongate optionally horizontal baffle, angled baffle, sectional baffle and/or lattice baffle. In some embodiments, the baffle may be a protective baffle to protect the outlet from damage or from ingress of matter such as water or dust. In some embodiments, the baffle may be a control baffle to control airflow. In some embodiments, a baffle may be a shaped baffle to improve the aesthetics of the outlet. In some embodiments, a vent opening may be closable; in some embodiments, a closable vent opening may have a control to provide a variable degree of closure.

[0014] In some embodiments, the ventilation outlet may be an internal ventilation inlet suitable for use on an internal surface of a building. Alternatively, the ventilation outlet may be an external ventilation outlet suitable for use on an external surface of a building.

[0015] In some embodiments, the ventilation outlet may have two or more ventilation pipe fittings connected to a single vent. Alternatively, the ventilation outlet may have two or more ventilation pipe fittings each connected to a separate vent.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ventilation pipe fitting may be shaped to engage with an external or internal surface of a standard plumbing pipe having a diameter of from 30mm to 60mm. For example, a ventilation pipe fitting may be shaped to engage with a polypropylene waste pipe according to British Standard BS5254:1976 and may have an external diameter of 34.6mm, 41.0mm or 54.1mm. Alternatively, a ventilation pipe fitting may be shaped to engage with a thermoplastic waste pipe according to British Standard BS5255:1989 and may have an external diameter of 36.3mm, 38.25mm, 44.6mm, 42.9mm, 55.9mm or 57.3mm.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ventilator adaptor of the ventilation adaptor according to the invention is shaped to engage with a standard ventilation pipe or mechanical or electrical fan. The ventilator adaptor may be shaped to engage with an internal or external surface of a pipe having a diameter of from 100mm to 150mm.

[0018] In some embodiments, the ventilation system may comprise a wall-supported ventilation outlet for example for internal use, one or more ventilation pipes, one or more ventilation accessories and a pipe-supported ventilation outlet for example for external use. Suitable ventilation pipe accessories include a pipe joint (for example a 45 degree joint, a 90 degree joint, a flexible joint and/or an inline joint), a pipe support, a pipe connector (for example a T-shaped pipe connector). A ventilation pipe may be a plastics pipe or a metal (for example a copper) pipe. In some embodiments, the ventilation system may include a positive input ventilation device and/or an extraction system for example an extractor fan. Positive input ventilation devices are generally known and comprise a fan, optionally a heat exchanger to allow heat from damp air exiting a building to heat incoming air and optionally a heater. In some embodiments, the ventilation system may comprise a mechanical or electrical ventilation device, for example mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (HVHR), automatic controlled extractor fan (for example automatically controlled by a humidity parameter, temperature parameter, motion sensing triggering and/or selectable timed running), a manual ventilation device (with or without a run-on timer) and/or a continuous or otherwise controlled multi-room extraction system.

[0019] The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention: FIGURE 1 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation outlet according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the ventilation outlet according to the first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 3 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation outlet according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation outlet according to a third embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 5 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the ventilation outlet according to the third embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 6 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation outlet according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 7 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the ventilation outlet according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 8 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation outlet according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 9 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the ventilation outlet according to the fifth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 10 shows a schematic front perspective view of a ventilation connector according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 11 shows a schematic rear perspective view of the ventilation adaptor according to the first embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a wall installation of a ventilation system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0020] A first embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention is indicated generally at 10 on Figures 1 and 2. Ventilation outlet 10 has a square plate 20 and a ventilation pipe fitting 30. Plate 20 has a vent 22 and a vent surround 24. Ventilation pipe fitting 30 is in the form of a tube and is arranged at the rear of plate 20 such that the ventilation pipe fitting 30 is connected to the vent 22 such that any air flow through fitting 30 flows through vent 22. Vent 22 has a square shape with waffle shaped baffles 26. Vent 22 is shaped to have an area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the ventilation pipe fitting 30. Vent surround 24 forms a pair of holes 28 which are arranged on each side of the vent 22 such that the ventilation outlet 10 may be mounted on a wall (not shown) and such that the ventilation outlet 10 is wall-supported.

[0021] A second embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention is indicated generally at 110 on Figure 3. Like features to the first embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention are identified by like reference numbers except with a prefix of numeral 1 to indicate that they are features of the second embodiment. Ventilation outlet 110 has a square plate 120 and a ventilation pipe fitting 130 (not shown). Plate 120 has a vent 122 and a vent surround 124. Ventilation pipe fitting 130 is in the form of a tube and is arranged at the rear of plate 120 such that the ventilation pipe fitting 130 is connected to the vent 122 such that any air flow through fitting 130 flows through vent 122. Vent 122 has a circular shape with radial and annular baffles 126. Vent 122 is shaped to have an area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the ventilation pipe fitting 130. Vent surround 124 forms a pair of holes 128 which are arranged on each side of the vent 122 such that the ventilation outlet 110 may be mounted on a wall (not shown) and such that the ventilation outlet 110 is wall-supported.

[0022] A third embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention is indicated generally at 210 on Figure 3. Like features to the first embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention are identified by like reference numbers except with a prefix of numeral 2 to indicate that they are features of the third embodiment. Ventilation outlet 210 has a rectangular plate 220 and three ventilation pipe fittings 230. Plate 220 has a vent 222 and a vent surround 224. Ventilation pipe fittings 230 are in the form of tubes and are arranged in a horizontal row at the rear of plate 220 such that the ventilation pipe fittings 230 are connected to the vent 222 such that any air flow through fittings 230 flows through vent 222. Vent 222 has a rectangular shape with elongate horizontal angled baffles 226. Vent 222 is shaped to have an area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the three ventilation pipe fittings 230. Vent surround 224 forms four holes 228 which are arranged in each corner of the vent 222 such that the ventilation outlet 210 may be mounted on a wall (not shown) and such that the ventilation outlet 210 is wall-supported.

[0023] A fourth embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention is indicated generally at 310 on Figures 6 and 7. Like features to the first embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention are identified by like reference numbers except with a prefix of numeral 3 to indicate that they are features of the fourth embodiment. Ventilation outlet 310 has a circular plate 320 and three ventilation pipe fitting 330. Plate 320 has a vent 322 and a vent surround 324. Ventilation pipe fitting 330 is in the form of a tube and is arranged at the rear of plate 320 such that the ventilation pipe fitting 330 is connected to the vent 322 such that any air flow through fitting 330 flows through vent 322. Vent 322 has a circular shape with a plurality of lattice shaped baffles 226. Vent 322 is shaped to have an area which is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the ventilation pipe fitting 330. Ventilation outlet 310 is shaped to be supported by a ventilation pipe (not shown) and such that the ventilation outlet 310 is pipe-supported.

[0024] A fifth embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention is indicated generally at 410 on Figures 8 and 9. Like features to the first embodiment of a ventilation outlet according to the invention are identified by like reference numbers except with a prefix of numeral 4 to indicate that they are features of the fifth embodiment. Ventilation outlet 410 has a circular plate 420 and a ventilation pipe fitting 430. Plate 420 has a vent 422 and a vent surround 424. Ventilation pipe fitting 430 is in the form of a tube and is arranged at the rear of plate 420 such that the ventilation pipe fitting 430 is connected to the vent 422 such that any air flow through fitting 430 flows through vent 422. Vent 422 has a circular shape with three sectional baffles 426 such that the vent has three sectional windows 427. Vent windows 427 are closable by correspondingly shaped rotatable sectional blinds 428 which may be rotated by means of handle 429 which provides a control to provide a variable degree of closure. Vent 422 is shaped to have an area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the ventilation pipe fitting 430. Ventilation outlet 410 is shaped to be supported by a ventilation pipe (not shown) and such that the ventilation outlet 410 is pipe-supported.

[0025] Ventilation pipe fitting 30,130,230,330,430,530 is shaped to engage with an external or internal surface of a ventilation pipe which may be a standard plumbing pipe. In the UK, there are British Standards which define the dimensions of pipes for use in plumbing. For example, ventilation pipe fitting 30,130,230,330,430,530 may be shaped to engage with a polypropylene waste pipe according to British Standard BS5254:1976 and may have an external diameter of 34.6mm, 41.0mm or 54.1mm. Alternatively, ventilation pipe fitting 30,130,230,330,430,530 may be shaped to engage with a thermoplastic waste pipe according to British Standard BS5255:1989 and may have an external diameter of 36.3mm, 38.25mm, 44.6mm, 42.9mm, 55.9mm or 57.3mm.

[0026] A first embodiment of a ventilation connector according to the invention is indicated generally at 50 on Figures 10 and 11. Ventilation connector 50 has a ventilation pipe fitting 52, a frustroconical flow section 54 and a ventilator adaptor 56. Ventilation pipe fitting 52 is shaped to engage with a standard plumbing pipe. Ventilator adaptor 56 is shaped to engage with a standard ventilation pipe or fan which typically have a diameter of 100mm-150mm. Flow section 54 is shaped to conduct air flow from the pipe fitting 52 to the adaptor 56.

[0027] A first embodiment of a ventilation system according to the invention is indicated generally at 60 on Figure 12. Ventilation system 60 comprises a wall-supported ventilation outlet 61, ventilation pipes and accessories indicated generally at 62 and a pipe-supported ventilation inlet 68. The ventilation pipes and accessories 62 comprises a horizontal pipe 63, an elbow joint 64, a vertical pipe 65 and a wall-mounted support 66. Ventilation system 60 is shown mounted on a wall 70 having an internal surface 72 and an external surface 74. The wall-supported ventilation outlet 61 may be a ventilation outlet 10,110,210. The pipe-supported ventilation inlet 68 may be a ventilation outlet 310,410. The wall-supported ventilation outlet 61 is mounted on the internal surface 72 of the wall 70. The pipe-supported ventilation inlet 68 is mounted on a proximal lower end of the vertical pipe 65. The distal upper end of vertical pipe 65 connects to elbow joint 64. Vertical pipe 65 is mounted on the external surface 74 of wall 70 by means of support 66. Elbow joint 64 connects to proximal end of horizontal pipe 63 which penetrates wall 70. The wall-support ventilation outlet 61 is connected to the distal end of horizontal pipe 63 such that fluid communication is provided through wall 70 with minimal draughtiness. In an alternative embodiment, the ventilation pipe fittings may include other pipe fittings commonly used in plumbing to connect an inlet to an outlet. The system 60 according to the invention is suitable for quick, safe, mess free installation which allows suitable but not oversized ventilation and allows a simple solution to the problem of draughts which are caused by providing simple horizontal ventilation.

Claims

1. A ventilation outlet comprising a vent and a ventilation pipe fitting wherein the pipe fitting is shaped to connect to a standard plumbing pipe.

2. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 1 which comprises a plate which provides the vent.

3. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 2 wherein the plate has a square or rectangular shape.

4. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the plate forms one or more holes such that the ventilation outlet can be mounted on a wall.

5. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the ventilation outlet is a pipe-mounted ventilation outlet.

6. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 5 wherein the ventilation outlet is shaped to be supported by a standard plumbing pipe.

7. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the vent may have one or more baffles which form a vent opening.

8. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 7 wherein the baffle is a waffle shaped baffle, radial baffle, annular baffle, elongate optionally horizontal baffle, angled baffle, sectional baffle and/or lattice baffle.

9. A ventilation outlet as defined in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the vent opening is closable.

10. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of the preceding Claims which is an internal ventilation inlet suitable for use on an internal surface of a building.

11. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the ventilation outlet has two or more ventilation pipe fittings.

12. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the ventilation pipe fitting is shaped to engage with a surface of a standard plumbing pipe having a diameter of from 30mm to 60mm.

13. A ventilation outlet as defined in any one of the preceding Claims which is suitable for use in providing trickle ventilation.

14. A ventilation outlet substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated with reference to one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

15. A ventilation connector which comprises a ventilation pipe fitting, a frustroconical flow section and a ventilator adaptor.

16. A ventilation connector as defined in Claim 15 wherein the ventilator adaptor is shaped to engage with a standard ventilation pipe or mechanical or electrical fan.

17. A ventilator adaptor as defined in Claim 15 or Claim 16 wherein the ventilation adaptor is shaped to engage with a surface of a pipe having a diameter of from 100mm to 150mm.

18. A ventilation adaptor as defined in any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the ventilation pipe fitting is shaped to engage with a surface of a standard plumbing pipe having a diameter of from 30mm to 60mm.

19. A ventilation system comprising one or more ventilation outlets as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 13 and one or more ventilation pipes.

20. A ventilation system as defined in Claim 19 which comprises a wall-supported ventilation outlet, one or more ventilation pipes, one or more ventilation pipe accessories and a pipe-supported ventilation outlet.

21. A ventilation system as defined in Claim 19 or Claim 20 which comprises a positive input ventilation device.