ROOF VENTILATOR

Abstract: The invention relates to a roof ventilator (1) having a base frame (3) which surrounds an upwardly directed shaft (2) and which can be secured to the roof of a building, bounding a roof opening. The roof ventilator has an outer housing (4) which can be supported on the base frame (3) and which bounds an upper outlet (5) for spent air situated with spacing above the upper edge of the shaft (2) and substantially coinciding with the shaft opening. In addition, the roof ventilator is provided with a covering device (6) which is disposed inside the outer housing (4) and which comprises flaps (9) or the like closing members (8) which are pivotally supported in a supporting frame (7) and which can be moved out of a closed position into an open position by means of a drive (13), while, in the open position of the flaps (9), the covering device (6) bounds, with its supporting frame (7), a passage (10) for spent air flowing upwards out of the shaft. In addition, a closable lateral outlet (12) for spent air is provided which can be shielded at the top, at least in places, for roof ventilation protected from atmospheric influences. In order to have a reduced structural height of the ventilator with the possibility of ventilation protected from atmospheric influences, the covering device has a closing unit (16) which can be moved as a whole and which can be transferred into an elevated travel position to free the lateral spent-air outlet (12) and, in its lower end-of-travel position, with the flaps in their closed position, shuts off the shaft opening.

Description: The invention relates to a roof ventilator having a base frame surrounding an upwardly directed shaft in a construction according to the preamble to claim 1. In a roof ventilator of this kind known from DE-B-12 76 880, the flaps for closing the outlet for the spent air flowing upwards, which are pivotable about horizontal axes, project above the outer housing in their open position so that, because of the resulting increased dimensions in height, the ventilator offers a large area exposed to the wind and is exposed to increased loading. Pivotable flaps whereby lateral outlets for spent air can be freed or closed are provided for lateral ventilation protected from atmospheric influences. In order to be able to achieve an effective ventilation in a position protected from atmospheric influences, the lateral spent-air openings, and hence also their closing flaps, have to be designed sufficiently large, which results in minimum dimensions both with regard to equipment width and to equipment height in the known ventilators. Thus altogether, the known ventilator is a device which is relatively large in construction and therefore relatively heavily stressed by wind and the like. It is the object of the present invention to provide a roof ventilator of the kind mentioned at the beginning, with which, although ventilation upwards and also roof ventilation protected from atmospheric influences and hence the freeing of a lateral outlet should still be possible, nevertheless it renders effective ventilation possible with a reduced structural height. In order to solve this problem, the roof ventilator of the kind mentioned at the beginning is distinguished by the features given in the characterising part of claim 1 and of claim 13. With regard to further developments of the invention, reference should be made to claims 2 to 14. In the closed and open positions of its flaps, the roof ventilator according to the invention is an air-outlet device for installation in roofs, which is extremely low in construction in comparison with roof ventilators of conventional construction and which is thus exposed to reduced loading as a result of a reduced area exposed to the wind, although nevertheless a spent-air outlet which is protected from atmospheric influences can be freed if necessary. In order to free the lateral spent-air outlet, preferably the closing unit is either moved upwards parallel to itself or pivoted about an axis aligned substantially parallel to the upper edge of the base frame, into an upper travel position. In this case, in order to have a shielding means protecting from atmospheric influences, a fan-like shielding member is provided, for example, which can be extended on pivoting of the closing unit but a housing insert member may equally well be provided which can be moved down out of the outer housing and which can be brought into a position sunk in the outer housing for ventilation in fine weather for example, so that it does not influence the structural height of the roof ventilator in a disadvantageous manner. Some ways of carrying out the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to drawings which show one specific embodiment. In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective illustration partially broken away, a first embodiment of roof ventilator according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows, in a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration, the Figure 1 embodiment in the closed position of the louvres; FIG. 3 shows, in a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration, the Figure 1 embodiment with lateral outlets freed and louvres closed; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of roof ventilator according to the invention having a housing insert member which is adjustable in height,the Figures illustrating various positions of the closing unit and of the housing insert member. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show illustrations similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of a still further embodiment of roof ventilator according to the invention with movable flaps; FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration of a still further embodiment of roof ventilator according to the invention with its lateral outlet closed; FIG. 11 shows the embodiment of Figure 10, likewise in a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration, with its lateral outlet freed; FIG. 12 shows a still further embodiment of roof ventilator according to the invention with its lateral outlet closed; and FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of Figure 12, in a diagrammatic cross-sectional illustration, with its lateral outlet freed. With reference to the drawings, the roof ventilator numbered in general by 1 in the drawing has a base frame 3 which surrounds an upwardly directed shaft 2 and which - not illustrated in detail - can be secured to the roof of a building for example, bounding a roof opening. An outer housing, numbered in general by 4, can be supported on the base frame 3 and bounds an upper outlet 5 for spent air which is situated with spacing above the upper edge of the shaft 2 and substantially coincides with the shaft opening. Provided inside the outer housing 4 is a covering device which is numbered in general by 6 and which has a supporting frame 7 on which louvres 8 arranged parallel side by side are movably supported as closing members in Figures 1 to 4 as well as 12 and 13 and on which flaps 9 which can be swung upwards are movably supported as closing members in the examples of embodiment shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Not illustrated in detail is a drive unit working preferably pneumatically or by means of an electric motor, whereby the louvres 8 or the flaps 9 can be moved out of their respective closed position into their open position. In the open position of the flaps 9 or of the louvres 8, the covering device 6 together with its supporting frame 7 defines a passage which is numbered as a whole by 10 (Figure 4) and through which, spent air flowing upwards out of the shaft can escape upwards in the direction of the arrow 11 (Figure 4). In order to free a lateral outlet for spent air, numbered in general by 12, for ventilation protected from atmospheric influences, the examples of embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 have a closing unit 16 which is supported in the outer housing 4 for adjustment in height parallel to itself by means of a lifting device 13 and a guiding device 15 comprising a vertical strut 14. The closing unit 16, which is movable as a whole, can be transferred, by means of the lifting device 13 into a travel position which is elevated in comparison with its lower end-of-travel position in which it rests on the base frame, and in which the lateral outlets 12 along the longitudinal sides and ends of the supporting frame 7 are freed. The lateral outlets 12 are shielded at the top for which purpose the outer housing 4 preferably comprises housing walls, the lower portions of which have a diverging course originating from the base frame 3, along the sides of the shaft opening. These lower portions are followed in each case by middle portions which are aligned substantially vertically. In the example of embodiment shown in Figure 1, these middle portions are followed by upper portions which have an alignment converging towards the upper outlet for the spent air, with such an extent that in the raised travel position of the closing unit 6 and with the lateral outlets 12 freed, ventilation is possible protected from atmospheric influences. As the examples of embodiment shown in Figures 4 to 6 illustrate, it is likewise possible, however, in addition, to provide, inside the outer housing,a housing insert member 17 which, in the raised end-of-travel position of the closing unit 16 with the outlets 12 freed (Figure 6), forms the upper portion of the outer housing wall and at the same time bounds the upper outlet for the spent air, the housing insert member 17 being supported in the outer housing 4 likewise for adjustment in height as a whole by means of a lifting and guiding device 18. As illustrated in Figure 6, in this end-of-travel position, the housing insert member projects upwards above the upper terminal edges of the outer housing 4. In the lower travel position (Figure 4), it is situated sunk in the outer housing 4. During ventilation in fine weather or in the event of ventilation being unnecessary, the structural height of the outer housing is reduced, as a result, to an extremely small dimension despite the possibility which is afforded of lateral ventilation protected from atmospheric influences. Such an extensible housing insert member 17 likewise offers the advantage, particularly with a covering device 6 comprising flaps 9, of effectively protecting opened flaps and hence their lifting device 13 from wind loading and the like. In the examples of embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11, the closing unit 16 together with the outer housing 4 can be pivoted about an axis aligned parallel to the upper edge of the base frame 3, by means of a lifting cylinder 19, to free the lateral outlet 12 (Figures 11, 13). In this case, a shielding means 20 which can be opened out and which, in the examples of embodiment illustrated, is formed by a fan which can be opened out, for example an awning which can be opened out, is provided to shield the lateral outlet 12. In this case, the shielding means 20 is coupled, with regard to its opening capacity, to the closing unit 16 in such a manner that it is opened out automatically on pivoting of the closing unit 16 to the appropriate extent. In the examples of embodiment illustrated, the lower portion of the outer housing 4 is connected to a weather strip 21 which projects beyond the outer edge of the inner shaft opening. At the same time, the outer edge is substantially in alignment with the upper end of the opened-out awning. The fan preferably has a longitudinal extent which may appropriately correspond to at least one and a half times the internal dimensions of the shaft 2. Thus assurance can be provided, in a structurally simple manner, that the fan can be folded up (Figures 10, 12) in such a manner that it has a height corresponding substantially to the height of the device but, in addition, when the lateral outlet is freed, protects this reliably from atmospheric influences.

Claims: A roof ventilator (1) having a base frame (3) which surrounds an upwardly directed shaft (2) and which can be secured to the roof of a building, bounding a roof opening, having an outer housing (4) which can be supported on the base frame (3) and which bounds an upper outlet (5) for spent air, situated with spacing above the upper edge of the shaft (2) and substantially coinciding with the shaft opening, and having a covering device (6) which is disposed inside the outer housing (4) and comprises flaps (9) or the like closing members (8) which are pivotally supported in a supporting frame (7) and can be moved, by means of a drive (13), out of a closed position into an open position, the covering device (6), in the open position of its flaps, bounding with its supporting frame (7) a passage (10) for spent air flowing upwards out of the shaft (2), and having at least one lateral outlet (12) for spent air, which can be closed and can be shielded at the top, at least in places, for roof ventilation protected from atmospheric influences, characterised in that the covering device (6) comprises a closing unit (16) which is movable as a whole and can be transferred into a raised travel position to free the lateral outlets (12) for spent air and, in its lower end-of-travel position, with the flaps (9) in the closed position, shuts off the shaft opening. A roof ventilator according to claim 1, characterised in that the closing unit (16) is located in the outer housing (4) for movement up and down and rests on the base frame (3) in its lower end-of-travel position. A roof ventilator according to claim 2, characterised in that the closing unit (16) is supported in the outer housing (4) for adjustment in height parallel to itself by means of a lifting and guiding device (13, 14, 15). A roof ventilator according to claim 1, characterised in that, in its raised position of travel, the closing unit (16) is pivotable about an axis aligned substantially parallel to the upper edge of the base frame (3). A roof ventilator according to claim 4, characterised in that, in the raised position of travel, the closing unit (16) is pivotable with the outer housing (4). A roof ventilator according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that on pivoting of the closing unit (16), a shielding means (20) protecting the lateral opening (12), which can be freed, from atmospheric influences at the top can be extended. A roof ventilator according to claim 6, characterised in that the shielding means (20) is formed by a fan which can be opened out. A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the outer housing (4) comprises housing walls, of which the lower portion has a diverging course originating from the base frame (3), at least along one side of the shaft opening, of which the middle portion following upwards on the diverging lower portion is directed upwards and of which the upper portion following on the middle portion has an alignment converging towards the upper outlet (5) for the spent air, at least along one side of the shaft opening. A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the flaps (9) of the covering device (6) are formed by louvre slats (8) which are pivotable in the same direction about pivotal axes parallel to one another and cutting across the passage (10) through the supporting frame, and which together form a louvre occupying the passage (10) through the supporting frame (7). A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the covering device (6) comprises two flaps (9) which are hinged about hinge pins associated with the supporting frame (7) at the edge or centrally and which, in the closed position, together shut off the passage (10) through the supporting frame (7). A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that in the upper end-of-travel position of the covering device (6), the total area of passage of the lateral opening between the underside of the covering device and the base frame (3) corresponds substantially to the total area of passage of the shaft opening. A roof ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the narrow passage between the outer edge of the covering device (6) and the inner housing has, at least in the upper end-of-travel position of the covering device (6), a total area of passage which corresponds substantially to the total area of passage of the shaft opening. A roof ventilator in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the outer housing (4) comprises a housing insert member (17) which forms or continues the upper portion of the outer housing walls and bounds the upper outlet (5) for the spent air, and in that the housing insert member (18) is supported as a whole in the outer housing (4) for adjustment in height by means of a lifting and guiding device (18) and, in an upper end-of-travel position, projects upwards above the upper terminal edges of the outer housing (4) and, in its lower end-of-travel position is situated sunk in the outer housing (4). A roof ventilator according to claim 13, characterised in that the outer housing (4) and the housing insert member (17) form a housing unit substantially free of through gaps in between.

Inventors: RIDDERMAN, PETER
Applicants: COLT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS A.G., COLT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F24F7
IPC codes: F24F7