Hydraulic and earth engineering – Drainage or irrigation – Control means responsive to sensed condition
Patent
1995-03-07
1996-07-02
Novosad, Stephen J.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Drainage or irrigation
Control means responsive to sensed condition
52 11, 219213, E04D 1304, E04D 13064
Patent
active
055315437
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a device for ensuring free flow to roof rainwater outlets, especially on flat roofs, in connection with ice formation, comprising a heating cable in the form of at least one loop extending a distance outwards from a gully on the surface of the roof.
At gully or outlet openings in flat roofs, hot air ascends from the drain system, and in the winter this hot air will melt snow lying on the roof close to the gully. When the air temperature at the roof surface sinks below 0.degree. C., the melting water freezes so that, after some time, a rough sheet of ice is formed in a ring around the gully. This ice sheet prevents passage of the melting water forwards to the gully, and this may result in that large roof faces are put under water when the snow on the roof melts. Because of the large weight of the water, in such cases there often arise water leakages, with resulting great internal damages in the buildings in question.
Various devices are known for solving the problem with ice formation in connection with roof rainwater outlets on flat roofs. A device of the introductorily stated type for example is known from the Swedish laying-open print No. 386 939. It is stated therein that heating loops may be laid out along the roof surface, e.g. in the form of a cross, and that the heating loops melt holes in the ice wall and thereby enables drainage of melting water which has been formed outside the ice wall.
In the known device according to said publication, the heating loops are shown to lie directly on the roof, and are without any form for protection. This will be a vulnerable arrangement which in practice may easily be subjected to damage because of external influence. Further, the heating cables themselves may contribute to causing an obstacle to the passage of the water forwards to the gully, since leaves, twigs and other rubbish may collect around the cables.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a device which, in an efficient and safe manner, prevents that large roof surfaces are put under water when the snow on the roof melts.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide such a device constituting a closed system which ensures protection of the heating cables as well as ensures free flow of the water to the gully over a relatively large influx area.
An additional object of the invention is to provide such a device which enables current supply to the heating cables from the interior of the device, via the downpipe of the gully.
The above-mentioned objects are achieved with a device of the introductorily stated type which, according to the invention, is characterized in that it comprises a feed means in the form of at least one channel member extending outwards from the gully and being provided with a plurality of side inlet openings along its length, and that the heating cable is arranged within the channel member and is arranged to be thermostatically connected within a chosen temperature interval, to melt ice which has formed around the gully.
The invention will be further described below in connection with an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein,
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a device according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along the line II--II in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a lead-in socket for a current supply cable via a downpipe from a gully; and
FIG. 4 shows a view of the device in FIG. 3 as viewed from above.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the device according to the invention comprises an inflow or feed means 1 consisting of four channel members 2 arranged in star shape and extending radially outwards from a centre member 3 which, in use, will be installed over and cover the topical gully 4. It will be clear that the feed means in practice will consist of at least one channel member, and that several channel members may be arranged in the most suitable manner in the topical case. The channel members at least must be so long that they extend outside the ice formation region in the t
REFERENCES:
patent: 2111251 (1938-03-01), Spilsbury
patent: 3725638 (1973-04-01), Solin et al.
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