EP0117205A2 - Method of mutually connecting prefabricated panels; connecting profile applicable for carrying out this method and accomplished connection - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of mutually connecting two prefabricated panels, a connecting profile applicable for carrying it out, and a connection accomplished thereby. Dovetail grooves (14, 15) are cut into respective lateral edge faces of two panels (1, 2), these faces being defined by wooden frame uprights (12, 13) of these panels (1, 2), the panels (1, 2) are juxtaposed by these faces by placing the grooves (14, 15) face to face, and there is introduced into the grooves (14, 15) at least over the greater part of their length, at least one elastically transversely compressible longitudinal profile (16) having an external cross-section complementary to the internal cross-section of the combination formed by the two grooves (14, 15) placed face to face, so as to ensure through a slight transverse compression of this profile (16) inside the grooves (14, 15) a connection that is compatible with the dimensional variations of the wood of the uprights (12, 13) over time. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a mutual assembly process for prefabricated panels, as well as to an assembly profile usable for the implementation of this process, and to the assembly obtained.

More specifically, it relates to the mutual assembly of prefabricated wooden frame panels, of the type used in the building industry for the construction of pavilions or small buildings.

It is known that, traditionally, wooden frame uprights define lateral faces of the edge of the panels, which are juxtaposed by these lateral faces and which are assembled together by mutual assembly of the wooden frame uprights thus juxtaposed. ; generally, this mutual assembly is. carried out after the panels have been mounted, in a vertical orientation, on a base such as foundations.

The known mutual assembly techniques all use a plurality of localized joint bars, which are arranged in several zones distributed along the edge of the panels to be assembled.

According to one of these known techniques, a plurality of access slots to the juxtaposed frame uprights is hollowed out in the inner facing wall of each panel, which makes it possible to fix as many connecting splices on the latter, by bolting; the lights are then plugged in.

This known technique requires numerous operations, which makes its implementation long; it is also necessary to use hardware items of stainless steel or galvanized in order to avoid oxidation over time, due to condensation, and this technique therefore proves to be expensive.

According to another known technique, mutual assembly of the panels is carried out by means of tabs forming a tenon, which are engaged in blind holes arranged for this purpose in different edge zones of the panels before juxtaposing them; we use for this purpose either wooden tongues, which can optionally be glued inside the wooden frame uprights defining the edges thus juxtaposed, or aluminum tongues, in which case we assemble them to the uprights wood framing by pointing.

The implementation of this technique also requires many assembly operations, which makes it long and expensive.

In addition, these two known techniques have the common drawbacks of great difficulty in dismantling without destruction, and even of almost impossibility in the second case, and of a too punctual mutual joining of the panels, which allows differences in sometimes sensitive deformation outside very limited areas of mutual solidarity.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks of the known techniques by proposing a simple and rapid method of implementation, which makes any possible removal easy, and which can ensure mutual joining of the panels continuously over their entire length. height or practically over this totality, so that the continuity between the panels is ensured in their zone of mutual joining whatever the deformations they may undergo.

To this end, in order to assemble two prefabricated panels mutually, each of which has a side edge face, defined by a wooden frame upright of this panel and capable of being juxtaposed to the similar side face of edge of the other panel, the present invention proposes a method characterized in that one arranges along each of said lateral edge faces, in the corresponding wooden frame upright, a respective dovetail groove extending at least over most of the length of said face and opening at at least one of its ends in an edge face of the corresponding panel adjacent to said lateral edge face, said lateral edge faces are juxtaposed by placing the grooves face to face and by making the respective through ends coincide with the latter, and the grooves are introduced longitudinally, at least over most of their length, through said open ends thereof, at least one elastically compressible longitudinal profile transversely , having an external cross section complementary to the internal cross section of the assembly formed by the two grooves placed face to face, so as to ensure, by means of a slight transverse compression of this profile in the grooves, an assembly compatible with the dimensional variations of the wood amounts over time.

Thus are resolved the aforementioned drawbacks of known techniques; the dovetail grooves can be easily fitted into the wooden frame uprights when these are produced in the factory, using entirely traditional woodworking machines, which limits the insertion of the profile or profiled the operations that it is necessary to carry out directly on the site; this insertion can be carried out quickly, easily, for example with a mallet after the panels have been erected on a base, and a mutual securing of the panels is obtained, offering any guarantee of resistance to time, on the one hand due its continuous nature over all or almost all of the height of the panels, which standardizes any deformations of the latter in their mutual assembly area, and on the other hand due to the elastically compressible nature of the assembly profile , which ensures an energetic assembly and suitable for authorizing the dimensional variations of the wood of the uprights without risk of splitting of this wood; in addition, by means of simple arrangements of the profiles and / or of the grooves receiving them, it is possible to ensure easy dismantling of the panels by extracting the profiles from the grooves, in a movement of relative longitudinal displacement opposite to the introduction movement.

According to a particularly favorable mode of implementation of the method, a hollow tubular metal profile is used, a profiled assembly rod, having an internal cross section and an approximately homothetic external cross section corresponding to two dovetails of opposite orientation, this profile being provided over its entire length with an open slit imparting it with elastic transverse compressibility; advantageously, the slot is disposed at the bottom of the dovetail, along a mean longitudinal plane forming a plane of symmetry for the profile.

The profile is for example made of aluminum.

Such a profile ensures the resistance over time and the assembly rigidity inherent in the metal assembly elements, while having the transverse elastic compressibility facilitating its introduction into the grooves and making its use compatible with the assembly of wooden elements, the dimensional stability of which is uncertain.

In addition, advantageously, such a profile can be used as cable passage or the like once the assembly has been completed.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to an example of non-limiting implementation, as well as from the appended drawings which form an integral part of this description.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate, in perspective views, three stages of implementation of the method according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly profile used.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the two frame uprights assembled during this process, in the juxtaposed state but before the introduction of the assembly profile, in cross section relative to the mean direction of the grooves.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, two prefabricated panels have been designated respectively by 1 and 2, each of which has a wooden frame defined in particular by a peripheral frame, respectively 3 or 4, closed on either side by two facing walls, respectively 5 and 6 or 7 and 8, in any suitable material known to those skilled in the art, the volume thus delimited inside each panel can advantageously be filled with a thermal insulation material such as 9 also known from the skilled in the art.

The wooden frames 3 and 4, formed by an assembly of uprights and crosspieces, define by a flat face, respectively 10 or 11, of a respective upright, 12 or 13, a side edge face of the corresponding panel, respectively 1 or 2.

By these respective lateral edge faces 10, 11, oriented perpendicular to their respective mean plane 20 or 21 (see FIG. 5), the panels 1 and 2 are intended to be juxtaposed and assembled together in a position in which their mean planes 20 and 21 merge and in which the facing walls 5, 6, 7, 8, judiciously offset with respect to the faces 10 and 11, provide an overlap of the junction between them as is known per se to those skilled in the art job.

For the purpose of such mutual assembly of the panels, each of the faces 10 and 11 is hollowed out over the major part and preferably over the entire length of the corresponding upright, respectively 12 or 13, of a continuous dovetail groove, identical, respectively 14 or 15, advantageously arranged symmetrically with respect to the mean plane 20 or 21 of the respective panel; at at least one of its ends, and preferably at its two ends as illustrated, the dovetail groove 14 or 15 opens into an edge face of the corresponding panel adjacent to the face, respectively 10 or 11 , in which it is hollowed out, which frees access to the two grooves 14 and 15, by at least one of their ends then in coincidence, when the panels are juxtaposed by the faces 10 and 11 and that the grooves 14 and 15 are then placed opposite one another as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

It is then possible, in accordance with the invention, to simultaneously introduce into these two grooves, by sliding in the mean direction 17 of the peripherally closed channel which they then define, an assembly profile 16 whose length is approximately equal to that of the grooves 14 and 15, or several assembly profiles 16 introduced successively and whose cumulative length is itself approximately equal to this length of the grooves 14 and 15.

Figure 4, which will be compared with Figure 5, illustrates a cross section of a profile 16 preferably used for the implementation of the method according to the invention.

This profile 16 is metallic, advantageously made of aluminum, and tubular, hollow; in cross section, it has an inner periphery 18 and an outer periphery 19 which, in the example illustrated, are homothetic and define for the wall of the profile 16 a constant thickness e.

The peripheries 18 and 19 are symmetrical with respect to the same plane 22 which, when the profile 16 is inserted in the grooves 14 and 15 while the faces 10 and 11 are joined and that the planes 20 and 21 merge, merges itself with these two planes.

By means of a slight elastic transverse compression of the section 16, which allows the presence, over its entire length, of an open slot 23 connecting its peripheries 18 and 19 and advantageously arranged along the plane 22, the section 16 is complementary by its outer periphery 19 of the inner periphery of the channel that the grooves 14 and 15 define together inside the uprights 12 and 13 juxtaposed by their faces 10 and 11 in a position in which the planes 20 and 21 coincide.

If we refer to Figure 5, we see that this interior cross section has the general shape of a symmetrical diabolo with respect to the planes 20 and 21 combined on the one hand, and with respect to the combined planes of the faces 10 and 11 on the other hand.

Indeed, the channel defined by the grooves 14 and 15 is delimited by the longitudinal bottom 24 of the groove 15, plane and parallel to the face 11 of the upright 13, by the two longitudinal sides 25 and 26 of this groove, which are arranged symmetrically to one another with respect to the plane 21 and are connected at the same angle, less than 90 °, to the bottom 24 hollowed out at the level of the edges of connection with the flanks 25 and 26 of undercut _s , respectively 27 and 28 , the interest of which will appear further on, by the longitudinal bottom 29 of the groove 14, plane and parallel to the face 10 of the upright 12 at a distance from this face equal to the distance separating the bottom 24 of the groove 15 and the face 11 of the upright 13, and by the two longitudinal flanks 30 and 31 of the groove 14, planes, symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane 20 and connecting to the bottom 29 at the same angle as the flanks 25 and 26 relative to the bottom 24 and via a draft, respectively 32 or 33, dug in s the bottom 29; the different parts of the groove 14 are dimensioned identically to the similar parts of the groove 15, so that the connection edges of the sides 25 and 26 of the groove 15 with the face 11 of the upright 13 coincide respectively at 34 and 35 with the connection edges respective sides 30 and 31 of the groove 14 with the face 10 of the upright 12 when the faces 10 and 11 are juxtaposed and the planes 20 and 21 coincide.

The distance separating the respective bottoms 24 and 29 from the grooves 15 and 14 is then designated by a, this distance being equal to twice the depth of each groove, by b the width of each groove at the bottom, defined as the distance separating perpendicularly in plane 20 or 21 the intersection of the sides of a groove with the plane of the bottom of the latter, and by the angle, less than 90 °, that any of the flanks of the groove forms with the bottom of the corresponding groove.

Additionally, the outer periphery 19 of the profile 16 is defined by a plurality of flat longitudinal faces intended to be applied under pressure, but with the possibility of sliding in the direction 17, against the faces 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 .

Thus, the section 16 has a flat longitudinal face 36 oriented perpendicular to the plane 22, and arranged symmetrically relative to the latter, which face 36 is connected along parallel edges 37 and 38, arranged symmetrically one of the other with respect to the plane 22 at a relative distance c, measured perpendicular to this plane, with two plane longitudinal faces 39 and 40 situated on the same side with respect to the face 36 and tending to approach each other in the direction of a distance with respect to their connection to this face 36, by defining therewith the same acute angle β; along their respective intersection, 41 or 42, with a longitudinal plane ₅₃ perpen dicular to the plane 22 and coinciding with the coincident plane of the faces 10 and 11 when the profile 16 is engaged in the grooves 14 and 15 juxtaposed, the faces 39 and 40 are respectively connected to plane longitudinal faces 43 and 44, symmetrical one on the other with respect to the plane 22 and approximately symmetrical with the face 39 and the face 40, respectively, with respect to the plane 53; along edges 45, 46 parallel, symmetrical to each other with respect to plane 22 and approximately symmetrical respectively of edge 37 and edge 38 with respect to plane 53, the faces 43 and 44 are connect respectively to planar longitudinal faces 47 and 48, approximately coplanar and perpendicular to the plane 22 towards which they are directed from the respective edge 45 or 46; the faces 47 and 48 are interrupted at a distance from the plane 22, in order to connect respectively to the flank 49 and to the flank 50 of the slot 23, which flanks are planar, approximately parallel to the plane 22 with respect to which they are arranged symmetrically one on the other, and provide the connection between the outer 19 and inner 18 peripheries of the profile 16; the width of the slot 23 has been designated by 1, the distance between the sides 49 and 50 defined perpendicular to the plane 22 defined by cam, by d the distance, measured parallel to the plane 22 and distributed substantially equally on either side of the plane 53 , separating the approximately coplanar faces 47 and 48 from the face 36, and by f the distance separating the edges 45 and 46 perpendicular to the plane 22.

The distances c and d substantially coincide with the distances b and a, respectively, and the values of the angle e and the distance f coincide approximately with those of the angle a and b, to which they may however be slightly greater when the profile 16 is not engaged in the juxtaposed grooves 14 and 15, so that the engagement is reflected by a tight fitting, with slight elastic compression of the profile 16 in the transverse direction, resulting in a slight reduction in the width 1 of the slot 23; the undercuts 27, 28, 32, 33 make it possible to avoid the application to the wood of the uprights 13 and 12 of a wedge effect by the edges 37, 38, 45, 46 of the profile 16, and thus make it possible to avoid the risks of wood splintering; to this end, the edges 37, 38, 45, 46 of the profile 16 could also be softened.

pour un profilé 16 en aluminium extrudé d'une longueur de l'ordre de 1,25 m, deux de ces profilés étant introduits successivement, dans le prolongement l'un de l'autre, dans les rainures juxtaposées telles que 14 et 15 de panneaux 1 et 2 d'une -hauteur, c'est-à-dire d'une longueur de montants 12 et 13, de l'ordre de 2, 50 m, selon le procédé qui va être décrit à présent en référence aux figures 1 à 3 ; naturellement, ces cotes en longueur du profilé 16 et en hauteur des panneaux 1 et 2 sont également données à titre d'exemple non limitatif, étant entendu toutefois que la présente invention concerne l'utilisation de profilés en double queue d'aronde présentant une longueur très supérieure à leurs cotes transversales, avec possibilité de compression élastique transversale dans des limites appelées à rester faibles, la largeur 1 de la fente du profilé 16 présentant les dimensions indiquées ci-dessus n'étant par exemple amenée à subir que des variations généralement inférieures au millimètre.By way of nonlimiting example, good test results have been obtained by adopting the following values:

for an extruded aluminum profile 16 with a length of the order of 1.25 m, two of these profiles being introduced successively, in the extension of one another, in the juxtaposed grooves such as 14 and 15 of panels 1 and 2 of a height, that is to say of a length of uprights 12 and 13, of the order of 2.50 m, according to the method which will now be described with reference to the figures 1 to 3; naturally, these dimensions in length of the profile 16 and in height of the panels 1 and 2 are also given by way of nonlimiting example, it being understood however that the present invention relates to the use of profiles in double dovetail having a length much greater than their transverse dimensions, with the possibility of transverse elastic compression within limits which are expected to remain small, the width 1 of the slot of the profile 16 having the dimensions indicated above being, for example, only subject to generally lower variations to the millimeter.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the implementation of the profile 16 illustrated in Figure 4 in the mutual assembly of two prefabricated panels intended to constitute the walls of a construction.

The panels 1 and 2 are supposed to present beforehand, on their respective edge faces 10 and 11, defined by faces of the wooden uprights 12 and 13, respective dovetail grooves 14 and 15; the two panels 1 and 2 will also be assumed to be rectangular in plan, with the same height corresponding to the length of the uprights 14 and 15.

Firstly, by any means known to those skilled in the art, a first panel 1 occupying a position in which its mean plane 20 is vertical, likewise is fixed on a base 51 produced beforehand and for example on foundations. that its edge side face 10 and the groove 14 thereof; if necessary, the panel 1 is fixed to another panel, adjoining its side edge face (not visible) opposite its face 10 by means similar to those which will now be described; this first step is illustrated in Figure 1.

In a second step, the panel 2 is arranged and similarly fixed to the base 51, the mean plane 21 of which is also vertical and then coincides with the plane 20, and the face 11 of which is applied against the face 10 of such that the grooves 14 and 15 complement each other in a peripherally closed channel, of vertical mean direction 17 defined by the intersection of the combined planes 20 and 21 and the common plane of the faces 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 2.

As also shown in this figure, there is then placed above the two panels, in the extension of the grooves 14 and 15 in the direction 17, a profile 16 having the appropriate transverse dimensions, and a length for example close to half the height of panels 1 and 2, i.e. half the length of the grooves 14 and 15, and, by pinching the lower end 52 of this profile 16 by means of an elastic narrowing of its slot 23, this lower end 52 is introduced into the upper end of the grooves 14 and 15, along the average direction 17 thereof.

It is then easy to fully introduce the profile 16 into the grooves 14 and 15, by applying a downward push in the middle direction 17 thereof, as shown by arrow 54 in Figure 2; the progressive introduction of the profile 16 into the grooves 14 and 15 is effected by sliding of the external periphery 19 of the profile against the bottoms and sides of these grooves, by means of a slight elastic contraction of the profile, and can be carried out easily for example at using a mallet.

When the profile 16 is thus completely introduced, its upper end 55 flush with the upper edge faces 56 and 57 of the panels 1 and 2, a second identical profile is similarly introduced, the lower end of which pushes the introduced profile down. first, as the second profile is introduced; at the end of this introduction, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the second profile 58 is flush with the upper edge faces 56 and 57 of the panels 1 and 2, while the lower end of this profile is in contact with the upper end 55 of the section 16 introduced first; the lower end 52 of the latter is in turn disposed near the lower edge face of the panels, if necessary slightly recessed relative to the latter since, generally, the latter is hollowed out with a groove for receiving a profile 59 for positioning and fixing on the base 51 (see FIG. 1).

Thus is ensured, over the entire height of the panels, an energetic mutual joining but nevertheless capable of allowing the wood of the uprights 12 and 13 to "work" over time; the positioning of the slot 23 of _the profile 16 and of the analogous slot 59 of the profile 58 at the bottom of the dovetail, that is to say in the example illustrated at mid-width of the bottom 29 of the groove 14 , is optimal for this double effect.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is possible to use a single profile 16 having a length equaling or approaching the height of the panels 1 and 2; one could also use more than two sections 16, the cumulative lengths of which would equal or approach the height of the panels 1 and 2.

It will be noted that, advantageously, the interior of the profiles such as 16 and 58 can be used as a cable passage or the like, and / or filled with a thermal insulating material.

Naturally, the assembly process which has just been described can be used not only for assembling the vertical edges of the panels themselves vertical, but also for any continuous mutual assembly of pieces of wood forming an integral part of the panels.

According to an advantageous embodiment of profiles 16 and 58 of the type illustrated, these can be made easily extractable from the grooves 14 and 15 in order to facilitate the possible dismantling of the panels 1 and 2; for this purpose, for example, there is provided in their wall, at least near their end intended to be the most accessible once the assembly has been carried out, that is to say the end 55 with regard to the profile 16 in the example illustrated, two orifices arranged for example along the plane 53, facing each other, to receive the hooks of an extraction device, easily inserted inside the profile and grooves in if necessary, to allow, by pulling in the opposite direction to that of arrow 54 by means of the hooks thus engaged in the orifices, the sliding of the profile such as 16 out of the grooves.

More generally, the invention is susceptible of numerous variants with respect to the mode of implementation described and shown, without however departing from its scope.

Claims (10)

1. A method of mutual assembly of two prefabricated panels (1, 2) each of which has a side edge face (10, 11) defined by a wooden frame upright (12, 13) of this panel and capable of be juxtaposed with the side face of similar edge of the other panel, characterized in that one arranges along each of said side edges of edge (10, 11), in the amount of corresponding wooden frame (12, 13), a respective dovetail groove (14, 15) extending over at least the major part of the length of said face (10, 11) and opening at at least one of its ends in a face edge (56, 57) of the corresponding panel (1, 2) adjacent to said lateral edge face (10, 11), said lateral edge faces (10, 11) are juxtaposed by placing the grooves (14, 15) face facing and making the respective through ends coincide, and one introduces longitudinally into the grooves (14, 15), at least on the major part of their length, by said through ends thereof, at least one longitudinal section (16, 58) having an external cross section (19) complementary to the internal cross section of the assembly formed by the two grooves (14, 15) placed face to face, so as to ensure by means of a slight transverse compression of this profile (16, 58) in the grooves (14, 15) an assembly compatible with the dimensional variations of the wood of the uprights (12, 13) in the tenps. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of profiles (16, 58) is used whose sum of the respective lengths corresponds approximately to the length of the grooves (14, 15), by successively introducing them by said through ends of the grooves (14, 15) and by pushing a profile (16) already fully introduced by means of a profile (58) being introduced. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the panels (1, 2) are previously knotted on a base (51), in a position in which said lateral edge faces (10 , 11) are vertical, and orienting said through ends of the grooves (14, 15) upwards. 4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (14, 15) are arranged by producing a draft (27, 28, 32, 33) along each edge of connection between the bottom (24, 29) of the dovetail groove (14, 15) and the sides (25, 26, 30, 31) thereof. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (14, 15) open at their two ends in edge faces of the corresponding panel (1, 2) adjacent to the respective edge face of edge ( 10, 11). 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one hollow tubular section (16, 58) is used which is also used as a cable passage or the like. 7. Profile for assembling two pieces of wood (12, 13), in particular intended for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is metallic, tubular, hollow, with a length much greater than its transverse dimensions, in that it has an interior cross section and an exterior cross section (18, 19) approximately homothetic corresponding to two dovetails of opposite orientation, and in that it is provided over its entire length with an open slot (23) providing it with elastic transverse compressibility. 8. Profile according to claim 7, characterized in that said slot (23) is disposed at the bottom of a dovetail, along a mean longitudinal plane (22) forming a plane of symmetry for the profile. (16). 9. Assembly of two panels obtained by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 10. An assembly according to claim 9, using a profile according to any one of claims 7 and 8.

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