US1996340A - Louver construction - Google Patents

Description

April 2, 1935. E' A MADER 1,996,340

LOUVER CONSTRUCTIOIN Filed June 18, 1934 f77??? Maier llatcerited Apr. 2, 1935 f 1,996,340 LoUvEn coNs'rRUc'rroN PATENT ori-"uns Emil A. Mader, Detroit, Mich., assigner of onehalf to John Spargo, Detroit, Mich.

Application June' 1s, 1934, serial No. '131,061

6Clalms.

An object of the invention is to interconnect a set of Ventilating louvers to swing in unison,

and to utilize their interconnection in closed position, against apping, rattling or opening, under wind pressure.

Another object is to mount a set of louvers on pivot rods and to provide improved means for journaling the rods in a frame and maintaining their lubrication over a long period of use.

These'and various other objects the invention attains by the construction hereinafter described, and illustrated in Ithe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the louver construction showing a closed position of the louvers.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, showing the louvers open.

Fig. `3 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the louvers closed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and particularly showing a provision for journaling and lubricating the pivot rods.

In these views, the reference character I designates a frame preferably of steel angle bar construction, forming a rectangular opening, within which a set of horizontally elongated sheet metal louvers `2 are pivoted one above another. Each louver is mounted on a cylindrical pivot rod 3, terminally journaled upon the uprights of said frame, and hasits upper marginal portion rolled to form a sleeve l extending from end to end of' l' acting with said ply to grip a strip of felt 1 Vor other sound deadening material, extending the full length of the louver. Said strip projects sufficiently downward beyond the portion 8 to seat against the front upper. portion of an underlying'louver, when the louvers are closed. The felt pad 'I upon the lowermost louver.' seats .y against the bottom member of the frame I, when the louvers are closed. Marginally of the opening of the frame I, the

latter, by virtue of its angle bar construction has a forwardly projecting ange 8,'to which is se- 5 cured a sheet metal weather strip 9. Said strip is secured at its forward and rear margins to the iiange 8 by screws Ill or the like, and is spaced toward the louvers from said ange between said margins as best appears in Fig. 4. Preferably 10 the forward 'margin of said weather strip is hooked over and riveted to the corresponding edge portion. of the ange 8, as indicated at II.

'I'he end portions of the rods 3 are journaled in eyelets I2 secured in suitable openings of l5l said weather'strip, and project beyond said eye- ,lets into terminal proximity .to the flanges 8, so that the latter serve to' longitudinally position said rods.

Proper lubrication of the rod journals is maintained over a long period of time by elongated strips I3 of felt or the like, dipped in oil and inserted in the space between the weather strip and ange 8.

At the rear of the louvers, the weather strips are bent transversely to the flanges 8 to project some distance into the frame opening, as indicated at I4, and are then bent back at amore acute angle, as at I5, to engage said flanges at their rear margins. Thus the strips form a guard to intercept any rain, moisture or dust which may be carried inwardly past the closed louvers. 'I'he portions Il and I5 form enlargements of the space between the weather strip and iiange 8 and it is preferred to fold the lubrieating strips I3 several times within ,said en largements so as to substantially ll the same, the resiliency of theustrips consequently exerting a forward pressure on their portions engaging the rods 3 tov insure effective contact with the latter.

Preferably small oil openings I5a are formed in the upper end portions of theweather strips inthe walls I5 thereof, whereby lubrication ofv the strips I3 may be renewed, if desired.

The two lowermost louvers are connected .for actuation in unison by a sheet metal link I6, and a similar (but longer) link I1 connects al1 but the. lowermost louver, for alike purpose. Said links pivotally engage sheet metal brackets I8 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the' louvers at corresponding ends thereof. Said brackets have` triangular portions projecting forwardly from thelouvers, the links being pivoted to said portions` at their apices, which 63 are substantially equidistant from the top and bottom edges of the louvers.

In the closed position of the louvers, the link l I6 connecting the two lowermost thereof, has a very slight rearward inclination from bottom to top. Thus if a gust of wind exerts an upward force upon the lower edge portions of the closed louvers, tending to swing them open, the link I6, because of its slight relative angularity to the link I'I, resists such tendency, and the louvers are held from .p rattling and prevented from admitting drafts through the frame'opening.

In use of the described construction, the frame I may be suitably secured within a ventilating opening in a wall `(now shown) in opposed relation to the outlet of a fan (not shown) serving tc discharge air outwardly through said opening. Normally the louvers assume, of their own weight, the closed position shown in Figs. l and 3, and they are adapted to automatically open under pressure of the discharge from the fan, when the latter is operated.

The felt strips 'I noise due to closing of the louvers, or due to any slight vibration thereof, 'occurring in their closed positions.

Lubrication effected by the felt strips I3, as initially installed, will ordinarily be adequate for the entire life of the installation, although relubrication of said strips, mayas aforesaid, be readily eifected, if desired.

The construction lends itself to rapid assembly and establishes a'n eiiicient weather seal between the closed louvers and frame.

The invention is submitted as including all such modiiications and changes as come within the scope of the following claims.

` What I claim is:

l. A louver construction comprising a frame formed with an opening, a plurality of rods extended within and across said opening, one above another, and journaled at opposite sides of said. opening, louvers individually mounted upon said rods to swing about the rod axes, and coacting in corresponding positions to substantially close said opening, weather strips secured to said frame at opposite sides of said opening and having portions spaced from the frame within said opening, and flexible strips of absorbent material, retained between the frame and said portions, in

contact with said rods and impregnated with a lubricant for the rods.

2. A louver construction as set forth in claim 1, one of said absorbent strips being disposed adjacent each side of said frame and each forming a common means for lubricating all of the rod journals at the corresponding side of said opening.

3. A louver construction as set forth in claim l, each of said whether strips having a hollow guard member extending substantially the full height of said opening, and projecting into the opening in rearward proximity to the louvers. said absorbent strips having portions within said hollow guard members. A y

4. A louver construction as set forth in claim l, said weather strips each having an opening in its upper portion for renewed lubrication of said absorbent strips.

5. A louver construction comprising a frame forming an opening and having a forwardly projecting iiange marginal to said opening, a plurality of rods extending within and across said opening, one above another, and journaled at opposite sides of said opening, louvers individually mounted on said rods to swing about the rod axes, and coacting in corresponding positions to substantiallyclose said opening, weather strips extending substantially the full height of said opening at the sides thereof, between the frame and louvers, said strips having their forward marginal portions hooked over said flanges, means securing the front and rear marginal portions of said weather strips to said anges, said strips being spaced from said flanges between said marginal portions, and a strip of absorbent material extending between each weather strip and the adjacent flange and contacting with each of said rods, and impregnated with a lubricant for said rods. Y

6. A louver construction comprising a frame having an opening, a plurality of louvers extending within and across said opening, one above another, and pivotally carried by the frame, a

link connecting the two lowermost louvers for actuation in unison, and having a slight rearward inclination from its lower to its upper end, and a link connecting all of said louvers excepting the lowermost for actuation in unison.

EMIL A. MADER.

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