GB2431959A

GB2431959A - Building illumination with roof structure and diffuser

Info

Publication number: GB2431959A
Application number: GB0522709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Charles Hedges
Original assignee: Building Product Design Ltd
Current assignee: Building Product Design Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-08
Filing date: 2005-11-08
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Also published as: GB0522709D0

Abstract

A device (1) for illuminating the interior of a building enclosure (4) has an external inlet (12) and an internal outlet (13) connected by a passageway (11). A cover (15) on the inlet (12) is light-transmitting and provides light-diffusing properties. The light-diffusing properties may be as a result of texturing and/or patterning and/or opacity of the cover (15) or parts of the cover (15). The inlet cover (15) may be domed and may have inner (17) and outer (16) domes, the light-diffusing characteristics being applied to part or all of one or both domes (16, 17). The passageway (11) may have light-reflecting properties to optimise the light travelling therethrough at the outlet (13).

Description

ILLUMINATION DEVICE

The invention relates to illumination devices and is particularly concerned with illumination devices for use in building structures.

It is known to provide illumination devices to illuminate the interior of a building or building enclosure using natural light. One such device uses a channel mounted, for example, within a roof structure with an external light inlet and an internal light outlet whereby light rays can travel down the channel to provide directed light to the interior of a room or enclosure below. A dome-shaped light-transmitting cover mounted over the inlet shelters the channel and therefore the room/enclosure below, from wind, rain, and other elements of the weather.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an illumination device with improved light transmission.

According to one embodiment of the invention therefore, there is provided a device for illuminating the interior of a building enclosure comprising an inlet external to the building enclosure and an outlet internal to the enclosure connected by a passageway and a light-transmitting cover on said inlet, characterised in that at least part of the cover has light-diffusing properties.

With this arrangement, contrary to popular perception, light-transmission through the device to the enclosure below can be significantly increased in natural light conditions.

Preferably, the light-diffusing properties are provided by a light-diffusing area of the cover. The light-diffusing area may be on a surface of the cover. The surface may be an external surface of the cover and/or an internal surface. Alternatively, the light-diffusing area may be provided through the depth of the cover from surface to surface. As a further alternative, the light-diffusing area may be provided between two surfaces of the cover, i.e. an internal layer of the cover.

The entire cover may have light-diffusing properties. Most preferably, however, only a proportion of the cover has light-diffusing properties. Therefore, the light-diffusing properties may be in a single area or in multiple areas of the cover.

The light-diffusing properties may be provided by patterning and/or texturing and/or matting of the cover. Additionally or alternatively, the properties may be provided by the cover having a degree of opacity.

Texturing of the cover preferably applies a grainy quality to the cover.

Patterning may apply an uneven configuration to the cover, i.e. steps provided by concentric rings and/ or a series of pits in the cover.

The cover is most preferably an upwardly domed structure. The domed structure may be formed by vacuum forming. In this case, the light-diffusing properties may come from pre-textured sheet which has been vacuum formed.

Alternatively, the light-diffusing characteristics may be applied during the forming process. In this respect injection moulding may be used.

Additionally or alternatively, the light-diffusing characteristics may be applied after the domed structure is formed. In this respect, the application of the light-diffusing characteristics may be applied by one of, or a combination of, the following techniques: Chemical etching; Mechanical etching; Scoring; Abrading; Application of a diffusing film to the surface of the domed structure.

The cover may be "double glazed". This feature may provide maximum thermal insulation and fire performance properties. In this respect, the cover preferably also comprises an inner dome. The domed structure and the inner dome preferably define a space therebetween.

The inner dome may be an integral part of the cover.

The inner dome preferably also comprises a light-diffusing upper surface. This light-diffusing surface preferably comprises a series of concentric steps forming the dome shape.

The cover may further provide a low sun deflector. This may be positioned at an edge region of the cover. The deflecting surface may be on a downwardly projecting angle so as to maximise the capture of low sun rays. Preferably, the low sun deflector is mounted between the domed structure and the inner dome.

The cover may be mounted on the inlet. The inlet preferably comprises an open end of said passageway.

The passageway may comprise a single component. Alternatively, the passageway may be made up of separate components. The separate components may comprise individual straight portions which push-fit together to attain the required length of passageway. "Elbow" portions may also be provided for re-direction of the passageway. The "elbow" portions may provide angles of up to 300. The passageway preferably at least partly comprises a reflective internal surface. Most preferably, the entire internal surface is reflective. This reflective surface is preferably mirror-like. The passageway preferably comprises a cylindrical structure.

The outlet preferably comprises an open end of said passageway opposite to that of the inlet. The outlet may be positioned adjacent to an opening into the interior of the building enclosure, e.g. a room. The opening is preferably covered by a conventional diffuser to efficiently spread the light exiting the passageway.

The device may be mounted in a roof structure such that the inlet projects above a roof structure of a building enclosure. In this case, the cover may be mounted on a purpose built roof tile or roof flashing. The roof flashing may comprise a roof tile having a mounting. The mounting may provide a receiving structure in the form of an aperture to receive the inlet. The receiving structure may be an upwardly inclined cylindrical structure. Most preferably, the cylindrical structure is slightly upwardly tapering. In this case, the opening with which the outlet corresponds is preferably provided in a ceiling.

The device may alternatively be mounted in a wall structure.

Accordingly, the opening may therefore be provided in an interior wall instead.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a partially exploded side view of an illumination device mounted in a roof structure according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial side view of an illumination device according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial side view of an illumination device mounted in a second type of roof structure according to the invention; Figure 4 is a partial side view of an illumination device mounted in a third type of roof structure according to the invention; Figure 5a is a perspective view of an illumination device mounted in a tiled roof according to the invention; Figure 5b is a perspective view of an illumination device mounted in an alternative tiled roof according to the invention; Figure 5c is a perspective view of an illumination device mounted in a slated roof according to the invention; Figure 5d is a perspective view of an illumination device mounted in a flat roof according to the invention; and Figure 5e is a perspective view of an illumination device mounted in a metal profiled roof according to the invention.

Figure 6a is a perspective view of a fully-textured outer dome according to the invention; Figure 6b is a perspective view of a partially-textured outer dome according to the invention; Figure 6c is a perspective view of a half-textured outer dome according to the invention; Figure 6d is a perspective view of a three quarters-textured outer dome according to the invention; Figure 6e is a perspective view of a quarter-textured outer dome according to the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative roof flashing arrangement for use with an illumination device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows an illumination device 1 installed in a roof space between a roof structure 2 and a ceiling 3 above an interior enclosed space 4, e.g. a room in a building.

As can be seen in figure 1 the roof structure 2 comprises a series of pitched trusses 5 upon which a number of level battens 6 are fixed to support an arrangement of roof tiles 7. A purpose built flashing 8 is incorporated into the arrangement of roof tiles 7, the flashing 8 comprising a slanted base 9 with a shallow upwardly projecting generally inwardly tapering circular tube 10.

The illumination device 1 comprises a passageway 11 which passes through the roof structure 2 at an upper inlet end 12 and projects slightly beyond the flashing tube 10 to be supported thereby. The passageway 11 extends downwardly therefrom, an outlet end 13 terminating just above an aperture 14 in said ceiling 3.

The passageway 11 comprises tubing of generally circular cross-section and is constructed of aluminium. The passageway 11 is coated on an internal surface with a specular-reflective silver mirror-like film to provide a high degree of reflectivity inside said passageway 11.

The passageway 11 is encapsulated in insulation (not shown). The insulation comprises a multi-layer air bubble film with aluminium foil which is encapsulated in polyethylene.

The outlet 1 3 can be directed towards an aperture 14 which is not directly above said inlet 12 and therefore the passageway 11 is provided with bends. The passageway 11 therefore comprises a number of separate straight portions of tubing 11 a, 11 c, lid and a number of elbow portions lib, lie which push-fit together. The portions lla-e and any additional portions may be joined in any arrangement to allow direction of the passageway 11 in any suitable manner from said inlet 1 2 to said outlet 13. The elbow portions 11 b, lie are provided with bends of up to 300 for optimum light-transmission.

As can be see in Figure 2 a light-transmitting domed cover 15 is provided over said inlet 12. The domed cover 15 comprises outer 16 and inner 1 7 upwardly projecting domes, the inner dome 1 7 being slightly shallower than the outer dome 16.

Referring to figures 6a-6e the outer dome 16 comprises a downwardly projecting peripheral flange 16a with an outwardly projecting dog-leg 16b, attached to a base of said outer dome 16. In an alternative embodiment, the domed cover 1 5 is replaced by a flat cover for a flat unit 26 that is fitted substantially in plane with the roof tiling 27 with the use of a purpose built flashing 28, as shown in Figure 7.

The outer dome 1 6 comprises polycarbonate, with clear and 1 5 textured areas. The textured areas are provided on an outer surface of the outer dome 16 at spaced intervals. As in Figures 6b-6e the partly clear, partly textured outer dome 16 is formed from partly pre-textured polycarbonate although other methods can be used to apply such texturing after the dome 16 is formed. The methods include chemical and mechanical etching, scoring, abrading and application of a textured film to the outer surface of the dome 1 6.

The inner dome 1 7 comprises concentric steps to create said dome-shape and comprises clear polycarbonate which is UV stabilised.

The inner dome 1 7 has an upwardly projecting peripheral flange 1 7a having an outwardly projecting lip 17b. The lip 17b provides a surface for resting of the inner dome 1 7 over the inlet 1 2, whilst the flange 1 6a and dog-leg 16b of the outer dome 16 engage with a mating step of the tube 10 of the flashing 8 by clicking over a ridge lOa provided by said tube 10. The outer dome 16 thereby sits over the inner dome 17. The outer dome 16 is secured in place by fixing means, e.g. screws through the flashing tube 10.

The domed cover 16 further comprises a low sun deflector 18 mounted between the base of said outer dome 16 and bisecting a point further up the inner surface. The low sun deflector 18 comprises a highly reflective mirror-like component to deflect low sun rays generally downwardly into passageway 11, as shown by the arrow 1 8a in figure 2.

In an alternative installation, as shown in Figure 3, the illumination device 1 may be incorporated into a shallow pitched roof structure 20 which is not tiled. In this aspect, the roof structure 20 comprises a channel 21 through which the passageway 11 projects approximately perpendicularly to the pitch of the roof structure 20. A purpose built flashing 22 is mounted around the channel 21 which is a conventional Universal Top flashing. The domed cover 15 interfaces with the roof flashing 22, the flange 16a and dog-leg 16b engaging with a ridge on said flashing 22.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the illumination device 1 may be incorporated into a flat roof structure 23 and an integrated upstand flashing 24 may be used, the passageway 11 being supported by an upwardly tapering channel 25 provided by the flashing 24 and the domed cover 1 5 once again, interfacing with the flashing 24 and passageway 11 as before. However, in such a flat roof structure 23, the passageway 11 may simply comprise a single straight position 1 la.

The illumination device 1 can therefore be adapted to be incorporated into many different types of roof structure using appropriate portions 11 a -e of passageway 11 and suitable conventional roof flashings as can be seen in Figures 5a-5e such as tiled, slate, flat and profiled metal roof structures. In addition, the domed cover 15 and passageway 11 can be made in a variety of sizes and diameters.

With arrangements as described above, the textured areas of the outer dome maximises the amount of light that can be directed down the passageway to the enclosure below in certain types of light conditions.

This is especially the case, where there are direct non-diffuse natural light conditions e.g. strong directional rays. The clear area of the dome ensures that diffuse light conditions are also maximised and the low sun deflector captures any low sun rays. Therefore, all types of light conditions can be maximised for illumination of the enclosure below.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment, which are described by way of example only. Thus for example, the illumination device may be incorporated into a wall structure to provide interior wall lighting. In addition, the passageway may be made of flexible tubing.

Furthermore, the light-transmitting cover may not be domed, but may be generally square or pyramidal in shape or comprise an entirely flat panel.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device (1) for illuminating the interior of a building enclosure (4) comprising an inlet (12) external to the building enclosure (4) and an outlet (13) internal to the enclosure (4) connected by a passageway (11), and a light-transmitting cover (15) on said inlet (12) characterised in that at least part of the cover (15) has light-diffusing properties.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the light-diffusing properties are provided by a light-diffusing area of the cover (15).

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the light-diffusing area is on a surface of the cover (15).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the surface is an external surface of the cover (15) and/or an internal surface.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein the light-diffusing area is provided through the depth of the cover (15) from surface to surface.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein only a proportion of the cover (1 5) has light-diffusing properties.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the light-diffusing properties are in a single area or in multiple areas of the cover (15).

8. A device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the light-diffusing properties are provided by patterning and/or texturing and/or matting of the cover (1 5).

9. A device according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the properties are provided by the cover (15) having a degree of opacity.

10. A device according to any one of claims 8, or 9 when dependent on claim 8, wherein texturing of the cover (15) applies a grainy quality to the cover (15).

11. A device according to any one of claims 8, 9 when dependent on claim 8, or 10, wherein patterning applies an uneven configuration to the cover (15), in the form of steps provided by concentric rings and/or a series of pits in the cover (15).

12. A device according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein the cover (15) is an upwardly domed structure.

1 5 1 3. A device according to claim 1 2, wherein the domed structure is formed by vacuum forming.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein light-diffusing properties come from pre-textured sheet.

1 5. A device according to claim 1 3, wherein the light-diffusing characteristics are applied during the forming process.

16. A device according to any one of claims 13-15, wherein light-diffusing characteristics are applied after the domed structure is formed.

1 7. A device according to claim 1 6, wherein the application of the light-diffusing characteristics is applied by one of, or a combination of, the following techniques: Chemical etching; Mechanical etching; Scoring; Abrading; Application of a diffusing film to the surface of the domed structure.

18. A device according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein the cover (15) is "double glazed" to provide maximum thermal insulation and fire performance properties.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the cover (15) comprises an inner dome (17).

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the domed structure (15) and the inner dome (17) define a space therebetween.

21. A device according to any one of claims 1-20, wherein the cover (15) provides a low sun deflector (18).

22. A device according to claim 21 when dependent on claim 20, wherein the low sun deflector (18) is mounted between the domed structure (1 5) and the inner dome (1 7).

23. A device according to any one of claims 1-22, wherein the passageway (11) is made up of separate components.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the separate components comprise individual straight portions (1 la, 1 ic, lid) which push-fit together to attain the required length of passageway (11) and "elbow" portions (1 lb. lie) provided for re-direction of the passageway (ii).

25. A device according to any one of claims 1-24, wherein the passageway (ii) at least partly comprises a reflective internal surface.

26. A device according to any one of claims 1-25, wherein the outlet (13) comprises an open end of said passageway (11) opposite to that of the inlet (12).

27. A device according to any one of claims 1-26, wherein the outlet (13) is positioned adjacent to an opening into the interior of the building enclosure (4) and the opening is covered by a conventional diffuser (4) to efficiently spread the light exiting the passageway (11).

28. A device according to any one of claims 1-27, wherein the device (1) is mounted in a roof structure (2) such that the inlet (12) projects above the roof structure (2) of the building enclosure (4), the cover (15) being mounted on a purpose built roof tile or roof flashing (8).

29. A device according to any one of claims 1-27, wherein the device (1) is mounted in a wall structure.

30. A device according to claim 29, when dependent on claim 27, wherein the opening is provided in an interior wall.

31. A device as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.