Daylighting tube segment connection systems and methods

摘要

Certain disclosed embodiments provide internally-reflective tube assemblies for use in a tubular daylighting device configured to direct daylight into an interior of a building when installed on a roof of the building. A tube assembly may include multiple tube segments including connection projections, such as hook-type structures, for weaving or otherwise connecting and/or securing tube segments together. In some embodiments, sidewalls of tube segments connected together are substantially parallel to one another at or near the connection region.

主权项

1. An internally-reflective tube assembly for use in a tubular daylighting device configured to illuminate an interior space of a building with natural daylight received through a roof-mounted daylight collector, the tube assembly comprising:
a first internally-reflective tube segment comprising:
a first lower end;first intermittently positioned projections, wherein the first projections extend from the first lower end and are spaced around a perimeter of the first lower end;a first upper end that is closer to a daylight collector of a tubular daylighting device than the first lower end when the first tube segment is positioned to receive daylight from the daylight collector of the tubular daylighting device; anda first tube segment sidewall extending between the first lower end and the first upper end, wherein the first tube sidewall has an interior surface having luminous reflectance greater than or equal to about 98% when measured with respect to CIE Illuminant D65; and a second internally-reflective tube segment comprising:
a second upper end;second intermittently positioned projections, wherein the second projections extend from the second upper end and are spaced around a perimeter of the second upper end such that the second projections are capable of being woven together with the first projections;a second lower end that is further from the daylight collector of the tubular daylighting device than the second upper end when the second tube segment is positioned to receive daylight from the daylight collector of the tubular daylighting device; anda second tube segment sidewall extending between the second lower end and the second upper end, wherein the second tube sidewall has an interior surface having luminous reflectance greater than or equal to about 98% when measured with respect to CIE Illuminant D65; wherein the first tube segment sidewall and the second tube segment sidewall are substantially parallel when the first projections and the second projections are woven together.