Flat Roof Tile Stepped Groove Wind-Driven Rain Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tile designs for low-sloped roofs face challenges in watertightness due to wind-induced rainwater infiltration, particularly at overlaps, where capillary action and wind pressure lead to sealing failures, especially in areas with high wind and rain concomitance.
Innovation Solution
A tile with a substantially flat structure featuring a stepped groove system in the external lateral interlocking portion and an adjustment portion inclined opposite to the roof slope, creating multiple drainage channels and a pressure drop zone to enhance sealing and rainwater management, along with internal and external interlocking ribs and sealing strips to prevent capillary infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tiles are arranged on low-sloped roofs to allow rainwater flow, then the roof can be installed on surfaces with extreme inclinations, but wind-induced rainwater infiltration increases and sealing fails
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is divided into multiple sections with risers at different locations, creating segmented barriers that collectively prevent wind-driven water infiltration while maintaining drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is oriented transversely across the slope rather than longitudinally, adding a dimensional change in water flow path that utilizes the transverse direction to create effective sealing barriers against wind-driven infiltration
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slope is reduced to allow installation on extreme inclination surfaces, then more surfaces can be covered, but rainwater flow slows and infiltration risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is divided into multiple sections with risers at different locations, creating segmented barriers that collectively prevent wind-driven water infiltration while maintaining drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is oriented transversely across the slope rather than longitudinally, adding a dimensional change in water flow path that utilizes the transverse direction to create effective sealing barriers against wind-driven infiltration
3Device complexity
If traditional groove designs are used without stepped portions, then the structure is simpler, but wind-driven rainwater can infiltrate between tiles through capillary action
Solution Approach 1:
The groove is divided into multiple sections with risers at different locations, creating segmented barriers that collectively prevent wind-driven water infiltration while maintaining drainage functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is oriented transversely across the slope rather than longitudinally, adding a dimensional change in water flow path that utilizes the transverse direction to create effective sealing barriers against wind-driven infiltration
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
The enhanced tile design significantly improves sealing and rainwater management on low-sloped roofs by preventing wind-driven rainwater infiltration and ensuring effective drainage, even at slopes as low as 20%, thereby reducing the risk of assembly failures.
Implementation Method 1
the risers being oriented to form obstacles to the rise of rainwater in the groove which could be due for example to a gust of wind infiltrating between the tiles
Implementation Method 2
creating multiple drainage channels and a pressure drop zone to enhance sealing and rainwater management
Implementation Method 3
the at least one step remaining inclined with respect to a horizontal plane when the tile is in service so as to ensure flow of rainwater by gravity towards a lower end of the tile
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tile (1) having a substantially flat structure, comprising an inner surface (3) opposite a roof having a slope, and an outer surface (2) opposite the inner surface (3), the outer surface (2) comprising: - a gauge (4), - an upper interlocking portion (5), the upper interlocking portion (5) being configured to be overlapped by an adjacent tile in the longitudinal direction, - an outer lateral interlocking portion (6), the outer lateral interlocking portion (6) being configured to be overlapped by an adjacent tile in a transverse direction of the roof, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner lateral interlocking portion comprising at least one rib, and in which the outer lateral interlocking portion (6) has at least one groove (8, 9, 10), the at least one groove (8, 9, 10) being configured to receive one of the at least one rib of the inner lateral interlocking portion of the adjacent tile in the transverse direction, wherein a bottom wall of the at least one groove (8, 9, 10) comprises a stepped portion (14), the stepped portion (14) having at least one counter-step surface (16) turned towards a lower longitudinal end of the tile in order to obstruct a rise of rainwater in the groove.