Patent Application
20060174558
The invention relates to a building roof and a method of constructing the same.
In the construction of a roof of a building, one is confronted with the task to fasten a sheathing layer on a leak tight support layer such as, for example a waterproof roof cladding, without hampering the leak tightness. If the sheathing layer is formed by plates of stainless steel, for example, leak tightness could be achieved by welding the plates together with leak tight welding seams. This, however, may be undesirable for aesthetic reasons and, moreover, will complicate later repair works. Fastening the sheathing layer by means of an adhesive would strongly affect the surface of the support layer and, moreover, will not fulfill the requirements that are imposed for example on the stability of a building roof.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a roof construction and a method of establishing the same, which make it possible to achieve the leak tightness and at the same time permit a stable and secure fastening of the sheathing layer.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a building roof as indicated in claim 1 and by a method as indicated in claim 7.
In the field of machine construction, it is known to use fastening means in the form of pop rivet nuts, which are also known as clinch nuts. These have an outer cylindrical shaft and a rivet head formed by a collar at the top end. EP 0 589 144 A1 describes an example of such a pop rivet nut which is used for mounting a hinge of a trunk lid to a vehicle body, and which comprises a sealing ring placed underneath the rivet head.
The pop rivet nut is inserted into the rivet hole with its shaft. Then, a threaded mandrel of a riveter is screwed into an internal screw threading of the pop rivet nut. While the nut is pressed to engage the support layer with its rivet head, the riveter is used for withdrawing the threaded mandrel into the riveter. As a result, the shaft is plastically deformed to form a rivet bulge below the support layer, so that the support layer will clampingly be held between the rivet head and the rivet bulge. Thus, the pop rivet nut is positively and frictionally connected to the support layer. Finally, the threaded mandrel of the riveter is screwed out, and the object to be fastened is screw-fastened at the support layer by means of a bolt that is screwed into the internal threading of the nut.
In this way, it is possible to screw-fasten the object at the support layer, and it is only necessary to drill a rivet hole into the support layer. Moreover, the support layer needs to be accessible only from one side.
Now, according to the invention, such a pop rivet nut is used for mounting the sheathing layer on the support layer of the roof, with the pop rivet nut passing through a sealing layer that is clampingly held between the rivet head and the rivet bulge. The sheathing layer is arranged in front of the end of the pop rivet nut having the rivet head, and is fastened to the support layer by means of a bolt screwed into the nut.
The hole in the sealing layer and the support layer is sealed by the tight clamping connection between the sealing layer and the pop rivet nut and by the pop rivet nut, the shaft of which is closed at one end. As a result, the pop rivet nut is leak tightly fastened to the support layer. Preferably, the sealing layer covers the support layer on its entire surface.
Thus, the construction according to the invention permits to safely and stably fasten the sheathing layer on the support layer by means of a bolt and at the same time to assure the leak tightness. Consequently, it is not necessary, for example, to assure the leak tightness by welding stainless steel plates that are applied to the support layer.
The sealing layer will engage either the rivet head or the rivet bulge, depending on the side on which the sealing layer is arranged. Through this engaging contact between the rivet head or the rivet bulge and the sealing layer, the connection is sealed particularly well. This is particularly the case for an elastically deformable sealing layer. For example, the rivet head is tightly placed on top of the sealing layer which is arranged on the top side of the support layer against which the rivet bulge is drawn from below.
Preferably, the sealing layer is made of an elastomeric material. This material may for example be ethylene propylene terpolymer rubber (EPDM). This sealing layer may in particular be used as an elastomeric web that is reinforced by a fabric of polyester or glass fibers.
The sealing layer is preferably arranged between the sheathing layer and the support layer. On the sheathing layer, for example, only the head of the bolt will be visible from outside. Although the sheathing layer is fastened by means of a bolt to the support layer which is arranged on the other side of the sealing layer, the device according to the invention achieves a completely tight seal.
Preferably, the sheathing layer is supported on the sealing layer or the rivet head via an intermediate member.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described below in conjunction with the drawing.
The single drawing FIGURE shows a section of a building roof having a sheathing, which is fastened to a support layer by means of a pop rivet nut.
What is shown is a pop rivet nut 10 which is provided at its top end with a collar forming a flat rivet head 12. In the lower portion, the pop rivet nut 10 forms a cylindrical, pot-shaped shaft 14. A bottom 16 of the shaft 14 forms the lower end of the pop rivet nut 10. The pop rivet nut 10 is inserted into a rivet hole 18 of a metal plate that forms a support layer 20. On the top side, the support layer 20 is covered on it entire surface by a sealing layer 22. The pop rivet nut 10 penetrates the sealing layer 22 and has been pressed so far into the rivet hole 18 that the rivet head 12 is in contact with and is supported by the sealing layer 22.
The sealing layer 22 is formed for example by an elastomeric web. The latter is for example made of ethylene propylene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) reinforced with a fabric of polyester or glass fibers.
On the opposite side of the support layer 20, the shaft 14 forms a rivet bulge 24 which has been created when the pop rivet nut 10 was riveted to the support layer 20. Through this rivet joint, the support layer 20 and the sealing layer 22 are squeezed between the rivet head 12 and the rivet bulge 24, so that the sealing layer 22 will deform and will be tightly connected with the rivet head 12. The pop rivet nut 10 has been riveted In a manner known per-se by means of a threaded mandrel of a riveter, the mandrel being screwed Into an Internal threading 26 of the shaft 14 and then by withdrawing the mandrel.
According to the Invention, the pop rivet nut 10 does penetrate the sealing layer 22. However, the hole that has been created thereby In the sealing layer 22 Is sealed by the firm connection with the sealing layer 22 and by the closed bottom 16 of the shaft 14.
The sealing layer 22 supports an Intermediate member 28 Ih Is covered by a sheathing layer 30 Ih forms the outer lining of a building roof, for example. The sheathing layer 30 Is for example fastened to the pop rivet nut 10 by means of a counter sunk bolt 32, so that the support layer 20, the sealing layer 22, the Intermediate member 28 and the sheathing layer 30 will form a unit. The surface of the head of the bolt Is flush with the sheathing layer 30, so that an essentially smooth surface of the building roof Is achieved.
The Intermediate member 28 may for example be formed with an Integrated drainage system through Ih water, that may have entered between the head of the bolt 32 and the sheathing layer 30 will be drained. The tight connection between the pop rivet nut 10 and the sealing layer 22 assures that no water will reach the support layer 20. An Insulating layer 34 made of mineral fibers, for example, Is arranged below the support layer 20.
The device described above provides an aesthetically appealing mounting structure for fastening the sheathing layer 30 to the support layer 20, the mounting structure being leak tight, In spite of the use of a bolt.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2005 003 395.4 | Jan 2005 | DE | national |
