Dome Roofing Element with Flexible Bellows Flange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dome-like elements for tile profiled metal sheet roofing are not easily mountable on different profiles and require separate manufacturing for each type, with inadequate sealing due to rigid flange parts and lack of adaptability to varying corrugation heights and profiles.

Innovation Solution

A dome-like element made mainly of hard plastic with a soft, rubber-like plastic layer on the flange part and bellows portions extending between arched portions, allowing flexibility and adaptation to various tile profiles, combined with a hard plastic film for UV protection and improved sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the flange part is made rigid and straight for stable attachment, then the mounting strength is improved, but the adaptability to different corrugation profiles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidadaptability to different corrugation profiles
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flange part has different properties in different regions: the arched portions are rigid and form-stable for strong attachment to corrugation crests, while the bellows portions are flexible and rubber-like to adapt to varying corrugation heights and profiles. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall rigidity for strength and local flexibility for adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The element combines hard plastic for the dome-like part and arched portions with soft rubber-like plastic for the bellows portions. This composite construction allows the rigid sections to provide mounting strength while the flexible sections accommodate different corrugation profiles, solving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a separate gasket is added for sealing, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged into the flange part itself through the bellows portions made of soft rubber-like plastic. These bellows portions extend between the arched portions and provide sealing contact with the roofing material without requiring a separate gasket, thus improving sealing performance while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bellows portions act as flexible sealing elements made of rubber-like plastic that conform to the roofing material surface. This flexible shell approach provides effective sealing without the need for additional rigid gaskets, resolving the contradiction between sealing performance and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If the element is made entirely of hard plastic for structural stability, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the adaptability to different roof profiles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidadaptability to different roof profiles
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The element exhibits different material properties locally: the dome-like part and arched portions are made of hard plastic for manufacturing precision and structural stability, while the bellows portions are made of soft rubber-like plastic for adaptability to different roof profiles. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall manufacturing precision and local adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite construction combines hard plastic sections for precise manufacturing with soft rubber-like plastic sections for profile adaptation. This allows the element to maintain manufacturing precision in critical structural areas while achieving adaptability in the bellows portions, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Adaptability or versatility

If the flange part is made flexible to adapt to different profiles, then the adaptability is improved, but the mounting strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different profilesVSAvoidmounting strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flange part has localized flexibility only in the bellows portions between the arched portions, while the arched portions themselves remain rigid and form-stable. This local quality differentiation allows the element to adapt to different profiles through the flexible bellows sections while maintaining mounting strength through the rigid arched portions that provide secure attachment points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material construction provides flexibility in the rubber-like plastic bellows portions for profile adaptation, while the hard plastic arched portions maintain structural strength for secure mounting. This resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility for adaptability and local rigidity for mounting strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy and secure mounting on diverse tile profiles with enhanced sealing and UV resistance, accommodating a range of corrugation heights and profiles without visible material boundaries, ensuring a tight and durable attachment.

Implementation Method 1

the flange part, when the element is being attached, is arranged to adapt for the form of corrugated tile profiled metal sheet roofings of different forms and heights

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the use of the above mentioned film also provides a better UV-resistance for the element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV resistance: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP2307632B1Dome shaped element for a pipe duct of a tile profiled metal sheet roofing
Publication Date: 2013.07.24 TUOTE
  • EP2307632B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2307632B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2307632B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention concerns an dome-like element tapering upwards for a pipe duct of a tile profiled metal sheet roofing of a building, said element having in its dome-like upper part (1) an opening (3) for receiving the pipe to be led through the roof, and said element having in its lower edge a flange part (2) with mounting holes (7), said flange part including an arched portion (5, 6) for the wave crest of the tile profiled metal sheet roofing at the front and back end of said element. The element is characterized in that the element is for the main part made of hard plastic, but on the bottom side of the flange part (2) and inside the dome-like part (1) up to the level of the highest point of the arched portions (5, 6) there is a layer of soft rubber-like plastic, which inside the dome-like part (1) is thinner than in the flange part (2), and that on the area between the flange part (2) and the dome-like part (1) there are formed bellows parts (8) extending between said arched portions (5, 6) of the flange part (2), and having walls being totally or for the main part made of soft rubber-like plastic, so that the flange part (2) when the element is being attached, is arranged to adapt for the form of corrugated tile profiled metal sheet roofings of different forms and heights, whereby only the upper parts of the arched portions (5, 6) at the flange part (2) are form-stable and rigidly connected to the dome-like part (1) of the element.