Patent Publication Number: US-10787815-B2

Title: Ventilating and heat dissipating assembly for a roof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 107145718, filed on Dec. 18, 2018. 
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly, and more particularly to a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly for a roof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Because the roof of a building is a major part which absorbs solar irradiation, if the ventilation and heat dissipation effects of the roof are insufficient, the roof can absorb considerable heat to increase indoor temperature and make indoors unpleasantly hot and stuffy. In order to dissipate heat, a modular ventilation structure is usually used to form ventilation channels, and particular heat insulation materials are used to reduce heat absorbed by the roof as much as possible. 
     However, the modular ventilation structure requires a lengthy time for assembly of a plurality of parts, and difficulties in assembly of the parts can adversely affect the quality of the modular ventilation structure. Further, using merely a single heat insulation material may limit variation of structural designs. The prior art is in need of a breakthrough, which not only reduces the number of modular parts for installation simplicity, but also provides sufficient ventilation channels for efficient ventilation and heat dissipation. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly that is suitable for a roof and that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to the disclosure, a ventilation and heat dissipating assembly for a roof includes a plurality of spaced apart hollow bricks, a plurality of first corrugated plates and a plurality of second corrugated plates. 
     The hollow bricks are arranged in intersecting rows that extend along a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction. Each of the hollow bricks includes a bottom wall, two side walls, a plurality of intermediate walls, a top wall, a plurality of ventilation holes, two outer holding ribs and a plurality of inner holding ribs. The bottom wall has two opposite transverse sides and two opposite longitudinal sides connected between the transverse sides. The side walls respectively and upwardly project from the two opposite transverse sides of the bottom wall. The intermediate walls project upwardly from the bottom wall between the side walls and are spaced apart along a direction parallel with the longitudinal sides of the bottom wall. The top wall is opposite to the bottom wall and disposed on top of the side walls and the intermediate walls. The ventilation holes are bounded by the bottom wall, the side walls, the intermediate walls and the top wall. Each of the ventilation holes has two ventilation open ends opposite to each other along a line parallel with the transverse sides of the bottom wall. The outer holding ribs project respectively from outer surfaces of the side walls in opposite outward directions. Each of the inner holding ribs projects from one of the intermediate walls into one of the ventilation holes. 
     The first corrugated plates are connected to each other and aligned along the first direction. Each of the first corrugated plates spans a gap between two pairs of the hollow bricks that are spaced apart in the first and second directions. Each of the first corrugated plates has a crest portion, a first trough portion, a second trough portion and two curved rise portions. The crest portion is elongated along and curved around a crest axial line (L) parallel with the first direction. The crest portion has two opposite lateral sides on two opposite sides of the crest axial line. The first trough portion is connected to one of the two opposite lateral sides of the crest portion. The first trough portion is seated on one of the outer holding ribs of one of two adjacent ones of the hollow bricks that are spaced apart in the second direction. The second trough portion is connected to the other one of the two opposite lateral sides of the crest portion. The second trough portion is seated on one of the outer holding ribs of the other one of the two adjacent ones of the hollow bricks that are spaced apart in the second direction. The curved rise portions are respectively connected to the first and second trough portions oppositely of the crest portion and are curved in the same direction as the crest portion. 
     Each of the second corrugated plates spans a gap between two of the hollow bricks that are spaced apart in the first direction and a gap between two of the first corrugated plates that are spaced apart in the second direction. Each of the second corrugated plates is supported by the inner holding ribs of two of the hollow bricks that are spaced apart in the first direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a hollow brick of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a first corrugated plate of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first corrugated plate shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a second corrugated plate of the first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  illustrate how the first embodiment of the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly are assembled; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the first embodiment illustrating two first corrugated plates aligned with each other; 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary perspective view of the first embodiment illustrating ventilation paths formed by two first corrugated plates assembled with the hollow bricks; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the first embodiment, illustrating a middle section of the first corrugated plate that is cut off from two end sections; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the first embodiment illustrating how the two end sections are used; 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary front view of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment illustrating air flow paths formed between the first corrugated plates and the second corrugated plates; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment illustrating air flow paths formed by the first corrugated plates, the second corrugated plates and the hollow bricks; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly; 
         FIG. 15  is a fragmentary perspective view of the second embodiment illustrating how a staple is used in the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly; and 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the second embodiment illustrating the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly installed on a roof surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly for a roof according to the disclosure. The ventilating and heat dissipating assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart hollow bricks  1 , a plurality of first corrugated plates  2 , and a plurality of second corrugated plates  3 . Each of the first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  is made from a plastic material. The first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  are cheap and easily moldable, and have flexible and resilient properties so that they can be easily placed in an assembled state through their resilient returning forces. 
     Referring  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hollow bricks  1  are arranged in intersecting rows along a first direction (V) and a second direction (T) intersecting the first direction (V). Each hollow brick  1  is manufactured through cold pressing and casting processes. Each hollow brick  1  includes a bottom wall  11 , two side walls  12 , two intermediate walls  13 , a top wall  14 , three ventilation holes  100 , two outer holding ribs  15 , and two inner holding ribs  16 . The bottom wall  11  has two opposite transverse sides  11   a  and two opposite longitudinal sides  11   b  connected between said transverse sides  11   a . The side walls  12  respectively and upwardly project from the two opposite transverse sides  11   a  of the bottom wall  11 . The intermediate walls  13  project upwardly from the bottom wall  11  between the side walls  12  and are spaced apart along a direction parallel with the longitudinal sides  11   b  of the bottom wall  11 . The top wall  14  is opposite to the bottom wall  11  and disposed on top of the side walls  12  and the intermediate walls  13 . The ventilation holes  100  are bounded by the bottom wall  11 , the side walls  12 , the intermediate walls  13  and the top wall  14 . Each of the ventilation holes  100  has two ventilation open ends opposite to each other along a line parallel with the transverse sides  11   a  of the bottom wall  11 . The holding ribs  15  project respectively from outer surfaces of the side walls  12  in opposite outward directions. The inner holding ribs  16  project respectively from the intermediate walls  13  in two opposite directions. In particular, each of the inner holding ribs  16  projects from one of the intermediate walls  13  into one of the ventilation holes  100 . The bottom wall  11  of each hollow brick  1  has a plurality of foot portion  17  projecting downwardly and spaced apart from each other, and a plurality of bottom grooves  170  each of which is formed between two adjacent ones of the foot portions  17 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in combination with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first corrugated plates  2  are connected to each other and aligned along the first direction (V). Each first corrugated plate  2  spans a gap between two pairs of the hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the first and second directions (V, T). Further, each first corrugated plate  2  has a crest portion  21 , a first trough portion  22 , a second trough portion  24 , and two curved rise portions  23 . The crest portion  21  is elongated along and curved around a crest axial line (L) parallel with the first direction (V). The crest portion  21  has two opposite lateral sides on two opposite sides of the crest axial line (L). The crest portion  21  is an arcuate plate with a curvature that is asymmetric with respect to a central plane (P) which is parallel to the crest axial line (L) and which intersects the crest portion  21  at a middle of the crest portion  21 . The crest portion  21  has a first arcuate end  211 , a second arcuate end  212  opposite to the first arcuate end  211  in the first direction (V), and two indentations  213  respectively indented from the first and second arcuate ends  211 ,  212 . The first trough portion  22  and the second trough portion  24  are respectively connected to the two opposite lateral sides of the crest portion  21 . The first trough portion  22  is seated on one of the outer holding ribs  15  of one of two adjacent ones of the hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the second direction (T). The second trough portion  24  is seated on one of the outer holding ribs  15  of the other one of the two hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the second direction (T). Each of the first and second trough portions  22 ,  24  has two trough ends that are opposite along a line parallel to the axial line (L) of the crest portion  21  and two notches  221  which are indented inwardly and respectively from the two trough ends. Each of the notches  221  engages with one of the side walls  12  of one of the hollow bricks  1 . The first trough portion  22  further has two cutouts  222  which are indented inwardly and respectively from the two trough ends of the first trough portion  22 . The curved rise portions  23  are respectively connected to the first and second trough portions  22 ,  24  oppositely of the crest portion  21  and are curved in the same direction as the crest portion  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in combination with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the second corrugated plates  3  spans a gap between two hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the first direction (V) and a gap between two first corrugated plates  2  that are spaced apart in the second direction (T). Each of the second corrugated plates  3  has a curved middle portion  31  elongated in the first direction (V), and two wing portions  32  respectively extending from two opposite sides of the curved middle portion  31  in opposite outward directions. The wing portions  32  are supported by the inner holding ribs  16  of two hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the first direction (V). Each of the wing portions  32  has first and second wing ends that are opposite along the first direction (V), and two recesses  321  respectively recessed from the first and second wing ends. Each of the recesses  321  of the wing portions  32  engages with one of the intermediate walls  13  of two hollow bricks  1  that are spaced apart in the first direction (V). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A to 6C , in combination with  FIG. 2 , to install the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly, one of the second corrugated plates  3  is first assembled to one of two hollow bricks  1  arranged in a spaced-apart manner along the second direction (T). The curved middle portion  31  of the second corrugated plate  3  has one end inserted into a middle one of the ventilation holes  100  of the hollow bricks  1 . The wing portions  32  have their ends supported by the inner holding ribs  16  of the hollow brick  1 . The recesses  321  of the wing portions  32  respectively engage with the intermediate walls  13  of the hollow brick  1 . After the second corrugated plate  3  and one of the two hollow bricks  1  are assembled to each other, one of the first corrugated plates  2  is placed between the two hollow bricks  1  and is seated on one of the outer holding ribs  15  of each of the two hollow bricks  1 . At the same time, the notches  221  of the first corrugated plate  2  are respectively placed in engagement with the side walls  12  of the hollow bricks  1 . The first corrugated plate  2  is therefore limited from moving in a top-bottom direction and a left-right direction. Simultaneously, the curved rise portions  23  of the first corrugated plate  2  are fixed with each of their ends being inserted into one of the ventilation holes  100  of one of the hollow bricks  1  and abutting inner surfaces of one of the side walls  12  and the top wall  14 , which bound the ventilation hole  100 . Because each first corrugated plate  2  is made from the plastic material, the first corrugated plates  2  are limited from moving in the top-bottom direction by a resilient returning force of the plastic material. After the first corrugated plate  2  is positioned to the hollow bricks  1 , another end of the second corrugated plate  3  is inserted into another hollow brick  1  that is spaced apart from the previous hollow brick  1  in the first direction (V). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , to assemble two first corrugated plates  2  in the first direction (V), the first arcuate ends  211  of the first corrugated plates  2  are aligned and placed face to face each other in the first direction (V), and are interconnected with each other through inter-engagement of the indentations  213  of the first arcuate ends  211 . At the same time, one of the cutouts  222  of the first trough portion  22  of each of the first corrugated plates  2  receives an overlapping part  240  of the second trough portion  24  of the other one of the first corrugated plates  2 . 
     Reference is made to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The first corrugated plate  2  is tailored by cutting off a middle section from two end sections  2 ′ as shown in  FIG. 9 . Each end section  2 ′ has the indentation  213 , the notch  221  and the cutout  222  and thus is connectible to another first corrugated plate  2 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the first corrugated plates  2  are indented at lateral sides of a semi-finished assembly. The end sections  2 ′ are provided with a size that fits the indent regions of the lateral sides. When the end sections  2 ′ are connected to the first corrugated plates  2  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the indent regions are filled and the semi-finished assembly form a neat peripheral shape. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 6A to 6C, and 10 , the first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  are shown to be assembled with the hollow bricks  1  arranged in intersecting rows along the first and second directions (V, T). The process of assembling the first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  and the hollow bricks  1  does not need any screw fastener or special tools. Masonry, piling and nailing processes are not necessary either. Without the need of changing an existing structure of a building, the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly of the first embodiment can be laid on a building roof in such a manner that the assembly is matched with the area of the building roof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , in combination with  FIG. 10 , the first corrugated plates  2  are interconnected and aligned in the first direction (V). Because the curvature of each crest portion  21  is asymmetric with respect to the central plane (P) (see  FIG. 4 ), when each crest portion  21  is viewed from the first and second arcuate ends  211 ,  212 , it presents two different shapes that form a mirror image of each other. Therefore, when two first corrugated plates  2  are aligned and when one of the first corrugated plates  2  is reversed to place the first arcuate end  211  thereof face to face with the first arcuate end  211  of the other first corrugated plate  2 , the crest portions  21  of the two first corrugated plates  2  are staggered and ventilation gaps  201  are formed between the first arcuate ends  211  of the crest portions  21  to allow ventilation in the first direction (V). Further, the ventilation holes  100  and the bottom grooves  170  of each hollow brick  1  provide additional ventilation paths along the first direction (V). As shown in  FIG. 10 , each of the hollow bricks  1  has an upper curved boundary surface  134  defined by the top wall  14  and the intermediate walls  13  and bounding an upper side of one of the ventilation holes  100 . The curved middle portion  31  of each of the second corrugated plates  3  inserted into the ventilation hole  100  abuts part of the upper curved boundary surface  134  in such a manner that a gap is formed between the curved middle portion  31  and the upper curved boundary surface  134  for ventilation. By virtue of the foot portions  17  and the bottom grooves  170 , water accumulation between the bottom wall  11  and the roof surface may be reduced or even eliminated. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , there is a height difference between each curved rise portion  23  of the first corrugated plates  2  and one of the wing portions  32  of an adjacent one of the second plates  3 . The height difference provides an air flow path along the second direction (T). In  FIG. 13 , as shown by arrows within a region encircled by phantom lines, the region has two air flow paths  201  formed between two first corrugated plates  2 , six air flow paths formed between the curved middle portions  31  of the second corrugated plates  3  and the upper boundary surfaces  134  of the hollow bricks  1 , and two air flow paths formed between the curved rise portions  23  of the first corrugated plates  2  and the wing portions  32  of the second corrugated plates  3 . The mere region has a total of ten air flow paths on the top of the building roof in this embodiment. Therefore, the ventilation and heat dissipating assembly of the first embodiment is a thoroughly ventilatable structure which is highly efficient to ventilate and dissipate heat. In use, the ventilation and heat dissipating assembly can prevent sunlight from directly irradiating the surface of the building. In summer, the surface of the building directly irradiated by the sunlight can have a temperature of almost 60° C. When the ventilation and heat dissipating assembly of the embodiment is used, the temperature of the building roof surface can be reduced by an amount ranging from 17° C. to 21° C. Therefore, the indoor temperature of the building can be reduced to mitigate operation loads of an air conditioner. For long term use, electric power and maintenance costs can be saved. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a second embodiment of a ventilating and heat dissipating assembly according to the disclosure, which has a structure generally similar to that of the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly further includes an auxiliary unit  4 . The auxiliary unit  4  includes a plurality of staples  41  each of which fastens together two of the first corrugated plates  2 , and steel wire ropes  42  extending through the ventilation holes  100  of the hollow bricks  1  for positioning the same. 
     To strengthen linking of the first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  and the hollow bricks  1 , each staple  41  is used to fasten together two first corrugated plates  2  at the joint where the indentations  213  of the first arcuate ends  212  are inter-engaged. The steel wire rope  42 , if necessary, is used to bind together the hollow bricks  1  located at the peripheral region of the assembly of the embodiment. The strength to join and stabilize the hollow bricks  1  can thus be increased. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , aside from ventilation, heat-dissipation and heat-insulation effects, the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly can be an escape platform. To be the escape platform, the hollow bricks  1  may be spaced apart from each other at intervals ranging between 55 centimeters and 60 centimeters, preferably 58.5 centimeters, which is a walking distance of a normal person. By virtue of the auxiliary unit  4  securing together the first and second corrugated plates  2 ,  3  and the hollow bricks  1 , the hollow bricks  1  are stable, and the ventilating and heat dissipating assembly can serves as the escape platform to allow people to step thereon for escaping. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.