CONTROLS FOR VENTILATION AND EXHAUST DUCTS AND FANS
A ventilation or exhaust system, having ducting, and a fan assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system for an environment space. The fan assembly has a motor having an output shaft, a fan mounted on the output shaft, and a brake mounted for operation on the motor. The brake is operable for stopping rotation of the motor upon a detection of a prescribed situation one or more of: the environmental space, and the ducting. Also included is a valve assembly having a valve member for placement in the ducting for movement between a first position where the ducting is substantially open, and a second position where the ducting is substantially closed. The valve member is adapted to move from the first position to the second position in response to at least one detection of a prescribed situation. At least one detector is provided for detecting a prescribed situation, the detector being for controlling the operation of the brake of the fan assembly, and the valve assembly, in response to the detecting.
This invention relates to controls for ventilation and exhaust ducts and fans and preferably, through not exclusively, relates to such an apparatus for use in offices, commercial kitchens, factories, warehouses, retail centres, production facilities, car parks, cooling tower fans, or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONExhaust apparatus for fumes and/or smoke are normally used in commercial kitchens, factories, production facilities, car parks, cooling tower fans or the like, to exhaust fumes and/or smoke and/or gasses caused by the cooking or production process, or vehicle exhausts. Some exhaust systems may have a hood above the stove or production facility, and ducting to connect the hood to the outside atmosphere. One or more fans are built into the ducting or the hood to force the fumes and/or smoke through the ducting. Filters may be used to remove the principal contaminants from the fumes and/or smoke.
The fan or fans are normally controlled by a control panel. If a hood is used, it may be on the front of the hood. The fan may be multi-speed with corresponding speed controls on the control panel. This means the fans may not be on when required, may be on when not required or may be operated at a speed in excess of that required, or may be operated at a speed less than that required. Such a situation can lead to ineffective or inefficient fume and/or smoke extraction, and/or excess use of the fan and therefore increased power consumption. Increased power consumption leads to increased energy costs. For example, in many commercial kitchens exhaust fans are operated at full speed from the beginning of food preparation until the last dish is cleaned. Also, in car parks they operate continually at full speed even when there is no vehicle movement in operation. Such a level of use is very wasteful of energy and increases operational costs.
There have been proposed exhaust systems that monitor the ambient temperature in the kitchen. Such systems do not operate in the presence of noxious gasses or fumes, or when the carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide level increases and the oxygen level decreases in the ambient air. Also, there is a tendency for the ducting to act as a conduit for fire if the premises are on fire, or for contaminants in the ducting to catch fire. Ducting for exhaust systems does not normally deal with such problems and can enhance the fire by the fan(s) being on, and the ducting being open to the outside atmosphere.
Also, ventilation systems for supplying air to zoned structures such as offices, warehouses and retail centres rely on fire detectors adjacent the zone boundary. At the zone boundary there are dampers in the duct. Upon the fire detector operating, the damper is operated to reduce the risk of fire spread. But by then the fire is close to penetrating the boundary. Also each damper operates independently and there is no structured approach to use and operation of the dampers, and duct fans, for prevention of the spread of fire. Often the only source of air to fuel the fire is the ventilation duct. Therefore, closing the duct and braking the fan to a complete stop as early as possible can slow the fire considerably by removing the source of oxygen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a first preferred aspect there is provided a fan assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system for an environmental space, the fan assembly comprising:
-
- (a) a motor having an output shaft;
- (b) a fan mounted on the output shaft; and
- (c) a brake for operation on the motor
wherein - (d) the brake is operable for stopping operation of the motor upon a detection of a prescribed situation in one or more of: the environmental space, and the ducting.
In accordance with a second preferred aspect there is provided a valve assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system, the valve assembly comprising:
-
- (a) a valve member for placement in the ducting for movement between a first position where the ducting is substantially open; and a second position where the valve member substantially closes the exhaust ducting;
- (b) the valve member being adapted to move from the first position to the second position in response to at least detection of a prescribed situation. The valve member may mounted on a spindle for movement therewith between the first and second positions; the spindle being for operative connection to a drive motor for movement of the spindle for causing the valve member to move between the first and second positions.
The prescribed situation may be the detecting of the presence of at least one: heat, fire, smoke, fumes, gas, and obnoxious fumes. The gas may be one or more of: a cooking gas, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
The valve member may be sized and shaped to substantially accord to an interior size and shape of the exhaust ducting.
In accordance with a third preferred aspect there is provided a ventilation or exhaust system comprising:
-
- (a) ducting;
- (b) the fan assembly described above;
- (c) the valve assembly described above; and
- (d) at least one detector for detecting a prescribed situation and for controlling the operation of:
- (i) the brake of the fan assembly, and
- (ii) the valve assembly
in response to the detecting.
The valve assembly may be located at, adjacent or near an outlet end of the ducting or at a boundary of zones of the environmental space. The exhaust apparatus may further comprise a hood, the hood having a control panel. The control panel may comprise a reset control for resetting the at least one detector, releasing the brake of the fan assembly, and moving the valve member to the first position. The exhaust apparatus may further comprise at least one sensor for controlling the operation of the fan assembly. The at least one sensor may be at least one of a time sensor, a gas sensor, and at least one heat sensor. The at least one sensor may be arranged in groups. There may be a plurality of sensors, a plurality of groups, and a plurality of sensors in each group. The number of sensors, or number of groups of sensors, activated may determine the speed of operation of the fan. For a time sensor, the time stage may determine the speed of operation of the fan.
In accordance with a fourth preferred aspect there is provided a ventilation or exhaust system comprising:
-
- (a) a fan assembly as described above; and
- (b) a plurality of sensors for automatically controlling the operation of the fan assembly by controlling the operational speed of the fan assembly in accordance with the number, location or nature of sensors that are activated.
The system may further comprise:
-
- (c) a master on control for overriding the time sensor;
- (d) a master off control for overriding the time sensor; and
- (e) time controls for setting the first and second preset times.
In order that the present invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying Illustrative drawings.
In the drawings:
To refer to
The stove 10 has hobs 18 for use in the cooking of food, and are or more ovens 20 also used in the cooking of food.
The exhaust hood 12 has a control panel 22 for controlling the operation of the exhaust hood 12, including the operation of a fan assembly 24. Although a single fan assembly 24 is shown, there may be two or more fan assemblies. The fan assembly 24 may be of any suitable form or nature. Preferably, the fan assembly 24 is multiple speed.
Also in ducting 14 is a valve 26 that is shown in the open position in
One form of the fan assembly 24 is shown in more detail in
Mounted for acting on shaft 36 is a brake 42. Brake 42 is secured to the motor 34 and/or shroud 32 so that it does not rotate relative thereto. Shaft 42 rotates relative to brake 42.
When a prescribed situation such as, for examples, smoke, fumes or heat above a preset density or level is detected in ducting 14 by one or more of smoke, fume or heat detectors 44, 46, and if the motor 34 is on, the motor 34 is immediately switched off and brake 42 applied so that the motor 34 and shaft 36, and thus fan 38, will stop rotating in the shortest possible time. This prevents or stops air flow in ducting 14 due to fan assembly 24. Furthermore, as the air is moving in ducting 14 the air will have momentum. By use of the brake 42, the fan 38 is held stationary. As such, the fan 38 becomes a damper on the movements of air within ducting 14 and this air movement ceases far more speedily if brake 42 is not applied, the shaft 36 and thus fan 38 would continue to rotate at a decreasing rate, the rate of decrease depending on function within motor 34, the inertia of the fan 38 and the momentum of the air flow in ducting 14 over fan assembly 24. Further, by use of brake 42 the generation of a back EMF by motor 34 is minimized.
The motor 34 and brake 42 are operatively connected to detectors 44, 46 by a wiring loom 48. The detectors 44, 46 may have the same, or different, preset smoke, fume or heat density or other levels. The motor 34 and brake 42 may also be connected to a fire alarm system, so that upon the fire alarm being activated, motor 34 is switched off and brake 42 applied.
An alternative is shown in
Also operatively connected to smoke fume or heat detectors 44, 46 by cable loom 48 is a duct valve 26 located in the ducting 14. The valve 26 may be anywhere in the ducting 14. As shown, it is at, adjacent or near the outer end 28 of ducting 14. There may be more than one valve 26 in ducting 14. If ducting 14 is in zones, there may be a valve 26 for each zone, preferably at the boundary of each zone.
The valve 26 is shown in the open position in
The valve member 54 will be sized and shaped to substantially accord to the internal size and shape of the ducting 14. Thus, if ducting 14 is of a circular cross-sectional shape, the valve member 54 will be circular (as shown) and of substantially the same radius. If the ducting 14 is of a square cross-sectional shape, the valve member 54 will also be square and of substantially the same side length.
In this way, upon an excessive level of smoke or fumes in ducting 14 being detected by either or both detectors 44, 46, valve 26 operates to close the outlet end 28 of the ducting 14; and motor 34 is switched off and brake 42 or 43 applied to prevent rotation of fan 38. This prevents, or minimizes, movement of the smoke or fumes within the ducting 14, and can prevent contamination of the outside atmosphere 16 if the smoke or fumes are of a polluting or toxic nature.
As shown in
The control panel 22 may include a ‘reset’ button or switch 56 if required or desired to enable the valve 26 to return to the open position (
In
In
Sensor 58 is one or more sensors for heat or temperature, but preferably heat, and located at, on or adjacent hobs 18 so that upon one or more of the hobs 18 being operated to generate heat for cooking, the sensor 58 will operate to switch on fan assembly 24. Upon the heat ceasing, sensor 58 will operate to switch off the fan assembly 24. This may cause repeated, short cycles of operation. As the largest consumption of electricity by fan assembly 24 is at start-up, although this system is effective it may not be electrically efficient. However, this may be applicable for car parks where a combination of heat from engines and exhausts or exhaust fumes may be detected. Also, or alternatively, a time-based system may be utilized to cover peak operational periods.
Sensor 60 is somewhat similar to sensor(s) 58 but is located in the hood 12 so that it detects heat from hobs 18. This may reduce the number of sensors required, but may suffer the same problem.
Sensor 62 is a time sensor. With commercial kitchens, and many industrial processors, the period of peak operation is known. For example, a restaurant that is open for lunch from midday to 3 pm will have the kitchen preparing foods by cooking from about 11.00 am, and will be cooking until about 2.00 pm. Therefore, the fan assembly 24 needs to operate from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm only. Therefore, time sensor 60 will automatically switch on the fan assembly 24 at 11.00 am, and automatically switch if off at 2.00 pm. The control panel 22 may contain time adjusting knobs 64 for adjusting the on and off times. Within the time period 11.00 am to 2.00 pm, the operating speed of the fan assembly 24 may vary. As shown in
A further sensor 74 may be provided for sensing a prescribed situation in the interior or environmental space (such as zone 82). The prescribed situation may be the presence of one or more of: smoke, fumes, gas, heat, noxious fumes, and fire. The gas may be of any form including a cooking gas, carbon dioxide and a carbon monoxide.
The control panel 22 may also have a master on switch 66 for manually switching on the fan assembly 24 irrespective of the time or temperature, and a master off switch 66 for manually switching off the fan assembly 24 irrespective of the time or temperature.
Two or more of the sensors 58, 60, 62 may be provided and may be connected in series so that the fan assembly 24 will only, operate when all the sensors are active; or in parallel so that the fan assembly will operate when any one or more of the sensors is active.
As is shown in
In this way the operation of the fan assembly 24 can be controlled in an automatic manner based on the number, nature and location of sensors activates to thus reduce electricity consumption, but still allowing manual override if required or desired. This is applicable in commercial kitchens, car parks, cooling tower fans, production facilities, factories, warehouses, retail centres, offices, or the like.
Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.
Claims
1-41. (canceled)
42. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus comprising:
- a fan assembly comprising a motor having an output shaft, and a fan mounted on the output shaft; and
- a plurality of detectors for automatically controlling the operation of the fan assembly by controlling the operational speed of the fan assembly in accordance with the number, location or nature of the detectors that are activated.
43. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the motor and fan are within a shroud.
44. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the motor is a variable speed drive motor.
45. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 42, wherein the plurality of detectors comprises at least two detectors selected from a group consisting of a time sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
46. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein the plurality of detectors is arranged in groups.
47. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein a number of detectors activated determines the fan assembly operational speed.
48. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 45, wherein a stage in a time sensor determines the fan assembly operational speed.
49. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 42, further comprising:
- a valve assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system, the valve assembly comprising:
- a valve member for placement in the ducting for movement between a first position where the ducting is substantially open, and a second position where the ducting is substantially closed;
- the valve member being adapted to move from the first position to the second position to at least one detection of a prescribed situation; and
- the valve assembly being located at, adjacent or near an outlet end of the ducting.
50. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 49, wherein the valve member is sized and shaped to substantially close off an interior of the ducting.
51. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 49, wherein the prescribed situation may be the presence of one or more of smoke, fumes, gas, heat, noxious fumes, and fire, and the gas includes at least one of a cooking gas, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
52. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 49 wherein the plurality of detectors comprises at least two detectors selected from a group consisting of a time sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
53. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 52, wherein the plurality of detectors is arranged in groups.
54. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein a number of detectors activated determines the fan assembly operational speed.
55. A ventilation or exhaust apparatus as claimed in claim 53, wherein a stage in a time detector determines the fan assembly operational speed.
56. A fan assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system for an environment space, the fan assembly comprising:
- a motor having an output shaft;
- a fan mounted on the output shaft; and
- a brake mounted for operation on the motor;
- wherein the brake is operable for stopping rotation of the motor output shaft upon a detection of a prescribed situation by at least one detector in one or more of the environmental space and the ducting.
57. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein the motor and fan are within a shroud.
58. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein the motor is a variable speed drive motor and the brake comprises an electric brake component of the variable speed drive motor.
59. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein the prescribed situation is the presence of one or more of smoke, fumes, gas, heat, noxious fumes and fire; and the gas includes at least one of a cooking gas, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
60. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one detector selected from a group consisting of a time sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
61. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein a plurality of sensors is arranged in groups.
62. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein a number of sensors activated determines the fan assembly operational speed.
63. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein a stage in a time sensor determines the fan assembly operational speed.
64. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, further comprising:
- a plurality of detectors for automatically controlling the operation of the fan assembly by controlling the operational speed of the fan assembly in accordance with the number, location or nature of the detectors that are activated.
65. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, further comprising:
- noxious fumes and fire; and the gas includes at least one of a cooking gas, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
60. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one detector selected from a group consisting of a time sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
61. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 60, wherein a plurality of sensors is arranged in groups.
62. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 60, wherein a number of sensors activated determines the fan assembly operational speed.
63. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 60, wherein a stage in a time sensor determines the fan assembly operational speed.
64. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, further comprising:
- a plurality of detectors for automatically controlling the operation of the fan assembly by controlling the operational speed of the fan assembly in accordance with the number, location or nature of the detectors that are activated.
65. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 56, further comprising:
- a valve assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system, the valve assembly comprising:
- a valve member for placement in the ducting for movement between a first position where the ducting is substantially open, and a second position where the ducting is substantially closed;
- the valve member being adapted to move from the first position to the second position to at least one detection of a prescribed situation; and
- the valve assembly being located at, adjacent or near an outlet end of the ducting.
66. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 65, wherein the valve member is sized and shaped to substantially close off an interior of the ducting.
67. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 65, wherein the prescribed situation may be the presence of one or more of smoke, fumes, gas, heat, noxious fumes, and fire, and the gas includes at least one of a cooking gas, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.
68. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 65, further comprising:
- the at least one detector comprises at least one detector selected from a group consisting of a time sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
69. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 68, wherein a plurality of detectors is arranged in groups.
70. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 68, wherein a number of detectors activated determines the fan assembly operational speed.
71. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 68, wherein a stage in a time detector determines the fan assembly operational speed.
72. A fan assembly as claimed in claim 65, wherein the at least one detector comprises:
- a plurality of detectors for automatically controlling the operation of the fan assembly by controlling the operational speed of the fan assembly in accordance with the number, location or nature of the detectors that are activated.
73. A valve assembly for placement in ducting of a ventilation or exhaust system, the valve assembly comprising:
- a valve member for placement in the ducting for movement between a first position where the ducting is substantially open, and a second position where the ducting is substantially closed;
- the valve member being adapted to move from the first position to the second position in response to the detection of at least one or more of smoke, fumes, gas, heat, noxious fumes and fire; and the gas includes at least one of a cooking gas, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide;
- the valve member being for location at, adjacent or near an outlet end of the ducting.
74. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 73, wherein the valve member is sized and shaped to substantially close off an interior of the ducting.
75. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 73, further comprising:
- a detector for detecting the presence of one or more of: smoke, fumes, gas, heat and noxious fumes; and a control panel comprising a reset control for resetting the detector, and moving the valve member to the first position.
76. A valve assembly as defined in claim 75, wherein the detector comprises at least two detectors selected from the group consisting of a sensor, a heat sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, and a fumes sensor.
77. A valve assembly as defined in claim 76, further comprising at least one of:
- a master on control for overriding a time sensor;
- a master off control for overriding a time sensor; and
- time controls for setting a plurality of preset times for the operation of the time sensor.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 25, 2010
Inventor: Kim Lui So (Singapore)
Application Number: 12/280,310
International Classification: F24F 7/007 (20060101); F24F 7/00 (20060101); F04B 35/04 (20060101);