GB2070661A - Roofing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A roofing unit consists of a pyramid-shaped structure of which the sides lead down to, and are secured to, a rectangular channel duct 10, the pyramid-shaped structure consisting of four sub-units 19, each having an isosceles-triangular frame 20 with a base and two side channels the outer flanges of which are oblique and secured flush to the outer flanges of other sub-unit frames, a roofing sheet 32 being secured on, and a ceiling sheet (31) being secured under each triangular sub-unit frame, and an insulating core (30) being provided within the frame between the roofing and ceiling sheets. A cruciform ridge cap 36 covers the joint between adjacent sub-units. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved building construction This invention relates to an improved roof structure.

It is known to provide a roof for a building including a number of adjacent roofing units each comprising a pyramid-shaped main section with its lower edges secured to and leading down into a rectangular peripheral assembly of channel ducts which is supported at the corners and is connected in sealed manner to the adjacent channel ducts of successive roofing units.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a roofing unit of the general type set out, but which is simpler and more economical to construct and erect.

Accordingly, the invention resides broadly in a roof structure of the type including a pyramid-shaped main section leading at its periphery to a rectangular channel duct, wherein the main section comprises four subunits each having a frame substantially of isosceles-triangular shape with a base piece and two side channels the outer flanges of which are secured to outer flanges of side channels of other sub-units in a pyramidal assembly thereof; a roof section secured on the sub-unit frame, a ceiling section secured under the sub-unit frame and an insulating core between the roof and ceiling sections.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a roof unit according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit, Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the triangular sub-unit frames of the unit, Figure 4 is a sectional view, to larger scale, along line 4-4 in Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a sectional view to the same larger scale along line 5-5 in Fig. 2, Figure 6 is a detail section view of the junction between succeeding units of a roof, and Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a modification of the invention.

The unit illustrated includes a square base duct assembly 10 consisting mainly of four similar gutter sections 11, their ends being mitred and welded or otherwise secured to feather, each section having a normally horizontal bottom 12, vertical outside flange 1 3 with in-turned top flange 14, and oblique inside flange 1 5 with out-turned and upwardly inclining top flange 1 6. A number of attachment pieces 1 7 are welded to and extend down from the inside flanges 1 5 of the gutter sections 11 of the assembly, and a drainage outlet 1 8 leads from at least one of the gutter sections.

Four similar roof sub-units 1 9 are provided, each including a sub-unit frame 20 of isosceles-triangular shape having two side sections 21 and a base section 22 all welded together. Each side section 21 is of a gutter shape, having a bottom 23, an inside flange 24 perpendicular to the bottom and having an inturned top flange 24a and an outside flange 25 inclining outwardly away from the bottom and with an inturned top flange 26. The two side sections are mitred and joined at an angle less than a right angle. The base section 22 has an upright part 27 which is triangular in cross-section and is welded between the inside flanges 24 of the side sections 21, and a bottom part 28 welded to the bottoms 23 of the side sections 21.

Within the triangle of each sub-unit frame 20 there is provided a core piece 30 of a heat-insulating material such as expanded polystyrene. Below this a triangular ceiling piece 31 of sheet material is secured, its side edges being up-turned and secured outside the outside flanges 25 of the side sections 21, its bottom edge being secured under the base section 22. A triangular roofing piece 32 is secured over each sub-unit frame 20, having down-turned side flanges 33 shaped to snap into engagement with the flanges 24 of the sub-frame side sections 21, and a downturned bottom flange 34 extending down to the projecting bottom part 28 of the base section of the sub-frame.

The four roof sub-units 1 9 are secured to each other and to the base duct assembly 10 to form a pyramidal structure. The oblique outside flanges 25 of side sections 21 of succeeding sub-unit frames are secured together by bolts 35, or by rivets if preferred, and the oblique flanges 1 6 of the base duct assembly are rivetted or otherwise secured to the bottoms of the base sections 22 of the sub-unit frames.

The bolted-together flanges 25, securing together the roof sub-units 19, are covered by a cruciform arrangement of ridge-capping sections 36, each substantially W-shaped in cross-section with its outside flanges engaged and concealed by the down-turned side flanges 33 of the roofing pieces 32, which are more conveniently applied after the ridgecapping sections have been fitted. The ridgecapping sections are mitred and secured together at the apex of the pyramidal structure.

If desired, a relatively small capping piece of pyramid shape (not shown) may be secured over the junction of the ridge-capping sections. The bottom end of each roof-capping section is closed off by an appropriately angled sheet metal closure piece 37.

The roof unit or any required number of them, may be mounted on wall structures as indicated at 38 and held in place by nailing or otherwise securing the attachment pieces 1 7 to the walls or other supporting members of the building, these attachments being subsequently concealed by an appropriate cornice 39. Where two or more of the roof structures are to be mounted adjacentiy, which will normally be the case, the base duct assemblies are secured together side by side and weatherproofed by a flange capping 40 as shown in Fig. 6; or alternatively an appropriately extended base duct assembly is made up in ladder or grid form so that, between two succeeding pyramidal roof structures there is provided a single modified duct 41 as shown in Fig. 7.

Fascia sections 42 are mounted about the periphery of the roof, each such section being formed with an upright outer face 43, a sloping top 44 and an inside edge portion 45 shaped to engage the outside part of the base duct assembly, the outer face 43 being formed with a supporting flange 46 to support a soffit 47.

Roofing structures according to the invention will be found to be very economical to manufacture, and to be capable of being quickly and easily erected. The roof units may be rectangular in plan view instead of square, and substantially horizontal bridging pieces (not shown) may be provided between two rows of adjacent roof units when the structure to be roofed is somewhat wider than the span of two adjacent units.

The particular embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated may, of course, be subject to many modifications of constructional detail and design, which will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention hereinafter claimed.

Claims (5)

1. A roof structure of the type including a pyramid-shaped main section leading at its periphery to a rectangular channel duct wherein: the main section comprises four sub-units, each sub-unit includes a substantially isoceles-triangular shaped frame comprising a base piece and two side channels the outer flanges of which are secured to the outer flanges of side channels of other sub-units in a pyramidal assembly thereof, a roof section is secured on top of each sub-unit frame, a ceiling section is secured under each subunit frame, substantially parallel to the roof section, and an insulating core is provided within each sub-unit frame between the roof and ceiling sections.

2. A roof structure according to Claim 1 wherein: a cruciform assembly of ridge-capping members is provided, each arm of the assembly covering a junction of adjacent sub-units.

3. A roof structure according to either of the preceding claims wherein: there is mounted on at least one of the four sides of the rectangular channel duct a fascia member having a top sloping in the opposite direction to, and substantially co-planar with, the roof section inclining down to that side of the channel duct.

4. A roof structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: means are provided on the rectangular channel duct for attachment to the frame of a building.

5. A roof structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.