AU701245B2 - Roofing support - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Stramit Corporation Limited Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK 'POO Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: ROOFING SUPPORT Our Ref 443925 POF Code: 100/169406 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 2 The present invention relates to a panel support arrangement particularly adapted to withstand high loadings or for use where an increases spanning capability is required.

Prior art roofing sheets, such as those sold under the trade mark Paneldek by the present applicant consist of roll-formed metal panels each having a horizontal pan with engagement ribs along its opposed longitudinal edges for side-by-side engagement with similar panels. Generally, the engagement ribs comprise downwardly facing channels above the plane of the pan. The pan may also have one or more intermediate longitudinal stiffening ribs, also formed as downwardly facing channels.

The roofing sheets are typically supported on a series of spaced support purlins which are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the roofing sheets. The sheets are attached to these purlins by an array of clips at the points at which the engagement channels overlie the purlins.

15 In one form, the present invention provides a roof support arrangement 00c9 including: ~a support structure having at least two elongate support members which -000 .00 extend in a first horizontal direction and are laterally spaced in a second -00* horizontal direction which extends transversely of the first direction, a roofing panel having longitudinally extending, laterally spaced °upstanding ribs, each defining a downwardly facing channel, said panel being disposed over said support structure with the channel of each rib extending transversely across and facing said support members; and at least one elongate rail which extends along the channel of, and is vertically restrained in the channel of, or is attached to, the or a respective rib, with the or each rail extending across at least an intermediate part of a span between adjacent support members and being cooperable with the rib so as to increase the stiffness of the roofing panel.

The roof support arrangement may be an exposed, external arrangement. Alternatively, it may be an internal arrangement between a lower level and a next upper level of a building. In the latter case, the designation of "roof" is relative to the lower level.

ArSA'-P norn 7nmna I- i 3 In the roof support arrangement of the invention, the support members usually will comprise or include purlins. Alternatively, they may comprise or include elongate cleats or battens extending laterally across rafters. However, other arrangements are possible.

The upstanding ribs of the roofing panels may result from the panel being of corrugated form. Alternatively, the panel may have a flat or configured pan area between successive ribs. In one form of the latter arrangement, the panel may have at least a respective rib along each side edge thereof, such that a side edge rib of one panel can be received in a side edge rib of an adjacent panel. In that form of the panel, the ribs may interfit with interlocking, such as by a bead or one being received in a groove or indent of the other.

The ribs have laterally spaced side walls which define the lateral sides of S, the channels. The side walls may be substantially parallel. Alternatively, they may be mutually inclined such that the lateral spacing therebetween increases towards the mouth of the channel.

The or each rail can vary in cross-section, although it most preferably has a cross-section which at least partly is complementary to the cross-section of the channels defined by the ribs of the panel. The o" each rail also can vary in length. In the case of its length, a rail may extend across only an intermediate part of the span between adjacent support members. Where this is the case, the rail most preferably is such as to extend across a major intermediate part of that span. Also, where there is more than two support merrmbers, there may be more than one rail for the panel, with each extending across only an intermediate part of the span between a respective pair of adjacent support members, whether within a common or respective chanr,l. That is, the rails may be in-line in a common channel, or laterally offset in a respective channel.

In an alternative form, the or each rail extends across the full span j between adjacent support members. In that form of ;ail, it preferably extends over the support members and may be secured thereto by fasteners. Where there is more than two support members, each rail may extend over at least one adjacent pair of those members, or over each of the members.

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~L I rL 4 4 The or each rail member may be secured to the panel, such as by a fastener or a series of longitudinally spaced fasteners applied through the rib to engage in the rail.

The or each rail provides at least stiffening for the panel, However, at least where a rail extends over adjacent support members, and is secured thereto, the rail enables securement of the panel in relation to the support members, such as detailed in the immediately preceding paragraph herein. Where the or each rail is not secured directly to the support members, the panel may be secured to the support members by fasteners applied through the panel to engage in the support members, with the fasteners preferably applied through the ribs.

o- Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged end view of a first embodiment of the invention in Ca" which the rail is engaged between overlapped engagement ribs of adjacent 001" panels; Figures 2 and 3 are alternative embodiments for supporting an to intermediate trapezoidal rib of a roofing panel; and Figure 4 is a further embodiment for supporting a corrugated panel.

With reference to Figure 1, each of laterally adjacent roofing panels 1 has a horizontal pan 2 with male 3 and female 4 engagement ribs along its opposite too longitudinal edges. Shown here is the engagement between the male engagement rib 3a of a first roofing panel la and the female engagement rib 4b of a second roofing panel lb. The male engagement portion 3a comprises an upstanding wall 5 having an indent 6, an outwardly extending flange 7 and a downwardly angled tail 8.

The female engagement rib 4b comprises an upstanding wall 9, an outwardly extending flange 10 which overlies the flange 7 of the male portion and a downwardly extending skirt 11 ending in a roll-formed bead 12 which is received in indent 6. To engage adjacent panels, the female engagement rib is placed over the male with the bead 12 positioned in the indent 6 and the pan 2b angled upwardly, and the second panel is hinged downwardly until the pan is horizontal.

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The extruded rail 13 includes a hollow, generally trapezoidal section with a base 14, vertical side walls 16 and 17 and an angled top 18 with steps or serrations 18a. The base has a horizontal thickened flange 19 for securing the rail to the top flange 21 of transversely extending purlins 22 by means of screws 23. The flange 19 may have a groove 20 for assisting correct location of the screws 23. The junction of the flange 19 and wall 17 may be undercut at 13a to reduce stress concentration at this point.__ As illustrated, the rail abuts against the walls 5, 9 of both the male and female engagement ribs. This reduces deformation of the panels when subjected to downward loads such as foot traffic. The end of the tail 8 of the male engagement portion abuts against the stepped part of the rail, thus preventing clockwise rotation of the male engagement portion when subjected to uplift loading. The use of a series of steps or serrations 18a compensates for variations in the length of tail 8 due to variations in the feed width during manufacture.

~The rail 13 extends along the length of the joint between adjacent panels :and interlocks with the panels, resulting in improved strength and greater 9, spanning capabilities. Thus, the rail 13 is restrained in a channel defined within the ribs 3a and 4b, with the panels being restrained against lifting relative to the rail 13.

:Figures 2 and 3 illustrate alternative rails for fixing to the inside of a plain trapezoidal, intermediate rib 30 of a panel 31.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the rail 32 comprises a downwardly facing channel with divergent sides 33, and outward base flanges 34. The rail 32 spans between adjacent, laterally spaced purlins 35 and the base flanges 34 are secured to the purlins, such as at the ends of each span, by screws (not shown).

The top surface of the rail 32 is essentially complementary to the inside shape of the rib 31, and the rib is attached to the rail 32 along the span length between purlins by means of fasteners 29, such as screws, spaced longitudinally along rib 31 and rail 32. The rail 32 thus serves to stiffen the panel 31, increasing its spanning capacity so that the spacing between the purlins can be increased.

RNC:A:%UPPORT.t)OC 6 Figure 3 shows a modification of the arrangement of Figure 2. The top portion of the rail 32 is again generally complementary to the inner surface of the rib 30 of panel 31, except that one leg of the rail 32 is shortened. The other leg is extended downwardly, ending in a horizontal inturned base flange 34. This arrangement allows the attachment of a ceiling panel 36, between successive purlins 35 or the like, by fastening of panel 36 to the flange 34, with a space between the roof and ceiling panels for insulation 37.

In cases where the intermediate ribs of the panels have an indent therein formerly for mating with a clip, the rail 32 may have a complementary cross-section designed to mate with the rib 30, such as in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention, which is :applicable to corrugated roofing panel 39. The rail 40 consists of a tube running inside an upward rib defined by a corrugation 42 of sheet 39, the panel 39 being secured to the rail 40 at intervals along the rib and rail 40 by screws 41. The tube diameter is preferably chosen so that the top of the tube is substantially complementary to the inner surface of the rib. The rail 40 may be secured to the purlins (not shown), for example by flattening the tube at its ends and/or at intervals along its length, for insertion of fasteners or by use of saddles.

Alternatively, rail 40 may fit between successive purlins over a major part of the :span between the purlins.

The arrangement of Figure 4 allows a variable span length by varying the spacing between adjacent rails. For example, a rail may be located in every second, third or fourth rib, depending on the spanning capacity desired. This arrangement is particularly suitable for structures such as carports, where an increase in spanning capacity from 1.5 m to about 3 m would be advantageous.

In alternative forms of the invention, the rail of Figures 2, 3 or 4 may extend only along an intermediate part of the span, not being supported by the purlins.

The attachment of the rail to the rib still results in a compound section which stiffens the panel, particularly at the centre point of the span at which the bending moment is greatest, and thus still serves to increase the spanning capacity of the panel.

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4 E ii~_I s In a further alternative embodiment, the rail may serve to close off the channel into a hollow closed section. For example, the rail of Figure 2 may be inverted, or may comprise a flat section attached across the bottom of the rib.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof.

The present embodiment and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appending claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

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Claims (8)

1. A roof support arrangement including: a support structure having at least two elongate support members which extend in a first horizontal direction and are laterally spaced in a second horizontal direction which extends transversely of the first direction; a roofing panel having longitudinally extending, laterally spaced upstanding ribs, each defining a downwardly facing channel, said panel being disposed over said support structure with the channel of each rib extending transversely across and facing said support members; and at least one elongate rail which extends along the channel of, and is vertically restrained within the channel of, or is attached to, the or a respective i o rib, with the or each rail extending across at least an intermediate part of a span S"o between adjacent support members and being cooperal the rib so as to increase the stiffness of the roofing panel. 15 2. A roof support arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the or each rail has an upper surface substantially complementary to at least part of an e :o inner surface of the channel in which it extends.

3. A roof support arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the or each :rail is substantially complementary to an upper part of the inner surface of the 20 channel in which it extends. Ca.. e A roof support arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, S° wherein the rib includes a pair of upstanding walls interconnected by an upper portion of the rib, and wherein the rail is adapted to extend in abutting relationship with an inner surface of at least one of the walls over a major part of that wall height. A roof support arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the panel is attached to the or each rail substantially over the length of the or each rail.

6. A roof support arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the or each rail ir-erlocks with the rib defining the channel in which the or each rail extends. -ir 9

7. A roof support arrangement according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the panel is fastened to the or each rail at intervals spaced along the length of the or each rail.

8. A roof support arrangement according to any one of claims I to 7, wherein the rib is an intermediate rib of the panel.

9. A roof support arrangement according to any one of claims i to 8, wherein the or each rail is attached to and supported by the support members. A roof support arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the or each rail is operative to secure the roofing panel to the support members.

11. A roofing support arrangement according to any one of claims I to wherein the roofing panel includes spaced apart male and female longitudinal ederegions, tepanel bigarranged tobe juxapoed it a lieroofing pane with the female edge region of one panel overlapping the male edge CC:region of the other panel to form a said longitudinal extending rib at said 15 overlapping edge region defining a downwardly facing channel, wherein a said rail is located within said channel at said overlapping edge region. *12. A roofing support arrangement according to claim 11, wherein said rail at C said overlapping edge region, the rail including a stepped surface arranged to C C engage the terminal end of the male edge region so as to inhibit movement of the male edge region relative to the female edge region. C13. A roofing support arrangement according to any one of claims i to 12 wherein the rail is adapted to locate the roofing panel in spaced relationship from said support members.

14. A rail when used in roofing support arrangement as claimed in any one of claims I to 13. A roof support arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4. DATED: 29 September 1998 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for STRAMIT CORPORATION LIMITED _I~ k...i i 4 ta t CI 4,4, I: 0 ABSTRACT A roof sup\,ort arrangement with increased sj. .ing capacity is shown. The arrangement includes a support structure havin.] at least two elongate support members 22 which extend in a first horizontal direction and are laterally spaced in a second horizontal direction which extends transversely of the first direction, and a roofing panel 2 having longitudinally extending, laterally spaced upstanding ribs 4, each defining a downwardly facing channel within the panel disposed over the support structure with the channel of each rib extending transversely across and facing the support members. The arrangement further includes at least one elongate rail 13 which extends along the channel of, and is vertically restrained within the channel of, or is adiached to, the or a respective rib, with the or each rail extending across at least an intermediate part of a span between adjacent support members. *s a 'a. a 0 a RNCA SUPPORT.DOC