Abstract
An apparatus for protecting structures against wildfires by means of thermal insulation.
Claims
1. An apparatus for protecting structures against wildfires the apparatus comprising: a structure with roof and walls situated in a wildfire prone area; curtain tracks mounted on external surfaces of said walls of said structure disposed to house trolleys that side inside said curtain tracks curtains made from heat resistant inflammable material coated with reflective surface hung from and supported by said trolleys inside said curtain tracks. said curtains disposed to cover over external surfaces of said walls when closed by the action of said trolleys sliding inside said curtain tracks in one direction, with reflective surface of said inflammable material exposed, and substantially uncover said external surfaces of said walls when opened by the action of said trolleys sliding inside said curtain tracks in the opposite direction.
2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said external surfaces of said walls are equipped with slim unperceivable closets disposed to house said curtains when closed without negatively impacting the architecture of said structure.
3. An apparatus for protecting structures against wildfires the apparatus comprising: a structure with roof and walls situated in a wildfire prone area fabric made from heat resistant inflammable material coated with reflective surface disposed to cover over said roof of said structure and comprise an integral and permanent part of said roof roof tiles disposed to cover over said fabric over said roof separated by an air gap
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. An apparatus for protecting structures against wildfires the apparatus comprising: a structure with a roof and walls situated in a wildfire prone area fabric made from heat resistant inflammable material coated with reflective surface disposed to affix to surface of construction panels to form composite panels, said composite panels disposed to be fastened to and cover over external surfaces of said roof and walls of said structure.
9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein panels made from inflammable materials are fastened over reflective surface of said composite panels separated by an air gap.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical structure fitted with the apparatus of present invention for wildfire protection by thermal insulation when fully deployed. FIG. 1B shows the details of the wall curtain installation.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical structure fitted with the apparatus of present invention for wildfire protection by thermal insulation with wall curtains drawn open with some curtains having a portion of their lengths on the ground.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical structure fitted with the apparatus of present invention for wildfire protection by thermal insulation with wall curtains drawn open and folded up such that there is no portion of any curtain on the ground.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 3 equipped with housing facility for the curtains with housing doors open and the drawn curtains exposed.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 4 with the doors of the housing facilities for the curtains closed and the curtains contained inside.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 5 further fitted with battens over the aluminized structure wrap on the roof surface, to provide an air gap for placing roof tiles. FIG. 6B is a closeup showing the details in a portion of the roof.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 6 with roof tiles placed over battens leaving an air gap between the aluminized structure wrap and the roof tiles. FIG. 7B is a closeup showing the air gab.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 7 further fitted with rake tiles with an air gap between the rake tile and the roof fascia to permit ventilation. FIG. 8B is a closeup showing the air gap and the ventilation air flow.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the structure in FIG. 8 with wall curtains drawn fully closed.
[0022] FIG. 10 an expanded view of a preassembled underlayment panel.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preassembled underlayment panel.
[0024] FIG. 11B shows the assembly detail of the preassembled underlayment panel.
[0025] FIG. 12 an expanded view of the preassembled roof/wall panel.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the preassembled roof/wall panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1B, there is shown a perspective view of a typical structure fitted with apparatus (100) of present invention for wildfire protection by thermal insulation fully deployed. All external surfaces of the roof, including the fascia, soffit, hip, ridge, rake, plus any dormer, valley, and chimneys on all sides are fully and permanently covered over with aluminized structure wrap (101) with the aluminized surface on top. Aluminum foil is a durable material that has historically been used to cover over asphalt and bitumen roof tops to protect against drying and development of cracks. The present invention (100) extends the utility of aluminum foil covering for roofs to fire protection by thermal insulation by using it in the form of aluminized structure wrap (101) that covers not only the roof surface but also all other external surfaces of the roof The reflective surface is not restricted to aluminum foil and may be any other durable and suitable reflective material. FIG. 1 and FIG. 1B also shows that the structure walls are covered over with closed sliding curtains (102, 103) also made from aluminized structure wrap, hung from trolleys (105) inside tracks (104), which are secured to either the wall near the wall-soffit junction or the soffit. The sliding curtains (102, 103) are fitted to the structure in a manner to fully cover over all wall surfaces that make up the structure not leaving any expose wall surfaces and any gaps between the curtains. Adjacent curtains may be held firmly together by using clips (not shown) such as those used for fumigation tents.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 with sliding curtains (102, 103) drawn open thus exposing the walls, doors, and windows on all sides. FIG. 2 shows that because of the roof slope, curtains covering the gable end walls (103) have a longer length on one side and thus extend over the ground surface when drawn open. Curtains covering the side walls (102) have uniform length and do not have any portion extending over ground surface when drawn open.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows those portions of curtains covering the gable end walls (103) which extend over the ground surface when drawn open folded up and fastened to the hanging portion of the curtain (103) for storage. The fully drawn open position of curtains (102, 103) is the place for their long term accommodation and storage, which its position and exact location on the wall may vary for different walls depending on the particular architecture of the structure, location of windows, doors, balcony, and other features of the structure. As with other sliding curtains, the fire curtains of present invention (102, 103) may be secured in drawn open position with straps or fitted with covers (not shown).
[0030] FIG. 4 shows one storage solution for curtains (102, 103) when drawn fully open in the form of slim outdoor closets, comprised of framing (110), door hinges (111), and closet doors (112) made from same material and pattern as the wall surface panels. Framing (110) is such that it provides minimum but adequate storage depth to store the curtains (102, 103) inside when closet door (112) is closed, but is slim enough not to obstruct the sliding action of curtains (102, 103). The position and opening direction of closet doors (112) is such that they swings fully open in the direction that curtains (102, 103) close and end up flush against the wall such that they are covered over by curtains (102, 103) when closed.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows the structure of FIG. 4 with closet door (112) in closed position thus housing curtains (102, 103) fully inside. The combination of slim framing (110) and closet doors (112) made from same material and pattern as the wall surface panels camouflages the storage closet for curtains (102, 103) such that they are nearly unperceivable and thus have minimal adverse impact on structure architecture.
[0032] The present invention can accommodate customary roofing as roof tiles or panels over the aluminized structure wrap (101). FIG. 6 shows the structure of FIG. 5 further fitted with battens (121) on the roof. The batten (121) are either individually covered with aluminized structure wrap (101) as shown in FIG. 6B or may be placed on the roof surface first and then covered over with aluminized structure wrap (101). Either way, the purpose is to thermally insulate the battens (121) from the tiles or panels on top at point of contact while providing physical separation between the underside of the tiles and the surface of the aluminized structure wrap (101) on the roof surface.
[0033] FIG. 7 shows the structure of FIG. 6 with tiles (122) placed atop and supported by battens (121) leaving an air gap in between. The air gap is an essential feature that serves two critical functions. First, it eliminates conduction as a mechanism of heat transfer between tiles (122) and aluminized structure wrap (101) on the roof surface, thus leaving radiation as the only mechanism for heat transfer, which surface of aluminized structure wrap (101) reflects. FIG. 7B is a closeup showing that the only location for conductive heat transfer is the contact between the batten (121) and the tile (122), which comprises a relatively small portion of the roof surface area and is insulated by the fabric (101). Second, with the air gap being continuous across the roof, it creates a duct for ventilation beneath the tile to transfer heat away from the roof surface and battens (121) by convection.
[0034] FIG. 8 shows the structure of FIG. 7 further fitted with rake tiles (123) in a manner that leaves an air gap between the tile (123) and fascia on the gable end. FIG. 8B is a closeup showing that this air gap connects to the air gap on the roof surface to create a continuous air duct the allows airflow between the roof tile (122) and roof surface covered with aluminized structure wrap (101) for heat transfer and cooling by convection.
[0035] FIG. 9 shows the structure of FIG. 8 with curtains (102, 103) drawn fully closed. All external surfaces are fully wrapped with aluminized structure wrap to protected against wildfire or to provide thermal insulation.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows the present invention (100) in the form of a composite preassembled underlayment panel comprised of underlayment panel (123) overlain by aluminized structure wrap (101).
[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the composite underlayment panel of the present invention (100) with its two components: underlayment panel (123) and aluminized structure wrap (101), assembled to form a single item. FIG. 11B shows the details of the assembly. Various means of assembly may be used to attached and hold aluminized structure wrap (101) atop the underlayment panel (123). These include various types of fasteners, staples, glue, and laminating techniques.
[0038] FIG. 12 shows present invention (100) in the form of a composite preassembled roof/wall panel comprised of underlayment panel (123) overlain by aluminized structure wrap (101) and battens (121) also covered with aluminized structure wrap (101) atop which there is an inflammable surface panel (122).
[0039] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the composite roof/wall panel of FIG. 12, assembled to form a single item. FIG. 13B shows the details of the assembly and the Air Gap. Various means of assembly may be used to attached and hold the underlayment panel (123), aluminized structure wrap (101), battens (121) covered with aluminized structure wrap (101) and the inflammable surface panel (122) together. These include various types of fasteners, staples, glue, and laminating techniques.
[0040] The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts and the object of the invention. These may include various sliding mechanisms and means for securing and deployment of the wall curtains (102, 103) and their housing (110, 111, 112) on the structure walls, and various configurations and materials comprising the composite panels. Such variations are within the object and intent of the present invention.
[0041] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.
