GB2514119A

GB2514119A - Rooflight assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2514119A
Application number: GB1308577.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Oliver Botwright
Original assignee: GLAZING VISION Ltd
Current assignee: GLAZING VISION Ltd
Priority date: 2013-05-13
Filing date: 2013-05-13
Publication date: 2014-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-13
Also published as: GB201308577D0; GB2514119B

Abstract

A rooflight or skylight comprises a metallic frame 10 and an openable panel 15 preferably hinged to the frame. The frame 10 is constructed from inner 17 and outer 18 frame members connected together by at least one thermal break 311 incorporated within the frame. A resilient seal 313 between the fixed frame 10 and the openable panel 15 and sealing to the frame 10 when the panel 15 is in a closed position extends between the inner and outer frame members and constitutes an additional thermal break between them. The openable panel may include a frame supporting double glazing. The resilient seal may comprise a dual hardness gasket. The roof light may include a vent assembly. At least one powered actuator for the panel may be incorporated in the fixed frame.

Description

ROOFLIGHT ASSEMBLY

Field

This application relates to rooflights and vents comprising a moveable panel associated with a metallic frame and in particular to the positioning of thermal breaks in and associated with the frame.

Background and Summary

Typical openable rooflights and similar building vents comprise a frame secured to the building and carrying a hinged or sliding panel capable of closing the opening in the building structure defined by the frame. The frame may be secured directly to the roof or to an upstand. A box rooflight providing access to a terrace or roof garden, for example, may be freestanding or attached to one, two or three walls or parapets. Conveniently, the panel is glass.

Our co-pending British patent application GB 2479884 A describes a vent assembly comprising a panel hinged to a frame and opened or closed via a powered actuator accommodated within a chamber defined by frame members.

It is important that a rooflight such as a roof-mounted vent has good thermal insulating properties in order to minimise heat loss through the vent at times when the vent is closed. To that end, the panel may be double-or triple-glazed and secured to a thermally insulating frame. In the case of an aluminium frame, it is the conventional practice to construct that frame from a structural inner frame with an external weather resistant outer frame secured to the structural inner frame by thermal break elements, to reduce the conductivity of heat from the inner frame to the outer frame.

Heat loss through the frame is a particular problem with power-operated vents, because of the increased frame size required to absorb the additional stresses or to accommodate a powered actuator.

With the increasing stringency of the building regulations and the increased attention to reduction of heat wastage, heat loss through the frame is of increasing concern to builders and to the occupants of a building.

We provide a rooflight comprising: (a) a fixed metallic frame constructed at least in part from inner and outer frame members connected together by at least one thermal break incorporated within the fixed frame; (b) an openable panel associated with the fixed frame and moveable between closed and open positions; and (c) a resilient seal between the fixed frame and the openable panel and sealing to the fixed frame when the panel is in a closed position, wherein the resilient seal extends between the inner and outer frame members and constitutes an additional thermal break between them.

For most applications, the openable panel comprises a panel frame supporting glazing. In particular, the panel may comprise a panel frame supporting a double-or triple-glazed unit.

The openable panel may be hinged to the fixed frame in conventional manner or may slide to open and close the vent.

Advantageously, the fixed frame incorporates at least one pair of thermal breaks connecting together the inner and outer frame members and at least one insulating block is sandwiched between the pair of thermal breaks.

The thermal breaks incorporated within the fixed frame are conveniently made from a pclyamide. Such thermal breaks are advantageously at least 39 mm in thickness with a maximum psi-value of O.3W/mK. They may be secured to the inner and outer frame members in any convenient manner, for example by having an enlarged head or beading engaging in a slot in the frame member.

The resilient seal between the fixed frame and the openable panel is conveniently mounted on a supporting frame forming part of or associated with the openable panel.

Advantageously, in order to restrict lateral displacement of the resilient seal, the resilient seal is bonded to a face of the openable panel. Convenient materials for the seal, having a good combination of resilienoe and thermal insulation, are neoprene or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) Conventionally, a resilient seal is associated with the openable panel and provides some thermal insulation for the panel or its supporting frame. Even though the resilient seal of the present configuration may still be mounted on the panel or its supporting frame, the co-location with the fixed frame facilitates increased spacing between the inner and outer frame members, thereby enabling the use of bigger thermal breaks or insulation blocks between the frame members. Advantageously, that portion of the resilient seal forming a thermal break extending between the inner and outer frame members would have a maximum psi-value of O.25W/mK. Conveniently, the resilient seal may be a dual hardness gasket.

The fixed frame may be any shape, depending on the application. Conveniently, the frame and therefore the rooflight may be sguare or rectangular.

The rooflight may be mounted on a building in any manner and may comprise, for example, a vent assembly or may provide access to an area outside the building, such as a roof garden or a terrace.

Particularly when the fixed frame or a member thereof is channel-shaped in cross-section, at least one actuator for the openable panel may be incorporated within the fixed frame.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a roof vent, when the panel thereof is in its fully opened setting;

Figure 2 (prior art) is a detail view of a cross-

section through a known roof vent frame, together with part of a double-glazed panel; Figure 3 is a detail view of a cross-section through an exemplary embodiment according to the present patent application of a roof vent frame, together with part of a double-glazed panel; and Figure 4 is a detail view of a cross-seotion through a further embodiment of a roof vent frame together with part of the double-glazed panel, showing the roof vent abutting another rooflight.

In the figures, like numerals indicate like parts.

Description of Embodiments

A roof vent comprises a generally rectangular frame 10 having four sides 11,12,13,14, and a double-glazed panel 15 hinged along one edge 16 to side 11 of the frame. The panel 15 is of the same shape as the frame 10 and of an appropriate size to co-operate therewith. The panel is movable between a fully closed setting where the underside of the panel engages the upper surface of the frame and a fully opened setting where the panel has been hinged through approximately 90°.

The frame 10 is constructed from inner and outer metallic frame members 17,18 respectively, a thermal break being provided between those frame members, as discussed below. The outer frame member 18 defines a chamber 19 along each side of the frame 10 and a pair of operating mechanisms 76 for the panel, indicated generally in Figure 1, is located in the chambers 19 of the two opposed frame sides 12,14 adjoining the hinge side 11. These various components will now be described in more detail.

Referring initially to Figure 2, the configuration of a prior art frame and the openable panel 15 is shown in more detail. The inner frame member 17 is an h-shaped aluminium extrusion. The outer frame member 18 is generally of channel-shaped cross-section and includes an upstanding outer face 25. Elongate blocks 26,27 of high performance insulating material are located between the opposed parts of the inner 17 and outer 18 frame members, for the full length thereof. Further, the inner 17 and outer 18 frame members are maintained at the required separation by thermal break elongate strips 28,29,30,31 of a plastics material such as a polyamide, also for the full length of the frame members.

Each long edge of strips 28 and 31 is formed with an enlarged head which is received in a corresponding groove 32 in the associated frame member. The grooves are then crimped on to the heads of the strips so as to grip the strips and maintain the inner and outer frame members in the required relative disposition. Though the long edges of strips 29 and are also enlarged, those heads are received in simple grooves to facilitate assembly while still providing support.

The frame 10 rests on roof members or an upstand (not shown) defining an opening through the roof and is secured in known manner to the roof.

The double-glazed panel 15 has a rectangular frame 39 of extruded aluminium sections joined together at the corners and supporting a double-glazing unit having inner and outer glass panes 40, 41, respectively, held at the reguired separation by a spacer bar 42. Each frame section defines an inwardly-projecting flange 43 to which the inner glass pane 40 is adhered by a bead 44 of adhesive. A high-temperature silicone rubber gasket 46 is attached to the free edge of the flange 43, for effecting a seal to the upper edges of the inner, 17, and outer, 18, frame members when the openable panel 15 is in its closed setting.

Each panel frame section also defines an upper surface to which the outer glass pane 41 is adhered by a bead 51 of adhesive. The periphery of the outer pane 41 is sealed to the frame section by a silicone weather-seal strip 52.

A further resiliently deformable gasket 53 is fitted to a lower surface of the panel frame section to co-operate with an upper edge of the outer frame member 18.

Figure 3 shows a detail view of a cross-section through one embodiment of a roof vent frame consisting of inner 17 and outer 18 frame members. In contrast with the prior art of Figure 2, thermal break elongate strips 28,29,30,31 have been substituted by a composite connector module 310 comprising an insulating block 27, such as polyisocyanurate, sandwiched between a pair of polyamide thermal breaks, 311 and 312, which also serve to connect inner frame member 17 with outer frame member 18. Thermal breaks 311 and 312 are significantly thicker than the thermal breaks 28,29,30,31 of Figure 2. A convenient thickness is 39 mm. The heads of the thermal breaks, 311 and 312, engage slots or grooves 32 in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figure 2. Inner frame member 17 and the included connector module 310 with its thermal breaks, 311 and 312, is displaced inwards of the outer edge of the double-glazed panel 15. The cuter face 25 cf the cuter frame member 18 is substantially cc-planar with the outer edge of inner glass pane 40.

Furthermore, the silicone rubber gasket 46 of Figure 2 has been substituted by a resilient seal 313, particularly EPDM cr neoprene, attached to the free edge of the flange 43 and also bonded to the underside of double glazed panel 15.

In use, when panel 15 is in its closed position, resilient seal 313 extends the full width of the gap between the inner and outer frame members 17, 18 and also constitutes an additional thermal break between them.

Conveniently, the resilient seal 313 is a dual hardness EPDM gasket with a 80° sh base secured to flange 43 and a 0.65 sg sponge top. Typically, the solid EPDF4 has a psi- value of 0.25 W/mK and the expanded EPDI4 foam has a psi-value of 0.15 W/mK Figure 4 shows a variant of the roof vent of Figure 3 mounted on a glazing support cross member, indicated generally at 410, and adjacent to a fixed rooflight, indicated generally at 411. The inner frame member 17 and the composite connector 310 are L-shaped, with one arm of the L abutting the end of rooflight 411 and sealed thereto.

Also illustrated in Figure 4 is a powered actuator, indicated generally at 412, mounted in a chamber 19 within outer frame member 18.

For a conventional rooflight 2m x 1m, a typical u-value is 2.2 TIJ/m2K and the psi-value of the fixed frame is 0.288 W/raK. Corresponding figures for the present configuration are: u-value 1.6 W/m2K psi-value 0.133 W/mK In the prior art configuration of Figure 2, the two glass panes 40 and 41 of double-glazed panel 15 are offset from each other, to provide room for outer frame member 18.

A further benefit of the present configuration is that it enables the outer edges of glass panes 40 and 41 to be in register in the panel frame 39, which simplifies manufacture.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A rooflight comprising: (a) a fixed metallic frame constructed at least in part from inner and outer frame members connected together by at least one thermal break incorporated within the fixed frame; (b) an openable panel associated with the fixed frame and moveable between closed and open positions; and (c) a resilient seal between the fixed frame and the openable panel and sealing to the fixed frame when the panel is in a closed position, wherein the resilient seal extends between the inner and outer frame members and constitutes an additional thermal break between them.
2. A rooflight as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the fixed frame incorporates at least one pair of thermal breaks connecting together the inner and outer frame members and at least one insulating block is sandwiched between the pair of thermal breaks.
3. A rooflight as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein the openable panel comprises a panel frame supporting glazing.
4. A rooflight as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the glazing comprises a double-glazed unit.
5. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the resilient seal is bonded to a face of the openable panel.
6. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the openable panel is hinged to the fixed frame.

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7. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each thermal break incorporated within the fixed frame has a minimum thickness of 39 mm.
8. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each thermal break incorporated within the fixed frame has a maximum psi-value of 0.3W/mK.
9. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the resilient seal is a dual hardness gasket.
10. A rccflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein that portion of the resilient seal forming a thermal break extending between the inner and outer frame members has a maximum psi-value of 0.25W/mK.
11. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is square or rectangular.
12. A rccflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a vent assembly.
13. A rooflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one powered actuator for the openable panel is incorporated within the fixed frame.
14. A frame member adapted to form a constituent of a rccflight as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
15. A rooflight substantially as described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.