WO2018193373A1

WO2018193373A1 - Closable ventilation grille

Info

Publication number: WO2018193373A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052656
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elien Henriëtte DELMOTTE; Kristof Vanluchene; Rino Francky De Muelenaere; Joost Benjamin Renaat DE FRENE
Original assignee: Renson Sunprotection Projects Nv
Priority date: 2017-04-18
Filing date: 2018-04-17
Publication date: 2018-10-25
Also published as: BE1025156A1; BE1025156B1; EP3612704A1

Abstract

Ventilation grille (1), comprising a grille frame (2) which delimits an air- flow passage (4), comprising two or more slats (3) which are arranged virtually parallel to each other in the air-flow passage (4) in the grille frame (2), and comprising a screen (6) which is provided so as to be displaceable between a first position for opening the air-flow passage (4) and a second position for closing the air-flow passage (4).

Description

CLOSABLE VENTILATION GRILLE

The present invention relates to a ventilation grille, comprising a grille frame which delimits an air- flow passage, and comprising two or more slats which are arranged virtually parallel to each other in the air-flow passage in the grille frame.

The slats of such a ventilation grille are typically arranged horizontally above one another, but could equally well be arranged vertically or obliquely. There exist different types of such ventilation grilles in which the slats are arranged so as to be rotatable in the grille frame, so that the air-flow passage is adjustable and even temporarily closable and reopenable. Such ventilation grilles are known as so- called volume control dampers.

However, arranging these slats so as to be rotatable is a relatively expensive solution. Moreover, in order to be able to fit these slats in the grille frame so as to be rotatable, a certain tolerance is required at the ends of the slats which is difficult to seal off, as a result of which a not insignificant residual air flow remains, even in the closed position of such ventilation grilles. In this case, an accurate and repeatable adjustment of the air-flow passage is also difficult. Seals at the ends of such slats are highly susceptible to wear. It is not easy either to achieve a secure seal at the location where the slats seal with respect to each other in their longitudinal direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a ventilation grille, in which the air-flow passage can be adjusted in a more inexpensive and more secure way and the residual air flow can be reduced in a more secure way.

This object of the invention is achieved by providing a ventilation grille, comprising a grille frame which delimits an air-flow passage, comprising two or more slats which are arranged virtually parallel to each other in the air-flow passage in the grille frame and comprising a screen which is provided so as to be displaceable between a first position for at least partly opening the air-flow passage and a second position for at least partly closing the air-flow passage.

By providing such a screen in addition to the slats in such a ventilation grille, it is possible to regulate the air flow in a less expensive and more secure way. In addition, it is much simpler to provide a ventilation grille which can be closed more securely, in which the residual air flow can be reduced in a more simple manner. If desired, it is also possible to provide several screens for this purpose which are arranged so as to adjoin one another or are provided so as to be movable towards each other and from each other. It is simpler to close off an air-flow passage using one or more screens than using several rotatable slats. In this case, the air-flow passage is closed off in a plane next to the plane in which the slats substantially extend.

In quite a number of possible embodiments, such a screen produces an improved airtightness in the closed position compared to the ventilation grilles which are provided with slats which are arranged so as to be rotatable in the ventilation grille.

In the second position of the screen, not only is the residual air flow reduced with a ventilation grille according to the present invention by closing the air-flow passage, but this also reduces the supply of all airborne elements.

Ventilation grilles according to the present invention not only improve airtightness but also provide an advantage with regard to water repellency. With the known ventilation grilles, this water repellency differs according to the shape of the slats or pitch. By means of a screen according to the invention, a significantly higher water repellency is now achieved in the second position, and this with all possible embodiments of such ventilation grilles.

In addition, ventilation grilles according to the present invention also present an advantage with respect to protection against intrusion. Nowadays, the class of protection against intrusion with such ventilation grilles varies according to slat pitch and slat shape. By means of a screen according to the invention, the protection against intrusion is taken to the same class for all possible embodiments of such ventilation grilles in the second position.

Furthermore, the ventilation grilles according to the present invention also have an advantage with regard to dust penetration. Up to now, this has not been met, due to the large slat pitch and the non-closable character. By means of a screen according to the invention, it is now possible to achieve a certain dust repellancy in the second position. In this case, the screen of a ventilation grille according to the present invention may assume many shapes.

This screen may be, for example, in the form of a cloth, in which case it may, for example, also be made from a woven fabric. Even if the fabric of such a cloth still comprises perforations, the air flow may still be reduced here to a relatively satisfactory degree.

This screen may also be in the form of a plate, for example.

This screen may, for example, also comprise several sections, such as for example with a roller shutter. Preferably, a ventilation grille according to the present invention comprises a screen guide on both lateral sides for mounting the lateral sides of the screen in the second position.

By mounting these lateral sides of the screen in screen guides, it is easy to make the ventilation grille more airtight on these sides. In particular when these sides coincide with the sides at the ends of the slats, which presented the biggest problem with regard to airtightness for the slatted vents, a considerable advantage is thereby achieved with regard to airtightness in the second position.

These lateral sides of the screen may be mounted, for example, in these screen guides by providing these lateral sides of the screen with a thickening, such as for example half a zip fastener, which is accommodated in a corresponding space in the corresponding screen guide. Alternatively, instead of mounting these lateral sides of the screen in screen guides, it would be possible, for example with relatively heavy screens, to make a flexible sealing edge of this screen adjoin corresponding side walls of the grille frame in order to ensure a more satisfactory airtightness in the second position.

A particularly preferable embodiment of a ventilation grille according to the present invention comprises a screen roller on which the screen can be rolled up and from which it can be unrolled. In this way, little or no additional space has to be provided next to the air- flow passage in order to arrange the screen so as to be displaceable between its first position and its second position. In its first position, the screen may in this case be rolled up onto the screen roller and in its second position, the screen may be unrolled from the screen roller, in which case the screen is displaceable between both positions by unrolling the screen from the screen roller and by rolling it onto the latter.

Alternatively, the screen could, for example, also be moved between its end positions by sliding this screen, as is the case, for example, with a sectional door. In embodiments of ventilation grilles according to the present invention, in which the lateral sides of the screen in the second position are mounted in said screen guides and in which the screen can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a screen roller, the screen guides are preferably provided for guiding the corresponding lateral sides of the screen during the rolling/unrolling movement.

The screen roller of a ventilation grille according to the present invention comprising a screen which can be rolled up onto a screen roller and can be unrolled therefrom is preferably arranged so as to be virtually parallel to the slats, as it is thus simpler to ensure a still further improved airtightness in the second position. Furthermore preferably, such a ventilation grille comprises a screen casing in which the screen roller is arranged in order to reduce possible residual air flows next to the screen roller as much as possible. Also preferably, such a ventilation grille comprises a bottom slat which is attached at the end of the screen, away from the screen roller and is provided with a seal on its side facing away from the screen. In this way, residual air flows on this side of the screen are also prevented as much as possible. The slats of a ventilation grille according to the present invention are preferably arranged in a fixed position in the ventilation grille. Not only does this result in a simplicity in design, but it also provides an additional advantage with regard to security against burglary of the ventilation grille. The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of a preferred ventilation grille according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and particulars of this ventilation grille, and can thus by no means be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a ventilation grille according to the present invention in perspective;

- Fig. 2 shows the ventilation grille from Fig. 1 in perspective in exploded view;

- Fig. 3 shows the ventilation grille from Fig. 1 in front view;

- Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the ventilation grille from Fig. 1, cut along plane A, as indicated in Fig. 3. In the illustrated ventilation grille (1), several slats (3) are arranged parallel to each other in a grille frame (2). In this case, these slats (3) are arranged in a fixed position in this grille frame (2).

The air-flow passage (4) which is delimited by the grille frame (2) is divided into several partial air-flow passages (5) by these slats (3).

Behind the slats (3), a screen device is arranged, comprising a screen (6) which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a screen roller (7). The screen roller (7) is accommodated in a screen casing (8) in order to prevent residual air flow next to this screen roller (7) as much as possible. In order to further prevent residual air flow in the unrolled position of the screen (6), the lateral sides of the screen (6) are mounted in screen guides (9) in this unrolled position of the screen (6). These screen guides (9) also guide these lateral sides of the screen (6) during the rolling/unrolling movement thereof. At the bottom of the screen (6), a bottom slat (10) is fitted, which is provided with a seal (1 1) at the bottom in order to limit residual air flow in the unrolled position of the screen (6) on this underside as well.

Control of the rolling/unrolling movement of the screen (6) may be effected manually, but may advantageously also be motorized. More specifically, such a ventilation grille (1) may then also, for example, be provided with its own power supply, for example via a small photovoltaic cell.

Claims

Ventilation grille (1), comprising a grille frame (2) which delimits an air- flow passage (4), and comprising two or more slats (3) which are arranged virtually parallel to each other in the air-flow passage (4) in the grille frame (2), characterized in that the ventilation grille (1) comprises a screen (6) which is provided so as to be displaceable between a first position for at least partly opening the air-flow passage (4) and a second position for at least partly closing the air-flow passage (4).

Ventilation grille (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation grille (1) comprises a screen guide (9) on both lateral sides for mounting the lateral sides of the screen (6) in the second position.

Ventilation grille (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this ventilation grille (1) comprises a screen roller (7) on which the screen (6) can be rolled up and from which it can be unrolled.

Ventilation grille (1) according to Claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the screen guides (9) are provided for guiding the corresponding lateral sides of the screen (6) during the rolling/unrolling movement.

Ventilation grille (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the screen roller (7) is arranged virtually parallel to the slats (3).

Ventilation grille (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the ventilation grille (1) comprises a screen casing (8) in which the screen roller (7) is arranged.

Ventilation grille (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the ventilation grille (1) comprises a bottom slat (10) which is attached at the end of the screen (6), away from the screen roller (7) and is provided with a seal (11) on its side facing away from the screen (6).

Ventilation grille (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slats (3) are arranged in a fixed position in the ventilation grille (1).