AU663158B2

AU663158B2 - Securing means for solar absorbers

Info

Publication number: AU663158B2
Application number: AU34041/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen Thomas Knight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-06
Filing date: 1993-03-08
Publication date: 1995-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-08
Also published as: AU3404193A

Description

P/:00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: STEPHEN THOMAS KNIGHT 0o90 Actual Inventor(s): STEPEHN THOMAS KNIGHT Address for Service: JOHN R.G. GARDNER PO BOX 443 MUDGEERABA QLD 4213 Invention title: SECURING MEANS FOR SOLAR ABSORBERS 4 Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: PL 1207 FILED 6 MARCH 1992 AND PL 4079 FILED 13 AUGUST 1992 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- 1

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2 Technical Field THIS INVENTION relates to securing means for securing a solar absorber to a roof of a building. In a particular but not exclusive aspect, the present invention relates to securing means for securing solar absorbers of the multi-tube type to a roof and a solar absorber assembly formed thereby.

Background Art In many situations which arise where a member or members are to be secured to a roof of a building, difficulties occur in ensuring that such securing means hold the member to the building in an efficient manner. Such situations arise where say it is desired to secure cables or wires to a roof, for example television aerial wires. Other situations where this problem is encountered is in the securing of solar energy absorbers and in particular solar energy absorbers of the type used for heating swimming pools to a roof. In the latter situation the absorbers often comprise multi-tube plastic or synthetic rubber integrally interconnected tubes which are often located within and extend along recesses in roof tiles or alternatively in the troughs of corrugated roofing. The fixing methods currently employed sometimes require the use of a bonding compound such as silicon into which the absorber is embedded, however, such compounds do not prove particularly effective in high wind situations, are messy to apply and are not aesthetically pleasing. Another method used has involved means. Use of this method is time consuming and awkward. In the above described arrangements, the absorbers are located in the tile recesses or roof corrugations, however, it has been 30 found just as effective to have the absorbers run transversely of the recesses. Similar problems to that described above are encountered in securing absorbers in this attitude to a roof.

Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing N;1.

3 securing means for securing a solar absorber to a roof, such as a tiled roof, or a metal roof, for example a corrugated roof or other roof decking and a solar assembly formed thereby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become hereunder.

The present invention thus provides in a first aspect a solar absorber assembly, including a solar absorber and securing means securing said solar absorber assembly to a roof comprising overlapping roof tiles or roof sheeting, said securing means includes at least ne elongated element, means retaining said elongated element at spaced apart positions to said roof, such that said element extends longitudinally of said roof, tiles or sheeting, said elongated element defining holding means holding said solar absorber to said roof in an attitude extending transversely of said element and said roof, tiles or sheeting.

In one form, the roof comprises a tiled roof comprising a plurality of overlapping roof tiles and the element is retained to the roof at spaced apart positions at the overlapping portions of said tiles.

z ~The roof may comprise at least a first tile, a second upper tile overlapping at its lower end, the first tile and a third lower tile overlapped at its upper end by the first tile.

The elongated element may include an elongated body portion and a tongue at one end received between the overlapping portions of the first and second tiles. The tongue may be downwardly stepped from the elongated body portion to space the elongated body portion above the first tile. The tongue may include S£ means for restricting withdrawal of the tongue from between the overlapping first and second tiles. The restricting means may include an upwardly projecting part or member at the free end of the tongue.

Means may be provided at the opposite end of the elongated body portion for retaining the elongated body portion at the overlapping portions of the first and third tiles. The means at the opposite end of the body portion may comprise S means for location under the lower end of the first tile. The

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4 location means may include a hooked member. The hooked member may be of generally L-shaped form having a longer leg extending from the body portion and a shorter leg spaced from the longer leg so as to receive the lower end of the first tile therebetween.

In a further form, the roof comprises a metal roof such as a corrugated metal roof formed of roof sheeting and the element is adapted to be connected to the roof by fasteners of any suitable form. For such a roof, the securing means comprises a plurality of interconnected elements of the above type. Each element may include an upstanding member at one end, and an aperture at its opposite end for receiving the upstanding member of an adjacent element whereby a plurality of elements may be interconnected in longitudinal alignment.

The upstanding member is adapted to co-operate with an aperture to prevent detachment of interconnected elements. The upstanding member may include integrally formed retaining means for co-operation with aperture.

~Where formed from elements of the type used for tile roofs, the tongue and hook of the element are preferably formed so as to enable them to be detachable from the elements. For this purpose the tongue and hook may be attached to the remainder or main body of the element by a reduced thickness or necked weakened portion at which the tongue and hook may be severed by, for example being simply broken away therefrom.

The element may be secured to a metal roof by means of fasteners such as screws. For this purpose, the elements may be provided with an aperture or apertures to receive a fastener or fasteners therethrough.

The holding means may include at least one clip resiliently engaging and holding the absorber to the element.

The clip may comprise a resilient finger connected to, or integrally formed with the element at one end and being free at its other end. A plurality of fingers may be provided at S 35 spaced apart positions along element.

The solar absorber preferably comprises a multi tube absorber or absorbers.

_1 L 7 A transparemt panel may be supported on respective securing means and over the absorber.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of securing a solar absorber to a roof comprising overlapping roofing tiles or roof sheeting, said method including the steps of providing securing means, said securing means including at least one elongated element, mounting said elongated element to said roof such that said element extends longitudinally of said roof tiles or sheeting, and arranging said solar absorber such that said absorber extends transversely of said roof tiles or sheeting and said element and is held to said roof by said element.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a first form of 20 securing means according to the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the application of the securing means of Fig. 1 to a roof formed from roof tiles; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the securing means of the invention and roof tiles; Fig. 4 illustrates an application of the invention to a corrugated roof; Fig. 5 illustrates the connection between adjacent elements indicated at A in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a second form of securing means according to the present invention; Fig. 6A illustrates the connection between a pair of elements of the type shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the securing means of Fig. 6 may be used with metal tile roofs; Fig. 8 illustrates the combination of a plurality of 1 clips of the type shown in Fig. 6 with a transparent panel #4*4 4r *444 Pa., .44 4- 4 4 '<Op1C to form a solar absorber assembly; and Fig. 9 is an end view of an assembly of the type shown in Fig. 8 associated with a tile of a tile roof.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is '.lustrated securing means 10 according to the present invention comprising an elongated planar strip-like element 11 having located thereon or formed integrally therewith a plurality of clipping or holding members 12 which are in the i S .t I t

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4r 4 4 4, *fl 4 *r 4u *0 *4 4, 1 4 4 4444 4 form of resilient fingers secured or integrally connected to the element 11 at one end and free at their opposite end and which are adapted to resiliently engage a member to be secured to a roof. The element 11 at one end is provided with a hook 13 which may locate under the leading end of a tile in the manner described below. The hook 13 is of generally L-shaped form and has its longer lower leg 14 integrally formed with the element 11 and extending downwardly therefrom and a shorter upright leg 15 spaced from the leg 14. At its opposite end, the element 11 is provided with a downwardly stepped forwardly extending tongue 16 adapted to seat on the top surface of a tile. The element 11 additionally includes at its end adjacent the hook 13 a transverse slot or aperture 17 and at the opposite end an upstanding lug 18 for a purpose described further below.

In use and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the securing means 10 is located relative to a roof tile 19 so that the hook 13 locates under the leading end 20 of the tile 19 which is received between the hook legs 14 and 15 and so that the tongue 20 16 rests on the upper surface of the tile 19 to be overlapped in use by the leading end 20' of an adjacent upper tile 19'.

It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the hook 13 in co-operation with the tile end 20 captures and restrains the securing means 10 from detachment from the tile 19 at its normally lower end.

25 At its opposite upper end the tongue 16 being sandwiched between adjacent overlapping tiles 19 and 19' is prevented from lifting from the surface of the tile 19. As shown the hook 13 and downwardly stepped tongue 14 in this embodiment space the element 11 from the upper surface of the tile on which the securing means 10 is located.

The securing means 10 of the present invention is particularly suited for securing multi-tube absorbers 21 of the type used in solar heating apparatus to a roof tile so that the absorbers 21 extend in a direction transversely relative to the roof tiles 19 and 19' and element 11. For this purpose the absorbers 21 are simply slipped under the clipping members 12 if necessary by deflecting the members 12 upwardly and are held II 7 in position by the resilience inherent in the clipping members 12.

Respective securing means 10 may be located on laterally spaced tiles so that the absorber 21 or any other member to be held to the roof is secured at spaced apart positions across the roof.

Should the securing means 10 be required to be associated with a metal corrugated roof or metal decking as shown in Figs and 5, the tongue 16 and hook 13 may be removed from the element 11. For this purpose the junctions between the hook 13, tongue 16 and the elament 11 may be necked or formed with a reduced thickness regions 22 and 23 so that the hook 13 and tongue 16 may be simply detached from the the element 11 by being broken or snapped away therefrom. The securing means 10 which is then in a planar strip-like form may then be simply attached to sheeting of a metal roof 24 by means of rivets, screws or any other suitable fasteners 25 say through preformed apertures 26 in the elements 10. A plurality of such securi I means 10 may be interconnected by insertion of the lugs 18 of one element 11 into the apertures 17 of adjacent elements so that an elongated aligned series of elements 11 can be formed. Alternatively and for a metal roof the securing means 10 may be made in continuous lengths of the element 11, being simply cut to size as desired.

25 As shown, the elements 11 are arranged to extend along a peak of a corrugation of the roof and at spaced apart corrugations so that the member or members to be secured to the roof are supported at spaced positions.

The securing means 10 may be formed of metal or resilient plastics material with all the elements thereof integrally formed or alternatively fabricated from separate components. Variations however, may be made to the configuration of the device. For example the clipping members 12 may comprise spring loaded clipping members or any other form of clipping or holding device. A further alternative would be to form the clipping members 12 so that they are pivotally or hingedly connected at one end to the body of the a ~r rrr r r r r,* r rr ru* sr*o 8 element 11 and releasably latched at their opposite ends to the body of the element 11 so that they can hold a member in position. Alternatively, the clipping members 12 may be secured to the body of the element 11 by one or more screws or similar fasteners at one or both ends so that the members 12 act as clamps to clampingly hold a member to the element 11i.

Of course the size and shape of the members 12 may be varied to mate with any form of component to be secured to the roof.

As stated above the element 11 with integral clipping or holding members 12 may be formed in continuous lengths. In this form, the element 11 may be adapted for use with roof tiles by being cut to a desired length and provided with separate tongues 16 and hook 13 which may be detachably secured to the element 11 at desired positions.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9 there is illustrated a modified form of securing means 30 according to the present invention which has components similar in many respects to 4 those of the securing means 30 of Fig. 1 which components have been given like numerals. In this embodiment however, the tongue 16 is provided at its free end with an upwardly extending lug or projection 31 which in use acts as a stop to co-operates with a tile 19' in the manner shown in Fig. 9 tor the purposes of further retaining and preventing detachment of 25 the securing means 30 from the tiles 19 and 19'. The tongue *ir '16 is additionally provided with a transversely extending slot 32 sized for location over the lug 33 in the manner described further below. The lug 33 in this embodiment is provided with a pair of downwardly and outwardly flared wings 34 which serve S1 30 when respective securing means 30 are interengaged in the manner shown in Fig. 4, 5 and 6A to positively hold and lock the securing 30 means together, the wings 34 when the lug 33 is located in the slot 17 preventing detachment of adjacent securing means The hook 13, in addition to the reduced thickness region 23 is provided in this embodiment with an additional intermediate reduced thickness line 35 and a aperture 36 9 between the line 35 and the element 11. The projecting rear portion 37 of the element II containing the slot 17 is also connected to the remainder of the element 11 by means of a transversely extending reduced thickness line 38 which permits the portion 36 to be broken away preferably by hand from the remainder of the element 11. The adjacent clipping member 12' is provided with a nipple-like projection 39 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The securing means 30 for use with roofing tiles of the type shown in Figs. 2 and 9 may be employed as described previously. Where, however, the securing means 30 is to be used with metal roofing tiles, such as those known under the trade mark DECRABOI'D, the tongue 16 is broken away from the element 11 at the region 23 and is reversed in attitude as shown in Fig. 7 and the slot 32 located over and engaged with the lug 33 so that the portion 40 of the tongue 16 presents an upwardly directed flange or hook. At the opposite end the portion 37 is broken away along the line 38 and the hook 13 •broken away along the line 35 to thereby leave a downwardly 20 directed flange 41 containing the aperture 36.

When positioned relative to a metal tile 42, the hook 40 locates under the uppermost til.e 42', rearwardly of its downwardly directed flange 43'. The flange 41 is located adjacent the downwardly directed flange 43 of the tile 42 so that a nail or other fastening element 44 may be driven through o the aperture 36 into the end flange 43 of the tile 42 and into the underlying roof batten 45. The securing means 30 will thus be positively and securely held between overlapping tiles 42 and 42'.

The securing means 30 in any of its forms and applications described above may be combined with a transparent panel 46 of the type shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The panel 46 is preferably in continuous lengths and may be constructed of perspex, acrylic, Lexan or other like material. The panel 46 j is provided at one end with a first curved flange 47 which is slotted in its return portion at 48 at spaced positions so as to enale it to be located over the lugs 33 of respective securing means 30. At its opposite edge, the panel 46 also includes a curved flange 49 provided with plurality of apertures or hollow dimples 50 for location over the end clips 12' for receipt of the lugs 39 thereon. As before, a multitube absorber or absorbers 21 are secured to spaced apart securing means 30 by the clips 12. The use of a glazing panel 46 as above will substantially increase the efficiency of heat collection within the solar absorbers 21 secured by the securing means 30 to the roof.

It will be apparent that the panel 46 may be in many different forms and engage with the securing means (or 10) in any fashion. The opposite sides of the panel 46 may be provided with any form of recesses or configurations for engaging the securing means 30 (or 10) which may if desired be provided with separate engagement elements for engagement with the panel 46.

The panel 46 may also be provided on its opposite side edges with seals, such as rubber seals so as to reduce the 9 flow of air about the absorbers 21 and thei by reduce heat 20 loss. Such seals may be of channel section form and simply locate over the side edges of the panel. To further support the absorbers 21 additional securing means 30 may be privided, the additional securing means 30 in this ex.se having the portions 16 and 13 removed and simply clip engaged with the 25 panel 46 to be supported thereby.

All other modifications and variations to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the 0. appended claims..

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Claims

1. A solar absorber assembly, including a solar absorber and securing means securing said solar absorber assembly to a roof comprising overlapping roof tiles or roof sheeting, said securing means includes at least one elongated element, means retaining said elongated element at spaced apart positions to said roof, such that said element extends longitudinally of said roof, tiles or sheeting, said elongated element defining holding means holding said solar absorber to said roof in an attitude extending transversely of said element and said roof, tiles or sheeting.

2. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said roof comprises overlapping roof tiles and wherein said elongated element is retained to said roof at said spaced apart positions at overlapping portions of said tiles.

3. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 2 wherein roof comprises at least a first tile, a second upper 20 tile overlapping at its lower end, said first tile and a third lower tile overlapped at its upper end by said first tile.

4. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 3 wherein said elongated element includes an elongated body portion and a tongue at one end received between the overlapping portions of said first and second tiles. L S 5. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 4 1 wherein said tongue is downwardly stepped from said elongated body portion and spaces said elongated body portion above said first tile.

6. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 4 or 4 Claim 5 wherein said tongue includes means for restricting 35 withdrawal of said tongue from between said overlapping first and second tiles. 12

7. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 6 wherein said restricting means includes an upwardly projecting part or member at the free end of said tongue.

8. A solar absorber assembly according to any one of Claims 4 to 7 and including means at the opposite end of said elongated body portion for retaining said elongated body portion at the overlapping portions of said first and third tiles.

9. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 9 wherein said means at said opposite end of said body portion comprises means for location under the lower end of said first tile. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 7 wherein said location means includes a hooked member.

11. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim P 20 wherein said hooked member is of generally L-shaped form having a longer leg extending from said body portion and a shorter leg ~spaced from said longer leg so as to receive said lower end of said first tile therebetween.

12. A solar absorber assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said holding means includes at least one clip resiliently engaging and holding said absorber to said element. o*4 Q o S 30 13. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 12 c wherein said clip comprises a resilient finger connected to, or integrally formed with said element at one end and being free at its other end. S 35 14. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 13 wherein a plurality of said fingers are provided at spaced Sapart positions along said element. 13 A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said roof comprises roof sheeting and wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of interconnected said elements.

16. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim wherein each said element includes an upstanding member at one end, and an aperture at its opposite end for receiving said upstanding member of an adjacent said element whereby a plurality of said elements may be interconnected in longitudinal alignment.

17. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 16 wherein said upstanding member is adapted to co-operate with a said aperture to prevent detachment of interconnected said elements.

18. A solar absorber assembly according to Claim 17 wherein said upstanding member includes integrally formed o 20 retaining means for co-operation with said aperture. i6*# oo 04 19. A solar absorber assembly according to any one of Claims 16 to 18 wherein each said element includes at least one cL Ut 4 opening therein to accept a fastener for attachment of said element to said roof. S 20. A solar absorber assembly according to any one of the 6 preceding claims wherein said solar absorber comprises a multi arui S"tube absorber or absorbers. S

21. A solar absorber assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and including a transparent panel supported on respective said securing means and over said absorber. a 4 35 22. A method of securing a solar absorber to a roof comprising overlapping roofing tiles or roof sheeting, said method including the steps of providing securing means, said ::di::t I 14 securing means including at least one elongated element, mounting said elongated element to said roof such that said element extends longitudinally of said roof, tiles or sheeting and arranging said solar absorber such that said absorber extends transversely of said roof tiles or sheeting and said element and is held to said roof by said element.

23. A solar absorber assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, 4 and 5 or 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of securing a solar absorber to a roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, 4 and 5, or 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 20th day of July 1995 *~t 2 I. STEPHEN THOMAS KNIGHT BY MY PATENT ATTORNEY JOHN R.G. GARDNER I r a I I. *:L 0I* a aar~ A a