[0001] The present invention relates to an assembled roof element comprising at least one
first profiled plate which is manufactured from a composite material and which serves
as element supporting the assembled roof element.
[0002] In this paragraph a number of examples of known roof elements for skylight barrel
vaults are described. A roof element which is common in Belgium is constructed from
one or more profiled plates which are manufactured from a polyester resin reinforced
with glass fibres. These are referred to as PRV (polyester renforcé de fibres de verre)
skylight barrel vaults. In such skylight barrel vaults the U-value is relatively high.
The U-value, or coefficient of heat transmission (W/m
2K), indicates how much heat is lost per second through 1 m
2. Therefore, the lower the U-value, the better the roof element insulates.
[0003] Another known skylight barrel vault is constructed from a combination of aluminium
curved profiles for supporting multi-walled polycarbonate plates. Such a construction
has the drawback that expensive aluminium profiles are necessary.
[0004] The present invention has for its object to propose an assembled roof element for
which the desired U-value and rigidity can be obtained in simple manner with an inexpensive
construction in which expensive aluminium supporting profiles are not necessary.
[0005] The invention is distinguished for this purpose in that the assembled roof element
comprises
- at least one first light-transmitting profiled plate for the purpose of forming an
element supporting the assembled roof element, this profiled plate being manufactured
from a composite material; and
- at least one second plate of a plastic material, which plate is supported by the at
least one first plate.
[0006] The first plate of a composite material thus functions here as the supporting element,
while the U-value can be brought to the desired value by a suitable choice of a multi-walled
plate.
[0007] The second plate is preferably a flexible multi-walled plate.
[0008] The composite material is preferably a resin from the group of: polyester resin or
other thermoset resins. Glass fibres can optionally be added to further strengthen
the material.
[0009] The plastic material of the second plate is preferably a material from the group
of: polycarbonate, acrylate, PET or other thermoplasts. These materials have the advantage
that light-transmitting, flexible and light multi-walled plates can be manufactured,
for instance by extrusion. The top side of the second plate must here preferably be
given a UV-resistant form.
[0010] For an improved strength of the first profiled plate of composite resin, this plate
can have a ribbed profile in longitudinal section. The profiled supporting plate preferably
describes an arcuate form in transverse direction.
[0011] The multi-walled plates are preferably provided on two transverse sides with a connecting
profile, whereby the transverse sides of two adjacent second plates can be connected
to each other. This can for instance be a protruding transverse part on a first transverse
side and a transverse recess on the other transverse side, which can be mutually engaging.
[0012] According to a possible embodiment the multi-walled plate is bent close to the longitudinal
side for mounting these longitudinal sides on an upstand. This can typically take
place by means of a simple bending process.
[0013] According to another possible embodiment the first and second plate can be mounted
on an upstand by means of a mounting profile, optionally with additional clamping
profile.
[0014] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a number of non-limitative
exemplary embodiments of the assembled roof element according to the invention, with
reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:
figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of an assembled roof element according to the
invention arranged on upstands;
figures 2 (A), (B), (C), (D) show four possible variants for mounting of the roof
element on the upstand;
figures 3 (A), (B), (C) show three possible longitudinal sections of the ends of a
multi-walled plate of an assembled roof element according to the invention;
figures 4 (A), (B) show two possible longitudinal sections of the first plate of composite
resin of an assembled roof element according to the invention.
[0015] The same components are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.
[0016] The assembled roof element shown in cross-section in figure 1 comprises one first
curved plate 1 manufactured from a composite resin and one second multi-walled plate
2 of a plastic material. The second multi-walled flexible plate is supported by the
first rigid plate 1. This embodiment is typically used in so-called skylight barrel
vaults, wherein a number of such assembled roof elements can be arranged adjacently
of each other in longitudinal direction on upstands 3.
[0017] Figure 2(A) shows a first method of mounting the roof element on upstand 3. The supporting
first plate 1 is pushed into a profile 4. Second plate 2 is fixed by means of a clamping
profile 5. In the shown embodiment this clamping profile 5 engages behind a protruding
rib 17 of profile 4 and in a recess 18 which is provided on the top side of plate
2, close to the longitudinal side thereof.
[0018] Figure 2(B) illustrates a second method of connecting the roof element to the upstand.
First and second plates 1, 2 are herein mounted on upstand 3 by means of a mounting
profile 4 fixed to the upstand and having two longitudinal channels for the respective
longitudinal sides of plates 1, 2.
[0019] Figure 2(C) shows a third variant in which the second plate is bent along a longitudinal
seam 5 and connected to the upstand by means of a screw 6.
[0020] Figure 2(D) shows a fourth variant in which plate 1 is connected by means of a screw
8 to an upstand with an oblique top side and plate 2 is connected by means of a screw
7 to the first plate.
[0021] Note that these are only a number of examples and that any method known in the art
suitable for the roof element can be employed.
[0022] Figures 3(A)-(C) show three examples of a second plate in longitudinal section.
[0023] According to a first variant, which is shown in figure 3(A), two adjacent second
plates are mutually connected in longitudinal direction by an overlapping and snapping
connection. In the shown embodiment a first transverse side of a second plate is provided
for this purpose with a substantially gutter-like part 20 with a downward directed
opening, and the other transverse side is provided with two flexible, upward directed
ribs 21, 22. This gutter-like part 20 and ribs 21, 22 co-acting therewith are formed
such that the ribs can be snapped into the gutter-like part. This gutter-like part
20 and ribs 21, 22 can be manufactured integrally with second plate 2.
[0024] A second variant, shown in figure 3(B), has a protruding transverse part 10 on a
first transverse side thereof, and a transverse recess 9 on a second transverse side.
In this manner adjacent second plates can be mutually connected in simple manner.
According to a second variant, shown in figure 3(C), a transverse side is provided
with a vertical flange 12, which can be arranged in a transverse gutter 11 on the
other transverse side of an adjacent plate 2. Once again it is possible to envisage
many other variants which are known to the skilled person.
[0025] Finally, figure 4 shows two examples of a first plate 1 in longitudinal section.
According to a possible embodiment, strengthening ribs 13 are provided in transverse
direction, wherein one transverse rib 13 overlaps in each case with a transverse rib
13' of an adjacent plate. According to another possibility shown in figure 4(B), the
first curved plate is plane and a gutter-flange 15, 14 connection is used to mutually
connect adjacent plates.
[0026] The invention is not limited to the above illustrated examples, and the scope of
protection is defined solely by the appended claims.
1. Assembled roof element, comprising
- at least one first light-transmitting profiled plate for the purpose of forming
an element supporting the assembled roof element, this profiled plate being manufactured
from a composite material; and
- at least one second plate of a plastic material, which plate is supported by the
at least one first plate.
2. Assembled roof element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the or each second plate is a multi-walled plate.
3. Assembled roof element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second plate is flexible.
4. Assembled roof element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first plate is curved.
5. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the composite material is a resin from the group of: polyester resin, thermoset resins.
6. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the plastic material of the second plate is a material from the group of: polycarbonate,
acrylate and other thermoplasts.
7. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the or each profiled plate is bent.
8. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the multi-walled plate is provided on both transverse sides with a connecting profile,
whereby transverse sides of two adjacent second plates can be connected to each other.
9. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the second plate is bent close to each longitudinal side for mounting of this longitudinal
side on an upstand.
10. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first and second plate can be mounted on an upstand by means of a mounting profile.
11. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first plate can be mounted on an upstand by means of a mounting profile and that
the second plate can be connected to the first plate by means of a clamping profile.
12. Assembled roof element as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the top side of the second plate is UV-resistant.