WO2013113987A1

WO2013113987A1 - Method and apparatus in a window arrangement of a farm production building

Info

Publication number: WO2013113987A1
Application number: PCT/FI2013/050041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christer FORSSTRÖM
Original assignee: Nhk-Keskus Oy
Priority date: 2012-01-31
Filing date: 2013-01-15
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: FI125104B; FI20125104A

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method and apparatus in a window arrangement of a farm production building, which production building (1) comprises at least a roof (2), outer walls (3) provided with a bottom part (3a) and a top part (3b), and a floor space (4) with sleeping stalls (4a), manure gutters and other necessary actuators, and which production building (1) comprises openable windows (6) at least in the outer walls (3). The inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) into the production building (1) from the windows (6) is changed to be higher the lower that the temperature of the outside air falls.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS IN A WINDOW ARRANGEMENT OF A FARM PRODUCTION BUILDING

The object of the invention is a method as presented in the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus in a window arrangement of a farm production building as presented in the preamble of claim 6.

The window arrangement according to the invention is a further development of a solution according t'o Finnish utility model no. 7656 filed by the same applicant.

The production requirements of farms have become more stringent, competition has intensified and unit sizes have increased. As a consequence of this, the production efficiency of farms has had to be enhanced, in which case the construction of production buildings intended e.g. mainly for cattle, such as of barns and of housing for untethered animals, must be performed quickly and the use must be planned to be efficient. The premises and functions of a production building must be such that cattle can be fed and tended easily and, in addition, the systems for ventilation, heating, sewage and manure removal must be appropriate .

Traditionally in central and southern Europe housing for untethered animals is built almost exclusively to be un- heated, in which housing the airing and ventilation of the production building is implemented with walls that are open to the exterior. In the Nordic countries housing for untethered animals is correspondingly constructed, wherein natural ventilation by the aid of wall hatches and openable roof ridges is used. One problem, however, has been that these aforementioned conventional ventilation arrangements do not function sufficiently well in the climatic conditions of Nordic countries. One problem has been e.g. that in winter it may be too cold and on hot days in the summer, on the other hand, absolutely too hot. The air is not re- placed sufficiently, and the doors cannot be kept open. Another problem, especially in autumn, winter and spring, is that excessive moisture accumulates in the building, in which case the accumulation of moisture on the inside sur- faces of windows is also a problem. Long-term exposure to moisture damages the structures of the building and is detrimental to both humans and animals. Known in the art are separate so-called drip boards to be used in barns, which boards are disposed e.g. on the top part of inner walls. A problem with these is the separate structure and also that in these solutions also moisture collects on the inside surfaces of windows.

As is known, solutions also exist wherein various sorts of curtain walls of the roller blind type are in connection with windows, by the aid of which curtain walls the size of the window opening can be adjusted. The curtain can be e.g. for pulling upwards from below, and the colder the weather conditions are, the higher the curtain is pulled, in which case the window opening becomes smaller. A problem in this type of solution is, however, that moisture condenses on the curtain and with cold air the curtain and its roller can freeze. Another problem is that the curtain easily collects dust. Likewise, a cloth curtain is difficult to wash, owing to which they often remain unwashed, in which case the condition of the curtain suffers. Yet another drawback is that anti-bird netting or corresponding cannot be disposed in connection with a curtain wall to prevent birds and small animals from entering the barn.

Correspondingly, a curtain wall to be pulled downwards from above does not function well in relation to air conditioning, because the height level of the supply air coming into the barn displaces in the wrong direction as the tempera- ture changes. With cold air, for example, when this type of curtain wall is only slightly from below, cold air comes from below and flows directly into the animal stalls, when in a properly functioning system it should come in from as high up as possible.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above- mentioned drawbacks and to achieve a practical and efficient, and also structurally simple, window arrangement of a farm production building, which operates reliably also in the climatic conditions of Nordic countries. In addition, the aim of the arrangement according to the invention is to enable effective and advantageous removal of moisture from a farm production building. Another aim of the invention is to utilize the previously undesirable property of the inside surfaces of windows getting wet. In the solution according to the invention a window bringing light and a so-called drip board collecting moisture are advantageously combined into one and the same structure. The method according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1 and the appliance according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 6. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.

A further advantage of the solution according to the inven- tion is that the window arrangement according to the invention is simple and inexpensive, and also operates reliably. The windows of a building are arranged to open and to close, if necessary, according to the temperature automatically in a temperature-adjusted manner, owing to which the tempera- ture of the indoor air of the building remains always suitable. Another advantage is that each window can be adjusted separately, which enables precise adjustment of the air conditioning separately in the different parts of the building. Another advantage is the very effective removal of excess moisture in autumn, winter and spring by the aid of windows condensing moisture into water, in which case separate drip board structures are not required and the windows remain dry. A further advantage is also that condensing moisture into water releases energy, which warms the windows and the air. This released energy in turn saves heating costs. A further advantage is that there are no draughts from windows, not even for animals next to a wall of the building. Another advantage is that the window arrangement according to the invention is easy and quick to install. One advantage is also that the window arrangement can easily be fitted into a variety of different-sized buildings and windows. A further advantage of the solution is also that the windows are easy to clean.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of an example of its embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents an oblique top view of one farm production building implemented with an arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2 presents a sectioned and simplified view of one symmetrical half of a farm production building,

Fig. 3 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention with warm air,

Fig. 4 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention with warm air and sunshine,

Fig. 5 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention with cooler air,

Fig. 6 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention with cold air,

Fig. 7 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention with very cold air, Fig. 8 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention and of a manually-operated opening mechanism for it, and

Fig. 9 presents a sectioned side view of one window arrangement according to the invention and of an automated opening mechanism for it.

Fig. 1 presents one typical farm production building 1, such as a barn intended for cattle or housing for untethered animals, enabling application of the invention, the main parts of which building are a roof 2, outer walls 3, and a floor space 4, visible in Fig. 2, with sleeping stalls 4a, feeding troughs, manure gutters and other necessary actuators and functional spaces. Additionally, there is a plurality of ventilation ducts 5 on the roof of the building, e.g. on top of the ridge. The outer walls 3 of the production building have openable windows 6 in an essentially horizontal row, which windows have openable window parts, one or more parts being one above each other. The windows 6 are e.g. essentially the width of the distance between the support pillars la of the building or to some extent shorter than said distance.

Instead of being a rectangular production building, the production building 1 could just as well also be different both in its layout and as viewed from above. For example, a building that is circular as viewed from above, or almost circular and composed of sections, resembling a polygon, as viewed from above, would be very well suited as a produc- tion building for application of the invention.

Hereinafter the shorter designation "barn" is also used for a farm production building, which term thus refers also to a building for housing for untethered animals and to other corresponding farm production buildings. Fig. 2 presents in more detail, but nevertheless in simplified form, a cross-sectional view of the structures of a barn 1 provided with a window arrangement according to the invention. Here the barn could just as well be, as viewed from above, e.g. round, polygon-shaped or rectangular. Between the bottom part 3a and the top part 3b of the outer walls 3, passing around the building, or at least on the side walls of the building, is a row of windows 6, which windows are composed of clear transparent or opal-colored window boards 6a, which are one above the other in the vertical direction in a suitable amount depending on the height of the window. In this embodiment the windows 6 comprise window boards 6a in three rows one above the other in the vertical direction, in a bottommost, centermost and topmost row. Between the top part of the windows 6 and the top part 3b of the outer wall 3 is a, preferably adjustable, air gap 7 that is always at least to some extent open, from which air gap air is able to flow into the barn 1. In the situation of Fig. 2 it is e.g. wintertime and the windows 6 are functionally closed, but the aforementioned air gap 7, being a small ventilation gap, nevertheless remains between the windows 6 and the top part 3b of the outer wall 3. In summertime more ventilation is needed and then the window boards 6a of the windows 6 are more open. The structure and operation of the windows 6 are presented hereinafter in more detail in Figs. 3-9.

On the ridge of the roof 2 of the barn 1 is a plurality of ventilation ducts 5 provided with ventilation apertures 8, via which air is able to flow out of the barn 1. The size of the through-holes of the ventilation apertures 8 can also be adjusted and in this way at the same time the ventilation of the whole barn 1 can be adjusted. Exhaust flues provided with fans can also be connected to the ventilation ducts 5, via which flues air can also, if necessary, be expelled . The ventilation of the barn 1 is therefore arranged to function in such a way that air flows into the barn 1 from the windows 6 in the outer walls 3 and out from the ventilation aperture or ventilation apertures 8 of the ventila- tion ducts 5 and also, if necessary, from the exhaust flues and also from the open windows 6 of one of the side walls. For example, with very cold air the ventilation apertures 8 can be closed and air is expelled only via the exhaust flues. With very cold air also the windows 6 can be fully closed, in which case air flows inside from the air gaps 7 between the windows 6 and the top part 3b of the outer walls 3.

Fig. 3 presents a simplified and more detailed view of a window arrangement of a barn in summertime. The outer wall 3 of the barn 1, or at least the bottom part 3a of the outer wall, is e.g. concrete, between an inner layer and outer layer of which is an insulation layer 9. A horizontal nailing strip 10 is fitted on an essentially horizontal plane onto the top part of the insulation layer 9 of the bottom part 3a of the outer wall 3, on top of which nailing strip a window sill 11 is fixed, which window sill is e.g. an ordinary wooden plank. A weather strip 12 or corresponding structure is fitted on top of the window sill 11, which weather strip 12 is composed of an inner weather strip 12a or corresponding that extends at least to the inside of the bottom part 3a of the outer wall 3 and that is bent downwards, as well as of an outer weather strip 12 or corresponding that is bent downwards.

Each window 6 of a side wall 3 is composed of slatted, rectangular window boards 6a that are essentially narrow or shallow with respect to their length, of which in this embodiment there are three rows one above another in the ver- tical direction. The window boards 6a are connected to the walls of the building, or to another suitable support structure 6b, at the edges of the window 6 by means of hinge parts 14. The hinge part 14 is e.g. a metal tube, which is fixed in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the horizontal direction, to the inside surface of the window board 6a in the center of the window board 6a in the height direction along its whole horizontal length. The hinge parts 14 are fixed with separate fasteners to the surface of the window board 6a in such a way that a small gap remains in the window surface of the hinge part 14 and window board 6a, via which gap the condensed moisture W is able to flow downwards along the inside surface of the window board 6a. The hinge parts 14 can also be only at both ends of the window boards 6a. The window boards 6a are arranged to be turned around the hinge parts 14 preferably at least 360 degrees, but very often a smaller angle is also sufficient and with very cold air the window boards 6a are kept fully in an essentially vertical plane, i.e. the turning angle is then zero or very close to zero. In summer generally the window boards 6a are fully open on both side walls of the barn 1. This enables a cooling through-aeration, which can be further supplemented by cooling the barn 1 by evaporating water. At least the bottom edge and the top edge of the window boards 6a comprise seals 15, 16 for sealing the window boards 6a that are one above the other against each other when the window boards 6a are in the closed position.

Outside the window, in front of the opening of the window 6, is e.g. anti-bird netting 6c functioning as a protective net, which is protected at its top end with a protective element 17 preventing the entrance of water and snow. The purpose of anti-bird netting 6c is to prevent birds, squirrels and other small animals from entering the barn.

There can be e.g. 1-10 units of slatted window boards 6a, instead of three window boards one above the other, and the width in the height direction of the window boards can range between approx. 20-120 cm. The height of the window opening of a wall 3 of the barn 1 can be e.g. between 60-400 cm. The window structure according to the invention can be installed in both new and old barns.

In summer warm air must be ventilated effectively out of the barn 1. Owing to this all the window boards 6a of the outer walls 3 are opened fully, in which case the window opening enabling air flow is as large as possible. In this case the air flow AF is able to flow into the barn 1 more. Air is conducted out by the aid of the natural air circulation, e.g. via the ventilation ducts 5. If necessary, air is expelled also via exhaust flues by means of fans.

The arrangement according to the invention further comprises at least control and adjustment means and disposed at suitable points means 23, such as sensors for measuring the temperature of the air and for delivering the temperature data to the control and adjustment means. In the automatically-operated solution the operating mechanism of the windows 6 is connected for being controlled by the control and adjustment means e.g. in such a way that in their initial position the window boards 6a are in a vertical position and every time the temperature rises a certain number of degrees, the window boards 6a open e.g. in steps and also correspondingly when the temperature falls, the window boards 6a close in steps. Correspondingly, also stepless adjustment can be implemented.

Fig. 4 presents a window arrangement of a barn in a situation in which the window boards 6a are turned inwards at their top edge at an angle of approx. 45 degrees. In this type of position the window boards 6a prevent, e.g. on a hot summer day, excessive shining of the sun S from entering the barn building, which enables ensuring that it is not too hot in the barn for the animals. Nevertheless in this position also adequate air flow AF for ventilation is able to enter the building from a window 6, but now the warm air flow AF inside the barn is guided upwards and not directly onto the animals lying, in a stall 4a. Outside in this case is e.g. +10...+35 ° C, but inside in the barn 1 it is only +20...+25 °C. Fig. 5 presents a window arrangement of a barn in a situation in which e.g. mild autumn or winter weather is prevailing. Outside in this case is e.g. approx. 0...-15°C, but inside in the barn 1 it is only +8...+10°C. In this case the topmost window board 6a is turned fully open and the cen- termost window board 6a is turned to incline to guide the incoming air flow AF in the desired direction, e.g. upwards. By turning the window boards 6a into an inclined position, the air volume gaining access to the inside can also be adjusted. In this case air is able to enter more at the point of the topmost window board 6a, then at the point of the centermost window board 6a, and the bottommost window board 6a is fully in the vertical position, i.e. closed, so that air is not able to enter the barn 1 at the point of it. In this case the moisture W starts to condense on the inside surface of the lower window board 6a that is closed .

Fig. 6 presents a window arrangement of a barn in a situation in which the temperature of the outside air is between -10...-25^°C, i.e. the prevailing weather is normal for winter. Inside in the barn 1 in this case also the temperature is approx. +8...+10°C. In this case the two lowermost window boards 6a are closed, i.e. in a vertical position, and the topmost window board 6a is turned according to need into an inclined attitude to adjust the direction and the amount of the incoming air flow. In this case the moisture W condenses on the inside surface of the two lower window boards 6a that are closed. Fig. 7 presents a window arrangement of a barn in a situation in which the temperature of the outside air is between -25...-35°C, i.e. harsh and cold winter weather is prevail- ing. Inside in the barn 1 in this case also the temperature is approx. +6...+8°C. In this case all the window boards 6a are closed, i.e. in a vertical position, and there is only a small adjustable gap 7 between the topmost window board 6a and the top part 3b of the wall 3, via which gap air is able to enter the barn 1. The magnitude of the gap 7 is adjusted e.g. in the vertical direction with a movable damper board 7a. In this case the moisture W condenses heavily on the inside surface of all the closed window boards 6a. The damper board 7a is presented only in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 presents one window arrangement of a barn 1 according to the invention and the manually-operated opening and closing mechanism of it. Each window board comprises e.g. a turning arm 19 and locking holes 18, which are disposed at intervals of the desired frequency radially in relation to the center axle of the hinge part 14. The window board 6a is turned into the desired angled position by means of the turning arm and locked into its position in the aforemen- tioned angled position by means of locking pins or corresponding and the locking holes 18, which are disposed e.g. in the support structures 6b at the ends of the windows or in separate support structures. Correspondingly, Fig. 9 presents one second window arrangement of a barn 1 according to the invention, in which the adjustment and locking of the window boards 6a into different positions is performed automatically by the aid of a drive motor 20, a belt 21 or corresponding traction means and a belt wheel 22 or corresponding. This structural solution has been described earlier in the text.

The window boards 6a of the windows 6 are manufactured e.g. from honeycomb board. An advantage if this type of honey- comb structure is that it insulates heat well, in which case heat loss is small, but at the same time light passes through the honeycomb structure adequately. The U-value of a wall with windows varies according to the selected honeycombed board, but it is always selected in such a way that the inside temperature of the barn 1 is always higher than zero degrees, i.e. >0°C. In this case inside the barn 1 there are no freezing problems with cold air either. The windows 6 also form the coldest surface of the barn 1, onto which surface the moisture in the air of the barn condenses. The condensed moisture W is arranged to flow along the inside surface of the window boards 6a to the weather strip 12 and along the inner weather strip 12a bent downwards into a gutter 13 disposed beside the inner wall, below the inner weather strip 12a, along which gutter the condensed moisture is drained away as water e.g. into a slurry container for the barn. According to the invention the windows are arranged to be used for removing moisture in a planned manner, in which case the best possible result is achieved in the removal of moisture and habitability of the indoor air. The condensation of water onto the window surfaces surrenders heat, which circulates inside the barn 1 as a natural circulation and in turn warms the supply air. In this case there is no feeling of draught in the barn .

The solution according to the invention is characterized in that inlet height of the incoming air flow AF into the barn 1 is changed to be higher the lower the temperature of the outside air falls. In addition, the direction of the supply air changes, if necessary, to travel from below upwards. What is also characteristic is that the inside surface of the window collecting moisture increases at the same time as the temperature of the outside air falls and the need to remove moisture increases. The window boards 6a can also be turned to incline downwards in such a way that on hot days a refreshing air flow is obtained for animals lying in a stall. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited solely to the embodiment example presented above, but that it may vary within the scope of the claims to be presented below. Thus, for example, the various structures and functions of the production building may differ from those presented above. For example, depending on the structures, separate weather strips on the bottom edge of a window are not necessarily needed at all, but instead the condensed moisture can flow from the window surface directly into the gutter taking water away.

It is also obvious to the skilled person that different actuators can be used as a power means of the drive mechanism of the window boards, such as e.g. a spindle motor, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or other suitable mechanisms achieving an opening and closing movement of the window .

It is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that instead of a honeycomb-structured window, the windows can also be ordinary glass windows.

Likewise, it is further obvious to the person skilled in the art that the weather strips do not need to be sheet metal, but instead they can be any structures whatsoever of the same type that protect the bottom part of the wall and carry water away from its top surface.

Claims

1. Method in a window arrangement of a farm production building, which production building (1) comprises at least a roof (2), outer walls (3) provided with a bottom part (3a) and a top part (3b), and a floor space (4) with sleeping stalls (4a), manure gutters and other necessary actuators, and which production building (1) comprises openable windows (6) at least in the outer walls (3), characterized in that the inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) into the production building (1) from the windows (6) is changed to be higher the lower that the temperature of the outside air falls.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the inside surface of a window (6) collecting moisture is enlarged as the temperature of the outside air falls.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) into the production building (1) from the windows (6) is changed and the air flow (AF) is directed by turning the window boards (6a) that are one above each other around their horizontal axle that functions as a hinge (14) .

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the temperature of the indoor air of the production building (1) is measured and the inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) is changed and/or the direction of said air flow is changed by automatically turning the window boards (6a) that are one above each other around their horizontal axle that functions as a hinge (14) according to the measured temperature^".

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in summertime the air flow (AF) is arranged to travel to inside the production building (1) mainly from the horizontal gaps between the outer walls (3) of the building and the windows (6), said windows being one above the other and as far open as possible, and as the air gets colder the window boards (6a) are closed starting from the bottom e.g. one window board layer at a time, until all the window boards (6a) disposed one above the other are closed.

6. Window arrangement of a farm production building, which production building (1) comprises at least a roof (2), outer walls (3) provided with a bottom part (3a) and a top part (3b), and a floor space (4) with sleeping stalls (4a), manure gutters and other necessary actuators, and which production building (1) comprises openable windows (6) at least in the outer walls (3), characterized in that the windows (6) are composed of one or more window boards (6a) that are essentially one above the other, which are configured to be turned around a horizontal axle functioning as a hinge (14) .

7. Window arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that there are two, three or more window boards (6a) one above the other and each window board (6a) comprises a horizontal axle functioning as a hinge (14) in essentially the center of the window board (6a) in the height direction, which horizontal axle is hinged to the structures of the production building (1).

8. Window arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each window board (6a) is arranged to be turned around its horizontal axle that functions as a hinge (14) to an angled position between 0...360 " individually and independently of the other window boards (6a) .

9. Window arrangement according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the arrangement comprises actuator means (18, 19) for turning and locking the window boards (6a) into the desired angled position manually.

10. Window arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 6-8, characterized in that the arrangement comprises actuator means (20-23) and a control system for automatically turning and locking the window boards (6a) into the desired angled position, according to the temperature of the outside air and/or according to the inside temperature of the production building (1).

11. Window arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 6-10, characterized in that the inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) into the production building (1) from the windows (6) is arranged to be changed by turning the window boards (6a) to make it higher the lower that the temperature of the outside air falls.

12. Window arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 6-11, characterized in that the inside surface of a window (6) collecting moisture is arranged to be enlarged by turning the window boards (6a) that are one above each other as the temperature of the outside air falls.

13. Window arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 6-12, characterized in that the inlet height of the incoming air flow (AF) into the production building (1) from the windows (6) is arranged to be changed and the air flow (AF) to be directed by turning the window boards (6a) that are one above each other around their horizontal axle that functions as a hinge (14).

14. Window arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 6-13, characterized in that below a window (6) is an inner weather strip (12a) or corresponding extending at least to inside the bottom part (3a) of the outer wall (3), and in that the moisture (W) that has condensed inside the production building (1) is arranged to flow from the inner surface of the window (6) onto the inner weather strip (12a), from which weather strip (12a) onwards into a gutter (13) disposed beside the inner wall, below the inner weather strip (12a), along which gutter the condensed moisture (W) is arranged to flow away as water.