AU1739399A - Panel joint systems - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 718810 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): L R Insulations Limited Macdam Way West Portway Industrial Estate Andover Hampshire SP10 3LF UNITED KINGDOM DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Panel joint systems Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 1 PANEL JOINT SYSTEMS This invention relates to a panel system comprising a plurality of panel members each of which comprises a panel body disposed between and secured to a pair of planar facing members, and means for securing adjacent panel members together The system is particularly suitable for the connection of panels used as thermally insulating panels, fire-resistant panels and the like used in temperature controlled 10 environments or where fire-resistant constructions are required. Examples of such panel systems are described in US Patent 4 354 028 and German Patent document DE-B-1 025 493.

It is desirable for such a panel system to achieve 15 the following aims with the fewest separate components: a) maintenance of a virtually flush surface, b) a clamping action to assist in holding the panel faces in position both laterally and transversely under all conditions, but most particularly during a fire, and c) minimal thermal-bridging with maximum thermal resistance through the joint.

2 The panel system of the invention comprises a plurality of panel members, each of which comprises a panel body disposed between and secured to a pair of planar facing members; each of said facing members being shaped so as to define a trough extending along at least one edge surface of said panel body and opening towards the face of the panel body to which said facing member is secured. There are provided means for securing adjacent panel members together edge-to-edge; said means for securing said panel 0t members including first and second channel members each having a pair of arms joined by means of a web, the arms of each channel member, in use, engaging one in each of the troughs formed along the adjacent edge surfaces of a pair of neighbouring panel members. Said means for securing adjacent panel members together further comprise first and second fastening means engageable with the first and second channel members respectively and with an insulating spacer, the first and second fastening means and the insulating spacer together extending between neighbouring panel members to fasten together the channel members on opposite sides thereof.

In a preferred embodiment said first or second fastening means comprises a threaded member having a first threaded end portion which, in use, passes through an opening 3formed in the respective first or second channel members, said first end portion being threaded for engagement with a retaining nut and a second end portion which is engageable with said insulating spacer. Said first or second fastening means may include a second threaded end portion which, in use, passes through a bore formed in said insulating spacer and engages with a retaining, nut located in a recess formed therein.

in An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference,to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a panel connection in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an insulating block which forms part of the panel connection shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the insulating block of Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a modified fastening means for use where the panel of Figure 1 is to be placed against an existing wall surface or the like.

As shown in the drawings, the system comprises a plurality of panels 10 which are held in position by means of channel members 30 and 32.

4 Each panel 10 is a composite sandwich which consists of a flat block 20 of insulating core material having, on each of its two faces, metal sheets 22.

The core material of the panels is a relatively rigid, hard core composite of a kind suitable for use in constructing temperature controlled environments and may additionally be fire-resistant.

The sheet metal 22 on each face of the composite sandwich panel 10 is cold formed around the edge 10 corners of the core material 20 to provide both protection and integral edge stiffening, in a manner which is well-known. The sheet metal 22 is further shaped to form integral troughs 24 shown in figure 1 which extend longitudinally along the full length of 3.11 the panel edges which are to be joined. The troughs 24 provide lateral stiffening to the edge of the panel and form part of the jointing system.

Two cold-formed, zinc coated steel channel members and 32 form, continuously along the joint, other elements of the jointing system. The channel members and 32 have flange stiffeners and are located in the adjoining troughs 24 of neighbouring panels 10 as shown in Figure 1. The webs of the channels 30 and 32 are pierced at intervals to allow the passage of threaded members 34 which form part of the panel connection.

The threaded members 34 are threaded along their entire length or, at least, adjacent both of their ends. As shown in Figure 1, the ends of each pair of threaded members 34 used to secure a single connection are located in an insulating block or spacer 36 shown in Figures 2 and 3. The ends of the threaded members 34 are secured in the insulating block by means of suitably threaded nuts 38 which are received in openings 40 formed in the block. Each opening extends transversely of the block and communicates with the inner end of a blind bore 42 through which the end of respective threaded member 34 passes to engage the nut lb 38.

It will be noted that the insulating spacer 36 is of .*generally rectangular cross- sectional shape and is of dimensions such that its narrower dimension permits it to slide between the flanges of the channel members but, once it is roughly in place, rotation through 900 will cause it to extend across substantially the whole of the gap formed between the cores 20 of adjacent panels so as to provided good insulation across the gap.

6 Where both faces of the panel 10 are readily accessible, the joint can be assembled as follows.

The innermost end of each pair of threaded members 34 are passed into the opposed blind bores 42 formed at opposite ends of the insulating block or spacer 36. The ends of the threaded members 34 are secured by means of nuts 38 passed into the cross-openings 40. The ends of the threaded members 34 remote from the insulating block are then passed through holes formed in the two opposed 10 channel members 30 and 32. The channel members 30 and 32 are then pushed towards one another so that their flanges locate in the troughs 24 formed by the sheet metal 22 at the edges of both faces of two adjacent panels 10 so that the interengagement of the channels 30 and 32 with the 15 sheet metal troughs at the edges of the panels holds the panels firmly together. The assembly is then secured by means of countersunk nuts 44 which are threaded onto the protruding ends of the threaded members 34. The whole panel connection assembly can then be concealed beneath a U-section capping member 46 which fits over the channel member 30 or 32 and which can be finished to match or contrast with the panel finish.

7 Where the panel assembly is installed against an existing wall so that one face is relatively inaccessible, the last panel 10 assembled must be eased away from its support to position the channel member 30 on the inaccessible face of the panels.

The channel'member 30 will then span between panel supports and one of the four troughs 24 will be engaged around the channel flange. Any required fixture of the channel member 30 to supporting rails 10 on the existing wall should be made at this stage.

Where the fastening means of figures 1-3 are used, the channels 30 which are to be mounted on what will be the inaccessible face of the panel assembly are positioned with the threaded member 34 and nut 44 at that side of the panel connection already in place.

If insulating capping is required on the inaccessible *o*e face of the panel assembly, the capping is also located on the channel prior to its installation.

The fact that the channel member 30 adjacent the existing wall surface must be installed with the threaded member 34 already in place tends to make further installation difficult to achieve and hence slower than where a free-standing panel system is being erected.

With a view to overcoming this difficulty, the alternative construction of Figure 4 is proposed.

As can be seen in Figure 4, modified channel members 31 are provided for use against an existing wall surface. These are generally similar to the channel members 30 and 32 shown in Figures 1 to 3 save that they are provided, in place of openings through which the threaded members 35 can pass to engage nuts 44, with internally-threaded inserts 48. The inserts 48 10 are clamped in a similar manner to conventional rivets in openings formed in the web of the channel member 31. They are provided with an internal thread engageable with the threaded end portion of the threaded member 15 The threaded member 35 is itself different to the members 34 shown in Figures 1 to 3 in that a single longer tie member 35 is provided, rather than the pair of threaded tie members 34. The threaded tie member 35 passes through the spacer 36 rather than being connected to it as can be seen from Figure 4 of the drawings. This is necessary to allow easy manipulation of the threaded member 35 as it is screwed into the threaded insert 48 and to ensure that when the joint is tightened up as described 9 below, the tension is applied uniformly across the joint and the spacer 36 remains properly positioned.

Where a panel system is to be erected against an existing wall surface, the channel member 31 and any S associated capping 46 are positioned against the wall surface with the flanges of the channel member 31 engaged in the troughs 24 formed along the edges of adjacent panels 10. The threaded member 35 can then be screwed into the threaded insert 48 provided on the channel member 31. The insert 48 is crimped part way along its length so as to prevent the end of the threaded member 35 passing all the way through the insert 48 and causing damage to the underlying wall surface.

Once the threaded member 35 is in place, the remaining operations needed to complete the joint between adjacent panels 10 can be carried out as described above, save that where both sides of the panel are accessible, tensioning of the threaded tie members 34 is achieved by adjusting the nots 44 on both sides of the panel whereas in the arrangement of Figure 4 the tensioning of the joint must be achieved by tightening the single nut 44 at the accessible side of the panels 10 Use of the threaded inserts 48 allows the panel system to be erected against an existing wall surface more quickly and easily than was hitherto the case.

Ideally, the nuts 44 on the threaded members 34 or are tightened until the edges of the pair of neighbouring panels 10 are under slight compression by the pair of opposed channel members 30 or 31 and 32 bearing on the sheet metal troughs 24 at the edges of the panels 10-. This helps to lock the panels rigidly together and, in particular, helps the assembly to resist thermal bowing under extreme temperature conditions.

To improve the insulating properties of the construction, the spaces between the edges of adjacent panels, between :15 the channel members 30 and 32 may be filled with suitably sized strips of insulating material. Further, the spaces between any capping member 46 and the interior of the troughs 24 at the edges of the panels 10 may be filled with a suitable insulating sealant-.

Although the panel assembly shown in Figure I is generally vertical, the panels may be arranged horizontally to form floors or ceilings. If the panels 10 are to form a ceiling, it is unlikely that the top (accessible) face P:%WPDCSXMCCX7I88OB 1812/99 -11 will require capping. Provision for the support of additional panels may be made by using a female threaded ring eye (not shown) in place of the final assembly nut 44 described above.

Such a ring eye and the associated threaded members 34 form a tie through the panel connection which enables the supporting tensile forces to be transmitted through the jointing system to the remote face. These tensile forces may cause damage to insulation panels if transmitted through the panels themselves.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be 10 understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not othe exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

*9

Claims (4)

1- A panel system comprising: a plurality of panel members, each of which comprises a panel body disposed between and secured to a pair of planar facing members; each of said facing members being shaped so as to define a trough extending along at least one edge surface of said panel body and opening towards the face of the panel body to which said facing member is secured, and means for securing adjacent panel members together edge- to-edge; said means for securing said panel members including first and second channel members each having a pair of arms joined by means of a web, the arms of each channel member, in use, engaging one in each of the troughs formed along the adjacent edge surfaces of a pair of neighbouring panel members; said means for securing adjacent panel members together further comprising ***fastening means extending between neighbouring panel members to fasten together the channel members on opposite sides thereof; the first channel member being provided with at least one internally threaded insert engageable with a threaded end portion of the fastening means to connect the fastening means to t-he channel member; the insert being so shaped as to prevent the end portion of the fastening means penetrating completely therethrough. 13

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the fastening means comprises an elongate tie member; the apparatus further comprising an insulating spacer, the elongate tie member passing, in use, through a bore in the insulating spacer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which said fastening member comprises a second threaded end portion 9* o which passes through an opening in the second channel 1 member, and is threaded for engagement with a retaining nut adjustable to tension the fastening member and, hence, Fasten the adjacent panel members together.

4. A panel system, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. C A method of securing panel members, substantially as herein described. DATED THIS 18th DAY OF FEBRUARY 1999 L R INSULATIONS LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE