Search

DE-102024133028-A1 - Louvered fan

DE102024133028A1DE 102024133028 A1DE102024133028 A1DE 102024133028A1DE-102024133028-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a louvered fan comprising: a fan frame designed to be attached to a building opening; a multitude of louvers, each arranged along a longitudinal direction of the fan frame and pivotable about a louver rotation axis; and a drive mechanism designed to pivot the slats; wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rack, a gear element and an actuator; wherein the rack is mounted so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the fan frame; the actuator is designed to move the rack; wherein the gear element is assigned to a first lamella and connected to it in such a way that the gear element engages with the rack and a displacement of the rack causes the first lamella to pivot about its lamella axis of rotation; wherein a second lamella, which is arranged adjacent to the first lamella with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fan frame, does not have an associated gear element, wherein the second lamella is coupled to the gear element associated with the first lamella via a coupling device, so that pivoting the coupled gear element causes the second lamella to pivot.

Inventors

  • Christof Schmidt

Assignees

  • LAMILUX HEINRICH STRUNZ GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (11)

  1. A louvered fan (100) comprising: a fan frame (102) designed to be attached to a building opening; a plurality of louvers (106) arranged on the fan frame (102) so as to be pivotable about a louver pivot axis (LD) along a longitudinal direction (LR) of the fan frame (102); and a drive mechanism (200) designed to pivot the louvers (106); wherein the drive mechanism (200) comprises a rack (202), a gear element (210), and an actuator (208); wherein the rack (202) is slidably mounted on the fan frame (102) along its longitudinal direction (LR); wherein the actuator (208) is designed to move the rack (202); wherein the gear element (210) is assigned to a first lamella (306) and connected to it in such a way that the gear element (210) engages with the rack (202) and a displacement of the rack (202) causes the first lamella (306) to pivot about its lamella axis of rotation (LD); in which a second lamella (140), which is arranged adjacent to the first lamella (306) with respect to the longitudinal direction (LR) of the fan frame (102), does not have an assigned gear element (210), in which the second lamella (140) is coupled via a coupling device (300) to the gear element (210) assigned to the first lamella (306), such that a pivoting of the coupled gear element (210) causes the second lamella (140) to pivot.
  2. Louvered fan after Claim 2 , wherein the second lamella (140) is the foremost lamella with respect to the longitudinal direction (LR) of the fan frame (102).
  3. Louvered fan (100) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the rack (202) is displaceable between a first end position and a second end position along the longitudinal direction (LR) of the fan frame (102) during pivoting of the louvers (106), wherein the first end position of the rack (202) is associated with a first pivot position of the louvers (106) and the second end position of the rack (202) is associated with a second pivot position of the louvers (106), wherein a front end (312) of the rack (202) is arranged below the second louver (140) in the first end position.
  4. Louvered fan (100) according to Claim 3 , wherein one of the first and second pivot positions of the louvers (106) corresponds to a closed position of the louvers (106), and another of the first and second pivot positions of the louvers (106) corresponds to an open position of the louvers (106).
  5. A louvered fan (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (300) comprises an elongated transmission element (302) and a coupling pivot lever (310), wherein the transmission element (302) is rotatably connected on one side to the gear element (210) of the first louver (306) via a first transmission joint (304) and on the other side to the coupling pivot lever (310) of the second louver (140) via a second transmission joint (308), wherein the transmission element (302) is designed to rigidly connect the two transmission joints (304, 308) to each other; wherein a position ratio between the first transmission joint (304) and the first louver (306) is approximately equal to a position ratio relationship between the second transmission joint connection (308) and the second lamella (140).
  6. Louvered fan (100) according to Claim 5 , wherein the first transmission joint (304) is arranged in the first end position of the rack (202) below the lamellar rotation axis (LD) of the first lamellar (306).
  7. Louvered fan (100) according to Claim 5 or 6 , wherein the second transmission joint (308) is arranged in the first end position of the rack (202) below the lamellar rotation axis (LD) of the second lamellar (140).
  8. Louvered fan (100) according to one of the Claims 5 until 7 , wherein the transmission element (302) is additionally rotatably connected to a gear element (210) which is assigned to a third lamella via a third transmission joint connection, wherein the third lamella is arranged adjacent to the first lamella (306) on one side opposite to the second lamella (140).
  9. Louvered fan (100) according to one of the Claims 3 until 8 , wherein the gear element (210) is pivoted into a first gear end position in the first end position of the rack (202) and is pivoted into a second gear end position in the second end position of the rack (202).
  10. Louvered fan (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the louvers (100) are each pivotably arranged on the fan frame (102) via pivoting arms (118), wherein the louver rotation axis (LD) of a single louver (106) is located in front of this louver (106) with respect to the longitudinal direction (LR) of the fan frame (102), so that the louvers (106) are pivotable outside the fan frame (102) and rest on a top surface (116) of the fan frame (102) when closed.
  11. Louvered fan (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gear element (210) comprises a gear section (212) and a louver connecting section (214), wherein the gear section (212) is connected to the associated louver (106) via the louver connecting section (214), so that a pivoting movement of the gear section (212) is transmitted to the associated louver (106) via the louver connecting section (214).

Description

The present invention relates to a louvered fan for installation in buildings. Louvered ventilators are commonly used in industrial buildings and residential and commercial buildings to provide natural fire ventilation and/or general ventilation. Installing a louvered ventilator in a building ensures both natural ventilation and, in case of fire, forced ventilation by opening the ventilator. Louvered ventilators with transparent louvers can also allow for the use of daylight. The individual louvers of a louvered fan can be pivoted between a closed and an open position. In the prior art, an actuator is typically used to drive the louvers and pivot them between these positions. In particular, the fan frame can be rectangular and designed to be attached to a building opening. A multitude of louvers are arranged parallel to one another along a longitudinal axis of the fan frame. When closed, the louvers can partially overlap each other. The actuator can be designed as a linear actuator, performing a stroke movement along the longitudinal direction of the fan frame. To convert the linear movement of the actuator into a pivoting movement of the louvers, the drive mechanism of the louvered fan can include a drive rod connected to the actuator, which is also movable back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the fan frame between a first end position and a second end position. This linearly guided drive rod can, in turn, be connected to a plurality of pivot elements. Moving the drive rod pivots the pivot elements as well. Each pivot element is assigned to and connected with a louver. The length over which the drive rod is moved along the longitudinal direction of the fan frame, as well as the configuration of the pivot elements, thus define the angle by which the pivot elements and consequently the louvers are pivoted. However, such a drive mechanism has the disadvantage of requiring a large number of components, making it expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the large number of components necessitates a correspondingly large installation space within the fan frame. For example, the fan frame must provide enough space for the drive rod to move within it and/or for the pivoting elements to swivel. In particular, it must be long enough to allow the blades to swivel between the closed and open positions. Typically, the fan frame is extended lengthwise for this purpose. In other words, the fan frame must be longer than would be necessary based on the size and number of blades. This additional space must then be enclosed, primarily by additional covers. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a louvered fan with an improved drive mechanism. This task is solved by a louvered fan, which includes the following: a fan frame designed to be attached to a building opening; a multitude of louvers, each arranged along a longitudinal direction of the fan frame and pivotable about a louver rotation axis; and a drive mechanism designed to pivot the slats; wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rack, a gear element and an actuator; wherein the rack is mounted so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the fan frame; the actuator is designed to move the rack; wherein the gear element is assigned to a first lamella and connected to it in such a way that the gear element engages with the rack and a displacement of the rack causes the first lamella to pivot about its lamella axis of rotation; wherein a second lamella, which is arranged adjacent to the first lamella with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fan frame, does not have an associated gear element, wherein the second lamella is coupled to the gear element associated with the first lamella via a coupling device, so that pivoting the coupled gear element causes the second lamella to pivot. Since the second lamella does not have an associated gear element and is instead coupled to the gear element of the first lamella via the coupling device, the drive mechanism can be designed more compactly. In particular, the components of the coupling device are inexpensive to manufacture. This type of louvered ventilator can be used in any type of building. In particular, the louvered ventilator can be installed on roofs as well as in facades in orientations between 0° (horizontal) and 90° (vertical). To connect the louvered ventilator to the building, the ventilator has a fan frame designed to be attached in, to, or on a building opening. "In a building opening" can mean that the fan frame is located at least partially within the building opening or is at least partially surrounded by the building opening. In a design where the fan frame is located "on a building opening," the louvered ventilator or the fan frame is mounted on the building and projects from it. The shape of the fan frame is preferably adapted to the building opening. Preferably, the fan frame is made of a metallic material, such as aluminum or steel, or of plastic. To v