2767results about "Roof drainage" patented technology

An OLED display including: a transparent electrode; a reflective electrode having a transparent window; a light emissive layer disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrode; and a photosensor located under the transparent window of the reflective electrode to sense light produced by the light emissive layer.

There is disclosed a method of adhering a flexible solar panel to a PVC-based roofing membrane that interposes a certain plasticizer-containing PVC membrane between the solar panel and the roofing membrane.

A cover for a rain gutter having a front side and cross-pieces. The cover is made from a plurality of single rectangular sheets of material and has a front area integrally connected to a back planar area. The front area has an elongated leg portion integral with and perpendicular to a lower horizontal strip of a curved front portion and extending vertically below the sheet at about a right angle to the lower horizontal portion. The elongated leg portion and the curved front portion extend the length of the sheet, except that the leg portion is partially cut to form feet for resting on the gutter cross-pieces. The feet are bent upward and forward from the leg portion so that when the cover is placed on the rain gutter, the feet hold the leg portion of the gutter cover back from the front side of the gutter so that a covered opening is formed over the gutter. This allows leaves and branches to be kept out of the gutter, but allows capillary flow of water over the curved front portion, through the covered opening, and into the gutter.

A modular green roof system includes modular panels (10) providing a surrounded space suitable for supporting live plant growth and adapted for installing onto a roof deck in side-by-side positioning while allowing water flow on the roof thereunder. The panels are filled with growing medium and pre-seeded prior to delivery to the roof site, and delivered in either a preserved condition or a germinated condition. The panels are adapted for interconnecting to adjacent panels, and for connection to an edge finishing / edge termination system (46) and support structure to enable provision of non-panel areas of the green roof, and above-panel structures.

The present invention describes the design and fabrication of Multi-Material-Blades used as active regenerative regenerators in active regenerative magneto-caloric or electro-caloric engines. The blades consist of a plurality of elements (2) that divide the blade body along its length. Each element (2) is made of a different magneto-caloric or electro-caloric material selected appropriately, and a plurality of dedicated channels (3) penetrates the blade body (1) and extends along the length of the blade. The dedicated channels (3) can be provided with fluid mixing structures, porous layers or hydrophobic coatings to reduce the HE loss in an active regenerative engine. The Multi-Material-Blades are obtainable by ink jet printing techniques to reduce costs. The Multi-Material-Blades can further have a curved shape to form an involute blade body (1). All measures can improve the performance of active regenerative magneto-caloric or electro-caloric engines, and lay the basis for commercial solutions.

A rain gutter cover system (10) constructed in accordance with the principles of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The system (10) is configured for directably collecting rain water running off of the roof (R) of a building (B) while substantially preventing undesired debris from entering the gutter (16). The system (10) broadly includes a gutter assembly (12) and a cover assembly (14) coupled to, and covering, the gutter assembly (12). The cover assembly (14) includes a one piece screen (20) and a plurality of fluted perforations (22) formed in the screen (20). The fluted perforations (22) are each particularly configured to draw water through the screen (20) without allowing undesired debris through the screen (20) and each includes a channel (40) recessed into the screen (20) and a corresponding hole (42) defined in the downhill end of the channel (40). A valley segment (210) of the system is also disclosed and includes a plurality of bull-nose ledges (212, 214, 216, 218 and 220), each guarding a plurality of fluted perforations (222) along the valley of a roof.

Multiple brackets are used together to support photovoltaic cells upon a roof. Each bracket includes a mounting rail at an upper side and a bottom rail at a lower side. The bottom rail of one bracket is configured to overlap the mounting rail of another bracket. Lateral joints on each bracket overlap each other to connect adjacent panels of photovoltaic cells. Cell support structures are interposed between the mounting rail and bottom rail to support a photovoltaic stack assembly thereon. Wind clips allow the bottom rail of a higher bracket to be interconnected with a mounting rail of a lower bracket. An undulating end piece allows airflow to enter beneath a lowest bracket and pass up beneath the brackets to provide cooling air for the overall system of photovoltaic cells mounted upon the brackets. Edge flashing precludes water migration laterally at edges of the panels.

A system and method for restoring the natural water cycle by reducing stormwater runoff and addressing issues affecting groundwater supply. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a roof washer component, cistern component, pump, and manufactured dry well. The system is designed to divert polluted rooftop runoff, capture clean rooftop runoff and store this clean water for irrigation purposes and nonpotable uses, while infiltrating excess water to recharge groundwater supplies thereby replicating the natural hydrologic cycle.

An apparatus and method provides for protecting a downspout elbow or extension of a rain gutter from suffering and inflicting harm. The apparatus has a protective outer surface to guard against one or more sharp edges or surfaces of the downspout elbow or extension from suffering or inflicting harm. Methods of protecting the downspout elbow or extension include at least elastically deforming, sliding, rolling, or inverting a portion or all of the apparatus onto the opening and adjacent portions of the downspout elbow or extension.

A rainwater collection and dispensation system for economically conserving water usage by using collected rainwater. The rainwater collection and dispensation system includes a gutter being adapted to be mounted along an edge of a roof of a building structure; and also includes a tank support member being adapted to rest upon a ground and being disposed beneath a portion of the gutter; and further includes a tank being securely and removably supported upon the tank support member; and also includes a drainage spout interconnecting the gutter and the tank for draining rainwater from the gutter into the tank; and further includes a rainwater dispensing assembly including an overflow pipe member being disposed through a wall of the tank for draining rainwater from the tank.

The leaf guard for gutters is an elongated sheet of enamel coated aluminum adapted to fit over the rain gutter on a house in a manner that directs water flow from the roof into the gutter while preventing leaves and other debris from entering the gutter. In a first embodiment, the guard is formed into a planar section that is secured to a roof, a curved nose section extending from the planar section, a trough under the curved section and a cornered lip extending from the trough to secure the device to the outer rim of a gutter. In a second embodiment, the guard is formed into a planar section, an inwardly bent connection section that is connected to the inner rim of a gutter, and a curved nose section that hangs over the outer rim of the gutter. The guard also has rows of elongated slits in the planar section that permit some water to drip through to prevent bees and other insects from nesting beneath the device. The device is bendable such that the slope of the planar section can be changed to meet the varying needs.

An insulating panel structure for application to the exterior of a building, the panel structure having an inner surface to be attached to the building and an outer surface to be attached to an exterior load such as cladding material. The panel structure has external stringers along the outer surface of the panel for attachment of the exterior load, connectors extending perpendicularly from the internal surface to the external stringers to transmit compressive forces from the exterior load to the building, lateral connectors that run diagonally upward from the external stringers to the inner surface to transmit tensile forces from the weight of the exterior load from the external stringers of the panel to the building, and insulating foam embedded in the space defined between the inner and outer surfaces. A method of panel manufacture includes construction at a manufacturing site with incorporation of elements into panels such as doors, windows, gutters and downspouts, transporting the assembled panel to a job site, and attaching it to a building. An apparatus and method for transporting insulating panels includes providing panels with tubular connectors extending into the panels from their outer surfaces, and providing expansible fingers insertable into the tubular connectors and mounted on a movable frame, inserting the fingers into the connector tubes, expanding them to grip the tubes and panels, moving the frame with expanded fingers and panel to a job site, attaching the panel to a building while being held with the expanded fingers, and contracting the fingers to retract the fingers and frame from the attached panel.

The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and / or environmental damage.

A flexible downspout connector apparatus includes a flexible extension pipe, and a first adapter member and a second adapter member, both nested together at one end of the pipe. The first adapter member includes a connection portion for connecting to a downspout outlet end of a first size, and the second adapter member includes a connection portion for connecting to a downspout outlet of a second size. The second adapter member is releasably telescoped with respect to the first adapter member and may be left in place or easily removed at the option of the user to accommodate for different downspout outlet end sizes.

Multiple assemblies are provided to overlie a gutter to preclude debris entry. Each assembly includes a mesh positioned upon an underlying substantially rigid support. The support has a tab which can reside beneath shingles and over other portions of the roof. A front edge is provided opposite the tab which rests upon a lip of the gutter when installed. A floor is located between the front edge and tab at a position slightly below a plane in which the tab and front edge are located. The mesh overlies the floor. Holes in the floor allow water which passes down through the mesh to be conducted through the floor and to fall down into the gutter. Ribs extend up from the floor to support the mesh and draw water off of the mesh. The mesh is corrugated into a plurality of crests and troughs which extend perpendicular to the ribs.

A gutter shield for protecting a gutter from the gutter shield having a mounting member secured to the gutter, a guard member with an elongated configuration and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough to permit water drainage into the gutter, the mounting member also having a flexible sealing element extending outwardly therefrom, the flexible ceiling element being designed to seal against either the side of the gutter or a structural element. The device is suitable for many different sizes of gutters.

A rainwater flow indicator and debris collection device designed for integral installation in a gutter downspout. It comprises an enclosure that has means for monitoring the flow of rainwater through the enclosure; a debris collecting screen which is inserted into and mounted within the rainwater flow indicator and debris collection device; a first adaptor and a second adaptor, both of the adaptors configured and dimensioned to integrally connect the enclosure to the gutter downspout; and a rubber joint designed to provide mechanical support for and allow movement, of the enclosure relative to at least one of the adaptors.

The Gutter Leaf-Blower is an apparatus conceived to clean rain gutters. The objective is to provide the operator with a user 'friendly' means of blowing leaves out of gutters while operating from ground level. The objective was accomplished by mounting an air nozzle on one end of a small lightweight, 6-8 foot rigid tube assembly and, in turn, connecting the input of the air nozzle to the output of an air blower with a flexible air hose. This configuration offers flexibility in the it allows the operator to control the position of the air nozzle relative to the gutter with the extension tube assembly without requiring movement of the blower unit. With this approach, the user can operate from ground level and control the position of the nozzle with either hand while holding the air blower with the other hand like a suitcase. Thence, the air nozzle is remoted (within limits) from the air blower unit and can be independently positioned relative to the gutter while the user operates from ground level-"user friendly".

A device for separating water from debris and collecting rain water includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes an inlet and a structure for separating water from debris with surface tension and surface area. The lower portion is removably mounted to the upper portion and includes a first outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a downspout and a second outlet configured to be fluidically coupled to a container for holding collected rain water. A rain water collection system including the device is also provided, as well as a method of using the device.

The invention discloses an ASA / PVC co-extrusion ultra-weather resisting colorful rainwater pipeline special for outdoor rainwater drainage. The traditional VPC rainwater pipelines are white, and are hard to be harmonized with the appearance of a building or be applied to western high altitude areas. The pipeline consists of an internal layer and an external layer, and is characterized in that the external layer is made of an ASA modified material, and comprises the following compositions: acrylonitrile, styrene, acrylic rubber terpolymer, complex pigment, chlorinated polyethylene, stearic acid, calcium stearate, nanometer calcium carbonate, compounded lubricant, titanium pigment, UV absorbent and antioxidizer; the internal layer is prepared by the following compositions: polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, calcium stearate, titanium pigment, organic stabilizer and PE wax. The external layer made of the ASA material has ultra-weather resistance and multiple colors to meet the requirement on the colorful pipeline in the market currently; and the internal layer greatly improves the toughness of the pipeline.

The invention discloses a sponge city rainwater collecting, purifying and utilizing combination system which comprises a roof rainwater collecting area, a road rainwater collecting area, a greenbelt rainwater collecting area, a water collecting and sand settling tank, a purifying device and an impounding reservoir. An evaporation preventing layer, a soil layer, a water supply layer and a purifying layer are sequentially arranged on the roof rainwater collecting area from top to bottom. Transverse and longitudinal water collecting pipes are arranged in a bottom gravel layer of the road rainwater collecting area. An evaporation preventing layer, a soil layer, a rough sand layer and a purifying layer are sequentially arranged in the greenbelt rainwater collecting area from top to bottom. A filtering grid is arranged in the middle of the impounding reservoir, a water inlet hole and a water overflow hole are formed in the upper portion of the impounding reservoir, and a water drawing pump is arranged at the bottom of the impounding reservoir. The city environment can be greened and beautified, city rainfall flood pressure can be relieved, pollutants in rainwater can be absorbed, water resources can be saved, the rainwater utilization efficiency can be improved, and important reference significance is achieved on sponge city non-point source pollution control and city water shortage relieving.

A channel system for forming a trench is disclosed that includes a number of precast drainage channel sections and one or more alignment keys for aligning and interlocking adjacent channel sections. Each alignment key includes a base shaped for laterally bridging across a predetermined exterior portion of adjacent bottom walls of the adjacent channel sections. The alignment key also includes first and second opposed, inwardly facing jaw members shaped for longitudinally bridging across a predetermined exterior portion of adjacent first and second sidewalls, respectively, of the adjacent channel sections. Each pair of the jaw members can be carried by a respective base, and can be positioned in a lateral and longitudinal direction relative to the respective base to thereby substantially align and interlock the adjacent channel sections.

Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and redistributing water, which systems and methods make use of building foundations and surface concrete slab structures. A variety of rainwater collectors are anticipated, including rooftop collection systems (e.g., gutters) and ground surface covering structures (driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and patios). These collection systems are joined together in a collection conduit system that carries the rainwater to one or more rainwater containment vessels. The stored water may then be redistributed, again through a variety of distribution means, to address part or all of the landscape watering requirements of the property. The system takes advantage of standard foundation and slab construction techniques to establish a major portion of the structure required for the containment vessel.

Most commercial & residential buildings have rainwater collection systems that consist of leaders and gutters that collect water coming off the roof. These leaders and gutters are connected to drain pipes that channel the water away from the structure, usually into a dry well or storm drain. A substantial add-on to the leader and gutter system is a debris trap with an overflow port. The debris trap / overflow port may be attached to the leader at waist height (for easy access) to collect leaves, tree droppings, windblown litter and other materials. This debris can be easily discarded by opening an access panel to empty a built-in strainer. When a dry well or storm drain becomes saturated, water will back up through the leader causing seepage and overflow into the building and create erosion that can damage the foundation. The function of the overflow port is to divert water from the drain pipe away from the foundation. The debris trap / overflow port system not only channels water away from the building but also prevents overflow of organic materials that can accumulate along the foundation.