Asphalt Shingle Tab Repair Device for Seal Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Asphalt shingle roofs experience premature adhesive tab seal failures due to weathering, leading to wind-induced damage and water intrusion, with existing repair methods being cumbersome, time-consuming, and difficult to verify, especially in high winds like hurricanes.
Innovation Solution
Development of specialized devices and methods for retrofitting and repairing asphalt shingle roofs that include a frame with a dispenser for uniform adhesive application, minimizing shingle bending, and using a compressed air source for cleaning, allowing for immediate sealing and curing within a week, suitable for both professionals and untrained individuals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a caulking gun is used to dispense adhesive dabs at every point, then adhesive can be applied to seal shingles, but the process becomes difficult to control, time-consuming, and requires bending the shingle which can cause breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive application process is segmented into discrete locations along the shingle edge. Instead of continuous application, adhesive is applied at specific intervals (e.g., every 6-12 inches) which simplifies the operation while maintaining seal integrity. The dispensing device is also segmented with multiple nozzles arranged in a pattern to apply adhesive at predetermined spaced locations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The shingle is lifted and held in position before adhesive application, allowing the adhesive to be applied without subsequent bending. The preliminary lifting action positions the shingle edge for optimal adhesive contact, and the adhesive is applied while the shingle is in this prepared position, eliminating the need for post-application bending or adjustment.
2Reliability
If standard caulking gun adhesive is used, then adhesive can be dispensed, but it requires several days to weeks to cure and needs careful volume control to prevent blistering
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive formulation parameters are changed to achieve faster curing. The patent specifies using adhesive compositions with modified chemical properties that reduce curing time from weeks to days. The adhesive may contain accelerators or have a different polymer base that cures more rapidly while maintaining bond strength. The application parameters (temperature, humidity control) may also be optimized to facilitate faster curing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using large volumes of traditional adhesive that require spreading and careful volume control, the invention uses a copied or replicated adhesive delivery system with multiple small nozzles. Each nozzle delivers a controlled, minimal amount of adhesive, replicating the sealing function across multiple points simultaneously. This eliminates the blistering problem associated with excessive adhesive application while maintaining effective sealing.
3Reliability
If adhesive is applied to seal shingles, then wind damage resistance improves, but the repair process becomes difficult to verify and certify
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive composition includes pigments or colorants that provide visual indication of proper application. The adhesive may be colored differently from the shingle material, allowing inspectors to easily verify that adhesive has been applied at all required locations. This color contrast makes the repair process detectable and measurable during inspection and certification, while the adhesive itself provides the wind resistance when cured.
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 solution effectively restores the strength of shingle tabs, reduces wind-induced damage, and provides immediate feedback on repairs, making it safer and easier to verify, thus reducing economic losses from water leaks and mold growth.
Implementation Method 1
using a compressed air source for cleaning
Implementation Method 2
the adhesive does not achieve its strength until the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are evaporated and the compound hardens
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for providing a retrofit and repair technique and device for asphalt shingle roof coverings or roofing systems that exhibit premature adhesive tab seal failures. A device can have a handle at one end and a blade tip end at the other end has the blade tip inserted under a shingle to be repaired. The device can dispense a row of “dabs” at a selected location under roof shingle(s). The dispenser can dispense a row of individual “dabs” by a volume container. Alternatively, the dispenser can have a roll with a plurality of rows of pre-made “dabs” of adhesive on removable type paper. Once the blade tip end of the tool device is inserted between upper and lower shingles, the dabs are dispensed by removing the release paper, and the device is pulled out with the release tape is wound up, advancing the adhesive cylinders. Next, the worker can press down on the upper shingle. Additional embodiments can include adhesive adapters having dispensing heads that attach to ends of caulking tubes on caulking guns, or to caulking gun cartridges, and the like.