GB2211867A

GB2211867A - Valley trough with upstanding centre abutment

Info

Publication number: GB2211867A
Application number: GB8725627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Hancock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-02
Filing date: 1987-11-02
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Also published as: GB8725627D0

Abstract

A valley trough for use on roofs comprises an elongate section having generally a shallow V-shaped cross-section. It has an upstanding abutment 4 extending longitudinally along the section substantially in the region of the longitudinal centre line of the section. Gutters 2 extend longitudinally along the section, one located each side of the abutment 4. Edge portions 1 extend longitudinally along the section, their surfaces being disposed at a level intermediate between that of the base of the gutters and that of the top of the abutment. <IMAGE>

Description

VALLEY TROUGH The present invention relates to valley troughs for use on roofs, generally at the junction of two differently pitched roof sections.

Valley troughs of plastics or glass fibre reinforced plastics are known and generally fall into two types, both having a generally shallow V-shaped crosssection. Valley troughs for use with slate roofs have a central gutter section with two upstanding edge portions by means of which the valley trough may be affixed to roof battens. The slates are laid over the edge portions and overhang the gutter section so that water draining from the slates runs into the gutter section and thence to a conventional gutter and downpipe draining system.

Valley troughs for use with tiles are provided with roughened strips towards but not at the centre. The edge tiles are laid with a mortar bond to these roughened strips. Outwardly of the roughened strips the valley trough is provided with a secondary drainage channel to prevent seepage of water by capillary action through the mortar outwardly from the central gutter section to the edges of the valley troughs.

Both of these types of valley trough suffer from certain disadvantages. In the case of the troughs for use with slates, it is possible for slates, and more particularly smaller sections of slate cut to fit the edge line, to turn or slip into the comparatively deep gutter section. In the case of the tile troughs, the end tiles, and portions of tiles, must be held in place by means of mortar which can break down leaving the edge tiles loose.

Any damage to the roof requires further mortar to be added and this is not always convenient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valley trough of improved utility.

According to the present invention there is provided a valley trough for use on roofs comprising an elongate section having generally a shallow V-shaped crosssection and comprising upstanding abutment means extending longitudinally along the section substantially in the region of the longitudinal centre line of the section, gutter means extending longitudinally along the section, one located each side of the abutment means, and edge portions extending longitudinally along the section, the surface of said edge portions being disposed at a level intermediate between that of the base of the gutter means and that of the top of the abutment means.

Preferably the abutment means comprises two ledge means, one on each side of a higher centre portion, the upper surface of each of said ledge means being disposed substantially on a level equivalent to that of said edge portions.

Advantageously, the valley trough is manufactured of glass fibre reinforced plastics material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows diagrammatically a perspective view of one end of a valley trough embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, a valley trough comprises a section of glass fibre reinforced plastics material about 2.5 metres long. As an alternative to glass fibre reinforced plastics material, the trough may be made of plastics material by extrusion or pulltrusion.

The trough has a cross-section generally in the form of a shallow V-shape and is sufficiently flexible about the centre point so that the angle can vary by a considerable degree to suit the particular roof valley to which it will be attached. In general, end battens are laid over the roofing felt along the edge lines of the valley trough and the trough is then fixed thereto by nailing through edge portions 1 of the valley trough so that they overlie and are affixed to the end battens.

Holes may be provided in the edge portions 1 to facilitate this procedure.

Gutter portions 2 are provided adjacent the edge portions 1 and are depressed from the level thereof by approximately 25 mm. These gutter portions 2 serve to carry water flowing from the roof, down the valley to a gutter and conventional draining system.

The gutter portions 2 are separated by a central abutment portion 3 extending along the centre line of the V-shaped valley trough. The centre portion 3 comprises an inverted U-shaped abutment 4 bounded on each edge by a ledge 5, the upper surface of which is substantially in alignment with the surface of edge portions 1.

Once the valley trough is fixed in place on the end battens, slates or tiles may be laid in a substantially conventional manner. The end tile or slate bridges the gap across the gutter portion 2 from edge portion 1 to the ledge 5. The abutment 4 prevents the slates or tiles slipping, and therefore no mortar is needed for tiles, and there is no danger of slates slipping or turning into the gutter portion. They are supported by the ledge 5.

Water flowing down the pitch of either roof portion will collect and flow along a channel at the intersection of the tile or slate edge and the central abutment 4. Water will also pass therefrom through any gaps to the gutter portions 2. Thus, water from the roof is carried toward the conventional draining system without any danger of it leaking over the edges of the valley trough. The slates or tiles need not be fixed by mortar, since they are held by the abutment 4 and therefore mortar is unnecessary. The edges of the tiles or slates need not be exactly abutting the abutment 4 since any gaps will serve to pass water into the gutter portions 2. Small pieces of tile or slate are supported by ledge 5 and therefore cannot fall into the gutter portions 2 and block the waterway.

The dimensions of the valley trough given above can of course be varied to suit different applications, as can the shape of the central abutment 4.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A valley trough for use on roofs comprising an elongate section having generally a shallow V-shaped crosssection and comprising upstanding abutment means extending longitudinally along the section substantially in the region of the longitudinal centre line of the section, gutter means extending longitudinally along the section, one located each side of the abutment means, and edge portions extending longitudinally along the section, the surface of said edge portions being disposed at a level -intermediate between that of the base of the gutter means and that of the top of the abutment means.

2. A valley trough as claimed in claim 1, wherein the abutment means comprises two ledge means, one on each side of a higher centre portion, the upper surface of each of said ledge means being disposed substantially on a level equivalent to that of said edge portions.

3. A valley trough as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the valley trough is manufactured of glass fibre reinforced plastics material.

4. A valley trough for use on roofs substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.