Patent Application
20250230640
The invention relates to a roofing element. In particular, the invention relates to a roofing element comprising a container adapted to enable the rainwater flowing over the roof to be collected. The invention relates to a roof comprising such roofing elements and to a method for installation of such a roof.
Water is an essential resource. Climate change and flooding or drought are making the need to optimize water management all the more obvious, in particular in cities owing to land take.
Rainwater is a source which can have many uses, in particular in domestic residences, outdoors as well as indoors.
US2015/0143757, for example, discloses a building which is easy to assemble, comprising a roof incorporating a water reservoir making it possible to supply water by gravity. Such a roof is formed of reservoirs comprising openings provided with gratings enabling rainwater to enter each reservoir.
Such a roof is limited to the construction of new buildings and is not adapted to the renovation of roofs of existing buildings. Furthermore, such a roof does not permit easy implementation, nor harvesting of rainwater maximized in terms of the surface area of the roof.
The invention aims to provide a roofing element and a roof making it possible to collect rainwater, being easy to install and to use while being of low cost.
The invention also aims to provide a roofing element and a roof making it possible to reduce the impact of flooding.
The invention also aims to provide a roofing element and a roof making it possible to replace an existing roof without the need for heavy modification or reinforcement of the framework of the building concerned.
To this end, the invention relates to a roofing element comprising:
A roofing element in accordance with the invention thus makes it possible to propose a device making it possible to harvest and store the rainwater in the roof, without the need for an additional reservoir or tank which would be disposed, for example, in the attic or even on the ground in the proximity of the building. The fact that each container has at least one connector able to be connected to a separate container makes it possible to divide the quantity of water stored in a whole roof, to divide the loads on said roof and in particular to harvest and use the available water more easily. A single connector can, for example, be used as an outlet orifice for the water stored in said roof.
Such a device is reliable and easy to install. It also has the advantage of being modularizable, it being possible to design a roof with the aid of a plurality of roofing elements, the connectors of which can be used at the desired point as an outlet orifice for use of the water thus harvested.
Each water inlet orifice of the container is adapted to permit the rainwater falling and trickling over the surface of said roof to pass into the inside of the container.
The container may be of various shapes. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said container has an upper face adapted to extend principally in parallel with a slope of said roof. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said container has an upper face at least partly substantially planar. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said container has two main faces (an upper face and a lower face) which are parallel with each other. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said container is generally a polyhedron in shape, in particular of a generally parallelepiped shape. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for each container to be in the form of a flexible pouch, the shape and thickness of which, in the receptacle, could thus vary between an empty state and a water-filled state of the container. Such a flexible pouch has, in particular, predefined dimensions adapted so that the flexible pouch filled with water can have dimensions such that its ends come into contact with said base and said peripheral side walls of said receptacle receiving it.
In particular, the container and the receptacle are of shapes which are conjugate with each other so as to enable insertion of said container in a fitted manner into said receptacle. This makes it possible to optimize the total volume of rainwater able to be stored, while minimizing the space occupied by said roofing element.
Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said container has at least one water inlet orifice, and in particular at least two water inlet orifices. Each container has, for example, between two and ten water inlet orifices.
Each water inlet orifice can be of different shapes. They may be, for example, circular orifices or even slots which can vary in length. The number of water inlet orifices per container, the distribution and the shape of said orifices can be determined in particular depending on the dimensions of the container, the configuration of the roof or even the normal rainfall in the geographical zone within which the roofing element in accordance with the invention is intended to be installed.
Each container is preferably of a small thickness (compared with its largest dimension) and has an external appearance similar to a plate or panel.
Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, each water inlet orifice of said container is provided with a non-return valve so as to permit water to be introduced into the inside of said container and to prevent the water exiting to the outside of said container.
Each receptacle can be of various shapes, the height and shape of the peripheral side walls being variable. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said receptacle has a base adapted to extend principally in parallel with a slope of said roof. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, the base of said receptacle is at least partly substantially planar.
Thus, when the container is disposed in the receptacle (i.e. when the receptacle receives said container), the upper face and the lower face of the container extend in parallel with the base of said receptacle. In particular, when the container is disposed in the receptacle, the lower face of the container is at least partly in contact with the base of said receptacle.
Each container and/or each receptacle can be formed of a least one material selected from the group formed by polymer materials (in particular polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polyoxymethylenes (POM) . . . ), composite materials with a polymer matrix, metals, metal alloys and composites with a metal matrix. Each container can, for example, be formed from a polymer material and each receptacle from a metal alloy.
Each container can have a variable number of connectors. For example, it is possible to make provision to distribute a plurality of connectors to different points of the container, for example at least one on each side (or at least four connectors in the case of a parallelepiped container, for example).
A roofing element in accordance with the invention also comprises a covering device making it possible to achieve a predetermined aesthetic appearance at least equivalent to the aesthetic appearance of an existing covering of said roof. Thus, advantageously, a roofing element in accordance with the invention further comprises a covering device adapted to be able to cover said container, said covering device comprising at least one opening adapted to permit the water to pass toward at least one water inlet orifice of said container.
The covering device can be of any desired shape, in particular the shape of tiles (flat, Roman . . . ), slates or even comprise at least one photovoltaic panel, or even a living roof support. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, said covering device has the appearance of tiles.
Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, a roofing element in accordance with the invention comprises rails, each receptacle being adapted to be able to be fixed to the framework of a building by means of said rails. Such fixing rails can be formed of at least one material selected from the group formed from metals, metal alloys and composites thereof. The fixing rails are, for example, of aluminum.
The invention also relates to a roof of a building, characterized in that it comprises at least one roofing element in accordance with the invention.
The invention thus relates to a roof of a building comprising at least one roofing element comprising:
The invention also relates to a method for installation of a roof, in which:
It should be noted that it is possible firstly to fix each receptacle to the framework of a building before putting a container in place in each receptacle. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for each container to be disposed inside said receptacles and then for each receptacle to be fixed to said framework.
It is possible moreover to make provision to fix bars (or rods or strips) to hold said container above each container in order to secure the position of each container in a receptacle, for example if it must be manipulated and prepositioned in the receptacle before this receptacle is fixed to the framework. Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, in such a method, at least one holding bar is fixed on said container, after having disposed it inside said receptacle. Each holding bar can also serve as a fixing support for said covering device.
Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, in such a method, a plurality of roofing elements in accordance with the invention are installed in this manner on said framework of said building.
Advantageously and in accordance with the invention, in such a method, at least one connector of the container of a first roofing element is connected to a connector of the container of a second roofing element separate from said first roofing element.
The invention also relates to a roofing element, a roof and a method for installation of such a roof, which are characterized in combination by all or some of the features mentioned above or below.
Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description given solely in a non-limiting way and which makes reference to the attached figures in which:
In the figures, for the purposes of illustration and clarity, scales and proportions have not been strictly respected.
Furthermore, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same reference signs in all the figures.
Each roofing element 1 comprises:
Each container 20 is of a generally parallelepiped shape of small thickness. The container and the receptacle of a single roofing element have shapes which are conjugate with each other so as to enable fitted insertion of the container into the receptacle. Each receptacle has an upper face 21 (shown in
Throughout the rest of the description, the terms upstream and downstream are used with reference to the direction of flow of the rainwater under gravity over the surface of the roof as oriented (inclined) in
In the illustrated embodiment, each container 20 has six sealed connectors: two connectors 26, 27 provided on an edge section, referred to as upper edge section, of the container 20, which are adapted to be able to be connected to a container of an adjacent roofing element disposed upstream of the roofing element 1; two side connectors 28, 29 adapted to be able to be each connected to a container of a laterally juxtaposed roofing element (at the same level of the roof, neither upstream nor downstream); and two connectors 30, 31 provided on an edge section, referred to as lower edge section, of the container 20, which are adapted to be able to be connected to a container of an adjacent roofing element disposed downstream of the roofing element 1. Each connector 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 can thus be connected to at least one connector of a separate container of a separate roofing element so as to enable a flow of the water between said containers.
For the peripheral or outer edges of a roof it is possible to provide roofing elements, the container of which would have no connector on one or two edge sections, i.e. the edge section(s) not requiring a sealed connector on their free edge, not juxtaposed with another roofing element. It is also possible to use the same roofing elements as those illustrated and to provide for the placing of plugs making it possible to close the unused connectors which cannot be connected to a separate container.
There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for the side edges of each receptacle of the adjacent roofing elements to be configured between themselves so as to be able to partly overlap so as to improve the sealing tightness of the roof formed. The overlap between the edge of one receptacle and the edge of a separate receptacle may be lateral or between roofing elements which are upstream or downstream of each other. For example, each edge can have a U-shaped transverse cross-section, the arms of which are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped on the U-shaped edge of an adjacent roofing element.
In the illustrated embodiment, each container 20 comprises five apertures 23 making it possible to stiffen the structure of the container 20 formed, for example, of polymer material or of composite material with a polymer matrix.
Each receptacle 5 has a base 4 and peripheral side walls 6 making it possible to hold the container 20 in place when it is used on a roof.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base 4 of the receptacle 5 has four studs 8 configured to be inserted into the interior of four of the apertures 23 of the container 20. This is not indispensable but can help to stabilize the container 20 in the receptacle 5. The base 4 of the receptacle 5 also has protruding lines 9. These are, in this case, reinforcement lines making it possible to improve the rigidity of the receptacle 5 while limiting its weight. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for the base of the receptacle 5 to be totally planar (without any protruding or recessed part). Neither is there anything to prevent the provision, as a variant or as a complement to the protruding lines 9, of channels formed in a recessed manner in the base 4 of the receptacle 5 also making it possible to enhance its rigidity but also to act as channels for evacuation of residual water (or water coming from a possible leak).
Furthermore, the side walls 6 have notches 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 provided to enable the respective connectors 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 of the container 20 to be housed therein. This also contributes to the holding of the container 20 in place in the receptacle 5.
Each roofing element in accordance with the invention also comprises a covering device 35 making it possible to achieve a predetermined aesthetic appearance in place of the usual covering of said roof. Each covering device comprises at least one opening 36 adapted to permit the water to pass through toward at least one water inlet orifice of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the covering device thus comprises four openings 36, i.e. as many openings 36 as water inlet orifices 25 of the container 20.
The covering device 35 may be of any desired shape, in particular the shape of tiles (flat, Roman . . . ), slates or even comprise at least one photovoltaic panel, or even a living roof support (a support able to be planted up with vegetation or a support already planted up).
The covering device 35 can have tabs 38 making it possible to clip it and hold it laterally facing the receptacle 20.
Tubes 32 can be provided so as to connect each opening 36 of the covering device 35 to a water inlet orifice 25 of the container 20 so as to enable the flow of the rainwater entering via the openings 36 through filters 37 to the interior of the container. A non-return valve is disposed inside each tube so as to close each water inlet orifice in the direction of the outlet of the water toward the outside of the container while permitting the introduction of water into the interior of the container. For example, it may be a non-return ball valve, for example a non-return valve comprising a polystyrene ball.
A roofing element in accordance with the invention thus makes it possible, if necessary, to be able to replace a container which may be damaged, without having to replace its receptacle or to remove said receptacle from the roof. It is also easy to take off each covering device 35, for example, in order to inspect said containers and said receptacles.
In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each container 20 measures about one meter by one meter (1000 mm along a side), for a thickness of the order of 52 mm and each container has a maximum capacity of the order of 40 liters. Such a container, formed for example from polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 5.8 kg. Furthermore, each water inlet orifice 25 has a diameter of the order of 45 mm.
In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each receptacle 5 measures about 1100 mm along a side, for a thickness of the order of 65 mm. Such a receptacle, formed for example of polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 9.6 kg.
In one exemplified embodiment in accordance with the invention, each covering device 35, formed for example of polyoxymethylene or polyethylene, has a mass of the order of 7.7 kg. Thus, in this exemplified embodiment, the roofing element has a total thickness of the order of 180 mm (when the container is disposed in the receptacle and the covering device is put in place above these two parts).
The roofing elements illustrated in
A roofing element in accordance with the invention can be installed on a very wide range of roofs and buildings, in particular roofs, the slopes of which have inclines which can vary, or even on flat roofs. Each receptacle can be installed on a framework of a building so that its base extends at least partly in a plane forming an angle between 0° and 90° with the horizontal (an angle of 0° corresponding to a flat roof (not pitched)).
It is also possible to provide for an overlapping of the side edges of each receptacle of the adjacent roofing elements with each other. Each edge can, for example, have a U-shaped transverse cross-section, the arms of which are sufficiently deformable to be able to be clipped on and/or to cover the U-shaped edge of an adjacent roofing element.
The roof 40, 42 can also comprise a control module incorporating a remotely controllable valve making it possible to control the opening/closing of this valve in order to evacuate the rainwater stored in the containers of a roof as a whole, for example toward the storm drainage system, when this is desirable, for example when a severe storm is forecast. During the storm, the rainwater is thus stored in the containers of roofs, thus moderating the effects of the storm or of heavy rain.
The installation of a roof is effected by carrying out the following steps:
Furthermore, if appropriate, after having disposed the container 20 inside each receptacle 5, at least one holding bar is fixed above the container 20, each bar having ends which are fixed to the side walls 6 of the receptacle and/or of the covering device 35 of an adjacent roofing element. For example, it is possible to dispose two holding bars (not illustrated) in parallel with each other and in parallel with two upper edges and side walls 6 of the receptacle 5. These holding bars can also serve as fixing supports for any type of covering device.
Each container 20 and each receptacle 5 can each be formed of a least one material selected from the group formed by polymer materials, composite materials with a polymer matrix, metals, metal alloys and composites with a metal matrix.
Each covering device 35 can also be formed of various materials depending on the desired appearance. In the case where the appearance is to be that of Roman tiles as illustrated in the figures, the covering device 35 can be formed of a polymer material or composite material with a polymer matrix. This makes it possible in particular to limit the mass of the covering device in comparison with terracotta tiles (i.e. of ceramic material). However, there is also nothing to prevent the use of a covering device 35 formed from terracotta.
Furthermore, each covering device 35 of a single roofing element can be formed from a single piece or from a group of pieces fitted together. In the illustrated embodiment, each covering device 35 can be formed from a block (from a single piece) at least as far as its part having the appearance of tiles is concerned, despite the appearance of individual tiles seeming to be fitted together in a traditional way.
Of course, shapes other than those of Roman tiles as illustrated are possible. In the case where the appearance is to be that of flat tiles, it is possible to provide guides formed in relief so as to increase the quantity of water flowing toward the water inlet orifices 25 toward the inside of the receptacle.
Moreover, each receptacle 5 can, for example, be fixed to the framework of a building by means of rails or battens (not illustrated). Such fixing rails can be formed of at least one metallic material selected from the group formed from metals, metal alloys and composites thereof. The fixing rails are, for example, of aluminum or formed from an aluminum-based alloy. 5
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the tiles can be of different shapes. There is also nothing to prevent provision being made for each container to be fixedly attached to the receptacle of a single roofing element. In cases where the covering device comprises photovoltaic panels, it is possible to provide a device making it possible to cool these panels using the rainwater contained in the containers of each roofing element.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2111207 | Oct 2021 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/079245 | 10/20/2022 | WO |
