Exterior vent-louvre assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exterior vent-louvre assemblies experience turbulence in airflow, leading to re-entrainment of water into buildings, which compromises their effectiveness in preventing wind-driven rain ingress.
Innovation Solution
The design features vertically spaced exterior vent-louvre members with specific active surface configurations, including matching distances between upper and lower active surfaces, an unbroken transition, and additional lower active surfaces, to minimize turbulence and promote laminar airflow, thereby reducing water re-entrainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional louvres with upwardly directed and downwardly directed components are used to prevent wind driven rain ingress, then water resistance is improved, but airflow turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by providing an unbroken transition from the crown part to the trailing intermediate part, replacing sharp angular transitions with curved surfaces. This curvature eliminates the Venturi effect and reduces airflow turbulence while maintaining the downwardly directed component's water resistance function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the louvre profile by ensuring matching or substantially matching distances from the leading-edge region of the upper active-surface portion to the first lower active-surface portion, and from the trailing-edge region to the second lower active-surface portion. This parameter matching maintains uniform airflow path lateral extent and prevents turbulence.
2Productivity
If the Venturi effect is utilized to increase airflow through the louvre, then airflow quantity is improved, but turbulence increases causing water re-entrainment
Solution Approach 1:
The unbroken curved transition from the crown part to the trailing intermediate part eliminates sudden cross-sectional changes that cause the Venturi effect. This curvature maintains laminar airflow, preventing water re-entrainment while still allowing adequate airflow through the louvre assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters by matching distances to maintain uniform lateral extent of the airflow path, eliminating the pressure differential that drives the Venturi effect. This parameter control prevents turbulence and water re-entrainment.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If an unbroken transition is provided from the crown part to the trailing intermediate part, then turbulence is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unbroken curved transition can be manufactured using standard extrusion or forming processes for metal or plastic louvre profiles. The curvature, while geometrically complex, represents a single continuous surface that can be produced in one operation, minimizing assembly steps and manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces airflow turbulence and enhances moisture removal, minimizing water entry into buildings while maintaining effective airflow and water collection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The matching or substantially matching said first and second distances prevents or reduces air-flow turbulence at or downstream of the crown part
Implementation Method 2
The matching or substantially matching said first and second distances prevents or reduces air-flow turbulence at or downstream of the crown part to improve entrained moisture removal
Implementation Method 3
improve entrained moisture removal; The turbulence can cause the re-entrainment of previously precipitated water back in the airflow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An exterior vent-louvre assembly (10) comprising: at least two vertically spaced-apart exterior vent-louvre members (12) which define an exterior air-flow path (16) having a substantially uniform lateral extent there between. There is an under-surface (26)of a leading intermediate part (28) of each louvre member having a first lower active-surface portion (30); and an under-surface (26) of a trailing intermediate part (58) of each louvre member having a second lower active- surface portion (64); an upper-surface of a crown part (22) of each louvre member including an unbroken transition (66) to the trailing intermediate part (58) and having an upper active-surface portion (52). A first distance D1 from a leading-edge region (54) of the upper active-surface portion (52) of each vent louvre member to the first lower active-surface portion (30) of an above and adjacent vent-louvre member matches or substantially matches a second distance (D2) from a trailing-edge region (56) of the upper active-surface portion (52) of said vent-louvre member to the second lower active-surface portion 64 of the said above and adjacent vent louvre member, whereby the matching or substantially matching said first and second distances (D1, D2) prevent or reduce air-flow turbulence at or downstream of the crown part (22) to improve entrained moisture removal.