Ventilation – Chimney or stack – Chimneytop or stacktop structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-10-16
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Chimney or stack
Chimneytop or stacktop structure
C454S018000, C454S019000, C454S900000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302778
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a roof ventilator, and in particular to a type of roof ventilator known as a turbine roof ventilator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the summer, in hot countries such as Australia, large amounts of heat from the sun's rays enter houses through their roof tops and heat up the attic space or roof chamber beneath the roof of the house. In some cases the temperature in the roof chamber can rise to up to 70° C. and the temperature inside the house will consequently increase. To address this problem, it is known to install turbine roof ventilators to extract air from roof chambers which work on the well known principle that hot air rises, and which allow hotter air to escape from the roof chamber before the temperature of the air in the roof chamber rises excessively. During the winter, roof ventilators also help keep houses dry, remove shower and kitchen steam, keep insulation dry and thus help prevent mould and mildew growth.
Turbine roof ventilators comprise a rotatable sleeve on the top end of which is mounted a rotatable turbine wheel or hood. The turbine hood includes a closed circular, usually convex upper end which prevents ingress of rain into the sleeve and thus into the roof chamber, a lower ring and a series of arcuate turbine blades extending from the lower ring to the upper end through which hot air flows. The turbine blades can rotate either due to winds or breezes, or due to the flow of air from out under the roof through the turbine.
Although turbine roof ventilators work, several such devices may be required for even quite small roofs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements to turbine roof ventilators which increase their efficiency and usefulness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a turbine roof ventilator including:
a rotatable shaft defining a first, or upper end, and a second end;
a turbine hood mounted on the upper end of the shaft and adapted to turn with the shaft;
a sleeve member through which air may flow disposed below the turbine hood;
means for mounting the shaft relative to the sleeve member whilst allowing the shaft to turn about its longitudinal axis; and
a fan or the like disposed on the shaft generally below the turbine hood and adapted to turn with the shaft so that as the turbine hood turns the fan blows or sucks air through the sleeve to improve the rate of flow of air through the roof ventilator.
A second related aspect of the present invention a turbine hood for a turbine roof ventilator or the like for mounting on a bearing or the like for rotation of the turbine hood about its central axis, the turbine hood having a top and sides, the sides comprising a number of blades arranged generally radially of the axis of rotation of the turbine hood, the blades having an outer portion extending away from the hood and an interior portion extending inside the hood, gaps being defined between adjacent blades the arrangement being such that rotation of the hood about its axis may be caused by air currents acting on the outer portion of the hood and the interior portion of the blade is configured to impel air towards the top of the hood and when the turbine hood rotates about its axis.
Typically, the interior portion of the blade includes a scoop portion which when the turbine is caused to rotate in one direction about its axis of rotation is adapted to scoop air upwards into the turbine hood and in conjunction with a ceiling direct the air through the gaps between the turbine blades.
In a preferred feature the turbine hood includes one or more ribs on the outer portion of the blade to assist the outer portion to catch air currents.
In one particular embodiment there may be three ribs. The ribs are preferably located close to the outer edge of the outer portion of the blade.
The blades may be a flattened S-shape having a thickened portion between the outer concave and inner portions by means which the blade is attached between the cover and a base portion of the turbine hood.
It is preferred that the turbine hood defines a curved ceiling.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a turbine roof ventilator including:
a rotatable shaft defining a first end, and a second end;
a turbine hood located on the upper end of the shaft and being adapted to turn with the shaft;
a cylindrical sleeve disposed below the turbine hood defining a aperture;
means for mounting the shaft in the cylindrical sleeve whilst allowing the shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and
a vane assembly disposed on the lower end of the shaft and adapted to turn with the shaft so that as the turbine hood turns the fan sucks air into the housing to improve the rate of flow of air through the roof ventilator characterised in that the vanes are movable to open or close the aperture
The use of a fan in addition to a standard turbine hood significantly improves the rate of flow of air through the roof ventilator and thus improves the performance of the roof ventilator and lowers the temperature in the roof chamber compared with existing roof ventilators. Advantageously, the vanes may be moved to close off the roof ventilator when it is desired to do so for example in cold weather or perhaps to prevent the ingress of rain into the roof space.
In a yet further aspect, the present invention provides a turbine roof ventilator including:
a rotatable shaft defining a first end, and a second end;
a turbine hood located on the upper end of the shaft and being adapted to turn with the shaft;
a cylindrical sleeve disposed below the turbine hood defining a aperture;
means for mounting the shaft in the cylindrical sleeve whilst allowing the shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis; and
a vane assembly disposed on the lower end of the shaft and adapted to turn with the shaft so that as the turbine hood turns the fan sucks air into the housing to improve the rate of flow of air through the roof ventilator;
a motor arranged to turn either the vane assembly or shaft or both; and
at least one photovoltaic solar cell adapted to supply power to the motor for turning either the vane assembly or shaft or both.
A turbine roof ventilator may be provided having the features of all the aspects of the present invention.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps.
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patent: 979390 (1910-12-01), Ewart
patent: 1702120 (1929-02-01), Kimball
patent: 1857762 (1932-05-01), Meadows
patent: 1965171 (1934-07-01), Boyer
patent: 1977934 (1934-10-01), Bolton
patent: 2469096 (1949-05-01), Wilson
patent: 4416415 (1983-11-01), Kolt
patent: 4648312 (1987-03-01), Schad
patent: 5131888 (1992-07-01), Adkins, II
patent: 65886/96 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 1523406 (1978-08-01), None
Andrews Gabriel
Tawfik Osama
Andrews Gabriel
Joyce Harold
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
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