Fresh air valve

Abstract

A fresh air valve (10) comprising: an elongate housing (11) having a transverse air flow channel (12), a movable cover (13) to open or close the air flow channel (12), and a cover handling mechanism (14) at each end part (10a,b) of the housing (11) having: a push member (15) arranged in a first slot (19) and a cover support member (16) arranged in a second slot (18) in the housing (11) and connected to the cover (13), wherein the housing (11) comprises a retainer member (21) having a retainer face (22) operable to engage the cover support member (16) and hold the cover support member (16) in a cover closed position, and the push member (15) is operable to engage the retainer member (21) such as to move the retainer face (22) out of contact with the cover support member (16).

Description

[0001] FRESH AIR VALVE

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a fresh air valve, and particularly to a fresh air valve having a lock-and-release mechanism whereby a valve cover can be selectively opened and held in an open or closed position.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Fresh air valves are widely used for ventilation purposes in buildings, such as residential or office buildings. Such valves are commonly arranged in elongate slots in conjunction with a window or elsewhere through an exterior wall of the building.

[0005] Publications which may be useful to understand the field of technology include EP 2 757 222 B1 , which describes a fresh air valve with a locking mechanism for a cover plate. Other examples of similar valves are described in GB 1 212 660; GB 2 31 1 848 B; US 7,393,271 B2; WO 90 / 10777; WO 97 / 35087; WO 2006 / 131 125 A1 ; and WO 2009 / 071087 A1 .

[0006] These types of valves are well known, however there is nevertheless a need for improved technology in this space. Particularly, it is desirable that such valves are user friendly and easy to operate, while being reliable and having a long service life (many years, often even decades). During operation, the valves may be exposed to demanding conditions, such as frequent temperature variations and temperature gradients. It is also desirable that the valve is efficient to manufacture and easy to install.

[0007] The present disclosure has the objective to provide fresh air valves which provides improvements over known technology in one or more of the above areas, or which at least provide useful alternatives to the state of the art.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] In an embodiment, there is provided a fresh air valve for installation in an elongate slot, the valve comprising: an elongate housing having a transverse air flow channel arranged therethrough, a movable cover operable to open or close the air flow channel, and a cover handling mechanism, wherein the cover handling mechanism comprises, at each end part of the housing: a transversely movable push member arranged in a first slot of the housing, and a transversely movable cover support member arranged in a second slot in the housing and connected to the cover, and wherein the housing comprises a retainer member having a retainer face operable to engage the cover support member and hold the cover support member in a cover closed position, and the push member is operable to engage the retainer member such as to move the retainer face out of contact with the cover support member.

[0010] The air flow channel may define a passage having an air flow direction which is substantially transverse or transverse to the elongate housing.

[0011] The movable cover may be movable in a direction which is the same as, i.e. is concentric with or parallel to, the air flow direction.

[0012] The push member may be movable in a direction which is the same as, i.e. concentric with or parallel to, the air flow direction.

[0013] The cover support member may be movable in a direction which is the same as, i.e. concentric with or parallel to, the air flow direction.

[0014] The retainer member may be integral with the housing, such as monolithic or monolithically formed with the housing. The housing and retainer member may, for example, be formed by moulding, such as injection moulding.

[0015] The retainer member may be flexible, for example wherein the retainer member is arranged to flex sideways in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing when engaged by the push member.

[0016] The retainer member may be made of an elongate section of material which at one end part is fixed relative to the housing and at another end part is free to flex or bend longitudinally when subjected to force from the push member and / or the cover support member.

[0017] The movable cover may be rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0018] The cover support member and push member may be separated from the air flow channel by a wall in the housing. The push member and cover support member may be arranged at opposite sides of the flexible retainer member.

[0019] The valve may comprise a flexible member, such as a spring, arranged to urge the cover support member towards a cover open position.

[0020] The valve may comprise a flexible member, such as a spring, arranged to urge the push member away from engagement with the retainer member.

[0021] The push member may be configured to engage the retainer member at an oblique face thereof, the oblique face being oblique relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing.

[0022] The retainer member may be fixed to or integrally formed with the housing such that the retainer member is not transversely movable relative to the housing.

[0023] The push member may be movable along a pin or rod formed integrally with or as part of the housing. The pin or rod may for this purpose be received in a corresponding receptacle in the push member.

[0024] The cover support member may be movable along a pin or rod formed integrally with or as part of the housing. The pin or rod may for this purpose be received in a corresponding receptacle in the cover support member.

[0025] The push member may be independent from and independently movable relative to the cover and the cover support member.

[0026] The cover may be releasably fixed to the cover support member. Alternatively, the cover support member may be integrally formed with, e.g. formed as a part of, the cover.

[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The above and other characteristics will become clear from the following description of illustrative, non-restrictive examples, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0029] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fresh air valve according to an example. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of a housing of a fresh air valve in an example.

[0030] Fig. 3 illustrates parts of a fresh air valve.

[0031] Fig. 4 illustrates parts of a housing of a fresh air valve.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of a fresh air valve according to an example.

[0033] Figs 6A-6D illustrate parts of a fresh air valve.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a fresh air valve 10 for installation in an elongate slot. The elongate slot may, for example, be a slot arranged in a window frame or a wall. The fresh air valve 10 may thereby be used to ventilate rooms, for example residential rooms. Figs 2-6D illustrate further details of the fresh air valve 10 according to the example shown in Fig. 1 .

[0036] The valve 10 comprises an elongate housing 11 having an air flow channel 12 arranged therethrough. The air flow channel 12 is arranged transversely through the housing 11 , i.e. transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing 11 . The longitudinal axis of the housing 11 is indicated as x and the transverse axis as y in Fig. 2. The air flow channel 12 is arranged between two end parts 10a, b of the housing 11 . As indicated in Fig. 2, the air flow channel 12 may be divided into several sections by stiffening plates integrated in the housing 11 .

[0037] A movable cover 13 is operable to open or close the air flow channel 12. The cover 13 is arranged to have a closed position, as shown in Figs 1 and 3, in which the cover 13 is positioned such as to block an opening of the air flow channel 12. The cover 13 also has at least one open position (not shown), where the cover 13 is in an elevated position relative to the housing 11 , i.e. moved away from the housing 1 1 in a direction of the transverse (y) axis such that the air flow channel 12 is not blocked, i.e. at least partially open.

[0038] At each end part 10a, b of the housing 11 , a cover handling mechanism 14 is arranged. The cover handling mechanism 14 is arranged to allow an operator to adjust the position of the cover 13, i.e. to move the cover 13 between its open and closed positions. The cover handling mechanism 14 at end part 10a is illustrated in further detail in Figs 3 and 4. The skilled reader will understand that a corresponding cover handling mechanism 14 is arranged at the other end part 10b. The cover handling mechanism 14 comprises a push member 15 movably arranged in a first slot 19 of the housing 11 . The push member 15 is arranged to be movable transversely, i.e. in a direction parallel to the transverse axis y and substantially up-and-down in the view as shown in Figs 3 and 4.

[0039] A cover support member 16 is, similarly, transversely movably arranged in a second slot 18 in the housing 11. The cover support member 16 is connected to the cover 13 such as to hold the cover 13. The cover 13 may be releasably fixed to the cover support member 16. Alternatively, the cover support member 16 may be integrally formed with, e.g. formed as a part of, the cover 13. Through movement of the cover support member 16 in the second slot 18, the cover 13 may be moved transversely relative to the housing 11 and thereby moved between its open and closed position. A flexible member 23, such as a spring, is arranged to urge the cover support member 16 towards the cover open position.

[0040] The housing 11 comprises a retainer member 21 having a retainer face 22 (see Fig. 4) operable to engage the cover support member 16 and hold the cover support member 16 in a cover closed position. This is illustrated in Fig. 3, where the cover support member 16 is prevented from moving transversely, i.e. prevented from moving upwardly as illustrated, by the retainer face 22.

[0041] The push member 15 is operable to engage the retainer member 21 such as to move the retainer face 22 out of contact with the cover support member 16. In the illustrated example, the push member 15 engages the retainer member 21 at an oblique face 24 (see Fig. 4) thereof, such as to move the retainer face 22 longitudinally away from the cover support member 16 when the push member 15 is pressed and moved transversely (downwardly in the orientation as illustrated). The push member 15 has a front part 15a, such as a pin or finger, with a corresponding face to engage the oblique face 24 of the retainer member 21 . Opposite the front part 15a, the push member 15 comprises a push face 15b configured for engagement by an operator. (See also Fig. 6C.)

[0042] The push member 15 may have a flexible member 25, such as a spring, arranged to urge the push member 15 away from engagement with the retainer member 21. The push member 15 may be independent from and independently movable relative to the cover 13 and the cover support member 16.

[0043] The retainer member 21 is in this example flexible, such that the retainer member 21 can flex longitudinally (sideways as illustrated in the figures) when engaged by the push member 15. This may include the retainer member 21 being partially bendable about an axis which is perpendicular to both the longitudinal and the transverse axes x and y. The retainer member 21 can for this purpose be made of an elongate section of material which at one end part 21 a (the upper part as shown in Figs 3 and 4) is fixed relative to the housing 1 1 , and at the other end part (the lower part as shown in Figs 3 and 4) is free to flex or bend longitudinally when subjected to force from the push member 15 and / or the cover support member 16. The retainer member 21 may be made of a material having a suitable elasticity for this purpose, such as a suitable polymer.

[0044] The retainer member 21 may be fixed to or integrally formed with the housing 11 such that the retainer member 21 is not movable in the transverse direction. The push member 15 and cover support member 16 are in this example arranged at longitudinally opposite sides of the flexible retainer member 21 .

[0045] Advantageously, as the push member 15 and cover support member 16 each engage the retainer member 21 (and not each other), a reliable release mechanism for the cover 13 is provided.

[0046] The retainer member 21 can be integrally and monolithically formed with the housing 11 , i.e. such that the retainer member 21 and the housing 1 1 are formed by a continuous piece of material. Alternatively, the retainer member 21 may be a separate part, which is for example positioned in the housing 11 and locked in place, for example by a click-lock mechanism or by being held in place by one or more of the other parts of the valve 10.

[0047] The housing 11 , the push member 15 and / or the cover support member 16 can advantageously be made of (the same or different) polymer materials, particularly by an injection moulding process. In embodiments where the retainer member 21 is monolithically formed with the housing 11 , the retainer member 21 and the housing 1 1 may be manufactured in a single moulding step for this purpose. The cover support member 16 and the push member 15 are separated from the air flow channel 12 by a wall 17 in the housing 11 . The wall 17 is thus arranged between the first and second slots 18,19 and the air flow channel 12. In this manner, the cover handling mechanism 14 is better protected from for example impurities or debris which may be present in the air flow channel 12.

[0048] The push member 15 may be movable along a pin or rod 26 formed integrally with or as part of the housing 11 . The pin or rod 26 may for this purpose be received in a corresponding receptacle, such as a central bore or channel, in the push member 15. The flexible member 25 may be arranged about the pin or rod 26.

[0049] The cover support member 16 may be movable along a pin or rod 27 formed integrally with or as part of the housing 11 . The pin or rod 27 may for this purpose be received in a corresponding receptacle, such as a central bore or channel, in the cover support member 16. The flexible member 23 may be arranged about the pin or rod 27.

[0050] Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the valve 10 and its individual parts in this example. In addition to the parts described above, the valve 10 may comprise lock pins 30 (see also Fig. 3) which are insertable into the housing 11 in a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and the transverse axes xand y. The lock pins 30 are inserted into the housing after the cover support members 16 and provide an end stop to the transverse movement of the cover support members 16. As such, the lock pins 30 define the cover open position and hold the cover support members 16 in the housing 11.

[0051] The cover 13 comprises a foam member 13a and two mount brackets 13b,c which cooperate with the cover support members 16.

[0052] Figs 6A-6D illustrate some parts of the valve 10 in further detail and in different views.

[0053] As can be seen most clearly from Figs 5, 6A and 6D, the mount brackets 13b,c and the cover support members 16 may be arranged with a coupling therebetween which permits rotation of the cover 13 about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 11 . This can allow the cover 13, when in the valve open position, to be adjusted to a desirable angle to influence the fresh air flow. As can be seen in Fig. 6C, the push member 15 may comprise a retainer feature 15c arranged to hold the push member 15 in the housing 11 . The retainer feature 15c may, for example, be a click-in hook (or hooks) as shown, arranged to cooperate with a corresponding opening or face in the housing 11 . The push members 15 and / or the cover support members 16 may also have outer faces which cooperate with corresponding internal faces of the slots 18,19 for reliable linear motion of these parts in the slots 18,19. Guide legs, protrusions or the like (not shown) may optionally be used to guide the motion of the push members 15 and / or the cover support members 16 in the slots 18,19. According to examples and embodiments described herein, a fresh air valve 10 which is simple to manufacture, user friendly and which has high reliability and long service life is provided.

[0054] The skilled reader will understand that the description specifies directions (such as upwardly or downwardly) for the purpose of clearer presentation, but that the orientation of the valve 10 when installed and used may be different from the orientation as illustrated in this disclosure.

[0055] The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above; reference should be had to the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A fresh air valve (10) for installation in an elongate slot, the valve (10) comprising: an elongate housing (11 ) having a transverse air flow channel (12) arranged therethrough, a movable cover (13) operable to open or close the air flow channel(12), and a cover handling mechanism (14), wherein the cover handling mechanism (14) comprises, at each end part (10a, b) of the housing (11): a transversely movable push member (15) arranged in a first slot (19) of the housing (11), and a transversely movable cover support member (16) arranged in a second slot (18) in the housing (11) and connected to the cover (13), and wherein the housing (11 ) comprises a retainer member (21) having a retainer face (22) operable to engage the cover support member (16) and hold the cover support member (16) in a cover closed position, and the push member (15) is operable to engage the retainer member (21 ) such as to move the retainer face (22) out of contact with the cover support member (16).

2. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the retainer member (21 ) is integral with the housing (11 ), such as monolithic with the housing (11 ).

3. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the retainer member (21 ) is flexible, particularly wherein the retainer member (21) is arranged to flex sideways in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing (11 ) when engaged by the push member (15).

4. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the movable cover(13) is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing5. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the cover support member (16) and push member (15) are separated from the air flow channel(12) by a wall (17) in the housing (11 ).

6. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the push member (15) and cover support member (16) are arranged at opposite sides of the flexible retainer member (21).

7. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the push member (15) is configured to engage the retainer member (21) at an oblique face (24) thereof, the oblique face (24) being oblique relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing (11).

8. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the retainer member (21 ) is fixed to or integrally formed with the housing (11) such that the retainer member (21 ) is not transversely movable relative to the housing (11 ).

9. The fresh air valve (10) of any preceding claim, wherein the push member (15) is independent from and independently movable relative to the cover(13) and the cover support member (16).

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