[0001] The invention concerns a ventilation appliance comprising at least two angle-formed,
vertical groups of louvre-element plates in alternately opposed arrangement, both
longitudinal edges of each louvre element being provided with a hook-shaped, back-fold
formation, both formations being located on the same face of the louvre element and
in staggered opposition to those of the adjacent element whereby the internal protrusion
of the formations causes a zig-zag pattern of the through-flowing air.
[0002] A similar appliance is recognised in the French patent application no. 515.568. With
the recognised appliance the problem arises that the alterately opposed vertical louvre
elements, having a semi-circular section, cause contractions and expansions in the
airstream and deflect the through-flowing air in such a way that turbulence occurs
in the airstream which is intended to promote separation of liquid particles entrained
in the airstream. This turbulence in fact increases the resistance of the appliance
to the through-flow of air, which should be kept to a minimum, whilst the water trapped
by the vertical louvre elements is re-entrained into the airstream by the air turbulence
formed and by pressure forces acting on the external face of the appliance
[0003] The aim of the invention is to eliminate these disadvantages and to ensure maximum
water removal without detriment to the airflow capacity.
[0004] This aim is fulfilled by the invention and the invention is thus typified in that
the vertical louvre elements have a straight section and are arranged in staggered
opposition, formed in groups. Each adjacent group gives rise to an equal unrestricted
air passage, whilst the hook-shaped edge formations, each folded inward in the same
direction, ensure that the entering airflow is led through the louvre elements with
maximum streamlining, whereby the turbulence is kept to a minimum and maximum airflow
capacity is assured. Due to the zig-zag path of the main air through-flow the water
droplets carried in the airstream will be separated out onto the outer bends by the
relatively high centrifugal forces. In this way the optimal conditions are achieved
for the apparently conflicting requirements of maximum ventilation coupled with maximum
possible weather-proofing.
[0005] The invention is further illustrated below by means of a drawing in which a number
of examples of possible forms of construction of the ventilation appliance are shown
according to the invention. The drawing indicates in:
fig. 1 - A perspective view of a construction of a ventilation appliance according
to the invention.
fig. 2 - A section through a louvre according to the invention.
fig. 3 - A partial longitudinal section through a ventilation appliance provided with
louvres according to the invention.
fig. 4 - A lateral section through the line IV-IV of fig. 3.
fig. 5 - A partial longitudinal section through a ventilation appliance provided with
louvres as in fig. 3, but including in this case a third louvre with a hook-shaped
back-fold formation on een longitudinal edge.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a construction of a ventilation appliance in a possible
mode of operation.
Figure 2 is a lateral section through a louvre 90 depicted in a possible operating
mode. The louvre is a part manufactured from rolled sheet metal and has a flat plate
formed part 100 that is provided with a channel-shaped part 101 running along one
edge, and another channel-shaped part 102 which runs along the opposite edge of the
louvre, interconnected. Parts 101 and 102 are both on the same side of part 100 and
have straight sides. Parts 101 and 102 have hooks 103 and 104 on the longitudinal
edges of the louvre, in addition, parts 101 and 102 combined form a pair of straight,
evenly spaced sides 105 and 106 and these sides are placed at a 90°C angle to part
100.
[0006] Parts 103 and 104 form a drainage channel for accumulated water droplets, which are
separated out onto part 100 of the louvre by centrifugal forces.
[0007] Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal section through a ventilation appliance provided
with louvres according to the invention, whereby a group 107 of louvres 90, as applied
in figure 2, arranged in staggered opposition, while their backs 100, also staggered,
are fixed by means of a rivet and/or spot-welding 110. The louvres 90 of group 107
form together a defined zig-zag pattern which is caused by the shape of parts 103
and 104 thus creating an optimal passage of air.
[0008] The side 108 of parts 103 and 104 ensures that the separated water droplets are not
re-entrained into the airstream 109 in case of turbulence occuring in parts 103 and
104.
[0009] The parts 103 and 104 of the louvres in group 107 form drainage channels with inlet
opening 123 which runs along the longitudinal edges of the louvres 90 in order to
collect and drain water droplets which have been separated by the tangential action
through airways 111 and deposited on the louvres 90. channels 103 and 104 are connected
at the end (underneath) with the bottom plate 112 in order to drain the water to outside.
[0010] Figure 4 shows a lateral section through the line IV-IV of figure 3. The louvres
90 are fixed to the top plate 113 and bottom plate by means of supports 114 and 115.
[0011] Bottom plate 112, constructed at an angle of 15°C for draining, has a flat plate-formed
part 116 with a channel-shaped part 117 that forms an angle of 105°C with part 116.
[0012] The side 118 of part 117 ensures that the entrapped water is not driven by wind pressure
upward into the space behind it.
[0013] The side 119 is at an angle of 105°0 with part 116, and ensures effective drainage
of the entrapped water droplets.
[0014] The part 120, situated on the front edge of louvres 90, forms a windbreak which aims
to prevent wind-driven up-flow of the entrapped water droplets. The presence of windbreak
120 causes a pocket of still air directly behind part 120. The drainage of the entrapped
water droplets is accelerated by the dynamic pressure from outside (121). Furthermore
windbreak 120 combined with side 119 forms a drain 122 which can be connected into
a central drain if necessary.
[0015] Figurs 5 shows a partial longitudinal section through a ventilation appliance provided
with louvres as according to the invention as in figure 3, but including a third louvrs
90 with a hook-shaped back-fold formation on one longitudinal sdge 103 and at the
same, time fixed by the backs 100 by means of a rivet and/or spot welding 110. A ventilation
appliance squipped with louvres as in figure 5 is primarily completely resistant to
extreme weather conditions.
[0016] In place of roll-formed construction the louvres can also be extruded or manufactured
in another suitable manner, and furthermore in any suitable material. The louvres
can sdditionally be made out of plastic sheeting.
1. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres with the characteristic that
the louvres are built up from eiements which are equipped with channel-shaped parts
with an angle section whereby these elements are attached to each other staggered
back to back, and placed in the casing of the ventilation appliance in such a way,
that an airstream is forced in a zig-zag path, whereby the solid and liquid particles
existing in the airstream are drained off via the channels of the louvre-parts to
a bottom plate.
2. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres conforming to conclusion 1),
with the characteristic that the channel shaped parts of the louvre-elements are so
formed that the channel opening (123) is directed into the incoming airstream (109).
3. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres conforming to conclusions 1)
and 2) with the characteristic that the louvre parts are provided with water-shedding
edges (108).
4. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres conforming to conclusions 1),
2), and 3) with the characteristic that the louvres are constructed with more than
two staggered elements fixed back to back.
5. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres conforming to conclusions 1),
2), 3) and 4) with the characteristic that the bottom plate (112) is provided with
a windbreak (120) and a water-shedding edge (118).
6. Ventilation appliance with fixed vertical louvres conforming to conclusions 1),
2), 3), 4) and 5), with the characteristic that the hook-shaped part 103 and 104 can
be polygonal or circular.