Abstract:
A ventilation device for a building is provided. The ventilation device includes a pair of frame elements spaced a distance from each other to define a free passage extending between an inside of the building and an outside of the building in a clearance defined by the distance. A rotating cylinder is positioned within the clearance and is configured to rotate between a closed position in which the rotating cylinder substantially completely seals the free passage and an opened position in which the rotating cylinder substantially completely opens the free passage. At least two seals are configured to substantially completely seal the rotating cylinder at least at each frame element of the pair of frame elements in the closed position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2010 031 766.7 filed Jul. 21, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The embodiments described herein relate to a ventilation device for a building, in particular a ventilation device to be installed in a facade of a building, in particular to be used in high-rise buildings. 
         [0003]    Conventionally, windows and air conditioners are used for ventilating houses. Ventilation slits that can be opened and closed and that are installed in window or door frames are also known. Window casements that open inward require comparatively more space, while ventilation slits that can be opened and closed only permit limited air flow and do not establish contact with the external environment, which is desired with an opened window. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The embodiments described herein provide a compact ventilation element, which does not require additional space in the interior of a building when it is opened, like a window casement that opens inward, and in addition opens up a ventilation cross section as large as possible. 
         [0005]    More specifically, the embodiments described herein provide a ventilation device with the features according to claim  1 . Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect, a ventilation device for a building is provided, which is particularly suitable to be installed in facades of high-rise buildings. The ventilation device includes a pair of frame elements arranged at a distance from each other to form a free passage from a building inside to a building outside in a clearance defined by the distance. A rotating cylinder is arranged in the clearance and substantially completely sealing the passage in a closed position and substantially completely opening up the passage in an opened position. Arbitrary intermediate positions are possible between the closed and opened positions, which open up the passage partially. A substantially complete sealing of the rotating cylinder at least at each of the two frame elements is provided in the closed position. 
         [0007]    The term “free passage” as used herein refers to a direct ventilation cross section that establishes a direct and straight connection between an inside and an outside of the building or the ventilation device. No redirecting portions or ventilation grilles or the like, which hinder or limit air flow, are to be provided. The term “complete sealing” as used herein refers to a sealing across a closed circumference of the opened-up opening between the rotating cylinder and the frame, without there being regions in which no sealing is provided, i.e. regions that in a closed state of the ventilation device in particular allow a direct connection between the inside and outside. 
         [0008]    By creating a free passage from the building inside to the building outside, a natural sense of space is conveyed to people in the building, i.e. temperature, sound, odor, etc. of the external environment are transmitted into the inside of the building. Thus, this type of ventilation creates a free space atmosphere, which is felt to be much more pleasant than typical interior space atmospheres. In particular, in closed interior spaces, odors that are perceived as unpleasant, such as odors of carpet adhesives, etc., are reduced substantially and more pleasant odors are introduced into the building from outside. 
         [0009]    On the other hand, a complete sealing of the rotating cylinder between the frame elements can be created by providing a seal that completely seals an entire circumference of the opening that can be opened up, i.e. not only the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder, but also the front sides thereof, with respect to the elements of the frame. This is particularly important during the heating period in order to ensure that no cold draft comes from the ventilation element and no valuable heat energy escapes to the outside. 
         [0010]    Preferably, between the at least two sealings of the rotating cylinder, which each form at least one room-side and outside sealing plane, a drainage is preferably arranged at the low point of the rotating cylinder and arranged at a front side of the rotating cylinder to allow the installation of the ventilation device with a substantially perpendicular rotation axis of the rotating cylinder, or distributed across the length of the rotating cylinder at the lowest point of the circumference of the rotating cylinder in the case of a substantially horizontal installation. 
         [0011]    Further preferably, a ratio between the passage cross section and the overall cross section of the ventilation device is greater than 0.5, preferably greater than 0.6. 
         [0012]    By further installing the ventilation device substantially perpendicularly or horizontally, e.g. in a manner adjacent to a glazing, the ventilation device requires very little space. Moreover, a passage cross section in relation to the overall cross section of the ventilation device can have large dimensions, i.e. for example, a ratio greater than 0.5 or greater than 0.6 free ventilation cross section, in relation to the overall cross section of the ventilation device. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the rotating cylinder includes a pair of elongated elements having a cross section substantially in the form of a circle segment. The elongated elements are connected to each other at their axial ends, preferably by circular disks, and/or the frame elements of the pair of frame elements have an elongated shape and are connected to each other at their ends, preferably by a circular terminating element. 
         [0014]    With respect to known ventilation openings, the closed cross section of the circle segment with its straight chord described herein has the advantage that a free opening is created in the completely opened state, which is delimited by smooth surfaces on all sides. This has a positive influence on the obtainable aerodynamic cross section in relation to the installation dimensions, wherein the smooth surfaces can be cleaned easily and provide a very good visual appearance. 
         [0015]    Moreover, since the rotating cylinder includes a pair of elongated elements, which are connected at their axial ends by circular disks, and the frame elements also have an elongated shape and are connected at their ends with a circular terminating element, a seal can be arranged in a circle gap between the circular disks and the circular terminating elements to provide for a complete sealing on the front side of the rotating cylinder. Furthermore, since the seal arranged in the circle gap has a circular-arc shape corresponding to the circle gap and this circular-arc part of the seal is connected with elongated sealing portions, wherein the elongated sealing portions seal a cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder with respect to the frame elements, an excellent, continuous, complete sealing is provided by the seal. Preferably, this seal is formed integrally. Thus, such a seal has two elongated portions for sealing the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder and two circular-arc portions for sealing the circular-ring gap between the circular disk and the circular terminating element. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the sealing seals the rotating cylinder at its cylindrical surface and at its two front sides, i.e. a complete sealing of the entire circumference of the ventilation opening that can be opened up along the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder is provided, so that not unsealed gaps remain. In addition, at least two sealings are provided, i.e. at least in two planes, an outer plane on the outside frame profile and an inner plane on the room-side frame profile. 
         [0017]    Further preferably, at least one seal is provided, which seals a gap between the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder and the frame element and/or a gap between the circular terminating element and the circular disk. The seal is preferably formed integrally and has a pair of elongated portions for sealing the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder as well as a pair of circular-arc portions for sealing the circular disk. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the seal is made of a permanently elastic elastomer, such as silicone, EPDM, TPE, butyl rubber, or gum, preferably by extrusion. 
         [0019]    Further preferably, a motor is provided on a front side of the rotating cylinder, which is preferably fixed on the terminating element with the casing thereof, and wherein a drive shaft of the motor drives the rotating cylinder, preferably the disk, directly. 
         [0020]    Preferably, a motor controller for controlling the motor is includes a central processing unit configured to control a plurality of motors of a plurality of ventilation devices, wherein preferably a stand-by circuit is provided, which by activation of a power supply supplies the central processing unit with current only when driving commands, or positioning commands, are coming in. 
         [0021]    Preferably, a contact strip is provided, which upon application of pressure can send a signal to the motor controller to stop the motor. The contact strip is preferably arranged in the region of the gap between the cylindrical surface of the rotating cylinder and the frame element. Alternatively, another security device, such as a light barrier, proximity sensor, motion sensor or the like, can be used instead of the contract strip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In the following, the invention will be explained in detail on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a ventilation device in a completely opened position of the rotating cylinder. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the ventilation device of  FIG. 1  in a partially opened position of the rotating cylinder. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the ventilation device of  FIG. 1  in the completely closed position of the rotating cylinder. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a modification of the ventilation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a further modification of the ventilation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the ventilation device of  FIG. 1  as it is installed in the facade of a building. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a longitudinal section through the ventilation device of  FIG. 5  as it is installed in the facade of a housing in a perpendicular position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a block circuit diagram of a motor controller for controlling the automatic opening and closing of the ventilation device. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a detailed view of the seal for sealing the rotating cylinder with respect to the frame elements and for sealing the circular-ring gap between the circular disks and the circular terminating elements. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  shows the seal of  FIG. 10  when viewed from the other side. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  shows cross-sectional shapes of the seal of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    As is shown in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 1 to 7  and the longitudinal section of  FIG. 8 , a rotating cylinder as a movable element of the ventilation device is formed by a pair of elongated elements  3 ,  4 , which are shaped as a circle segment in cross section. These circle segment elements  3 ,  4  are rotatably supported about their centers (not shown) in a pair of frame elements  1 ,  1 , which can be installed in a building facade in a fixed manner. By rotating the elongated elements  3 ,  4  in the form of a circle segment, one can open a ventilation cross section either completely or partially or close it completely, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In the completely opened position of  FIG. 1 , straight inner sides of the elongated elements  3 ,  4  are substantially flush with inner sides of the frame elements  1 ,  1 , so that a substantially smooth free passage cross section between the frame elements  1 ,  1  is created. In the rotating cylinder shown in  FIG. 2 , the passage cross section is partially constricted by the rotating cylinder. Finally, in the rotating cylinder shown in  FIG. 3 , the passage cross section is completely closed and sealed via the seal  5 . 
         [0035]    In this closed position, the seal  5  is arranged in a gap between the elongated elements  3 ,  4  of the rotating cylinder and the frame elements  1 ,  1  with elongated sealing portions  5   b  shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , to seal between the elongated elements  3 ,  4  and the frame elements  1 ,  1 . To also seal a front side of the rotating cylinder, the seal  5  has circular-arc portions  5   a  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ), which are arranged in a circular-ring gap between circular disks  11 ,  13  and circular terminating elements  12 ,  14 , as is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0036]    This seal  5  is preferably formed integrally and thus has a pair of elongated portions  5   b  and a pair of circular-arc portions  5   a.  The elongated elements  3 ,  4  of the rotating cylinder are connected, preferably screwed together, via the circular disks  11 ,  13  at the front sides thereof. Thus, the rotating cylinder is formed by the pair of elongated elements  3 ,  4  with the circle segment shape and the circular disks  11 ,  13 . Moreover, the frame elements  1 ,  1  are connected, preferably also screwed together, at their front sides by means of the circular terminating elements  12 ,  14 . 
         [0037]    The circular disks  11 ,  13  and the circular terminating elements  12 ,  14  are preferably designed such that radially outward circumferential surfaces of the circular disks  11 ,  13  face radially inward circumferential surfaces of the circular terminating elements  12 ,  14  to arrange the seal  5  or its circular-arc portion  5   a  in a circular annular gap between these two surfaces. In this way, a complete and tight sealing on a front side of the rotating cylinder is provided in a simple manner. 
         [0038]    Preferably, the frame elements  1  are formed of two parts, a room-side component  1   a  and an outside component  1   b.  Between two components  1   a,    1   b  is arranged a heat-insulating plane  6  composed of plastic strips and optionally additional filling of the arising chambers with insulating material. Depending on the design, the frame elements  1  can also be formed integrally. 
         [0039]    Heat insulation  6  is preferably arranged between the room-side component  1   a  and the outside component of the frame element  1 . Thereby, the outside component  1   b  of the frame element  1  is thermotechnically decoupled from the room-side component  1   a  of the frame element  1 , i.e. excellent insulation between the components  1   a  and  1   b  is provided. 
         [0040]    The ventilation device is installed in a building facade preferably in a perpendicular position, i.e. with a perpendicular rotating axis of the rotating cylinder. Here, the ventilation device can be of great length, from one meter to two meters or more. To ensure sufficient stability for longer lengths, an intermediate wall  8  can be arranged between the elongated elements  3 ,  4  in addition, as is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which is also connected with the circular disks  11 ,  13 , as is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0041]    In addition, struts  10  for connecting the elongated elements  3 ,  4  can be arranged in a transverse direction, as is shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 . Depending on the length, a strut  10  or a plurality of struts  10  can be arranged at a predetermined distance along the rotating axis of the rotating cylinder. 
         [0042]    To further improve a sealing of the rotating cylinder on the frame elements  1 ,  1 , the frame elements can be further provided with an additional seal  9  on their inner circumference, as is shown in  FIG. 4 . This additional seal preferably engages with the intermediate wall  8 . 
         [0043]    Preferably, the rotating cylinder is driven via an automatic drive, for example in the form of an electric motor. For safety in this case, a contact strip  7  is preferably further arranged, as is shown in  FIG. 2 , which can interrupt the current supply to an electric motor if pressure is applied to the contact strip  7 . 
         [0044]    Preferably, a motor with its electric motor  15  and an associated transmission  16  is arranged on the front side of the rotating cylinder, as is shown in  FIG. 8 . Here, the transmission  16  is fixed on, preferably screwed to, the circular terminating element  12 . A drive shaft  17  is preferably supported on the circular terminating element  12  via a radial bearing  18 , such as a roller bearing or plain bearing or the like, and is tightly connected to the circular disk  11  to cause the circular disk  11  to rotate by driving the drive shaft  17  via the electric motor  15  and the transmission  16 . Thus, the rotating cylinder can be rotated via the motor  15 ,  16  to open and close the ventilation or to establish an intermediate position, as is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a block circuit diagram of a controller for the electric motor  15 . This controller includes a power supply, which converts a mains alternating voltage of e.g. 230 volts to a direct voltage of 24 volts or a direct voltage of 36 volts or the like, with which a central processing unit (CPU) and various peripheral modules can be operated. On the basis of input signals, which are e.g. generated by sensors or the like, output signals are supplied to a motor output stage via the CPU, which actuate the electric motor  15  to open and close the ventilation devices. 
         [0046]    To minimize energy consumption of the control device, it is operated in a ready circuit, i.e. a so-called stand-by circuit, in which the power supply and thus CPU, motor power electronics (output stage), and further peripheral modules are switched off and are not switched on until driving commands are sent to the controller. That is, the power supply is activated when driving commands are received, and it starts up the CPU to correspondingly process the driving commands and supply output signals to the motor output stage. After that, the CPU and the power supply are switched off again, i.e. the control device is returned to the stand-by mode. 
         [0047]    Preferably, the shown and described ventilation device with its frame elements  1 ,  1  is installed as a frame in a mullion-transom system of a building facade. The described ventilation device is in particular characterized by a large free cross section in relation to its installation requirement. In relation to an overall cross section of the ventilation device AG, this free cross section AF has a ratio of at least 0.5, and more particularly a ratio that is greater than 0.6, as is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0048]    Thus, people in a housing get a natural sense of space, wherein sound, odor, temperature, and the like of an external environment of the housing are introduced into the building. In this way, the people in the housing get a very natural sense of space. 
         [0049]    In addition, the ventilation device described herein does not influence the appearance of a building due to the little space required, i.e. the ventilation devices are hardly visible due to their small size in relation to the ventilation cross section or do not catch a viewer&#39;s eye at all. 
         [0050]    Moreover, sealing of the ventilation device during the heating period is provided with a low U value, i.e. little loss of heat, since at least one pair of seals is arranged between the outside and the inside of the ventilation device, between which at least one resting air cushion arises. Due to the two-part form of the frame elements  1 ,  1  with the room-side component  1   a  and the outside component  1   b,  installation into a building facade is very simple. 
         [0051]    Preferably, in the region between the two seals there is further arranged a drainage with an outward falling gradient, as is shown in  FIG. 8 . The slope  20  on the circular terminating element  12 , which lies vertically down below, allows water that has entered the ventilation device to flow off to the outside. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, the intermediate wall  8  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  serves to improve the heat insulation. By dividing the chamber, which arises in the closed position, into several sub-chambers by the intermediate wall  8 , convection and radiation between outside and room-side elongated elements  3 ,  4  of the rotating cylinder is reduced and thus improves the heat insulation significantly. Optional, low-emitting coatings on the intermediate wall  8  and/or the straight sides of the elongated elements  3 ,  4  can further improve the heat insulation. In addition, these surfaces can be coated with special insulating layers, i.e. layers of a material having very low thermal conductivity and low-emitting surfaces. Thereby, the heat insulation of the entire component can be optimized further. 
         [0053]    The large ventilation cross section renders the ventilation device interesting in particular for applications that require smoke ventilation, since specific minimum ventilation cross sections are compulsory here, which are often not achieved with conventional casement constructions.