Roof Window Sash With Hinged Outer Weather Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof windows, particularly those on inclining roofs, face challenges with energy efficiency, cleaning accessibility, and longevity due to design limitations, including inadequate insulation and complex water tightness issues.
Innovation Solution
A roof window design featuring a sash connected to a fixation frame via a hinge arrangement, with an integrated outer weather shield that moves independently to facilitate cleaning and provide enhanced insulation, utilizing an air gap for improved heat retention and featuring a top-hung sash configuration for better water management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an outer weather shield is added to cover the sash opening and provide insulation, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer weather shield is nested within the sash structure, with the shield positioned inside the sash opening to create an insulating air gap. This nesting approach provides thermal insulation without requiring a completely separate external structure, thereby improving energy efficiency while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The weather shield is divided into multiple segments that can move independently relative to the sash. This segmentation allows the shield to maintain its insulating function while enabling relative movement between the shield and sash, resolving the complexity issue through modular design.
2Ease of operation
If the weather shield is made movable relative to the sash to enable cleaning access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential water tightness issues
Solution Approach 1:
The weather shield is designed with dynamic movement capability relative to the sash through hinge connections. This allows the shield to be opened for cleaning access while maintaining a controlled connection point that can preserve water tightness when closed, thus improving ease of operation while managing reliability concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
A hinge arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism between the weather shield and sash, enabling controlled relative movement. This intermediary allows the shield to move for cleaning purposes while maintaining a reliable connection that can preserve water tightness when in the closed position.
3Loss of energy
If an air gap is provided between the weather shield and insulated glass unit, then insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap is strategically positioned between the outer weather shield and the insulated glass unit to provide localized thermal insulation where it is most needed. This targeted approach improves insulation performance without requiring complex structures throughout the entire assembly, as the insulating air gap is created through the natural spacing between existing components.
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 design enhances energy efficiency, improves cleaning accessibility, extends the lifespan of the roof window, and maintains water tightness, even on steeply pitched roofs, while offering a cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Implementation Method 1
an air gap is provided between the interior major surface of the weather shield and the outwardly facing major surface of the insulated glass unit
Implementation Method 2
the sash is connected to the fixation frame by means of a first hinge arrangement allowing the sash to be moved relative to the fixation frame
Implementation Method 3
The weather shield is movably connected to the sash by means of a further hinge arrangement allowing the weather shield to be moved relative to the sash and the insulated glass unit
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b
Figure 2c
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a roof window (1) for installation in a roof structure of a building, wherein the roof window comprises a sash (2) and a fixation frame (3), wherein the sash (2) is connected to the fixation frame (3) by means of a first hinge arrangement (5) allowing the sash (2) to be moved relative to the fixation frame (3) between a closed sash position (POS1) and an open sash position (POS2). An insulated glass unit (4) is installed in and connected to the sash (2), and the insulated glass unit (4) comprises an inwardly facing major surface (4a) for facing the interior of the building and an outwardly facing major surface (4b) for facing away from interior of the building. The sash (2) moreover comprises an outer weather shield (6), which is transparent to at least visible light and comprises an interior major surface (6a) and an exterior major surface (6b), wherein the outer weather shield (6) is configured to cover the sash opening and wherein an air gap (7) is provided between the interior major surface (6a) of the weather shield (6) and the outwardly facing major surface (4b) of the insulated glass unit (4). The outer weather shield (6) is connected to the sash (2) so as to move together with the sash (2) and the insulated glass unit (4) when the sash (2) is moved between the closed sash position (POS1) and the open sash position (POS2). The weather shield (6) is moreover movably connected to the sash (2) by means of a hinge arrangement (9) allowing the weather shield (6) to be moved relative to the sash (2) and the insulated glass unit (4) between a closed weather shield position (POS3) and an open weather shield position (POS4).