EP2896762B1

EP2896762B1 - Mounting method of a flexible light-bearing tunnel in a tunnel skylight

Info

Publication number: EP2896762B1
Application number: EP14199094.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lukasz Mucha
Original assignee: Fakro PP Sp zoo
Current assignee: Fakro PP Sp zoo
Priority date: 2014-01-20
Filing date: 2014-12-19
Publication date: 2018-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-19
Also published as: EP2896762A1; PL406891A1; PL2896762T3

Description

The present invention relates to a method for coupling and mounting of the flexible light-bearing tunnel in the tunnel skylight, consisting of elements in supply condition.
Typical design of tunnel skylights essentially consist of three main components: an outer element, a light-bearing tunnel and an inner element. The outer element is mounted in the outer partition of the building. The roof slope is it in the most solutions, and in such solution the outer element is referred to as a roof element. There are also solutions in which the outer element is mounted in the outer wall of the building. The inner element is mounted in one of the inner partitions, i.e. in the ceiling or the inner wall of the illuminated room and is used for the direct emission of the conducted light into the room.
It is connected with the outer element via light-bearing tunnel, which preferably has the shape of an expediently circular tube coated inside with a layer of an excellent light reflecting material. There are other cross-sectional shapes of the light-bearing tunnel, but the simplest and cheapest solution is a round tube: rigid, flexible or corrugated.
Basically, the mounting method of the tunnel skylights consists of two stages. The assembly of the outer element in the outer partition and the assembly of the inner element in the inner partition is the first stage. The mounting of the light-bearing tunnel and linking with the outer and the inner element is the second stage being the subject of the invention.
It is a known state of the art, wherein the skylight is equipped with a flexible light-bearing tunnel of the length specified by the manufacturer. There are solutions also known from the market in which the flexible tube of the skylight is terminated with a rigid tube serving as a connecting element to the body of the outer element of the skylight.
The required length of the light-bearing tunnel varies due to a freedom of arrangement of the outer element of the skylight mounted in the outer partition relative to the inner element mounted in the inner partition. In the case of an excessed length of the light-bearing tunnel it is shortened by cutting away the superfluous part during final assembly of the building. In most cases the edge of the light-bearing tunnel after trimming should be in one plane, eg. to create a circle perpendicular to the axis. Such a method of preparation of the light-bearing tunnel increases the risk of damage during installation and requires special care when cutting, which in practice forces the execution of the operation by a trained person with high manual dexterity. As is apparent from the description, this assembly method is laborious. Furthermore, in case of a bad evaluation of the required length the repetition of cutting too long light-bearing tunnel is necessary.
In the case of trimming of the light-bearing tunnel too short the exchange for new and repeat of the operation may even be required. Preparation of the length of the light-bearing tunnel for the specific solution in consultation with the supplier or the manufacturer may be a special solution and making installation easier. However, this requires the prior effort to determine the exact dimensions and negotiations with the supplier. The requirement for precise adjustment of the length of the light-bearing tunnel stems from the condition of maximum flow of light through the tunnel skylight, which is satisfied by properly tensioned flexible light-bearing tunnel without unnecessary bends and undulations of the inner surface. Methods of mounting a flexible skylight tunnel between a skylight and a ceiling are known from JP H108658 A , EP 0313461 A1 , WO 02/25032 A2 and especially US 4339900 A1 . The goal of the proposed invention is a mounting method of a light-bearing tunnel skylight, eliminating the need for its trimming and such a preparation of the kit that it could be in this range of activities installed quickly and without tools.
A solution to the implementation of the present purpose is the subject of the invention as defined by claim 1 : the method of the mounting of the light-bearing tunnel on the inner element, usually embedded in the ceiling of the illuminated room or on the outer element embedded usually in the roof of the building. The light-bearing tunnel consists essentially of two parts: the rigid tube and the flexible tube. The flexible tube is the easily deformable element made essentially from a thin shell, to which the resilient wire shaped in the form of a spiral coil is attached on the outer surface. The stroke of the winding of the spiral and the number of coils are dependent on the projected maximal extension of the light-bearing tunnel. Such prepared flexible tube is slid over on the part of the rigid tube.
The remaining part of rigid tube is used as the mounting part, for connecting the light-bearing tunnel to the outer element, the inner element or the other flexible tube. During the operations of sliding on the rigid tube the spiral reduces its stroke, preferably to a value slightly larger than the diameter of the wire of the spiral and the elastic tube is assembled between the spiral and the outer surface of the rigid tube.
In the supply condition the flexible tube is compressed and sliding on the rigid tube. Mutual relation of the flexible tube and the rigid tube diameters must be selected so that the flexible tube with the spiral provide elastic pressure to the outer surface of the rigid tube and guarantee protection against self slipping off the flexible tube under the influence for example of the force of gravity. There are a number of alternative ways for tunnel skylight mounting depending on the prefabrication supply condition, where prefabrication consisting of an outer element, an inner element and the light-bearing tunnel, which consists of a rigid tube and pulled over it the flexible tube.
The following options of light-bearing tunnel preparation as being part of the skylight prefabrication may take place in prefabrication supply condition:

A - the light-bearing tunnel is removably attached to the outer element of the skylight,
B - the light-bearing tunnel is removably attached to the inner element of the skylight,
C - the light-bearing tunnel is permanently joined with the outer element of the skylight,
D - the light-bearing tunnel is permanently joined with the inner element of the skylight,
E - the light-bearing tunnel is a separate element combined during the assembly with the outer or inner element or with the other light-bearing tunnel of the skylight; during the assembly, the flexible tube is stretched to the desired length and coupled with the inner element or outer element of the skylight,

The length of the rigid tube in the part with the pushed flexible tube is preferably similar to the length of the flexible tube compressed and fastened to the rigid tube. However, in this state, substantially the flexible tube does not extend beyond the rigid tube.
The assembly of the inner element of the skylight in the inner partition limiting the room, to which the light have to be supplied, is the first step of the method of installation. In parallel, the outer element must be installed in the outer partition, usually in the roof.
The next step of assembling is operation I, where a combination of the rigid tube of the light-bearing tunnel with the outer or inner element takes place. This operation occurs in the case where in the prefabrication supply condition the light-bearing tunnel is not connected with said elements.
The next operation II, is stretching of the light-bearing tunnel to the desired length. This action involves pulling of the flexible tube by its free end, this leads to the sequential coil after coil, automatic stretching of the flexible tube and slippage of subsequential coils of the flexible tube from the rigid tube. During this operation, the self-resilient formation of the flexible tube of the light-bearing tunnel occurs by sliding of the subsequential coils from the rigid tube, increasing the stroke between subsequential coils, and thus, the development of the complex surface of the flexible tube. In this way, such a portion of the light-bearing tunnel is developed that is required for maximum shortest connection of the inner element of the skylight with its outer element. The axially compressed light-bearing tunnel is slightly tight mounted on the rigid tube, which protects it from accidental slipping and ensures that the development of the coil after coil from the side provided to connect to the inner element of the skylight. Easily jerky strip, eg. paper in the form of a strip, sticked parallel to the axis on the outer side of the collapsed light-bearing tunnel in the supply condition may be an additional protection. The sections of the strip break off in the sequence of developed coils of the light-bearing tunnel.
In the case where the length of one light-bearing tunnel is inadequate for various reasons, its extension may be used by combining two or more. Connecting of the light-bearing tunnels one with other is the operation III. It involves the application of the developed part of the flexible tube of the one light-bearing tube on the rigid tube of the another tunnel. If the length of the light-bearing tunnel is sufficient, the operation III is ignored.
The connection of the flexible tube of the light-bearing tunnel with the unconnected element of the skylight, which may be, depending on the options previously described, the inner or outer element is the next stage of the assembly. These are the steps as one of the operations IVa, IVb. The connection of the light-bearing tunnel and the inner or outer element must be secured against accidental disconnection, using e.g. the adhesive tape.
The operation IVa involves the connection of the light-bearing tunnel with the inner element. This case occurs when the rigid tube at the beginning of assembly operation I is connected to the outer element of the skylight.
The operation IVb involves the connection of the light-bearing tunnel with the outer element, in the case where the rigid tube in the supply condition is connected to the inner element or the connection was made during the previous operation.
The protection against self-development of the remaining undeveloped coils of the light-bearing tunnel e.g. with adhesive tape is the ending stage of the assembly. The method of the mounting being the subject of the invention provides a development of only a required length of the light-bearing tunnel without having to shorten it in the event of excess length. The mentioned excess remains undeveloped on the rigid tube, which has a significant impact on the maintenance of a high transmittance of the light beam. This is a result of the restrictions to the minimum amount of bends and curves and smooth stretched inner surface of the light-bearing tunnel. Simplicity, the fast installation time and the maximum efficiency of the skylight are thus assured.
The ability to re-overlap of the free turns of the flexible tube on the rigid tube, which gives full freedom during assembly and allows the strong straining of the light-bearing tunnel after its connection with the outer element and the inner element is an additional advantage of the proposed invention.
Subsequential steps of the assembly of the light-bearing tunnel according to the invention are shown in the simplified drawings from Fig. 1 to Fig. 4b,

The Fig. 1 shows the light-bearing tunnel consist of the circular rigid tube and slipped on it axially compressed flexible tube. The drawing contains a side view and a fragment of the longitudinal section through the wall of the light-bearing tunnel.
The Fig. 2a in the side view shows the state of the tunnel skylight assembly after operation I for option A and C, after which the light-bearing tunnel is connected to the outer element of the skylight.
The Fig. 2b in the side view shows the state of the tunnel skylight assembly after operation I for option B and D, after which the light-bearing tunnel is connected to the inner element of the skylight.
The Fig. 3 in the side view shows the state of the skylight tunnel assembly after the operation III which is the optional case E, which consists in applying of the developed part of the flexible tube of one light-bearing tunnel on the rigid tube of the another light-bearing tunnel.
The Fig. 4a in the side view shows the state of the tunnel skylight assembly after operation IVa for options A, C, E, after which the light-bearing tunnel, stretched from the side of the outer element is connected to the inner element of the skylight.
The Fig. 4B shows the state of the tunnel skylight assembly after operation IVb for options B, D, E , after which the light-bearing tunnel, stretched from the side of the inner element is connected to the outer element of the skylight.

Methods of assembling in examples of the execution depend on the particular options given in the description as cases from A to E, being the description of the preparation of the prefabrication to the assembly.
In the first example of the execution, the light-bearing tunnel 1 is in skylight prefabrication supply condition in the configuration of the option A, i.e. is removably attached to the outer element 2 of the skylight. The light-bearing tunnel 1 consists of the rigid tube 11 and the flexible tube 12, by means of which it is removably connected to the outer element 2. The shell 121 and the spiral 122 are components of the flexible tube 12.
In the option C similar to the option A, the rigid tube 11 is permanently joined with the outer element 2 of the skylight. The light-bearing tunnel 1 in prefabrication supply condition according to the option A or C is shown in the simplified Fig. 2a. In this case of the execution, the method of the assembly comprises sequentially operations II and IVa.
In the operation IVa the flexible tube 12 is applied to the circular mounting flange 31 of the inner element 3. Condition of the system after the above operations is shown in Fig. 4a.
In a second example of the execution, the light-bearing tunnel 1 in skylight prefabrication supply condition is in the configuration of the option B, i.e. it is in a removable manner attached to the inner element 3 of the skylight or in configuration of the option D similar to the option B, in which the rigid tube 11 is permanently joined with inner element 3 of the skylight. The light-bearing tunnel 1 in the prefabrication supply condition according to the option B or D is shown in the simplified Fig. 2b. In this case of the execution, the method of the assembly comprises sequentially operations II and IVb. In the operation IVb the flexible tube 12 is applied to the circular mounting flange 21 of the outer element 2. Condition of the system after the above operations is shown in Fig. 4b.
In the third example of the execution, the light-bearing tunnel 1 in skylight prefabrication supply condition is in the configuration of the option E, i.e. it is a separate part combined during the assembly with the outer element 2 and inner element 3 and, if necessary, an additional light-bearing tunnel 1 ' of the skylight. The light-bearing tunnel 1 in the supply condition according to the option E is shown in the Fig. 1.
In case of the option E, the method of the assembly consists of sequentially operations I, II, IVa, IVb. In the option E, there are two possible configurations. First, wherein the rigid tube 11 is connected to the outer element 2 and the flexible tube 12 is applied to the mounting flange 31 of the inner element 3 and the second wherein the rigid tube 11 is joined to the inner element 3 and the flexible tube 12 is applied to the mounting flange 21 of the outer element 2. In case of necessary of the extension of the light-bearing tunnel, it is possible to supplement of the assembly process with the operation III of the assembly of the light-bearing tunnel 1' of the skylight, after operation II. The operation III in one of possible variants consists of the putting of the end of a flexible tube 12 of the light-bearing tunnel 1 on the rigid tube 11' of the additional light-bearing tunnel 1', and following operation IVb consists of the putting of the end of a flexible tube 12' on the mounting flange 31 of the inner element 3. Condition of the system after the above operations is shown in Fig. 3.
In each of the above showed examples of the execution the connection of the imposed flexible tube 12 with the rigid tube 11 with the mounting flanges 21 and 31 must also be secured, e.g. by means of adhesive tape. Additionally undeveloped coils of the flexible tube 12 remaining on the rigid tube 11 shall be secured against accidental unwanted spreading, e.g. by gluing them with adhesive tape.

Claims

The method of assembling of a flexible tunnel skylight for conducting the sunlight into a room inside a building, said skylight in prefabrication supply condition consists of an outer element (2), an inner element (3) and a light-bearing tunnel (1), wherein said inner element (3) is mounted substantially within the inner partition of the building, said light-bearing tunnel (1) has the length matched during the assembly and said outer element (2) is mounted in the opening of the outer partition of the building, wherein the light-bearing tunnel (1) comprises a rigid tube (11) and a flexible tube (12) integrated with an elastic flexible spiral coil (122), wherein said flexible tube (12) in prefabrication supply condition is compressed axially and is slid over the rigid tube (11), and said light-bearing tunnel (1) is engaged with the inner or the outer element in the assembly process at the building wherein increasing the length of the light-bearing tunnel (1) in assembly operations is carried out in the operation (II) of stretching, and subsequential sliding coil after coil of the flexible tube (12) from the rigid tube (11) by pulling of the flexible tube by its free end, characterized in that the flexible tube (12) integrated with the coil (122) in the prefabrication supply condition is slipped substantially wholly on the rigid tube (11) and a resilient pressure of the flexible tube (12) using a spiral (122) to the outer surface of the rigid tube (11) provides protection against the flexible tube (12) accidentally slipping.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-bearing tunnel (1) is protected against streching in the form of the easily breaked off tape connecting spiral coils (122) of the flexible tube (12).
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-bearing tunnel (1) in skylight prefabrication supply condition is attached to the outer element (2) of the skylight in operation (I) where a combination of the rigid tube of the light-bearing tunnel with the outer or inner element takes place.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-bearing tunnel (1) in skylight prefabrication supply condition is attached to the inner element (3) of the skylight in operation (I) where a combination of the rigid tube of the light-bearing tunnel with the outer or inner element takes place.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid tube (11) of the light-bearing tunnel (1) in skylight prefabrication supply condition is permanently joined with the outer element (2) of the skylight.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid tube (11) of the light-bearing tunnel (1) in skylight prefabrication supply condition is permanently joined with the inner element (3) of the skylight.
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-bearing tunnel (1) in skylight prefabrication supply condition is a separate element combined with the outer element (2) or the inner element (3) or with the rigid tube (11') of an additional light-bearing tunnel (1') of the skylight during assembly in operation (III) where the light-bearing tunnels are connected one with the other.
The method according to claim 1, or 2, or 3, or 5, or 6 characterized in that it comprises the operation (IVa) of connecting the flexible tube (12) of the light-bearing tunnel (1) with the mounting flange (31) of the inner element (3).
The method according to claim 1, or 2, or 4, or 5, or 7 characterized in that it comprises the operation (IVb) of connecting the flexible tube (12) of the light-bearing tunnel (1) with the mounting flange (21) of the outer element (2).