GB2298040A

GB2298040A - Ventilation units

Info

Publication number: GB2298040A
Application number: GB9503286A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Osborne; John Fredrick Dorkins
Original assignee: HUNTER AIR TECHN Ltd
Current assignee: HUNTER AIR TECHN Ltd
Priority date: 1995-02-20
Filing date: 1995-02-20
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Also published as: GB2298040A8; GB9503286D0

Abstract

A ventilation unit 16 for use in windows is provided in which the unit 16 is adapted to engage with and be mounted in-between, a portion of the window frame 12 and a portion of the window pane 14 when in use. The unit 16 may be used in connection with single or multiple layered windows, and is attached to one corner of a suitably shaped window pane 14 before the combined unit 16 and window pane 14 are fixed into the window frame 12.

Description

Ventilation Units This invention relates to ventilation apparatus, and more particularly to ventilation apparatus integral with window units.

Methods and associated apparatus for allowing the passage of air through openings in buildings that are occupied by window units are known. In this context window units should be understood to include all constructions including a frame surrounding one or more sheets of impermeable material.

The simplest method of ventilation is by opening an openable portion of the window unit. More complex, but equally well known methods and associated apparatus involve the provision of a passage through the window unit through which the air may flow in a controlled manner.

One of these methods of ventilation is the provision of an aperture in the usually transparent or translucent portion of the window unit, hereinafter simply called the window pane, into which is fitted an appropriate piece of apparatus to control the passage of air and/or airborne objects. This may be passive, such as a louvre, or active such as a fan. The aperture is most commonly substantially circular and located at some distance from the edge of the window pane.

This method of ventilation is generally successful, but it does have some specific disadvantages. One disadvantage is the difficulty of cutting such an aperture in a multiple layered window pane, such as double glazing, so that the apertures align sufficiently for the air flow control apparatus to be passed through all the apertures.

A second disadvantage is that the presence of the aperture can result in the development of cracks in the window pane, either as the aperture is cut, or at a later date due to thermal stresses. This has been found to be especially true if the window pane being cut is of multiple layers with voids between the layers such as double glazing.

A further disadvantage is that due to the nature of glass, the most common material for window panes, the aperture has to be located at some distance from each edge of the window pane so that the portion of the pane between the aperture and the nearest edge does not snap off. This results in the ventilation unit often intruding into the line of sight of a person looking through the window.

According to the present invention there is provided ventilation apparatus for use with window units comprising a window frame supporting and surrounding a rectangular window pane in which the ventilation unit is comprised of a support frame and an air flow controller or ventilator characterised in that the support frame is adapted to engage, with and be mounted in-between, a portion of the window frame and a portion of the window pane when in use, and the support frame is located at a corner of the rectangle.

The support frame may be of any shape provided that the support frame is so configured that it can engage with the corner of the rectangular window frame. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support frame is triangular. The support frame could alternatively be rectangular, sector-shaped, or any other shape depending upon the visual effect desired for the support frame.

Mounting the ventilation unit of the present invention between the window pane and the window frame substantially overcomes the disadvantages of the currently known apparatus and methods of use.

The method of using the ventilation unit of the present invention involves taking a window pane of substantially the same dimensions as the internal dimensions of a window frame to be glazed, and a portion of that window pane the same shape as the ventilation unit is cut out of one corner of the window pane, the edge or edges of the ventilation unit adapted to do so are engaged with the cut edge or edges of the window pane, and the combined window pane and ventilation unit is placed into the window frame, and sealed into it, eg. using putty, glazing beads etc.

When the ventilation unit of the present invention is used in connection with multiple layer windows such as double glazing, then if edges of the layers were joined so as to form a seal around the void(s), and possibly the void(s) between the layers were originally evacuated, then the cut edge of the layers can be rejoined to reseal the void(s) and, optionally the void(s) re-evacuated, before the window pane is engaged with the ventilation unit.

This method of use of the apparatus of the present invention has the advantage that if the window pane is, say, double glazed then it is much easier for a person to repeatedly cut a portion of the window pane out of the same place in the window pane when working from a corner than it is cutting in the middle of the a window pane.

Cutting off the corner of a window pane also has the advantage that cutting off the corner will tend to reduce the incidence of cracking of the window pane, and the finished result is not very visually intrusive to a person looking through the window. This is especially true of the preferred triangular embodiment of the present invention.

The construction of the edges of the ventilation unit of the present invention is substantially dependent upon the construction of the window pane to which the unit is to be engaged. The edge or edges that are intended to engage the window frame are configured to have substantially the same thickness as the window pane so that when the window pane and ventilation unit are engaged with each other the combined unit may be engaged with the window frame in the same fashion that a window pane without a portion cut out from it would engage the window frame.

The construction of the edges of the ventilation unit of the present invention that are intended to engage the cut edges of the window pane is also dependent upon the degree of engagement required, eg simply engaged or gas tight. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention these edges are comprised of two or more resilient flanges configured to overlie and grip the portion of the window pane immediately adjacent to the cut edge of the window pane, and a resilient bed positioned to abut the cut edge of the window pane. The composition of the resilient bed and the condition, eg.

the smoothness and accuracy of the cut of the edge, of the edge of the window pane will determine the gas tightness of the engagement.

An alternative method of engaging the ventilation unit and the window pane is the use of a suitable adhesive.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention for use with a window pane comprised of two or more sheets of material separated by one or more voids the support frame is provided with a one or two way gas valve, a passage between the valve and the void or voids, and a means for releasably connecting the valve and passage to gas extraction or injection apparatus.

One particular arrangement is the provision of a one way valve that will allow the extraction of the gas in the voids, but not allow the return of the gas. If a double glazed window pane that had all its edges sealed were to be treated in accordance with the method given above, then using a ventilation unit of this particular arrangement would allow the void or voids to be at least partially evacuated by an external extraction pump.

The frame support of the present invention may be adapted to support any type of air flow controller or ventilator such as a fan. Fly screens, or weather proofing in the form of louvres or baffles may additionally be mounted on the frame support.

The present invention will be further described and explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrations in which Figure 1 shows a ventilation unit according to the present invention in use, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a ventilation unit according to the present invention in use, Figure 3 shows a section along line X-X' of Figure 2 With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a building 8 has set into an aperture therein (not shown) a window unit 10.

The window unit 10 is comprised of a window frame 12, a window pane 14, and a ventilation unit 16. Ventilation unit 16 comprises a frame support 18 which defines an aperture 20 passing through frame support 18. Mounted in aperture 20 is an air flow controller 22.

With reference to Figure 3, frame support 18 is a little thicker than window pane 14 and is of an impermeable material. The frame support 18 may be solid as shown, hollow and gas filled, or hollow and filled with an insulating material.

Edge 30 of frame support 18 is provided with a pair of integral upstanding flanges 32 and a bed of resiliently deformable material 34. Flanges 32 are configured to resiliently grip and overlie a portion of window pane 14 when its edge abuts bed 34. Ventilation unit 16 is held in place relative to the window pane 14 by the grip of the flanges 32 on the window pane 14.

In an alternative embodiment, bed 34 could be replaced by a bead of suitable adhesive (not shown) which when set would maintain the relative positions of the ventilation unit 16 and the window pane 14.

Edge 36 of frame support 18 is of substantially the same thickness as window pane 14, and faces 38 and 40 of edge 36 are in substantially the same plane as faces 42 and 44 respectively of window pane 14.

Window frame 12 is comprised of a frame 52 and a bead 54.

Window pane 14 is comprised of two sheets of glass 46 separated by a seal strip 48 which is located between sheets 46 at the edges of the sheets 46. The void 50 between the sheets 46 may be gas filled, partially or wholly evacuated.

When glazing a window with a combined window pane and ventilation unit, a first and second sheet of glass 46 are taken and cut so as to fit into frame 52. Matching corners of each sheet 46 are cut off, with the dimensions of the cut off corners substantially matching the dimensions of ventilation unit 16.

A seal strip 48 is applied to one face of the first sheet 46 immediately adjacent to the edge of that sheet. One face of the second sheet 46 is then placed against seal strip 48 so that the seal strip 48 contacts the face of the second sheet immediately adjacent to the edge of that sheet. Optionally the gas in the void between the first and second sheets 48 may be evacuated by some external means at this time. This construction forms window pane 14.

Ventilation unit 16 is taken, and the cut edge of window pane 14 is introduced between the flanges 32 on edge 30.

Ventilation unit 16 and window pane 14 are pushed toward each other until the cut edge abuts bed 34. The combined window pane 14 and ventilation unit 16, simply called the glazing 14 & 6, now have the dimensions about their combined external edge that will fit frame 52.

A layer of glazing putty 56 is applied to the surfaces of frame 52 adapted to engage the glazing 14 & 6. Bead 54 likewise has a layer of glazing putty 56 applied its surface that is intended to engage the glazing 14 & 6.

The glazing 14 & 6 is introduced into frame 52 and pushed into contact with the glazing putty 56. Bead 54 is then introduced into frame 52, pushed into contact with the glazing 14 & 6, and fixed to frame 52. The fixing of bead 54 to frame 52 may be by any known method, eg. nails, screws, or adhesives.

The method of utilising the ventilation unit 16 of the present invention may be employed either at the site of the building, in a fabrication workshop, or at a combination thereof.

Claims

1 A ventilation unit for use with window units comprising a window frame supporting and surrounding a rectangular window pane in which the ventilation unit is comprised of a support frame and an air flow controller or ventilator characterised in that the support frame is adapted to engage with and be mounted in-between, a portion of the window frame and a portion of the window pane when in use, and the support frame is located at a corner of the rectangle.

2 A unit according to claim 1 characterised in that the support frame is triangular.

3 A unit according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the edges of the support frame adapted to engage the window frame are configured to be substantially the same thickness as the window pane and are adapted to engage with the window frame.

4 A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the edges of the support frame adapted to engage the window pane are configured to inter-engage with the window pane.

5 A unit according to claim 4 characterised in that the engagement between the support frame and the window pane is gas tight.

6 A unit according to claim 4 or 5 characterised in that the edges of the support frame adapted to engage the window frame are comprised of two or more resilient flanges configured to overlie and grip the portion of the window pane immediately adjacent to the cut edge of the window pane, and a bed of resilient material positioned to abut the cut edge of the window pane.

7 A unit according to claim 5 or 6 when adapted for use with a window pane comprised of two or more sheets of material separated by one or more voids characterised in that the support frame is provided with a valve, and a passage between the valve and the void or voids.

8 A unit according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the air flow controller is a fan.

9 A unit according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the support frame is additionally provided with a fly screen, or weather protection or a combination of both.

10 A method of using the ventilation unit according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by the steps: a window pane of substantially the same dimensions as the internal dimensions of a window frame is taken and a portion of that window pane of the same shape and dimensions as the ventilation unit is cut out of one corner of the window pane the edge or edges of the ventilation unit adapted to do so are engaged with the cut edges of the window pane the combined window pane and ventilation unit are placed into the window frame, and engaged therewith.

11 A method according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 7 characterised by the additional step of engaging an extraction pump with the valve and extracting the gas in the voids.