WO2013018005A2

WO2013018005A2 - Louvre member

Info

Publication number: WO2013018005A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/053835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Simmons; Mark Harold SIMMONS; Thomas David SIMMONS
Original assignee: Insol Limited
Priority date: 2011-07-29
Filing date: 2012-07-27
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: WO2013018005A3

Abstract

The present invention provides for a louvre arrangement and louvre members or blades therefor, that are configured to dissipate the energy of water droplets in an airflow over the blade and which are incident on the blade, for the purpose of removing casual water from the airflow. The present invention also provides for the drainage of the water through the body of the louver blade, or on open drainage channels at or towards the leading edge.

Description

LOUVRE MEMBER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a louvre member for use in a louvre or screen system. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to a louvre member for use in a ventilator screen for covering large openings such as air conditioning ducts in buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, louvre members (also called slats, foils, vanes or lamellae) may be used as part of a louvre system or ventilation screen to cover air conditioning ducts or the like in sides of buildings. Such louvre members may be horizontally aligned or vertically aligned when installed.

The main function of such ventilation screens is to shield the opening of the building from the elements, while restricting the flow of air through the opening as little as possible. Typically this involves a trade off, as increased shielding of the opening to the elements results in increased restriction of airflow through the opening.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "casual water" shall be construed to include, but not be limited to, fluid (and in particular water in any of its forms) that may be deposited on, flow over or fall on a louvre arrangement naturally, incidentally or otherwise.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "leading edge" when relating to an item shall be construed to mean the windward or upwind side of that item when the item is disposed in an airflow, and need not necessarily require the presentation of an actual edge in the sense that two non-parallel surfaces coincide.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "trailing edge" when relating to an item shall be construed to mean the lee or downwind side of that item when the item is disposed in an airflow, and need not necessarily require the presentation of an actual edge in the sense that two non-parallel surfaces coincide.

In this specification where use is made of the term "casual water" that is present in an airflow this defined to include, but not be limited to, rain, fog, or condensate of any kind that is ordinarily present in ambient air, and can also include liquid condensate from man-made processes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a louvre member and louvre arrangement which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre member for use in a louvre arrangement for removing casual water from an opening to be shielded through which a flow of air is moveable, said louvre member comprising

^■ a body for location within said air flow, the body comprising at least o at least a pair of major faces,

o a leading edge, and

o a trailing edge;

^■ at least one fluid conduit extending in fluid communication between o an inlet disposed a location at or towards the leading edge, and o an outlet disposed relatively closer to the trailing edge; and o a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid from the fluid conduit;

^■ wherein operationally, differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes fluid disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and along said fluid conduit.

Preferably, said fluid disposed at or towards the inlet that is moved into the inlet is casual water.

Preferably, said body is configured so that operationally differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes casual water disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and through the fluid conduit for drainage by the drainage conduit. Preferably, the fluid conduit extends internally of the body

Preferably, the body is extruded.

Preferably, the drainage conduit extends substantially along the length of the body

Preferably, the drainage conduit comprises a drainage conduit outlet at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

Preferably, the louvre member further comprises an open drainage channel disposed at a major face.

Preferably, the louvre member is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Preferably, the body is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement with its leading edge lower than its trailing edge.

Alternately, the body is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially vertical alignment.

Preferably, the pair of major faces comprises an upper major face and a lower major face.

Preferably, the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face.

Preferably, the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the leading edge.

Alternately, the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the trailing edge.

Preferably, the upper major face comprises an energy dissipation arrangement on at least part of the upper major face at a fluid dissipation zone.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement is configured and adapted to dissipate the energy of a droplet of fluid landing on the fluid dissipation zone, to at least partially prevent splashing of said droplet upwardly from said upper major face.

Preferably, the inlet is disposed at or towards the lowest part of the leading edge of the body to prevent droplets of casual water falling off the leading edge.

Preferably, the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point.

Preferably, the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point. Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement comprises at least one or more energy dissipation formations.

Preferably, the energy dissipation formations comprise one or more selected

^B vanes extending from said upper major face;

n at least one grid arrangement;

^■ a perforated wall arrangement;

^■ an absorbent layer;

^■ a resilient layer; and

" a fibrous layer.

Preferably, the fibers of the fibrous layer comprises one or more selected from:

^■ glass fiber

" carbon fiber

• Kevlar™ fiber

* or any other suitable fibre.

Preferably, the fibrous layer is woven.

Alternately, the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibers.

Preferably, the fibers are at least partially bonded together.

Preferably, the body is dimensioned and configured to interact with said airflow to create a region of low pressure adjacent said body.

Preferably, the body is dimensioned and configured to interact with said airflow and/or an adjacent structure to create a region of low pressure in said airflow adjacent said body.

Preferably, the adjacent structure is an adjacent similar louvre member.

Preferably, the outlet is disposed at or towards said region of low pressure.

Preferably, the low pressure of the air in the region of low pressure causes a suction to be set up at said inlet via the fluid conduit to remove casual water from the leading edge.

Alternately, differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet caused by high pressure at the leading edge causes movement of casual water through said fluid conduit.

Preferably, the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the open drainage channel by means of a connecting channel to allow fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone to be drained from the fluid dissipation zone into the open drainage channel. Preferably, the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the drainage channel by a dissipated fluid drainage channel for draining fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone via the drainage channel.

Preferably, the inlet is a slot.

Preferably, the outlet is a slot.

Preferably, the outlet is located at or towards the upper major face.

Alternately, the outlet is located at or towards the lower major face.

Preferably, the outlet is located at or towards the trailing edge.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement comprises a deflector arrangement for deflecting the relative direction of impingement of said liquid droplet on said upper surface.

Preferably, the deflector arrangement comprises at least one deflector formation.

Preferably, the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of alternating deflector surfaces presented at an angle to each other.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement is located at or towards the leading edge of the body over a dissipation zone.

Preferably, the louvre arrangement comprises drainage apertures between at least one or more of the deflector surfaces.

Preferably, the drainage apertures drain dissipated liquid droplets from between the deflector surfaces as a liquid flow.

Preferably, the louvre member comprises a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid.

Preferably, the drainage apertures drain dissipated water droplets from between the deflector surfaces into the drainage conduit.

Preferably, the drainage conduit is located within the body.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement is integrally formed with the body.

Preferably, the drainage channels are integrally formed with the body. Preferably, the alternating deflector surfaces form deflector channels. Preferably, the louvre member comprises an open drainage channel.

Preferably, the open drainage channel extends at least partially along the leading edge of the body. Preferably, the deflector channels are configured and adapted to channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel.

Preferably, the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of deflector surfaces arranged in parallel with each other.

Preferably, the deflector surfaces deflect liquid droplets impinging onto the deflector surfaces into an at least partially enclosed drainage conduit.

Preferably, the differential air pressure is created by a pressurisation apparatus and/or depressurisation apparatus.

Preferably, the pressurisation apparatus and/or depressurisation apparatus is a pump.

In another aspect, the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre member for use in a louvre arrangement for removing casual water from an opening to be shielded through which a flow of air is moveable, said louvre member comprising

^■ a body for location horizontally within said air flow, the body comprising at least

o an upper major face and a lower major face,

o a leading edge, and

o a trailing edge;

^■ a energy dissipation arrangement disposed on the upper major face at a fluid dissipation zone.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement is configured and adapted to dissipate the energy of a droplet of fluid landing on the fluid dissipation zone, to prevent splashing of said droplet upwardly from said upper major face.

Preferably, the inlet extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point.

Preferably, the inlet extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement comprises at least one or more energy dissipation formations.

Preferably, the energy dissipation formations comprise one or more selected from " vanes extending from said upper major face;

^■ at least one grid arrangement;

^■ a perforated wall arrangement;

" an absorbent layer; and

^B a fibrous layer.

B glass fiber

^■ carbon fiber

- Kevlar™ fiber

B or any other suitable fibre.

Preferably, the fibrous layer is woven.

Alternately, the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibers.

Preferably, the fibers are at least partially bonded together.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a device to encourage surface water into an aperture of the surface of an object, said device comprising:

a foil that is shaped and positioned relative to prevailing ambient air flow to cause a pressure differential between the airflow at said surface at where the aperture is provided and another part of the foil affected aii'flow, there being a fluid connection between said aperture and said another part of said aii'flow to cause suction at said aperture to encourage water to enter said aperture.

Preferably the object comprises said foil.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a device to encourage surface water into an aperture of said surface of an object by virtue of foil shaped and positioned to induce, by virtue of airflow over said foil, a pressure in said aperture that is less than that at the surface pressure at said aperture to thereby suck water into said aperture.

Preferably the aperture is a slot.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre arrangement comprising

^■ a plurality of louvre members, each comprising louvre member comprising

o a leading edge o a trailing edge, and

o a fluid conduit in fluid communication between

" an inlet, and

■ an outlet;

" wherein the louvre members are mounted parallel relative to each other. Preferably, the fluid conduit is enclosed.

Preferably, the louvre members are aligned substantially horizontally.

Alternately, the louvre members are aligned substantially vertically.

Preferably, the louver members are mounted in a configuration relative to each other so that air flow between two adjacent louvres is caused to speed up, to thereby create a low pressure region adjacent at least one of said louvre members.

Preferably, the louvre arrangement comprises

^■ a frame on which said louvre members are mountable or mounted for holding the louvre members in a suitable configuration relative to each other.

Preferably, the outlet of each louvre member is located proximate a said low pressure region, to thereby create a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet, to create a sucking effect though the inlet.

Preferably, the sucking effect at least partly facilitates the movement of casual water into the inlet.

Preferably, the sucking effect at least partly facilitates the movement of casual water into the inlet from the leading edge.

Preferably, the louvre arrangement is configured as one or more selected from

^■ a single bank;

^■ a double bank; and

B a triple bank.

Preferably, the louvre arrangement comprises a plurality of banks of louvre members, and includes at least one or more louvre members as described.

A method of removing casual water from an airflow including casual water comprising the steps of

^■ providing a louvre member comprising

o a leading edge

o a trailing edge, and o a fluid conduit in fluid communication between

H an inlet, and

■ an outlet;

" locating the louvre member in said airflow,

^■ at least partially facilitating movement of droplets of water from said leading edge into the fluid conduit by virtue of an air pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet.

Preferably, the inlet is disposed at or towards the leading edge.

Preferably, the outlet is disposed at or towards the trailing edge.

Preferably, the outlet is located at a region of low pressure to cause a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet.

Preferably, the region if low pressure s created by the speeding up of airflow between the louvre member and an adjacently located similar louvre member.

Preferably, the adjacently located similar louvre member is parallel to the louvre member.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of:

^■ draining the casual water from the fluid conduit via a drainage conduit. A louvre arrangement comprising a plurality of louvre members as described.

In another aspect, the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre member for substantially horizontal alignment in a louvre arrangement, said louvre member comprising

^■ a body presenting

o an upper surface;

^■ an energy dissipation arrangement extending over at least a portion of the upper surface for dissipating the kinetic energy of a liquid droplet impinging operationally on the louvre member to prevent rebound of at least part of the liquid droplet off at least part of the upper surface .

Preferably, the body comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge.

Preferably, the liquid droplet is casual water.

Preferably, the energy dissipation arrangement comprises a deflector airangement for deflecting the relative direction of impingement of said liquid droplet on said upper surface. Preferably, the deflector arrangement comprises at least one deflector formation.

Preferably, the drainage conduit is located within the body.

Preferably, the open drainage channel extends at least partially along the leading edge of the body.

Preferably, the deflector channels are configured and adapted to channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel.

Preferably, the louvre member comprises at least one fluid conduit extending in fluid communication between

^■ an inlet disposed a location at or towards the leading edge, and

^■ an outlet disposed relatively closer to the trailing edge; and

^■ a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid from the fluid conduit; ^■ wherein operationally, differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes fluid disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and along said fluid conduit.

Preferably, said body is configured so that operationally differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes casual water disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and through the fluid conduit for drainage by the drainage conduit.

Preferably, the fluid conduit extends internally of the body

Preferably, the body is extruded.

Preferably, the body comprises a pair of major faces.

Preferably, the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face.

Preferably, the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point.

Preferably, the energy dissipation formations comprise one or more selected from

^■ vanes extending from said upper major face; ^■ at least one grid arrangement;

^■ a perforated wall arrangement;

^■ an absorbent layer;

* a resilient layer; and

^■ a fibrous layer.

^■ glass fiber

^■ carbon fiber

- Kevlar™ fiber

^■ or any other suitable fibre.

Preferably, the fibrous layer is woven.

Alternately, the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibres.

Preferably, the fibres are at least partially bonded together.

Preferably, the adjacent structure is an adjacent similar louvre member.

Preferably, the outlet is disposed at or towards said region of low pressure.

Preferably, the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the open drainage channel by means of a connecting channel to allow fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone to be drained from the fluid dissipation zone into the open drainage channel.

Preferably, the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the drainage channel by a dissipated fluid drainage channel for draining fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone via the drainage channel.

Preferably, the inlet is a slot.

Preferably, the outlet is a slot. Preferably, the outlet is located at or towards the upper major face. Alternately, the outlet is located at or towards the lower major face

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre blade for substantially horizontal ahgnment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre arrangement comprising

■ a body presenting

o an upper surface;

* a channelling arrangement for operationally guiding water incident on at least a portion of the upper surface into a sheltered zone which is sheltered from the said airflow flowing through the louvre arrangement for collection and drainage of said water.

Preferably, the channelling arrangement comprises a drainage channel. Preferably, the louvre blade is substantially elongate.

Preferably, the drainage channel extends in the direction of the length of the louvre blade.

Preferably, the drainage channel extends substantially along the length of the louvre blade.

Preferably, the sheltered zone is disposed internally of the louvre blade.

Preferably, the drainage channel is internal to the louvre blade.

Preferably, the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone against which drops of causal water are incident after they enter the sheltered zone.

Preferably, the incidence zone comprises energy dissipating formations for dissipating the energy of drops of water that are incident on the incidence zone.

Preferably, the sheltered zone is configured and adapted to shelter drops of casual water that are incident on the incidence zone, to prevent operational water rebound off the incidence zone being swept up by the airflow.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre blade for substantially horizontal alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre arrangement comprising

a louvre blade, wherein the louvre blade comprises an internal drainage channel for draining casual water incident on said louvre blade.

Preferably, the louvre blade is composed of one or more extruded parts. In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre blade suitable for alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre arrangement comprising

^■ a body presenting

o an upper surface;

^■ a channelling arrangement configured and adapted for operationally guiding casual water in said airflow that is incident on at least a portion of the upper surface into said body for at least partial removal of the water from said airflow.

Preferably, the channelling arrangement is configured and adapted for guiding casual water in the airflow into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is substantially reduced.

Preferably, the channelling arrangement is configured and adapted for guiding casual water in the airflow into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is substantially reduced, for incidence on an incidence zone.

Preferably, the channelling arrangement is configured and adapted for guiding casual water in the airflow into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is substantially reduced, for incidence on an incidence zone, so that droplets rebounding off the incidence zone after impinging against the incidence zone is not swept up in the airflow between the louvre blades.

In one embodiment, the channelling arrangement is configured to at least partly remove said water from said airflow to produce a dried airflow, and to release said dried airflow out of the body.

Preferably, the channelling arrangement comprises a drainage channel.

Preferably, the louvre blade is substantially elongate.

Preferably, the sheltered zone is disposed internally of the louvre blade. Preferably, the drainage channel is internal to the louvre blade.

Preferably, the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone against which drops of causal water are incident after they enter the sheltered zone. Preferably, the incidence zone comprises energy dissipating formations for dissipating the energy of drops of water that are incident on the incidence zone.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a louvre blade suitable for alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre arrangement comprising

B a body presenting

o an incident surface on which casual water droplets are expected to be operationally incident;

■ a water droplet deflector arrangement disposed on the incident surface for deflecting water droplets from their line of incidence against the body, to at least partly facilitate the reduction of water rebound from the body.

Preferably, the water droplet deflector arrangement is configured to deflect water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is reduced to reduce the water droplet rebound being swept up in the airflow.

Preferably, the sheltered zone is located internally of the body.

Preferably, the louvre blade comprises a drainage channel for drainage of the casual water.

Preferably, the drainage channel is disposed internally of the body.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1: shows a cross sectional side view of a first embodiment of a louvre arrangement;

Figure 2: shows a cross sectional side view of a second embodiment of a louvre arrangement;

Figure 3: shows a top perspective view of a third embodiment of a louvre arrangement;

Figure 4: shows a cross sectional side view of the third embodiment of a louvre arrangement shown in figure 3 ;

Figure 5: shows a cross sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of a louvre arrangement;

Figure 6: shows a cross sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of a louvre arrangement; and

Figure 7: shows a cross sectional side view of a sixth embodiment of a louvre arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMB ODIMENT (S)

With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, a louvre member according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 100, and a louvre arrangement is generally indicated by the numeral 1000.

In one embodiment now described, there is provided a louvre member 100 for use in a louvre arrangement 1000. The general use of the louvre arrangement 1000 is for shielding and removing fluid in the form of casual water such as rain, sleet, melted snow, mist or fog from an airflow (shown as reference numeral A) moving through an opening (not shown) in a construction or building or the like (not shown), while restricting the airflow A as little as possible. The louvre arrangement 1000 will comprise a plurality of louvre members 100, preferably aligned parallel to each other, as well as a frame (not shown) on which the louvre embers 100 are mountable, the frame being suitable for holding the louvre members 100 in this configuration.

The louvre member 100 comprises a body 200, and a fluid conduit 300 extending in fluid communication between an inlet 310, an outlet 320 and a drainage conduit 330. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid conduit 300 extends internally of the body 200.

The body 200 is located operationally within the air flow A. The body 200 comprises a pair of major faces, notably an upper major face 210 and a lower major face 220. In a preferred embodiment, the body 200 may be extruded. The body also includes a leading edge 230 that is located to the windward or upwind side of the airflow A, and a trailing edge 240 that is located towards the leeward or downwind side of the airflow A

The inlet 310 is preferably disposed a location at or towards the leading edge 230, and the outlet 320 is disposed relatively closer to the trailing edge 240. It will be appreciated that as the inlet and outlet extend across the length of the louvre member 100, they will preferably be configured as slots, although this need not necessarily be the case.

In the embodiments shown in figures 1 and5, the outlet 320 is located at or towards the upper major face 210, although this need not necessarily be the case, as illustrated by figure 2 in which the outlet is associated with the lower major face 220. Also, while the outlet 320 is shown as exiting the body 200 at a location substantially intermediate of the leading edge 230 and trailing edge 240, it could also exit the body at or towards the trailing edge 240.

The drainage conduit 330 preferably extends along the length of the body 200 for draining liquid from the fluid conduit.300. Operationally, differential air pressure between the inlet 310 and the outlet 320 causes or at least partially facilitates fluid disposed at or close to the inlet 310 to be moved into the inlet 310 and along the fluid conduit 300 into the drainage conduit 330. The drainage conduit 330 extends substantially along the length of the body to a drainage conduit outlet (not shown) located at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

To further create a differential air pressure between the inlet 310 and the outlet 320, the body 200 is configured to enhance this. As shown in the figures, the body 200 is configured to interact with adjacent structures, including adjacent similar louvre members 100, to create regions of low pressure L between the adjacent louvre members 100. It does this by reducing the cross sectional area between the louvre members. The same volume of air is required to move through a more restricted opening, causing the airflow A to speed up. This is illustrated by arrows A that are drawn more closely together in figure 2. As the airflow A speeds up, pressure is reduced in the speeded up airflow according to Bernoulli's theorem, creating a region of low pressure R. Preferably, the outlet 320 will be located proximate this region of low pressure L to make use of this 'Venturi effect'.

While the features described above that create such a Venturi effect may be useful, the increased thickness requirement of the body 200 may cause unnecessary restriction of the airflow A. For this reason, the features creating such a Venturi effect are not critical.

In other embodiments (not shown), it is envisaged that having the inlet 310 located on or very close to the leading edge 230 will create a high pressure region H at the inlet, thereby creating a differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet, without specifically requiring a region of absolute low pressure L at the outlet 320.

The inlet 310 is also located towards the leading edge 230 to be able to suck in droplets of casual water that run down the leading edge, or an outer surface of the open drainage channel 400 located at or on the leading edge. The reason for this configuration is explained as follows.

In one preferred embodiment, the louvre member 100 further comprises an open drainage channel 400. The open drainage channel 400 is preferably disposed along the upper major face 210 and at the leading edge 230. The reason for such a location of the open drainage channel 400 is to be able to receive casual water such as rain that has fallen on the upper major surface 210 of the body 200, or which has dropped off the leading edge of an adjacent similar louvre member 100 located directly above, and run down the upper major surface 210 towards the leading edge 230.

Alternately, if the trailing edge is lower than the leading edge, then the open drainage channel 400 could be disposed at the trailing edge 240.

The upper major face 210 of the body also comprises an energy dissipation arrangement 500 on at least part of the upper major face at a fluid dissipation zone 510.

The energy dissipation arrangement 500 is configured and adapted to dissipate the energy of a droplet of fluid such as casual water landing on the fluid dissipation zone 510, to at least partially prevent splashing of the droplet upwardly from the upper major face 210. This will be described in more detail below.

In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the louvre member 100 will be installed in a horizontal alignment in parallel with a plurality of similar louvre members 100 in a louvre arrangement 1000. In such an orientation, it is envisaged that the body 200 will be configured with its leading edge 230 lower than its trailing edge 240, making an angle of the upper major face to the airflow of between 0 and 45 degrees to the airflow and preferably between 20 and 30 degrees, and most preferably at about 25 degrees to the airflow, although this need not necessarily be the case.

However, it is envisaged that the features of the louvre member 100 may also prove useful in a substantially vertical alignment in parallel with similar louvre members 100.

The present applicant has conducted wind tunnel testing on a louvre arrangement 1000 that is oriented with its louvre members 100 oriented horizontally and its leading edge 230 lower than its trailing edge 240. It was found that rain that falls on the louvre arrangement, will run mainly as droplets down the upper major face 210 towards the leading edge 230. Especially smaller water droplets may be held relatively stationary on the upper major face 210 by a number of forces acting in opposed directions. These forces include drag forces from the airflow A that is pushing against the effect of gravity on the droplet, as well as drag from water surface tension on the droplet at the surface of the louvre member 100.

The present applicant has found that when water falls directly (e.g. from the sky as rain) or indirectly (e.g. dripping from a structure or the louvre member above) onto the upper major face 210 as droplets, these droplets tend to impact onto the upper major face, and splash upwardly as a number of smaller droplets. This is especially the case where stationary or slowly moving droplets of water are already present on the upper major face 210.

These rebounded smaller droplets tend to become swept up by the airflow A over the upper major surface, and are carried into the opening of the building that the louvre arrangement 1000 is supposed to be shielding.

Also, water that does run down the upper major faces tends to fall off the leading edge onto the louvre member below. The open drainage channel 400 is for channelling this water away from the leading edge to prevent droplets falling from the leading edge onto the upper major face 210 of the louvre member 100 below.

However, droplets of water may still converge on the outer lip of the open drainage channel 400, and fall onto the upper major face 210 of the louvre member 100 below. This is why the inlet 310 is disposed at the lowest point of the leading edge 230, below the open drainage channel 400- to be able to move these droplets of water away from the leading edge 230 and into the fluid conduit 300. Once in the fluid conduit 300, droplets will move in a direction from the leading edge 230 towards the trailing edge 240, to accumulate in a drainage conduit 330 running the length of the louvre member 100. The accumulated droplets will then flow out of the drainage conduit outlet (not shown) located at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

As the number of droplets that make it past the open drainage channel 400 are expected to be relatively small in comparison to the number of droplets that flow into the open drainage channel 400, the drainage conduit 330 is expected to be of relatively small dimensions in comparison to the open drainage channel 400.

The lowest point of the leading edge will typically be the lower lip 312 (shown in figure 2) of the inlet 310. This has a small flange formation 314 on it to prevent water moving under action of water surface tension and pushed by the airflow A along the lower major surface 220. It is envisaged that any droplets of water that fall from the flange formation 314 will be incident on, and be dealt with by the energy dissipation arrangement 500 at the fluid dissipation zone 510 below as will now be described.

The energy dissipation arrangement 500 preferably comprises a deflector arrangement 505 for deflecting the relative direction of impingement of the liquid droplets onto the upper major surface 210.

The deflector arrangement 505 comprises at least one or more energy dissipation formations 516. Where the energy dissipation is by way of deflection of the water droplets, then the energy dissipation formations 516 may be deflector formations 51 1, shown in a preferred embodiment in figures 2, 4 and 5 in the form of vanes 512.

However, it is envisaged that many energy dissipation formations are possible as an alternative or in addition to deflector formations 51 1. As an example, the energy dissipation formations could be one or more selected from vanes 512; one or more grid arrangements (not shown); a perforated wall arrangement (not shown); an absorbent layer (not shown); a resilient layer (not shown); and a fibrous layer (not shown). It will be appreciated that numerous shapes, dimensions and configurations of energy dissipation formations 516 may be possible. In the embodiment shown in figure 2 and 3, the energy dissipation formations 516 are pressed as vanes 512 from a sheet of ductile material such as metal. Alternately, in another embodiment, the vanes 512 can be integrally moulded in this form in, for example a plastic moulding process.

The vanes 512 shown in this embodiment are aligned to extend parallel to the lengthwise direction of the louvre member 100, however, this need not necessarily be the case. The vanes shown in figure 6 are aligned transversely to the lengthwise direction of the louvre member 100.

Where the energy dissipation formations 516 comprise a fibrous layer, or a resilient layer comprised of fibres, the fibres could be woven together or randomly aligned fibers that are bonded together. They could also be composed of any one or more selected from glass fiber, carbon fiber, Kevlar™ fiber, or any other suitable engineering choice for a fibre. Bear in mind that for use in such a context, such fibres could typically be subject to contact to water for a large part of their operational lives, and may require treatment or be inherently resistant to mould formation to prevent them rotting or having mould or similar grow on them.

It is envisaged that the fluid dissipation zone will in one embodiment be connected to the open drainage channel 400 by means of a connecting channel 514 shown in figure 2 to allow fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone 510 to be drained from the fluid dissipation zone 510 into the open drainage channel 400. In another embodiment as shown in figure 5, the fluid dissipation zone could alternately or also be connected to the drainage conduit 330. In one embodiment not shown, a dissipated fluid drainage channel (not shown) could be provided for draining fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone 510 via the drainage conduit 330.

In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the deflector arrangement 505 comprises a plurality of deflector formations 51 1 in the form of vanes 512, presenting alternating deflector surfaces 512a presented at substantially right angles to each other. It is envisaged that angles of 120 degrees or less between the deflector surfaces 512a would be effective in deflecting the water droplets to at least partially prevent them from splashing upwardly to be caught in the airflow A. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, drainage apertures 515 are provided between the vanes 512 for draining fluid into open drainage channel 400. In figure 6, drainage apertures 515 are provided between the deflector surfaces for draining the fluid as a flow of liquid into the drainage conduit 330 dispose within the body 200.

In another embodiment, the deflector surfaces 512a could be presented to be parallel with each other, as shown in figures 3 and 4, with drainage apertures located between at least some of the adjacent deflector formations 512.

It is envisaged that the energy dissipation arrangement 500 can be integrally formed with the body 200, or could be provided as a cover, or layer on the upper major face 210.

Similarly, the open drainage channel 400 and/or the drainage conduit 330 can be integrally formed a part of the body, or can be assembled by being attached to the body 20, or received into the body 200 by means of suitable engagement formations (not shown).

In another embodiment not shown, the alternating deflector surfaces 512a can form deflector channels for channelling the fluid along the length of the louvre member 100 to the side of the opening.

In the embodiment shown in figure 6, the vanes 512 form deflector channels (not shown) that extend in a direction transversely to the length of the louvre member, and channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel 400.

In another aspect of the invention, and as shown in figures 7, there is provided a louvre member in the form of a louvre blade 100 for use in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow (shown as arrow A) is guided operationally. The louvre blade 100 comprises a body 200 and a channelling arrangement 501 which also acts as an energy dissipation arrangement 500. The body 200 presents an incident plane shown as a broken line 215 on figure 7, on which droplets of casual water in the airflow A are expected to be incident upon operationally. The incident plane 215 will typically coincides with one of the major faces of the louvre blade 100, and especially the upper major face 210 where the louvre blade 100 is oriented horizontally in a louvre arrangement 1000.

The channelling arrangement 501 is configured for operationally guiding casual water in the airflow A that is incident on at least a portion of the incident plane 215 into said body 200 to impinge against an incident surface 513 for at least partial removal of the casual water from the air. The process and mechanism of removal of the casual water will be explained in more detail below. The channelling arrangement 501 guides the droplets of casual water by means of vanes 512 into a sheltered zone 506 in which the airflow is at least partially reduced in velocity. The droplets of casual water then impinge or strike against an incident surface 513 provided for that purpose. The reason for the provision of the sheltered zone 506 is to ensure that water droplets rebounding from the incident surface 513 after striking the surface is not taken up or swept up in the airflow again. Because the airflow is reduced in the sheltered zone, 506, the likelihood of the rebound droplets being swept up again is reduced. In the embodiment shown in figures 7, 2, 3 and 4, the sheltered zone 506 is provided internally of the body 200, however this need not necessarily be the case.

In an alternative arrangement (shown in figures 1 and 6) it is envisaged that the incident surface need not be disposed within the body, but may be located in a recess 507 (shown in figure 1 and 6) in the upper major face 210, as long as the airflow A is at least partially, and preferably substantially, reduced in the recess 507 to form a sheltered zone 506.

The general region where the droplets of water are incident on the incident surface is defined as the incidence zone 514. In a preferred embodiment, the incidence zone 514, is configured for dissipating the energy of incident droplets of casual water to reduce rebound splashing of the water or liquid droplets.

An example of such a configuration would be the angling of the incident surface to reduce the angle of incidence of the water droplets so that they do not strike the incident surface at right angles, and first slow the droplets down by creating drag on the droplets using the surface tension of the droplets. Another example of such a configuration would be the provision of a spongy substance or fibrous mat (not shown) in the incidence zone 514. It is envisaged that the configuration of the incidence zone 514 may be similar to the configurations discussed above for the energy dissipation formations 510.

In this way, water droplets incident on the incident plane, as well as the rebound water droplets can be removed from the airflow to create a dried airflow. The dried airflow can continue to flow through the louvre arrangement 1000, or can be guided through channels in the body 200 to an outlet to rejoin the 320 to join the increased speed airflow flowing between louvre blades 100. The water removed from the airflow is then drained via either an open drainage channel 400 or a drainage conduit 330 as described above.

The channelling arrangement 501 could also merely be a water droplet deflector arrangement that deflects water droplets from their line of incidence on the incidence plane of the body 200, to at least partly facilitate the reduction of water rebound from the body. Such an arrangement in one embodiment (not shown) could include guide vanes that are initially generally aligned with the angle of incidence of the water droplets, and change their angle relative to the incidence plane to guide the water droplets to a direction which will create less rebound when it strikes the incident surface 513.

In this way, it is possible to provide a louvre member 100 and louvre arrangement 1000 that manages to remove casual water from the airflow A through the opening, while shielding the opening from the fall of causal water and allowing for a relatively unrestricted airflow.

While the embodiments shown in this specification all show a louvre member and louvre arrangement presenting a single bank, it will be appreciated that the principles detailed in this specification could be provided in a double or triple bank of louvres as well.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

Claims

A louvre member for use in a louvre arrangement for removing droplets of casual water from an opening to be shielded through which a flow of air is moveable, said louvre member comprising

a. a body for location within said air flow, the body comprising at least

i. at least a pair of major faces,

ii. a leading edge, and

iii. a trailing edge;

b. at least one fluid conduit extending in fluid communication between

i. an inlet disposed a location at or towards the leading edge, and ii. an outlet disposed relatively closer to the trailing edge; and c. a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid from the fluid conduit;

d. wherein operationally, differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes fluid disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and along said fluid conduit.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is configured so that operationally differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes casual water disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and through the fluid conduit for drainage by the drainage conduit.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 2 wherein the fluid conduit extends internally of the body.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body is at least partly extruded.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the drainage conduit extends substantially along the length of the body.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 5 wherein the drainage conduit comprises a drainage conduit outlet at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the louvre member further comprises an open drainage channel disposed at a major face.

8. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the louvre member is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially horizontal orientation.

9. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the body is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement with its leading edge lower than its trailing edge.

10. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the body is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially vertical alignment.

11. A louvre member as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pair of major faces comprises an upper major face and a lower major face.

12. A louvre member as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face.

13. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 12 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the leading edge.

14. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 14 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the trailing edge.

15. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 15 wherein the upper major face comprises an energy dissipation arrangement on at least part of the upper major face at a fluid dissipation zone.

16. A louvre member as claimed in claim 15 wherein the energy dissipation

arrangement is configured and adapted to dissipate the energy of a droplet of casual water landing on the fluid dissipation zone, to at least partially prevent splashing of said droplet upwardly from said upper major face.

17. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 16, wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement guides the droplets of casual water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is at least partially reduced in velocity to prevent the rebound of the droplets of casual water from being swept up in the airflow.

18. A louvre member as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sheltered zone is located internally of the body.

19. A louvre member as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone in which the droplets of causal water are incident.

20. A louvre member as claimed in claim 19, wherein the incidence zone is configured for dissipating the energy of incident droplets of casual water to facilitate reduction of rebound splashing.

21. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the inlet is disposed at or towards the lowest part of the leading edge of the body to prevent droplets of casual water falling off the leading edge.

22. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 21 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point.

23. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 22 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point.

24. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 23 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement comprises at least one or more energy dissipation formations.

25. A louvre member as claimed in claim 24 wherein the energy dissipation formations comprise one or more selected from

a. vanes on said upper major face;

b. at least one grid arrangement;

c. a perforated wall arrangement;

d. an absorbent layer;

e. a resilient layer; and

f. a fibrous layer.

26. A louvre member as claimed in claim 25 wherein the fibres of the fibrous layer comprises one or more selected from:

a. glass fiber

b. carbon fiber

c. Kevlar™ fiber

d. or any other suitable fibre.

27. A louvre member as claimed in claim 26 wherein the fibrous layer is woven.

28. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 26 to 27 wherein the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibres.

29. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 26 to 28 wherein the fibres are at least partially bonded together.

30. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 29 wherein the body is

dimensioned and configured to interact with said airflow to create a region of low pressure adjacent said body.

31. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 29 wherein the body is

dimensioned and configured to interact with said airflow and/or an adjacent structure to create a region of low pressure in said airflow adjacent said body.

32. A louvre member as claimed in claim 31 wherein the adjacent structure is an

adjacent similar louvre member.

33. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 30 to 32 wherein the outlet is

disposed at or towards said region of low pressure.

34. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 30 to 33 wherein the low pressure of the air in the region of low pressure causes a suction to be set up at said inlet via the fluid conduit to remove casual water from the leading edge.

35. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 30 to 33 wherein differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet caused by high pressure at the leading edge causes movement of casual water through said fluid conduit.

36. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 35 wherein the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the open drainage channel by means of a connecting channel to allow fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone to be drained from the fluid dissipation zone into the open drainage channel.

37. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 36 wherein the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the drainage channel by a dissipated fluid drainage channel for draining fluid collected at the fluid dissipation zone via the drainage channel.

38. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 37 wherein the inlet is a slot.

39. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 38 wherein the outlet is a slot.

40. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 11 to 39 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the upper major face.

41. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 39 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the lower major face.

42. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 39 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the trailing edge. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 42 wherein the energy dissipation arrangement comprises a deflector arrangement for deflecting the relative direction of impingement of said liquid droplet on said upper surface. A louvre member as claimed in claim 43 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises at least one deflector formation.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 44 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of alternating deflector surfaces presented at an angle to each other.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 45 wherein the energy dissipation arrangement is located at or towards the leading edge of the body over a dissipation zone.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 45 to 46 wherein the louvre arrangement comprises drainage apertures between at least one or more of the deflector surfaces.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 45 to 47 wherein the drainage apertures drain dissipated liquid droplets from between the deflector surfaces as a liquid flow.

A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 1 to 48 wherein the louvre member comprises a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 48 to 49 wherein the drainage apertures drain dissipated casual water droplets from between the deflector surfaces into the drainage conduit.

A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 1 to 50, wherein the drainage conduit is located within the body.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 15 to 51 wherein the energy dissipation arrangement is integrally formed with the body.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 7 to 52 wherein the drainage channels are integrally formed with the body.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 45 to 53 wherein the alternating deflector surfaces form deflector channels.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 to 54 wherein the louvre member comprises an open drainage channel. A louvre member as claimed in claim 55 wherein the open drainage channel extends at least partially along the leading edge of the body.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 55 to 56 wherein the deflector channels are configured and adapted to channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 43 to 57 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of deflector surfaces arranged in parallel with each other.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 45 to 58 wherein the deflector surfaces deflect liquid droplets impinging onto the deflector surfaces into an at least partially enclosed drainage conduit.

a. a body for location horizontally within said air flow, the body

comprising at least

i. an upper major face and a lower major face,

ii. a leading edge, and

iii. a trailing edge;

b. an energy dissipation arrangement disposed on the upper major face at a fluid dissipation zone.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 60, wherein the energy dissipation arrangement guides the droplets of casual water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is at least partially reduced in velocity to prevent the rebound of the droplets of casual water from being swept up in the airflow.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 61, wherein the sheltered zone is located internally of the body.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 62, wherein the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone in which the droplets of causal water are incident.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 63, wherein the incidence zone is configured for dissipating the energy of incident droplets of casual water to facilitate reduction of rebound splashing. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 60 to 64, wherein the energy dissipation arrangement is configured and adapted to dissipate the energy of a droplet of fluid landing on the fluid dissipation zone, to prevent splashing of said droplet upwardly from said upper major face.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 65 wherein an inlet is disposed at or towards the lowest part of the leading edge of the body to prevent droplets of casual water falling off the leading edge.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 66 to 67 wherein the inlet extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 66 to 67 wherein the inlet extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 60 to 68 wherein the energy dissipation arrangement comprises at least one or more energy dissipation formations.

A louvre member as claimed in claim 69 wherein the energy dissipation formations comprise one or more selected from

a. vanes extending from said upper major face;

b. at least one grid arrangement;

c. a perforated wall arrangement;

d. an absorbent layer; and

e. a fibrous layer.

A louvre blade as claimed in claim70 wherein the fibers of the fibrous layer comprises one or more selected from:

a. glass fiber

b. carbon fiber

c. Kevlar™ fiber

d. or any other suitable fibre.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 70 to 71 wherein the fibrous layer is woven.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 70 to 71 wherein the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibers.

A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 70 to 73 wherein the fibers are at least partially bonded together.

75. A device to encourage surface water into an aperture in the surface of an object, said device comprising:

a foil that is shaped and positioned relative to prevailing ambient air flow to cause a pressure differential between the airflow at said surface at where the aperture is provided and another part of the foil affected airflow, there being a fluid connection between said aperture and said another part of said airflow to cause suction at said aperture to encourage water to enter said aperture.

76. A device as claimed in claim 75 wherein object comprises said foil.

77. A device to encourage surface water into an aperture of a surface of an object by virtue of foil shaped and positioned to induce, by virtue of airflow over said foil, a pressure in said aperture that is less than that at the surface pressure at said aperture to thereby suck water into said aperture.

78. A device as claimed in claim 77 wherein the aperture is a slot.

79. A louvre arrangement comprising

a plurality of louvre members, each comprising louvre member comprising a. a leading edge

b. a trailing edge, and

c. a fluid conduit in fluid communication between

i. an inlet, and

ii. an outlet;

d. wherein the louvre members are mounted parallel relative to each other.

80. A louvre arrangement as claimed in claim 79 wherein the fluid conduit is enclosed.

81. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 80 wherein the louvre members are aligned substantially horizontally.

82. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 80 wherein the louvre members are aligned substantially vertically.

83. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 82 wherein the louver members are mounted in a configuration relative to each other so that air flow between two adjacent louvres is caused to speed up, to thereby create a low pressure region adjacent at least one of said louvre members.

84. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 83 wherein the louvre

arrangement comprises a frame on which said louvre members are mountable or mounted for holding the louvre members in a suitable configuration relative to each other.

85. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 83 to 84 wherein the outlet of each louvre member is located proximate a said low pressure region, to thereby create a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet, to create a sucking effect though the inlet.

86. A louvre arrangement as claimed in claim 85 wherein the sucking effect at least partly facilitates the movement of casual water into the inlet.

87. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 85 to 86 wherein the sucking effect at least partly facilitates the movement of casual water into the inlet from the leading edge.

88. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 87 wherein the louvre arrangement is configured as one or more selected from

a. a single bank;

b. a double bank; and

c. a triple bank.

89. A louvre arrangement as claimed in any of claims 79 to 88 wherein the louvre arrangement comprises a plurality of banks of louvre members, and includes at least one or more louvre members as described.

90. A method of removing casual water from an airflow including casual water comprising the steps of

a. providing a louvre member comprising

i. a leading edge

ii. a trailing edge, and

iii. a fluid conduit in fluid communication between

1. an inlet, and

2. an outlet;

b. locating the louvre member in said airflow,

c. at least partially facilitating movement of droplets of water from said

leading edge into the fluid conduit by virtue of an air pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet.

91. A method as claimed in claim 90 wherein the inlet is disposed at or towards the leading edge.

92. A method as claimed in any of claims 90 to 91 wherein the outlet is disposed at or towards the trailing edge.

93. A method as claimed in any of claims 90 to 92 wherein the outlet is located at a region of low pressure to cause a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet.

94. A method as claimed in claims 93 wherein the region of low pressure created by the speeding up of airflow between the louvre member and an adjacently located similar louvre member.

95. A method as claimed in any of claims 90 to 94 wherein the adjacently located similar louvre member is parallel to the louvre member.

96. A method as claimed in any of claims 90 to 95 wherein the method comprises the step of:

a. draining the casual water from the fluid conduit via a drainage conduit.

97. A louvre member for use in a louvre arrangement, said louvre member

comprising

a. a body presenting

i. an incident surface on which water is expected to impinge

operationally;

b. an energy dissipation arrangement extending over at least a portion of the incident surface for dissipating the kinetic energy of a liquid droplet impinging operationally on the louvre member to prevent rebound of at least part of the liquid droplet off at least part of the upper surface .

98. A louvre member as claimed in claim 97, wherein the energy dissipation

arrangement guides the droplets of casual water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is at least partially reduced in velocity to prevent the rebound of the droplets of casual water from being swept up in the airflow.

99. A louvre member as claimed in claim 98, wherein the sheltered zone is located internally of the body.

100. A louvre member as claimed in claim 99, wherein the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone in which the droplets of causal water are incident.

101. A louvre member as claimed in claim 100, wherein the incidence zone is

configured for dissipating the energy of incident droplets of casual water to facilitate reduction of rebound splashing of the liquid droplet.

102. A louvre member as claimed in claim 97 wherein the energy dissipation arrangement is configured to at least partly remove said water from said airflow to produce a dried airflow, and to release the dried airflow out of the body.

103. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 102 wherein the body

comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge.

104. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 103 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement comprises a deflector arrangement for deflecting the relative direction of incidence of said droplet on the incident surface.

105. A louvre member as claimed claim 104 wherein the deflector arrangement

comprises at least one deflector formation.

106. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 104 to 105 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of alternating deflector surfaces presented at an angle to each other.

107. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 104 to 106 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement is located at or towards the leading edge of the body over a dissipation zone.

108. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 106 to 107 wherein the louvre

arrangement comprises drainage apertures between at least one or more of the deflector surfaces.

109. A louvre member as claimed in claim 108 wherein the drainage apertures drain dissipated liquid droplets from between the deflector surfaces as a liquid flow.

110. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 108 to 109 wherein the louvre

member comprises a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid.

1 1 1. A louvre member as claimed in claim 1 10 wherein the drainage apertures drain dissipated water droplets from between the deflector surfaces into the drainage conduit.

1 12. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 1 10 to 1 1 1 wherein the drainage conduit is located within the body.

113. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 112 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement is integrally formed with the body.

1 14. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 110 to 1 13 wherein the drainage conduit is integrally formed with the body.

115. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 106 to 114 wherein the alternating deflector surfaces form deflector channels.

116. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 114 to 1 15 wherein the louvre blade comprises an open drainage channel.

117. A louvre member as claimed in claim 116 wherein the open drainage channel extends at least partially along the leading edge of the body.

118. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 115 to 1 17 wherein the deflector channels are configured and adapted to channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel.

1 19. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 104 to 118 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises a plurality of deflector surfaces arranged in parallel with each other.

120. A louvre member as claimed in claim 1 19 wherein the deflector surfaces deflect liquid droplets impinging onto the deflector surfaces into an at least partially enclosed drainage conduit.

121. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 119 wherein the louvre member comprises

a. at least one fluid conduit extending in fluid communication between

i. an inlet disposed a location at or towards the leading edge, and ii. an outlet disposed relatively closer to the trailing edge; and b. a drainage conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid from the fluid conduit;

c. wherein operationally, differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes fluid disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and along said fluid conduit.

122. A louvre member as claimed in claim 121, wherein said body is configured so that operationally differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes casual water disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and through the fluid conduit for drainage by the drainage conduit.

123. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 121 to 122 wherein the fluid conduit extends internally of the body

124. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 123 wherein the body is

extruded.

125. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 121 to 124 wherein the drainage conduit comprises a drainage conduit outlet at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

126. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 125 wherein the louvre member is configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially horizontal orientation.

127. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 103 to 126 wherein the body is

configured for installation in a louvre arrangement with its leading edge lower than its trailing edge.

128. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 127 wherein the body

comprises a pair of major faces.

129. A louvre member as claimed in claim 128 wherein the pair of major faces

comprises an upper major face and a lower major face.

130. A louvre member as claimed in claim 129 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face.

131. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 129 to 130 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the leading edge.

132. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 129 to 130 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the trailing edge.

133. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 132 wherein the inlet is

disposed at or towards the lowest part of the leading edge of the body to prevent droplets of casual water falling off the leading edge.

134. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 129 to 133 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point.

135. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 129 to 133 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point.

136. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 105 to 135 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement comprises one or more selected from

a. vanes extending along said upper major face;

b. at least one grid arrangement;

c. a perforated wall arrangement; d. an absorbent layer;

e. a resilient layer; and

f. a fibrous layer.

137. A louvre member as claimed in claim 136 wherein the fibres of the fibrous layer comprises one or more selected from:

a. glass fiber

b. carbon fiber

c. Kevlar™ fiber

d. or any other suitable fibre.

138. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 136 to 137 wherein the fibrous layer is woven.

139. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 136 to 137 wherein the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibers.

140. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 136 to 139 wherein the fibers are at least partially bonded together.

141. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 140 wherein the body is

142. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 140 wherein the body is

143. A louvre member as claimed in claim 142 wherein the adjacent structure is an adjacent similar louvre member.

144. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 141 to 143 wherein the outlet is disposed at or towards said region of low pressure.

145. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 141 to 144 wherein the low pressure of the air in the region of low pressure causes a suction to be set up at said inlet via the fluid conduit to remove casual water from the leading edge.

146. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 141 to 144 wherein differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet caused by high pressure at the leading edge causes movement of casual water through said fluid conduit.

147. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 146 wherein the energy

dissipation zone is connected to the open drainage channel by means of a connecting channel to allow fluid collected at the energy dissipation zone to be drained from the fluid dissipation zone into the open drainage channel.

148. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 97 to 147 wherein the fluid

dissipation zone is connected to the drainage channel by a dissipated fluid drainage channel for draining fluid collected at the energy dissipation zone via the drainage channel.

149. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 121 to 148 wherein the inlet is a slot.

150. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 121 to 149 wherein the outlet is a slot.

151. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 128 to 150 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the upper major face.

152. A louvre member as claimed in any of claims 128 to 150 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the lower major face.

153. A louvre blade for substantially horizontal alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow is guided operationally, the louvre blade comprising a. a body presenting

i. an incident surface on which droplets of casual water are expected operationally to be incident upon;

b. a channelling arrangement for operationally guiding casual water in said airflow that is incident on at least a portion of the incident surface into said body for at least partial removal of the casual water from said airflow.

154. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 153, wherein the channelling arrangement

guides the droplets of casual water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is at least partially reduced in velocity to prevent rebound of the droplets of casual water from the incident surface being swept up in the airflow.

155. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 154, wherein the sheltered zone is located

internally of the body.

156. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 155, wherein the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone in which the droplets of causal water are incident.

157. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 156, wherein the incidence zone is configured for dissipating the energy of incident droplets of casual water to facilitate reduction of rebound splashing of the liquid droplet.

158. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 153 wherein the energy dissipation aiTangement is configured to at least partly remove said water from said airflow to produce a dried airflow, and to release the dried airflow out of the body.

159. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 158 wherein the body comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge.

160. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 159 wherein the energy

161. A louvre blade as claimed claim 160 wherein the deflector arrangement comprises at least one deflector formation.

162. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 160 to 161 wherein the deflector

aiTangement comprises a plurality of alternating deflector surfaces presented at an angle to each other.

163. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 159 to 162 wherein the energy

164. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 162 to 163 wherein the louvre

165. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 164 wherein the drainage apertures drain

dissipated liquid droplets from between the deflector surfaces as a liquid flow.

166. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 165 comprising a drainage

conduit extending at least partly along the length of the body for draining liquid.

167. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 166 wherein the drainage apertures drain

dissipated water droplets from between the deflector surfaces into the drainage conduit.

168. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 166 to 167 wherein the drainage conduit is located within the body.

169. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 168 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement is integrally formed with the body.

170. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 166 to 169 wherein the drainage conduit is integrally formed with the body.

171. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 162 to 170 wherein the alternating deflector surfaces form deflector channels.

172. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 171 wherein the louvre blade comprises an open drainage channel.

173. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 172 wherein the open drainage channel extends at least partially along the leading edge of the body.

174. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 171 to 173 wherein the deflector

channels are configured and adapted to channel dissipated water droplets operationally into the open drainage channel.

175. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 160 to 174 wherein the deflector

arrangement comprises a plurality of deflector surfaces arranged in parallel with each other.

176. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 175 wherein the deflector surfaces deflect liquid droplets impinging onto the deflector surfaces into an at least partially enclosed drainage conduit.

177. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 176, comprising

a. at least one fluid conduit extending in fluid communication between

178. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 177,wherein said body is configured so that operationally differential air pressure between said inlet and said outlet causes casual water disposed at or towards the inlet to be moved into the inlet and through the fluid conduit for drainage by the drainage conduit.

179. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 177 to 178, wherein the fluid conduit extends internally of the body

180. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 179 wherein the body is extruded.

181. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 177 to 180 wherein the drainage conduit comprises a drainage conduit outlet at or towards the side of said opening to be shielded.

182. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 181 configured for installation in a louvre arrangement in a substantially horizontal orientation.

183. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 159 to 182 wherein the body is

184. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 183 wherein the body comprises a pair of major faces.

185. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 184 wherein the pair of major faces comprises an upper major face and a lower major face.

186. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 172 wherein the open drainage channel is

disposed along the upper major face.

187. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 172 to 186 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the leading edge.

188. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 172 to 187 wherein the open drainage channel is disposed along the upper major face towards the trailing edge.

189. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 188 wherein the inlet is disposed at or towards the lowest part of the leading edge of the body to prevent droplets of casual water falling off the leading edge.

190. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 185 to 189 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 10 degrees from its lowest point.

191. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 185 to 190 wherein the lower major face extends upwardly in operation at an angle of more than 20 degrees from its lowest point.

192. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 153 to 191 wherein the energy

dissipation arrangement comprises one or more selected from

a. vanes extending along said upper major face;

b. at least one grid arrangement;

c. a perforated wall arrangement;

d. an absorbent layer; e. a resilient layer; and

f. a fibrous layer.

193. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 192 wherein the fibres of the fibrous layer comprises one or more selected from:

a. glass fiber

b. carbon fiber

c. Kevlar™ fiber

d. or any other suitable fibre.

194. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 192 to 193 wherein the fibrous layer is woven.

195. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 192 to 194 wherein the fibrous layer is comprises randomly aligned fibers.

196. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 192 to 195 wherein the fibers are at least partially bonded together.

197. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 196 wherein the body is

198. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 197 wherein the body is

199. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 198 wherein the adjacent structure is an

adjacent similar louvre blade.

200. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 141 to 199 wherein the outlet is

disposed at or towards said region of low pressure.

201. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 197 to 200 wherein the low pressure of the air in the region of low pressure causes a suction to be set up at said inlet via the fluid conduit to remove casual water from the leading edge.

202. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 141 to 201 wherein differential pressure between the inlet and the outlet caused by high pressure at the leading edge causes movement of casual water through said fluid conduit.

203. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 202 wherein the energy

204. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 97 to 147 wherein the fluid dissipation zone is connected to the open drainage channel by a dissipated fluid drainage channel for draining fluid collected at the energy dissipation zone via the drainage channel.

205. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 121 to 148 wherein the inlet is a slot.

206. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 121 to 149 wherein the outlet is a slot.

207. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 128 to 150 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the upper major face.

208. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 128 to 207 wherein the outlet is located at or towards the lower major face.

209. A louvre blade for substantially horizontal alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre blade comprising a. a body presenting

i. an incident plane on which casual water droplets in the airflow are expected to impinge on operationally;

b. a channelling arrangement for operationally guiding casual water in said airflow incident on at least a portion of the incident plane into a sheltered zone which is sheltered from the said airflow flowing through the louvre arrangement for collection and drainage of said water.

210. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 209, wherein the channelling arrangement comprises a drainage conduit for draining water from the sheltered zone.

21 1. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 209 to 210, wherein the louvre blade is substantially elongate.

212. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 211, wherein the drainage channel extends in the direction of the length of the louvre blade.

213. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 212, wherein the drainage channel extends substantially along the full length of the louvre blade.

214. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 209 to 213, wherein the sheltered zone is disposed internally of the louvre blade.

215. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 210 to 214, wherein the drainage

conduit is internal of the louvre blade.

216. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 209 to 215, wherein the sheltered zone comprises an incidence zone against which drops of causal water are incident after they enter the sheltered zone.

217. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 216, wherein the incidence zone comprises energy dissipating formations for dissipating the energy of drops of water that are incident on the incidence zone.

218. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 216 to 217, wherein the sheltered zone is configured and adapted to shelter drops of casual water that are incident on the incidence zone, to prevent operational water rebound off the incidence zone being swept up by the airflow.

219. A louvre blade for substantially horizontal alignment in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre blade comprising a. a louvre blade, wherein the louvre blade comprises an internal drainage channel for draining casual water incident on said louvre blade.

220. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 219, wherein the louvre blade is composed of one or more extruded parts.

221. A louvre blade suitable for use in a louvre arrangement through which an airflow flows operationally, the louvre blade comprising

a. a body presenting

i. an incident plane on which casual water droplets in the airflow are expected to be operationally incident;

b. a water droplet deflector arrangement disposed on the incident plane for deflecting water droplets from their line of incidence against the body, to at least partly facilitate the reduction of water rebound from the body.

222. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 221 , wherein the water droplet deflector

arrangement is configured to deflect water into a sheltered zone in which the airflow is reduced to reduce the water droplet rebound being swept up in the airflow.

223. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 222, wherein the sheltered zone is located

internally of the body.

224. A louvre blade as claimed in any of claims 221 to 223, wherein the louvre blade comprises a drainage channel for drainage of the casual water.

225. A louvre blade as claimed in claim 224, wherein the drainage channel is disposed internally of the body.

226. A louvre arrangement comprising

a. at least one or more louvre blades as claimed in any of claims 153 to 225.

227. A louvre arrangement comprising

a. at least one or more louvre members as claimed in any of claims 1 to 78 and 97 to 152.

228. A method of removing casual water droplets from an airflow comprising the steps of

a. providing a louvre member comprising

i. a body presenting

1. an incident plane on which casual water droplets in the

airflow are expected to impinge on operationally;

ii. a channelling arrangement for operationally guiding casual water in said airflow incident on at least a portion of the incident plane into a sheltered zone which is sheltered from the said airflow flowing through the louvre arrangement for collection and drainage of said water;

b. guiding casual water droplets in the airflow into the sheltered zone.

229. A method as claimed in claim 228, wherein the body comprises an incident zone defining an incident surface and the step of guiding the casual water droplets comprises guiding the water droplets to an incident zone in which the water droplets are incident on an incident surface.

230. A method as claimed in claim 229, wherein the incident surface is

configured for dissipating the kinetic energy of the water droplets incident on it, while reducing the rebound of water from the incident surface, and the method comprises the step of dissipating the kinetic energy of the water droplets.

231. A method as claimed in claim 229, wherein the method comprises guiding water removed from the airflow out of the body through a drainage conduit extending through the body.