A PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING A SHEET TO A SLOPED ROOF STRUCTURE
Patent Information
- Application Number
- MX2023003915
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-10-13
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-10-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for applying a sheet on an inclined roof structure, such as a greenhouse, do not efficiently accommodate ventilation openings, requiring separate fixation of films to window and ventilation opening frames, which is time-consuming and material-intensive.
A method involving a window frame complementary to the ventilation opening frame, allowing simultaneous fixation of a sheet to both frames, with the sheet being cut to form a movable cover window, and using extruded aluminum components for the ridge beam, gutter, deck bars, and window frame.
Saves time and material by allowing simultaneous fixation of the sheet to both the window and ventilation opening frames, facilitating easy tensioning and reducing material waste, while enabling a movable cover window.
Smart Images
Figure MX431479B0
Abstract
Description
A PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING A SHEET TO A SLOPED ROOF STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a method of applying a sheet onto a sloping roof structure. A method of this type is known from patent document WO 2017 / 153782. In the known method, a flexible ETFE film is applied to a sloping roof structure of a greenhouse frame. The film is fed from a roll through two spaced channels. The film is forced into the channels by means of profile elements in order to create tension in the film. An object of the invention is to provide a method for applying a sheet onto a sloping roof structure that is provided with a ventilation opening. This object is achieved by the process according to the invention, wherein the pitched roof structure comprises a ridge beam, a gutter extending parallel to the ridge beam, a plurality of parallel roof bars interconnecting the ridge beam and the gutter, and a vent opening frame surrounding a vent opening located between the ridge beam, the gutter, and two adjacent roof bars, wherein the process comprises the steps of supplying a window frame that is complementary to the vent opening frame and fits within the vent opening frame, inserting the window frame into the vent opening frame, and holding the window frame in a fixed position relative to the vent opening frame.Place a sheet over the pitched roof structure so that it extends at least from the ridge beam to the gutter and covers at least the neighboring roof bars, fix the sheet to the window frame and the vent opening frame along their respective circumferential edges, cut the sheet between the window frame and the vent opening frame, thus forming the window frame that includes the sheet. Before the sheet is placed on the pitched roof structure, the ventilation opening frame surrounds the window frame. After the cutting stage, the sheet is fixed to both the window frame and the ventilation opening frame, allowing the window frame, which includes the sheet, to be moved relative to the ventilation opening frame. The window frame can be used immediately as a roof window that can be opened and closed if it is already movably mounted on the ventilation opening frame, or it can be finished before being movably mounted on the ventilation opening frame. The procedure according to the invention saves time, since the sheet can be attached to the window frame and the ventilation opening frame simultaneously instead of attaching the sheet to the window frame separately. It also saves material, as the window frame is not supplied with the sheet separately.It is observed that each of the ridge beam, gutter, roof bars, vent opening frame and window frame can be made of extruded aluminum. In a preferred embodiment, the window frame is held in a fixed position such that the adjacent upper surfaces of the window frame and the vent opening frame are substantially level, or such that the height difference between the adjacent upper surfaces of the window frame and the vent opening frame is less than the thickness of the window frame. This allows for the placement of a flat sheet on the adjacent upper surfaces of the window frame and the vent opening frame and facilitates the attachment of the sheet to both the window frame and the vent opening frame along their respective surrounding edges. The height difference can be less than 50% or even less than 25% of the thickness, for example. In a practical implementation, during the sheet fixing stage, it is also fixed to the ridge beam, the gutter, and the roof bars. The membrane can be tensioned before or during the fixing stage to achieve a taut roof. This is advantageous when the upper surfaces of the pitched roof structure supporting the membrane are more or less level after the membrane has been placed on them, as it makes tensioning the membrane relatively easy. The ventilation opening frame can be rectangular and consist of a top beam, a bottom beam, and two side beams that interconnect the top beam and the bottom beam. In one particular embodiment, the side beams are at least portions of the respective neighboring deck beams, which is an efficient structure compared to separate side beams. In another particular embodiment, the top beam forms part of the ridge beam, thus avoiding the need for a separate top beam. The bottom rafter can interconnect neighboring roof bars and intersect at locations between the ridge beam and the gutter. This means that the vent opening extends into part of the area between the ridge beam, neighboring roof bars, and the gutter. In a particular embodiment, the window frame including the sheet is an intermediate window insert, which is extracted from the ventilation opening frame after the cutting stage, after which a first hinge portion is mounted on the intermediate window insert in order to form a roof window and a second hinge portion is mounted on the ventilation opening frame, after which the roof window is mounted on the ventilation opening frame by coupling the first and second hinge portions together so that the roof window can pivot with respect to the ventilation opening frame between an open position and a closed position.One advantage of this design is that the intermediate window insert is manufactured during the sheet placement and fixing stages, after which the intermediate window insert and the ventilation opening frame are fitted with the first and second hinge portions, respectively. This allows the roof window to be positioned relative to the ventilation opening frame in a location where the window frame's position differs from that before the cutting stage, for example, at a higher level. More specifically, at least one of the intermediate window insert and the ventilation opening frame may be provided with a finishing edge so that the roof window rests on top of the ventilation opening frame in its closed condition. The finishing edge may be provided with sealing means, for example. The first hinge portion can be a first elongated profiled section, while the second hinge portion is a second elongated profiled section mounted on the ridge beam. Such elongated sections can be made of extruded aluminum, for example. The sloping roof structure may be part of a gable roof structure of a greenhouse and / or the sheet may be a transparent sheet. In one particular embodiment, the greenhouse has a double gable roof structure comprising two similar sloping roof structures, each including two ridge beams and a gutter extending between the two ridge beams. The sheeting is of a width such that, after installation, it covers both sloping roof structures. It is then first secured to the ridge beams and subsequently to the gutter. This facilitates tensioning the sheeting before securing it to the gutter. In another embodiment, the gable roof structure comprises two similar sloping roof structures, each including two gutters and a ridge beam spanning between the gutters. The sheeting is of a width such that, after installation, it covers both sloping roof structures. It is first secured to the gutters and then to the ridge beam. The ridge beam can be lifted before securing the sheeting to it to tension the sheeting. The invention will be explained below with reference to very schematic drawings that illustrate embodiments of the invention by way of example. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a greenhouse roof structure under construction. Figure 2 is an exploded plan view of a window frame. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the window frame as shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating a stage of inserting window frames as shown in Figures 2 and 3 into the respective ventilation opening frames in the procedure according to the invention. Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, showing an enlarged portion of it. Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, illustrating the steps of placing a transparent sheet over the roof structure and attaching the transparent sheet to the window frames and ventilation opening frames in the procedure according to the invention. Figures 7 and 8 are similar views to Figure 6, showing enlarged parts of it. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cover structure as shown in Figure 6, which shows a situation after the stage of placing the transparent sheet over the cover structure, but before the fixing stage according to the procedure of the invention. Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9, but showing a situation after the stage of fixing the transparent sheet to the cover structure. Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, which illustrates a stage of removing one of the window frames that includes the sheet in an embodiment of the procedure according to the invention. Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figure 11, showing an enlarged portion of it. Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the window frames that is provided with a transparent sheet, illustrating a finishing stage in an embodiment of the procedure according to the invention for forming a roof window. Figure 14 is a view similar to that in Figure 13, showing the resulting roof window. Figure 15 is a view similar to that of Figure 12, which illustrates a finishing stage on one of the ventilation opening frames in an embodiment of the procedure according to the invention. Figure 16 is a view similar to that in Figure 15, showing the resulting ventilation opening frame. Figure 17 is a view similar to that in Figure 1, but showing the resulting roof structure including the roof windows and covered with a transparent sheet. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the resulting roof structure, as shown in Figure 17, in which the sheet is not shown for explanatory reasons. Figure 1 shows a portion of a roof structure 1 of a greenhouse under construction, in this case a gable roof structure. A greenhouse that includes a gable roof form is also known as a Venlo-type greenhouse. The portion of the roof structure 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises two ridge beams 2 and three gutters 3 that extend parallel to the ridge beams 2. A plurality of parallel roof bars 4 are located between each adjacent ridge beam 2 and gutter 3 and connect them to one another. The roof bars 4 extend perpendicular to the ridge beams 2 and the gutters 4. The roof structure is supported by pillars 5.The roof structure 1 has four inclined planes; each of them can be considered as an inclined roof structure according to the present invention, whose inclined roof structure comprises a ridge beam 2, a gutter 3 and a plurality of roof bars 4. The roof structure 1 is provided with a plurality of trusses 6. Each truss 6 interconnects two adjacent roof bars 4 and intersects them at locations between the ridge beam 2 and the gutter 3, which are themselves interconnected by the two adjacent roof bars 4. In Figure 1, the locations are midway between the ridge beam 2 and the gutter 3, but this may vary. The truss 6, together with a portion of the ridge beam 2 and the respective portions of the adjacent roof bars 4, forms a rectangular vent frame 7 surrounding a vent opening 8. The portion of the ridge beam 2 forms a top beam, the truss 6 forms a bottom beam, and the portions of the adjacent roof bars 4 form the respective side beams of the vent frame 7.Ventilation opening 8 is located between ridge beam 2, gutter 3 and the two neighboring roof bars 4, more specifically between ridge beam 2, truss 6 and the two neighboring roof bars 4. Figure 1 shows four ventilation openings 8, but alternative rafters may have a different number. Figure 4 shows a window frame 9 that is complementary to and fits inside the ventilation opening frame 7. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate one possible way of manufacturing the window frame 9 from four bars that are fastened together by reinforcements. In one step of the process according to the invention, the window frame 9 is inserted into the ventilation opening frame 7 and held in a fixed position relative to the ventilation opening frame 7. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the window frame 9 is held in a fixed position such that the adjacent upper surfaces of the window frame 9 and the ventilation opening frame 7 are substantially level, or the difference in height between the adjacent upper surfaces is at least small.In the situation shown in Figure 4, three window frames 9 are already fitted within their respective ventilation opening frames 7, and one window frame 9 is still outside its corresponding ventilation opening frame 7. Figure 5 shows in more detail a situation where the window frame 9 is inserted into the ventilation opening frame 7. The fixed positions of the window frames 9 with respect to their corresponding ventilation opening frames 7 can be created by temporarily securing the window frames 9 to the ventilation opening frames 7, for example, but numerous alternative methods are conceivable. For example, temporarily screwing, gluing, tying, bolting, or similar methods. Figure 6 illustrates a further step in an embodiment of the process according to the invention, in which step a transparent sheet 10 is placed over the roof structure 1. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the transparent sheet 10 is supplied from a roll. The width of a roll is such that the transparent sheet 10 covers the roof structure from one of the gutters 3 to one of the corresponding neighboring ridge beams 2. Therefore, in the case shown in Figure 6, four strips of transparent sheet 10 are applied to cover the roof structure 1. In a subsequent stage, the transparent sheet 10 is attached to the roof structure 1. Before the attachment stage, the transparent sheet 10 can be tensioned. Figure 6 shows that the transparent sheet 10 is attached to the roof bars 4 by means of the respective roof bar strips 11, to the trusses 6 by means of the respective truss strips 12, and to the ridge beams 2 by means of the ridge beam strips 13. Consequently, the transparent sheet 10 is attached to the ventilation opening frames 7. The transparent sheet 10 is also attached to the gutters 3 by means of the gutter strips 14. In addition, the transparent sheet 10 is attached to the window frames 9 by means of the respective rectangular window frame brackets 15.It is noted that, for explanatory reasons, only a portion of the roof batten strips 11, truss strips 12, ridge beam strips 13, gutter strips 14, and window frame stirrups 15 are shown in Figure 6. Figures 7 and 8 show details of Figure 6 at a larger scale. The strips mentioned 11-14 and the window frame stirrups 15 can be fastened by screws, clamping means, snap-fit means, or similar means. It is noted that the strips mentioned 11-14 and the window frame stirrups 15 can be made of aluminum, PVC, rubber, or similar materials. It is also possible that the strips mentioned 11-14 and the ribs of the window frame stirrups 15 have identical cross-sections. Figures 9 and 10 show in detail how the transparent sheet 10 is attached to the window frame 9 and the ventilation opening frame 7. It can be seen that the ventilation opening frame 7 surrounds the window frame 9. Figure 9 shows that the transparent sheet 10 is already attached to the ridge beam 2 via the ridge beam strips 13. Therefore, it is already attached to a portion of the ventilation opening frame 7. Figure 9 also shows that a top surface of the truss 6 and a neighboring top surface of the window frame 9 are level, while a top surface of the ridge beam 2 and a neighboring top surface of the window frame 9 have a small height difference. However, the height difference is relatively small, in this case less than 25% of the thickness of the window frame 9.Figure 10 shows that the window frame stirrup 15 is attached to the window frame 9 and the truss strip 12 is attached to the truss 6. After the stage of attaching the transparent sheet 10 to the roof structure 1, and therefore also to the window frames 9 and the ventilation opening frames 7 along their respective circumferential edges, the transparent sheet 10 between the window frames 9 and the corresponding ventilation opening frames 7 is cut. Subsequently, the window frames 9, which include the respective transparent sheet 10 and the window frame brackets 15, now referred to as intermediate window inserts and indicated by the reference number 9' in the figures, are removed from the ventilation opening frames 7, see Figures 11 and 12. Next, each of the intermediate window inserts 9' is provided with a finishing edge in the form of edge strips 16 on three outer edges thereof and a first hinge portion in the form of a window hinge strip 17 on one outer edge thereof, as shown in Figure 13. This results in a deck window 9” as shown in Figure 14. The vent opening frame 7 is also provided with a finishing edge in the form of edge strips 18 on three sides and a second hinge portion in the form of a vent opening hinge strip 19, see Figure 15. The vent opening hinge strip 19 is fixed to the remainder of the ridge beam 2, see Figure 18. A resulting bordered vent opening frame is shown in Figure 16 and is indicated by the reference number 7'. The window hinge strip 17 and the vent opening hinge strip 19 are first and second cooperative profiled elongated sections, respectively, which engage with each other when the roof window 9” is mounted in the bordered vent opening frame 7' such that the roof window 9” is pivotable with respect to the bordered vent opening frame 7' between an open and a closed position.The finished edges of the 9” deck windows and their respective 7’ bordered vent opening frames are such that when the 9” deck windows are pivotally mounted in their respective 7’ bordered vent opening frames, the 9” deck window rests on top of the 7’ bordered vent opening frame in its closed state. It can be deduced from Figure 18 that the window frame 9 within the 9” deck window is positioned higher relative to the 7’ bordered vent opening frame in the closed state of the 9” deck window than it was before the sheet was placed on the deck structure 1. The 9” roof windows can be coupled to a 9” roof window opening and closing mechanism. Figure 17 shows the resulting gable roof of the greenhouse in a situation where the 9” roof windows are in an open position. The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, which may vary in different ways within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the window frame may be adapted so that it remains within the ventilation opening frame after the transparent sheet is cut. In that case, the window frame and the ventilation opening frame may already be pivotally mounted to each other before applying the transparent sheet. Furthermore, the invention is also applicable to an alternative roof structure, for example, comprising a unique pitched roof structure including a ridge beam, a gutter, and a plurality of parallel roof bars instead of a gable roof structure or a gable roof structure.
Claims
1. A method for applying a sheet (10) to a pitched roof structure (1), wherein the pitched roof structure (1) comprises a ridge beam (2), a gutter (3) extending parallel to the ridge beam (2), a plurality of parallel roof bars (4) interconnecting the ridge beam (2) and the gutter (3), and a vent opening frame (7) surrounding a vent opening (8) located between the ridge beam (2), the gutter (3), and two adjacent roof bars (4), wherein the method comprises the steps of: supplying a window frame (9) that is complementary to the vent opening frame (7) and fits within the vent opening frame (7), inserting the window frame (9) into the vent opening frame (7), and securing the window frame (9) in a fixed position relative to the vent opening frame (7).place a sheet (10) over the pitched roof structure (1) so that it extends at least from the ridge beam (2) to the gutter (3) and covers at least the neighboring roof bars (4), fix the sheet (10) to the window frame (9) and the vent opening frame (7) along their respective circumferential edges, cut the sheet (10) between the window frame (9) and the vent opening frame (7), thereby forming the window frame (9) that includes the sheet (10).
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the window frame (9) is held in a fixed position such that the neighboring upper surfaces of the window frame (9) and the ventilation opening frame (7) are substantially level or such that a height difference between the neighboring upper surfaces of the window frame (9) and the ventilation opening frame (7) is less than the thickness of the window frame (9).
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the stage of fixing the sheet (10) it is also fixed to the ridge beam (2), the gutter (3) and the roof bars (4).
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet (10) is tensioned before or during the fixing stage.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation opening frame (7) is rectangular and is formed by an upper beam (2), a lower beam (6) and two side beams (4) interconnecting the upper beam (2) and the lower beam (6).
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the side beams are at least portions of the respective neighboring roof bars (4).
7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the upper beam is part of the ridge beam (2).
8. A method according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the lower beam (6) interconnects the neighboring roof bars (4) and intersects them at a location between the ridge beam (2) and the gutter (3).
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the window frame including the sheet is an intermediate window insert (9j), which is removed from the vent opening frame (7) after the cutting step, whereupon a first hinge portion (17) is mounted on the intermediate window insert (9') to form a cover window (9") and a second hinge portion (19) is mounted on the vent opening frame (7), whereupon the cover window (9") is mounted on the vent opening frame (7) by coupling the first and second hinge portions (17, 19) together so that the cover window (9") can pivot with respect to the vent opening frame (7) between an open position and a closed position.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the intermediate window insert (9j) and the ventilation opening frame (7) is provided with a finishing edge (16, 18) so that the roof window (9'j) rests on the ventilation opening frame (7j) in its closed condition.
11. A method according to claim 9 or 10 and claim 7, wherein the first hinge portion (17) is a first elongated profiled section and the second hinge portion (19) is a second elongated profiled section that is mounted on the ridge beam (2).
12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sloping roof structure is part of a gable roof structure (1) of a greenhouse and / or wherein the sheet is a transparent sheet (10). ci «cnn / cznz / e / YiAi 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the greenhouse has a double gable roof structure (1) comprising two similar sloping roof structures including two ridge beams (2) and a gutter (3) extending between the two ridge beams (2), wherein the sheet (10) 5 has a width such that after the placement stage it covers both sloping roof structures, after which it is first fixed to the ridge beams (2) and then fixed to the gutter (3).
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the gable roof structure (1) comprises two similar sloping roof structures that include two gutters (3) and a ridge beam (2) extending between the two gutters (3), wherein the sheet (10) has a width such that after the placement stage it covers both sloping roof structures, after which it is first fixed to the gutters (3) and then fixed to the ridge beam (2).
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ridge beam (2) is lifted before fixing the sheet (10) to the ridge beam (2).