IMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZED ROOFS

AMELIORATIONS APPORTEES AUX TOITS ENDUITS DE VERNIS

English Abstract

A glazed roof has a ridge and at least one free ridge end, a ventilation path
being
provided through a ridge end component.

Claims

5
CLAIMS
1. A glazed roof having a ridge and at least one free ridge end, a ventilation
path being
provided through a ridge end component.
2. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein a generally vertical
ventilation tube is
provided at the ridge end.
3. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 2, wherein a finial or other decorative
cover fitted
over the ventilation tube leaving a space between edges thereof through which
air can
escape.
4. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridge end comprises a
flange
component of or mounted to a ridge beam end, the flange component being
arranged to
have ends of glazing bars connected thereto.
5. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 4, wherein a ventilation tube is mounted
through
the flange component.
6. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tube and flange are a
single
component.
7. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 2, wherein a cover for the roof ridge end
has an
aperture therethrough for the ventilation tube.
8. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ridge end cover is shaped
to sit on
the ventilation top.
9. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aperture has a generally
central
slot connected by webs to sides of the aperture, the slot being arranged to
receive a spigot

6
or the like of a decorative component whereby the decorative component sits on
top of the
ventilation tube but has its bottom edge spaced from the cover to provide an
air passageway
therebetween.
10. A glazed roof as claimed in 2, wherein beneath the roof ridge end a cover
panel is
provided.
11. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover panel has an
aperture into or
over which the ventilation tube sits.
12. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 7, wherein over the aperture there is
provided a
hit and miss ventilator.
13. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 12, wherein the aperture is covered by a
radially
slotted cover with an associated rotatable slotted disc, whereby the disc can
be rotated
between a first position wherein respective slots of the cover and disc are
aligned to allow
air passage and a second passage wherein solid parts of the disc align with
slots of the
aperture to prevent air passage.
14. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for forced
ventilation.
15. A glazed roof as claimed in claim 14 further comprising an electrically
operated fan
within the ventilation tube to draw air through it from the conservatory.

Description

CA 02255269 1999-OS-17
~RO'IE~VTS IN GLAZED ROOFS
This invention concerns improvements in glazed roofs.
The invention is particularly concerned with conservatory roofs and, more
particularly, with means for ventilating conservatories. Conservatories are a
popular
addition to houses to pro~ride additional room with the attractions of being
light and
providing wide outwards viiews. Because conservatories are glazed extensively,
there can
be disadvantages, in that, when the weather is hot the conservatory interior
can become
very hot and when the weather is cold, the glazing is not able to retain heat.
As a
consequence of the latter condensation can form on inner surfaces of a
conservatory.
To combat these problems it is desirable to provide ventilation. One simple
form of
ventilation is to provide air passageways through the roof ridge of a
conservatory, so that
air can flow through the conservatory.
The ridge ventilation system does provide a large area over which rain ingress
is
possible i.e. along both sides of the ridge, where rain can splash upwards
from roof glazing
panels under a ridge cover and into the ridge beam. Therefore, rain baffles
and other
suitable seals have to be provided to prevent rain ingress into the
conservatory itself.
An object of this invention is to provide an alternative ventilation system
for a
glazed roof structure.
According to this invention it is proposed that, for a glazed roof having a
ridge and
at least one free ridge end, a ventilation path be provided through a ridge
end component.
Typically a Victorian or Edwardian style conservatory will have one or more
ridge
ends suitable for adoption oi-'the present invention. At such a ridge end
glazing bars extend

CA 02255269 1999-OS-17
2
downwardly and radially, a cover sits over the ridge end and a decorative
finial is mounted
on the cover. In a preferred form of the invention it is proposed that a
generally vertical
ventilation tube be provided at the ridge end. Then a finial or other
decorative cover may
be fitted over the ventilation tube leaving a space between edges thereof
through which air
can escape.
A preferred form ~~f ridge end for a glazed roof according to the invention
comprises a flange component of or mounted to a ridge beam end, the 'flange
component
being arranged to have ends of glazing bars connected thereto. The ventilation
tube is
preferably mounted through the flange component. In fact, the tube and flange
could be
made as a single component, such as a die cast component.
A cover for the roof ridge end preferably has an aperture therethrough for the
ventilation tube and is preferably shaped to sit on the ventilation tube top.
The aperture
preferably has a generally central slot connected by webs to sides of the
aperture, the slot
being arranged to receive a spigot or the like of a decorative component, such
as a finial,
whereby the decorative component ;sits on top of the ventilation tube but has
its bottom
edge spaced from the cover 1;o provide an air passageway therebetween.
Beneath the roof ridge end a cover panel is preferably provided. The cover
panel
preferably has an aperture into or over which the ventilation sits. Over the
aperture there is
preferably provided a hit and miss ventilator. Preferably the aperture is
covered by a
radially slotted cover with an associated rotatable slotted disc, whereby the
disc can be
rotated between a first position wherein respective slots of the cover and
disc are aligned to
allow air passage and a second position wherein solid parts of the disc align
with slots of
the aperture to prevent air passage.

CA 02255269 1999-OS-17
3
The ventilation system of tlhe invention may be used for natural ventilation.
In
other words when the ventilation passages are open warm air within a
conservatory will rise
and escape through the ventilation system. On the other hand forced
ventilation may be
possible with the ventilation system of the invention by providing an
electrically operated
fan or rotor within the ventilation tube to draw air through it from the
conservatory.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a partially exploded view from below of a conservatory ridge end
with a
ventilation system;
Figure 2 is a further exploded view from below of the conservatory ridge of
Figure
1;
Figure 3 is a partially exploded view from above of the conservatory ridge end
of
Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a further explodf;d view from above of the conservatory ridge and
of
Figure l; and
Figure 5 is a section through the conservatory ridge end of Figure 1.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, the ridge end illustrated is typical
of a so-
called Victorian conservatory which has a ridge 10 with a decorative cresting
12 and a ridge
end generally designated 14 from which glazing bars 19 extend radially and
support glazing
panels (not shown) therebet<veen.
The conservatory roof ridge end comprises a ridge beam 16 having a generally
semi-circular ridge end plate 18 fixed thereto. The ridge end plate 18 slopes
downwardly
and has the glazing bars 19 attached thereto.

CA 02255269 1999-OS-17
4
Over the ridge bearn 16 is a capping 20 and at the ridge end is a generally
semi-
circular capping 22. Extending through the ridge end plate 18 is a ventilation
tube 24. The
plate 18 and tube 24 may be; made as a one-piece die cast item. Space between
ends of the
glazing bars 19 and the ventilation tube 24 is sealed with foamed plastics
material 26.
At its top the ventilation tube 24 extends through a circular aperture 28 in
the
capping 22. In the aperture 22 is a tube 30 with a closed bottom end connected
by webs 32
to sides of the aperture 28. The tube 30 receives a spigot 34 from base 36 of
finial 38, such
that there is an air space between the bottom edge of the base 36 and the
capping 22.
Beneath the ridge end is a cover plate 40. The cover plate has an aperture 42
into
which the bottom end of tb~e ventilation tube 24 extends. Covering the
aperture 42 is a
ventilation grille 44 having a plurality of radial slots 46. Rotatably mounted
above the
grille 44 is a disc 48 itself having a plurality of radial slots, whereby
alignment of the slots
of the cover and of the disc 1>ermit air passage into and through the
ventilation tube 24.
The ventilation tube 24 may be provided with an electrically operated fan or
rotor to
provide forced ventilation through tlse ventilation tube. Otherwise
ventilation occurs by
warmer air within the conservatory rising and passing through the ventilation
tube.

Representative Drawing