WO2013069032A1

WO2013069032A1 - Modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings

Info

Publication number: WO2013069032A1
Application number: PCT/IT2011/000373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valeria Gambardella
Original assignee: Valeria Gambardella
Priority date: 2011-11-11
Filing date: 2011-11-11
Publication date: 2013-05-16
Also published as: EP2776641A1

Abstract

A modular assembly (1) for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings comprising at least one upper panel (2) and at least one laminar element (3), preferably translucent, whose upper corner edges (4, 5) are incident and interconnected and whose lower corner edges (6, 7) are coupled to corresponding appendages (8, 9) of a hole (10) opening into the top of the installation building. At least one corresponding frame beam (11) is interposed between the lower corner edge (6, 7) of one or both of the panel (2) and the laminar element (3) and the corresponding appendage (8, 9) of the hole (10) opening into the top of the building, and at least one specific component of the type of a hinge (12) is interposed between the mutually incident upper corner edges (4, 5).

Description

MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE PROVISION OF COVERINGS AND PORTIONS OF ROOFS OF BUILDINGS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a modular assembly for the provision of coverings (by this term meaning roofs and generally the structural elements that provide the upper closure of buildings in general) and portions of roofs, with particular reference to the provision of coverings of the type known as shed roofing.

Background Art

Shed roofing coverings are technical solutions employed predominantly in the industrial building sector, a field in which specific characteristics of natural illumination are often necessary and in which artificial lighting also entails specific requirements codified by specific regulations.

Such coverings are characterized by the presence of a plurality of elements with a prismatic shape (a substantially triangular cross-section) arranged in parallel, in which a first face (the upper one) is inclined for the suitable conveyance and draining of rainwater (and the shedding of any snow) and a second substantially vertical face is made of transparent materials for the free entry of natural light. The free ends of the two faces (two end edges of the faces are coupled to constitute the upper corner edge of the prismatic element) are rigidly coupled to the borders (generally made of cement, steel or other material used in construction) that delimit the hole opening into the roof in which the prismatic element is to be installed.

Each prismatic element which constitutes the covering is generically called a shed roofing unit in the field of construction.

Currently the provision of shed roofing is exclusively by way of craft work. For the installation use is therefore made of sheet metal working (working and laying of sheets of various kinds, formats and thicknesses) for the provision of each component and the fixing thereof to the borders that delimit the hole opening into the roof in which the shed roofing is to be installed.

The very fact that the components are assembled during the laying means that the quality thereof and of their performance (resistance to entry of water and/or wind) is subordinated to the appraisal and to the skills of the craftworker.

Naturally an optimal installation is very complicated and requires a long time, and is thus consequently very expensive.

In order to compensate for irregularities in the masonry surfaces to which the shed roofing components are to be connected, craftworkers use sealants of the type of silicone and the like. Such sealants ensure an optimal seal in the period immediately after their installation, but can however degenerate owing to thermomechanical ageing as a result of exposure to the outside environment.

The recent regulations on energy savings require that a building be subject to determined conditions, linked to the heat transmission rate of its walls and of its door and window frames.

Shed roofing units, provided on site by specialist craftworkers, are not distinguished by specific indices of heat transmission. In particular, while the panel and the glazed portion can be provided with suitable certifications from the producer, the frame assembled on site by the craftworker will exhibit uncodified characteristics that will make it impossible to define an overall heat transmission index of the shed roofing.

Thus, essentially, conventional forms of shed roofing are components that cannot be suitably certified for the purposes of conformance to regulations on saving energy and, generally, on the heat insulation of buildings.

Conventional forms of shed roofing moreover exhibit poor structural and supporting performance levels and thus do not permit special installations and, in general, have a reduced versatility of use. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, by providing a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that is simple to install.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that is distinguished by a specific heat transmission index, in conformance with the regulations in force in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that can be certified for its thermal insulation performance levels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that offers good structural performance and corresponding support performance, thus permitting special installations and, generally, offering high versatility of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that is adapted to be correctly installed even on uneven surfaces, without the risk of infiltration of water or passage of air drafts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings which is low-cost, relatively easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

This aim and these objects are achieved by a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings of the type comprising at least one upper panel and at least one laminar element, preferably translucent, whose upper corner edges are incident and interconnected and whose lower corner edges are coupled to corresponding appendages of a hole opening into the top of the installation building, characterized in that at least one corresponding frame beam is interposed between the lower corner edge of either or both of said panel and said laminar element and the corresponding appendage of the hole opening into the top of the building, and at least one specific component of the type of a hinge is interposed between said mutually incident upper corner edges.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view, sectioned along a transverse vertical plane, of a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a first enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a second enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view, sectioned along a transverse plane, of a component of a modular assembly according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a view from above, sectioned along a horizontal longitudinal plane, of a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings according to the invention.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, a modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings is generally designated with the reference numeral 1.

The modular assembly 1 comprises at least one upper panel 2 and at least one laminar element 3, preferably translucent.

The panel 2 can be provided by adopting different materials. Merely by way of example it is possible to provide such a panel with a sheet of metallic material (for example aluminum or sheets of galvanized or stainless steel) with which at least one layer of expanded material (or generically material having good thermal insulation characteristics) is associated. The metallic sheet will confer the necessary rigidity to the panel 2, while the layer of expanded material will ensure a suitable thermal insulation of the environment underlying the panel 2, when the panel 2 is in the installation configuration.

The upper corner edges (respectively 4 and 5) of the panel 2 and the element 3 are mutually incident and interconnected.

The lower corner edges (the lower corner edge 6 for the panel 2 and the lower corner edge 7 for the element 3) on the other hand are coupled to corresponding appendages 8 and 9 of a hole 10 opening into the top of the installation building.

At least one corresponding frame beam 11 is interposed between the lower corner edge 6 or 7 of either or both of the panel 2 and the laminar element 3 and the corresponding appendage, respectively 8 or 9, of the hole 10 opening into the top of the building.

Moreover, at least one specific component of the type of a hinge 12 (or other component having similar mechanical characteristics) is interposed between the mutually incident upper corner edges 4 and 5.

It should be noted that, in an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the hinge 12 is a ball hinge, i.e. it has three degrees of freedom of rotation and no degree of freedom of translational motion for the components associated therewith.

With particular reference to an application of undoubted efficiency and structural stability, the frame beams 11 are two in number, one interposed between the lower corner edge 6 of the panel 2 and the corresponding appendage 8 of the hole 10 opening into the top of the building and the other interposed between the lower corner edge 7 of the laminar element 3 and the corresponding appendage 9 of the hole 10 opening into the top of the building. This is particularly advantageous since the craftworker only has to take care to correctly mount the beams 11 in conditions of suitable alignment, and from this the perfect arrangement of the whole assembly 1 that will be installed on the beams 1 1 will automatically follow.

To further facilitate the installation operations, thus reducing the time necessary and requiring only simple operations from the craftworkers, the assembly 1 can comprise, interposed between the lower corner edge 6 of the panel 2 and the corresponding frame beam 1 1 , a second hinge 12 (or other equivalent component), also preferably of the ball type.

The two ball hinges 12 (or equivalent components) make it possible for the craftworker to place the panel 2 thereon, during the mounting step, and mount it independently of any unevenness of its inclination with respect to the design standard.

In fact, if the width of the opening hole 10 (i.e. the distance between the appendages 8 and 9) does not correspond to the design value, then conventional covering assemblies require modification operations (carried out on site) since adapted profiles will still have to be coupled with the corner edges of the appendages 8 and 9.

However, with the assembly 1 according to the invention, the arrangement of the beams 1 1 can be selected as a function of the maintenance of the ideal distance between them, since they rest on a flat surface 13 of the roof of the building. Moreover, any irregularities of the mutual positioning of the beams 1 1, owing to inaccuracies in the building or to small errors of installation of the beams 1 1 made by the craftworker, will still be tolerated by the assembly 1 since the mounting of the panel 2 on ball hinges 12 allows an orientation thereof that determines a certain adjustability of positioning thereof with respect to the beams 1 1.

For ensuring good structural properties and a rigid/elastic behavior adapted to tolerate the effect of the wind and/or a layer of snow, each assembly 1 can be provided with a supporting lattice 14 that is coupled to the frame beam 1 1 associated with the lower corner edge 6 of the panel 2 and with either or both of the translucent laminar element 3 and the frame beam 1 1 coupled to its lower corner edge 7.

More specifically the supporting lattice 14 generally has a lateral shape preferably selected from triangular and trapezoid. It will thus be coupled to the beam 1 1 , associated with the lower corner edge 6 of the panel 2, in the region, if the shape is triangular, of its corner facing the same, and, if the shape is trapezoid, of its shorter oblique side 15.

In such case, the side 16, opposite the region defined previously, will be coupled to the laminar element 3 and to the corresponding beam 11.

To this end the element 3 and the beams 1 1 comprise seats 17 for respective fixing bayonets 18 integral with the lattice 14.

The lattice 14, being rigidly coupled to the beams 1 1 and to the element 3 through the seats 17 and the fixing bayonets 18 determines a stiffening of the assembly 1 and enables it to support intense mechanical stresses determined, for example, by the effect of the wind or by a layer of snow.

The lattice 14, according to a particular embodiment that has excellent mechanical and structural performance, can be provided with at least one stiffening rod 19 interposed between the mutually interconnected structural bands that constitute it. With particular reference to the accompanying figures, the rod 19 will be interposed between the upper side and the lower side of the lattice 13. The possibility is not ruled out of arranging other rods 19 between other, different structural bands of the lattice, such as for example the side 15 and the side 16.

In order to optimize the versatility of the constituents of the assembly 1, thus minimizing the number of individual parts necessary to have in storage in order to allow any possible application of the assembly 1, one or both of the structural bands and the at least one rod 19 can be constituted by at least two components that are mutually slideable and interlockable according to a plurality of different configurations corresponding to different lengths.

Merely by way of non-limiting example, each band and each rod 19 can be provided with two substantially tubular telescopic portions provided with means of mutual coupling according to any mutual arrangement, defining a different overall length.

In order to ensure an effective installation independently of the characteristics of the installation surface 13 of the beams 1 1, between the at least one frame beam 11 and the appendage 8 or 9 of the opening hole 10 on which it is installed (with particular reference to the surface 13 to which the beam 1 1 is coupled) a lamina made of elastically deformable material 20 is interposed, defining a gasket seal against the passage of water and air between the beam 1 1 and the surface 13.

For clarifying the more specific and applicative aspects of the present invention as well, it should be mentioned that the panel 2 is coupled to the at least one hinge 12 (or other equivalent component) by means of anchorings obtained with screws 21, rivets, pins and the like, or adhesive bonding, association with sealant and/or adhesive substances, at regions proximate to a terminal edge 4 or 6 thereof.

In particular the adoption of screws 21 is extremely simple for the craftworker who, once the panel 2 is positioned on the hinges 12, needs only to make holes in the panel 2 and a portion of the hinge 12 and screw in the corresponding screw 21. If the craftworker uses screws of the type known as "self-tapping" then the perforation and screwing operations will be simultaneous, further speeding up the installation operations.

Conveniently, between the head of the screw 21 and the panel 2, washers and crowns made of deformable material can be arranged so as to ensure the optimal seal of the fixing against the passage of water and air.

Each panel 2, at the area within the regions proximate to its terminal edges 4 and 6 (in which the coupling to the respective hinges 12 is performed), can comprise at least one photovoltaic module (obviously directed toward the outside of the building so as to be affected by the incidence of solar radiation) of a type preferably selected from among crystalline silicon modules, amorphous silicon modules, cadmium telluride modules, cadmium sulfide modules, gallium arsenide modules, copper indium diselenide modules, cadmium copper indium diselenide modules, thin film modules, heteroj unction modules, microspherical silicon modules and the like.

The advantage of this solution is that of being able to install the assembly 1 for the provision of the entire covering (roof) of the building, thus obtaining, without the need for carrying out any further specific work except for the connection of the respective cables to the management and control system, a photovoltaic plant for generating electricity.

Similarly advantageous is the implementation opportunity in which the translucent laminar element 3 comprises a frame 22 and a plate 23 of translucent material. The plate 23 of translucent material can be coupled to the respective frame 22 with adapted degrees of freedom and degrees of restriction, in order to permit the opening thereof.

Generally the plates 23 are opened by way of the action of specific actuators.

The panel 2 comprises end overhangs 24 facing and proximate to the hinges 12 for protecting them from the direct effects of atmospheric agents.

This makes it possible to reduce the risk of infiltrations and of buildup of dirt (dust) proximate to the hinges 12.

Each hinge 12 (or equivalent component) can comprise at least one respective flap 25, substantially laminar, which can be coupled to the lower surface of the panel 2.

The purpose of such flap 25 is to increase the solidity of the coupling between the hinge 12 and the panel 2.

The mounting of an assembly 1 according to the invention consists in arranging the beams 1 1 , taking care to lay them on a corresponding lamina made of elastically deformable material 20, conveniently pre-instaHed, on the surfaces 13 of the edges 8 and 9 of the opening hole 10. The arrangement of the beams 1 1 must occur in conditions of substantial parallelism between them at a preset distance.

At this point it will be possible to fix the beams 1 1 by means of respective screws, inserts and the like to the surfaces 13.

Each hinge 12, like each frame intended to couple the element 3, can profitably be already associated with the corresponding beam 1 1.

In such case it is sufficient to arrange the panel 2 on the hinges and couple it to them by means of screws 21 (or with other means of fixing).

As has been shown, the mounting is particularly simplified and does not require on-site operations to modify the components.

Advantageously, therefore, the present invention solves the above- mentioned problems, by providing a modular assembly 1 for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings that is simple to install.

Conveniently the modular assembly 1 according to the invention is distinguished by a specific heat transmission index, in conformance with the regulations in force in construction.

In fact all the components adopted present characteristics that are specifically predefined. Since they do not have to undergo modifications during installation, such components can be prepared at the factory and thus will be distinguished by specific heat transmission rate values defined by the manufacturer. This makes it possible to easily calculate the overall value to be assigned to the assembly 1.

Positively the modular assembly 1 according to the invention can be certified for its performance levels, with particular reference to its heat transmission rate and to its permeability to air.

The ability to define the overall transmission rate values of the assembly 1 in fact enables the manufacturer to certify them, thus ensuring that the assembly 1 can conform with energy saving regulations.

Effectively, the modular assembly 1 is suitable for correct installation on uneven surfaces as well, without risks of infiltration of water or of the passage of air drafts.

The use of beams 1 1 laid out on flat surfaces, without resorting to coupling on the corner edges of the opening hole 10, and the arrangement of laminae made of elastically deformable material 20, ensure a compensation of unevenness of the installation surfaces.

Conveniently the modular assembly 1 according to the invention is low-cost and is relatively easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

Advantageously the modular assembly 1 according to the invention offers good structural performance levels and a corresponding support; this enables special installations and, generally, offers high versatility of use.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

1. A modular assembly for the provision of coverings and portions of roofs of buildings of the type comprising at least one upper panel (2) and at least one laminar element (3), preferably translucent, whose upper corner edges (4, 5) are incident and interconnected and whose lower corner edges (6, 7) are coupled to corresponding appendages (8, 9) of a hole (10) opening into the top of the installation building, characterized in that at least one corresponding frame beam (11) is interposed between the lower corner edge (6, 7) of either or both of said panel (2) and said laminar element (3) and the corresponding appendage (8, 9) of the hole (10) opening into the top of the building, and at least one specific component of the type of a hinge (12) is interposed between said mutually incident upper corner edges (4, 5).

2. The modular assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said hinge (12) is a ball hinge, i.e. with three degrees of freedom of rotation and no degree of freedom of translational motion.

3. The modular assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame beams (11) are two in number, one interposed between the lower corner edge (6) of the panel (2) and the corresponding appendage (8) of the hole (10) opening into the top of the building and the other interposed between the lower corner edge (7) of said laminar element (3) and the corresponding appendage (9) of the hole (10) opening into the top of the building.

4. The modular assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises, interposed between said lower corner edge (6) of the panel (2) and the corresponding frame beam (11), a second hinge (12), preferably of the ball type.

5. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a supporting lattice (14) is coupled to the frame beam (11) associated with the lower corner edge (6) of said panel (2) and to either or both of said translucent laminar element (3) and the frame beam (1 1) coupled to the lower corner edge (7) thereof.

6. The modular assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said supporting lattice (14) has a lateral shape preferably selected from triangular and trapezoid, being coupled to said beam (11) associated with the lower corner edge (6) of said panel (2), in the region, if the shape is triangular, of its corner facing the same, and, if the shape is trapezoid, of its shorter oblique side (15), and whose side (16), opposite the region defined previously, is coupled to said laminar element (3) and to the corresponding beam (1 1).

7. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lattice (14) is provided with at least one stiffening rod (19) interposed between the mutually interconnected structural bands that constitute it.

8. The modular assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that one or both of said structural bands and said at least one rod (19) are constituted by at least two components that are mutually slideable and interlockable according to a plurality of different configurations corresponding to different lengths.

9. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, between the at least one frame beam (1 1) and the appendage (8, 9) of the hole (10) on which it is installed, a lamina made of elastically deformable material (20) is interposed, defining a gasket seal against the passage of water and air between said beam (11) and said appendage (8, 9).

10. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (2) is coupled to the at least one hinge (12) by means of selected joints obtained with components preferably selected from anchoring elements, of the type of screws (21), rivets, pins and the like, and adhesive substances, sealants and the like, at regions proximate to a terminal edge (4, 6) thereof.

1 1. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (2), at the area within the regions proximate to its terminal edges (4, 6) in which the coupling to the respective hinges (12) is performed, comprises at least one photovoltaic module of a type preferably selected from crystalline silicon modules, amorphous silicon modules, cadmium telluride modules, cadmium sulfide modules, gallium arsenide modules, copper indium diselenide modules, cadmium copper indium diselenide modules, thin film modules, heterojunction modules, microspherical silicon modules and the like.

12. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said translucent laminar element (3) comprises a frame (22) and a plate (23) of translucent material, said plate (23) of translucent material being capable of being coupled to said frame (22) with suitable degrees of freedom and degrees of restriction, so as to allow the opening thereof.

13. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said panel (2) comprises end overhangs (24) facing and proximate to said hinges (12) for protecting them from the direct effects of atmospheric agents.

14. The modular assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hinge (12) comprises at least one respective substantially laminar flap (25) which can be coupled to the lower surface of the panel (2).