EP4069915A1

EP4069915A1 - A high-performance metal covering for roofs of buildings

Info

Publication number: EP4069915A1
Application number: EP20796945.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Menegoli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-05
Filing date: 2020-10-21
Publication date: 2022-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-21
Also published as: PL4069915T3; WO2021111206A1; EP4069915B1; IT201900023133A1

Abstract

A covering with a metal structure for roofs of buildings, comprising a plurality of slabs (10) having a substantially quadrilateral shape each of which is provided with profiled edges (17, 18) parallel and opposite to one another for reciprocal connection of the slabs (10) that are adjacent in a longitudinal direction and for formation of a joint (11) located between each of the adjacent slabs (10), wherein said profiled edges (17, 18) comprise bends (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), at least partly symmetrical on the two edges and further bends (25, 26) realised on at least one of the profiled edges (17), wherein said profiled edges (17, 18) comprise at least one curvature at the bends (21) located lower than the longitudinal axis (11) and higher than the central axis of the slab, said covering further comprising a bracket (12) adapted to conjoin the profiled edges (17, 18).

Description

A HIGH-PERFORMANCE METAL COVERING FOR ROOFS OF

BUILDINGS

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a high-performance metal covering for roofs of buildings.

In particular, it relates to a covering for roofs of buildings, which utilises a plurality of metal slabs adjacent to one another and connected by the special profiling of the lateral edges thereof.

Such edges are fixed on the underlying structure with the use of brackets and the system made in this way forms a continuous covering that is easy and rapid to install, long-lasting, very resistant to wind and adequate for the protection of the underlying building.

The present invention is advantageously applied in the sector of coverings for roofs of buildings in general and panel or slab coverings, in particular with a metal structure.

PRIOR ART

The use in the construction sector of various types of coverings for buildings is known, which in some cases, as in industrial buildings, establishments, airports or the like, are constituted by adjacent panels or slabs.

The coverings of roofs with large-surface elements, being panels or slabs, is usual for large surfaces, such as industrial sheds, or production facilities, or large infrastructures, because of the greater implementation velocity and low cost thereof.

The panels and slabs for coverings of buildings are prefabricated elements having large surfaces and supplied directly to the worksite, ready to mount and equipped with all the components and accessories for realising the comp1ete covering.

The panels and slabs are made of various metals, aluminium, copper, zinc, steel or the like, or of plastic materials, ABS, Polycarbonate, PVC, or the like.

The slabs that make them up can have various dimensions, both in length (from less than one metre up to hundreds of metres) and in width, which is usually not greater than a metre. Further, the slabs can have various dimensions, both for static reasons and for the limitation in width of the laminated coil that they originate from.

It is also known in this sector that the lateral edges of the covering panels or slabs can be connected to enable conjoining thereof in very many ways, from a simple superposing of the edges to very complex geometries with drainage channels in the joint, up to fixing surfaces to the sub-structure, utilising geometries suitable to special fixing systems.

In this case, where geometries suitable to special fixing systems are used, the fixing brackets can be made of metal or plastic materials, can avoid the need for piercing of the slabs, and can allow for dilation of the slabs in the lengthwise direction.

Further, the choice of geometry of the slab and the metal in production determines the frequency of the fixings in the lengthwise direction and the mechanical performance at concentrated positive load, for example so as to support foot traffic, at distributed load, such as snow and wind, and at negative load, as in the typical cases of wind-uplift, i.e. the lifting thrust of the wind.

To complete the system there exist innumerable systems external of the slabs for fixing, with or without piercing, clamps, hooks etc., made of various materials and suitable for application on the roof of various accessories, such as snow catches, anti-fall systems, solar panels, walkways, plants, etc.

An example of these covering systems is described in document EP 0964114 which proposes providing a connection or constraining assembly of accessories to coating panels or slabs for covering buildings which enables conjoining the overlapped edging of two adjacent panels/slabs, without any need for piercing the panels/slabs to which the assembly is applied.

According to this solution, the use of gripping and hooking components is included, which gripping and hooking components are applicable on the conjoined edges of two adjacent panels/slabs, which are fixable by use of a tightening and constraint component which, in this case, has the characteristic of including at least one part being adapted to enable constraint of an accessory, represented for example by solar panels or other components and accessories located on the covering.

Despite some of the systems having good performance characteristics, there is however the need to provide high-performance coverings, especially to address the damage deriving from extreme atmospheric events that are progressively more frequent, such as typhoons and hurricanes. Further, there is a need to make available coverings which are also appreciable in architectonic terms. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to make available a metal covering for roofs of buildings, which utilises a plurality of metal slabs adjacent to one another and connected by the special profiling of the lateral edges thereof. In particular, the invention proposes to make available a covering which is able to improve the general performance of the system so as to satisfy the demands of the market as described in the foregoing.

In particular the invention provides a metal covering for roofs of buildings, the slabs thereof, located adjacent to one another, comprise edges which are fixed on the underlying structure with the use of specially profiled brackets and the system made in this way forms a continuous covering that is easy and rapid to install, long-lasting, very resistant to wind and perfectly adequate for the protection of the underlying building.

The present invention further aims to significantly improve the performance of the covering system in place, enabling an increase in terms of distance, or span, between successive rests in the lengthwise direction of the slabs, and/or a greater resistance to the wind-uplift phenomenon, i.e. the resistance to the lifting thrust of the wind.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the sliding of the slabs into the respective fixing brackets in order to enable free longitudinal dilation of the slabs themselves, enabling the manufacturing of even very long slabs (well above 100 metres), without compromising the limits of resistance to wind-uplift, as instead happens with systems presently in existence .

A further object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the number of bends of the profile of the edges of the panels/slabs to be placed against one another, in the interest of greater production cost effectiveness. In particular, a further object is to realise the bends of the profile of the edges of the panels/slabs to be placed against one another with a curvature radius that is sufficiently wide, so as to enable the use of hard metal alloys, for example aluminium alloys, on the one hand avoiding the risk of formation of cracks, which can lead to the breakage of the material, and on the other hand preventing decolouration or whitening of the surface (phenomena which occur, for example, when using PVDF paints).

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the mounting of external clamps, without any need to pierce the slabs, but guaranteeing great resistance thereof to the lateral, longitudinal and extraction stresses, without however increasing friction between the slabs and the fixing brackets.

The specified objects are substantially achieved by a high-performance metal covering for roofs of buildings, which comprises the technical features set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims correspond to further advantageous aspects of the invention.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention provided by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the drawings illustrated in the appended figures, in which: figure 1 illustrates the schematic view in axonometric perspective of three coating slabs according to the invention, connected to one another and to the underlying surface; figure 2 illustrates a detail of two edges and two coating slabs according to the invention placed against one another and maintained in retaining position by a mutual fitting; figure 3 shows a schematic perspective frontal view of three coating slabs according to the invention placed against one another and blocked to the sub- structure by use of respective fixing brackets for connection between the slabs and the sub-structure, not illustrated; figures 4 and 4' represent a schematic view of a portion of one of the coating slabs according to the invention, provided with opposite edges each having a complementary geometric profiling with respect to one another, to enable conjoining between slabs placed against one another; figure 5 represents a schematic view in axonometric perspective of two edge portions of two distinct coating slabs mutually placed against one another and located at a certain distance, i.e. prior to being conjoined; figure 6 illustrates a frontal view of the edges of two different adjacent slabs placed against one another prior to being conjoined; figure 7 represents a schematic view in axonometric perspective of one of the brackets utilised for safely retaining the edges of the conjoined slabs and for fixing them on the sub-structure, not illustrated; figures 8 and 9 are schematic frontal views which show the co-penetration of the shaped profiles of two edges placed against one another of the slabs, respectively before and after the introduction of the fixing bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the appended figures, and initially in particular to figure 1, 10 denotes in its entirety one of the slabs according to the invention which are used for coating a roof with a metal frame, while 10' and 10'' denote the adjacent slabs.

Each slab 10 has a substantially rectangular conformation, indicatively a width of about 0.5 metres and a length that can also be much above 100 metres. Given the specific conformation thereof, as will be more fully explained in the following, the slab can be made of hard metal alloys, for example aluminium alloy.

The slabs 10 are destined to be mutually conjoined to form the whole covering and for this purpose each pair of consecutive slabs coupled to one another form a longitudinal joint 11.

The connecting element of such longitudinal joint 11 is constituted by the geometry of the edges of the slabs, which are mutually retained, both by the co-penetration thereof, and by the fixing brackets 12 which join to one another two consecutive slabs and guarantee fixing of the slabs to the underlying structure, not illustrated.

The fixing brackets 12 are arranged as a function of the design, and in a normal situation, but not every situation, they would be aligned in both a transversal direction, being arranged at regular intervals interiorly of each longitudinal joint 11 (i.e. at a distance that corresponds to the width of the slab) and in a longitudinal direction, at a distance coinciding with the rests of the underlying structure, not illustrated herein, on which they are fixed.

The longitudinal joint 11 further guarantees the seal of the roof against penetration of water and air. The described system comprises a plurality of longitudinal joints 11 fixed on the underlying structure, on which the coupled slabs are hooked, forms a single continuous surface which constitutes the covering in its entirety.

According to an embodiment illustrated in figure 7, the fixing brackets 12 comprise a body typically made with a plastic material, or a metal material, or a group of these materials, or other materials, said body having a conformation generally defined by a flat base surface 13 which rests on the sub-structure of the roof.

The fixing bracket 12 comprises two holes 14 which constitute the housing of the fixing elements to the sub- structure, typically screws, or other suitable elements.

According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 7, the fixing bracket 12 has a central axis of frontal symmetry and has a shape that allows fixing of two consecutive slabs 10.

The shape of the fixing bracket 12 defines two opposite recesses 15 and 16, formed respectively by two portions 15' and 16' projecting upwards and inclined in a mutually specular direction towards the common median plane. The two recesses 15 and 16 are further specularly inclined, with respect to the common median plane, with the closest part to the central axis being lower and the distal part being higher. This inclination, as more fully described in the following, determines the best performance in relation to wind-uplift, i.e. the lifting thrust of the wind, with respect to the existing systems.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in figure 4, each single slab has two opposite profiled edges 17, 18 which are only partially symmetrical to one another, from a first bend, proximal with respect to the central axis of the slab, up to a sixth bend.

Bends 18a, 19a, 20a, and 21a of the profiled edge 17 and corresponding bends 18b, 19b, 20b and 21b of the profiled edge 18, are symmetrical to one another and coincide with the geometry of the fixing bracket 12. In particular, as is visible in figures 4 and 7, the pathway corresponding to the bends 21 of the slab, is housed in the recesses 15 and 16 of the fixing bracket 12.

More in particular said profiled edges 17, 18 comprise at least one curvature at the bends 21 located lower than the longitudinal axis of the joint 11 and higher than the central axis of the slab, so that said curvature is overall inclined.

Said fixing bracket 12 is adapted to conjoin the profiled edges 17, 18. The recesses 15, 16 are symmetrical to one another, respectively defined by two portions 15', 16', in which recesses said curvature formed by the bends 21 located respectively on the profiled edges 17, 18 of the slab is housed. The recesses 15, 16 have a shape that extends downwards towards the proximal portion with respect to the centre of the bracket, and upwards towards the distal portion with respect to the centre of the bracket, so that the recesses 15, 16 are inclined like said curvature.

Also symmetrically, bends 22a and 22b, respectively of the profiled edges 17 and 18 of the slab, return the extension of the slab into a substantially vertical direction with an upwards direction.

Lastly, bends 23a and 23b, respectively of the profiled edges 17 and 18 of the slab, are also substantially symmetrical. These last two bends 23a and 23b bring two contiguous slabs to be substantially adherent to one another at a portion 24 (visible in figure 8) located at the longitudinal joint 11.

An external fixing system can be mounted at this portion 24 for mounting accessories, such as snow catches, anti-fall systems, solar panels, or others besides.

The fact that two slabs are adhering enables, with no need for piercing the slab, a very effective and resistant blocking by means of an external clamp, not illustrated, which is opposed to both longitudinal stresses and upwards vertical stresses.

This clamp, when tightened, does not deform the slabs and does not block them in the fixing bracket, enabling free longitudinal dilation, even in the case of slabs of significant length.

The following geometries of the two sides are differentiated.

According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 4, at the profiled edge 17, the slab 10, starting from the bends 23, proceeds upwards and forms a curve of about 180° at a bend 25 which, when the slab is engaged to form the longitudinal joint 11, covers the profiled edge 18 of the adjacent slab.

Finally, the profiled edge 17 of the slab 10 has, at the end thereof, a bend 26 that, when the slab is engaged to form the longitudinal joint 11, comes to adhere to the bend 23b of the adjacent slab.

The coupling between the bends 23a and 23b exploits the elasticity of the construction material of the slabs and represents an element with an excellent seal against water, as the external surface exposed to a pressure determined by the level of the water which rises, pushes the profiled edge 17 and the last bend 26 against the bend 23b with an intrinsically advantageous cohesion mechanism: the greater the pressure the greater the seal.

According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 8, at the end of the profiled edges 17, 18 of each slab 10 and when the profiled edges are coupled following the placing of two adjacent slabs against one another, the bends 26, 27 form a geometry which determines the formation of a channel 28, dedicated to collecting the residual water that might have penetrated into the coupling between the bends 26 and 23b. This channel 28 advantageously transfers the water towards a final part of the slab.

As illustrated in figures 4 and 7, the inclination of the pathways formed by the bends 21 of the slabs which are housed in the recesses 15 and 16 of the fixing bracket 12 determines the fact that an upwards thrust caused by wind, which acts both on the flat surface in the centre of the slab 10, and on the longitudinal joint

11 formed by the coupling of the two profiled edges 17 and 18 of two contiguous slabs, unloads in a component having an opposite direction with respect to the lifting thrust, i.e. downwards, due to the conformation of the fixing brackets 12 adapted to retain the longitudinal joints 11 with maximum effectiveness.

Consequently the seal limit for wind-uplift, or lifting thrust of the wind, of the system of the present invention is uniquely determined by the resistance of the fixing bracket 12 which, if built for example of metal, is extremely high, and by the resistance of the material used for the slabs.

Consequently an increase in thickness of the metal or the use of very tenacious metals, for example special aluminium, steel, or other alloys, proportionally increases the resistance of the whole system.

Further, the solution according to the present invention determines an interference stress between the slab 10 and the fixing bracket 12 only in the moment of mechanical stress, for example during a meteorological event with very strong winds. This leaves total freedom between slabs 10 and fixing brackets 12 in normal conditions and significantly improves the longitudinal sliding necessary for free heat dilation of the slabs, even in the case of very long slabs.

Note that the illustrations are merely indicative, and the various dimensions and inclinations can be freely changed, customised and set up, with no influence on the basic concepts of the present invention.

Further, in the figures, each slab is represented provided with profiled edges 17, 18, but there remains the possibility of using two types of slabs: a first type in which each slab is totally symmetrical with profiled edges 17 on both sides and a second type in which each slab is totally symmetrical with profiled edges 18 on both sides. According to this constructional variant, the slabs are thus mounted in alternated fashion.

Claims

1.A covering with a metal structure for roofs of buildings, comprising a plurality of slabs (10) having a substantially quadrilateral shape each of which is provided with profiled edges (17, 18) parallel and opposite to one another for reciprocal connection of the slabs (10) that are adjacent in the longitudinal direction and for formation of a joint (11) located between each of the adjacent slabs (10), characterised in that said profiled edges (17, 18) comprise bends (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23), at least partly symmetrical and further bends (25, 26) realised on at least one of the profiled edges (17), in that said profiled edges (17, 18) comprise at least one curvature at bends (21a, 21b) located lower than the longitudinal axis of the joint (11) and higher than the central axis of the slab, so that said curvature is overall inclined, said covering being further characterised by the presence of a fixing bracket (12) adapted to conjoin the profiled edges (17, 18), said fixing bracket

(12) having at least recesses (15, 16) symmetrical to one another, respectively defined by two portions (15', 16') projecting upwards and inclined in a mutually specular direction towards the common median plane, in which recesses (15, 16) said at least one curvature formed by the bends (21a, 21b) located respectively on the profiled edges (17, 18) of the slab is housed, where said recesses (15, 16) of the fixing bracket (12) have a shape that extends downwards towards the proximal portion with respect to the centre of the bracket, and upwards towards the distal portion with respect to the centre of the bracket, so that the recesses (15, 16) are inclined in a like way to said curvature.

2.The covering for roofs of buildings according to claim 1, characterised in that said fixing bracket (12) comprises a body having a conformation defined by a flat base surface (13) configured to rest on a sub-structure of a roof, said fixing bracket (12) having through-holes (14) adapted to receive fixing elements, said fixing bracket (12) further having a central plane of symmetry and a shape that allows fixing of two consecutive slabs (10) by means of bends (21a, 21b) thereof which penetrate, respectively, into said recesses (15, 16).

3.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said recesses (15, 16) are specularly inclined, with respect to the common median plane, with the closest part to the central axis being lower and the distal part being higher, such inclination determining the retaining of the slabs against a lifting thrust.

4.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each slab (10) has two opposite profiled edges (17, 18) partially symmetrical to one another, from a first bend (18a, 18b), proximal with respect to the central axis of the slab, up to a sixth bend (23a,23b).

5.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises bends (18a, 19a, 20a, and 21a) located on a profiled edge (17) and corresponding bends (18b, 19b, 20b, and

21b) located on a further profiled edge (18), said bends being symmetrical to one another and specular, and coinciding with the geometry of the fixing bracket (12) and in that said curvature of the slab is housed in the recesses (15, 16) of the fixing bracket (12).

6.The covering according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises symmetrical bends (22a, 22b), located respectively on the profiled edges (17, 18) of the slab to determine a substantially vertical extension with an upwards direction.

7.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises symmetrical bends (23a, 23b), located respectively on the profiled edges (17, 18) of the slab, said bends bringing two contiguous slabs to be substantially adherent to one another at a portion (24) located at the joint (11).

8.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that starting from the bends (23), the slab (10) proceeds upwards and forms a curve of about 180° at a further bend (25) which, when the slab is engaged with an adjacent slab to form the joint (11), covers a profiled edge (18) of the adjacent slab.

9.The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at an end thereof, a profiled edge (17) of the slab (10) has a bend (26) which, when said edge is engaged in the joint (11), enters into adherence with a bend (23b) of the adjacent slab.

10. The covering according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a profiled edge (18) has a plurality of last bends having a conformation that is such that, when said profiled edge (18) is engaged in the joint (11), a channel (28) is defined, which channel (28) is adapted to collect water that may have penetrated into the coupling of said bends.