Roofing element, roof comprising such a roofing element, and method for installing such a roof

Abstract

The invention relates to a roofing element comprising: a container (20) having at least one water inlet orifice (25), characterized in that it additionally comprises: a receptacle (5) suitable for being able to receive the container and hold it in place and for being able to be fixed to the frame of a building, the receptacle having a bottom and peripheral side walls for keeping the container in place, and in that each container comprises at least one connector suitable for being able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to allow water to flow between the containers. The invention also relates to a roof comprising such roofing elements and to a method for installing such a roof.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a roofing element. In particular, the invention relates to a roofing element comprising a container adapted to collect rainwater flowing over the roof. The invention relates to a roof comprising such roofing elements and a method of installing such a roof.

[0002] Water is a vital resource. Climate change and flooding and droughts further demonstrate the need to optimize water management, particularly in cities due to land degradation.

[0003] Rainwater is a source that can have many uses, particularly in domestic dwellings, both outdoors and indoors. Technological background

[0004] For example, document US2015 / 0143757 discloses an easy-to-assemble building comprising a roof incorporating a water tank for supplying water by gravity. Such a roof is formed of tanks comprising openings fitted with grilles allowing rainwater to enter each tank.

[0005] Such a roof is limited to the construction of new buildings and is not suitable for the renovation of existing building roofs. Furthermore, such a roof does not allow for easy implementation or maximized rainwater harvesting in relation to the roof surface area.

[0006] Furthermore, green roof elements allowing temporary water storage are known from documents US2011 / 289839, CA2785232, US2010 / 307057 and US2013 / 298463. Objectives of the invention

[0007] The invention aims to provide a roofing element and a roof for collecting rainwater which is easy to install and use while having limited costs.

[0008] The invention also aims to provide a roofing element and a roof making it possible to reduce the impact of flooding.

[0009] The invention also aims to provide a roofing element and a roof allowing an existing roof to be replaced without requiring major modification or reinforcement of the framework of the building concerned. Statement of the invention

[0010] To do this, the invention relates to a roofing element according to claim 1 comprising: a container into which water can be introduced, such as it further comprises: a receptacle adapted to be able to receive and hold in place said container and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls allowing said container to be held, and such that each container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roof element so as to allow circulation of water between said containers.

[0011] A roof element according to the invention therefore makes it possible to propose a device for collecting and storing rainwater on the roof, without requiring a tank or additional reservoir which would be placed for example in the attic or on the ground near the building. The fact that each container has at least one connector which can be connected to a separate container allows the quantity of water stored to be distributed throughout a roof, to distribute the loads on said roof and in particular to facilitate recovery and use of the available water. A single connector can for example be used as an outlet for the water stored in said roof.

[0012] Such a device is reliable and easy to install. It also has the advantage of being very modular, as a roof can be designed using a plurality of roof elements whose connectors can be used at the desired location as an outlet for the use of the recovered water.

[0013] Each water inlet opening of the container is adapted to allow rainwater falling and running off the surface of said roof to penetrate inside

[0014] The container may have various shapes. Advantageously, said container has an upper face adapted to extend mainly parallel to a slope of said roof. Advantageously, said container has an upper face that is at least partly substantially flat. Advantageously, said container has two main faces (an upper face and a lower face) parallel to each other. Advantageously, said container has a generally polyhedral shape, in particular a generally parallelepiped shape. Nothing also prevents each container from being in the form of a flexible bag, the shape and thickness of which in the receptacle could thus vary between an empty state and a state filled with water of the container.Such a flexible bag has in particular predefined dimensions adapted so that the flexible bag filled with water can have dimensions such that its ends come into contact with said bottom and said peripheral side walls of said receptacle receiving it.

[0015] In particular, the container and the receptacle have shapes that are conjugated to each other so as to allow said container to be inserted in a fitted manner into said receptacle. This makes it possible to optimize the total volume of rainwater that can be stored while minimizing the size of said roof element.

[0016] Advantageously, said container has at least one water inlet orifice, and in particular at least two water inlet orifices. Each container has, for example, between two and ten water inlet orifices.

[0017] Each water inlet orifice can have different shapes. For example, they can be circular orifices or slots of varying length. The number of water inlet orifices per container, the distribution and the shape of said orifices can in particular be determined according to the size of the container, the configuration of the roof or even the usual rainfall in the geographical area in which the roof element according to the invention is intended to be installed.

[0018] Each container preferably has a small thickness (compared to its largest dimension) and has an external appearance close to a plate or panel.

[0019] Advantageously, each water inlet orifice of said container is provided with a non-return valve so as to allow the introduction of water into said container and to prevent the exit of water outside said container.

[0020] Each receptacle may have various shapes, the height and shape of the peripheral side walls being able to vary. Advantageously, said receptacle has a bottom adapted to extend mainly parallel to a slope of said roof. Advantageously, the bottom of said receptacle is at least partly substantially flat.

[0021] Thus, when the container is placed in the receptacle (i.e. when the receptacle receives said container), the upper face and the lower face of the container extend parallel to the bottom of said receptacle. In particular, when the container is placed in the receptacle, the lower face of the container is at least partly in contact with the bottom of said receptacle.

[0022] Each container and / or each receptacle may be formed from at least one material chosen from the group consisting of polymer materials (in particular polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polyoxymethylenes (POM)...), polymer matrix composite materials, metals, metal alloys and metal matrix composites. Each container may for example be formed from a polymer material and each receptacle from a metal alloy.

[0023] Each container may have a variable number of connectors. For example, it is possible to provide for distributing a plurality of connectors at different locations on the container, for example at least one on each side (or at least four connectors in the case of a parallelepiped container, for example).

[0024] A roofing element according to the invention may also comprise a covering device making it possible to provide a predetermined aesthetic appearance at least equivalent to the aesthetic appearance of an existing covering of said roof. Thus, advantageously, a roofing element according to the invention further comprises a covering device adapted to be able to cover said container, said covering device comprising at least one opening adapted to allow water to pass towards at least one water inlet orifice of said container.

[0025] The covering device can have any desired shape, in particular that of tiles (flat, channel, etc.), slates, or even include at least one photovoltaic panel, or even a plant-covered support. Advantageously, said covering device has the appearance of tiles.

[0026] Advantageously, a roofing element according to the invention comprises rails, each receptacle being adapted to be able to be fixed to the frame of a building by means of said rails. Such fixing rails can be formed from at least one material chosen from the group formed by metals, metal alloys and their composites. The fixing rails are for example made of aluminum.

[0027] The invention also relates to a roof of a building, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element according to the invention.

[0028] The invention therefore relates to a roof of a building according to claim 9 comprising at least one roofing element according to claim 1 comprising: a container into which water can be introduced, such as it further comprises: a receptacle adapted to be able to receive and hold in place said container and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base and peripheral side walls allowing said container to be held, and such that each container comprises at least one connector adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roof element so as to allow circulation of water between said containers.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method of installing a roof comprising at least one roofing element according to the invention.

[0030] The invention also relates to a method of installing a roof according to claim 10, in which: said receptacle is fixed to said roof of a building, said container is placed inside said receptacle, after having put said receptacle and said container in place, said covering device is fixed above said container.

[0031] It should be noted that it is possible to first fix each receptacle to the frame of a building before placing a container in each receptacle. There is also nothing to prevent each container from being arranged inside said receptacles and then fixing each receptacle to said frame.

[0032] It is further possible to provide for fixing bars (or rods or blades) for holding said container above each container in order to secure the position of each container in a receptacle, for example if it must be handled pre-positioned in the receptacle before the latter is fixed to the frame. Advantageously in such a method, at least one holding bar is fixed to said container, after having placed it inside said receptacle. Each holding bar can also serve as a fixing support for said covering device.

[0033] Advantageously, in such a method, a plurality of roofing elements according to the invention are installed in this way on said framework of said building.

[0034] Advantageously in such a method, at least one connector of the container of a first roofing element is connected with a connector of the container of a second roofing element distinct from said first roofing element. List of figures

[0035] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a schematic exploded perspective view of a roofing element according to the invention, [ Fig. 2 ] is a schematic perspective view of a roofing element according to the invention, [ Fig. 3 ] is a schematic perspective view of a roof according to the invention, [ Fig. 4 ] is a schematic view from below of a container of a roofing element according to the invention, [ Fig. 5] is a schematic perspective view of a building provided with a roof according to the invention. Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0036] In the figures, scales and proportions are not strictly respected, for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0037] Furthermore, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all figures.

[0038] THE figures 1 And 2 illustrate a roofing element 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0039] There Figure 3 illustrates a roof 40, or the slope of a roof, comprising four roof elements 1 according to the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 1 And 2 , said roof elements being juxtaposed (one of said roof elements being shown without a container and two without a covering device).

[0040] Each roof element 1 includes: a container 20 having at least one water inlet orifice 25, a receptacle 5 adapted to be able to receive and hold in place said container 20 and to be able to be fixed to the frame of a building, a covering device 35.

[0041] Each container 20 has a generally parallelepiped shape of low thickness. The container and the receptacle of the same roof element have shapes that are combined with each other so as to allow adjusted insertion of the container into the receptacle. Each receptacle has an upper face 21 (visible in figures 1 And 3 ) adapted to extend mainly parallel to a roof slope and a lower face (visible in Figure 4 ) opposite and extending parallel to the upper face 21.

[0042] In the remainder of the description the terms upstream and downstream are used in reference to the direction of flow of rainwater by gravity on the surface of the roof as oriented (inclined) on the figures 1 has 3 .

[0043] In the embodiment shown, each container 20 has six sealed connectors: two connectors 26, 27 provided on a so-called upper edge of the container 20 adapted to be able to be connected to a container of a neighboring roof element arranged upstream of the roof element 1; two lateral connectors 28, 29 adapted to be able to be connected each to a container of a roof element juxtaposed laterally (at the same level of the roof, neither upstream nor downstream); and two connectors 30, 31 provided on a so-called lower edge of the container 20 adapted to be able to be connected to a container of a neighboring roof element arranged downstream of the roof element 1. Each connector 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 can therefore be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roof element so as to allow circulation of water between the containers.

[0044] For the peripheral or external edges of a roof, it is possible to provide roof elements whose container would be without a connector on one or two edges, i.e. those not requiring a watertight connector on their free edge, not juxtaposed with another roof element. It is also possible to use the same roof elements as those shown and to provide for the installation of plugs to close off unnecessary connectors that cannot be connected to a separate container.

[0045] There is also nothing to prevent the lateral edges of each receptacle of the neighboring roof elements from being configured to be able to overlap in part so as to improve the watertightness of the roof formed. The overlap between the edge of a receptacle and the edge of a separate receptacle may be lateral or between roof elements downstream or upstream of one another. Each edge may, for example, have a U-shaped cross-section whose wings are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped onto the U-shaped edge of a neighboring roof element.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, each container 20 comprises five windows 23 making it possible to stiffen the structure of the container 20 formed for example from polymer material or from polymer matrix composite material.

[0047] Each receptacle 5 has a base 4 and peripheral side walls 6 making it possible to hold the container 20 in place when it is used on a roof.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom 4 of the receptacle 5 has four studs 8 configured to fit inside four of the windows 23 of the container 20. This is not essential but can help to stabilize the container 20 in the receptacle 5. The bottom 4 of the receptacle 5 also has projecting lines 9. These are reinforcing lines making it possible to improve the rigidity of the receptacle 5 while limiting its weight. Nothing also prevents the provision of the bottom of the receptacle 5 being completely flat (without any projecting or hollow part). Nothing also prevents the provision, as a variant or in addition to the projecting lines 9, of channels formed in hollows in the bottom 4 of the receptacle 5 also making it possible to reinforce its rigidity but also to act as channels for evacuating residual water (or water from a possible leak).

[0049] The side walls 6 also have notches 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 provided to allow the connectors 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 of the container 20 to be housed therein respectively. This also contributes to keeping the container 20 in position in the receptacle 5.

[0050] Each roof element according to the invention also comprises a covering device 35 making it possible to provide a predetermined aesthetic appearance in place of the usual covering of said roof. Each covering device comprises at least one opening 36 adapted to allow water to pass towards at least one water inlet orifice of the container. In the embodiment shown, the covering device therefore comprises four openings 36, that is to say as many openings 36 as there are water inlet orifices 25 of the container 20.

[0051] The covering device 35 can have any desired shape, in particular that of tiles (flat, channel, etc.), slates, or even include at least one photovoltaic panel or even a vegetalizable support (support which can be vegetated or support already vegetated).

[0052] The covering device 35 may have tabs 38 allowing it to be clipped and held laterally opposite the receptacle 20.

[0053] Tubes 32 may be provided to connect each opening 36 of the cover device 35 to a water inlet orifice 25 of the container 20 so as to allow the flow of rainwater entering through the openings 36 through filters 37 into the interior of the container. A non-return valve is arranged inside each tube so as to close each water inlet orifice in the direction of the water exiting towards the outside of the container while allowing the introduction of water into the interior of the container. It may for example be a ball non-return valve, for example a non-return valve comprising a polystyrene ball.

[0054] A roofing element according to the invention therefore makes it possible, if necessary, to replace a damaged container without having to replace its receptacle or remove said receptacle from the roof. It is also easy to remove each covering device 35, for example, to inspect said containers and said receptacles.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, each container 20 measures approximately one meter by one meter (1000 mm on each side), for a thickness of the order of 52 mm and each container has a maximum capacity of the order of 40 liters. Such a container formed for example from polyoxymethylene or polyethylene has a mass of the order of 5.8 kg. In addition, each water inlet orifice 25 has a diameter of the order of 45 mm.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, each receptacle 5 measures approximately 1100 mm on each side, for a thickness of the order of 65 mm. Such a receptacle formed for example from polyoxymethylene or polyethylene has a mass of the order of 9.6 kg.

[0057] In an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, each covering device 35 formed for example from polyoxymethylene or polyethylene has a mass of the order of 7.7 kg. Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the roofing element has a total thickness of the order of 180 mm (when the container is placed in the receptacle and the covering device is placed above the latter).

[0058] The roofing elements illustrated in figures 1 to 5all have the same dimensions. However, it is of course possible to provide variable sizes, for example for the peripheral or external edges (high, low and / or side edges or junctions between different slopes) of the roof (not requiring watertight connectors on their free edges, not juxtaposed with another roof element).

[0059] There Figure 5 illustrates a roof 42 of a building comprising several slopes entirely equipped with roofing elements according to the invention. It can be seen that the external appearance of such a roof is completely similar to that of a conventional roof. Other shapes than those of the canal tiles as shown are of course possible.

[0060] A roofing element according to the invention can be installed on a very wide range of roofs and buildings, in particular roofs whose slopes have inclinations which can vary or on flat roofs. Each receptacle can be installed on a frame of a building so that its bottom extends at least partly in a plane forming an angle of between 0° and 90° with the horizontal (an angle of 0° corresponding to a flat roof (without slope)).

[0061] It is also possible to provide for an overlap of the lateral edges of each receptacle of the neighboring roof elements between them. Each edge can for example have a U-shaped cross-section whose wings are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped onto and / or cover the U-shaped edge of a neighboring roof element.

[0062] The roof 40, 42 may also comprise a control module incorporating a remotely controllable valve making it possible to control the opening / closing of this valve in order to evacuate the rainwater stored in all the containers of a roof, for example towards the rainwater network, when this is desirable, for example when a major storm is forecast. During the storm, the rainwater is then stored in the roof containers, thus moderating the effects of the storm or heavy rain.

[0063] The installation of a roof is carried out by carrying out the following steps: a set of receptacles 5 is fixed to the frame of a roof of a building, a container 20 is placed inside each receptacle 5, the connectors of the adjacent receptacles are connected to each other, after having placed the receptacles and the containers on the roof, a covering device 35 is fixed above each container 20.

[0064] Furthermore, if necessary, after having placed the container 20 inside each receptacle 5, at least one retaining bar is fixed above the container 20, each bar having ends which are fixed to the side walls 6 of the receptacle and / or of the covering device 35 of a neighboring roof element. For example, two retaining bars (not shown) can be arranged parallel to each other and parallel to two upper edges and side walls 6 of the receptacle 5. These retaining bars can also serve as fixing supports for any type of covering device.

[0065] Each container 20 and each receptacle 5 may each be formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of polymer materials, polymer matrix composite materials, metals, metal alloys and metal matrix composites.

[0066] Each covering device 35 can also be formed from various materials depending on the desired appearance. In the case of a canal tile appearance as shown in the figures, the covering device 35 can be formed from a polymer or polymer matrix composite material. This makes it possible in particular to limit the mass of the covering device in comparison with terracotta tiles (i.e. ceramic material). However, nothing also prevents the use of a covering device 35 formed from terracotta.

[0067] Furthermore, each covering device 35 of the same roofing element may be formed from a single piece or from a set of pieces assembled together. In the embodiment shown, each covering device 35 may be formed from a block (from a single piece) at least with regard to its part having the appearance of tiles, despite the appearance of individual tiles appearing to be assembled in a traditional manner.

[0068] Other shapes than those of canal tiles as shown are of course possible. In the case of a flat tile appearance, it is possible to provide guides formed in relief so as to increase the quantity of water flowing towards the water inlet orifices 25 towards the interior of the receptacle.

[0069] Furthermore, each receptacle 5 may, for example, be fixed to the frame of a building by means of rails or cleats (not shown). Such fixing rails may be formed from at least one metallic material chosen from the group formed by metals, metal alloys and their composites. The fixing rails are, for example, made of aluminum or formed from an aluminum-based alloy.

[0070] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the tiles may be of different shapes, etc.

[0071] In cases where the roofing system includes photovoltaic panels, it is possible to provide a device for cooling them using rainwater contained in the containers of each roof element.

Claims

1. Roofing element (1) comprising: a container (20) into which rainwater running off the roof can be introduced, in that it further comprises: - a receptacle (5) adapted to be able to receive and hold said container in place and to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building, said receptacle having a base (4) and peripheral side walls (6) making it possible to hold said container, and in that each container (20) comprises at least one connector (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) adapted to be able to be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers, said roofing element (1) being configured to enable said rainwater to be collected and stored on the roof.

2. Roofing element as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said container (20) is generally a polyhedron in shape, in particular of a generally parallelepiped shape.

3. Roofing element as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said container (20) has at least one water inlet orifice, and in particular at least two water inlet orifices (25).

4. Roofing element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said container (20) has an upper face (21) adapted to extend principally in parallel with a slope of said roof.

5. Roofing element as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that each water inlet orifice (25) of said container is provided with a non-return valve so as to permit water to be introduced into the inside of said container and to prevent the water exiting to the outside of said container.

6. Roofing element as claimed in any one of claims 3 or 5, characterized in that it further comprises a covering device (35) adapted to be able to cover said container, said covering device (35) comprising at least one opening (36) adapted to permit the water to pass toward at least one water inlet orifice (25) of said container (20).

7. Roofing element as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said covering device (35) has the appearance of tiles.

8. Roofing element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises rails formed from at least one material selected from the group formed from metals, metal alloys and composites thereof, said receptacle being adapted to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building by means of said rails.

9. Roof (40, 42) of a building, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Method for installation of a roof (40, 42) comprising at least one roofing element (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 and as claimed in any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein: - said receptacle (5) is fixed to said roof of a building, - said container (20) is disposed inside said receptacle, - after having put said receptacle and said container in place on said roof, said covering device (35) is fixed above said container.

11. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one connector (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) of the container (20) of a first roofing element is connected to a connector of the container of a second roofing element separate from said first roofing element.

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