Support structures on roofs

Abstract

A roof load support structure supports a load on a roof such that substantially all of the load is conveyed through rails, which are mounted on roof panel ribs, thence through roof panel ribs, and to underlying building support structure. The panel flat between the rails can be unobstructed such that water can flow freely down the panel flat between the rails; or end closures can close off access to the respective panel flat between the end closures and the rails. One such end closure can be an upper diverter at an up-slope end of the support structure. A lower edge of such upper diverter, e.g. at the panel flat, can slope downwardly across a width of the respective roof panel thereby to direct water laterally across the respective roof panel.

1 . A sloping metal roof on a building, said sloping metal roof comprising a plurality of elongate metal roof panels arranged side by side, such roof panels having lengths, edges of adjacent such roof panels meeting at elevated rib structure portions thereof, whereby such roof panels thereby define elevated roof panel ribs, having lengths, panel flats being disposed between such elevated roof panel ribs,
 a load being mounted on such roof, said load being supported by a load support structure, said load support structure comprising first and second rails having lengths extending in a same direction as the lengths of such roof panel ribs, first and second ones of such roof panel ribs underlying, and supporting, said first and second rails, whereby substantially all of said load is conveyed through such ribs to a structural support system of such building, said load extending between said first and second rails across at least one such panel flat.   
     
     
         2 . A sloping metal roof as in  claim 1 , a such panel flat between said first and second rails being sufficiently unobstructed proximate said load that rain water can freely flow down such panel flat between said first and second rails. 
     
     
         3 . A sloping metal roof as in  claim 1 , further comprising end closures at up-slope and down-slope ends of said load support structure, said end closures extending between said first and second rails and closing off access to the respective roof panel between said end closures and said first and second rails. 
     
     
         4 . a sloping metal roof as in  claim 3 , said end closures comprising an upper diverter at the up-slope end of said load support structure and a lower closure at the down-slope end of said load support structure. 
     
     
         5 . A sloping metal roof as in  claim 4 , a lower edge of an end panel of said upper diverter defining a downwardly-directed slope extending across a width of the respective metal roof panel thereby to direct water, flowing by gravity toward said load support structure, laterally across the respective metal roof panel at said upper diverter. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus adapted to be assembled to form a support structure overlying a portion of a sloping metal roof on a building, wherein said support structure defines a wall having a top, such roof of such building comprising a plurality of elongate metal roof panels which collectively define a plurality of upstanding ribs, and panel flats between such ribs, such wall extending up from such roof, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) a first elongate side rail;   (b) a second elongate side rail; and   (c) an upper diverter, said upper diverter comprising an end panel ( 412 ) extending between said first and second side rails and facing up-slope along such roof, diverter ears extending from said end panel and being folded over said first and second side rails on a fold line which is generally perpendicular to such panel flat.   
     
     
         7 . A method of assembling a support structure on a sloping metal roof on a building, wherein the support structure defines a wall having a top, such roof of such building comprising a plurality of elongate metal roof panels which collectively define a plurality of upstanding ribs, and panel flats between such ribs, such wall extending up from such roof, the method comprising:
 (a) cutting an aperture in the roof; and   (b) installing a support structure comprising
 (i) a first elongate side rail; 
 (ii) a second elongate side rail; and 
 (iii) an upper diverter, the upper diverter comprising an end panel extending between the first and second side rails and facing up-slope along such root diverter ears extending from the end panel and being folded over the first and second side rails on a fold line which is generally perpendicular to such panel flat.