GB2550554A

GB2550554A - Ventilation assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2550554A
Application number: GB1608447.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Callard Martin
Original assignee: Tek Ltd
Current assignee: Tek Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-13
Filing date: 2016-05-13
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Also published as: GB201608447D0

Abstract

A ventilation assembly 28 providing ventilation to the inside of the building from the outside of the building through a wall (2, fig 1). The assembly comprises a housing (50, fig 2) having a first 68 and second 90 opening with a blade assembly (70) mounted about a longitudinal axis of the housing. The blade assembly rotates between a first position whereby the first or second opening is closed by the blade assembly and a second position whereby the first or second opening permits a flow of air blown by a fan (74, fig 4) through the ventilation assembly and through the wall of the building. The housing may comprise of a first 54 and second 56 housing members. The first member comprises mating first 94 and second 96 housing elements and at least one projection 110, 114, 132 including a seal 112, 116, 134. The second member comprises mating first 98 and second 100 housing elements and at least one projection 148, 152, 172 including a seal 150, 156, 174. The blade may comprise of first 78 and second 76 arcuate members and along with the first and second housing members have a sound insulating inner core.

Description

Ventilation Assembly

The present invention relates to a ventilation assembly, in particular a ventilation assembly for providing ventilation to the inside of a building from the outside of the building.

Ventilation systems that allow the flow of air from the outside of a building to the inside and vice versa are employed to help regulate the temperature of buildings and to moderate the quality of air inside buildings. Such systems employ natural ventilation by the intentional passive flow of air through openings such as louvres, doors and windows and/or mechanical ventilation, for example the use of fans to drive air into or out of a building.

Building regulations and standards in many countries now require the overall heat transfer coefficient of buildings, i.e. how well a building conducts heat, to be regulated in order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The overall heat transfer coefficient of a building, or part thereof, is described by a U-value. A higher U-value is indicative of poor thermal performance and a low U-value indicates a high level of insulation and, therefore, good thermal performance. A disadvantage of known ventilation systems is that they have poor thermal performance. A further disadvantage of known ventilation systems is the transfer of sound from the outside of the building to the inside of the building. This is particularly a problem where buildings are built close to major roads or airports, for example.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ventilation assembly for providing ventilation to the inside of a building from the outside of the building, the ventilation assembly including a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal blade assembly; wherein the housing includes a first opening and a second opening and the blade assembly is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis in the housing such that, in use, the internal blade assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which at least one of the first opening or the second opening is closed by the internal blade assembly to prevent the flow of air through the ventilation assembly, and a second position, in which the internal blade assembly is spaced from the first opening and the second opening to permit the flow of air through the ventilation assembly.

The ventilation assembly is particularly advantageous as it has good thermal conductivity properties, that is when the blade assembly is in the first position, transfer of heat from the outside of the building to the inside of the building or vice versa is limited and, furthermore, the transfer of sound is restricted.

The housing may include an inner wall, an outer wall and a pair of side walls, wherein the outer wall includes the first opening and the inner wall includes the second opening. The housing may further include a top plate and a base plate. The internal blade assembly may be rotatably mounted to the base plate.

The housing may include a first housing member and a second housing member; wherein a first outer surface of the first housing member forms a first side wall of the pair of side walls, a second outer surface of the first housing member forms at least part of the inner wall and a third outer surface of the first housing member forms at least part of the outer wall; and wherein a first outer surface of the second housing member forms a second side wall of the pair of side walls, a second outer surface of the second housing member forms at least part of the inner wall and a third outer surface of the second housing member forms at least part of the outer wall.

The first housing member may include a first housing element and a second housing element; wherein a first surface of the first housing element of the first housing member forms at least part of the first side wall of the pair of side walls and/or a second surface of the first housing element of the first housing member forms the at least part of the outer wall; and/or wherein a first surface of the second housing element of the first housing member forms at least part of the first side wall of the pair of side walls and/or a second surface of the second housing element of the first housing member forms the at least part of the inner wall. A portion of the first surface of the first housing element of the first housing member and a portion of the first surface of the second housing element of the first housing member may overlap. The first housing element and/or the second housing element of the first housing member may be extruded components.

The second housing member may include a first housing element and a second housing element; wherein a first surface of the first housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the second side wall of the pair of side walls and/or a second surface of the first housing element of the second housing member forms the at least part of the outer wall; and/or wherein a first surface of the second housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the second side wall of the pair of side walls and/or a second surface of the second housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the inner wall. A portion of the first surface of the first housing element of the second housing member and a portion of the first surface of the second housing element of the second housing member may overlap. The first housing element and/or the second housing element of the second housing member may be extruded components.

The third outer surface of the first housing member and the third outer surface of the second housing member may be separated by the first opening. The second outer surface of the first housing member and the second outer surface of the second housing member may be separated by the second opening.

The first housing member may include at least one projection. The at least one projection may be provided on an inner surface of the first housing member. Each of the first housing element of the first housing member and/or the second housing element of the first housing member may include at least one projection. The at least one projection of the first housing member and/or the at least one projection of the first housing element and/or the second housing element of the first housing member may include a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

The first housing member may include an inner core, for example an inner core including an insulating material. At least one of the first housing element and the second housing element of the first housing member may include the inner core.

The use of hollow housing members allows the amount of material used during the manufacture of these components to be reduced. Provision of an inner core including an insulating material improves the thermal performance and reduces the transfer of sound through the ventilation assembly.

The second housing member may include at least one projection. The at least one projection may be provided on an inner surface of the second housing member. Each of the first housing element of the second housing member and/or the second housing element of the second housing member may include at least one projection. The at least one projection of the second housing member and/or the at least one projection of the first housing element and/or the second housing element of the second housing member may include a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

The second housing member may include an inner core, for example an inner core including an insulating material. At least one of the first housing element and the second housing element of the second housing member may include the inner core.

The internal blade assembly may have a first blade member and a second blade member, and when the internal blade assembly is in the first position the at least one of the first opening or the second opening may be closed by at least one of the first blade member or the second blade member.

The first blade member may be generally arcuate. The first blade member may have an outer surface, the outer surface including at least one finger. When the internal blade assembly is in the first position, the at least one finger of the first blade member may abut the at least one projection of the second housing member and/or the at least one projection of the first housing element or the second housing element of the second housing member.

In this way, when the internal blade assembly is in the first position the thermal performance and sound reduction properties of the ventilation system are improved.

Additionally or alternatively, the first blade member may include an outer wall and an inner core. The inner core may include an insulating material.

The provision of a first blade member having a hollow structure allows the amount of material used to manufacture the blade to be reduced. Provision of an inner core that may be made from an insulating material, allows the thermal and sound transfer properties of the ventilation system to be improved.

The second blade member may be generally arcuate. The second blade member may have an outer surface, the outer surface including at least one finger. When the internal blade assembly is in the first position, the at least one finger of the second blade member may abut the at least one projection of the first housing member and/or the at least one projection of the first housing element or the second housing element of the first housing member.

Additionally or alternatively, the second blade member may include an outer wall and an inner core. The inner core may include an insulating material.

The provision of a second blade member having a hollow structure allows the amount of material used to manufacture the blade to be reduced. Provision of an inner core that may be made from an insulating material, allows the thermal and sound transfer properties of the ventilation system to be improved.

The internal blade assembly may have at least one further position, the at least one further position being intermediate the first position and the second position and in which at least one of the first opening or the second opening may be partially closed by the internal blade assembly.

In this way the ventilation assembly may be adjusted according to the ventilation requirements of a user.

The ventilation assembly may include a fan. The fan may be positioned in the housing and may be positioned between the first blade member and the second blade member. The ventilation assembly may further include a fan motor. The ventilation assembly may also include a controller to control the fan motor.

The ventilation assembly may include an actuator to move the internal blade assembly between the first position and the second position. The actuator may also move the internal blade assembly to the at least one further position. The actuator may be a mechanical actuator or an electrical actuator.

The ventilation assembly may include an attenuation unit adjacent to the second opening.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a ventilation system including a plurality of ventilation assemblies according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the plurality of ventilation assemblies are connected.

The at least one ventilation assembly of the plurality of ventilation assemblies may include a fan. Additionally or alternatively, at least one ventilation assembly of the plurality of ventilation assemblies may include an actuator.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial side section through a wall including a ventilation system having a ventilation assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a ventilation assembly in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a cross section through a ventilation assembly of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a cross section through line C-C of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a section through a ventilation assembly according to the present invention with the blade assembly in the open position; and

Figure 6 shows a section through a ventilation assembly according to the present invention with the internal blade assembly in the closed position.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a partial section through a wall 2 of a building (not shown). The wall includes an exterior wall 4 and an interior wall 6. The building (not shown) has a room 8 that is enclosed by four interior walls, including interior wall 6, as well as a ceiling 10 and a floor 12.

The wall 2 has an opening 14 that extends through the interior wall 6 and the exterior wall 4.

The exterior wall 4 includes a louvre 16 that extends the height A of the opening 14. The louvre screen 16 includes a plurality of openings 18 through which air can pass.

As shown in Figure 1, a ventilation system 20 is mounted in the opening 14 of the wall 2.

The ventilation system 20 includes a casing 22, a first ventilation assembly 24, a second ventilation assembly 26 and a third ventilation assembly 28.

The casing 22 includes a top plate 30, a base plate 32, a pair of side walls (not visible in Figure 1) that extend from the interior wall 6 to the exterior wall 4, a front wall 34 that extends in a direction generally parallel to the interior wall 6 and the exterior wall 4 and a rear wall 36 that extends in a direction that is generally parallel to the interior wall 6 and the exterior wall 4. The front wall 34 and the rear wall 36 include openings (not shown) to allow the passage of air from the front wall 34 to the rear wall 36.

The ventilation system 20 also includes an attenuation unit 38 that is mounted on the rear wall 36 of the casing 22. The attenuation unit 38 has an outer wall 40, an upper wall 42 and a lower wall 44. The upper wall includes a first opening 46 to allow the passage of air from the ventilation system 20 to the inside of the room 8 and vice versa. The lower wall 44 includes a second opening 48 o allow the passage of air from the ventilation system 20 to the inside of the room 8 and vice versa.

The first ventilation assembly 24, second ventilation assembly 26 and third ventilation assembly 28 are connected at each of their comers by rods (not shown) and at the centre of each of the ventilation assembles 24, 26, 28 by bearings 80, 82, 84, 86.

The stmcture of the ventilation assemblies 24, 26, 28 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 to 6 which show the third ventilation assembly 28.

The ventilation assembly 28 has a housing 50 and a blade assembly 70.

The housing 50 is a cuboidal stmcture having a longitudinal axis B. The housing 50 has a top plate 62, a base plate 64, a first side wall 52, a second side wall 66, an inner wall 58 and an outer wall 92. The inner wall 58 has an opening 68 and the outer wall 92 has an opening 90.

The first side wall 52, a portion of the inner wall 58 and a portion of the outer wall 92 are formed by housing member 54. The second side wall 66, a portion of the inner wall 58 and a portion of the outer wall 92 are formed by housing member 56.

The housing 50 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6.

The housing member 54 includes a first housing element 94 and a second housing element 96.

The first housing element 94 is a hollow extruded structure. The cross section of the first housing element 94 is in the shape of a right angled triangle. The first housing element 94 has a first outer surface 102, a second outer surface 104 and an inner surface 106. The first outer surface 102 and the second outer surface 104 meet at an angle of 90°. At the corner between the first outer surface 102 and the second outer surface 104 there is an aperture 108. The first housing element 94 has a first projection 110 having a resilient seal 112 on a first side of the first projection 110. The first projection 110 is positioned adjacent to the comer between the first outer surface 102 and the inner surface 106. The first housing element 94 has a second projection 114 having a resilient seal 116 on a first side of the second projection 114. The second projection 114 is positioned adjacent to the comer between the inner surface 106 and the second outer surface 104. The first housing element 94 has an arm 118 that extends from the second outer surface 104 beyond the second projection 114. The first housing element 94 has a number of hook members 120 that extend towards the centre of the hollow stmcture. The centre of the hollow structure includes an inner core 122 that is filled with an insulating material.

The second housing element 96 is a hollow extruded structure. The cross section of the second housing element 96 is in the shape of a right angled triangle. The second housing element 96 has a first outer surface 126, a second outer surface 124 and an inner surface 128. The first outer surface 126 and the second outer surface 124 meet at an angle of 90°. At the comer between the first outer surface 126 and the second outer surface 124 there is an aperture 130. The second housing element 96 has a projection 132 having a resilient seal 134 on a first side of the projection 132. The projection 132 is positioned adjacent to the corner between the first outer surface 126 and the inner surface 128. The second housing element 96 has an arm 136 that extends from the second outer surface 124. The second housing element 96 has a number of hook members 138 that extend towards the centre of the hollow structure.

The centre of the hollow structure includes an inner core 160 that is filled with an insulating material.

The housing member 56 includes a first housing element 98 and a second housing element 100.

The first housing element 98 of the housing member 56 is the same shape as the first housing element 94 of the housing member 54. The first housing element 98 is a hollow extruded structure. The cross section of the first housing element 98 is in the shape of a right angled triangle. The first housing element 98 has a first outer surface 140, a second outer surface 142 and an inner surface 144. The first outer surface 140 and the second outer surface 142 meet at an angle of 90°. At the corner between the first outer surface 140 and the second outer surface 142 there is an aperture 146. The first housing element 98 has a first projection 148 having a resilient seal 150 on a first side of the first projection 148. The first projection 148 is positioned adjacent to the comer between the first outer surface 140 and the inner surface 144. The first housing element 98 has a second projection 152 having a resilient seal 154 on a first side of the second projection 152. The second projection 152 is positioned adjacent to the comer between the inner surface 144 and the second outer surface 142. The first housing element 98 has an arm 156 that extends from the second outer surface 142 beyond the second projection 152. The first housing element 98 has a number of hook members 158 that extend towards the centre of the hollow stmcture. The centre of the hollow stmcture includes an inner core 162 that is filled with an insulating material.

The second housing element 100 of the housing member 56 is the same shape as the second housing element 96 of the housing member 54. The second housing element 100 is a hollow extmded stmcture. The cross section of the second housing element 100 is in the shape of a right angled triangle. The second housing element 100 has a first outer surface 166, a second outer surface 164 and an inner surface 168. The first outer surface 166 and the second outer surface 164 meet at an angle of 90°. At the comer between the first outer surface 166 and the second outer surface 164 there is an aperture 170. The second housing element 100 has a projection 172 having a resilient seal 174 on a first side of the projection 172. The projection 172 is positioned adjacent to the comer between the first outer surface 166 and the inner surface 168. The second housing element 100 has an arm 176 that extends from the second outer surface 164. The second housing element 100 has a number of hook members 178 that extend towards the centre of the hollow stmcture. The centre of the hollow structure includes an inner core 180 that is filled with an insulating material.

The blade assembly 70 is a generally cylindrical structure having a longitudinal axis B. The blade assembly 70 includes a first blade member 78, a second blade member 76, an upper plate 210 and a lower plate 212.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the first blade member 78 is an elongate structure having a generally arcuate cross section. The first blade member 78 is a hollow extruded structure having an outer surface 182 and an inner surface 184. A parr of fingers 188, 192 extend outwards from the outer surface 182. The first blade member 78 has an edge 206. A plurality of hook members 190 extend inwards from the outer surface 182. The centre of the hollow structure includes an inner core 186 that is filled with an insulating material.

The second blade member 76 is an elongate structure having a generally arcuate cross section. The second blade member 76 is a hollow extruded structure having an outer surface 194 and an inner surface 196. A pair of fingers 200, 204 extend outwards from the outer surface 194. The first blade member 76 has an edge 208. A plurality of hook members 202 extend inwards from the outer surface 194. The centre of the hollow structure includes an inner core 198 that is filled with an insulating material.

The housing 50 is assembled by forming the housing element 54 from the housing element 94 and the housing element 96 such that the arm 118 of the housing element 94 overlaps the arm 136 of the housing element 96 and an edge 214 of the housing element 96 abuts the projection 114 of the housing element 94. Housing element 56 is similarly formed from the housing element 98 and the housing element 100 such that the arm 156 of the housing element 98 overlaps the arm 176 of the housing element 100 and an edge 216 of the housing element 100 abuts the projection 152 of the housing element 98.

The first blade member 78 and the second blade member 76 are joined at their upper ends by the upper plate 210 and at their lower ends by the lower plate 212.

The third ventilation assembly 28 is constructed by assembling the blade assembly 70 and rotatably mounting the lower plate 212 of the blade assembly 70 on the base plate 64 of the housing 50.

The structure of the first ventilation assembly 24 and the second ventilation assembly 26 is the same as that of the third ventilation assembly 28, as described above.

The three ventilation assemblies 24, 26, 28 are mounted together as shown in Figure 1 and rods (not shown) are passed through the apertures 108, 130, 146, 170 in the comers of the housing elements 94, 96, 98, 100. The openings 68, 90 of each housing 50 are aligned to provide a path for air to flow through the housings 50.

Once assembled, the three ventilation assemblies 24, 26, 28 are installed within the casing 22 ready for installation in a wall.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, a central elongate fan 74 having a longitudinal axis B may be mounted within the housing 50 and blade assembly 70 such that the fan 74 is positioned between the first blade member 78 and the second blade member 76.

As described above, the blade assembly 70 is rotatably mounted within the housing 50. The blade assembly 70 can be rotated between an open position (as shown in Figure 5) in which air can flow from through the housing 50 between the opening 68 and the opening 90 and a closed position (as shown in Figure 6) in which the flow of air through the housing 50 between the opening 68 and the opening 90 is prevented.

As shown in Figure 5, when the blade assembly 70 is in the open position, the finger 204 of the second blade member 76 abuts the projection 172 of the housing element 100 on a side of the projection 172 that is opposite to the resilient seal 174. The finger 200 of the second blade member 76 abuts the projection 152 of the housing element 98 on a side of the projection 152 that is opposite to the resilient seal 154.

In a similar way, the finger 188 of the first blade member 78 abuts the projection 132 of the housing element 96 on a side of the projection 132 that is opposite to the resilient seal 134. The finger 192 of the first blade member 78 abuts the projection 114 of the housing element 96 on a side of the projection 114 that is opposite to the resilient seal 116.

With the blade assembly 70 in this position, air can flow between the opening 68 and the opening 90.

As shown in Figure 6, when the blade assembly 70 is in the closed position, the finger 204 of the second blade member 76 abuts the projection 152 of the housing element 98 on the side of the projection 152 having the resilient seal 154. The finger 200 of the second blade member 76 abuts the projection 148 of the housing element 98 on the side of the projection 148 having the resilient seal 150. A portion of the outer surface 194 of the second blade member 76 between the finger 200 and the edge 208 extends across and closes the opening 68. The edge 208 abuts the projection 132 of the housing element 96 on the side of the projection 132 having the resilient seal 134.

In a similar way, the finger 188 of the first blade member 78 abuts the projection 114 of the housing element 96 on the side of the projection 114 having the resilient seal 116. The finger 192 of the first blade member 78 abuts the projection 110 of the housing element 94 on the side of the projection 110 having the resilient seal 112. A portion of the outer surface 182 of the first blade member 78 between the finger 192 and the edge 206 extends across and closes the opening 90. The edge 206 abuts the projection 172 of the housing element 100 on the side of the projection 172 having the resilient seal 174.

With the blade assembly 70 in this position, the flow of air between the opening 68 and the opening 90 is prevented. The use of the resilient seals 112, 116, 134, 154, 174 and the inclusion of the cores 122, 160, 162, 180, 186, 192 with insulating material provide the ventilation assembly with good thermal and sound transfer properties.

The movement of the blade assembly 70 is restricted to that described above, i.e. the blade members 76, 78 cannot freely rotate 360° about the longitudinal axis B, however it will be understood that the blade assembly may be held in any position between the open position of Figure 5 and the closed position of Figure 6 in order to optimise the flow of air through the ventilation assembly.

The blade assembly 70 may be moved between the open and closed position using an actuator, for example a mechanical handle that is connected to a gearbox, which in turn is connected to one of more ventilation assemblies within a ventilation system, or an electrical actuator that is connected to a controlled that controls movement of the blade assembly 70 within the housing 50.

The ventilation assembly 28 may include a fan 74, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 to facilitate the flow of air through the ventilation assembly 28. In some embodiments, the ventilation assembly 28 may be used without a fan, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Claims

1. A ventilation assembly for providing ventilation to the inside of a building from the outside of the building, the ventilation assembly including a housing and a blade assembly; wherein the housing includes a first opening and a second opening and the internal blade assembly is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis in the housing such that, in use, the internal blade assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis between a first position, in which at least one of the first opening or the second opening is closed by the internal blade assembly to prevent the flow of air through the ventilation assembly, and a second position, in which the internal blade assembly is spaced from the first opening and the second opening to permit the flow of air through the ventilation assembly.

2. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing includes an inner wall, an outer wall and a pair of side walls, wherein the outer wall includes the first opening and the inner wall includes the second opening.

3. A ventilation assembly according to claim 2, wherein the housing further includes a top plate and a base plate.

4. A ventilation assembly according to claim 3, wherein the internal blade assembly is rotatably mounted to the base plate.

5. A ventilation assembly according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member; wherein a first outer surface of the first housing member forms a first side wall of the pair of side walls, a second outer surface of the first housing member forms at least part of the inner wall and a third outer surface of the first housing member forms at least part of the outer wall; and wherein a first outer surface of the second housing member forms a second side wall of the pair of side walls, a second outer surface of the second housing member forms at least part of the inner wall and a third outer surface of the second housing member forms at least part of the outer wall.

6. A ventilation assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first housing member includes a first housing element and a second housing element; wherein a first surface of the first housing element of the first housing member forms at least part of the first side wall of the pair of side walls and a second surface of the first housing element of the first housing member forms the at least part of the outer wall; and further wherein a first surface of the second housing element of the first housing member forms at least part of the first side wall of the pair of side walls and a second surface of the second housing element of the first housing member forms the at least part of the inner wall.

7. A ventilation assembly according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the first surface of the first housing element of the first housing member and a portion of the first surface of the second housing element of the first housing member overlap.

8. A ventilation assembly according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the second housing member includes a first housing element and a second housing element; wherein a first surface of the first housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the second side wall of the pair of side walls and a second surface of the first housing element of the second housing member forms the at least part of the outer wall; and further wherein a first surface of the second housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the second side wall of the pair of side walls and a second surface of the second housing element of the second housing member forms at least part of the inner wall.

9. A ventilation assembly according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the first surface of the first housing element of the second housing member and a portion of the first surface of the second housing element of the second housing member overlap.

10. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the third outer surface of the first housing member and the third outer surface of the second housing member are separated by the first opening.

11. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the second outer surface of the first housing member and the second outer surface of the second housing member are separated by the second opening.

12. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the first housing member includes at least one projection.

13. A ventilation assembly according to claim 12, wherein the at least one projection is provided on an inner surface of the first housing member.

14. A ventilation assembly according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the at least one projection includes a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

15. A ventilation assembly according to claim 12, when dependent on claim 6, wherein each of the first housing element of the first housing member and the second housing element of the first housing member includes at least one projection.

16. A ventilation assembly according to claim 15, wherein the at least one projection of the first housing element and/or the at least one projection of the second housing element includes a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

17. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 16, wherein the first housing member includes an inner core, for example an inner core including an insulating material.

18. A ventilation assembly according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 6, wherein at least one of the first housing element of the first housing member and the second housing element of the first housing member includes the inner core.

19. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 18, wherein the second housing member includes at least one projection.

20. A ventilation assembly according to claim 19, wherein the at least one projection is provided on an inner surface of the second housing member.

21. A ventilation assembly according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the at least one projection includes a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

22. A ventilation assembly according to claim 19, when dependent on claim 8, wherein each of the first housing element of the second housing member and the second housing element of the second housing member includes at least one projection.

23. A ventilation assembly according to claim 22, wherein the at least one projection of the first housing element and/or the at least one projection of the second housing element includes a sealing member, for example a resilient sealing member.

24. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 5 to 23, wherein the second housing member includes an inner core, for example an inner core including an insulating material.

25. A ventilation assembly according to claim 24 when dependent on claim 8, wherein at least one of the first housing element of the second housing member and the second housing element of the second housing member includes the inner core.

26. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the internal blade assembly has a first blade member and a second blade member, and when the internal blade assembly is in the first position the at least one of the first opening or the second opening is closed by at least one of the first blade member or the second blade member.

27. A ventilation assembly according to claim 26, wherein the first blade member is generally arcuate.

28. A ventilation assembly according to claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the first blade member has an outer surface, the outer surface including at least one finger.

29. A ventilation assembly according to claim 28, when dependent on claim 19, wherein when the internal blade assembly is in the first position, the at least one finger of the first blade member abuts the at least one projection of the second housing member.

30. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein the first blade member includes an outer wall and an inner core.

31. A ventilation assembly according to claim 30, wherein the inner core includes an insulating material.

32. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 26 to 31, wherein the second blade member is generally arcuate.

33. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 26 to 32, wherein the second blade member has an outer surface, the outer surface including at least one finger.

34. A ventilation assembly according to claim 33, when dependent on claim 12, wherein when the internal blade assembly is in the first position, the at least one finger of the second blade member abuts the at least one projection of the first housing member.

35. A ventilation assembly according to any of claims 26 to 34, wherein the second blade member includes an outer wall and an inner core.

36. A ventilation assembly according to claim 35, wherein the inner core includes an insulating material.

37. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the internal blade assembly has at least one further position, the at least one further position being intermediate the first position and the second position and in which at least one of the first opening or the second opening is partially closed by the internal blade assembly.

38. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim further including a fan.

39. A ventilation assembly according to claim 38, when dependent on claim 26, wherein the fan is positioned in the housing between the first blade member and the second blade member.

40. A ventilation assembly according to claim 38 or claim 39, further including a fan motor.

41. A ventilation assembly according to claim 40, further including a controller to control the fan motor.

42. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim, further including an actuator to move the internal blade assembly between the first position and the second position.

43. A ventilation assembly according to claim 42, wherein the actuator is a mechanical actuator.

44. A ventilation assembly according to claim 42, wherein the actuator is an electrical actuator.

45. A ventilation assembly according to any preceding claim, further including an attenuation unit adjacent to the second opening.

46. A ventilation system including a plurality of ventilation assemblies according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of ventilation assemblies are connected.

47. A ventilation system according to claim 46, wherein at least one ventilation assembly of the plurality of ventilation assemblies includes a fan.

48. A ventilation system according to claim 46 or claim 47, wherein at least one ventilation assembly of the plurality of ventilation assemblies includes an actuator.