GB2590905A

GB2590905A - Radon ventilation apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2590905A
Application number: GB1918595.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Monahan Eugene
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2021-07-14
Also published as: EP3839362A1; GB201918595D0

Abstract

A ventilation apparatus 10 for removing radon gas comprises a first top frustro-conical member 20 and a second bottom frustro-conical member 30 having an integral inner tubular member (50, fig 3a). The first and second members in use are stacked on top of each other in a spaced arrangement and permit the capture of atmospheric air currents so that the direction of air through the ventilation apparatus causes the radon gas to be drawn through the inner tubular member and expelled through the first and second members. Both the first and second members have an upper internal diameter of 100 to 150mm and a lower internal diameter of 170 to 300mm. The distance between opposing open ends of the first top member is 60 to 100mm. A top end (24, fig 2a) of the first member may be provided with a mesh member 23 to cover an opening in the top end. The second bottom member may comprise a plurality of struts (40, fig 3b) having a recess (46) to support the first member and maintain the first and second members in stacked spaced arrangement. The integral tubular member may be a pipe socket to receive pipe from a building.

Description

Radon Ventilation Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radon ventilation apparatus, and more specifically an apparatus for installation in a building to facilitate the extraction of radon gas from the building.

Background of the Invention

Radon is a radioactive gas which accumulates in buildings and causes lung cancer.

Radon is the second highest cause of lung cancer after smoking, killing 300 people per year in Ireland. Building Regulations in Ireland require that measures be taken in all new buildings to minimise the risk from radon gas. The Building Regulations require the installation of a stand-by radon sump in all new buildings. The sump is C\I essentially a collection box beneath the floor of a building. In use, the sump is 1-15 connected by a 4" pipe ("stand-by extractor pipe) to an outlet in the pavement cr) provides a way of extracting radon from the building with an electric fan. However, in 99% of buildings the stand-by sump is never used and is totally inactive.

The building regulations further require that all new buildings in high risk areas must have a sealed radon membrane in their sub-floors. The membrane must embrace the entire footprint of each such building. In practice, it is very difficult to install and achieve a fully sealed membrane under building-site conditions. Thus, most membranes are compromised by leaks.

Rather than extending the stand-by extractor pipe to the pavement outside a building, another approach is to install the stand-by extractor pipe in an upright position along the external wall of a building and extend the stand-by extractor pipe until it reaches the eaves of the building. This aim of this approach is to extract radon from the building using the Venturi effect of wind blowing across the open pipe. However, studies have shown that this arrangement, does not create enough outside the building. Should a radon test prove it necessary, the stand-by sump draw on the stand-by extractor pipe; and has little effect on the radon levels in the building.

Accordingly, current radon protection measures are not entirely effective at eliminating radon from buildings. Consequently, elevated radon levels continue to be a problem in new buildings.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a radon ventilation apparatus comprising a substantially frustro-conical top member and a substantially frustro-conical bottom member comprising an integral inner tubular member, wherein the top member and a bottom member are adapted in use to be stacked on top of each other in a spaced arrangement to permit capture of atmospheric air currents and their direction through the radon ventilation apparatus to cause radon gas to be drawn through the inner tubular member and expelled through the top and bottom C\I members.

r is Preferably, the frustro-conical top member and the frustro-conical bottom member CO each comprise an upper inner diameter of 100-150 mm and a lower inner diameter of 170-300 mm.

Preferably, the distance between the opposing open ends of e frustro-conical Lop member is 60-100mm.

Preferably, a top end of the frustro-conical top member is provided with a mesh member which is arranged to protrude from and substantially cover an opening in the top end.

Desirably, the mesh member comprises a bell-shaped mesh arrangement; a star arrangement; or a cross-shaped arrangement of bars across the opening in the top 25 end.

Desirably, the frustro-conical bottom member is coupled with a plurality of strut members adapted to support the frustro-conical top member and maintain it the stacked spaced arrangement with the frustro-conical bottom member.

Desirably, one or more of the strut members is provided with a recess distanced from a top end 34 of the frustro-conical bottom member by 45-75mm.

Preferably, a bottom end of the frustro-conical top member is coupled with a top brim member which is adapted sit in a recess in the or each strut member to stabilise the frustro-conical top member in its stacked spaced arrangement with the frustro-conical bottom member.

Preferably, a region of the frustro-con cal top member proximal to the bottom end is provided with a convex arcuate curvature and a central region of the top brim member is provided with a convex arcuate curvature contiguous with that of the frustro-conical top member, so that the arc formed at the junction of the frustro-conical top member and the top brim member has a radius of 10-50 mm.

Preferably, the frustro-conical bottom member is coupled with an inner tubular member dimensioned to receive a pipe from a building. C\I

Desirably, the inner tubular member is a pipe receiver socket.

Desirably, a bottom end of the frustro-conical bottom member is coupled with a

CO

bottom brim member, which is adapted to provide protection to the inner tubular member and to support the or each strut members Desirably, the frustro-conical top member is spaced apart from the frustro-conical bottom member by at least 50-80mm and wherein the spacing is maintained around at least half the diameter of both the frustro-conical top member and the frustro-conical bottom member.

Preferably, the frustro-conical top member and the frustro-conical bottom member are formed from a metal or a UV-resistant plastics material.

With this arrangement, the radon ventilation apparatus increases the up-draught created by the wind in an open radon vent pipe and thereby provides a greater reduction in radon levels than would be achieved by an open pipe alone.

Description and Drawings

An embodiment of the invention is herein described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la is front view of the top member of the radon ventilation apparatus mounted on the bottom member of the radon ventilation apparatus; Figure lb is a longitudinal cross-section view of the top member of the radon ventilation apparatus mounted on the bottom member of the radon ventilation apparatus.

Figure 2a is a front view of a bottom member of the radon ventilation apparatus; Figure 2b is an isometric view of the bottom member of the radon ventilation apparatus; Figure 3a is a front view of the top member of the radon ventilation apparatus; Figure 3b is an isometric view of a top member of the radon ventilation 01/41 15 apparatus;

Detailed Description

CD While certain specific. features are illustrated in the above figures, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the implementations disclosed herein.

Referring to Figures la and lb, a radon ventilation apparatus 10 comprises a top member 20 and a bottom member 30, wherein the top member 20 is reversibly mountable on top of a first end of the bottom member 30. The top and bottom 25 members 20, 30 may be formed from a metal or UV resistant plastics material.

Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, the top member 20 comprises a substantially frustroconical member 21, a disc-shaped brim member 22 and a mesh member 23. The substantially frustro-conical member 21 comprises two opposing open ends 24, 25, wherein the inner diameter of the first open end 24 and the second open end 25 is preferably 100 -150mm and 170 -300mm respectively; more preferably 90-110mm and 180 to 200mm respectively; and yet more preferably 100mm and 190mm respectively. The distance between the first open end 24 and the second open end 25 of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 is preferably 60-100mm; more preferably 60-70mm and yet more preferably 63mm. Thus, the slant angle at which the second open end 25 of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 tapers from the horizontal is preferably 8 -20 degrees to the vertical; more preferably 10-15 degrees to the vertical; and yet more preferably 12 degrees to the vertical.

The brim member 22 comprises a central hollow 26 whose diameter substantially matches the inner diameter of the second open end 25 of the substantially frustroconical member 21. The second open end 25 of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 is mounted on the brim member 22 and arranged so that the centre of the brim member 22 is co-axial with the primary axis of the substantially frustroconical member 21. Thus, the brim member 22 supports the substantially frustroconical member 21 without occluding its second open end 25.

C\I The frustro-conical member 21 wall proximal to the second open end 24 may be provided with a convex arcuate curvature (not shown); and the brim member 22 1-proximal to the periphery of the central hollow 26 may be provided with a convex CO arcuate curvature (not shown) contiguous with that of the frustro-conical member 21 wall proximal to the second open end 24. Thus, the collective assembly of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 and the brim member 22 may adopt a substantially frustro-bell-shaped configuration, wherein the resulting arc 27 formed at the junction between the substantially frustro-conical member 21 and the brim member 22 has a radius of preferably 10-50mm, more preferably 20-40mm and most preferably 30 mm.

The first open end 24 of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 is coupled with the mesh member 23, so that the mesh member 23 protrudes from and substantially covers the first open end 24. The mesh member 23 may comprise a bell-shaped mesh arrangement; a star or cross-shaped arrangement of bars across the first open end 24; or other suitable mechanism for preventing ingress of unwanted solid or liquid materials (e.g. bird dung) which would occlude the radon ventilation apparatus 10 and reduce its ability to capture wind from the atmosphere and vent radon from a building.

Referring to figures 3a and 3b, the bottom member 30 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10 comprises a substantially frustro-conical member 31, a brim member 32 and a plurality of strut members 40. The plurality of strut members 40 may preferably comprise 2-6 strut members, more preferably 3-5 strut members and most preferably 4 strut members. The or each struct member 40 is substantially polygonal in shape and comprises opposing first and second ends 42, 44. The second end 44 of the or each struct member 40 is mounted on the brim member 32 and arranged so that the or each struct member 40 extends between the brim member 32 and a first open end 34 (of narrower diameter than the opposing open end) of the substantially frustro-conical member 31. The first end 42 of the or each strut member 40 is disposed proximal to and coupled with the first end 34 of the substantially frustroconical member 31. The first end 42 of the or each strut member 40 is provided with a recess 46 which is distanced from the first end 34 of the substantially frustroconical member 31 by 45-75mm, more preferably by 45-55mm and yet more 0 j 1.5 preferably by 50mm.

The outside of the substantially frustro-conical member 31 and the brim member 32 of the bottom member 30 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10 is substantially CO identical to those of the top member 20 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10.

However, the bottom member 30 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10 comprises an additional inner tubular member 50 formed integrally with the interior face of the substantially frustro-conical member 31. The inner tubular member 50 has an internal diameter of preferably 109-160mm and more preferably 109mm.

In use, the top member 20 is stacked on top of the bottom member 30 and arranged so that the second open end 24 of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 and the brim member 22 sits within the recess 46 in the first end 42 of the or each strut member 40. In this way, the inner face of the substantially frustro-conical member 21 and the exterior face of the substantially frustro-conical member 31 are separated by a distance of preferably 45 -75mm, more preferably, 45-55mm and yet more preferably 50mm. The inner tubular member 50 is a pipe receiver socket adapted to receive a standard 4" radon pipe or a 6" pipe from a building.

With this arrangement, an air-stream travelling horizontally in the earth's atmosphere, is captured by the top and bottom members 20, 30 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10 and diverted vertically through the radon ventilation apparatus 10 to increase the air-flow created by the Venturi effect across the top opening of a building's radon pipe. Since the top and bottom members 20, 30 of the radon ventilation apparatus 10 are designed to each have a greater cross-sectional area exposed to the wind than that of a simple pipe opening, the radon ventilation apparatus 10 captures more wind energy than a traditional radon pipe. The radon ventilation apparatus 10 possesses a unique geometry, optimised using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) -a tool for modelling air flows, to more efficiently convert the captured wind energy into an up-draught. Furthermore, the frustro-conical design of the top and bottom members 20, 30 enable the radon ventilation apparatus 10 to work equally well in all wind directions.

The invention detailed herein works by C\I 15 Modifications and alterations may be made to the above invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims A radon ventiiation apparatus (10) comprising a substantially frustro-conical top member (20) and a substantially frustrc-conical bottom member (30) comprising an integral inner tubular member (40), wherein the top member (20) and a bottom member (30) are adapted in use to be stacked on top of each other in a spaced arrangement to permit capture of atmospheric air currents and their direction through the radon ventilation apparatus (10) to cause radon gas to be drawn through the inner tubular member (40) and expelled through the top and bottom members (20, 30).
2. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frustro-conical top member (20) and the frustro-conical bottom member (30) each comprise an upper inner diameter of 100 -150mm and a lower inner diameter of 170-300mm.
C\I The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the 1-15 distance between the opposing open ends of the frustro-conical top member CD (20) is 60-100mm.
4. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a top end (24) of the frustro-conical top member (20) is provided with a mesh member (23) which is arranged to protrude from and substantially cover an opening in the top end (24).
5. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mesh member (23) comprises a bell-shaped mesh arrangement; a star arrangement; or cross-shaped arrangement of bars across the opening in the top end (24).
6. The ration ventilation apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the frustro-conical bottom member (30) is coupled with a plurality of strut members (33) adapted to support the frustro-conical top member (20) and maintain it the stacked spaced arrangement with the frustro-conical bottom member (30).
The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein one or more of the strut members (33) is provided with a recess distanced from a top end 34 of the frustro-conical bottom member (30) by 45-75mm.
8. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein a bottom end of the frustro-conical top member (20) is coupled with a top brim member (22) which is adapted sit in a recess in the or each strut member (33) to stabilise the frustro-conical top member (20).
9. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein a region of the frustro-conical top member (20) proximal to the bottom end (25) is provided with a convex arcuate curvature and a central region (26) of the top brim member (22) is provided with a convex arcuate curvature contiguous with that of the frustro-conicai top member (20), so that the arc formed at the junction o of the frustro-conical top member (20) and the top brim member (22) has a C\I radius of 10-50 mm.
10. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims CD tubular member (40) dimensioned to receive a pipe from a building.
11. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inner tubular member (40) is a pipe receiver socket.
12. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in ciaim 10 or claim 11 wherein a bottom end of the frustro-conicai bottom member (30) is coupled with a bottom brim member (32), which is adapted to provide protection to the inner tubular member (40) and to support the or each strut members (33).
13. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the frustro-conical top member (20) is spaced apart from the frustro-conical bottom member (30) by at least 50-80mm and wherein the spacing is maintained around at least half the diameter of both the frustro-conical top member (20) and the frustro-conical bottom member (30).wherein the frustro-conical bottom member (30) is coupled with an inner
14. The radon ventilation apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the frustro-conical top member (20) and the frustro-conical bottom member (30) are formed from a metal or a UV-resistant plastics material.