Movable Slat Roofing with Dual-Gutter Water Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roofing systems with movable slats suffer from water splashing and leakage issues due to the significant distance between the slat rotation axis and the gutter profile, leading to aesthetic and functional problems such as water accumulation, condensation, and visibility of rainwater from underneath the roof.
Innovation Solution
The design features a slat cross-section with its center of gravity aligned with the rotation axis, a 'V' shaped groove for water collection, a cap with a main opening that maintains consistent height over the gutter profile, and a dual-gutter system with a pre-gutter and main gutter profile to manage water flow and prevent leakage, along with supplementary water collecting surfaces and draining openings to direct water efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gutter profile is located at a significant distance from the slat set edge to enable slat rotation and tight closing, then the roof can be sealed tightly, but water flows down from a significant height causing splashing and entry under the roof
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter profile is divided into two separate components: a pre-gutter profile positioned close to the slat rotation axis and a main gutter profile positioned at the slat edge. The pre-gutter collects water near the rotation axis while the main gutter handles water at the edge, separating the water collection functions to prevent splashing while maintaining sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
A cap element is introduced as an intermediary component between the slat and the gutter profiles. The cap includes a water collecting surface that intercepts water before it reaches the gutter, and draining openings that control water flow to the pre-gutter and main gutter, preventing direct splashing onto the protected area.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gutter profile is located close to the slat rotation axis to prevent water splashing, then water flow height is reduced, but the distance from the rotation axis to the external outline becomes insufficient for proper slat rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter system is segmented into pre-gutter and main gutter profiles positioned at different locations relative to the slat rotation axis. The pre-gutter is positioned close to the rotation axis to minimize water fall height and splashing, while the main gutter is positioned at the slat edge to collect water that may escape, allowing slat rotation without compromising water management.
3Reliability
If rain water is drained correctly without splashing, then water does not enter the protected area, but water remains visible from the interior under the roof affecting aesthetic qualities
Solution Approach 1:
The cap element with its water collecting surface and draining openings acts as an intermediary that controls water flow path. Water is collected on the cap's surface and directed through controlled openings to the gutters, preventing random splashing and making the water flow less visible from underneath the roof, thereby improving aesthetic quality while maintaining drainage effectiveness.
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
This configuration reduces water splashing, ensures watertightness, and maintains the aesthetic appeal by hiding rainwater from view, while effectively draining water without allowing it to enter the protected area, even during slat rotation.
Implementation Method 1
the lowest point of the groove is located in the center of the slat cross-section in the vicinity of the axis of rotation thereof
Implementation Method 2
from the groove (5) in the slat (4), water flows via a main opening (6) in a cap (7)... and is drained from a pre-gutter profile (17) via openings (18)
Implementation Method 3
the pre-gutter profile (17)... and a main gutter profile (19)... the pre-gutter profile (17) is located higher than in the known constructions, the direct water flow from the pre-gutter profile (17) towards the draining chambers in the leg (3) would be impossible
Implementation Method 4
supplementary water collecting surfaces (8)... stopping any flowing drops of water remaining on the upper slot surface or resulted from dew
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Roofing with movable slats 4 coupled rotatably with a supporting structure, wherein the ends thereof are provided with a cap 7, characterized in that the cap is adjacent to the slat edge and the cap has a pass-through main opening 6 adjacent to a slat groove 5. From the outside, the cap is provided with an adjacent thereto a profile body which portion has round edges, and on the axis thereof is located a slat fastening adjacent to the cap main opening. Adjacent to a cap resistance surface plane, formed at the body round edges, is a seal mounted with the lower portion thereof in a pre-gutter profile which from the bottom is covered with a main gutter profile.