GB2374376A

GB2374376A - A louvre system

Info

Publication number: GB2374376A
Application number: GB0109037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Braybrook
Original assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Current assignee: Levolux AT Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-11
Filing date: 2001-04-11
Publication date: 2002-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-11
Also published as: GB2374376B; GB0109037D0

Abstract

The louvre system comprises a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of louvres 11, a plurality of elongate operating members 12 and a plurality of louvre support brackets 13. Each support bracket comprises a fixed part 14 connected to one of the mullions and a movable part 15 connected to one of the louvres 11. The movable part 15 is pivotably connected to the fixed part and is connected to a respective operating member 12 such that as the operating member is moved longitudinally in a first direction to open the louvres the operating member moves away from the louvres and as the operating member is moved to close the louvres the operating member moves towards the louvres. At least some of the operating members 12 are provided with elongate sealing elements 18, each of which contacts two adjacent louvres 11 in closed position. Each operating member preferably includes an elongate glass strip to reduce the metal footprint of the louvre system.

Description

A LOUVRE SYSTEM This invention relates to a louvre system, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a glass louvre system for buildings.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member such that as the operating member is moved longitudinally in a first direction to move the louvres from a closed position towards an open position the operating member moves away from the louvres and as the operating member is moved longitudinally in a second direction to move the louvres from an open position towards a closed position the operating member moves towards the louvres.

Preferably, at least some of the operating members are provided with an elongate sealing element which contacts two adjacent louvres as the louvres are moved into a closed position so as to bridge a gap between the adjacent louvres and create a seal therebetween.

Other preferred and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 3 and 4 and 6 to 11.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of glass louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members for opening and closing the louvres and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member, each operating member including an elongate glass strip.

Preferred and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claim 6 to 11.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of glass louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members for opening and closing the louvres and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member, the movable part of each louvre support bracket comprises a first element on the exterior of a respective louvre and a second element on the interior of

the louvre, the louvre being clamped between the first and second elements by one or more fastening devices extending through an aperture or apertures in the louvre.

A preferred feature of the third aspect of the invention is set forth in claim 13.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of a louvre system according to the present invention, with the mullion omitted for reasons of clarity, Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the louvre system shown in Figure 1 including the mullion, Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an operating member of the louvre system shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of a preferred mullion of the louvre system shown in Figure 2, Figure 5 shows what happens as a louvre support bracket pivots, and

Figures 6 and 7 are exploded views showing the manner in which a louvre is connected to a louvre support bracket.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the assembly shown therein is attached to horizontally spaced apart mullions 10, one of which is shown in Figure 2. The assembly shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of glass louvres 11, typically in the form of single glazed glass blades, a plurality of operating members 12 (only one of which is shown) and a plurality of louvre support brackets 13.

Each louvre support bracket 13 comprises a fixed part 14 and a movable part 15. The fixed part 14 is attached to the mullion 10 and the movable part 15 is pivotable relative to the fixed part 14 about a pivot 16.

As best shown in Figure 3, each operating member 12 comprises two extruded aluminium beads 17, an elongate, elastomeric sealing element 18 and a glass stiffening strip 19. As shown, the operating member 12 is predominantly of glass.

The sealing element 18 has a head portion 18a and a stem portion 18b which is clamped between the parts 17. The glass stiffening strip 19 is clamped between the rear edge portions of the beads 17 and the stem portion 18b of the sealing element 18 is clamped between the front edge portions of the beads 17.

The movable part 15 of each louvre support bracket 13 comprises an arm 20

which supports the underside or inner surface of the louvre 11 and which is connected at its tail end to the aluminium beads 17 of the operating member 12 by a rod-like operating link 22. The movable part 15 also includes a clamp element 21 which is disposed on the upper or outer surface of the louvre 11 and which is secured to the arm 20 by a fixing device which passes through the louvre 11. One such fixing device is best shown in Figures 6 and 7 and comprises two threaded studs 23 which extend through an aperture in the louvre 11 and through the arm 20 and which are secured on the outer side of the louvre to a threaded dowel 24 located in a sleeve portion 25 of the clamp element 21. The studs 23 are secured on the inner side of the louvre 11 by dome headed nuts 26. The dowel 24 is of plastics or other material which has good heat insulation properties.

A first bush 27 has a part which seats in the aperture in the louvre 11 and a part which extends into a double sleeve portion 28 of the arm 20. A second bush 29 extends into the double sleeve portion 28 from the opposite end thereof.

Thermally insulating strips 30 and 31, which are typically of Neoprene, are sandwiched between the clamp element 21 and the louvre 11 and between the arm 20 and the louvre 11, respectively. These strips 30 and 31, together with the bushes 27 and 29 and the dowel 24 provide a thermal break between the outer and inner surfaces of the louvre 11.

As best shown in Figure 4, each mullion 10 is provided with two longitudinally extending glass stiffening strips 32 and 33. These strips 32 and 33 are supported in longitudinally extending channels 34 formed in opposite sides of the mullion 10 and project laterally from the channels 34 to give the mullions increased lateral stability. The strips could, however, be connected to the mullions in other ways.

As shown in Figure 2, each mullion 10 supports the fixed parts 14 of the louvre support brackets 13 of a co-extensive pair of louvres 11. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the mullion 10 and operating member 12 are aligned with the gap between the two end-by-end louvres 11.

The operating members 12 are movable longitudinally either manually or by motor driven actuators to open and close the louvres 11. Movement of the operating members 17 is synchronised mechanically or electronically. As each operating member 12 is moved longitudinally in a first direction to move the louvres 11 from a closed position towards an open position, the operating member 12 moves away from the louvres 11 to the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 and as the operating member 12 is moved longitudinally in a second direction to move the louvres from an open position towards a closed position the operating member 12 moves towards the louvres 11. This is best demonstrated by Figure 5 which shows the path along which the tail end of the movable part 15 of the louvre support bracket

13 moves as the bracket is pivoted. As the louvres 11 approach a closed position, the seal element 18 on the operating member 12 moves into contact with the two coextensive louvres 11 as shown by the broken lines in Figure 2 to bridge the gap therebetween and create a seal.

There may, of course, be one or more mullions and associated operating members 12 intermediate the ends of each louvre 11 and in that case those operating members need not be provided with a seal.

The use of the glass stiffening strips 19 to stiffen the operating members 12 reduces the overall metal footprint of the louvre system. This can have cost savings, but more importantly improves the aesthetic appearance of the louvre system.

The use of glass to stiffen the mullions 11 also reduces the metal footprint thereby further enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the louvre system.

The operating members 12 counterbalance some of the weight of the louvres 11 thereby reducing the effort need to move the operating members 12.

Although, as described above, the louvres 11 are said to be in the form of single glazed glass blades, they may be in the form of multi-glazed panels.

The louvre system can be used on buildings, e. g. an atrium, to provide for ventilation. It can form part of, or all of, one of more facades and/or the roof of the building.

The above embodiments are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the operating member need not include the aluminium beads, although it would then be necessary to drill through glass to attach the seal and this can be expensive.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member such that as the operating member is moved longitudinally in a first direction to move the louvres from a closed position towards an open position the operating member moves away from the louvres and as the operating member is moved longitudinally in a second direction to move the louvres from an open position towards a closed position the operating member moves towards the louvres.
2. A louvre system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the operating members are provided with an elongate sealing element which contacts two adjacent louvres as the louvres are moved into a closed position so as to bridge a gap between the adjacent louvres and create a seal therebetween.
3. A louvre system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the louvres are glass louvres.
4. A louvre system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each operating member includes

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an elongate glass strip.
5. A louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of glass louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members for opening and closing the louvres and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member, each operating member including an elongate glass strip.
6. A louvre system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each operating member is predominantly of glass.
7. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the glass strip is clamped between elongate metal parts.
8. A louvre system as claimed in claim 7, wherein an elongate seal is also clamped between the two elongate metal parts.
9. A louvre system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable part of each louvre support bracket comprises a first element on the exterior of a respective louvre and a second element on the interior of the louvre, the louvre

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being clamped between the first and second elements by one or more fastening devices extending through a respective aperture or apertures in the louvre.
10. A louvre system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fastening devices are releasable from the interior only of the louvre.
11. A louvre system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein glass stiffeners are connected to the mullions to give the mullions increased lateral stability.
12. A louvre system comprising a plurality of spaced apart mullions, a plurality of glass louvres, a plurality of elongate operating members for opening and closing the louvres and a plurality of louvre support brackets each comprising a fixed part connected to one of the mullions and a movable part connected to one of the louvres, the movable part being pivotably connected to the fixed part and being connected to a respective operating member, wherein the movable part of each louvre support bracket comprises a first element on the exterior of a respective louvre and a second element on the interior of the louvre, the louvre being clamped between the first and second elements by one or more fastening devices extending through an aperture or apertures in the louvre.
13. A louvre system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a thermal break is provided between the first and second elements of the movable part of each louvre support

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bracket.
14. A louvre system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.