Wall Vent
The present invention is concerned with a wall vent for particular use in a cavity wall of a timber frame building, the vent comprising a tubular body having a circumferential flange at one end and a vented or meshed cover across said end, the flange being disposed at an angle to the body such that when the flange is seated flush against the outer surface of the cavity wall the tubular body slopes upwardly into the cavity to prevent the migration of rain or the like through the vent into the cavity.
The present invention is concerned with a wall vent, and in particular a wall vent for location in the outer leaf of cavity wall, in order to facilitate ventilation of the cavity between the leaves. The vent is especially intended for use with timber frame buildings. The vent is also adapted to be retro fitted to existing buildings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe cavity wall is the most common type of wall in use in domestic and other buildings, as it has a number of benefits over solid or single skin walls. The main benefit resulting from the use of a cavity wall is the reduction or elimination in the transfer of moisture from the exterior to the interior of a building. Masonry such as stone and brick is porous to a certain extent, and combined with minor defects such as cracks in the mortar joints between such bricks, will eventually let in water. In the absence of a damp proof barrier or the like, there is a significant risk of water working its way indoors, however thick the wall. By locating a cavity between a pair of wall leaves, that possibility is eliminated as water cannot cross this cavity to enter to contact the inner leaf.
However, the use of cavity walls, in particular in modern buildings which are designed with a heavy emphasis on saving energy by minimizing heat loss, gives rise to other moisture based problems, although this time with moisture being trapped inside the building and not having a path to vent to the outside. The increased presence of central heating, showers and modern domestic appliances produces greater amounts of water vapour in buildings, in particular domestic dwellings. In addition, through greater draught proofing, double glazing and fewer open fire places, ventilation is reduced throughout the home, causing a building up of vapour within the building. This vapour becomes trapped in the cavity between the inner and outer leaves and so forming condensation. This poses a particular problem in timber framed buildings which are especially susceptible to damage from trapped moisture. Such condensation can cause severe damage to the frame of the building, rotting timber and so weakening the structure. Wet timber will often swell and distort, permanently damaging the building. Metal corrosion can occur on components such as nail plates or the like joining beams of the frame to one another. Insulation material provided in the cavity may absorb dripping water and thus suffer a decrease in thermal efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention therefore provides a wall vent comprising a tubular sidewall defining first and second ends; and a radially outwardly extending flange surrounding the first end.
Preferably, the first end is provided with an apertured cover across the first end.
Preferably, the wall vent comprises one or more ribs on an exterior of the sidewall.
Preferably, the one or more ribs are circumferentially disposed on the sidewall.
Preferably, the flange is disposed in a plane disposed at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the sidewall.
Preferably, the flange is disposed at an angle in the range of between 70° and 90°, more preferably in the range of 85° and 90°, and most preferably at 87.5°.
Preferably, the apertured cover comprises an array of vents.
Preferably, the apertured cover comprises a mesh adapted to prevent insects entering the vent.
Preferably, the wall vent comprises indicia on the flange to indicate the intended working orientation of the vent.
Preferably, the second end of the sidewall comprises a radially inwardly extended circumferential lip.
Preferably, the sidewall comprises one or more frangible portions.
As used herein, the term “apertured” is intended to mean having one or more openings, for example in a surface, which allow the passage of air therethrough, which apertures may take any suitable form such as vents, an array of holes, a mesh or reticulated covering or the like.
The present invention will be now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to
The vent 10 comprises a substantially tubular sidewall 12, which in the embodiment illustrated is cylindrical in cross section, although it will be appreciated that the cross section could be of any other suitable shape, for example square, hexagonal, pentagonal or the like. However, one of the benefits of the vent 10 is in allowing it to be retrofitted to an existing cavity wall (not shown) by simply drilling or otherwise forming a hole through the outer leaf into the cavity, and then pressing the vent 10 into position within the drilled hole. As such holes will normally be cylindrical in cross section, a cylindrical cross section for the tubular sidewall 12 will provide the most secure fit therein.
The sidewall 12 defines a first end 14 and a second end 16, which enable the passage of air through the vent 10. The first end 14 is provided with a circumferential and radially outwardly extending flange 18 thereabout. Although in the embodiment illustrated the flange 18 is circular in shape, it will be appreciated from the following description of the operation of the vent 10 that any other suitable shape may be employed, as the primary function of the flange 18 is simply to prevent excessive insertion of the vent 10 into the cavity wall. Referring in particular to
The vent 10 further comprises at least one, and in the embodiment illustrated, a pair of circumferentially extending ribs 22 on an exterior of the sidewall 12, for reasons set out hereinafter. The ribs 22 are preferably formed from a resiliently deformable material such as plastic or the like.
In order to install the vent 10 in the outer leaf of a cavity wall, a suitably dimensioned bore (not shown) must be drilled from an exterior to an interior of the outer leaf. The diameter of the bore to be drilled is preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the tubular sidewall 12, but slightly less than the diameter of the ribs 22. In this way the vent 10 can then be pressed into the bore in the outer leaf, and the pair of ribs 22 will thus provide an interference fit with the bore, in order to securely grip the wall and maintain the vent 10 in place. The ribs 22 should thus be capable of deforming in order to allow the vent 10 to be fully inserted, and the resilience of the ribs 22 will then effect a grip on the bore to retain the vent 10 in position and to create a seal between the exterior of the vent 10 and the bore in which it is inserted. It should be appreciated that the ribs 22 could be replaced with any other suitable alternative, for example an array of dimples or other such protrusions on the exterior of the sidewall 12.
It is preferable that when in place, the vent 10, and in particular a longitudinal axis of the side wall 12, is slightly upwardly inclined from the first end 14 to the second end 16, in order to prevent water from flowing from the first end 14 to the second end 16. This will thus prevent any rain or other liquid which finds a way past the mesh 20 into the sidewall 12 from flowing towards the second end 16, and possibly entering the cavity of the cavity wall. As a further precaution, the second end 16 may be provided with an inwardly extending circumferential lip (not shown), in order to prevent any wind blown water from flowing out of the second end 16.
It will thus be appreciated that the bore drilled in the outer leaf of the cavity wall should be drilled at a slight upward angle, in order to obtain the above discussed benefit. When the vent 10 is pressed into the bore, the flange 18 arrests the advance of same, and prevents the vent 10 from being pushed internally of the outer leaf. Thus, the flange 18 is intended to sit flush against the exterior of the outer leaf of the cavity wall. It will therefore be seen, in particular referring to
Referring to
The dimensions of the vent 10 may obviously be varied to suit required applications. In addition, the sidewall 12 may be provided with one or more frangible portions (not shown) which may be separated from the side wall 12 in order to modify the length thereof to suit a particular cavity wall.
Referring now to
Referring to
It will therefore be appreciated that the vent 10; 110 of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of ventilating a cavity wall, and in particular for quickly and easily retro-fitting to a cavity wall by drilling one or more holes in the outer leaf of the cavity wall and simply pressing the vent 10; 110 into position.
Claims
1. A wall vent comprising a tubular sidewall defining first and second ends; and a radially outwardly extending flange surrounding the first end.
2. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the first end is provided with an apertured cover across the first end.
3. A wall vent according to claim 1 comprising one or more ribs on an exterior of the sidewall.
4. A wall vent according to claim 3 in which the one or more ribs are circumferentially disposed on the sidewall.
5. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the flange is disposed in a plane disposed at an obtuse angle to a longitudinal axis of the sidewall.
6. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the flange is disposed at an angle in the range of between 70° and 90°, more preferably in the range of 85° and 90°, and most preferably at 87.5°.
7. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the apertured cover comprises an array of vents.
8. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the apertured cover comprises a mesh adapted to prevent insects entering the vent.
9. A wall vent according to claim 1 comprising indicia on the flange to indicate the intended working orientation of the vent.
10. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the second end of the sidewall comprises a radially inwardly extended circumferential lip.
11. A wall vent according to claim 1 in which the sidewall comprises one or more frangible portions.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 11, 2007
Publication Date: May 13, 2010
Inventors: Fergus Lynch (Dublin), Thomas Smyth (County Louth)
Application Number: 12/309,258