GB2236792A

GB2236792A - Extruded glazing bar system on wooden support structure

Info

Publication number: GB2236792A
Application number: GB9021002A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Leslie Drury
Original assignee: DURABUILD CONSERVATORIES LIMIT
Current assignee: DURABUILD CONSERVATORIES LIMIT
Priority date: 1989-09-28
Filing date: 1990-09-27
Publication date: 1991-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-27
Also published as: GB8921965D0; GB2236792B; GB9021002D0

Abstract

A structural unit is for roofing a structure in particular a conservatory structure to give a maintenance free roof to an otherwise wooden structure. The unit includes framing elements of extruded longitudinal lengths which support and locate glazing panels. The framing elements extend along each side of each panel and the upper and side edges of the panel are located by similar elements which are fixed to the wooden rafters. The remaining side edge is supported for the panel to extend over the eaves of the structure. <IMAGE>

Description

STRUCTURAL UNIT This invention relates to structural units and in particular to structural units for use in buildings such as conservatories.

Hitherto conservatories have been. made from traditional materials, e.g. wood, or have been constructed from plastics or aluminium extrusions. However wooden structures have suffered the disadvantage that, in comparison with the aluminium and plastics structures, more maintenance is required if the structure is to keep its attractive appearance over relatively long periods of time. This is due at least in part because the roofs of conservatory structures are difficult to reach for maintenance purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide a roof structure largely of traditional materials in which the roof is relatively easier to maintain.

According to the invention a structural unit for roofing a structure comprises framing elements extending along each edge of a glazing panel to locate and support said panel, the elements each including extrusions and being supported on wooden support members defined by the structure. Each of the framing elements may include a base portion for securing to the wooden support members and each base portion including a resilient support element for engaging with the associated panel.

Preferably, in a pitched roof arrangement, a first framing element is provided to extend along one, lower side edge of a glazing panel and is arranged to support only the underside of the glazing panel. Conveniently along two opposite side edges of the glazing panel, second framing elements are provided each formed with a channel for receiving a panel side edge, the channel being formed at its lower face by the base portion and at its upper face by an upper portion.

In the latter case the upper and base portions of the second framing element may be secured together during assembly and installation of the unit with the edges of the glazing panels located in the channels.

Conveniently the second framing elements include thermal break means disposed between opposite sides of the channel. The base portion may be in the form of a unitary extrusion connected through the thermal break means to the upper portion. The upper portion of each element may be formed from two extrusions connected together by one or more fasteners and arranged generally as a T-shape, the upright limb of the T being connected to the base or lower portion.

Together the upper and lower portions conveniently are of H section in use, laid on its side, and admitting the glazing panel or panels between the limbs of the H.

A further capping element may be provided to fit over the upper side of the upper portion and to present the externally visible part of the framing element.

In practice when the structural units are employed on the roof of a structure, framing elements in the form of pairs of interconnected portions are arranged, a third element along one upper edge of a glazing panel and the second elements along opposite side edges of the panel. Usually further adjoining glazing panels are located by the second framing elements along said side edges. Along the lower edge of each glazing panel, usually the bottom edge in a roof assembly, is located the first framing element comprising a base portion on which the underside of the panel is supported.

In the latter case the first framing element is of different section whereby a lower layer of glass or other glazing material of the panel may abut at its edge with the element while the upper layer extends beyond said edge and is supported by the element.

Usually the first, second and third framing elements are supported and secured to wooden support members defining rafters of the structure which are horizontally inclined and interconnect wall plates, defining the upper edges of the side walls, and a roof truss element at the pitch of the roof of the structure.

The rpof truss may also be formed of reduced maintenance material and incorporate ventilating ducts for ventilating the structure.

For example the roof truss may be of elongate aluminium extrusion having a hollow body defining a vertically directed air duct.

The duct has openings vertically spaced so that one is internally of the structure and one external of the structure.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through part of a roof structure of a conservatory, Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the eaves of the roof structure of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an exploded section of one of the framing elements of the roof structure.

Referring to the drawings a pitched roof structure is shown which is suitable for fixing to a wooden framed conservatory.

The basic frame of the conservatory is generally of conventional structure having side walls (not shown) at the upper end of which are wall plates 10. The wall plates 10 support upwardly extending rafters 11 which define a pitched roof structure and which are at spaced intervals along the roof. The rafters 11 and plates 10 are of wood.

The roof may be flat or planar as in a lean to conservatory structure. Alternatively the roof may conform to an octagonal or other shape at one or both ends. It will be seen that the roof structure to be described can be arranged to conform to any of these different shapes.

In conventional manner the roof comprises a series of glazing panels 12 usually extending from the eaves to the pitch of the roof and arranged side by side. Each glazing panel is a sealed double-glazed unit with spaced apart parallel layers of glass or other material 13 and 14 interconnected and sealed at the edges by sealing means 15. The lower layer 24 of glass is, in the case of roof glazing panels, usually in the form of a pair of laminated glass sheets. However the structure is not dependent on the use of such panels and other kinds of glazing panels can be used.

Referring now to Fig. 2, at the eaves the lower edges of the glazing panels are supported by an elongate framing element 20 which is attached to a generally triangular section of wood 21 in turn fixed to the wall plates 10. The upper surface of the wood section 21 is inclined at the angle of pitch of the roof and receives the lower surface of the element 20.

The framing element 20 is formed as a unitary aluminium extrusion having a lower or base portion 22 which is apertured to receive screws 23 by which the element 20 is secured to the wood section 21.

Upstanding from the lower portion 22 are elongate channels 24 extending parallel to the element and each shaped to receive a sealing element or gasket 26, The element 20 also includes a portion 27 which is upstanding from the lower portion 22 and includes at its upper end a channel 28 for receiving a further gasket 29.

In use of the element 20 the lower edge of a glazing panel 12 is supported thereby, the gaskets 26 engaging the lower surface of the lower layer 14 and the gasket 29 engaging the lower surface of the upper layer 13 which extends beyond the lower edge of the layer 14. The lower edge of the layer 14 normally abuts the upright surface 30 of the upstanding portion 27 of the element 20.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3 other elongate framing elements 32 support the side edges and the upper edges of the glazing panels 12. The elements 32 are conveniently of the same form whether they are at a side edge or an upper edge of the associated panel 12.

Each element 32 comprises a base or lower elongate aluminium extrusion 33 which is apertured to receive fixing screws 34 for securing the element to the structural wooden frame, usually a rafter 11. The element 32 includes a central longitudinal profile 35 defining a channel 37 in which is located thermal break means 38.

To each side of the profile 35 are formed channels 39 each for receiving a sealing element or gasket 41 which in use engages the underside of a glazing panel 12.

Connected to the base 33 by the thermal break means 38 is an elongate connecting piece 40 having an upwardly-directed channel 42 in which is formed grooves for receiving screws 43 in screwthreaded engagement therewith.

A further aluminium extrusion 44 forms the upper part of the element 32 and the extrusion forms channels 45 for receiving sealing means or gaskets 46 which, when assembled, are oppositely directed to the gaskets 41 and are arranged to engage the upper side of a glazing panel 12 so that the panels are gripped between the gaskets 41 and 46. The gaskets are resilient and allow the panels to be inclined relative to the elements 32 for, for example, providing relatively inclined adjoining glazing panels 12.

The extrusion 44 is secured to the connecting piece 40 by the screws 43 at locations spaced along the element 32. The extrusion 44 on its upper side at the side edges thereof has a pair of inwardly directed portions 47 and an elongate cap member 48 is arranged to fit over and be secured to the portions 47 by protrusions 49 on the member 48 engaging in slots 50 at the side edges of the extrusion 44. The cap member 48 provides the externally visible part of the element 32 when the structure is assembled and has an external finish appropriate to the structure.

When the elements 32 are used to support the side edges of glazing panels 12 a panel is located between each of the opposite pairs of gaskets 39 and 46. On the other hand when the elements 32 are used to support the top edge of glazing panels 12 only one pair of gaskets 41 and 46 is utilised and between the other pair of gaskets is located a wooden, or other material, strip 52.

In the latter case the elements 32 are located adjacent a roof truss element 53 which is secured by oppositely directed pairs of rafters 11. The elements 32 are surmounted in this position by flashing elements 54 extending over the elements 32 from the truss element 53.

It will be seen that each of the elements 32 is of generally Hsection, located in use so that the H lies on its side, the channels between the limbs of the H acting to receive the glazing panels.

The roof truss 53 is formed as an assembly of parts and is arranged to require little maintenance. The truss 53 is made up of three basic elements, a lower element 56 which is of elongate hollow section and has vertical side surfaces 57 which are engaged by and secured to the rafters 22. At the lower end of the element 56 is formed an opening 58 through which ventilating air can pass into the truss.

At its upper end the element 56 is secured by thermal break material 59 to an upper element 60 also of hollow elongate section. The air from the element 56 is accessible into the element 60 through openings in the base of the element 60 and through openings in the thermal break material 59. From thence the air can pass out of the element 60 through side openings 62 which are covered by a filter screen 63 to prevent insects and the like entering the truss.

The top of the truss is surmounted by a ridge capping element 64 secured by screws 65 to prevent rainwater entering the openings 62 and to make a visually attractive finish. The flashing elements 54 are located by the upper element 60 at each side thereof. The elements 56, 60 and 64 are made of aluminium extrusions.

It will be appreciated that a conservatory fitted with the structural roofing unit described is for the most part a structure formed of traditional wood material but with a roof being formed of materials giving the benefits of durability and low maintenance.

Claims

1. A structural unit for roofing a structure, comprising framing elements extending along each edge of a glazing panel to locate and support said panel, the elements each including extrusions and being# supported on wooden support members defined by the structure.

2. A structural unit according to Claim 1 wherein each of the framing elements includes a base portion for securing to the wooden support members and each base portion including a resilient support element for engaging with the associated panel.

3. A structural unit according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein, in a pitched roof arrangement, a first framing element is provided to extend along one, lower side edge of a glazing panel and is arranged to support only the underside of the glazing panel.

4. A structural unit according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein, along two opposite side edges of the glazing panel, second framing elements are provided each formed with a channel for receiving a panel side edge, the channel being formed at its lower face by the base portion and at its upper face by an upper portion.

5. A structural unit according to Claim 4 wherein the upper and base portions of the second framing element are secured together during assembly and installation of the unit with the edges of the glazing panels located in the channels.

6. A structural unit according to Claim 4 wherein the second framing elements each include thermal break means ~ disposed between opposite sides of the channel.

7. A structural unit according to Claim 2 wherein the base portion is in the form of a unitary extrusion connected through thermal break means to the upper portion.

8. A structural unit according to Claim 4 comprising a third framing element located at the upper edge of each glazing panel to locate said upper edge and of generally the same form as the second framing elements.

9. A structural unit according to Claim 4 wherein the second framing elements are arranged along and secured to wooden rafters of the structure and the third framing element extends between and is secured to the rafters.

10. A structural unit according to Claim 9 comprising a roof truss formed of extruded elements and secured to the upper ends of the rafters.

11. A structural unit for roofing a structure substantially as described with reference to the drawings.