1. A roof ventilation system for a sloped roof having a ridge and an eave, the system comprising:
a first plurality of vents arranged generally linearly and positioned within the roof proximate one of the ridge and the eave, each of the vents comprising:
a vent member comprising an opening that permits airflow between regions above and below the roof, and
a fan configured to generate an air flow through the opening; and
a controller in communication with the fans of the vents, the controller being configured to drive the fans based on at least one environmental parameter.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of vents are positioned proximate to the ridge.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the vents further comprises a solar panel positioned to receive solar radiation.
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a battery electrically connected to the solar panels of the vents.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical power to the fans of the vents andor the controller.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of vents arranged generally linearly and positioned within the roof proximate the other of the ridge and the eave, the second plurality of vents permitting airflow between the regions above and below the roof.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein each vent of the second plurality of vents comprises:
a vent member comprising an opening that permits airflow between the regions above and below the roof;
a fan configured to be driven by the controller and to generate an airflow through the opening; and
a solar panel electrically connected to the battery and positioned to receive solar radiation.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the vents further comprises a cover member configured to cover the vent member, the cover member including an opening in fluid communication with the opening of the vent member.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the vents further comprises a solar panel positioned to receive solar radiation, and wherein the solar panel of each of the vents is mounted on the cover member of the vent.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental parameter comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, toxicity, moisture, air flow, and ambient light level.
11. A roof ventilation system for a sloped roof having a ridge and an eave, the system comprising:
a first plurality of vents arranged generally linearly and positioned within the roof proximate the ridge, each of the first plurality of vents comprising:
a vent member comprising an opening that permits airflow between regions above and below the roof, and
a fan configured to generate an air flow through the opening;
a second plurality of vents arranged generally linearly and positioned within the roof proximate the eave, the second plurality of vents permitting airflow between the regions above and below the roof, the second plurality of vents including no fans; and
a controller in communication with the fans of the first plurality of vents, the controller being configured to drive the fans based on at least one environmental parameter.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of vents further comprises a solar panel positioned to receive solar radiation.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a battery electrically connected to the solar panels of the first plurality of vents.
14. A ventilated roof, comprising:
a first roofing layer having a primary vent member through which air from an attic may be ventilated;
a second roofing layer constructed from a plurality of similar roofing tile elements disposed over the first roofing layer to form an air gap between the first and second roofing layers, the second roofing layer having a secondary vent member in air flow communication with the primary vent member through the air gap, the secondary vent member allowing flow from the air gap to above the roof to vent said attic, wherein said second roofing layer includes air flow passages between the tile elements;
a fan positioned to generate an air flow through the primary vent member;
a solar panel positioned in a location such that the solar panel receives solar radiation;
a battery electrically connected to the solar panel so that the solar panel charges the battery from solar radiation; and
a controller adapted to communicate with the fan, the controller being configured to drive the fan based on at least one environmental parameter, the controller being configured to be powered by the battery.
15. The roof of claim 14, further comprising battens interposed between the first and second roofing layers, wherein the battens form the air gap.
16. The roof of claim 14, wherein the solar panel is mounted on the secondary vent member.
17. The roof of claim 14, wherein the at least one environmental parameter comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, toxicity, moisture, air flow, and ambient light level.
18. The roof of claim 14, further comprising a user interface that displays measurements of the at least one environmental parameter.
19. The roof of claim 18, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control the fan.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A locking ring for preventing relative axial rotation between two generally tubular members, said ring being shaped to receive a sealing gasket and having two side faces wherein each side face is shaped to frictionally engage one of said tubular members to thereby prevent relative axial rotation between said tubular members.
2. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein each side face is generally smooth.
3. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein said locking ring has an inner diameter sized to receive said sealing gasket by an interference fit.
4. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein said locking ring has an inner surface having an annular groove formed therein to receive said sealing gasket.
5. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein each side face has one or more protrusions extending forwardly of each respective side face, each of said one or more protrusions being shaped to frictionally engage one of said tubular members.
6. The locking ring of claim 5 wherein said one or more protrusions comprise knurling on the respective side face.
7. The locking ring of claim 5 wherein at said one or more protrusions comprise one or more raised ridges.
8. The locking ring of claim 7 wherein said one or more raised ridges each extend generally radially.
9. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein one of said side faces has a groove formed therein.
10. The locking ring of claim 9 wherein said groove extends generally radially.
11. The locking ring of claim 9 wherein said groove forms a pair of generally radially-extending edges.
12. The locking ring of claim 9 wherein said groove forms an angle with a radially-extending line.
13. The locking ring of claim 9 wherein the other of said side faces has a groove formed therein.
14. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein each side face has at least two radially extending grooves formed therein, and wherein said grooves are equally radially spaced.
15. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein said ring is of harder material than said tubular members.
16. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein said ring is stainless steel.
17. The locking ring of claim 1 wherein said side faces are inclined with respect to a radial plane.
18. The locking ring of claim 17 wherein said side faces are oppositely inclined such that the width of said ring decreases in the radially outward direction.
19. The locking ring of claim 18 wherein said inclination is 10 degrees.
20. A coupling comprising:
two generally tubular members each having a sealing end face and an inner bore, said tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other;
a locking ring located between said sealing faces for preventing relative rotation therebetween, said ring having two side faces, each side face being shaped and located to frictionally engage one of said tubular members; and
a sealing gasket received in said locking ring for sealing said coupling.
21. The coupling of claim 20 wherein each tubular member has a bead on its respective sealing face, each bead extending around its respective inner bore and wherein said sealing gasket is compressed between said beads to seal the coupling.
22. The coupling of claim 20 wherein each side face is generally smooth.
23. The coupling of claim 20 wherein each side face has one or more protrusions extending forwardly of each respective side face, each of said one or more protrusions being shaped to frictionally engage one of said tubular members.
24. The coupling of claim 23 wherein each of said one or more protrusions is embedded in its respective sealing face.
25. The coupling of claim 23 wherein said one or more protrusions are shaped and sized to engage each respective tubular member as said gasket engages said beads during make-up.
26. The coupling of claim 23 wherein said one or more protrusions are located radially outwardly of said gasket and said beads.
27. The coupling of claim 23 wherein said one or more protrusions comprise knurling on each side face.
28. The coupling of claim 20 wherein each side face has a groove formed therein.
29. The coupling of claim 20 further comprising a pair of coupling nuts for driving said sealing faces toward each other.
30. The coupling of claim 20 wherein said ring is of harder material than said sealing members.
31. The coupling of claim 20 wherein said side faces are inclined with respect to a radial plane.
32. The coupling of claim 20 wherein said gasket is metal.
33. The coupling of claim 20 wherein said inner bore and said bead are generally circular in end view.
34. A method for coupling two generally tubular members, each having a sealing end face and an inner bore, the method comprising the steps of:
arranging said tubular members such that said sealing faces face each other and are generally coaxially aligned;
placing a locking ring having two side faces, each side face being shaped to frictionally engage one of said tubular members, between said tubular members, said locking ring having a sealing gasket coupled thereto; and
driving said tubular members toward each other until said sealing gasket is compressed between said tubular members.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein each side face is generally smooth.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein each side face has one or more protrusions extending forwardly of each respective side face, each of said one or more protrusions being shaped to frictionally engage one of said tubular members.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein each of said one or more protrusions are shaped and sized to engage said tubular members as said sealing gasket is compressed between said tubular members during make-up.
38. The method of claim 36 wherein said one or more protrusions are shaped to embed in the respective side face.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein said gasket is metal.
40. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of placing a pair of coupling nuts around said tubular members and urging said coupling nuts towards each other such that said tubular members are driven toward each other.
41. A coupling comprising:
two generally tubular members each having a sealing end face, a raised, annular sealing bead, an inner bore, and a frictional surface located radially outward of said sealing bead, said tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other; and
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling, wherein said frictional surfaces engage said sealing gasket to prevent relative rotation between said tubular members.
42. The coupling of claim 41 wherein said frictional surfaces have raised protrusions.
43. The coupling of claim 42 wherein said raised protrusions are formed by knurling.
44. The coupling of claim 43 wherein said knurling extends generally radially.
45. A coupling comprising:
two generally tubular members each having a sealing end face, a raised, annular sealing bead, an inner bore and one or more raised protrusions, said tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other; and
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling, wherein said raised protrusions are located radially outward of said sealing gasket and shaped to engage said sealing gasket to prevent relative rotation between said tubular members.
46. The coupling of claim 45 wherein said one or more raised protrusions comprise a plurality of axially-extending pins.
47. The coupling of claim 46 wherein each pin extends axially forwardly a distance slightly greater than its respective bead.
48. The coupling of claim 47 wherein said pins are generally equally radially spaced.
49. A coupling comprising:
a first and a second generally tubular member each having a sealing end face, a raised, annular sealing bead, and an inner bore, said first and said second tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other, said second tubular member having a generally radially extending groove, said first tubular member having a generally radially-extending flange received in said groove; and
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling.
50. The coupling of claim 49 wherein said flange extends forwardly from said sealing face of said first tubular member and said groove is formed in said sealing face of said second tubular member.
51. The coupling of claim 50 wherein said flange has a taper portion that reduces in thickness in an axial direction, and wherein said groove is corresponding tapered to closely receive said flange.
52. The coupling of claim 50 wherein further comprising a second groove on said second tubular member and a second flange on said first tubular member, said second flange being disposed in said second groove.
53. The coupling of claim 50 wherein said groove and said flange are located radially outward of said gasket.
54. A coupling comprising:
two generally tubular members each having a sealing end face, an annular sealing bead, and an inner bore, said tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other;
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling; and
means located radially outwardly of said tubular members for preventing relative rotation therebetween.
55. The coupling of claim 54 wherein each tubular member includes a non-circular portion, and wherein said means for preventing relative rotation includes a frame member shaped to closely receive each non-circular portion to prevent relative rotation between said non-circular portions.
56. The coupling of claim 55 wherein said non-circular portions are generally identically shaped.
57. The coupling of claim 55 wherein each non-circular portion is hexagonal in end view.
58. The coupling of claim 55 wherein said frame member is shaped to be removably received on said non-circular portions.
59. The coupling of claim 54 wherein each tubular member includes a non-circular portion, and wherein said means for preventing rotation includes a pair of cup member each having a base and an annular lip surface shaped to engage the annular lip surface of the other tubular member to prevent relative rotation therebetween, each cup member further having a hole in its base, said hole being shaped to receive said non-circular portion whereby when said cup members are placed on said tubular members said lip portions interlock to thereby prevent relative rotation of said tubular members.
60. The coupling of claim 59 wherein each lip portion is shaped to frictionally engage the other lip portion.
61. The coupling of claim 60 wherein each lip portion has raised teeth.
62. The coupling of claim 59 wherein each tubular member has a shaft portion, and wherein said non-circular portion is located on said shaft portion.
63. The coupling of claim 59 wherein each cup member is generally circular in end view.
64. The coupling of claim 54 wherein each tubular member has an outer end surface, and wherein said means for preventing rotation includes a sleeve shaped to frictionally engage both outer surfaces simultaneously.
65. The coupling of claim 64 wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of axially-extending grooves for frictionally engaging said tubular members.
66. The coupling of claim 64 wherein said sleeve has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of said tubular members.
67. A coupling comprising:
two generally tubular members each having a sealing end face, a raised, annular sealing bead, and an inner bore, said tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other;
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling;
a pair of locking rings on either side of said sealing gasket, and wherein each locking ring is shaped to engage said sealing gasket and one of said sealing faces to prevent relative rotation between said tubular members; and
a sleeve for retaining said sealing gasket and said locking rings in place.
68. The coupling of claim 67 wherein each locking ring has a side face shaped to frictionally engage one of said sealing faces.
69. The coupling of claim 68 wherein each end face includes a plurality of protrusions.
70. The coupling of claim 67 wherein each locking ring is located radially outwardly of each bead.
71. The coupling of claim 67 wherein each locking ring has a side face shaped to frictionally engage said gasket.
72. The coupling of claim 67 wherein said sleeve is a split sleeve.
73. The coupling of claim 69 wherein said raised protrusions are knurling.
74. The coupling of claim 67 wherein each sealing face has raised protrusions located radially outward of said sealing bead to engage a respective locking ring.
75. The coupling of claim 67 wherein said sleeve includes means for retaining said locking rings and said gasket in said sleeve.
76. The coupling of claim 75 wherein said means for retaining includes a pair of radially-inwardly extending swages on either side of each locking ring.
77. The coupling of claim 75 wherein said means for retaining includes a radially-outwardly extending groove shaped to receive said locking ring and said gasket therein.
78. The coupling of claim 77 wherein said radially extending groove closely receives said locking ring and gasket assembly.
79. A coupling comprising:
a first and a second generally tubular members each having a sealing end face, a raised, annular sealing bead, and an inner bore, said first and second tubular members being generally coaxially arranged such that said sealing faces face each other;
a sealing gasket captured between said sealing beads for sealing said coupling;
a locking ring located between said sealing gasket and said second tubular member sealing face; and
a retainer for retaining said sealing gasket and said locking ring in place.
80. The coupling of claim 79 wherein said retainer has a radially inwardly-extending portion located between said sealing gasket and said sealing face of said first tubular member.
81. The coupling of claim 80 wherein said inwardly-extending portion is shaped to frictionally engage said first tubular member sealing face.
82. The coupling of claim 80 wherein said retainer has a swaged-in protuberance adjacent said locking ring to retain said locking ring in place.
83. The coupling of claim 80 wherein said retainer is a split ring.