WO2011033463A1

WO2011033463A1 - Modular floating roof- garden system

Info

Publication number: WO2011033463A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/054178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vito Vincenzo Oronzo Maria Depalo; Riccardina Burdo
Original assignee: Vito Vincenzo Oronzo Maria Depalo; Riccardina Burdo
Priority date: 2009-09-18
Filing date: 2010-09-16
Publication date: 2011-03-24
Also published as: ITFI20090201A1; IT1397862B1

Abstract

A modular panel (17) for realizing a roof-garden system laying on a flat surface, said modular panel defining a plane (X) for arranging organic cultivation material, comprising a pheripheral support frame (4) adapted to keep said plane (X) in elevation with respect to the laying surface and thus defining a passage (7, 7') adapted to permit, at least, the flow of air and/or water, engagement means (1) being further provided over the plane (X) for engaging with wall means (11) adapted to rise from the plane (X) for containing said cultivation material side-ways, the engagement means (1) being also adapted to engage with paving means (9, 15) for lining the top of said panel and/or with other supplementary furnishing elements.

Description

TITLE

MODULAR FLOATING ROOF- GARDEN SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a modular panel for realizing a roof-garden system (including therefore vegetation but also paving and furniture elements) on buildings with a plane cover, by means of modular box-like structures to be mutually interlocked.

Background of the invention

The roof-garden systems presently in use normally provide for the adoption of the follow functional layers:

- a load bearing element (for example a floor);

- a sealing element (waterproofing blanket);

- an element for the protection of the roots (a stiffened sheet, integrated or not with one of the other elements);

- a mechanical protection element (felt);

- a drainage element (rigid panels, lapilli, perlite, expanded clay, etc.);

- a water collecting element (rigid panels, lapilli, perlite, expanded clay, ecc);

- a filtering element (a geotextile material);

- a cultivation layer (cultivation soil);

- a vegetation layer.

The different roof-garden types can be employed in a very wide range of possible uses, that start from extensive covers proper of big surfaces, where the gardening has an environmental mitigation function, requiring reduced maintenance and basically comprising varieties of "Sedum" and perennial herbaceous plants, to the veritable roof- garden in which it is possible to notice the use of lawns, bushes and trees of any size, i.e. vegetation that require high maintenance, and where also the architectural elements (paving, furniture, light, etc.) have a fundamental function.

The several technologies on the market have made increasingly easy and efficient to realize roof-garden system even in extreme environmental condition such as high inclination and stringent restrictions in connection with thickness and weight (the latter in particular has to be often compatible with a low capacity of bearing structural loads).

The several types of known technologies, among which for example the technologies disclosed in . German patent publications no. DE202005019622U1 , DE19832172A1 and DE29622724U1 show, however, several drawback and disadvantage.

Firstly, the normal intervention techniques are mainly suitable for new buildings and, in case of building renovations on existing buildings, do not provide for the possibility of using the existing pavings with the sealing elements already laid, because these would not prove themselves sufficiently reliable in case of problems due to leaks of water leaks or penetration of roots. This implies an increase of the laying costs and an objective difficult to manage the relationships between different flat owners, for the works that have to be shared and the assurances to be provided on the correct execution of the same.

Besides, the known systems provide reduced or no possibility to bring changes to the architectural design of a plane cover. Where possible, these changes are however expensive, and similar considerations apply to the issue of inspection of the cover plane in case of damages to the waterproofing blanket or when the facilities need be checked.

Moreover, the reuse of the irrigation water is difficult in case of multiple-family houses, such a reuse being possible only in a downstream position with respect to the entire building. Generally speaking, the reuse is troublesome where stringent restrictions about the public use of the ground or of the underground are present.

When considering the above circumstances, systems that provides for the use of pre-seeded modules adapted to receive vegetation of sedum or perennial herbaceous plants have been proposed, in the form of box-like structures adapted to be laid on pre-existing pavings. These types of systems are, for example, shown in PCT International Patent Application published with the number WO/02/06597.

These systems, though tackling the first two problems mentioned above, without indeed obtaining a fully satisfactory result, have the disadvantage of a limited choice as far as both the type of vegetation (medium and big bushes or trees are excluded) and the architectural and facility arrangement to be used in the roof-garden (pavings, edges of vegetation-supporting boxes, lights, water games, etc. ) are concerned. Ultimately, the actual possibility of use in the roof-garden field is compromised.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a modular system that offers the maximum flexibility in the realization of roof-garden coverings on plane roofs, simplifying the intervention techniques and reducing the realization costs, in particular in case of intervention on existing buildings, where the adaptation of the waterproof sheaths having root-blocking functions results expensive and difficult to be set up.

This object is achieved with the modular panel for realizing roof-garden systems the essential features of which are defined by the first of the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the modular panel for realizing roof- garden systems according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a modular panel with a load bearing function according to the invention, limited to its main components;

- figure 2 is a top plan view of the modular panel of figure 1 ;

- figure 3 and 4 are sectional views of the panel taken along lines Ill-Ill and IV-IV of figure 2, respectively;

- figure 5 is a side view of the panel;

- figure 6 represents a sectional view of the modular panel as in figure 3, the modular panel being however associated to accessory components necessary to the vegetation growth;

- figure 7 is an enlarged view of an end area of the sectional view of figure 6;

- figure 8 shows, in an axonometric view, a representation of an assembly including the panel according to the invention and a floating paving, on adjustable and tilting supports;

- figure 9 represents, still in an axonometric view, a different embodiment of the panel with an integral support frame adjustable in elevation and for levelling; - figures 10 and 11 , still in axonometric views, show assemblies of the modular panel, respectively with flowerbed containment walls and with paving plates; and

- figure 12 provides and example, through a schematic top plan view, of possible combinations obtainable with an assembly of modular panel according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the above figures, and in particular to figures from 1 to 5, according to the invention there is provided a modular panel 17, generally flat with a typically quadrilateral outline, made of a plastic material (like PVC, PE or PS possibly derived from recycling). The panel 17 preferably has dimensions selected among those of the most common sizes of floating pavings for outodoor use, and is to be laid on existing pavements, over one of the two main faces indicated with 17a, along a peripheral support frame 4. The laying can be direct - in any case defining at least a thin passage 7 beneath, for the flowing of rainwater - or it can be obtained through support elements (as mentioned below), or even through structural elements adapted to share on the underlying floor the loads due to the cultivation layer and to the vegetation.

The panel 17 is in practice a sheet obtained through a moulding operation so as to form an orderly distribution in alternated ranks of cells 1 in relief and recessed cells 2 arranged respectively above and below a median plane X. The cells 1 and 2 are both typically cylindrical or prismatic with the axis arranged vertically, resulting cup-shaped, overturned (i.e. with the concavity on the laying face 17a) when the in-relief cells 1 are considered, and upright for the recessed cells 2 (concavity facing upwards). The recessed cells have essentially the function of receiving and collecting the irrigation liquid.

Along the perimeter of the panel 17, a lip 5 slightly in relief with respect to the plane X can be noted, the lip 5 being adapted to operate as a containment and regulation barrier of the maximum level of the irrigation liquid.

Advantageously, the cells 1 , 2 and the lip 5 have a size so as to assist the definition of a volume ratio between air (collected inside the in-relief cells 1 in communication with the passage 7) and liquid (collected inside the recessed cells 2 up to the level defined by the plane X) of approximately 1/2 (i.e. two parts of liquid for one part of air). These are optimal proportions for the growth of the vegetation. To this purpose, the in-relief cells present on the top side respective ventilation holes for the gaseous exchange with the cultivation material. The same cells 1 present also, at the base, protruding skirts 6 projecting peripherally outwards for the abutment and the engagement with the support elements mentioned below.

The panel 17 is crossed by channels 3, with the concavity facing upwards and, in turn, in depression with respect to the plane X, for the collection of the irrigation liquid. Preferably, the channels 3 are in number of two arranged in a mutually orthogonal manner along respective axis of symmetry of the panel.

At the ends of the channels 3 hoses 8 are arranged for the hydraulic junction and the consequent collection/inlet of the liquid, the hoses being housed in recesses 9 leaving room to the connecting pipes, without generating additional projections.

With reference now also to the other figures, the panel 17 is adapted to engage in a reversible manner, for example and in particular along the perimeter, with walls 11 of variable height according to the needs, the walls projecting in a vertical direction orthogonally to the plane X, for realizing a containment basin of a cultivation material layer, indicated with the number 13 in the figures. A layer of geotextile material 12 with filtering function, of a known type, is preferably placed between the cultivation material layer 13 and the assembly of panel 17 and walls 11.

The walls 11 , preferably made of the same material of the panel 17, are secured to the body of the panel through base portions 18 bent in a L-shape (figure 7, figure 10) that engage, being suitably holed (holes 18a formed in the horizontal projection), with a certain number of in-relief cells 1 (for example the two ranks closest to the edge) abutting on corresponding skirts 6. The walls 11 can be arranged over the whole periphery of the panel or only over a part of the same. In the configuration for forming a bordered vegetation area the panel 17 can be also associated with an irrigation pipe 16, shown in figure 8. In this figure (but also in other figures) there are also visible outputs, indicated with 20, of the liquid discharged and conveyed through the channels 3 and the hoses 8. Advantageously, therefore, it is the same system of cells of ventilation and collection of the irrigation liquid to work as a mechanical engagement means for the containment side walls 11. A further different supplementary element that can be mounted on the panel 17 is a floating paving plate 15 (figures 8 and 1), that is fastened to the panel covering and lining the top face with the in-relief cells 1. A honeycomb grid 19 (figure 11) is interposed between the paving plate 15 and the panel 17. The grid 19 becomes interlocked with the cells 1 , again abutting with the skirts 6 and filling the space among the cells, thus achieving a substantial stiffening of the structure. The plate 15, made of any type of suitable materials (even stone or ceramic material) can be simply laid and assured in position as a result of its own weight; as an alternative, the plate can be made steadier thanks to the mechanical engagement provided by outlined portions (not shown) formed in its contact face, or also by glueing with appropriate adhesive to be placed between the grid 19 and the panel.

Turning back to the laying of the panel on the support plane, the panel 17 is preferably spaced in elevation from the laying surface through lifting feet 14 adjustable in height and tilt; to be placed at the angles of the panel and simply engaged with the same. The lifting feet 14 may have various configurations which, as such, do not form the object of the invention, being known or obvious based on the availability on the market of floating paving plates.

On the other hand, an equivalent lifting effect can be obtained, as in the embodiment of figure 9, by shaping the frame 4' so that its thickness is significantly increased at the angles; in this way, much broader passages 7' are defined. Even in this case an accurate regulation of the height and the tilt can be obtained through feet 22, for example with a progressive screw-like extraction or similar known systems, placed at the angles of the panel, namely in correspondence of the maximum thickness of the frame 4'.

According to the invention, a roof-garden is realized by laying a plurality of panels 17 on a plane of a floor. The panels are simply made to rest on the floor and placed side by side to form a regular pattern extended to all the usable surface or anyway to the portion of surface one desires to cover. The connection between side by side panels can be possibly made steady by a mechanical linkage, for example pins or clamps engaged with holes formed in the frame 4, while the hydraulic communication between the hoses 8 of mutually facing sides can be realized, if necessary, by lengths B2010/054178

7 of pipe with relative seals.

In the bordered vegetation area arrangement, i.e. when the walls 11 are mounted, the liquid (water or any fertilizing additives) that drains from the cultivation material layer 13 and is filtered by the geotextile material 12 is collected in the recessed cells 2 creating a water reserve, while the surplus is drawn away towards the channels 3 connected, as mentioned, to define a single net between adjacent panels. In this way, the water used for the irrigation or derived from rainfall can be collected in appropriate tanks, that can even be placed under the panels (in the configuration of maximum elevation) and reused in drip or spray system distribution facilities comprising delivery means such as the aforementioned irrigation pipe 16.

A great excess of fluid due to heavy rainfall will drain by overflowing over the top perimeter edge 5 of the panel, in the gaps between a panel and the other, and from the recesses 9, and therefore over the existing floor plane, finding a flowing passage 7 under the support frame 4 even in case of a direct laying of the panel on the same floor.

The provision of holes 10 on the top surface of the in-relief cells 1 ensures that the cultivation material is aerated for the benefit of the root system of the plants.

The connection of the components to be laid in a dry and mechanical assembly on the modular panel (walls 11 and paving plates 15) is advantageously accomplished with the simple effect of gravity over the cells in relief. These elements do not prove to be an impediment to the normal flow of water because the skirts 6 realize in any case a certain spacing which allows for the free circulation of water overflown from the recessed cells 2.

The side walls 11 can be formed of a sheet of low-cost material (e. g. recycled plastic) with structural functions, bent in a L-shaped to form the above mentioned base portion, and of an upper foil 21 of a more valuable material (copper, stainless steel, aluminium, etc.. ) primarily with aesthetic or lining functions. The use of different materials for parts having different functions permits to obtain a remarkable reduction of weights and costs.

A similar criterion is applied in the choice of honeycomb elements 19 with the same pitch of the in-relief cells of the modular panel 17, in the configuration with paving plates 15; also in this case, the reduced thickness of the plates permit to reduce weight and costs that derive, for example, from the use of natural stones, as well as to widen the range of floating paving ceramic tiles that can be chosen.

The base development of the containing walls 11 may be different than the perimeter outline of the panels, also following curves or corners within the surface of the same panels (always engaging with the in-relief cells 1). Similarly, the paving plates 15 may include modules of reduced size and/or variously shaped, to cover only a part of the panel, thus enabling the achievement of a very broad freedom of composition, as illustrated in Figure 12. In this figure, bordered vegetation areas 23 can be observed delimited by walls 11 , curved in one case, and in any case, as shown by the various dashed lines; outlined in their boundaries in an independent manner from the profile of the various panels. Then, paved areas 24 can be seen which, in turn, adapting to the profile of the bordered vegetation areas, can have superficial developments that are not constrained by the outlines of the base panels.

The structure and the sizing of the panel are such as to support loads that are compatible with the cultivation layer and the weight of the vegetation as well as the weight generated by a pedestrian passage on the paving plates 15.

The modular panel can have different shapes and sizes, within the basic concept of the invention, namely the creation of roof-garden surfaces based on the principle of the elevation of the cultivation plan from the surface of the floor, the separation of the side-wall containment means 11 from the base body of the panel 17, and the use of the same modular panel 17 for supporting the paving. Moreover, it is possible to extend the use of the paving surface 15 also for housing other furniture elements such as a balcony railing, vertical fence elements, arbors, gazebos and the like.

The possibility of forming bordered vegetation areas extended as broadly as one wishes, promotes the harmonious development of the vegetation more efficiently than using traditional tall and heavy containers, because it is the superficial expansion that represents the required development of the root system of the plants, rather than a growth deep in the ground.

In addition, the aggressiveness of the roots against the protective layers of a floor is prevented in an effective manner because the air below the cultivation plane 0 054178

9 delimited by the modular panel forms an impenetrable barrier.

Summarizing, the panel according to the invention offers the following advantages over known solutions:

- on an existing flat roof, a single element has all the functions required from a roof-garden surface, for supporting of the organic elements (cultivation material layer and layer of vegetation), and obviously the filtering layer;

- the cultivation layer can be realized at the elevations which are more suitable to the development of vegetation (from 8 cm to 40 cm or more, according to the UNI 11235 regulations), thanks to the possibility to adjust the height of the side wall connected to the panel through a dry connection;

- the best growth of the vegetation layer is promoted thanks to the possibility of having the maximum horizontal surface explorable by the plant roots;

- an adequate thermal insulation is provided to the root system of plants, thanks to the honey comb (cell) structure of the modular panel and of the side walls 11;

- possibility to obtain support both on the existing paving and on feet extendable

(e.g. telescopically) and tilting, or more generally on supports realized to the purpose for raising the cultivation plane to the suitable elevation, without any limitation, also in the perspective of a use by physically impaired people;

- the use of membranes or anti-root sheaths becomes superfluous, thanks to the natural pruning function exerted on the roots by the air in conditions of elevation of the panel from the supporting surface of the floor;

- allowing the arrangement of structural elements below the panel with the function of distributing on the floor the loads generated by the cultivation layer and the vegetation, making it possible to intervene on buildings not designed to accommodate roof gardens;

- collecting and distributing the irrigation water on the floor below the panel, allowing for the recovery and the reuse of the same in all conditions; said reuse, with consequent recovery of fertilizer components, permits to use hydroponic-type cultivation such as grass without a cultivation sub-layer, thus reducing the structural loads on the covering floor;

- the passage of the most different facilities is allowed (below the panel), and the T IB2010/054178

10 same facilities can be easily checked and maintained;

- the maximum flexibility and aesthetic value in terms of shapes, colours and materials can be obtained, both as to the substrate containment side-walls, and to the components of the paving which could include all shapes and materials (ceramics, natural stones, gravel, wood, etc..) independently from the module of the base panel which is in fact a distinct and separate component with respect to the side walls;

- a significant cost saving is achieved due to the lower amount of high-quality materials used for finishing purposes (side-walls and paving tiles); the weight due to the presence of these materials is also reduced; all the above because such materials are used only as a coating and not with a structural function;

- maximum simplicity and flexibility of use, both in phase of setting up, and in possible renovations of the architectural design of the roof-garden surface, thanks to the total re-usability of the various modular components.

The present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. It should be understood that there can be other embodiments falling within the scope of the invention, as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A modular panel (17) for realizing a roof-garden system to be arranged on a flat laying surface, said modular panel defining a plane (X) for arranging organic cultivation material, characterized in that said modular panel comprises a peripheral support frame (4) adapted to keep said plane (X) in elevation with respect to said laying surface and thus defining a passage (7, 7') adapted to permit, at least, the flow of air and/or water, engagement means (1) being further provided over said plane (X) for the engagement of wall means (11) adapted to rise from said plane (X) for containing said cultivation material side-ways, said engagement means (1) being also adapted to engage with paving means (9, 15) for lining the top of said panel and/or with other supplementary furnishing elements.

2. The modular panel according to claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a plurality of cells (1) in relief with respect to said plane (X) for the containment and the flowing of air in communication with said passage, arranged in orderly ranks and alternated with cells (2) recessed with respect to said plane (X), said recessed cells being adapted to receive and collect irrigation liquid.

3. The modular panel according to claim 2, wherein said engagement means (1) comprise said plurality of in-relief cell (1).

4. The modular panel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said cells (1 , 2) are cylindrical or prismatic with an axis orthogonal with said plane (X), and cup-shaped with the concavity facing said laying surface as far as said in-relief cells (1) are concerned, while the concavity is opposite to the laying surface in said recessed cells (2).

5. The modular panel according to claim from 2 to 4, comprising a plurality of channels (3), with the concavity facing opposite to said laying surface, adapted to convey the irrigation liquid, the ends of said channels being associated to hydraulic junctions means (8) arranged at the sides of the panel.

6. The modular panel according to claim 5, wherein said hydraulic junctions means comprise protruding hoses (8) housed in recesses (9) defined on said peripheral frame (4).

7. The modular panel according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said channels (3) comprise two channels mutually crossing along the median axis of the panel.

8. The modular panel according to any of the claims from 2 to 7, wherein on said in-relief cells (1) ventilation holes (10) are formed at the top, for the gaseous exchange with the cultivation material.

9. The modular panel according to any of the claims from 4 to 8, wherein said in- relief cells (1) have, at the base, protruding skirts (6) projecting peripherally outwards, for the abutment and the engagement with said wall means (11) and of said paving means (9, 15).

10. The modular panel according to any of the previous claims, comprising a peripheral lip (5) projecting from said plane (X) from the side opposite to the laying surface, said lip (5) being adapted to operate as a containment and regulation barrier of the maximum level of the irrigation liquid.

11. The modular panel according to claim 10, wherein said cells (1 , 2) and said lip (5) are sized so that between said plane (X) and said recessed cells (2) a volume of liquid is received substantially double with respect to the volume of air defined between said in-relief cells (1) and said plane (X).

12. The modular panel according to any of the previous claims, wherein said peripheral frame (4, 4') comprises angular portions having an increased height, said passage (7, 7') being defined between said angular portions.

13. The modular panel according to any of the previous claim, wherein said peripheral frame is adapted to be associated with lifting feet (14, 22) for increasing in an adjustable manner the elevation of said plane (X) from said laying surface, so as to allow the arrangement of facility components and/or framework for load distribution, without elevation limits.

14. The modular panel according to claim 13, wherein said lifting feet (14, 22) are adjustable in height and /or inclination.

15. A roof-garden system characterized in that it comprises a plurality of panels according to any of the previous claims, to be arranged so as to realize an extended coverage of said laying surface.

16. The roof-garden system according to claim 15, further comprising containment wall means (11) with a base portion (18) bent in a L-shape adapted to engage with said engagement means (1) of said panels.

17. The roof-garden system according to claim 16, wherein said base portion (18) comprises a distribution of holes (18a) adapted to engage with one or more ranks of in-relief cells (1) of said panels.

18. The roof-garden system according to any of the claims from 15 to 17, further comprising paving means with floating paving tiles (15) and net-like means (19) to be arranged between said tiles and said panels engaging with said engagement means (1) of said panels.

19. The roof-garden system according to any of the claims from 15 to 17, further comprising hydraulic junction means adapted to be engaged with said panels to convey irrigation liquid between a panel and the other or from a panel towards the outside.

20. The roof-garden system according to any of the claims from 15 to 19, further comprising support means (14) adapted to engage with said panel for increasing the elevation from said laying surface.

21. The roof-garden system according to any of claims from 15 to 20, further comprising framework elements adapted to support said panels to share the load due to the cultivation layer and to the vegetation on the underlying floor.