EP0127542A1 - Modular thermally insulating building block having a facing, and method of constructing a building - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A thermally insulating modular construction unit comprising a thick exterior insulating panel (1) of substantially parallelepipedic shape, and a rigid and thin interior panel (4) which are parallel to each other and connected by spacer members (2, 62, 82), characterised in that the exterior panel (1) is covered on its large side opposed to the spacer members with a definitive facing (10) of a water-proof material resisting shocks and ultra-violet rays and decorative, and the exterior insulating definitive facing panel assembly (1 and 10) has, at its periphery, means (3, 55, 56) for recovering and canalizing water whereby it can flow and be discharged to the exterior.

Description

Insulation from the outside of buildings is increasingly in demand because it eliminates thermal bridges created by partitions and floors, and protects the load-bearing wall from thermal shock and therefore from cracks.

However, the installation of such insulation must be carried out after the elevation of the wall, outside of it, and requires not only the mounting of the insulation elements but also the installation of a watertight facing to protect the thermal insulation and, consequently, also the load-bearing wall from rainwater. In addition, connections to doors and windows are always delicate and time-consuming.

Thus, even if the wall was raised in a simple way by means of modular elements, the construction of the building is made complex and consequently long and expensive.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a modular building block which makes it possible to install both thermal insulation from the outside and a protective and decorative surface coating, as the wall elevation and no particular maneuver.

The subject of this invention is in fact a building block which comprises a thick external insulating panel, of substantially parallelepiped shape, one of the large faces of which is coated with a defined facing made of waterproof material, resistant to shock and ultraviolet rays, and decorative, while its large opposite face carries spaced apart spacers connecting to a rigid and thin inner panel, the opposite edges of the panels having, at least near the large face fixed to the spacers, complementary, and also means for evacuating water to the outside, at the periphery of the block.

These blocks can easily be juxtaposed and stacked to simultaneously produce a so-called external thermal insulation, a concrete pouring formwork constituting the load-bearing element of the wall, and the final external covering of this wall, so that no intervention on the outside is more necessary.

The external facing may be constituted by a coating or by a plate fixed directly to the panel or made integral with the latter by any appropriate means, in particular by spacing members providing an air space.

the spacers can be made in one piece with one of the panels and fixed on the other or be completely removable. The fixing is either permanent and carried out in the factory, or carried out on the site, so that the block can be flattened, for example during its transport or its storage.

Of course, the outer insulating panel coated with the facing may have a lateral extension and thus constitute a corner element.

The construction of a building is thus considerably simplified and accelerated. Indeed, no intervention outside the wall is necessary and the aesthetic protective exterior appearance is obtained as soon as the blocks are put in place.

The description below of embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, and represented in the appended drawings, will moreover highlight the advantages and characteristics of the invention.

• - la fig. 1 est une vue en élévation d'un bloc selon l'invention, assemblé avec d'autres blocs semblables;
• - la fig. 2 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne 2-2 de la figure 1;
• - la fig. 3 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne 3-3 de la figure 1;
• - la Fig. 4 montre, en coupe horizontale partielle, l'assemblage de plusieurs blocs juxtaposés dans un angle rentrant du bâtiment;
• - la Fig. 5 est une vue en perspective d'une portion de mur en cours de réalisation;
• - la Fig. 6 est une vue partielle, en coupe horizontale, d'un bloc selon une variante de réalisation;
• - la Fig. 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 6 d'une autre variante de réalisation;
• - les Figs. 8 et 9 sont des vues analogues à la Fig.3, montrant des variantes de réalisation du parement;
• - la Fig. 10 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une variante de réalisation;
• - la Fig. 11 est une vue en coupe verticale du bloc de la Fig. 1 assemblé avec un autre bloc qui lui est superposé, et
• - la Fig. 12 est une vue analogue à la Fig. 11 d'une autre variante de réalisation.

In the drawings: -

• - fig. 1 is an elevational view of a block according to the invention, assembled with other similar blocks;
• - fig. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1;
• - fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1;
• - Fig. 4 shows, in partial horizontal section, the assembly of several blocks juxtaposed in a re-entrant angle of the building;
• - Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of wall in progress;
• - Fig. 6 is a partial view, in horizontal section, of a block according to an alternative embodiment;
• - Fig. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of another alternative embodiment;
• - Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIG. 3, showing alternative embodiments of the facing;
• - Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment;
• - Fig. 11 is a view in vertical section of the block of FIG. 1 assembled with another block which is superimposed on it, and
• - Fig. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 of another alternative embodiment.

As shown in the drawings, a modular building block comprises a panel 1 made of a thermally insulating material, which has a substantially parallelepiped shape, and a substantial thickness, and forms the external element of the block.

From one of the large rectangular flat faces of the panel 1 leave spacers 2 spaced apart from each other, which connect it to a second thin and rigid panel 4, generally parallel to the first.

This second panel 4 constitutes the interior element of the block. It can be made of the same insulating material as the panel 1, or be made of a more rigid material such as plaster, sheet metal, an asbestos plate, wood, or a composite material formed for example of insulation and plaster. In all cases it has an internal face 6, or face opposite the spacers, smooth and well finished, capable of being used directly.

In the same way, the thermal insulation of the panel 1 is covered, on its face 8 remote from the spacers, by a facing or external skin 10 capable of protecting the insulation from rainwater, shocks and rays. ultraviolet, and giving the block a finished look. This facing can be of any suitable material and be made killed, for example, by a plate of asbestos cement, reconstituted stone, terracotta, wood, plastic, or other material, or even by a possibly reinforced coating, impact resistant or the like. This facing can, if necessary, be turned over on the edges of the panel.

The opposite edges 11, 12 and 13, 14 of the interior panel 4 have complementary shapes. It is the same for those of the outer panel l, at least near the spacers 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Indeed, the opposite vertical sections 15, 16 of the - panel 1 have complementary grooves and ribs, while the horizontal sections 17, 18 comprise, one a series of spaced studs 19, and the other a corresponding series of recesses 20 for receiving these studs.

The blocks can thus easily be juxtaposed and superimposed in a succession of layers or rows, preferably offset laterally with respect to each other (fig. 5). The facing faces 21 and 22 of the panels 1 and 4 define a hollow volume simply crossed here and there by the spacers 2, and the assembled blocks form a formwork suitable for pouring concrete. The nature and dimensions of the internal panel 4 and the spacers 2 are chosen so as to have sufficient strength, so that a mortar poured into the internal volume takes without deteriorating the blocks in the slightest, and that after this setting we have available a portion of resistant and load-bearing wall, coated internally and externally provided with thermal insulation and a finished facing.

The blocks are modular, the basic module being for example a small block such as that shown at 24 in FIG. 5, while most of the blocks used are double blocks 26. The corner blocks 28 having two sides substantially perpendicular correspond to the module and its double. Thanks to this arrangement, window blocks 30 and / or doors to the same module, having identical rebates, can be put in place during construction and allow the installation, from the inside, of the window or the corresponding door, without intervention outside even for the production of seals or the like.

Of course, concrete irons, sheaths and electrical boxes, pipes or the like can be introduced into the hollow volume, before the concrete is poured and thus be embedded in it.

Similarly, re-entrant corner elements 32 can. be forced through a lateral extension 34 of the inner panel 4, which is perpendicular to this panel and connected like it to an outer panel 31 by spacers 2 (fig. 4).

Thus, an entire building is easily made with blocks of four types or, if necessary, five types, simply by raising the walls from the inside, without the need to intervene outside or during the elevation of the wall. nor after, that is to say without requiring scaffolding.

Whatever the shape of the panels 1 and 4, the spacers are preferably formed by straight bars in one piece with one or the other of these. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, these bars came integrally with the two panels 1 and 4, which are both formed by this same insulating material, but it is often preferable to produce the internal panels and external in different materials to allow them to play their respective roles. In all cases, the bars 2 are spaced from one another laterally and vertically (fig. 1), which facilitates the pouring of the concrete.

According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6, the spacers 42 are foldable. Each retractor is formed by a rod bent at its two ex hoppers to form rings 43, 44, which are stapled in inserts 46, 47 mounted in the two panels 1 and 4. Such rods can be placed on the site, at the time of construction, which makes it possible to reduce the block to the sum of the thicknesses of the panels during its storage and transport. Preferably, however, at least one of the rings is pressed during manufacture, as shown in FIG. 6, and the rod 42 is folded down along the panel during transport or storage, its final positioning being carried out on site.

According to another variant, the spacers 52 are formed by profiles such as the U-shaped profile shown in FIG. 7, and are glued at the factory to the facing faces 21 and 22 of the panels 1 and 4.

The facing 10, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 5, has the same dimension as the external surface 8 of the insulating panel 1, but it is obvious that the block can also include a facing having a different dimension, for example a facing 40 extending to the lower part of the panel 1, so as to partially cover the upper part 33 with an underlying block (FIG. 8). Similarly, the facing can be offset relative to the panel, either laterally, or in height, or even in two ways.

Whatever the position of the facing relative to the panel, this as well as the relative dimensions of these two elements are preferably chosen so as to provide on the external face of the block, that is to say along the facade, open vertical and / or horizontal joints. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the outer face 8 of the panel 1 is slightly smaller than the inner face 21 which carries the spacers 2. As a result, vertical open joints 35, 36 are provided between the neighboring facings 10 and the external faces of the panels. Preferably, these seals communicate with decompression grooves 38 and are provided with a protective facing, so that rainwater or the like is discharged to the outside.

Similarly, (fig. 3), horizontal open seals 55, 56 are provided between the superimposed blocks. In the embodiment shown, these seals are delimited by inclined surfaces, which facilitates the evacuation of rainwater.

The facing can be constituted by a thin element, as shown in 10 and 30, or by a relatively thick plate 50 (fig. 9), which has edges 51, 52, in the form of rebate, cut correspondingly on its edges opposites. Open joints can optionally be provided between the rebates 51, 52 of the facings of two adjacent blocks, but in all cases the water is discharged to the outside.

The outer insulating panel 1 is preferably made of a material such as expanded PVC, expanded polystyrene or a foam material of the polyurethane foam type, extruded polystyrene foam, polyester foam containing aggregates, or the like.

The construction can be further facilitated by using blocks such as those shown in Figures 10 to 12, in which the spacers also play the role of assembly members.

In these embodiments, in fact, the thick outer insulating panel 1 has in its lower and upper sections at least one hole 60 and an open groove 64 connecting this hole to the large inner face 61 of the panel. The inner thin panel 4 has at least one notch 66 opposite each groove 64. This notch 66, like the groove 64, serves housing a spacer 62 which is provided at its end with an assembly bar 68, preferably a hollow bar of circular section corresponding to that of the hole 60, and which also has a T shape.

Between two substantially flat parts, 69 and 70, of cooperation with the groove and the notch, the spacer 62 includes a rod 67 of larger section ensuring its support against the opposite faces of the two panels. Two end discs, respectively 71 and 72, also fit on either side of the notch 66.

Of course, the number and the spacing of the grooves 64, and consequently of the spacers, can vary depending on the dimensions of the blocks. In some cases it may even be advantageous to provide it at the corner of the panel. The entire spacer then acts as an assembly member and is itself maintained by mounting the blocks on top of each other.

Such a spacer is easily put in place at the same time as the block, by simple fitting into the thick and thin panels, the relative positions of which it adjusts. At the same time it facilitates construction, and in particular the superimposition of blocks by automatically centering the upper panel on the one preceding it. It suffices to introduce the upper part of the bar 68 into the hole 60 of the lower edge while the thin panel fits between the discs 71 and 72.

According to another variant shown in FIG. 12, the spacer 82 is no longer connected directly to the thick panel 1 but to a straight bar 74 made integral with this panel. This bar is, for example, retained by an assembly bar 78, similar to the bar 68, which is integral with a flat blade 79 for fitting into the groove 64. A tab 76 pierced with a through hole of the bar 74 ends the blade 79.

The spacer 82 is of the same type as that of FIGS. 10 and 11 and comprises a rod 87 extended on one side by a plate 80 between two discs 81, 83, and on the other by a tab 84 pierced with a hole bar 74. The discs 81 and 83 fit in the same way as the discs 71 and 72, on either side of the notch 66 of the panel 4, and the spacer 82 keeps this panel at a determined distance from the thick panel 1.

Of course, the legs 76 and 84 can be directly superimposed or separated by variable distances, according to the dimensions of the corresponding panels 1 and 4.

In all cases, the block thus obtained allows simple and rapid construction. The floors or the like are easily fixed to the wall produced, by simply fitting the joists in the interior panel and immobilizing these joists during the pouring of the concrete. The resumption of floor loads is done on concrete walls.

The nature of the material used to make the blocks makes it easy to cut them at an angle before pouring the filling concrete, to adapt them to the inclination of the roof. Panels or beams are mounted in the blocks in the same way as the floor joists.

The building thus produced can therefore have any desired shape while remaining extremely simple to assemble by means of modular blocks nested one inside the other. No intervention on the exterior-of the wall thus produced is necessary, nor for the installation of the windows; neither for that of the doors, nor for the realization of the joints between blocks or between blocks and window.

Claims (17)

1 - Thermally insulating modular building block, characterized in that it comprises an outer insulating panel (1), thick and of substantially parallelepiped shape, one of the large faces of which is coated with a final facing (10) in one waterproof material, resistant to impact and ultraviolet rays, and decorative, while from its large opposite face leave spaced apart spacers (2) for connection to a rigid and thin inner panel (4), and means (38 , 55, 56) evacuation of water to the outside, on the periphery of the block. 2 - Block according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite edges (11,12,15,16,17,18) of the panels have, near the large face fixed to the spacers, complementary shapes. 3 - Block according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the facing is constituted by a possibly reinforced coating, or by a plate. 4 - Block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the vicinity of its outer face (8, 10) its edges form rebates (35,36,51,52) for guiding the water towards outside. 5 - Block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective facing (40) extends beyond the lower part of the insulating panel. 6 - Block according to one of claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the spacers (2) are formed by straight bars in one piece with one of the two panels (1, 4) and perpendicular to the opposite faces of these panels. 7 - Block according to one of claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the spacers (2) _sont formed by removable rods (42) nested, at each of their ends, in an insert (46, 47) fixed in the material of the panel (1, 4). 8 - Block according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each spacer is formed by a profile (52) of U-section, glued to the two opposite faces (21, 22) of the panels. 9 - Block according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the thin panel (4) has in its upper and lower edges at least one notch for receiving the spacer, while the thick outer panel also includes in its upper and lower edges a hole and a horizontal groove for receiving an assembly member (68)., 10 - Block according to claim 9, characterized in that the spacer (62) and the assembly member (68) are in one piece. 11 - Block according to claim 9, characterized in that the spacer (82), bearing on the thin panel, is connected to the thick panel by a vertical bar (74) held by the assembly member (78, 79 ). 12 - Block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thick outer insulating panel (1) comprises, on one of its edges (18) spaced recesses (20) and, on the opposite edge, studs (19) of a shape complementary to that of the recesses. 13 - Block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a thick side panel extending the main panel (1) and also provided with a facing, and thus constitutes a corner block. 14 - Block according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two thin and rigid panels (4, 34) substantially perpendicular to each other, and both connected to the outer insulating panel (31) to constitute a re-entrant corner block. 15 - Method of construction of the vertical walls of a building without any intervention outside, ca characterized in that it consists in placing the blocks according to one of the preceding claims in several superimposed rows, in which the blocks are offset with respect to each other, by fitting the edges of the adjacent blocks and the blocks and recesses of the blocks superimposed, place window and / or door blocks between the blocks by mounting them in the same way as the latter, pour a mortar into the hollow volume delimited between the outer insulating panels and the inner thin panels of these blocks, wait setting the concrete thus formed, then repeating the previous operations up to the desired height. 16 - Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the facings (10, 40) and the insulating panels (1) of the assembled blocks form suitable seals for discharging rain or condensation water to the outside, either by covering, either by open joints (35, 36) channeling the water to the outside. 17 - Method according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the joists or slabs of floor support and / or roof are introduced into the interior panel (4) before the concrete is poured.

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