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| What It Is .... .. A combination lighting and ventilation system for the top of the dome. .. It provides a natural escape for rising hot air in the summer. .. It can be closed off in the winter or in a very bad storm. .. During the day, it provides sunlight to the dome's chandelier. .. At night, small DC lights (powered by solar panel) continue the lighting effect. |
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| Dome Preparation: Cap and Cutouts The cap is manufactured out of the same cement/rebar combination as the dome itself. The hash-marks indicate the supporting legs that attach the "cap" to the dome. The dotted circle represents the cutout in the dome underneath the cap. Sunlight will enter into the dome via the center hole in the cap.
The hash-mark areas indicate that the support legs and cap itself are an integral part of the dome. The edges of the cap have "drip control" edges. A small rim around the center cutouts in the cap and dome help prevent water from seeping inside. The openings between the support legs under the cap allow the wind to travel thru. It helps to create a "draw" to pull out warmer air from inside the dome. |
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| Vent-i-Lite Support Framework ~ Side View ~ It is then assembled and bolted into place on site. A protective tube (light purple) for the tubular skylight is slid into place. Tabs in both the upper (dark purple) and lower (black) framework sections secure the protective tube. Extra eyebolts are in the lower section to help support the chandelier (it could easily weigh a hundred pounds or more). The embedded eyebolts (orange) also provide support for the underside of the lower framework. Screw holes are provided in the upper section for screwing down the tubular skylight's flashing. LEFT: The pieces of the upper section are bolted together after they are positioned in the cap's hole. The orange spot is for the tubular skylight's flashing to be fastened down. RIGHT: The lower section of the framework isn't bolted on its top since it is difficult to work under the cap. You can see where space is left around the supporting tube for the warm air to escape. The bottom of the lower section is bolted together after it is in position. It has extensions that fit on flanges around the embedded eyebolts. It has its own eyebolts for the chandelier and places for the diffuser to be fastened into the structure. |
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| Light Sources for the Vent-i-Lite The chandelier, which is hung underneath the diffuser, will then appear like a stained glass window. ( NOTE: The image above is adapted from one on the Daylighting Technologies website. ) At night, a light-sensing device will turn on a series of DC lights placed in the dome cavity around the outside of the tube. These lights aren't intended to be the standard 100 watt strength - they are to provide a glow thru the chandelier so the top of the dome isn't lost in the shadows. |
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| Vent-i-Lite Venting Apparatus |
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| Vent-i-Lite Insect and Weather Protection Since there will be this path to the top of the dome, my idea for insect and weather protection seems workable. Small screening inserts can be installed in the air vents under the edge of the cap. For extreme or cold weather, an insulated metal strip can be fastened in place also. The solar panels can be removed to safety if need be. |
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| Inside the Dome: The Chandelier ~~ The Bottom View ~~ The diameter is about 3 feet. ( You can design your own ...... ) The perspective is a little awkward here - but you get the idea. It has a depth of about a foot, not including the hanging tabs. The tabs allow you to fasten the chandelier to straps provided in the Vent-i-Lite's metal framework on the inside of the dome. |
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| Vent-i-Lite: Putting it all together Voila !! |
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