EP1308677A2

EP1308677A2 - Roof ventilation cowl

Info

Publication number: EP1308677A2
Application number: EP20020079639
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Campbell Powell
Original assignee: Intervent Ventilation Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Intervent Ventilation Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-05
Filing date: 2002-11-01
Publication date: 2003-05-07
Also published as: GB2378750A; GB2378750B; GB0126503D0

Abstract

A roof ventilation cowl has a base 1 with a circular central aperture. A cover 2 is spaced above the base by a means of spacers 3 bolted to the base and the cover. The base has a hollow upstand 4 incorporating an upturned lip 5 to deter rain water from flowing into the upstand. A seal 6 for a closure member 11 to rest on is provided on top of the upstand. The closure member is circular and carried on a leg 14 projecting down from the cover. The closure member can lift bodily to open the central aperture.

Under the influence of a fan carried under the base, the leg is free to rise for ventilation and fall to close the opening again after use of the fan.

Description

The present invention relates to roof ventilation cowl.
Roof ventilation cowls are installed in roofs to vent air from buildings such as large stores, warehouses and factories. Generally, they comprise a base adapted to be installed in a roof and having a central ventilation aperture and a cover spaced from the base providing for lateral air flow from the aperture and weather protection.
Traditionally, such cowls have been made of glass reinforced plastics material. This a heavy material, which is slow to fabricate. Increasingly formed plastic sheet technology, such as vacuum forming, has replaced use of glass reinforced plastics. Nevertheless, traditional designs continue to be used, in particular employing a pair of centrally hinged flaps for closing the cowl against downdraughts, the flaps being hinged to the base.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved roof ventilation cowl.
According to the invention there is provided a roof ventilation cowl comprising:

a base having a central aperture;
a cover over the central aperture and spaced above the base;
support means for supporting the cover above the base;
a single closure member carried on the base or the cover, the closure member normally closing the central aperture and being liftable bodily for opening the central aperture to provide ventilation through the central aperture.

The closure member and the central apertures are preferably circular, with the closure member being carried centrally. Whilst the circular closure member could be carried on a column supported on the base, or indeed one extended between the base and the cover, it is preferably carried on a leg projecting down from the cover. Conveniently, the closure member has a simple bore sized to fit on the leg. It can however be envisaged that an intermediate member could be slidingly arranged on the leg and attached to the cover. Equally, the closure member could be provided with an integral collar slidingly received on the leg.
Usually the central aperture will be provided at an upstand on the base. This provides accommodation for a fan unit within the upstand.
Preferably the upstand has an out-turned lip at its top edge, to deter rain water from flowing into the upstand. Conveniently, a seal can be provided on top of the upstand for the closure member to rest on.
To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a roof ventilation cowl of the invention; and
Figure 2 is a similar view in cross-section.
Referring to the drawings, the roof ventilation cowl has a base 1 and a cover 2 spaced above the base, by spacers 3 bolted to both these main components. The latter are thermo-formings of sheet plastics material. The base has a hollow upstand 4 with an out-turned lip 5. A seal 6 is attached to the top surface of the lip.
A closure 11 rests on the seal. It has a central bore 12. A leg 14 is secured centrally to the underside of the cover and extends through the closure. This is free to rise under the influence of a fan 21 and fall to close the orifice 22 of the upstand. The fan is mounted beneath the central bore 12, in the through channel 23 of the base and is secured by the same bolts that attach the spacers.
The upstand and the closure are circular in plan, whilst the base and cover are rectangular.

Claims

A roof ventilation cowl comprising:

a base having a central aperture;

a cover over the central aperture and spaced above the base;

support means for supporting the cover above the base;

a single closure member carried on the base or the cover, the closure member normally closing the central aperture and being liftable bodily for opening the central aperture to provide ventilation through the central aperture.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the closure member and the central aperture are circular.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the closure member is carried centrally.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the closure member is carried on a column supported on the base
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the closure member is carried on a column extending between the base and the cover.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the closure member is carried on a leg projecting down from the cover.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the closure member has a simple bore sized to fit on the column or the leg.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6 , wherein an intermediate member is slidingly arranged on the column or the leg and attached to the cover.
A roof ventilation cowl, as claimed in claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the closure member is provided with an integral collar slidingly received on the column or the leg.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in any proceeding claim, wherein the central aperture is provided at an upstand on the base.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 10, wherein the upstand has an out-turned lip at its top edge, to deter rain water from flowing into the upstand.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in claim 10, or claim 11, wherein a seal is provided on top of the upstand for the closure member to seal against.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base and the cover are thermo-formings of sheet plastics material.
A roof ventilation cowl as claimed in any preceding claim, including a ventilation fan mounted beneath the central aperture for providing ventilation through the cowl.