IES980642A2 - Improvements in and relating to ridge cappings - Google Patents

Abstract

A sheet metal ridge capping (1) for a tiled roof bent back on itself at each longitudinal edge to form a support leg (4) to grip a roof (6). Reinforcing ribs (5) are provided. <Fig. 1>

Description

Introduction The present invention relates to roof ridge cappings hereinafter ridge cappings.

Ridge cappings and in particular tiled ridge cappings are used extensively to cover parts of rows of side by side tiles, where two rows of tiles intersect at the apex of a ridge. Essentially these roof cappings are used to cover any form of roofing or cladding sheets. One of the major problems is with cappings for tiled or slated roofs hereandafter generally referred to as tiled roofs, where there is generally a plurality of essentially rectangular elements laid in interleaved construction to form the roof cladding which is generally flat. Usually the ridge capping is formed from some form of tile manufactured from a cementious or the like material. These have been found generally unsatisfactory in use, difficult to fix to a roof and prone to damage and dislodgement over a period of time. Further the general contact between the roof tile and the ridge tile is often unsat is f actory. Thus it is necessary to bed the ridge tile down on the roof tile with a grouting material, which grouting material often deteriorates over time causing damage to the roof.

It is also known to provide ridge cappings of sheet metal material, however, heretofore such ridge cappings have not been particularly efficient in use. Such ridge cappings require some form of resilient grip onto the contiguous roof cladding, irrespective of how they are secured to the cladding. In addition to this resilient grip there is a necessity to provide a resistance to bending intermediate its ends which contact the cladding and the apex of the ridge capping. It is very important that flecture should IE 980642 - 2 not occur and the apex nor intermediate the apex and the edge of the capping where it contacts the roof as this can in severe cases lead to the ingress of moisture.

For example, as stated in U.K. Patent Specification No. 682086, ridge cappings have been formed with a flat skirt along each side thereof and when the capping is assembled these skirts are arranged to seat upon the upper surface of the roof covering. In this U.K. Patent Specification No. 682086 there is provided a roof capping for a corrugated roof which effectively has an adaptor to sit on the corrugated roof and then the ridge capping engages that adaptor. However, the object of the invention of this U.K. Patent Specification No. 682086 is to overcome this difficulty and not to overcome the problem with such ridge cappings which are used on slates and flat tiles.

A further problem when it has heretofore been proposed to provide a ridge capping for a tiled roof formed from sheet steel material, was the problems encountered in the manufacture of such ridge cappings.

The present invention is directed towards providing an improved construction of ridge capping for a tile roof formed from sheet steel material and further to providing a machine tool for efficiently forming such a ridge capping.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a ridge capping for a tiled roof of the type comprising an elongate sheet of steel bent intermediate its longitudinal edges to form a central apex for extending over a row of side by side tiles, where two rows intersect, characterised in that an additional bend is formed IE 980642 - 3 adjacent each longitudinal edge back on itself towards the other edge, whereby the outermost portion of the sheet adjacent each edge is bent back on itself to provide a roof engaging support leg and in which reinforcing ribs are formed along each side of the ridge capping extending from adjacent the apex and substantially at right angles thereto across the capping towards each support leg. Use of these reinforcing ribs will provide added rigidity to the ridge capping since the natural flecture that will occur will be between the contact of the ridge capping on the cladding and the apex of the ridge capping. This is necessary to prevent the ingress of moisture and by providing this reinforcement it is possible to use a lighter gauge of metal with a consequent saving in manufacturing costs.

The reinforcing ribs may be in the form of an elongate protrusion or recess in the exposed surface of the capping. Obviously one of the easiest ways to make such a reinforcement is to simply form it in the metal itself without the provision of additional reinforcement.

Ideally the legs are so formed that the angle subtended by the roof contacting edges and the central apex is less than the angle subtended by the apex of a roof to which it is to be fitted. By doing this the ridge capping when mounted on the roof and secured to the cladding will resiliently engage the cladding and provide a firm seating on the cladding. It is envisaged that outermost portion of the sheet will be bent between 20 and 30° and preferably between 24 and 26°. It has been found that this relatively small angle ensures added resilience since if the sheet is bent too much it might, over time, tend to lift away from the roof while with a small angle the ridge capping will over a period of time simply lie closer to the roof. It IE 980642 - 4 will also tend to trap any dirt or other matter which will further prevent the ingress of moisture.

Further the invention provides a machine tool for forming a ridge capping of the type hereinbefore described comprising: a lower former having a flat upper surface; upstanding protuberances on the surface extending towards a bend forming portion formed by a further inclined surface sloping away from the upper surface towards a longitudinally arranged channel, one upright wall of the channel extending below the lowermost edge of the inclined surface and the other upright wall remote from the inclined surface and the other upright wall extending above the upper surface to form a sheet engaging end stop in which the distance between the end stop and the upper surface is greater than the length of the roof engaging support leg; and an upper former comprising a flat lower surface having indents for reception of the protuberances and a further downwardly sloping inclined surface mirroring the other inclined surface to mate therewith and having a flat sheet moving surface extending parallel to and spaced apart from the lower surface a distance equal to the depth of the lowermost edge of the inclined surface of the lower former, below the flat upper surface whereby as the upper former descends towards the lower former the sheet moving surface first contact a sheet placed against the end stop to push the sheet rearwardly away from the end stop until its edge coincides with IE 980642 - 5 ί the lowermost edges of the inclined surface when it is gripped there between.

This is a particularly advantageous form of tool in that it allows one side of the capping to be manufactured in ί one simple pressing operation. Ideally the distance Γ between the uppermost edge of the inclined surface and the end stop is between 3 and 1.5 times the length of the inclined surface and preferably between 2 and 1.6 times the length of the inclined surface. It has been found that this allows the sheet to be pushed rearwardly the : correct distance without any fouling in the machine tool.

Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ridge capping according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ridge capping; Fig. 3 is a front view of the ridge capping; Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the ridge capping; Fig. 5 is a view of the ridge capping showing it mounted on a roof; 25 Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a machine tool used in the manufacture of the ridge capping; IE 980642 I - 6 Fig. 7 is a further sectional view through the machine tool; and Fig. 8 is a plan view in the direction of the arrows VI - VI in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1-5 thereof there is provided a ridge capping indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The ridge capping is manufactured from light steel sheet and is bent intermediate its longitudinal edges 2, to form an apex 3. The sheet is in turn bent back in itself along a fold line adjacent each edge 3, to form a support leg 4. Reinforcing ribs 5 formed from protrusions are provided along each side of the capping extending from adjacent the apex 3 and substantially at right angles thereto across the capping to each support leg 4.

It will be noted the support legs 4 are bent inwards towards each other by approximately 25° and that therefore the angles subtended by the edges 2 with the apex 3, there is less than the angles subtended by the apex itself with its adjacent sides.

In use the angles subtended between the central· apex 3 itself and the edges 2 will be less than angles subtended by the apex of a roof to which it is fitted. In Fig. 5 the ridge capping 1 is shown fixed to a roof 6. It will be appreciated that the support legs 4 will resiliently grip the roof 6 and that the protrusions 5 will give added rigidity to the ridge capping 1 and prevent distortion of the ridge capping 1 over time and will further provide a relatively pleasing appearance.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated a machine tool indicated generally by the reference numeral IE 980642 - 7 10, having a lower former 11 and an upper former 12. The machine tool would generally be used in any form of press brake or forming machine. The lower former 11 has a flat upper surface 13 on which is mounted upstanding protuberances 14 extending towards a bend forming portion formed by a further inclined surface 15 having an upper edge 16 and a lowermost edge 17. The inclined surface 15 terminates at its lower most edge 17 on an upright wall 18 of a longitudinally arranged channel 19. The channel 19 has a further upright wall 20 remote from the inclined surface 15 which extends beyond the upper surface 13 to form a sheet engaging end stop 21. It will be noted that the distance between the upper edge'16 and the end stop 21 is greater than the distance between the upper edge 16 and the lowermost edge 17.

The upper former 12 comprises a flat lower surface 25, having indents 26 for reception of the protuberances 14 and a further downwardly sloping inclined surface 27 for mating with the inclined surface 15 and having a further flat sheet moving surface 28 parallel to and spaced apart from the lower surface 25 a distance equal to the depth between the upper edge 16 and the lower edge 17 of the lower former 11.

In use, to form a ridge capping 1 the strip of steel is bent intermediate its end to form the apex of the ridge capping. Then one free edge of the ridge capping is entered into the machine tool 10 in the direction of the arrow A (see Figs. 6 and 7) until the edge of the sheet impinges against the end stop 21. The upper former 12 is lowered onto the lower former 11 and as the sheet moving surface 28 contacts the sheet it pushes the sheet upwards and backwards until the edge of the sheet moves to be substantially coincident with the lower most edge 7 when the upper former 12 moves past the sheet as it lowers I IE 980642 - 8 itself down on the sheet to form one side of the ridge capping. The sheet is then reversed and the other side formed .

It will be appreciated that the various angles that for 5 example the apex of the ridge capping subtends or the angle which the edges of the support legs subtend the apex of the capping, will have a considerable influence on the manner in which the capping is used and operates having regard to the actual construction of a roof to which it is fitted. Ideally the angle subtended by the two edges of the support legs should be less than the angles subtended by the roof itself so that the legs will resiliently engage the roof surface to provide a tight fit thereon. It is also envisaged that instead of the reinforcing ribs being in the form of protrusions that they could equally well be in the form of recesses on the exposed surface of the capping, though generally speaking protrusions have a more pleasing look and are therefore to be preferred.

Ideally the outer most edge near the outermost portion of the sheet forming the support legs should be bent between 20° and 30° and ideally between 24° and 26“. It has been found that the choice of the correct angle is particularly important as it is vital to obtain a sufficient contact on the roof while not at the same time lifting too much of the roof capping away from the roof tiles therebeiow.

In respect of the machine tool it has been found that the distance between the upper most edge 16 of the lower former 11 should be spaced apart from the end stop 21 should be between 3 and 1.5 times the length of the inclined surface 15 which forms the support leg 4, preferably it can be between 2 and 1.8 times. This allows for a smooth transition of the sheet metal across the machine tool.

IE 980642 I.

Ll t The invention is not limited to hereinbefore described which may be construction and detail within the scope the embodiment varied in both of the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A ridge capping for a tiled roof of the type comprising an elongate sheet of steel bent intermediate its longitudinal edges to form a central apex for extending over a row of side by side tiles, where two rows intersect, characterised in that an additional bend is formed adjacent each longitudinal edge back on itself towards the other edge, whereby the outermost portion of the sheet adjacent each edge is bent back on itself to provide a roof engaging support leg.

2. A ridge capping as claimed in claim 1 in which reinforcing ribs are formed along each side of the ridge capping extending from adjacent the apex and substantially at right angles thereto across the capping towards each support leg in the form of elongate protrusions in the exposed surface of the capping .

3. A ridge capping as claimed in any preceding ciaim in which the legs are so formed that the angle subtended by the roof contacting edges and the central apex is less than the angle subtended by the apex of a roof to which it is to be fitted and in which the outermost portion of the sheet is bent between 20° and 30° and preferably 24° to 26°.

4. A ridge capping substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A machine tool for forming a ridge capping comprising: IE 980642 - 11 a lower former having a flat upper surface; upstanding protuberances on the surface extending towards a bend forming portion formed by a further inclined surface sloping away from the upper surface towards a longitudinally arranged channel, one upright wall of the channel extending below the lowermost edge of the inclined surface and the other upright wall remote from the inclined surface and the other upright wall extending above the upper surface to form a sheet engaging end stop in which the distance between the end stop and the upper surface is greater than the length required for formation of a roof engaging support leg; and an upper former comprising a flat lower surface having indents for reception of the protuberances and a further downwardly sloping inclined surface mirroring the other inclined surface to mate therewith and having a flat sheet moving surface extending parallel to and spaced apart from the lower surface a distance equal· to the depth of the lowermost edge of the inclined surface of the lower former, below the flat upper surface of the inclined surface of the lower former whereby as the upper former descends towards the lower former the sheet moving surface first contacts a sheet placed against the end stop to push the sheet rearwardly away from the end stop until its edge coincides with the lowermost edges of the inclined surface when it is gripped there between.