Flow reducing overlying panel and method

• US 20040255522A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flow Management Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Flow Management Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, James Bradley, Flood, Patrick D., Knudson, Gary A.
• Application Number:
  US10/862,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/11
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/0459 Drainage borders, e.g. dripping edges, gravel stops or dispersers
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/10 Snow traps ; Removing snow from roofs; Snow melters

Abstract

A panel includes a sheet of material and an array of spaced projections on the sheet. The projections are cut and folded from the sheet, cast or molded. The projections create turbulence in drainage across the sheet, increasing drag and reducing flow velocity. The panel is mounted in a roof valley, along roof eaves above the rain gutters or anywhere that excess drainage flow velocity can create a problem. The panel is also an improved snow and ice guard for a roof.

Claims

1. An overlying panel for mounting on a structure, comprising:

a panel body having an upper end, a lower end and a top surface extending between said upper end and said lower end, said body panel having a primary flow direction for a liquid substantially from said upper end to said lower end, and

an array of projections on said top surface, said projections each having an edge transverse said primary flow direction,

whereby each said edge creates turbulence in said liquid to increase drag and thereby reduce said velocity of said flow of said liquid, and each said projection grips ice and snow on said top surface.

2. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said array includes a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rows of said projections with a space between adjacent said projections, said projections being staggered such that a said projection in a said row is aligned with said spaces between said projections in adjacent said rows.

3. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said array includes a plurality of vertical columns of interlaced projections.

4. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections are formed from said panel body.

5. The panel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said projections are a each a shape cut into said panel body with said shape being folded away from said panel to form an opening in said panel.

6. The panel as set forth in claim 5 wherein said shape is a rectangle with a top end, a bottom end and spaced sides, said rectangle being cut along said bottom end and said sides, and folded away from said panel body along said top end.

7. The panel as set forth in claim 6 wherein said rectangle is creased between said top end and bottom end back toward said panel body so that said projection has a triangular shape side view.

8. The panel as set forth in claim 5 wherein said shape is a pair of angled triangles that are folded into a chevron shaped projection.

9. The panel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said panel body is sheet metal.

10. The panel as set forth in claim 4 wherein said panel body is a plastic sheet.

11. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections have a dome shape.

12. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections have a cylindrical shape.

13. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections have an annular shape.

14. The panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projections have a chevron shape.

15. An overlying panel for mounting on a structure, comprising:

a panel body of sheet metal for drainage of a liquid, said panel body having an upper end, a lower end and a top surface extending between said upper end and said lower end, said body panel having a primary flow direction for said liquid substantially from said upper end to said lower end, and

an array of projections on said top surface, each projection being cut from a rectangular shape having a top end, a bottom end and spaced sides with said bottom end and said sides being cut in said panel body, said rectangle being folded along said top end away from said panel body, and said rectangle being creased between said top end and bottom end back toward said panel body so that said projection has a triangular shape side view, an opening in said panel body between said bottom end and said panel body, and a sharp edge transverse said flow, said array including a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rows of said projections with a space between adjacent said projections, said projections being staggered such that a said projection in a said row is aligned with said spaces between said projections in adjacent said rows,

whereby each said edge creates turbulence in said liquid to increase drag and thereby reduce said velocity of said flow of said liquid, and each said projection grips ice and snow on said top surface.

16. A method of reducing flow velocity of water having a primary flow direction on a roof, comprising the steps of:

providing a panel of material having a top surface,

creating an array of spaced projections on said top surface, said projections each having an edge, and

applying said panel to said roof with said edges transverse said primary flow direction,

whereby each said edge creates turbulence in said liquid to increase drag and thereby reduce said velocity of said flow of said liquid, and each said projection grips ice and snow on said panel.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of applying includes applying said panel to a roof valley.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of applying includes applying said panel substantially horizontally as a strip above a rain gutter.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said projections are arranged in a plurality of spaced, staggered rows.

20. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said projections are arranged in interlaced columns.

21. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said panel is sheet metal,

each said projection is a shape, and

said step of creating includes, for each said projection, cutting a portion of said shape in said panel and leaving an uncut end, folding said shape away from said panel along said uncut end, and thereby creating an opening in panel.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein said shape is a rectangle and said uncut end is a top end.

23. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said step of creating includes casting said projections into said panel.

24. A method of reducing flow velocity of water in a roof valley on a roof, said water having a primary flow direction down said valley, comprising the steps of:

providing a panel of sheet metal having a top surface

creating an array of spaced, staggered rows of spaced projections on said top surface, each said projection having a rectangular shape with a bottom end, a top end and spaced sides, said creating including cutting said bottom end and said spaced sides in said panel and folding said projection away from said panel along said top end, and thereby creating an opening in panel for each said projection, and

applying said panel to said roof valley with said sides transverse said primary flow direction,

whereby said projections generate turbulence in said water and thereby reduce said flow velocity.

25. A method of reducing flow velocity of water having a primary flow direction on a roof, comprising the steps of:

providing a panel of sheet metal having a top surface

creating an array of spaced, staggered rows of spaced projections on said top surface, each said projection having a rectangular shape with a bottom end, a top end and spaced sides, said creating including cutting said bottom end and said spaced sides in said panel and folding said projection away from said panel along said top end, and thereby creating an opening in panel for each said projection, and

applying said panel to said roof above a rain gutter with said sides transverse said primary flow direction,

whereby said projections generate turbulence in said water and thereby reduce said flow velocity.