Patent Publication Number: US-2013247496-A1

Title: Cover for roofs and facades

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cover for roofs or facades made up of prefabricated panels, generally having a rectangular outline, which are formed by a lower support layer, an intermediate layer of insulating material and an upper water-proof layer, on which overlay parts, generally slate overlay parts, are fixed. The upper water-proof layer can be made of metal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Covers made up of sandwich type prefabricated panels with metal finishing are already known. 
     In addition, the assembly of slate applied to covers nowadays is complex and slow, thereby requiring a very specialized labor which is increasingly difficult to achieve. The significant economic repercussion thereof means that the number of people choosing to cover their roof or facade with slate decreases each day. Furthermore, it is a product with wide possibilities of success in countries where the tradition of covering with slate covers does not exist. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is a cover for roofs of the type indicated, made up such that by means of a simple and fast constructive system it allows obtaining a cover having a traditional appearance with covering parts, for example slate covering parts, and with excellent thermal insulation properties. 
     The cover of the invention is formed by panels made up such that the cover can be constructed in a fast and efficient manner, which allows obtaining a finished cover, both from the inside and from the outside. 
     According to the invention, the panels forming the cover have steps formed on the upper water-proof layer which are parallel to two of the borders of the panel, all of them descending in the same direction, this upper layer being prolonged on the side adjacent to the lower step, with respect to the intermediate layer, into a fringe having a constant width, whereas on the opposite side the same upper layer prolongs into a longitudinal flange having a smaller width than the opposite fringe which is further inclined upwards. 
     These panels have hooks protruding from the upper layer thereof, coinciding or close to the steps, being arranged at distances coinciding with the dimensions of the overlay parts and with the opening thereof directed towards the preceding step, such that each hook holds, in the formation of the cover, the outline of a slate part, from the lower border thereof and coinciding with the central transverse line thereof. 
     in the formation of the cover, the panels are arranged consecutively attached by their edges with the protruding fringe of each panel overlapped on the panel of the next row of panels in the downward direction of the cover, the flange thereof being located below the overlapped fringe, thus waterproofing the attachment. 
     On the upper layer of the panel assembly there are arranged the covering parts, coinciding with the steps of the upper layer, being fixed therein by means of an adhesive and with the lower border coupled within a hook. These covering parts can be fixed on the panels from the factory or be mounted during work, once the panels are arranged on the cover. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the lower support layer protrudes on one side and is retracted on the opposite side, with respect to the intermediate layer, in the direction of the slope of the cover. In the construction of the cover, the protruding portion of the lower layer of the panels of one row is introduced in the retracted section of the lower layer of the panels of the row located immediately above. 
     With the described makeup a double overlap is achieved between panels of consecutive rows, i.e., on one hand through the protruding fringe and flange of the upper layer of the panels and, on the other, through the protruding and retracted portion of the lower support layer. 
     If the panels do not have the overlay parts, once the panels are placed in already described manner, these overlay parts will be fixed by means of an adhesive on the steps of the upper layer and with the lower longitudinal border of each part introduced in one of the hooks of the cover. On the separation line for separating consecutive panels of one and the same row, there can be directly arranged covering parts which are supported on every two consecutive panels and even having on the separation line for separating said panels a strip made of waterproofing material which can Be of the same nature as the upper layer and which will have the same steps as said layer. This strip is fixed on the upper layer of two consecutive panels by means of a sealant, the entire surface thus being determined by the sealed panels ready for arranging the overlay parts. 
     As has been indicated, the panels can have the covering parts which are arranged on the free surface of the upper layer of the panels, even on the protruding fringe, except in an area adjacent to the inclined flange of the upper layer, having a width equal to the opposite protruding fringe of said upper layer, to allow overlapping panels of consecutive rows. 
     The panels having the covering parts may also lack the parts adjacent to the borders of the upper layer perpendicular to the steps of said layer. When constructing the cover, these parts will be arranged, once the panels are placed, such that they are supported by consecutive panels of the same row, thus closing the separation line between them. As in the case described above, there can be previously arranged on the separation line between consecutive panels of the same row a waterproofing strip which can be of the same nature as the upper layer and which will have the same transverse steps. Similarly this strip is fixed to the upper layer by means of a sealant. The covering parts needed for completing the cover between consecutive panels of the same row are subsequently arranged on said strip. 
     When the panels have the covering parts, these may protrude with respect to one of the borders of the upper layer perpendicular to the steps of said layer, into a longitudinal fringe having constant width, whereas the opposite border will lack the retraction parts in an area having the same dimension. In the construction of the cover, the protruding covering parts of each panel are overlapped on the area lacking covering parts of the adjacent panel of the same row. The upper waterproofing layer of the panels can prolong below the protruding parts. 
     According to another embodiment, the upper layer of the panel prolongs in the direction perpendicular to the slope on one of the edges of the intermediate layer into a portion forming a gutter having a height less than said panel. The lower layer of the panel will be located below the bottom of this gutter. On the side opposite that occupied by the gutter, the panel has from the free surface of the lower layer a longitudinal step having a cross section approximately equal to the outer cross section of the opposite gutter. With this makeup, the step of a panel is overlapped on the gutter of the adjacent panel of the same line when forming the cover. 
     These panels with a gutter, as in the cases above, may lack panels or may have panels with the same variants described above. 
     In any of the described cases, the cover can be constructed quickly by means of arranging the panels aligned in the direction perpendicular to the slope of the cover, forming consecutive rows, being overlapped as described, whether the panels lack the covering parts or have them. 
     If the parts have a gutter which will be in the direction of the slope, this gutter may prolong on one end, with respect to the corresponding edge of the panel, into a portion externally sized for coupling inside the adjacent gutter of the row located thereafter, in the direction of the slope of the cover. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The attached drawings show a cover constructed according to the invention given by way of non-liming example and based on panels lacking or having the covering parts. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel for the construction of the cover of the invention lacking overlay parts. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section view of the panel taken according to section line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross section of the panel taken according to section line III-III. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the panel with the overlay parts. 
       The  FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the panel with the covering parts taken according to section line V-V of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a cover constructed with the panels of  FIG. 1  or  4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the cover taken according to section line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view of the cover taken according to section line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing a possible arrangement of the overlay parts on the panel. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of the arrangement of two panels of  FIG. 9  in the formation of the cover. 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing another embodiment variant with the panel without overlay parts. 
         FIG. 12  is a longitudinal cross section of the same panel taken according to section line XII-XII of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  shows in perspective view the arrangement of the panels of  FIG. 11  in the formation of a row of the cover. 
         FIG. 14  shows the same panel of  FIG. 11  with the covering parts fixed, 
         FIG. 15  is a partial perspective view of a cover constructed with the panels of  FIGS. 11 and 14 . 
       The  FIG. 16  schematically shows the matching of panels of  FIG. 11  or  14  in a change of slope of the cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show a panel for the construction of the cover of the invention which is formed by a lower support layer  1 , an intermediate layer  2  of insulating material and an upper waterproofing layer  3 , which will preferably be made of metal. These three layers are attached to one another and the lower support layer  1  can have a free surface defining the inner finishing of the cover. 
     The upper water-proof layer  3  has steps  4  equidistant and parallel to two of the sides of the panel, all of them descending in the same direction, which will correspond to the downward direction of the slope of the cover being constructed. This upper layer  3  prolongs on the side adjacent to the lower step  4  into a longitudinal fringe  5  having constant width, whereas the same upper layer prolongs from the opposite border into a longitudinal flange  6  having a smaller width, which is inclined upwards, as can be best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     With respect to the same sides of the panel, the lower layer  1  protrudes on one side into a fringe  7 , whereas on the opposite side it is retracted in a section or portion  8  having an equal width. 
     The panel with the makeup described has hooks  9  protruding with respect to the upper layer  3 , coinciding with the steps  4  or close to them, being further directed towards the preceding step, as seen best in  FIG. 2 . The hooks  9  are arranged at distances coinciding with the dimensions of the covering parts which will be used in the formation of the cover, as will be explained below. 
     Layers  1 ,  2  and  3  of the panel will be attached, for example, by means of an adhesive material. 
     The panel described can also have the covering parts  10 , for example slate-based covering parts, which are fixed by means of an adhesive in the flat areas  4 , between consecutive steps  4 , with the lower longitudinal border of each part  10 , in the direction of the slope of the cover to be constructed, held by one of the hooks  9 , all as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The panel may lack the covering parts adjacent to the points of the panel which will be in the direction of the slope of the cover. In the example depicted in  FIG. 4  the panel will lack the covering parts that would occupy the positions  10 ′ of  FIG. 4 . As is best shown in  FIG. 5 , the covering parts  10  also extend on the protruding fringe  5  of the upper layer  3 .  FIG. 6  shows the arrangement of two consecutive panels  12  in a row of the cover, between which there is defined a separation line  13 . If the cover is formed with panels such as those shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , once the panels are consecutively coupled as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the slate parts  6  will be fixed, except in the areas  10 ′, coinciding with the areas indicated with the same reference in  FIG. 4 . If the panels  1  have parts  10 , such as in the example of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the panels are arranged with respect to one another in a similar manner, demarcating the same separation line  13  and with the areas  10 ′ lacking covering parts. 
     On the adjacent areas  10 ′ there is arranged a strip  14  of water-proof material which can be of the same nature as the upper layer  3  of the panels, for example made of metal, and it includes steps  4 ′ coinciding with the steps  4  of the upper layer  3 . This strip  14  is fixed by means of a sealant on the areas  10 ′ of the two consecutive panels  12 , covering and closing the separation line  13  between these panels, thus assuring the waterproofing. The plates  10 ″ of  FIG. 6  which will occupy the areas  10 ′ are than arranged, traversing the strip  14  and thus completing the cover with the entirety of the covering parts. 
       FIG. 7  shows the water-proof strip  14  already fixed on the upper layer  3  of the two consecutive panels, covering and sealing the separation line  13  between said panels. 
     The panels  15  of consecutive rows, in the direction of the slope of the cover, are arranged as shown in  FIG. 8 , with the protruding fringe  7  of each panel overlapped on the panel of the lower row, surpassing the flange  6  and with the free longitudinal border close to the bottom of the closest hooks  9 , inside which there will also be coupled the lower edge of the covering parts  10 . With this arrangement, the separation line  16  between the panels  15  is perfectly sealed by means of overlapping the fringe  7  on the adjacent panel. The protruding portion  7  of the lower layer  1  of the panels is coupled in the lower area in the recess  8  of the adjacent panel. A perfect closing and sealing between consecutive panels in all the directions of the cover is achieved with the described arrangement of the panels. 
       FIG. 9  shows a panel similar to that of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , having the covering parts  10 , which protrude from one of the sides of the panel perpendicular to the steps  4 , into a longitudinal fringe  16 , whereas on the opposite side the panel lacks the covering parts  10  in an area  17  having an equal width. When the panels are arranged to form a line as described with reference to  FIG. 6 , the protruding portion  16  of one panel will be overlapped in the portion  17  lacking covering parts of the adjacent panel, the separation line  13  between consecutive panels being duly sealed in the same manner, as shown in  FIG. 10 , where the consecutive panels  12  of  FIG. 6  belonging to one and the same line, with the protruding portion  16  of one of the panels  12  arranged to be overlapped on the portion  17  of the adjacent panel lacking covering parts  10  are shown. 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment variant of the panel of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in which the upper layer  3  of the panel prolongs from one of the edges perpendicular to the steps  4  into a portion forming a gutter  18  having a height less than the thickness of the panel. The lower layer  1  is below the bottom of this gutter. On the opposite side of the panel the intermediate layer  2  has a longitudinal step  19  from the free surface of the lower layer  1 , having a cross section approximately equal to the outer cross section of the gutter  18 . With this makeup, for the formation of the cover, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the step  19  of one of the panels is coupled on the gutter  18  of the adjacent panel  12  and the separation line  13  between the two panels  12  will be covered and sealed by any of the systems described, such as for example with covering parts  10 ″ as in the case of  FIG. 6 . The edge of the panel adjacent to the gutter  18  can have a longitudinal channeling  20 . 
       FIG. 14  depicts a panel similar to that of  FIG. 11  but including the covering parts  10  which can occupy the distribution of  FIG. 4  or  9  for the formation of the cover, as depicted in  FIG. 15 , where the panels belonging to consecutive rows are overlapped as described with reference to  FIG. 8 , whereas the consecutive panels of one and the same line are separated as described with reference to  FIG. 13 . 
     Finally,  FIG. 16  shows a system for closing or sealing between panels  21  of consecutive rows, between which there is a change of slope. The separation  22  between these two panels  21  can be sealed, for example by means of a plate  23  made of metal for example, having a bend  24  with an angle coinciding with that of the change of slope of the cover. This plate  24  is introduced below the upper layer  3  of the panel occupying the upper position in the direction of the slope of the cover and is overlapped on the upper layer  3  of the adjacent panel of the next line, being able to he retained therein by means of the corresponding hooks  9  and/or by means of screws or nails  25  with a gasket. Between the gutters  18  of the panels  21  there is arranged a channeled intermediate connecting part  26 , externally coupleable on the gutter  18  of the panel occupying the upper position, inside the gutter  18  of the panel  21  occupying the lower position. 
     Ultimately, regardless of the makeup of the panels, the formation of the cover is achieved by consecutively attaching these panels by their edges, forming consecutive rows which can be sealed as described and the covering parts  10  being arranged thereon if the panels lack the covering parts, or only the covering parts  10 ′ needed for completing the cover being arranged thereon. 
     The cover described is also applicable as a cover for protecting walls.