Ventilated wall

Abstract

 A ventilated wall (10), comprising a supporting structure (11), to be fixed to an external wall (12) of a building, for supporting an external cladding facade (13), the facade being supported by the supporting structure (11) at a preset distance from the external wall (12), so as to define an interspace (14) for the passage of air, the interspace (14) being open above by way of an upper opening (15) and below by way of a lower opening (16), in order to produce a "stack effect" capable of producing an ascending motion of the air.
The ventilated wall (10) comprises means (17) for adjusting the flow rate of air in the interspace (14).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilated wall.

[0002] Providing a ventilated facade generally involves:

• the installation of a layer of insulating panels, to be applied to the outer surface of a wall of the building; such panels can be made of mineral wool, mineralized wood fiber, polystyrene, polyurethane, polystyrene or other similar and equivalent material;
• the building of a metallic structure, to be anchored to the wall, for supporting an external cladding facade,
• the assembly of such external cladding facade, such facade being supported by such supporting structure at a preset distance from the layer of insulating panels, so as to define an interspace for the passage of air.

[0003] The supporting structure has the dual function of defining the width of the interspace and providing the support to the external facade.

[0004] The ventilated interspace is open above and below so as to determine a "stack effect" capable of producing an ascending motion of warm air, and which thus eliminates the humidity on the surface of the layer of insulating panels and from the wall of the building.

[0005] The ventilated facade further constitutes a barrier against excessive solar radiation and it limits the transmission of external noise toward the interior of the dwelling.

[0006] Such external ventilated walls, although widespread and appreciated, suffer a major drawback, however.

[0007] Such drawback lies in the fact that while in the summer months, the stack effect is useful and effective in improving the internal cooling of the building, in colder seasons, when the internal heating system is in operation, on the contrary, it actually favors the passage of air that is at a lower temperature than the internal temperature of the building, with obvious drawbacks from the point of view of the thermic yield of the heating system.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a ventilated wall that is capable of overcoming the above mentioned limitation of conventional ventilated walls.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a ventilated wall that in the colder months can contribute to the heat insulation of the building.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilated wall that can be installed in the manner of conventional ventilated walls.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilated wall that can be made using conventional technologies.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter are achieved by a ventilated wall, comprising a supporting structure, to be anchored to an external wall of a building, for supporting an external cladding facade, said facade being supported by said supporting structure at a preset distance from said external wall, so as to define an interspace for the passage of air, said interspace being open above by way of an upper opening and below by way of a lower opening, in order to produce a "stack effect" capable of producing an ascending motion of the air, said ventilated wall being characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the flow rate of air in said interspace.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the ventilated wall according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

• Figure 1 is a cutaway perspective view of a ventilated wall according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a front elevation view of a portion of ventilated wall according to the invention in a first configuration of use;
• Figure 3 is a front elevation view of a portion of ventilated wall according to the invention in a second configuration of use;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of a ventilated wall according to the invention, in a first configuration of use;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of a ventilated wall according to the invention, in a second configuration of use.

[0014] With reference to the figures, a ventilated wall according to the invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 10, comprises a supporting structure 11, to be fixed to an external wall 12 of a building, for supporting an external cladding facade 13.

[0015] Such external facade 13 is supported by the supporting structure 11 at a preset distance from the external wall 12, so as to define an interspace 14 for the passage of air.

[0016] The interspace 14 is open above by way of an upper opening 15, and below by way of a lower opening 16, in order to produce a "stack effect" capable of producing an ascending motion of the air.

[0017] The ventilated wall 10 according to the invention comprises means 17 for adjusting the flow rate of air in the interspace 14.

[0018] The flow adjustment means 17 are constituted by at least one gate device, of which two are shown in the example described herein, designated with the numerals 18 and 19 respectively.

[0019] A first gate device 18 is arranged at the upper opening 15, and a second gate device 19 is placed at the lower opening 16 of the interspace 14.

[0020] Each of the two gate devices, 18 and 19, comprises a profile 20 and 21 respectively with first air passage openings 22 and 23; the dimensions of the profile 20 are such as to affect completely the lower opening 16, i.e. over its entire length.

[0021] Each gate device 18 and 19 comprises a corresponding gate 24 and 25, which is movable and is provided with second air passage openings, 26 and 27 respectively.

[0022] The gate can be positioned, with movement means described hereinafter, either in a first configuration for closing the passage of air, as in Figures 2 and 4, with the second openings 26 and 27 staggered with respect to the first openings 22 and 23, or in a second configuration for the passage of air, as in Figures 3 and 5, with the second openings 26 and 27 arranged at the first openings 22 and 23 respectively.

[0023] The profiles 20 and 21 have a substantially C-shaped cross-section, and the gates 24 and 25 respectively are arranged so as to slide inside them.

[0024] Each gate 24 and 25 is constituted, in the present, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, by a tubular element with a cross-section that is shaped complementarily with respect to the cross-section of the profile 20 and 21 within which it slides.

[0025] The cross-section of the tubular element can thus be quadrangular as in the figures, but it can also be circular, or flat, or another shape according to the shape of the cross-section of the profile 20 and 21.

[0026] The second openings 26 and 27 respectively are provided on two mutually opposite walls of the tubular elements that define the gates 24 and 25.

[0027] The second openings 26 and 27 are, on the same wall of a tubular element, mutually spaced in a manner that corresponds to the first openings 22 and 23 on the corresponding profile 20 and 21, i.e. the distance 28 between the closest points of two consecutive second openings 26 or 27 is not less than the breadth of a first opening 22 and 23, so that the occlusion thereof is ensured in the closed configuration of the air passage, as in Figure 2.

[0028] Advantageously, the tubular element 24 and 25 is made of self-lubricating plastic material, or, as an alternative, of other materials that are similar and equivalent, both metallic and plastic.

[0029] The profile 20 and 21 has a resting shoulder, 31 and 32 respectively, for an edge of one or more panels that define the external facade 13.

[0030] The profiles 20 and 21 thus constitute the supporting structure generally designated with 11.

[0031] The movement means are constituted, for example, by a linear actuator with an electric motor 33 and 34 which is adapted to produce the translation, by way of a connecting shaft, of the corresponding gate 24 and 25 within the respective profile 20 and 21.

[0032] In a variation of embodiment of the invention, not shown for the sake of simplicity, the movement means are constituted by a translation screw actuator and endless screw, with the translation screw fixed to the end of the gate.

[0033] The movement means can, in an alternative embodiment which is also not shown, be comprised of a kinematic mechanism, or other similar and equivalent means.

[0034] The profiles 20 and 21 are for example metallic profiles, which are obtained by extrusion or by molding of sheet metal.

[0035] Use of the ventilated wall 10 according to the invention is the following.

[0036] In winter, or in any other period deemed appropriate, by actuating a corresponding linear actuator with an electric motor 33 and 34, the gates 24 and 25 are positioned with their second openings 26 and 27 staggered with respect to the first openings 22 and 23, which are occluded as a result, as in Figures 2 and 4, so that the passage of air in the interspace 14 is prevented.

[0037] In summer, or in any other period deemed appropriate, by actuating a corresponding linear actuator with an electric motor 33 and 34, the gates 24 and 25 are positioned with their second openings 26 and 27 superimposed on the first openings 22 and 23, which are free as a result, as in Figures 3 and 5, so that the passage of air in the interspace 14 is allowed.

[0038] The ventilated wall 10 according to the invention can be fitted with an anemometer, which is associated, by way of an electronic control unit, with the means for moving the gate devices, so that in the event of excessive wind, the gate devices can be automatically closed, thus preventing the external facade of the ventilated wall from being subjected to a hazardous sail effect that could damage the panels that make up the external wall by pushing them outwardly.

[0039] The ventilated wall 10 can likewise be provided with a temperature sensor, which is also adapted to control the automatic partial or total opening or closure of the at least one gate device.

[0040] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0041] In particular, with the invention a ventilated wall has been devised which in colder seasons can contribute to the heat insulation of the building, since with the gate closed, the air in the interspace of the ventilated wall limits the outward passage of heat.

[0042] Furthermore, the air flow can naturally also be partialized, i.e. adjusted, in order to optimize the benefits thereof according to the difference between the temperature outside and inside.

[0043] Moreover, with the invention a ventilated wall has been devised that can be installed in the manner of conventional ventilated walls, thus without particular difficulty in installation and use.

[0044] Last but not least, with the invention a ventilated wall is provided that can be made using conventional technologies.

[0045] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0046] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0047] The content of Italian patent application no. PD2012A000262, the priority of which is claimed in the present application, is incorporated as a reference.

[0048] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A ventilated wall (10), comprising a supporting structure (11), to be fixed to an external wall (12) of a building, for supporting an external cladding facade (13), said facade being supported by said supporting structure (11) at a preset distance from said external wall (12), so as to define an interspace (14) for the passage of air, said interspace (14) being open above by way of an upper opening (15) and below by way of a lower opening (16), in order to produce a "stack effect" capable of producing an ascending motion of air, said ventilated wall (10) being characterized in that it comprises means (17) for adjusting the flow rate of air in said interspace (14).

2. The ventilated wall according to claim 1, characterized in that said flow rate adjustment means (17) are constituted by at least one gate device (18) that is arranged either at said upper opening (15) or at said lower opening (16) of said interspace (14).

3. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one gate device (18) comprises

- a profile (20) with first air passage openings (22), which is fixed at either or both of said upper and lower openings, and having such dimensions as to affect one of said openings substantially completely,

- and a gate (24), which is movable and is provided with second air passage openings (26), said gate (24) being arrangeable, with movement means, either in a first configuration for closing the passage of air, with said second openings (26) staggered with respect to said first openings (22), or in a second configuration for the passage of air, with the second openings (26) arranged at said first openings (22), respectively.

4. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profile (20) has a substantially C-shaped cross-section and said gate (24) is arranged so as to slide therein.

5. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said gate (24) is constituted by a tubular element the cross-section of which is shaped complementarily with respect to the cross-section of said profile (24), provided with second openings (26) which are mutually spaced in a manner that corresponds to said first openings (22) on said profile (20), the distance (28) between the closest points of two consecutive second openings (26) being not less than the breadth (29) of a first opening (22), so that the occlusion thereof is ensured in said closed configuration of the air passage.

6. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement means are constituted by a linear actuator with an electric motor (33) which is adapted to produce the translation, by means of a connecting shaft, of said gate (24) within said profile (20).

7. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tubular element is made of self-lubricating plastic material.

8. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profile (20) has a resting shoulder (31) for an edge of one or more panels that define said external facade (13).

9. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an anemometer which is associated, by means of an electronic control unit, with the means for moving the at least one gate device.

10. The ventilated wall according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor adapted to control the automatic partial or total opening or closure of the at least one gate device.

Drawing