GB2398371A

GB2398371A - Powered flue fire fan housing with a sealing member

Info

Publication number: GB2398371A
Application number: GB0301178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Simon Stonier
Original assignee: FIRE DEVELOPMENTS Ltd; GLOBAL FIRES Ltd; HAJCO 262 Ltd; Domestic Fire Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: FIRE DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED; HAJCO 262 LIMITED
Priority date: 2003-01-18
Filing date: 2003-01-18
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-18
Also published as: GB0301178D0; GB2398371B; AU2004200154A1

Abstract

A housing for a fan 26 of a powered flue fire has a sealing member 46 between rims 22,40 of housing portions 16,18 which define a space for the fan. An inner housing 16 is mounted within an outer leaf (12, fig 1) of a wall with an outer housing 18 positioned (eg by tightening bolts 50 fig 2) so that a flange 34 of the inner housing 16 compresses the sealing member 46 in a channel 44 of the outer housing 18. Sealing member 46 can be rubber O ring, have a small break, or be oval in section. Flange 34 may have an opening for water drainage. A flue is connected to an opening 32.

Description

1 239837 1

HOUSING APPARATUS FOR FAN

The invention relates to an apparatus for housing a fan of a powered flue fire, the housing apparatus being particularly suited for mounting within an external wall of a building.

Powered flue fires are provided with fans to actively draw waste products away from the fire outlet and to assist in drawing fresh air into the fire. Conventionally a fan for a powered flue fire is mounted within a housing on an outside wall of the property. The fan housing is usually fitted into a hole in the outer leaf of the brickwork of the wall, and conventionally comprises an inner housing and an outer cover. The fan is located generally within the inner housing, with the outer cover being fitted to the inner housing to protect the fan and its electronics from the environment, in particular from rainwater.

The outer cover is attached to the inner housing by screws and the fitter is requested to apply a waterproof silicone sealant around the edge of the outer cover where it meets the inner housing, to ensure a watertight seal.

The applicants have appreciated that there are some difficulties with the above conventional system. In particular, it relies on the fitter to apply the sealant correctly. In addition, the seal may not be replaced when maintenance takes place or the seal may break down due to weather exposure.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for housing a fan of a powered flue fire, the apparatus including first and second housing members adapted to fit together to define a space for receiving the fan, each housing member including a rim portion which engages the rim portion of the other housing member, a sealing member being provided around the rim portion of at least one of the housing members so that when the rim portions are in engagement a seal is formed therebetween.

Preferably both rim portions are substantially continuous. Preferably the rim portions engage one another for their whole extent.

Preferably the rim portion of the first housing member includes a pair of elongate arms extending around the rim portion and defining an elongate channel between the arms. Preferably the arms are substantially parallel and extend towards the second housing member when the housing members are fitted together. Preferably the sealing member is located in the channel between the elongate arms. The sealing member may comprise an endless loop of a resilient material and may comprise an "O" ring. Alternatively, the sealing member may not be continuous in the channel. The sealing member may be substantially continuous but may include a small break along its length.

The rim portion of the second housing member preferably includes a flange which, when the two rim portions are in engagement, enters the channel between the arms of the rim portion of the first housing member.

Preferably when the flange of the second housing member enters the channel of the first housing member, the flange may compress the sealing member.

Preferably the apparatus includes a fixing arrangement for holding the rim portions of the first and second housing members in engagement. The fixing arrangement preferably includes bolts which may be tightened to draw the first and second housing members together.

At least one of the housing members may be adapted to locate within a hole in an external wall of a building. The second housing member may be so adapted. The space for receiving the fan may be defined primarily within the housing member which is so adapted. The other housing member may be adapted to locate outside the external wall of the building.

An embodiment of the invention will be described for the purpose of illustration only with reference to the accompany drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a prior art fan housing for a powered flue fire; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fan housing according to the invention; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a fan housing according to the invention, with a fan in place.

Referring to Fig. 1, a housing apparatus 10 for a powered flue fire is mounted within the outer leaf 12 of a cavity wall 14.

The housing apparatus 10 includes an inner housing 16, which is mounted substantially wholly within the outer leaf 12, and an outer housing 18 which locates externally of the wall 14, providing a cover for a fan (not shown) located within the housing apparatus 10. A silicone seal 20 is provided around a rim 22 of the outer housing 18 to seal against the environment, in particular against the ingress of rainwater.

The applicants have realised that the above prior art arrangement has various disadvantages. It relies upon the individual fitting the fire and the fan to carefully ensure that silicone sealant is provided all around the rim of the outer housing 18. When the fan is repaired or maintained, the outer housing 18 must be removed and, when replaced, is not always adequately resealed.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there is illustrated a housing apparatus 10 according to the invention. The housing apparatus 10 performs generally the same function as the prior art housing apparatus and is mounted within a cavity wall in a similar way.

The housing apparatus 10 according to the invention again includes an inner housing 16 and an outer housing 18, the inner housing being mounted within the outer leaf of the cavity wall. The inner housing 16 includes a body portion 24 for receiving a fan 26 (see Fig. 3) and a rim portion 22 at an edge of the body portion. The body portion 24 includes side walls 28 and a base wall 30 provided with an opening therein for receiving a flue 32 for connection to an outlet of a fire (not illustrated).

The rim portion 22 of the inner housing 16 includes a flange 34 which is attached to the side walls 28 by a leg 36 which is perpendicular to both the flange 34 and the side walls 28. The flange 34 is spaced outwardly in relation to the side walls 28 and is generally parallel thereto. The purpose of the flange 34 is described in more detail hereinafter.

The housing apparatus 10 further includes an outer housing 18 which includes a body portion 38 and a rim portion 40. The rim portion 40 includes a pair of elongate arms 42 which are parallel to one another and which extend all around the rim portion. The arms 42 define an elongate channel 44 therebetween. Located within the channel 44 is an elongate seal member 46 of a resilient material such as rubber. The seal member 46 is generally circular or oval in section.

The body portion 38 of the outer housing 18 includes elongate holes 48 for receiving securing bolts 50 and the inner housing 16 includes internally threaded bores 52 for receiving ends of the securing bolts 50.

In use, the inner housing 16 is fitted within the outer leaf 12 of the cavity wall 14 (see Fig. 1) and the fan 26 is positioned in the correct location in the inner housing. The outer housing 18 is then positioned such that its rim portion 40 is brought into engagement with the rim portion 22 of the inner housing 16. In this position, the flange 34 of the rim portion 22 enters the channel 44 defined between the arms 42 of the rim portion 40. The flange 34 compresses the seal member 46. The securing bolts 50 are then tightened in order to draw the outer housing 18 onto the inner housing 16, thus further compressing the seal member 46. This forms a seal between the inner and outer housings 16 and 18.

The flange 34 may include a small opening to allow any water taken in through the fan flue to be drained off.

There is thus provided an improved housing apparatus 10 for a powered flue gas fire. The apparatus according to the preferred embodiment provides a substantially full perimeter seal, thus ensuring that no moisture can enter. When the fan is serviced or repaired, the seal can easily be broken and is automatically resealed when the outer housing is placed back in engagement with the inner housing.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to JO those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for housing a fan of a powered flue fire, the apparatus including first and second housing members adapted to fit together to define a space for receiving the fan, each housing member including a rim portion which engages the rim portion of the other housing member, a sealing member being provided around the rim portion of at least one of the housing members so that when the rim portions are in engagement a seal is formed therebetween.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which both rim portions are substantially continuous.

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, in which the rim portions engage one another for their whole extent.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the rim portion of the first housing member includes a pair of elongate arms extending around the rim portion and defining an elongate channel between the arms.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the arms are substantially parallel and extend towards the second housing member when the housing members are fitted together.

6. Apparatus according to claims 4 or 5, in which the sealing member is located in the channel between the elongate arms.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the sealing member comprises an endless loop of a resilient material.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the sealing member comprises an "O" ring.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the sealing member is not continuous in the channel.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, in which the sealing member is substantially continuous but includes a small break along its length.

11. Apparatus according to claim 4 and any claim dependent thereon, in which the rim portion of the second housing member includes a flange which, l O when the two rim portions are in engagement, enters the channel between the arms of the rim portion of the first housing member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which when the flange of the second housing member enters the channel of the first housing member, the flange compresses the sealing member.

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus includes a fixing arrangement for holding the rim portions of the first and second housing members in engagement.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the fixing arrangement includes bolts which may be tightened to draw the first and second housing members together.

15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the housing members is adapted to locate within a hole in an external wall of a building.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the second housing member is so adapted.

17. Apparatus according to claims 15 or 16, in which the space for receiving the fan is defined primarily within the housing member which is so adapted.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the other housing member is adapted to locate outside the external wall of the building.

19. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.