Ventilating cover for a hatch installation and a hatch installation incorporating same

Abstract

A hatch installation comprises a hatch surround defining a hatch opening and a hatch door. The hatch door has a mounting end and a free end, and is pivotal between a closed position in which it abuts against the hatch surround and an open position spaced away from the hatch surround. The installation includes a cover member shaped to form a ventilation passage together with the hatch surround having one ventilation opening at the free end of the door and the other ventilation opening towards the end. The ventilation cover includes a water screen having three baffles and a sheet mesh for screening out moisture entrained with air. The ventilation cover includes a further sheet mesh water screen across the other opening. The sheet mesh acts with the hatch door to remove moisture entering through the opening.

1 . A ventilation cover for a hatch including:
 a cover member for mounting over the hatch, said cover member being shaped to form a ventilation passage having one ventilation opening at one end of said ventilation passage and another ventilation opening at another end thereof, when mounted over the hatch.   
   
   
       2 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 1 , wherein said ventilation passage extends substantially rectilinearly between said ventilation openings such that the ventilation openings oppose each other and face towards each other. 
   
   
       3 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 1 , wherein said cover member comprises two elongated opposing sides and a roof extending over said ventilation passage and joining the sides along the length thereof, and wherein said sides and the roof of the cover member are closed. 
   
   
       4 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 1 , wherein said ventilation cover includes a water screen for screening out at least some moisture entrained with air entering said ventilation passage through said one ventilation opening at one end thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 4 , wherein said water screen includes a baffle arrangement mounted on said cover member and extending into said ventilation passage towards said one ventilation opening. 
   
   
       6 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 5 , wherein said baffle arrangement comprise two or more baffles that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of said ventilation passage. 
   
   
       7 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 6 , wherein adjacent baffles are offset from each other in the direction of said ventilation passage to form a tortuous section of said ventilation passage towards said one ventilation opening. 
   
   
       8 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 7 , wherein adjacent baffles extend into said ventilation passage from opposed positions on the periphery of said ventilation passage, and adjacent baffles overlap each other to some extent when viewed in the direction of the ventilation passage. 
   
   
       9 . The ventilation cover according  4 , wherein said water screen further includes a sheet mesh extending across the ventilation passage, and wherein said mesh openings of said sheet mesh are sized to resist the passage of large drops of moisture and flying insects there through. 
   
   
       10 . A The ventilation cover according to  claim 9 , including a baffle arrangement as well as said sheet mesh, and wherein said sheet mesh is positioned at or adjacent said one ventilation opening and said baffle arrangement is spaced from said one ventilation opening. 
   
   
       11 . A The ventilation cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation cover includes another water screen towards said other ventilation opening at the other end of the ventilation passage for screening out at least some of the moisture entering said ventilation passage through said other ventilation opening. 
   
   
       12 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 11 , wherein the other water screen further includes a sheet mesh extending across the ventilation passage, and wherein the mesh openings of the sheet mesh are sized to resist the passage of large drops of moisture and also flying insects there through. 
   
   
       13 . The ventilation cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a support frame and a canopy in the form of a water impervious flexible sheet material, and the canopy extends over said support frame, and wherein said support frame comprises two longitudinal frame members extending in the direction of the said ventilation passage along the lower edges of the sides of said cover member, and at least two transverse members extending between said two longitudinal members that are longitudinally spaced from each other. 
   
   
       14 . A hatch installation, including:
 a hatch comprising a hatch surround defining a hatch opening and a hatch door mounted on the said hatch surround for closing off the said hatch opening; and a cover member mounted over the said hatch, the said cover member being shaped to form a ventilation passage together with the said hatch surround, having one ventilation opening at one end and another ventilation opening at the other end of said cover member.   
   
   
       15 . The hatch installation according to  claim 14 , wherein said hatch door has a mounting end opposite a free end, and is pivotal between a closed position in which the free end of said door abuts against said hatch surround and an open ventilating position in which said free end of the hatch door is spaced away from said hatch surround, and said cover member is arranged with one ventilation opening positioned towards said free end of the hatch door and the other ventilation opening positioned towards said mounting end of the hatch door. 
   
   
       16 . The hatch installation according to  claim 15 , wherein the said ventilation cover further includes a water screen for screening out at least some moisture entrained with air entering said ventilation passage adjacent to said one ventilation opening. 
   
   
       17 . The hatch installation according to  claim 16 , wherein said water screen includes a baffle arrangement mounted on the said cover and extending into said one ventilation passage towards said ventilation opening. 
   
   
       18 . The hatch installation according to  claim 17 , wherein said baffle arrangement comprises two or more baffle members that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of said ventilation passage. 
   
   
       19 . The hatch installation according to  claim 18 , wherein said water screen includes a sheet mesh extending across said ventilation passage, and wherein said mesh openings of said sheet mesh are sized to resist the passage of large drops of moisture and flying insects there through. 
   
   
       20 . The hatch installation according to  claim 16 , wherein said ventilation cover includes another water screen on said other ventilation opening at the mounting end of said hatch door. 
   
   
       21 . The hatch installation according to  claim 20 , wherein the said other water screen includes a sheet mesh extending across the said ventilation passage having mesh openings that are sized to resist the passage of large drops of moisture there through and also to resist flying insects from passing there through, and wherein said hatch door when at least partly open assists in screening out drops of moisture passing into said ventilation passage through said other ventilation opening. 
   
   
       22 . A water borne vessel including:
 a vessel body having a bow and a stern; and   a hatch installation including a hatch comprising a hatch surround defining a hatch opening and a hatch door mounted on said hatch surround for closing off said hatch opening; and a cover member mounted over said hatch, said cover member being shaped to form a ventilation passage together with said hatch surround, having one ventilation opening at one end and another ventilation opening at the other end of said cover member mounted on the vessel body.   
   
   
       23 . The water borne vessel according to  claim 22 , wherein said hatch door has a mounting end and a free end, and is pivotal between a closed position in which said free end of the door abuts against said hatch surround and an open ventilating position in which said free end of the hatch door is spaced away from said hatch surround, and said cover member is arranged with one ventilation opening positioned towards said free end of said hatch door and the other ventilation opening positioned towards the mounting end of the hatch door, and wherein said ventilation cover further includes a water screen adjacent to said one ventilation opening. 
   
   
       24 . The water borne vessel according to  claim 23 , wherein said body includes a deck and the said hatch installation being mounted on said deck with said deck forming said hatch surround, and wherein said free end of the hatch door faces towards said bow of the vessel and the mounting end of the hatch door faces towards said stern. 
   
   
       25 . A vehicle, including:
 a vehicle body including a roof and having an interior space; and   a hatch installation including a hatch comprising a hatch surround defining a hatch opening and a hatch door mounted on said hatch surround for closing off said hatch opening; and a cover member mounted over said hatch, said cover member being shaped to form a ventilation passage together with said hatch surround, having one ventilation opening at one end and another ventilation opening at the other end of said cover member mounted on the roof of the vehicle body for assisting in ventilating the interior space.   
   
   
       26 . A structure for housing people or animals, including:
 a structure body including a roof and defining an interior space which can be occupied by people or animals; and   a hatch installation including a hatch comprising a hatch surround defining a hatch opening and a hatch door mounted on said hatch surround for closing off said hatch opening; and a cover member mounted over said hatch, said cover member being shaped to form a ventilation passage together with said hatch surround, having one ventilation opening at one end and another ventilation opening at the other end of said cover member mounted on the roof of the body for assisting in ventilating the interior space.