GB2194266A

GB2194266A - Improvements relating to gutter seals

Info

Publication number: GB2194266A
Application number: GB08719481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Charles Adlam
Original assignee: Alifabs Ltd
Current assignee: Alifabs Ltd
Priority date: 1986-08-19
Filing date: 1987-08-18
Publication date: 1988-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-18
Also published as: GB8719481D0; GB2194266B; GB8620127D0

Abstract

A sealing arrangement 12 for sealing a gap between two lengths of gutter 10, 11 comprises an extrusion 13 bent to the shape of the gutters and having two oppositely facing channels 19, 20 for receiving the respective ends of the gutters. A resilient blade 26, 27 is located in each channel, which blade forms a seal with the gutter and urges the gutter into engagement with side of the channel 19, 20. A settable sealing compound 25 may then be introduced through holes in the extrusion 13 into the spaces behind the blades. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gutters This invention relates to gutters and more particularly but not exclusively to gutters for industrial buildings which gutters are made of metal, usually bent sheet or extruded sections.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sealing arrangement for sealing a gap between adjacent ends of two lengths of guttering, the sealing arrangement comprising a main member having a substantially constant cross-section along its length and having in cross-section two oppositely facing channels, which main member can be bent into conformation with the cross-section of the lengths of guttering for receiving in the channels said ends of the lengths of guttering, each channel having a lengthwise extending resilient sealing member located therein for engaging and sealing with the associated length of guttering when pushed pastthe sealing member.

Preferably said main member is an extrusion.

Each channel may have a second sealing member located opposite said first sealing member, said associated length of guttering having to be forced between the two sealing members.

Preferably each sealing member has a portion adapted to be retained in a slot which is provided in the main member and which has a restricted opening into the associated channel.

In preferred arrangements each channel defines behind the sealing member or members a space for having injected therein a settable sealing compound which may be injected through one or more holes formed in the extrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a gap between adjacent ends of two lengths of guttering, said method comprising the steps of bending into conformation with the cross-section of the lengths of guttering a main member which initially has a substantially constant cross-section along its length and which has in cross-section two oppositely facing channels each of which has located therein a lengthwise extending resilient sealing member, inserting the ends of the lengths of guttering into the respective channels and pushing the ends past the sealing members which engage and form a seal with the ends of the lengths of guttering.

Preferably one or more holes are then formed in the main member and a settable sealing compound is injected into the channels behind the sealing members.

The invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of two lengths of gutter joined by a sealing arrangement according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view in the direction of arrow A of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and Figure 4 is a cross-section similar to that of Fig. 3 through an alternative arrangement according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 there are shown end portions of two lengths 10, 11 of gutter coupled together end to end in a watertight manner by means of a sealing arrangement shown at 12.

The sealing arrangement 12 comprises a main member in the form of an aluminium extrusion 13 bent to conform with the profile of the gutters 10, 11. The extrusion 13 has the general cross-section in the shape of the letter H and thus comprises a cross-bar 14 and, with more direct reference to Fig. 3, upper and lower right hand members 15, 16 and upper and lower left hand members 17, 18 depending from the cross-bar. The extrusion 13 therefore defines oppositely facing channels 19, 20 into which the ends of the respective gutters 10, 11 are inserted.

Each of the lower members 16, 18 is formed with a lengthwise extending slot 21, 22 having a restricted opening in which slot is retained a resilient blade 26, 27 formed of rubber, neoprene or similar elastomeric material, which blade extends towards the associated upper member 15, 17. When each gutter 10, 11 is inserted into its associated channel 19, 20 it is pushed past the blade 26, 27 which is thus deformed and which then serves to urge the gutter into engagement with the associated upper member 15, 17.

At the lowest point of the gutter arrangement, a hole 23, 24 is drilled through each upper member 15, 1 7 adjacent the cross-bar 14 and a two-part polyurethane compound 25 is introduced into the channels 19, 20 behind the respective sealing blades 26, 27. The compound is injected until it has flowed up both sides of the gutter arrangement.

When the compound sets it bonds to both the inside of the extrusion 13 and to those parts of the gutters 10, 11 which extend beyond the respective blades 26, 27 thereby to hold the extrusion with respect to the gutters.

A seal is formed between the gutters and the extrusion 13 and the compound is capable of taking up any subsequent expansion or contraction of the gutters whilst continuing to maintain a fluid-tight seal. The sealing arrangement of the two gutters 10, 11 therefore does not leak.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 both the upper and lower members of the extrusion are formed with lengthwise extending slots for retaining blades 30 which extend towards each other. The gutters 10, 11 upon insertion into the respective channels 19, 20 are engaged by the co-operating pairs of blades 30. Holes are again formed in the extrusion in similar positions as described above in relation to Figs. 1 to 3 and again a two-part polyurethane compound 25 is introduced to the closed off channels 19, 20. The compound 25 upon setting is thus bonded to the gutters and to the extrusion thereby securing the gutters with respect to the extrusion in a fluidtight manner whilst taking up any expansion or contraction of the gutters.

A plurality of single blades or pairs of blades may be provided at each side of the cross-bar.

The injected compound may be introduced through any number of holes formed in the extrusion according to the shape and/or geometry of the guttering.

In some applications of the two above described embodiments, the blades, upon setting of the compound 25, serve no useful purpose and may therefore be made of a degradable rubber. After a certain period of time therefore the blades disintegrate and disappear.

It will be appreciated that the blades may be made from very high quality rubber or similar elastomeric material, enabling the polyurethane compound injection stage to be- omitted.

The rubber blades should ideally provide a water-tight seal for many years and should therefore have high resistance to degradation by the elements.

Claims

1. A sealing arrangement for sealing a gap between adjacent ends of two lengths of guttering, the sealing arrangement comprising a main member having a substantially constant cross-section along its length and having in cross-section two oppositely facing channels, which main member can be bent into conformation with the cross-section of the lengths of guttering for receiving in the channels said ends of the lengths of guttering, each channel having a lengthwise extending resilient sealing member located therein for engaging and sealing with the associated length of guttering when pushed past the sealing member.

2. An arrangement as claimed as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main member is an extrusion.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each channel has a second sealing member located opposite said first sealing member, said associated length of guttering having to be forced between the two sealing members.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each sealing member has a portion adapted to be retained in a slot which is provided in the main member and which has a restricted opening opening into the associated channel.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each channel defines behind the sealing member or members a space for having injected therein a settable sealing compound.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said compound is injected through one or more holes formed in the extrusion

7. A method of sealing a gap between adjacent ends of two lengths of guttering, said method comprising the steps of bending into conformation with the cross-section of the lengths of guttering a main member which initially has a substantially constant cross-section along its length and which has in cross-section two oppositely facing channels each of which has located therein a lengthwise extending resilient sealing member, inserting the ends of the lengths of guttering into the respective channels and pushing the ends past the sealing members which engage and form a seal with the ends of the lengths of guttering.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein one or more holes are then formed in the main member and a settable sealing compound is injected into the channels behind the sealing members.

9. A sealing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.