WO1992005334A1

WO1992005334A1 - Natural light control system applicable on the outside of windows for energy saving and visual comfort

Info

Publication number: WO1992005334A1
Application number: PCT/IT1991/000073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luigi Manzoni
Original assignee: Profili S.P.A. Illuminazione
Priority date: 1990-09-13
Filing date: 1991-09-10
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Also published as: IT9048274A0; IT9048274A1; IT1242134B

Abstract

The device described consists of a vertically adjustable panel (6) to be mounted in an inclined position outside a window (14), meant to convey the daylight toward the ceiling of the room onto which the window opens, so as to diffuse this light toward the work surface from a direction almost equal to that of artificial light, and a multi-chamber refracting and reflecting diffusion screen (14), made up of a multitude of transparent glass hollow bars (16) or tubular elements, lying horizontally, the horizontal supporting base of which is sanded on the internal face. The bars (16) are placed one over the other up to the desired height in a rigid frame which is mounted to slide in front of the window pane, in a lower position than the adjustable panel (6).

Description

NATURAL LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM APPLICABLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF WINDOWS FOR ENERGY SAVING AND VISUAL COMFORT.

This invention concerns a system for controllinp nitural light which may be applied outsiαe windows in order- to improve visual comfort and reduce trie energy consumption necessary for artificial lighting and cooling of indoor environments. This system includes.

- a vertically adjustable panel for conveying day- light toward the ceiling of the room onto which the window ooens, from which it will radiate toward the work surface with a direction almost equal to that of artificial light, and

- a refracting and reflecting diffusion screen, consisting of numerous hollow glass bars, lying horizontally, of a preferably quadrangular section, transparent on three sides and with the internal surface of the lower horizontal face of a satin finish. These tubular bars are arranged one on the other up to the desired height in a rigid frame which is mounted to slide in front of the window Dane.

The presence of a multitude of sanded surfaces arranged as horizontal segments between two transparent glass walls gives the screen a particular multiple-chamber geometry which makes it able to refract and reflect the sun rays. controlling not only their heat and intensity but also their propagation with a diffusion which does not have the soft characteristics of normal diffusers (such as the well-known milk or frosted glasses), nor is it too harsh as in the case of direct rays.

Thus the dazzling effects caused by the excessive brightness of windows are avoided, without losing contact with the outside., a fundamental element for the favorable livableness of the rooms. since this kind of screen always permits seeing what is going on outside.

The description of the invention will be better described and understood by referring to the enclosed drawings which show, only as a non-restrictive example, some of tne preferred forms of implementation of the invention. In the drawings:

Finure 1 is a frontal view of a window on the out- side of which is mounted the light control system as per the invention;

Figure 2 is a cutaway view as per the A-A Diane of

Fig. 1;

Figure 3 shows in perspective one of the quadrangular-section glass bars;

Figure 4 shows in vertical section a portion of the screen made up of three bars such as that in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a bar according to a variation, which internally has numerous transparent cross segments in order to increase refraction.

With reference to Figure 1, the adjustable device indicated in its entirety with (6) is composed of an inclined panel mounted on a rigid frame (8), of a suitable material, for example aluminum, capable of varying its vertical orientation with respect to a frame (10) which is fastened outside of the window using known technologies. The inclination set at the moment of installation will correspond to the maximum reflective yield of the direct sunlight at noon at the various latitudes.

In order to compensate for the variations in the direction of the sunlight during the day and over the seasons, the reflecting surface (12) of the panel, rather than be smooth, may be suitably treated so as to be rusticated or have, for example, a multitude of sernispheres which increase the diffusion range, or even micromirrors.

Below the reflecting panel (6) is positioned the second element forming the natural light control system as per the invention. This is a diffusion screen (14) with a characteristic multi-chamber structure, sliding vertically and securable in various positions within the same frame (10) on which the reflecting panel (6) is mounted, or in a separate frame, also fastened outside the window parallel to its glass pane.

ftε can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the abovesaid multi-chamber screen is made up of numerous quadrangularsect ion hollow bars (16), perfectly transparent on three sides but with the lower horizontal surface (17), turned upward, sanded. The bars are placed one on another inside a containing frame (18) and are preferably made of glass. In the event it should be desirable to increase the refraction of the screen (14), a type of bar such as that in Figure 5, with a series of cross segments (20), may be used.

Due to its particular form and to the treatment of the horizontal surfaces of the bars, the screen (14) refracts and reflects the sun rays, reducing both their heat and their intensity. Moreover, the propagation of the light takes place with a diffusion which is neither too soft, as in the case of normal diffusers using milk or frosted glass, nor too harsh, as in the case of direct rays.

A further significant advantage of the screen described is that it always permits seeing outside, although avoiding all danger of dazzlement due to excessive brightness of the windows.

This invention has been illustrated and described in two of its preferred forms of implementation, but it is intended that constructional and/or operational variations may be made by an expert in the field without, moreover, going beyond the range of protection of this industrial patent. For example, the reflecting panel (6) may be directed automatically by means of an operational device controlled by a sensor capable of perceiving variations in the flow of light.

Claims

1) Natural light control device to be applied to a window to reduce energy consumption and increase visual comfort, characterized by:

- a vertically adjustable panel to be mounted in an inclined position outside of the abovesaid window and meant to convey daylight toward the ceiling of the room onto which the window opens, so as to diffuse the light toward the work surface from a direction almost equal to that of the artificial light, and

- a multi-chamber refracting and reflecting diffusion screen, composed of numerous transparent glass hollow bars or tubular elements, lying horizontally, the horizontal supporting base of which is sanded on its inner face, and the bars of which are arranged one on the other up to the desired height in a rigid frame mounted to be able to slide in front of the window pane, in a position lower than that of the adjustable panel.

2) Natural light control device as per the previous claim, characterized by the fact that the reflecting surface of the inclined panel is smooth.

3) Natural light control device as per Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the reflecting surface of the inclined panel has a multitude of semispheres to increase the range of diffusion.

4) Natural light control device as per Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the reflecting surface of the inclined panel has rnicromirrors.

5) Natural light control device as per the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the inclined panel's vertical adjustment is controlled by a sensor capable of perceiving variations in the flow of light.

6) Natural light control device as per Claim 1. characterized by the fact that the glass bars making up the abovesaid reflecting and refracting diffusion screen have a quadrangular section.

7) Natural light control device as per Claims 1 and 6, characterized by the fact that said bars have a certain number of internal cross segments which delineate small side-by-side chambers along the entire length of the bar. 8) Natural light control device as per Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the diffuser screen with overlying bars, despite the presence of sanded surfaces, always permits seeing outside.

9) Natural light control device as per Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the propagation of the light by the reflecting and refracting screen takes place with diffusion characteristics midway between those of normal diffusers and those of direct light.

10) Natural light control device to be applied to a window in order to reduce energy consumption and increase visual comfort, as described and illustrated in the enclosed drawings.