VENTILATION DEVICE FOR BUILDINGS EQUIPPED WITH A VALVE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING AN APERTURE FOR THE PASSAGE OF AN AIRFLOW
Air exchange device for buildings, comprising: a casing having an internal inlet opening, an internal outlet opening, an external inlet opening and an external outlet opening, a heat exchanger housed within said casing and having a first inlet in communication with the internal inlet opening, a first outlet in communication with the external outlet opening, a second inlet in communication with the external inlet opening and a second outlet in communication with the internal outlet opening, a first fan unit arranged for generating a first airflow directed from the internal inlet opening towards the external outlet opening and a second fan unit arranged for generating a second airflow directed from the external inlet opening towards the internal outlet opening.
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This application claims benefit of Italian patent application number TO2013A000009, filed Jan. 9, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ventilation device equipped with a valve for opening and closing an aperture for the passage of an airflow.
2. Description of Prior Art
Ventilation devices for buildings are normally equipped with a first fan unit that generates a first airflow directed from the inside outwards and a second fan unit that generates a second airflow directed from the outside inwards. The two airflows are usually arranged in a relationship of mutual heat exchange within a heat exchanger, for the recovery of the thermal energy of the airflow directed outwards.
Air exchange devices of this type can be equipped with valve devices to close one or both of the apertures communicating with the outside of the building. The valve devices may envisage the use of movable partitions for the opening and closing of the apertures in communication with the external environment
The solutions that envisage a movable partition for opening and closing the apertures have a large footprint due to the need to provide a free space equal to the opening stroke of and closing the movable partitions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention aims to provide a ventilation device with a valve for opening and closing an aperture for the passage of an airflow, having a smaller footprint.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features forming the subject of claim 1.
The claims form an integral part of the disclosure provided in relation to the invention.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, given purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:
With reference to
The device 1 is intended to be mounted in an internal environment of a building in order to carry out air exchange with recovery of the airflow energy delivered to the outside. The device 1 is intended to be fixed on a perimetrical wall and communicates with the external environment by means of a pair of holes formed in the perimetrical wall.
The base 2 comprises an internal inlet opening 4, an internal outlet opening 5, an external inlet opening 6 and an external outlet opening 7. The external inlet opening 6 and the external outlet opening 7 communicate with the holes formed in the perimetrical wall.
The external inlet opening 6 and the external outlet opening 7 are associated with a valve device 8 configured to hermetically close the openings 6, 7.
The base 2 contains a heat exchanger 11 having a first inlet 12 in communication with the internal inlet opening 4, a first outlet 13 in communication with the internal outlet opening 5, a second inlet 14 in communication with the external inlet opening 6 and a second outlet 15 in communication with the external outlet opening 7.
The air exchange device 1 comprises a first fan unit 16 that generates a first airflow F1 directed from the internal inlet opening 4 towards the external outlet opening 7 and a second fan unit 17 that generates a second airflow F2 directed from the external inlet opening 6 towards the internal outlet opening 5. The first and second airflows F1, F2 are in a relationship of mutual heat exchange in the heat exchanger 11. In winter when the temperature of the internal environment is greater than the temperature of the external environment, the outwardly directed airflow F1 transfers heat to the inwardly directed airflow F2. In summer when the internal environment is conditioned and is at a lower temperature than the external temperature the outwardly directed airflow F1 cools the inwardly directed airflow F2.
In the illustrated example, the first and the second fan units 16, 17 are housed in an elastic support 18 in the form of cushion, equipped with seats for housing the fan units 16, 17 and ducts for the passage of the airflows F1 and F2.
With reference to
The plate 9 has two openings 6, 7 for the passage of the airflows F1 and F2. A respective valve element 19 is associated with each opening 6, 7.
With reference to
The flexible sleeve 22 is constituted of a thin tubular-shaped film of flexible and elastic material, such as latex or the like. The sleeve 22 has two opposite ends, which are attached, respectively, to the fixed crown gear 21 and the rotatable crown gear 20. Preferably, the opposite ends of the flexible sleeve 22 are fixed to two o-rings 32, 34 that are inserted within the respective grooves 36, 38 formed in the fixed crown gear 21 and the rotatable crown gear 20.
With reference to
In the open position, illustrated in
To close the opening 6, 7, the rotatable crown gear 20 is rotationally driven about the axis A by means of the actuator 40. During the rotation of the rotatable crown gear 20, the two opposite ends of the flexible sleeve 22 rotate relative to one another. The flexible sleeve 22 consequently assumes a diaphragm shape as shown in
The worm screw and helical gear transmission system is unidirectional so that the rotatable crown gear 20 is retained in a stable manner in the position that is reached. This also partially closed stable positions of the valve device 19.
The valve device 19 according to the present invention can be used in air exchange devices for buildings and in any other application where there is the need to completely or partially close a duct for the passage of an airflow.
Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. Air exchange device for buildings, comprising:
- a casing having an internal inlet opening, an internal outlet opening, an external inlet opening and an external outlet opening,
- a heat exchanger housed inside said casing and having a first inlet in communication with the internal inlet opening, a first outlet in communication with the external outlet opening, a second inlet in communication with the external inlet opening and a second outlet in communication with the internal outlet opening,
- a first fan unit arranged for generating a first airflow directed from the internal inlet opening towards the external outlet opening and a second fan unit arranged for generating a second airflow directed from the external inlet opening towards the internal outlet opening, wherein the first and second airflows are in a relationship of mutual heat exchange in said heat exchanger; and
- a valve device including respective valve elements for opening and closing the external inlet opening and the external outlet opening, wherein each of said valve elements comprises:
- a fixed crown gear;
- a rotatable crown gear;
- a flexible sleeve having a first end fastened to the fixed crown gear and a second end fastened to the rotatable crown gear; and
- an actuator for controlling the rotation of the rotatable crown gear with respect to the fixed crown gear between an open position wherein the flexible sleeve has essentially an annular shape and a closed position wherein the flexible sleeve has essentially a diaphragm shape.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the fixed crown gear and the rotatable crown gear are interconnected by means of a threaded coupling.
3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the ends of said flexible sleeve are anchored to respective o-rings that are inserted within respective grooves of the fixed crown gear and the rotatable crown gear.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2014
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2014
Applicant: THESAN S.P.A. (Torino)
Inventor: Aimone BALBO DI VINADIO (Chiusa San Michele (Torino))
Application Number: 14/150,436
International Classification: F24F 13/10 (20060101);