GB2389175A

GB2389175A - Ventilation system for a window pane

Info

Publication number: GB2389175A
Application number: GB0210422A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Burns Hopton
Original assignee: HOPTON HARRIET MAY
Current assignee: HOPTON HARRIET MAY
Priority date: 2002-05-08
Filing date: 2002-05-08
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Also published as: GB0210422D0

Abstract

A ventilation apparatus 8 comprises a body 10 which houses power means such as a fan and overlies an edge of a glass or door panel 9 to project laterally beyond the edge of the panel 9. A duct 13 is associated with the body 10 and extends over the edge of the panel, so that air may flow between the inside and outside of a building. The air duct 13 fills the space between the panel 9 and a frame 30 within which the panel is secured. Seals may be provided along the edge of the panel 9 to act as weather protection. Means may be provided to isolate vibration of the apparatus from the panel 9. The edge of the panel 9 may be formed with an edge component which may interlock with the body 10 and duct 13. The body may be detachable for maintenance. Thermal expansion may be accommodated. Openings in the underside of the body 10 may be covered by a manually operable hit and miss ventilator 11. The duct 13 may be provided with a cover 15 to create a downwardly orientated opening on the exterior of the building.

Description

1 2389175

VENTILATION SYSTEMS

This invention relates to ventilation systems and particularly to apparatus for the ventilation of buildings.

Modern building techniques involving the employment of insulation and double glazing reduce natural air flow and increase the need to provide means for improving ventilation. This is particularly the case in kitchens and bathrooms which are subjected to high levels of condensation. Furthermore, where double glazing is introduced or a room's use is changed these problems can be exaggerated.

It is known to employ fans to provide forced ventilation of buildings.

Conventionally this is effected by forming an opening in the wall of the building or in the glass of a window and mounting a fan in the opening. The provision of openings to house fans in this way is a time consuming and expensive operation and the end result is often aesthetically unsatisfactory. Furthermore, such arrangements interfere with the integrity of the window and have a deleterious effect on the performance and visual impact of the window.

Additionally, it will be appreciated such arrangements are not best suited to retrofitting during renovation of a building without relatively major works.

Cutting out sections from a pane of glass is a skill requiring specialist tools and even then can be dependent upon flaws or defects in the glass not interfering with the cut-out sections.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative means of ventilating a building which obviates or mitigates these disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided ventilation apparatus for a building comprising a body portion housing power means and adapted in use to overlie an edge of a glass or door panel to project laterally beyond the edge of the panel, and a duct portion associated with said body portion and adapted in use to extend over the edge of the panel to define an elongated air flow passage in use with the body portion between the interior

( 2 and exterior of the building, the elongated air flow passage essentially filing the space between the edge of the panel and a frame within which the panel is secured. Typically, the body portion and/or the duct portion will include seals to act as a weather barrier along the edge. Furthermore, means may be provided to isolator vibration of the ventilation apparatus from the panel.

Preferably, the body portion and/or the duct portion include means for keyed association with the edge. Normally, the body portion and/or the duct portion will include a channel to engage a rail part of the edge. Typically, the keyed associated between the edge and the body portion and/or duct portion will lock these portions in position to define the elongate air flow channel. The edge may be formed from an edge component which can be secured to glass or door panels for a particular width or a range of widths with a key part ensuring appropriate association of the body portion and/or the duct portion to define the elongate flow channel.

Typically, both the body portion and the duct portion will include parts I which engage an end surface of the edge.

Normally, the ventilation apparatus will be secured about a top edge of the panel.

Typically, the body portion will be readily detachable for maintenance of the power means.

Normally, the body portion and/or the duct portion are secured to the panel within the frame to accommodate thermal or other marginal expansion or contraction of the panel or other components.

Preferably said power means comprises a fan incorporating fan rotor operatively connected to an electric motor mounted in the body portion which defines a fan housing.

( 3 Preferably the surface of said fan housing which is lowermost in use is provided with air flow openings through which air may be drawn into the housing when the fan is in operation. The air flow openings may be formed by a "hit and miss" ventilator adapted to be opened and closed by manual operation from within the building.

Preferably also the lower surface of said fan housing is detachably connected to the body portion so as to be removable to enable access for maintenance and cleaning purposes.

Preferably the end of said duct portion remote from said fan housing is provided with a downwardly-opening cover member forming an air flow outlet and concealing the outer end of said passage when viewed from a position externally of the building.

The invention also provides a window or door fitted with ventilation apparatus as aforesaid.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-section of ventilation apparatus mounted between a window panel and fixed frame; and, Fig. 2 is a cross-section of ventilation apparatus mounted between a window panel and a sash window frame.

Referring to Fig. 1 which shows a wall 5 of a building incorporating an opening G in which a window 7 is mounted and fixed. Ventilation apparatus 8 is secured between a glass panel or pane 9 and a window frame 30 in order to form an elongated passage below the window frame 30 allowing flow of air between the exterior and interior of the building as indicated by arrowheads A.

Ventilation apparatus 8 is shown secured about an upper edge 31 of the panel 9. The apparatus 8 comprises a body portion incorporating an elongated fan housing 10 of generally square cross-section. A "hit and miss" ventilator 11 forms the base of the housing through which air may enter the housing 10. An elongated outlet opening 12 is provided in the outer side wall of the housing 10.

The opening 12 is associated with a duct portion 13 extending over the other side of the upper edge 31 of the glass window panel 9 and terminating in a downwardly opening outlet or cover member 15 to which the duct is connected by an opening l fi.

The opening 12, duct portion 13 and cover member 15 are of elongated form and in extended association across the full width of the window 7 from side to side. These components may advantageously be formed from extruded aluminium or plastics material from which sections of appropriate length can be cut as required to correspond to windows of different width. Preferably the fan housing 10 and cover member 15 are of extruded aluminium or plastics, the duct portion 13 being formed from upper and lower sheets or plates of plastics material the width of which may be varied to adapt the unit to glass panels or panes of different thickness.

Power means in the form of a motor driven fan is mounted within the housing 10 and comprises a fan rotor mounted on a central shaft (not shown) and connected to an electric motor also mounted within the housing and arranged co-axially within the fan rotor. The motor is separated from the fan rotor by an end plate and the housing incorporates baffle members adapted to guide the air flowing through the housing 10 towards the duct portion 13. In use the motor is connected to a suitable electrical power supply (not shown) provided within the building.

The duct portion l 3 is formed by upper and lower sheet or plate members. Opposite edges of the duct portion 13 engage a rail or slots formed in an edge member secured across the window pane 9. The opening 12 of the housing 10 also engages a rail or slots in the edge member to form an elongate passage between them. The same housing and outer cover components may

thus be used to produce units adapted to windows and doors of different thickness by substituting upper and lower plates of increased or reduced width to vary the distance between the fan housing 10 and the cover member 15 dependent on the construction of the window or door concerned. In this way the same major components can be employed to produce ventilating units adapted to fit a wide variety of window or door constructions.

The "hit and miss" ventilator It is detachably secured to the underside of the fan housing 10 by screws or other releasable fastening means. This enables the ventilator 11 to be detached to permit access to the housing 10 for maintenance, repair or cleaning purposes without requiring removal of the housing or the unit as a whole.

In operation of the unit, the motor is energised to rotate the fan rotor 18 and draw air in through the adjustable ventilator 1 l which forms the underside of the fan housing 10. Air is expelled from the housing lo through the outlet aperture 12 and discharged from the building over the top of the glass panel 9 through the duct portion 13, aperture 16 and cover member 15. The degree of ventilation may be varied by manual operation of the ventilator 11 forming the underside of the housing 10. Further control may be provided by incorporating a variable speed motor. The unit provides positive ventilation and is particularly suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms where ventilation air flow rates of up to sixty litres per second are required by modern building regulations. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of an alternative ventilation apparatus 108 mounted between a glass panel or pane 107 and a sash window frame 130. This sash window frame 130 itself is associated with a window frame 131 secured to a wall 105 of a building. The principal difference between the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 and that in Fig. l is that the sash frame 130 can be displaced within the frame 131 in order to open the window. The ventilation apparatus 108 is secured between the panel 107 and the sash frame 130 in a similar fashion to that depicted with regard to Fig. 1. Thus, the housing 110 through an outlet 112 is in association with a cover I 1 5 such that an outlet duct is

( provided through which ventilation air can be propelled in the direction of arrowheads B into or out of the interior and exterior of a building. The outlet ]12 effectively provides in association with a duct portion 113 of the cover member 115 the elongated air flow passage. Thus a fan 1 l 8 can drive air flow in the direction of arrowheads B. As previously the outlet 112 and the duct portion 113 engage through reciprocal slots a rail part of an edge member 116 to achieve the appropriate presentation of the elongated airflow passage.

In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 the sash window frame 130 can be displaced in the direction of arrowheads C into a closed position as depicted in Fig. 2. IJpper parts of the frame 130 engage lower parts of the window frame 131 and will normally include locking and sealing means between these frames 130, 131 for wind and weather proofing purposes.

Operation of the fan l 18 and therefore the ventilation apparatus in accordance with Fig. 2 is in a similar fashion to that described with regard to Fig.1. Thus, in operation the fan 118 as described previously drives airflow in the direction of arrowheads B and in particular through a "hit and miss'' ventilator 111. The cover member 115 and housing 110 and in particular the outlet 112 and duct portion 113 provide an appropriate environmental seal for draught and weather proofing purposes. In short, the glass panel or pane 107 is truncated along a top edge compared to the sash window frame 130 in order to accommodate the cover member 115 and the outlet 112 and so define the elongated airflow passage. The space between the panel 107 and the frame 130 is effectively sealed by the members 1 l 5 and housing l 10 for weather proofing purposes. The rail part of the edge member 116 provides appropriate location through channel slot engagement with reciprocal parts of the duct portion 113.

This keyed engagement provides an anchor and appropriate positioning within the ventilation arrangement.

A particular advantage of the invention arises from the positioning of the fan housing at one end of the outlet duct. In this way the fan housing can be of sufficient size to accommodate the fan without requiring a corresponding reduction in height of the window. The fan housing is positioned inside, projects downwardly from and lies alongside the top of the glass panel, while the outlet duct is of much lesser height than the fan housing and hence minimises the height of gap required above the glass panel needed to accommodate the duct portion. By fitting a glass or door panel only slightly smaller than the size of the frame a powered ventilation unit according to the invention may be incorporated with minimum reduction in window pane size, without interfering with the integrity of the window and with minimum reduction in light. This is particularly advantageous when upgrading properties by incorporating ventilation in conjunction with replacement windows to comply with building regulation requirements.

The arrangement also eliminates the need to form a separate outlet opening through the wall or to cut out a section of sheet glass from the window pane or form an aperture in the window frame in order to accommodate a ventilation fan. In addition, by virtue of the relatively small height of the outlet duct, the ventilation unit is scarcely visible from outside the building and hence is much more aesthetically satisfactory than arrangements proposed hitherto.

It will be appreciated that with the present ventilation apparatus R mounted upon an upper edge of a window pane or door panel there is a possibility for harmonic vibration due to the action of the fan etc. In such circumstances vibration absorption means is located between the window panel and the ventilation apparatus.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 typically a rail is provided upon which the components of the ventilation apparatus are brought into relative association in accordance with the invention. Alternative key engagements could be provided by slide or compression fittings which reciprocally engage between the respective housing and cover member over the edge of the window or door panel. In such circumstances, the respective components would be pressed

( toward one another until appropriate engagement with the side of the glass panel or door panel either side of the edge is achieved. Typically, the edge component may comprise a small aperture frame to be secured between the edge of the window or door panel and the bottom of the window frame.

Alternatively, a separate edge component may be secured upon the top edge of the window or door panel and an opposed edge component secured to the bottom edge of the window frame as required. As described previously different sized edge components will normally be provided for different widths of window or door panel edge. In such circumstances, the keyed association will ensure appropriate presentation of the ventilation apparatus components as required in accordance with the present invention to define the elongated airflow passage.

As described previously the hit and miss ventilator may be removed from its housing in order to allow maintenance of the fan and in particular its motor In a ventilation apparatus. Alternatively, the whole housing including the ventilation fan/motor may be removable by detachment of the outlet from the housing secured about the edge of the window panel.

It will be appreciated that the various components of the present ventilation apparatus and the window frame along with the glass or door panel will have different coefficients of thermal expansion. In such circumstances, the components in accordance with the present invention will be configured and assembled in order to accommodate such variations in thermal expansion during the operational life of the ventilation apparatus.

With an appropriate edge formation the present ventilation apparatus may be used with single, double (as illustrated) or triple glazing window panel as required with the appropriate positioning of the ventilation apparatus components achieved through the described key association upon the edge.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention the glass panel as described includes other window panels including those made from plastics such as perspex or polycarbonate.

f 9 Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example while it is preferred that the unit is located above a window pane or door and extends over the full width thereof, it may alternatively be located alongside a window or door frame and may be of shorter width than the adjacent window or door frame component. The fan housing and outlet duct may be of different configuration and alternative forms of fan may be incorporated.

Claims

1. Ventilation apparatus for a building comprising a body portion housing power means and adapted in use to overlie an edge of a glass or door panel to project laterally beyond the edge of the panel, and a duct portion associated with said body portion and adapted in use to extend over the edge of the panel to define an elongated air flow passage in use with the body portion between the interior and exterior of the building, the elongated air flow passage essentially filing the space between the edge of the panel and a frame within which the panel is secured.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body portion and/or the duct portion include seals to act as a weather barrier along the edge.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein means are provided to isolate vibration of the ventilation apparatus from tt e panel.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the body portion andlor the duct portion include means for keyed association with the edge.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the body portion and/or the duct portion include a channel to engage a rail part of the edge.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claims 4 or 5 wherein the keyed associated between the edge and the body portion and/or duct portion will lock these portions in position to define the elongate air flow channel.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the edge is formed from an edge component which can be secured to glass or door panels for a particular width or a range of widths with a key part ensuring appropriate association of the body portion and/or the duct portion to define the elongate flow channel.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein both the body portion and the duct portion include parts which engage an end surface of the edge.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ventilation apparatus is secured about a top edge of the panel.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body portion is readily detachable for maintenance of the power means.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body portion and/or the duct portion are secured to the panel within the frame to accommodate thermal or other marginal expansion or contraction of the panel or other components.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said power means comprises a fan incorporating a fan rotor operatively connected to an electric motor mounted in the body portion which defines a fan housing.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein a lower surface of the fan housing which is lowermost in use is provided with air flow openings through which air may be drawn into the housing when the fan is in operation.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the air flow openings are formed by a Hit and miss ventilator adapted to be opened and closed by manual operation from within the building.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the lower surface of said fan housing is detachably connected to the body portion so as to be removable to enable access for maintenance and cleaning purposes.

16. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15 wherein an end of said duct portion remote from said fan housing is provided with a downwardly-opening cover member forming an air flow outlet and concealing an outer end of said passage when viewed from a position externally of the building.

l,.

17. Ventilation apparatus for a building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A window incorporating ventilation apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.

19. A door incorporating ventilation apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17.

20. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those

features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.