GB2235282A - Ridge members - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongate ridge member for a building with a glazed roof, such as a conservatory, has two channel-like sections 10 and 14 welded one to the other to define a hollow member. The lower section 10 defines a base wall 11 and two upstanding side walls 12 and 13, and the upper section defines an upper wall 15 and a pair of flanks 16 and 17. The upper edges of the side walls 12 and 13 are welded to the undersides of the flanks 16 and 1750 that the latter project beyond the side walls. Glazing bars may be attached to the undersides of the projecting flanks at 18 and 19. Motor driven fan assemblies are mounted in apertures provided at spaced intervals along the base wall 11, each fan assembly having associated therewith an opening in the upper wall 15, to allow air drawn from within the building to be discharged to the atmosphere. An automatic flap valve is provided to close each opening when the associates fan assembly is not being operated. <IMAGE>

Description

RIDGE MEMBERS This invention relates to a ridge member, and in particular to a ridge member suitable for use in the construction of a glazed roof, such as for a conservatory, glasshouse or the like.

There is a tendency for a building having a glazed roof, such as a conservatory, sun lounge or a glasshouse, to suffer from condensation problems, especially during the hours of darkness when the external ambient temperature falls. Though these problems may be overcome by the use of dessicators or dehumifiers, this can lead to unacceptably low humidities within the building, during daylight hours.

An alternative approach is for the building to be provided with movable glazed sections, and to leave open those movable sections during the periods when condensation is likely to form, but this may lead to the temperature within the building falling to an unacceptable extent.

A further problem with a building having a glazed roof is that there is a tendency for the temperature within the building to rise rapidly when the sun shines, and it can be difficult to provide adequate ventilation to keep the interior of the building within acceptable limits.

Yet another problem with many designs of building having a glazed roof is that the roof is of a relatively light construction, and the provision of a suitable ridge member having sufficient strength but without being disproportionately deep is difficult. This problem becomes more acute as the length of the ridge increases. Moreover, it is necessary to provide the ridge member with adequate mounting points for glazing bars which support the glazing of the roof and, bearing in mind the open construction of a conservatory or sun lounge, it is desirable that such mountings should be effected in an aesthetic manner.

Bearing in mind the above problems associated with the construction of a glazed roof for a conservatory, sun lounge, glasshouse or the like, this invention provides an elongate ridge member which comprises interconnected walls defining a hollow section, which walls include a base wall, a pair of upstanding side walls, and a top wall having a pair of flanks one associated with each side wall respectively and projecting laterally therebeyond to provide a mounting surface for glazing bars used in the construction of the roof, and a motor driven fan assembly mounted in the base wall of the ridge member so as to be at least partially accommodated within the hollow section, there being an aperture in the top wall through which air impelled by the fan may pass.

It will be appreciated that with the ridge member of this invention, it is possible significantly to increase the amount of ventilation in the region of the ridge member, by operating the motor driven fan assembly at times of need - and thus when either condensation is likely to be a problem or when the temperature within the building is rising. However, because the motor driven fan assembly is at least partially mounted within the confines of the ridge member, that fan assembly is unobtrusive and does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the ridge member. Of course, the number of motor-driven fan assemblies provided within the ridge member may be altered to suit any particular building; typically however such fan assemblies may be provided at 1 m centres along the length of a given ridge member.

By providing a ridge member of hollow section, a relatively lightweight construction may be obtained whilst nevertheless giving adequate strength. Most preferably, the ridge member of this invention is fabricated from pressed aluminium alloy sections suitably welded or otherwise affixed together.

Conveniently, two such sections may be employed: a first section comprising the base wall and two upstanding side walls, and a second section comprising the top wall, including said two flanks. Then, the free upper edges of the two side walls may be butt-welded to the undersides of the respective flanks of the top wall and since such a welding operation may easily be mechanised, a relatively simple constructional technique may be used to achieve a strong, lightweight and aesthetically-pleasing ridge member. Alternatively, the ridge member could be extruded again from an aluminium alloy.

It will be appreciated that the two projecting flanks of the top wall may serve as convenient mounting surfaces for glazing bars used to support glazing panels in the construction of a roof. Such glazing bars may be bolted direct to the projecting portions of the flanks at suitable intervals, having regard to glazing panels employed. By bolting those glazing bars to the undersides of the projecting flanks, it is relatively easy to achieve a water-tight construction.

Most preferably, a duct is provided to connect the aperture in the top wall to the motor driven fan assembly, so that air may pass directly from the motor to the external ambient, above the top wall. To this end, it is preferred for the fan assembly to be contained within a cylindrical housing, which housing is slidably received within a circular duct attached to the underside of the top wall, generally concentric with the aperture therein. Conveniently, a suitable cowl assembly is fitted over the aperture, so as to prevent precipitation entering the aperture, and yet to allow the free flow of air therethrough. In this case, the duct communicating with the cylindrical housing may be a part of the cowl itself.

Advantageously, the top wall includes a substantially flat portion disposed between the two flanks and intended to lie substantially horizontally when the ridge member is in use, which flat portion may serve as a mounting surface for decorations, for example in the form of finials such as are commonly employed in the construction of conservatories.

In order to facilitate the construction of the end region of a conservatory, sun lounge or the like, using a ridge member of this invention, it is preferred for there to be provided a plug member adapted to be received within the end portion of a ridge member of this invention, which plug member defines a plurality of facets each adapted for the mounting of a glazing bar thereto, such that the glazing bars may extend generally radially from the plug member. Such a plug member may be secured in position by one or more bolts passing generally vertically through both the plug member and the hollow ridge member. A cover plate may be secured in position below the plug member, to conceal the connections between the glazing bars and that plug member.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of ridge member of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a ridge member of this invention; Figure 2 is a view on part of a ridge member of this invention, taken in the direction of arrow A shown on Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the part of the ridge member shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a- plan view on a plug member suitable for use with the ridge member of Figures 1 to 3; and Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the plug member illustrated in Figure 4.

The ridge member shown in the drawings is particularly intended for use in the construction of a conservatory having a fully-glazed double-pitch roof, and may be of any particular length to suit the building under construction. A number of ventilators may be provided along the length of that ridge member, and Figures 1 to 3 show that part of the ridge member having one such ventilator fitted therein.

The ridge member is principally constructed from two pre-formed metal sections both somewhat of U-shape.

The lower section 10 defines a base wall 11 and two upstanding side walls 12 and 13, lying at obtuse angles with respect to the base wall. The top section 14 defines an upper wall 15 from which depend a pair of flanks 16 and 17, again at obtuse angles to the upper wall 15 and projecting beyond the respective side walls 12 and 13. The upper edges of the side walls 12 and 13 are butt-welded to the undersides of the flanks 16 and 17, so as to define mounting surfaces 18 and 19 respectively, projecting beyond the side walls 12 and 13.

The sections 10 and 14 advantageously are made from an aluminium alloy material, which confers on the ridge member considerable strength coupled with relatively light weight. Moreover, such a ridge member may easily be provided with an attractive finish and also is corrosion resistant.

A circular aperture 20 is provided in the base wall 11 and the circular housing 21 of an electric motor-driven fan assembly is mounted in that aperture 20, such that the fan assembly is at least partially located within the hollow ridge member. The housing 21 projects into the ridge member from the base wall and is partially received within a circular duct 22 forming part of a cowl 23 fitted into an aperture 24 in the top section 14. The cowl 23 includes an internal pair of gravity-operated flaps 25 and a pair of covers 26 extending generally parallel to and over the upper wall 15 of the top section 14, but with openings 27 in the underside of those covers, to permit the free passage of air through the cowl. The flaps 25 will pivot to their respective open positions when the motor-driven fan is operated, but otherwise will fall under gravity to their close positions.

In use, glazing bars (not shown) of a conventional design are bolted to the undersides of the projecting surfaces 18 and 19 of the flanks 16 and 17, with the bars abutting the side walls 12 and 13. Such a construction is relatively unobtrusive and yet allows a watertight seal to be achieved with relative ease, using an appropriate mastic or likz sealant. A suitable electrical supply may be clipped to the side of the ridge member beneath the glazing bars in order to allow power to be fed to the or each motor driven fan assembly - and typically one such fan assembly may be provided every 1 m of length of the ridge member. The operation of the or each fan assembly may be controlled by means of a suitable thermostat and humidistat, sensing respectively the temperature and humidity within a building incorporating the ridge member.When in operation, the or each motor driven fan will draw air from within the building, and pass that air through the motor housing 21, and into the duct 22 of the cowl 23, and then out through the openings 27 of the cowl, to the external ambient.

Figures 4 and 5 show a plug member 30 suitable for use with the ridge member described above. This plug member 30 has a portion 31 configured so as to be receivable within the end of the hollow ridge member, one or more bolts (not shown) being used then to secure the plug member 30 in position. The plug member defines a plurality of facets 32 extending downwardly at an angle to one another and to the underside of each of which may be bolted a glazing bar extending generally radially from the plug member 30, so as to permit the construction of a roof matched to a number of side wall panels, each lying at an angle to one another - as for example in the construction of an octagonal end wall section for a sun lounge or conservatory. Figure 5 illustrates the bolted connection of a glazing bar to the underside of a facet of the plug member 30. The bolted connections may then be concealed by means of a cover plate 35, secured in position from the underside by means of a further bolt, passing through at least the ridge member, but possibly also through the plug member, if required.

Claims (12)

1. An elongate ridge member which comprises interconnected walls defining a hollow section, which include a base wall, a pair of upstanding side walls, and a top wall having a pair of flanks one associated with each side wall respectively and projecting laterally therebeyond to provide a mounting surface for glazing bars used in the construction of the roof, and a motor driven fan assembly mounted in the base wall of the ridge member so as to be at least partially accommodated within the hollow section, there being an aperture in the top wall through which air impelled by the fan may pass.
2. 2. An elongate ridge member according to Claim 1, wherein a plurality of separate motor driven fan assemblies are mounted in the base wall of the ridge member, each fan assembly having an associated aperture in the top wall for the egress of air impelled by the respective fan assembly.
3. 3. A ridge member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ridge member is fabricated from pressed aluminium alloy sections suitably welded or otherwise affixed together.
4. 4. A ridge member according to claim 3, wherein two pressed sections are employed, the first section comprising the base wall and two upstanding side walls, and the second section comprising the top wall and said two flanks.
5. 5. A ridge member according to claim 4, wherein the free upper edges of the two side walls are butt-welded to the undersides of the respective flanks of the top wall.
6. 6. A ridge member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a duct is provided to connect the aperture in the top wall to the motor driven fan assembly, so that air may pass directly from the motor to the external ambient, above the top wall.
7. 7. A ridge member according to claim 6, wherein said fan assembly is contained within a cylindrical housing, which housing is slidably received within a circular duct attached to the underside of the top wall, generally concentric with the aperture therein.
8. 8. A ridge member according to claim 7, in which a cowl assembly is fitted over the aperture.
9. 9. A ridge member as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which an automatically-operating flap valve is provided for the aperture in the top wall, which valve opens whenever the fan assembly is operated.
10. 10. A ridge member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the top wall includes a substantially flat portion disposed between the two flanks and intended to lie substantially horizontally when the ridge member is in use, to serve as a mounting surface for decoration.
11. 11. A ridge member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the end portion of the ridge member is closed by a plug member received within said end portion, which plug member defines a plurality of facets each adapted for the mounting of a glazing bar thereto, such that the glazing bars may extend generally radially from the plug member.
12. 12. A ridge member substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.