U.S. patent application number 16/502502 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-07 for louver assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mestek, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Mestek, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kenneth L. Moyer, JR..
Application Number | 20210003313 16/502502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2021-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210003313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moyer, JR.; Kenneth L. |
January 7, 2021 |
LOUVER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A louver assembly for placement in an opening for regulating the
inlet of air includes a first blade stack having a plurality of
elongated blades mounted within a frame having an upper frame
member and a lower frame member, the lower frame member defining a
sill, and a windbreak positioned adjacent to a front face of the
louver assembly and extending from a point above the sill to a
point below the sill. The windbreak is configured to divert wind at
the front face of the louver assembly above the sill to facilitate
draining of water from the louver assembly.
Inventors: |
Moyer, JR.; Kenneth L.;
(Wyalusing, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mestek, Inc. |
Westfield |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mestek, Inc.
Westfield
MA
|
Appl. No.: |
16/502502 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/08 20060101
F24F013/08; F24F 7/007 20060101 F24F007/007 |
Claims
1. A louver assembly for placement in an opening for regulating the
inlet of air, comprising: a first blade stack having a plurality of
elongated blades mounted within a frame having an upper frame
member and a lower frame member, the lower frame member defining a
sill; and a windbreak positioned adjacent to a front face of the
louver assembly and extending from a point above the sill to a
point below the sill; wherein the windbreak is configured to divert
wind at the front face of the louver assembly above the sill to
facilitate draining of water from the louver assembly.
2. The louver assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a drain pan
positioned on the lower frame member, the drain pan being
configured to receive water sequestered by the plurality of
elongated blades.
3. The louver assembly of claim 1, wherein: the windbreak includes
a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted to the louver
assembly at a position spaced vertically from the top surface of
the drain pan and a depending leg portion that extends downwardly
from the horizontal leg portion.
4. The louver assembly of claim 3, wherein: the horizontal leg
portion is spaced between about 1 inches to about 2 inches, in a
vertical direction, from a top surface of the drain pan.
5. The louver assembly of claim 4, wherein: the windbreak further
includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and downwardly from the
depending leg portion.
6. The louver assembly of claim 1, wherein: the windbreak extends
across substantially an entire width of the louver assembly.
7. The louver assembly of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the
plurality of elongated blades are mounted within the frame in a
horizontally-spaced and vertically-extending configuration.
8. The louver assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a second
blade stack having a plurality of elongated blades mounted within
the frame in a vertically-spaced and horizontally-extending
configuration.
9. The louver assembly of claim 1, wherein: the windbreak and the
sill define a passageway therebetween for the outflow of water from
the louver assembly.
10. A louver assembly for regulating air passage through an
opening, said louver assembly comprising: a first stack of blades
having a housing defined about said blades, said housing being
supported upon a bottom sill of said opening; a water passage
defined between said housing and said bottom sill, said water
passage allowing water entering said louver assembly and impacting
said blades to drain from said housing; and an air deflection
shield arranged adjacent to said water passage, said air deflection
shield being fixed to said housing and extending across said water
passage in a spaced-apart relationship, thereby permitting water to
drain from said housing.
11. The louver assembly of claim 10, wherein: the air deflection
shield includes a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted
to the housing at a position spaced vertically from the top surface
of the bottom sill and a depending leg portion that extends
downwardly from the horizontal leg portion.
12. The louver assembly of claim 11, wherein: the horizontal leg
portion is spaced between about 1 inch to about 2 inches, in a
vertical direction, from a top surface of the bottom sill.
13. The louver assembly of claim 12, wherein: the air deflection
shield further includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and
downwardly from the depending leg portion.
14. The louver assembly of claim 13, wherein: the air deflection
shield extends across substantially an entire width of the louver
assembly.
15. A method of ensuring proper drainage in a louver assembly
oriented within an opening, said method comprising the steps of:
arranging a first stack of louver blades within a housing; mounting
said housing within said opening, said housing being supported on a
bottom sill of said opening and defining a water passageway
therebetween; and arranging an air deflection shield adjacent said
water passageway, said air deflection shield being disposed in a
spaced-apart relationship from said water passageway and permitting
water to drain from said housing via said water passageway.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein: the air deflection
shield includes a generally horizontal leg portion that is mounted
to the housing at a position spaced vertically from the top surface
of the bottom sill and a depending leg portion that extends
downwardly from the horizontal leg portion.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: the horizontal leg
portion is spaced between about 1 inch to about 2 inches, in a
vertical direction, from a top surface of the bottom sill.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: the air deflection
shield further includes a drip edge that extends outwardly and
downwardly from the depending leg portion.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: the air deflection
shield extends across substantially an entire width of the louver
assembly.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to louver assemblies
that helps regulate the inlet of outside ambient air and, more
particularly, to a louver assembly which inhibits air-born
particulates such as rain droplets that are entrained in the
ambient air from passing through the lover assembly and into the
building or enclosure with which the louver assembly is
associated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ventilation/HVAC systems for buildings and other enclosures
are well known in the art. A core component of many ventilation
systems is the need to regulate the influx of outside ambient air.
One aspect of this regulation is the desired ability to prevent
particulate matter from entering the ventilation system along with
the outside ambient air, and louver assemblies have therefore been
traditionally utilized to help control the flow of ambient air and
any entrained particulate matter.
[0003] Recent natural disasters and code modifications have placed
larger burdens on the performance of louver assemblies that are
integrated into various ventilation systems. In particular, recent
code modifications have centered on reducing or eliminating the
amount of rain water that is permitted to pass through the louver
assembly and into the ventilation system. On this issue, louver
assemblies that attempt to separate water and other particles from
air flowing into buildings are generally known in the art. As
exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,244, such prior art louver
assemblies typically include a plurality of curved, spaced blades
that define a plurality of spaced, serpentine-shaped air
passageways therebetween. The air passageways direct air from the
exterior of the building to the interior of the building for air
conditioning of the building. When air passes into the building
through the air passageways of the louver assembly, the water
particles in the air, which are heavier than the gas molecules in
the air, cannot turn through the serpentine-shaped contours in the
air passageways. The water molecules therefore strike the walls of
the blades, agglomerate into drops and flow by gravity down the
blades and out of the louver assembly at the front face
thereof.
[0004] Buildings in areas of the world that are especially prone to
hurricanes, however, face much tougher problems with the design of
louvers. In such hurricane zones, wind-driven rain may sometimes
pass through the serpentine passageways and into the building,
despite existing blades being designed to inhibit or prevent this.
In other situations, the blades of the louver may be successful in
capturing the entrained rainwater and directing it to the bottom of
the louver. Sustained, direct, positive airflow due to wind at the
front face of the louver, however, may inhibit draining of the
captured rainwater, and in some situations may actually push
accumulated water through the lover and into the building.
[0005] In hurricane zones, such as Miami-Dade County in the state
of Florida, stringent building codes have recently been adopted
which require louvers, dampers and the like to pass stringent tests
for wind and wind-driven rain resistance. For example, AMCA 550 is
a standard that establishes uniform laboratory test methods and
minimum performance ratings for water rejection capabilities of
louvers that keep water infiltration to a minimum. Tests conducted
in accordance with the requirements of this standard are intended
to demonstrate the acceptability of the louver assembly for
installation in facilities that will remain in operation during a
high velocity wind condition and where water infiltration must be
kept to manageable amounts.
[0006] In view of the above, there is a need for a louver assembly
that substantially minimizes or prevents the accumulation and
push-through of captured rainwater during high velocity wind
conditions, and which meets the stringent high-velocity wind-driven
rain resistance requirements imposed by various building codes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a louver assembly capable of resisting the
influx of wind-driven water without the use of a damper.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
louver assembly that facilitates draining of accumulated water,
even in the presence of direct, sustained winds at the face of the
louver assembly.
[0009] It is another object of invention to provide louver assembly
that is designed to meet the stringent criteria established by the
Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade County Building Code,
including providing high volume flow rate, impact resistance,
and/or protection against water penetration and high
wind-loads.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a louver
assembly that meets and/or exceeds the requirements of AMCA
550.
[0011] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
louver assembly for placement in an opening for regulating the
inlet of air includes a first blade stack having a plurality of
elongated blades mounted within a frame having an upper frame
member and a lower frame member, the lower frame member defining a
sill, and a windbreak positioned adjacent to a front face of the
louver assembly and extending from a point above the sill to a
point below the sill. The windbreak is configured to divert wind at
the front face of the louver assembly above the sill to facilitate
draining of water from the louver assembly.
[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, a louver
assembly for regulating air passage through an opening includes a
first stack of blades having a housing defined about said blades,
said housing being supported upon a bottom sill of said opening, a
water passage defined between said housing and said bottom sill,
said water passage allowing water entering said louver assembly and
impacting said blades to drain from said housing, and an air
deflection shield arranged adjacent to said water passage, said air
deflection shield being fixed to said housing and extending across
said water passage in a spaced-apart relationship, thereby
permitting water to drain from said housing.
[0014] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, a method of ensuring proper drainage in a louver
assembly oriented within an opening includes the steps of arranging
a first stack of louver blades within a housing, mounting the
housing within the opening, the housing being supported on a bottom
sill of the opening and defining a water passageway therebetween,
and arranging an air deflection shield adjacent the water
passageway, the air deflection shield being disposed in a
spaced-apart relationship from the water passageway and permitting
water to drain from the housing via the water passageway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will be better understood from reading
the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with
reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic front plan view of a louver
assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the louver assembly,
taken along line D-D of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the louver assembly,
taken along line C-C of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a forward windbreak of
the lover assembly of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a louver assembly 10 according
to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The lover
assembly 10 is designed to be inserted within an opening in a wall
of a building to permit outside air to flow therethrough into the
building while removing water particles from the air to prevent
excess moisture from entering the building. While the louver
assembly 10 is disclosed herein as being disposed within an opening
in a wall of a building or other structure, it will be readily
appreciated, however, that the louver assembly 10 may be integrated
into any known ventilation system, including those systems having
stand-alone components, without departing from the broader aspects
of the present invention.
[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the louver assembly 10 includes
a generally rectangular outer frame 12 formed from generally
U-shaped sleeves (including, for example, top, bottom, left and
right sleeves). The sleeves, and thus the frame 12, may be formed
from aluminum, although other materials known in the art may also
be utilized. The sleeves of the outer frame 12 are configured to
receive therein the walls defining an opening in a building or
structure, for securely positioning and retaining the louver
assembly 10 within the opening. Within the outer frame 12 are
mounted left and right jamb members that receive and contain
therebetween one or more blade stacks, as discussed hereinafter. In
an embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the louver assembly
10 includes first and second blade stacks 14, 16 arranged one
behind the other. The first blade stack 14 is bounded by left and
right jamb members 18, 20, while the second blade stack 16 is
bounded by left and right jamb members 22, 24 positioned directly
behind the left and right jamb members 18, 20. While FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate two blade stacks 14, 16 more or fewer than two blade
stacks may be utilized without departing from the broader aspects
of the invention.
[0022] In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first blade
stack 14 includes a plurality of horizontally-extending blades 26
having one or more hooks, tabs, projections or contours (e.g., tab
28, hook 30, projection 32) that are configured and positioned to
inhibit the inflow of rain-driven rainwater through the first blade
stack 14. A variety of horizontal blade configurations having any
arrangement of hooks, tabs, projections and/or contours may be
utilized without departing from the broader aspects of the
invention.
[0023] The second blade stack 16, for its part, includes a
plurality of vertically-extending blades 34 likewise having one or
more hooks, tabs, projections or contours (e.g., hook 36,
projection 38) that are configured and positioned to similarly
inhibit the inflow of rain-driven rainwater through the second
blade stack 16. Like the blades 26 of first blade stack 14, the
blades 34 of the second blade stack 16 may have any desired
arrangement of hooks, tabs, projections and/or contours. The blades
34 of the second blade stack 16 define a plurality of spaced,
serpentine-shaped passageways therebetween configured to permit the
inflow of air, but inhibit the inflow of rainwater.
[0024] With specific reference to FIG. 3, the louver assembly 10
includes a drain pan 40 defining a sill, that is received on the
bottom sleeve of the outer frame 12, and above which is positioned
the bottom edges of the respective blade stacks 14, 16. The drain
pan 40 extends between the left and right sleeves of the outer
frame 12 and includes a generally planar portion 42 that sits atop
the bottom sleeve of the outer frame 12, a generally vertically
extending leg member 44 located rearward of the second blade stack
16, and an angled leg member 46 extending from the vertical leg
member 44 generally upwards and towards the front of the louver
assembly 10. In an embodiment, the drain pan 40 may also include a
downwardly depending leg member 48 that is folded or bent over the
front edge of the bottom sleeve of the outer frame 12. It is
contemplated that the planar portion 42 may be angled slightly from
back to front (i.e., the back of the planar portion 42 adjacent to
the vertical leg member 44 is at a vertical height above the front
of the planar portion 42 adjacent to the leg member 48) to
facilitate draining of sequestered rainwater from the louver
assembly 10, as discussed hereinafter.
[0025] As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the louver assembly 10
also includes forward leg member 50 that extends forwardly and
downwardly from a front face 52 of the louver assembly 10. In
particular, the forward leg member 50 includes a generally
horizontal leg portion 54 that is mounted to the louver assembly 10
at a position spaced vertically from the top surface of the drain
pan 40, a downwardly depending leg portion 56 that extends from the
horizontal leg portion 54 at a generally 90 degree angle to a point
below the drain pan 40 and the planar portion 42 thereof, and a
drip edge 58 that extends downwardly and outwardly from the
downwardly depending leg portion 56. The configuration and position
of the forward leg member 50 defines a channel 60 at the front face
of the lover assembly 10 between the forward leg member 50, and the
drain pan 40 and bottom sleeve of the outer frame. As discussed
below, the forward leg member 50 functions as a windbreak or air
deflection shield, which extends from above the drain pan 40 to
below the sill, which facilitates draining of sequestered rainwater
from the louver assembly 10. The configuration and position of the
forward leg member 50 is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. In an
embodiment, the horizontal leg portion 54 is spaced between about
0.5 inches to about 12 inches, and more preferably about 1 inch to
about 2 inches, in a vertical direction, from a top surface of the
drain pan or sill.
[0026] In an embodiment, the blades of the first blade stack and
the second blade stack, the drain pan, and the forward leg member
forming the windbreak/air deflection shield may be formed from
aluminum or other metals, although other materials known in the art
may also be utilized without departing from the broader aspects of
the invention.
[0027] In operation, air is permitted to travel through the louver
assembly 10 and into a building or structure within which the
louver assembly 10 is positioned through the passageways defined by
the blades 26 of the first blade stack 14, and then through the
passageways defined by the blades 34 of the second blade stack 16.
As is known in the art, as the air traverses the passageways
defined by the spaced-apart blades of the first and second blade
stacks 14, 16, the water particles in the air, which are heavier
than the gas molecules in the air, cannot turn through
serpentine-shaped contours. The water molecules therefore strike
the walls of the blades 26, 34 and are otherwise caught by the
hooks, tabs and/or projections on the blades and removed from the
air, thereby preventing the water molecules from passing through
the assembly 10 and into the building. The water molecules that
have been trapped by the blades 26, 34 eventually agglomerate into
drops and flow by gravity down the faces of the blades to the drain
pan 40.
[0028] Typically, the accumulated water is allowed to drain from
the drain pan 40 and out of the front of the louver assembly 10,
away from the opening in which the louver assembly 10 is installed.
As discussed above, however, in high wind conditions, sustained and
direct wind pressure at the front face of the louver assembly 10
can inhibit or prevent draining of the rainwater collected on the
drain pan 40 at the sill, and can even push the collected water
through the louver assembly 10 and into the structure. Importantly,
however, the forward leg member 50 serves as a windbreak,
substantially minimizing or preventing wind at the forward face of
the louver assembly 10 from acting on the rainwater accumulated on
the drain pan 40. In particular, wind at the front of the lover
assembly 10 is directed over and above the forward leg member 50,
above the accumulated water on the drain pan 40, allowing the water
accumulated on the drain pan 40 to drain through the channel 60 in
the direction of arrow A, even where direct, sustained wind at the
forward face of the louver assembly 10 is present.
[0029] In addition, the forward leg member 50 allows water to run
down the face of the building, and across the face of the louver
assembly 10, while keeping direct positive wind pressure from
blowing this water back into the louver assembly 10.
[0030] It has been discovered through testing that the louver
assembly 50 containing a forward leg member 50 that functions as a
windbreak substantially minimizes the amount of water that is
pushed through the lover assembly 10 in high velocity wind
conditions. Accordingly, such a louver assembly 10 has been shown
to meet the requirements of AMCA 550 for wind-driven rain
resistance.
[0031] Although this invention has been shown and described with
respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and
equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without
departing from the scope of the invention. In addition,
modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or
material to the teachings of the invention without departing from
the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the
invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in
the above detailed description, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.
* * * * *