GUTTER HEATING SYSTEM

Abstract

A gutter heating system incorporates pipes carrying a heated fluid and being secured to heat transfer panels attached to a lower side of the gutter. The pipes are attached to a channel formed in the heat transfer panels. The water or other fluid may be recirculated in a closed system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for heating roofing gutters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical building has a roof with a degree of pitch to it so that precipitation can drain from upper locations on the roof toward an edge of the roof. The water runoff is collected in the gutters located at the periphery of the roof, and a downspout typically carries the water off the roof and toward an appropriate drain.

In some locations during cold weather, snow or ice can build up on the roof. Likewise, water may sometimes pool in the gutter as it flows from the roof and along the gutter to the downspout. In some buildings, the gutter is attached to eaves that are extended away from the side of the building, and in such cases the gutter is less insulated and tends to be colder than the portion of the roof immediately above the building. During particularly cold weather, snow or rain may freeze within the gutter, clogging the drain leading to the downspouts. In addition, frozen water contained in the gutter may build up, and the gutter may collapse or break under the weight of the ice. Likewise, when the gutter is clogged with snow or ice it facilitates the creation of icicles hanging from the gutter, which can pose a danger as the icicles grow over time.

Some effort has been made in the past to try to heat a gutter to prevent buildup of ice within the gutter. One such current effort includes the use of conductive wires that produce heat when current flows through the wires. In this configuration, the wires are placed within the gutter at the top side of the roof, exposing them to the elements. Wire-based solutions are prone to failure and when that happens workers must use shovels atop the roof to remove snow and ice from the gutter. This physical removal process often damages the heating wires, leading to further failures. Despite this long-felt need, current efforts have failed to produce an effective solution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gutter heating system in which pipes carrying a heated fluid are attached to the gutter. In a preferred version, heat transfer panels are mounted to the lower side of the gutter, while pipes or tubes are attached to a channel formed in the heat transfer panels.

In some versions of the invention, the water may be recirculated in a closed system. In a preferred version, a closed system includes a pump and a heater in line with the pipes or two being carrying the fluid to the transfer panels.

In some versions of the invention, several pipes are used with a single gutter. Preferably, a manifold is provided to divide the fluid from a single tube to the plurality of tubes used with the particular gutter.

Most preferably, the fluid is a mix of water and ethylene glycol.

In one example of the invention, the pipes or tubes are formed from PEX pipe, while in other versions the tubes may be formed from PVC or other materials

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having a representative roof and eaves with a gutter.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the gutter illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a heat transfer panel and to, taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred gutter heating system.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the gutter illustrated in FIG. 1, showing an alternate gutter heating system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an alternate gutter heating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a building 10 having a roof 12 and a plurality of sidewalls 18, 19. In the illustrated example, the roof has a central peak diverting precipitation toward each of the two sides of the building. It should be appreciated that the present invention is equally applicable to roofs that are pitched differently than the illustration of FIG. 1, including roofs without a central peak or roofs that are more gently sloped. Similarly, the present invention is applicable to roofs formed from any of a variety of materials including metal, wood shakes, composition, tar, torch-down, and others. Still further, while the building in FIG. 1 illustrates eaves extending beyond the vertical building sidewalls, the present invention is equally applicable to a building having a roof without eaves as illustrated, in which the gutter does not extend beyond the vertical sidewall or does so only to a small extent.

In the illustrated example, each of two separate sides of the roof includes a gutter 13, 14. In other buildings, gutters may surround substantially the entire perimeter of the building, or may be located only on one side. Accordingly, the description that follows is directed to a section of gutter such as the right side gutter 13. It should be appreciated that the gutter heating system described below can be tailored to suit gutters of varying sizes, lengths, and widths.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the gutter 13 includes an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 17 with a raised sidewall 15 extending around the perimeter of the gutter. The upper and lower surfaces 16, 17 of the gutter are substantially planar and a typical case the gutter will be slightly sloped to direct water toward the downspout (not shown). The lower surface 17 of the gutter is indicated as extending beyond the vertical wall 18 of the building (that is, on the outside of the building), though as noted above in some buildings the lower surface 17 of the gutter may be located inside the building. Similarly, the lower surface of the gutter may not be horizontal as illustrated, and in some cases it may be sloped.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the lower surface 17 of the gutter as described above with reference to FIG. 1. Thus, the components shown in FIG. 2 are mounted beneath the gutter where they may stay dry and out of the rain, snow, or runoff from the roof. Likewise, when positioned beneath the roof they are readily accessible for repair and reconfiguration.

In general, the preferred gutter heating system includes a plurality of tubes or pipes 30 attached to the lower side of the gutter. The tubes 30 may be attached using hooks, adhesives, brackets, or other fastening structures. In some versions, the tubes may be simply placed atop joists or snaked through holes drilled or otherwise formed in joists or similar structures in the roof. In the preferred version as illustrated, the system includes a plurality of heat transfer panels 40 mounted to the bottom side of the gutter, and a tube or pipe 30 attached to each of the heat transfer panels 40. The tube 30 includes a first end 31 and a second end 32, with the fluid traveling through the tube from the first end 31 toward the second end 32.

In the illustrated example, six heat transfer panels 40 are shown, spaced apart along the gutter and leaving portions of the tube 30 being positioned adjacent the gutter but not attached to a heat transfer panel. It should be appreciated that a larger or smaller number of heat transfer panels may be used, as desired in order to facilitate transfer of heat from the tubes carrying heated fluid through the transfer panels and to the gutter. In most cases, the heat transfer panel will be formed from a highly conductive material such as extruded aluminum, and depending on the construction of gutter the heat transfer panel may be superior at transferring and spreading the heat out along the surface of the gutter. Accordingly, it is generally preferred to use a greater number of heat transfer panels (or a longer portion of such panels), and in one version of the invention the entirety of the tube is attached to heat transfer panels between the tube and the gutter. In other versions of the invention, heat transfer panels are provided along all or substantially all of the length of the straight sections of tubing, and are omitted only locations where there are sharp bends in the tubing.

A sectional view of a preferred heat transfer panel is shown in FIG. 3, taken along lines A-A in FIG. 2. As shown, the heat transfer panel 40 includes a lower planar portion 42 and an upper channel 46 formed by a pair of uprights 44, 45. The channel may include inward-facing ribs or other features to facilitate retention of the tube 30 within the channel. An example heat transfer panel suitable for use with the present invention is the Joist Trak™ heat transfer panel sold by Uponor Wirsbro, Inc. The Joist Trak™ heat transfer panels are available in versions in which the lower planar portion 42 has a 4 inch widths and a 48 inch length. Individual sections of such panels may be cut into smaller lengths as desired. Preferably, the heat transfer panels are formed from extruded aluminum or other metal so that they readily conduct heat from the tubing 30 to the gutter 13.

The heat transfer panels may be attached to the lower side of the gutter in a variety of ways, and in a preferred version they are attached using an adhesive such as Plastic Welder II™ produced by Devcon™. In order to improve the heat transfer, in a preferred version a thermal paste is applied between the heat transfer panel and the lower side of the gutter. In one example, the thermal past is 310 Thermomastic™ produced by Devan Sealants, Inc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred gutter heating system. In a preferred system, the heated fluid within the gutter heating system is recirculated in order to improve efficiency and reduce waste. In addition, the use of a closed system allows the gutter heating system to use fluid other than water alone within the tubing. Nevertheless, in one example of the invention the gutter heating system directs freshwater such as water from a standard hot water tank or other source of hot water through the pipes or tubing 30 and then toward a standard wastewater drain.

In one example of a closed system such as illustrated in FIG. 4, the system optionally includes a tank 50 which is configured to hold a desired volume of water. The incorporation of the tank allows for the collection of overflow, and also facilitates the removal, amendment, or replacement of the fluid within the system, such as to add ethylene glycol to the water, or to replace it altogether. A length of pipe or tubing 30 carries the fluid from the tank to an in-line pump 60. In other versions of the invention, the configuration of the tank and pump may vary, such as by incorporating a consolidated tank with a pump. The pump 60 draws water from the tank and through another section of pipe or tubing 30 to a heater 70. The heater 70 is preferably a gas or electric-powered instant hot water heater.

It should be appreciated that the tank and heater can be configured differently than as illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the heater and tank may comprise a single unit where the tank is also a hot water heater. In general, the combined tank 50, pump 60, and heater 70 are configured to collect, pump, and heat the water or other fluids circulating through the system.

Ultimately, the fluid is directed through the tubing 30 which is attached to the gutter mounted heat transfer panels 40. As the fluid travels through the tubing attached to the heat transfer panels 40, the heated fluid within the tubing causes the transfer panels to heat up, thereby further transferring it to the lower side of the gutter. Because the gutter is commonly formed from a relatively thin metal or plastic material, heat from the heat transfer panels will in turn warm the gutter, thereby preventing water from within the gutter from freezing. Likewise, the heat can melt ice that has already frozen. In the example as illustrated in FIG. 4, the fluid travels in the direction of the arrows, which is a clockwise direction as shown from the input end 31 of the tubing attached to the heat transfer panels to the output end 32.

The tubing 30 used with a preferred gutter heating system is preferably formed from PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene. PEX pipe is preferred because it is flexible, easy to install because it requires very few fittings, and is resistant to corrosion. As noted, for example, with reference to FIG. 4, several lengths of tube or pipe are shown. Most preferably, the tubing used within the heat transfer panels and being positioned adjacent the gutter are formed from PEX, but the other illustrated sections of tube or pipe may be formed from other materials. Likewise, the other components such as the tank, pump, and heater may be joined in a more direct fashion, reducing or eliminating the need for adjoining tubes or pipes.

In a preferred implementation, the fluid carried within the tubing is a mix of water and ethylene glycol. Most preferably, the fluid is a mix of approximately 60% ethylene glycol and 40% water. The inclusion of a mixture of ethylene glycol prevents the fluid within the pipes from freezing at low temperatures, thereby allowing the system to remain off (that is, wherein the fluid is not flowing) while still remaining resistant to freezing. It also raises the boiling temperature, allowing the system to use hotter fluid than could be used with water alone. Ethylene glycol is also a useful heat transfer agent, and therefore useful as an additive to water for the fluid in the current gutter heating system.

In the preferred system as described, the tubing is mounted to the gutter via heat transfer panels having a flat planar base and a clip forming a channel for mounting the tubing. This configuration is useful because such panels are readily available and formed to spread the heat across the panel. In other versions of the invention, different clips or attachment mechanisms may be used, including using adhesives or other means to mount the tubing directly to the lower side of the gutter (that is, without an actual heat transfer panel). Though less desirable, the tubing may alternatively be placed within the gutter on the upper side of the gutter, or may be sandwiched between upper and lower gutter plates. In either case, however, the tubing is thermally coupled to the gutter, either by being placed in close proximity to the gutter, being adhered directly to the gutter, or by being indirectly attached to the gutter through a mounting device.

In the example described above and illustrated in FIG. 2, a single tube 30 is mounted to the bottom of the gutter with a return bend at one end, thereby providing an outbound leg and a return leg. A configuration of this type is useful because it allows the maximum usage of heat from the tubing to be placed adjacent the gutter in a closed heating system employing a single tube. Any number of tubes may be used in a gutter heating system, depending on the size of the gutter and the amount of heat needed to be applied to the gutter.

With reference to FIG. 5, for example, an alternate gutter heating system may include a pair of tubes 30a, 30b attached to the lower side of the gutter 17 in the same fashion as described above reference to FIG. 2. Each tube includes an input end 31a, 31b and a return end 32a, 32b. A preferred block diagram for the system as illustrated in FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6. The block diagram of FIG. 6 is the same as that of FIG. 4, except that a first manifold 80 is provided upstream of the series of one or more gutter mounted heat transfer panels 40, with the first manifold 80 dividing the fluid flow from the tube 30 into a plurality of fluid carrying tubes, 30a, 30b. While two separate fluid carrying tubes are illustrated, it should be appreciated that the fluid may be divided into any number of tubes, as desired. In addition, a second manifold 90 is provided downstream of the series of gutter mounted heat transfer panels 40, with the second manifold 90 joining the fluid from the plurality of tubes to a single return 30 so that the fluid may be returned to the tank 50 for another cycle. As illustrated, the fluid in the system of FIG. 6 travels in the direction of the arrows as shown.

The various components, such as the tank, pump, and heater, may be placed on our around the building in any position as desired. For example, they may be mounted either just inside or just outside one of the building walls adjacent the gutter or, if the gutter and eaves are large enough, they may be mounted to the eaves. Most preferably, the components are positioned so that they are as close to the gutter as possible to reduce heating loss as the fluid travels through the tubing toward the heat transfer panels.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A gutter heating system for a gutter having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the gutter heating system comprising: a heater configured to heat a fluid; anda tube in fluid communication with the heater and configured to carry the fluid heated by the heater, the tube being positioned beneath the lower surface of the gutter and attached to the gutter, the tube further being thermally coupled to the gutter.

2. (canceled)

3. The gutter heating system of claim 1, further comprising a heat transfer panel attached to the lower surface of the gutter, the tube being attached to the lower surface of the gutter via the heat transfer panel, whereby the tube is thermally coupled to the lower surface of the gutter through the heat transfer panel.

4. The gutter heating system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer panel is attached to the gutter via an adhesive.

5. The gutter heating system of claim 3, further comprising thermal paste positioned at the interface between the heat transfer panel and the gutter.

6. The gutter heating system of claim 3, wherein the tube forms part of a closed system and is further configured to return the fluid to the heater for reheating by the heater and recirculation by the tube.

7. The gutter heating system of claim 6, further comprising a pump positioned within the closed system and configured to move the fluid through the tube.

8. The gutter heating system of claim 7, further comprising a tank positioned within the closed system and configured to receive a volume of fluid for further circulation within the closed system.

9. The gutter heating system of claim 7, wherein the tube comprises a plurality of tubes each being thermally coupled to the gutter, the system further comprising a manifold configured to direct the heated fluid to the plurality of tubes.

10. A method for forming a gutter heating system for a gutter having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the method comprising: positioning a tube along the lower surface of the gutter wherein the tube is thermally coupled to the gutter; andattaching the tube to a source of a heated fluid;whereby the heated fluid can pass from the source of heated fluid through the tube and heat the gutter.

11. (canceled)

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of positioning the tube further comprises attaching a heat transfer panel to the lower surface of the gutter and attaching the tube to the heat transfer panel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of attaching the heat transfer panel to the gutter further comprises using adhesive to attach the heat transfer panel to the gutter.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying thermal paste to the interface between the heat transfer panel and the gutter.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming a closed system via the tube whereby the fluid is returned to the heater for reheating by the heater and recirculation by the tube.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning a pump within the closed system and configuring the pump to move the fluid through the tube.

17. The method of claim 16, further positioning a tank within the closed system, the tank being configured to receive a volume of fluid for further circulation within the closed system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of positioning the tube further comprises positioning a plurality of tubes adjacent the gutter, each of the plurality of tubes being thermally coupled to the gutter, and further comprising positioning a manifold within the closed system, the manifold being configured to direct the heated fluid to the plurality of tubes.

19. The gutter heating system of claim 3, wherein the heat transfer panel comprises a planar portion and a channel formed by a pair of uprights, the planar portion being attached to the lower surface of the gutter and the tube being received and retained within the channel.

20. The gutter heating system of claim 19, wherein the planar portion and the pair of uprights of the heat transfer panel are integrally formed from aluminum.