Patent Application
20200224423
The present invention relates to a roof window system comprising a roof window having a frame including a frame top member, two side members and a bottom member, defining a frame plane, and a sash including a sash top member, sash side members and a bottom member, and a pane, the roof window further comprising a ventilation device adapted for providing ventilation of a building in which the roof window is mounted, a ventilation assembly including a housing accommodating at least one ventilation unit connected to an aperture for air intake and exhaust, transition means being provided between the ventilation assembly and the frame top member and the sash top member of the roof window to accommodate a set of flow paths for air to and from the ventilation assembly.
In recent years, the interest in energy-balanced buildings has increased and several attempts have been made to provide houses in which the energy for heating, cooling, water for domestic use etc. is provided solely by the surroundings.
One area of focus is the windows of the building, since one of the primary functions in a window, besides admitting light, is to allow stale, warm, or otherwise used or spent air inside the building (so-called “room air”) to exit and allowing fresh air from the exterior (“outdoor air”) to enter the building in which the window is installed. This presupposes that the window is openable. Over time, the provision of ventilation in windows, also in situations in which the window is not open, either because it is a fixed window, or simply is not open, has become more or less standard equipment. This is the result of, among other things, increased focus on improving indoor climatic conditions and the microclimate in buildings. One example of a roof window providing a ventilating aperture is the well-known VELUX® with a ventilation flap, which in pivot-hung windows also fulfils the double function of operating the window.
Natural ventilation provided by such a ventilation device has a number of advantages. Among others, it is free of charge and noise-less. However, in certain fields of applications, for instance mechanical ventilation may be desirable. Examples of prior art roof window systems, including roof windows and ventilation assemblies, are shown in for instance Applicant's European patents EP0458725B1 and EP0372597B1, and in published Danish patent application DK200001472A. Other examples are shown in documents DE102004037563A1, 20204020630U1, DE19811469A1 and DE2906729U1.
Although many of the above-mentioned prior art roof window systems, roof windows and ventilation assemblies provide well-functioning solutions, they also require that the roof window is built to receive such a ventilation assembly, typically by designing special parts and/or requiring further investment in the installation of auxiliary parts and installation equipment. Thus, severe limitations as to retro-fitting existing windows exist.
One recent development of such roof window systems is described in Applicant's European patent application published under EP 2 784 240 A2. Here, the ventilation assembly takes in outdoor air via ventilation units having flow channels connected to the ventilation device of the roof window and, conversely, allows room air to be led to the exterior in the form of exhaust air through the ventilation assembly. In one embodiment, the ventilation units comprise a ventilator and a heat exchange device in the form of a regenerator. The counterpart commercial product has proven to work well, and the roof window system alleviates the disadvantages of the earlier prior art to a great extent. One document devising further improvements of the above EP application is found in DE utility model 20 2016 100 906 U1.
Although both of these documents devise well-functioning roof window systems, there is an ongoing aspiration to improve the product itself, with an ever-increasing focus on improving the ventilation properties. Furthermore, challenges as to retrofitting still exist, since the construction of the relevant parts of the roof window depends on the functionality. For instance, a top-hung roof window has a more complex configuration at the top, i.e. at the typical connection point for the ventilation assembly. Similarly, an electrically operated roof window requires space for accommodation of operating equipment at the typical interfaces with the ventilation assembly.
With this background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a roof window system, which provides for an improved connection between the roof window and the ventilation assembly, irrespective of the functionality of the roof window, and which at the same time provides for increased insulation and overall improved environmental conditions.
This and further objects are achieved with a roof window system of the kind mentioned in the introduction, in which said transition means comprise a plurality of apertures extending through the frame top member
Thereby a roof window system is provided in which the transition between the two components of the roof window system, i.e. the roof window and the ventilation assembly, is carried out at a position which is as neutral as possible, that is, rather than leading the flow paths above the top frame member as in the prior art, the frame may accommodate other equipment as well, for instance a top hinge device. Furthermore, guiding the air through the frame top member also entails improved insulation properties, as the flow paths will extend through an area with better insulation.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the plurality of apertures extending through the frame top member are located mainly in the bottom half part of the height of the frame top member, more preferably in the lower third part of the height of the frame top member.
Further presently preferred embodiments and further advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended dependent claims.
The invention will be described in more detail below by means of a non-limiting example of an embodiment and with reference to the schematic drawing, in which
Referring first to
The roof window 1 comprises at least one frame, in the embodiment shown and described two frames, of which one frame 2 is a stationary frame and an openable sash 3 encasing a pane 4. Details of the frame 2 and sash 3 are shown in more detail in i.a.
The frame 2 is adapted to be built into a roof structure of virtually any kind, typically comprising a number of rafters and battens, and further non-shown details such as vapour barrier collars etc., below a roofing material constituting a roofing 71 as shown in
Referring now further to
As shown, the frame 2 is built into the roof structure such that the frame plane is substantially parallel to roofing 71. The transition to the room 81 in the upstairs storey is here provided in that a set of lining panels comprising a top lining panel 73a, two side lining panels of which one side lining panel 73b is shown, and a bottom lining panel 73c, adjoins an inclined inner wall 72 of the upstairs room 81. At the frame bottom member 22, the bottom lining panel 73c is here shown connected to a window sill 74 and further to a knee wall 75 closest to a floor 77b of the upstairs storey, i.e. typically the second floor of a house. Alternatively, a different bottom lining panel could extend directly from the frame 2 to the floor 77b.
Opposite the floor 77b, the upstairs room 81 has a ceiling 76a which in turn adjoins the storey partition to the attic 82, here shown with a floor 76b and an inner wall 79.
The floor 77b of the upstairs room adjoins the storey partition to the downstairs storey and hence to downstairs room 83, having a ceiling 77a and an inner wall 78 which is typically vertical.
Finally, a roof void 84 is shown formed behind the knee wall 75. The roof void 84 typically unused space, but may be utilised for piping, wiring and additional insulation, and alternatively or additionally also for storage. In the embodiment shown, the roof window 1 is centre-hung in that the sash 3 is connected to the frame 2 by a pivot hinge (not shown) provided between side members of the frame 2 and sash 3, respectively, to be openable by tilting the sash 3 of the window 1 about a pivot hinge axis defined by the pivot hinge. As used in this description, a closed position of the roof window 1 means a position in which the frame plane and the sash plane coincide, that is form an angle of 0 degrees with each other. Similarly, an open position of the roof window 1 as used herein generally means a position in which the sash 3 is tilted about the pivot hinge axis such that the frame plane and the sash plane no longer coincide. Notwithstanding the centre-hung roof window described, the window according to the invention may in other embodiments be top-hung, with or without an intermediate frame structure, have the hinge axis somewhere between the top and the centre, be side-hung or for that matter even be bottom-hung, or fixed, i.e. not openable. As will be described in further detail below, the roof window system also provides for optional ventilation in the closed position of the window. Furthermore, the window may be electrically operated, or prepared for retrofitting of an electrical operator. Finally, the roof window system comprises a screening arrangement 5 in the form of a roller shutter, in the embodiment shown.
The sash 3 and frame 2 of the window according to the invention may be made of wooden members or members made of cast or extruded polyurethane (PUR). In the installed position, the frame 2 and sash 3 are protected, in a manner known per se, by an assembly of cover elements generally designated 6 and including a cladding and a flashing arrangement. Towards the interior, a suitable finishing may be provided, for instance comprising a lining panel. In the embodiment shown, the interior side of the sash members are substantially flush with the interior side of the frame members.
Furthermore, the frame bottom member 22 may be provided with an over-height, that is, taller than is necessary in order to surround the sash 3, which in turn makes it possible to utilise standard flashing members at the bottom, even if the roof window 1 is installed at a deep position in the roof structure.
The roof window 1 of the invention forms part of a roof window system, which in addition to the roof window 1 comprises a ventilation assembly generally designated 100. In the embodiment shown, the ventilation assembly 100 is positioned above the top member of the window frame 2 as seen in the inclination of the roof.
In the roof window system in the embodiment of
Referring now also to
Operating the handle 42 rotates the ventilation flap 40 from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. One or more intermediate positions, in which the ventilation flap 40 may be temporarily locked, may be defined between the open and closed position. In the embodiment shown and described, the sash 3 is pivotally connected to the frame 2, and the ventilation flap 40 is adapted to assume three position, viz. a first or closed position, in which the roof window 1 is closed and no ventilation is provided, a second and ventilating position, in which the roof window 1 is still closed but a ventilation aperture is provided to allow air passage, and a third and entirely open position, in which the sash 3 is able to pivot relative to the frame 2 to open the window. In other windows, for instance a top-hung roof window, the ventilation flap 40 may be able to assume only two position, viz. a closed position and an open, ventilating position, whereas operation of the sash takes place in other ways, for instance by a handle or other operating means located at the bottom member of the sash.
Details of one embodiment of the ventilation assembly 100 will now be described in further detail with reference to in particular
The ventilation assembly 100 comprises a housing 150 and a cover 151. The cover 151 has two apertures 152 for air intake and exhaust, the apertures 152 being provided at mutually opposite sides of the cover 151.
Transition means provided between the ventilation assembly 100 and the top frame member 21 and the sash top member 31 of the roof window 1 according to the invention will now be described in some detail. As in the prior art, these transition means are configured to accommodate a set of flow paths to and from the ventilation assembly 100.
In the embodiment shown, the housing 150 of the ventilation assembly 100 is composed of three main components, namely in the form of a plurality of sections including a bottom section 161, an intermediate section 162 and a top section 163. Each of these sections is made of an insulating material. The material is preferably easy to manufacture and handle during assembly. It is also advantageous that the material is light-weight. In any event, the material should be able to withstand compressional and tensional forces to a certain extent and furthermore be able to provide the tightness required in such a ventilation assembly. One example is expanded polypropylene (EPP).
The top section 163 functions as a cover to the bottom section 161, and is configured to accommodate internal parts of the ventilation units, cf.
The bottom section 161 is provided with a number of recesses or depressed portions, of which flow channel 1501 is shown in
At the front, or left-hand end of
In the mounted condition, the transition channels 1601, 1602, 1603, 1604 are in direct connection with apertures 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104 in the frame top member 21 (cf.
Referring now also to
A central feature of the invention emanates from in particular
With reference to
Moreover, a further and presently preferred aspect of the invention will be described with particular reference to
Finally, and referring now to
As in the embodiments described in the above, the roof window 1 is connected to the ventilation assembly 100 at the top member 21 of the window frame 2. The ventilation assembly 100, in the following referred to as first ventilation assembly 100, will provide ventilation to the upstairs room 81 as described. An additional, second ventilation assembly 200 is in this embodiment provided at the frame bottom member 22. The second ventilation assembly 200 is in fluid connection with the downstairs room 83 by means of a duct 201 and a second ventilation device, here in the form of ceiling ventilation device 202 mounted in the ceiling 77a of the downstairs room 83. As shown, the second ventilation assembly 200 and the duct 201 are accommodated in the roof void 84. Although the duct 201 is here shown as a vertical element extending directly to the ceiling ventilation device 202 in the downstairs room 83 immediately below the upstairs room 81, it is conceivable to provide additional ducting distributing air to and from other downstairs rooms, either on the same floor or in other storeys of the building.
The second ventilation assembly 200 is preferably provided in fluid connection with the first ventilation assembly 100. The fluid connection is not shown in detail, but may for instance be provided in the form of ducts located along the side members of frame 2 as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. In this way, the first ventilation assembly 100 provides for the air intake and exhaust, and possibly regeneration as described in the above, and the second ventilation assembly 200 may then be of a simpler design, providing only transfer of fresh air from the exterior to the downstairs room 83 and of stale air from the room 83 to the exterior via the first ventilation assembly. Alternatively, or additionally, the second ventilation assembly 200 is connected directly to the exterior, and not necessarily to the first ventilation assembly 100. Intake of fresh air from the outdoors may for instance be provided in the form of apertures in the cladding and covering elements allowing entry and exit of air, but not precipitation, and the second ventilation assembly 200 is then preferably self-contained in that one or more ventilation units are provided within the second ventilation assembly 200 to enable mechanical ventilation.
By connecting the second ventilation assembly 200 to the downstairs room 83, it is possible to utilise the aperture in the roof surface, which is traditionally only covered by the roof window 1, as a gateway to mechanical ventilation of rooms on the ground floor (or lower floors), in addition to the room that the roof window 1 is located in.
Furthermore, the roof window system including a first ventilation assembly 100 and a second ventilation assembly may be used as a simple, decentralised system to transfer heat from a room or rooms on one storey of a building to another. In addition to providing air exchange as described in the above, one example could be that heated air accumulating under the ceiling 77a of the downstairs room 73, resulting from a stove, fireplace or another heat source, could be used for transferring the heated air via the second ventilation device 202 to the ventilation device 40 of the roof window 1, thereby heating the second floor room 81.
It should be noted that the above description of preferred embodiments serves only as an example, and that a person skilled in the art will know that numerous variations are possible without deviating from the scope of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PA 2017 70587 | Jul 2017 | DK | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DK2018/050185 | 7/20/2018 | WO | 00 |
