US3580160A

US3580160A - Fabricated ventilator and method of producing same

Info

Publication number: US3580160A
Application number: US815896A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis J Mccabe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-14
Filing date: 1969-04-14
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25
Also published as: CA926690A; IE34067L; IE34067B1; DE2017822A1

Abstract

A fixed blade ventilator is fabricated from blades which interlock with side channels to form, without more, a unified structure.

Description

United States Patent l 13,580,160

[ 72] Inventor Francis J. McCabe [56] References Cited P. 0. BOX 131, Penns Park, Pa. 18943 UNITED STATES PATENTS 21 AppLNo. 815,896 98,121 [22] Filed Apr. 14,1969 98/121 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 98/12] Pnmary Examiner-Meyer Perlm [54] FABRICATED VENTILATOR AND METHOD OF A -F k J B a tti PRODUCING SAME 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. 98/ 121 ABSTRACT. A fixed blade ventilator 1s fabncated from [51] Int. F 13/08 blades WhlCh interlock with side channels to form, wlthout [50] Field of Search 98/40, 121 more, a umfied structure PATENTEU HAY25 1911 SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENTED W25 l9?! SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR. j/M Z 4 FABRICATED VENTILATOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ventilators and more particularly to ventilators of the fixed blade type.

In the prior art such ventilators were composed of a multitude of pieces including nuts, bolts, brackets, etc., which required considerable time to assemble and which, when composed of dissimilar metals, were subject to corrosion. Further, the mechanical connections often were subject to loosening during handling or shipment resulting in a ventilator which rattled in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a fixed blade ventilator having a plurality of blades which quickly and easily are'assembled with side members to form a unified structure which neither rattles nor is subject to corrosion because of dissimilar metal components. In the preferred embodiment each blade has longitudinally extending blade portions offset from one another by a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrow 2-2 in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in the proceeding FIGS.; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Although specific forms of the invention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and the following description is drawn in specific terms for the purpose of describing these forms of the invention, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the FIGS., a ventilator designated generally I comprises side members 12 and I4 and a plurality of fixed blades 16. The entire unit is preferably made of aluminum which is formed and or extruded or both and is on the order of 0.081 inches thick. The side members are generally E-shaped in cross section and are arranged as mirror images in the structure. Each side member has a front and a rear flange and a center flange which preferably extends inwardly a greater distance than the front and rear flanges (compare center flange 18 FIG. 3 with front flange 20 and rear flange 22). The reason for this extension will be more fully explained hereinafter with respect to assembling the structure.

The center flange has a plurality of T-shaped notches cut therein spaced at equal intervals and oriented as shown in FIG. 3 with the stem 24 of the T extending preferably perpendicular to the wall 26 of the side member and completely severing the inwardly extending edge of the flange 18. The top of the T-shaped slot is cut through the flange 18 right at its juncture with the wall 26.

Each blade consists of longitudinally extending

blade portions

30 and 32 FIG. 3 which are oflset by a web portion designated generally 36 FIG. 3. The entire blade is preferably bent into the Z-shape shown to form offset opposed longitudinally extending comers or bearing

surfaces

38 and 40.

The

blade portions

30 and 32 preferably terminate in oppositely extending

flanged edges

42 and 44 respectively which are bent at an angle to the blade portions and which conveniently include stiffening portions or

flanges

46 and 48 respectively which are disposed inwardly. With the blade disposed in operative relation to the side member the

flanges

42 and 44 bear against the front and

rear flanges

20 and 22.

- The parts described thus far are carefully dimensioned so that in order to place the blades in the operative position shown it is necessary to bend them slightly in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2, said bending being well within the elastic limit of the. materials of which they are composed. As shown in FIG. 2 the bending force on the blade is resisted most preferably at four points, namely, between the surfaces of the web 37 and the lower front and upper rear edges of the center flange 18 formed by the stem 24 of the notch, and where the longitudinally extending comers 38and 49 bear against the center flange 18. Once the blade is fully inserted into the notch the force on the

blade portions

30 and 32 is relaxed so that the

flanges

42 and 44 bear against the inner sides ofthe front and

rear flanges

20 and 22 of the side member. The natural resiliency of the material of which the blade is formed causes it to lock in this-position by exerting a spring force against the flanges. In order to cause this result to obtain, the blade is so formed in its natural unflexed state that the horizontal distance between the

peaks

38 and 40 FIG. 2 is less than the thickness of the center flange 18 when measured with the blade at the angle at which it will be placed in its operative position. Thus the

peaks

38 and 40 will always engage the front and rear faces of the center flange 18 before the blade 16 has been rotated counterclockwise, when viewed as in FIG. 2, sufficiently to allow the

end flanges

42 and 44 to come within the

flanges

20 and 22.

It is with respect to this aspect of my invention that the extra length of the flange 18 plays an important part. In assembling the blade with the side'portion 12 the edge of the web 37 is first inserted into the slot 24 and then the blade is twisted to allow it to be fully seated with the edge of the blade against the wall 26.

When the web 37 engages the flange 18 with both its upper I and lower faces the blade is fixed in its vertical position, To retain the blade in-horizontal position the web 37 is crimped inthe area of the head of the T-shaped slot. Referring more particularly to FIG. 4 it has been found most desirable to pierce the web 37 behind the notch shown so that a lip 39 depends from the web 37 and engagesthe notch asat 41. Thuspositively fixing the blade to the side member 12.

Top and bottom members may also be used to give the vent a finished appearance. For example, top member 60 FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed of a simple channel disposed within the front and

back flanges

20 and 22 and can be spot welded thereto. In such a case it may be necessary to cut off a portion of the blade 17 to accommodate the top member.

Where the length of the unit becomes so great that undue flexing will occur one or more supports such as that shown at in FIG. 1 can be used. Such a support comprises a flat piece of bar stock which is spot welded to the outwardly disposed The intermediate web portion 36 has a riser 39' extending blade. Both'risers provide water stops which extend the full width of the blades. An additional water stop is provided by the flange 44 and its inwardly disposed portion 48.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the fol-' lowing claims.

lclaim:

l. A ventilator comprising:

a. a frame having opposed side members, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end; and

b. at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediate Z-shapd web having risers connected to said blade portions; said web being disposed in said notch; said blade engaging said intermediate flange and being bent to engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

2. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said intermediate web engages said intermediate flange along the portions thereof forming said notch.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said blade engages said intermediate flange at the junctures of said risers with said blade portions.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said blade portions include oppositely disposed flanges at the ends thereof.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said blade is disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal and the flange at the edge of the lower blade portion depends downwardly.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said notch includes a wider portion remote from the innermost edge of said intermediate flange, and said intermediate web is deformed in the area of said wider portion to engage said intermediate flange.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein 'said wider portion extends outwardly to the base of said intermediate flange.

8. The invention of claim l'wherein said intermediate flange extends inwardly a greater-distance than said first mentioned flanges.

9. A method of assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposed side members, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one 7 another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end, and at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediate web, said web being connected to said blade portions by risers, comprising the steps of inserting said web in said notch; engaging said blade with said intennediate flange; and bending said blade portions to engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

l0. ln the method of claim 9 wherein said notch includes a wider portion remote from the innermost edge of said intermediate-flange, the additional step of deforming said intermediate web in the area of said wider portion to engage said intermediate flange.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said wider portion extends outwardly to the base of said intermediate flange, the additional step of seating said blade against said base of said side members prior to deforming said intermediate web.

12. A method of assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposed side members, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges and a greater distance having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end, said notch including a wider portion remote from the innermost edge of said intermediate flange, and at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediate web, said web being connected to said blade portions by risers, comprising the steps of inserting said web into said notch; engaging said intermediate flange with said blade at the junctures of said risers and said blade portions; bending said blade portions within the envelope of said first mentioned flanges on said side members; inserting said blade further into said notches; releasing said blade portions so that they engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

Claims

1. A ventilator comprising: a. a frame having opposed side members, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end; and b. at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediate Z-shapd web having risers connected to said blade portions; said web being disposed in said notch; said blade engaging said intermediate flange and being bent to engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said intermediate web engages said intermediate flange along the portions thereof forming said notch.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said wider portion extends outwardly to the base of said intermediate flange.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said intermediate flange extends inwardly a greater distance than said first mentioned flanges.

9. A method of assembling a ventilator having a frame including opposed side members, each of said side members having at least two inwardly disposed flanges spaced from one another, and an intermediate flange depending inwardly between said last mentioned flanges having at least one notch therein presenting an inwardly disposed open end, and at least one blade, comprising a plurality of blade portions offset from one another by an intermediate web, said web being connected to said blade portions by risers, comprising the steps of inserting said web in said notch; engaging said blade with said intermediate flange; and bending said blade portions to engage said first mentioned flanges and exert a spring force thereon.

10. In the method of claim 9 wherein said notch includes a wider portion remote from the innermost edge of said intermediate flange, the additional step of deforming said intermediate web in the area of said wider portion to engage said intermediate flange.