Rooftop vent for reducing pressure under a membrane roof

Publication Date
2009-10-27Filing Date
2005-07-11Inventor
Telionis, Demetri P.
Jones, James R.
Vlachos, Pavlos
Grant, Elizabeth J.
Rullan, Jose
Johnson, Charles S.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Membrane roofs are susceptible to damage in high winds. Wind can lift a membrane roof from a building and cause it to tear or become damaged. The present roof vent prevents liftoff and damage by reducing the air pressure under the membrane during high winds. The present roof vent has two opposed convex domes separated by a gap. Wind blowing across the roof flows between the domes where it accelerates and creates a region of low pressure according to the Venturi effect. The lower dome has an opening at the gap so that the low pressure is applied to the space under the membrane roof. Therefore, when wind blows across the roof, the vent draws air from under the membrane and the membrane is pressed against the roof, preventing liftoff.
Assignee
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
Patent Number
7607974
Application Number
11177492
Primary/U.S. Class
454/364
Other/U.S. Class
454/365
52/199
CPC Class
E04D5/14
E04D13/17
Patent Type
utility
Collections
- Virginia Tech Patents [688]