GB2449696A

GB2449696A - Roof noise reduction panel

Info

Publication number: GB2449696A
Application number: GB0710465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ralph Charles Stamper; Ronald Edwin Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2007-06-01
Publication date: 2008-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-01
Also published as: GB2449696B; GB0710465D0

Abstract

A roof noise reduction panel 11 comprises two layers of random orientation plastics fibre material bonded together. The panel has an, in use, outer layer 12 which is thinner and relatively dense when compared to the other, in use inner, layer 14 which is thicker and more open. The inner layer may have an undulating structure and be bonded to the outer layer at peaks of the undulations. The panel may also comprise edge members for locating the panel, the edge members being securable to a roof glazing panel. The edge members may be securable to a roof glazing panle by means of a capping on a glazing bar. Alternatively the edge members nay be securable to a roof glazing panel. Also claimed is a reduced noise roof comprising a glazing panel and a roof noise reduction panel as described above.

Description

ROOF NOISE REDUCER

The present invention relates to a roof noise reducer.

Thin roofs such as of a glazing material of glass or polycarbonate material can be noisy when rain is falling on them, to the extent that conversation in conservatories when it is raining can be difficult.

In our patent application No 0700614.1, we disclosed our invention of random plastics fibre material laid over a glazing material.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved roof noise reducer. a

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a roof noise reducer comprising a noise reducing panel having two layers of random orientation : *". plastics fibre material bonded together, an outer layer being thinner and relatively S...

dense and an inner layer being thicker and more open.

L: 20 Preferably the inner layer has a undulating structure and is bonded to the outer * layer at peaks of the undulations. In the preferred embodiment, the undulating structure includes undulations extending in two dimensions, whereby by the peaks are point like and the layers are bonded together at these peaks.

Whilst the noise reducing panel can be directly adhesively secured to the glazing panel, in the preferred embodiment edge members are provided for locating the panel, with the members being secured to the glazing panel. Alternatively, the edge members can be secured to the glazing panel by a capping of a glazing baron which the glazing panel is supported. Again, the capping can bear directly onto the noise reducing panel, keeping both it and the glazing panel in position.

For retrofitting to an existing roof, or for fitting to a new one, the roof noise reducer will be supplied with a set of instructions to fit it to the roof.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a reduced noise roof comprising a glazing panel and secured thereto a roof noise reducer according to the first aspect of the invention.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is perspective view of a conventional conservatory roof; Figure 2 is an edge view in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1 showing a sound deadening panel of the invention fitted to the roof; Figure 3 is an edge view of a piece of the material of the sound deadening panel; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above the piece of sound deadening material; ::: IS Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the roof with sound deadening panels fitted; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a variant of the means for securing the sound deadening panel; Figure 7 is another view similar to Figure 2 of another variant; and Figure 8 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the cap and glazing bar of the variant of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings, a roof is made up of a ridge member 1, an eaves member 2 and glazing bars 3 extending between them. Glazing panels 4 are laid in the framework of these members and bars. Typically the panels are of multi-cellular polycarbonate material or glass. Such a roof on its own is noisy in rain, due to drops drumming on the panels or panes, which do not have sufficient mass to absorb and dissipate the noise.

In accordance with the invention sound deadening panels 11 are laid over the glazing panels.

The sound deadening panels are of random oriented, translucent PVC fibres of 0.4mm diameter in two layers 12,14, the whole having a weight of 800gm/square metre. The two layers are of equal weight. The outer one is calendered to a thickness of 1.0mm. The inner layer is 15mm thick. It has a two dimensional wave form, that is with two orthogonal sets of waves or undulations, giving rise to a rectangular array of troughs 15, as viewed from below. The troughs appear as peaks when viewed from above, with the peaks extending to the upper layer. The layers are fused together at the peaks as spots 16. This arrangement provides a rectangular array of fused peaks with a similar array of interstices 17 between the layers between the peaks.

The panels are edged on their top and side edges by UPVC channels 18, which receive the edges 19 of the panels. Bottom flanges 20 of the channels are bonded to the glazing panels. The lower edges of the panels are edged by a UPVC angle 21 bonded onto top of both the panels ii and the top flanges 22 of the channels at the corner of the panels. Thus the panels are captive, laying with their troughed side on the glazing panels. To allow for expansion and contraction, the sound deadening :.. ::: 15 panel is preferably fitted with a small gap-typically 10mm between its edges and S *.S web of the channels 18. Further the top flanges 22 conveniently are wider than the :.:::. bottom flanges to help in retaining the panel.

S I..

S

Rain drops are broken up on impact with the upper calendered layer 12. There is no direct noise path to the glazing panel. Hence the panels substantially reduce the S..

perceived noise underneath the roof. The rain water percolates through the sound deadening panels to the glazing panels and drains away in the normal manner.

Surprisingly it has been found that the sound deadening panel improves reflection of heat from overheating the room below the roof.

The above described installation is for existing roofs. As shown in Figure 6, for new builds, or indeed for installation on existing roofs where a cap 20 of a glazing bar 23 supporting a glazing panel 24 can be readily removed, the edge channel 25 is provided with a further flange 26, coplanar with the bottom flange 27 of the channel.

The cap is engaged on the glazing bar, bearing down on the flange 26 and thus urging the glazing panel beneath the flange 26 against the foot 28 of the glazing bar for its location. In this way the channel is secured without the need for adhesive, with the sound deadening panel 21 located in the channel 25.

In a further alternative, Figures 7 & 8, the cap 30 of a tall glazing bar 33 bears at each side via a flange 301 on the sound deadening panel 31, itself bearing on the glazing panel 34 supported on the foot 38 of the glazing bar. A secondary flange 302 is provided at each side of the a cap for bearing on the glazing panel, the flange being provided with an integrally moulded seal 303. In this arrangement, no edge channel is required.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment and its variants. For instance, the edge channels 25 can be shaped such that their webs lie against the capping 20, with channels and the capping being assembled at the same time onto the glazing bar. S. * S * IS. S... * S II.. * *. * I S *555 * *55

I * IS * * I II. I

I *5. *

Claims

1. A roof noise reducer comprising a noise reducing panel having two layers of random orientation plastics fibre material bonded together, an outer layer being thinner and relatively dense and an inner layer being thicker and more open.

2. A roof noise reducer according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer has an undulating structure and is bonded to the outer layer at peaks of the undulations.

3. A roof noise reducer according to claim 2, wherein the undulating structure includes undulations extending in two dimensions, whereby the peaks are point like and the layers are bonded together at these peaks.

4. A roof noise reducer according to any preceding claim further comprising edge members for locating the panel, said edge members being securable to a roof glazing panel. S...

S S..

S

5. A roof noise reducer according to claim 4, wherein the edge members are secured to a S...

roof glazing panel by means of a capping on a glazing bar.

6. A roof noise reducer according to claim 4, wherein the edge members are channels securable to a roof glazing panel.

7. A reduced noise roof comprising a glazing panel and secured thereto a roof noise reducer according to any preceding claim.

8. A roof noise reducer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A reduced noise roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. * ** * * * * ** **** * * ****

S

S S... * .

*SSS.. S *