Roof panel design and single beam roof assembly

• US 5,640,812 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Sharma, Vikas, Sharon, Andre, Morse-Fortier, Leonard J., Dentz, Jordan L., Parent, Michel R., Crowley, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US08/342,140
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 52/90.1, 52/586.1, 52/588.1, 52/405.2, 52/405.4, 52/407.5, 52/404.4, 52/302.1, 52/772, 52/474, 52/762, 52/764, 52/775, 52/302.3 , 52/302.5, 52/302.7
• US Class Current: 52/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/02 with plane sloping surfaces, e.g. saddle roofs E04B7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/22 the slabs having insulating properties, e.g. laminated with layers of insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/225 the slabs having non-structural supports for roofing materials

Abstract

The roof assembly for a structure including a number of support elements including walls, columns and beams includes a plurality of complementary shaped roof panels which are selectively secured to each other as well as a support beam and the support elements of the structure. Also disclosed are standard designs for the support beam and roof panels which have modifyable perameters as well as methods of designing the roof assembly, assembling the roof and its constituate components, and manufacturing the roof panels.

Claims

1. A roof panel, comprising

first and second sheets, disposed substantially parallel to each other along a first plane;

and

a plurality of primary ribs extending along a second plane normal to the first plane, each of the primary ribs attached to the first and second sheets and defining at least one cavity between the sheets, wherein the primary ribs are adapted to pass air between adjacent cavities; and

a plurality of secondary ribs each of the secondary ribs attached to at least one of the sheets and one of the primary ribs.

2. The roof panel of claim 2, further comprising means for coupling the first sheet to a surface.

3. The roof panel of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of primary ribs includes a vent hole.

4. The roof panel of claim 3, wherein the vent hole of the at least one of the plurality of primary ribs is located adjacent an interior of the first sheet.

5. The roof panel of claim 2, wherein the second sheet includes at least one vent hole.

6. The roof panel of claim 5, wherein the at least one vent hole of the second sheet extends in a direction perpendicular to the first and second planes.

7. The roof panel of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of primary ribs includes a vent hole.

8. A roof panel, comprising

first and second sheets, disposed substantially parallel to each other along a first plane;

and

a plurality of primary ribs extending along a second plane normal to the first plane, each of the primary ribs attached to the first and second sheets and defining at least one cavity between the sheets, wherein the primary ribs are adapted to pass air between adjacent cavities, and wherein insulation is disposed adjacent the first sheet and is separated from the second sheet by a gap of air.

9. A roof panel, comprising

first and second sheets, disposed substantially parallel to each other along a first plane;

and

a plurality of primary ribs extending along a second plane normal to the first plane, each of the primary ribs attached to the first and second sheets and defining at least one cavity between the sheets, wherein the primary ribs are adapted to pass air between adjacent cavities, and wherein at least one of the plurality of primary ribs is formed from a porous material.

10. A roof panel comprising:

first and second sheets disposed substantially parallel to each other along a first plane;

a plurality of primary ribs extending along a second plane normal to the first plane, each of the primary ribs attached to the first and second sheets and defining at least one cavity between the sheets, the first and second sheets and one of the plurality of ribs collectively defining a recess along a perimeter of the roof panel for receiving a spline element; and

a spline element adapted to be received into a cavity formed by the recesses of two adjacent roof panels, the spline element being partially disposed along the perimeter of the roof panel, wherein the spline element comprises;

a core; and

a plurality of gussets.

11. The roof panel of claim 10, wherein the core is formed from foam.

12. The roof panel of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of gussets is formed from foam.

13. The roof panel of claim 10, wherein the core has at least one vent hole.

14. The roof panel of claim 13, wherein the at least one vent hole of the core is aligned with the vent hole of the at least one of the plurality of primary ribs.

15. The roof panel of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of primary ribs includes a vent hole.

16. The roof panel of claim 15, wherein vent hole of the core is aligned with the vent hole of the at least one of the plurality of primary ribs.