EP0358930B1 - Light-weight construction panel composed of panel modules - Google Patents

Abstract

Light-weight construction panel consisting of a plurality of identical panel modules (1, 2) which are composed, sandwich-like, of two outer cover layers (3, 4) and of a foamed plastic core (5) in between. The butt joints of the panel modules are bridged at least on one side by a clamp (9, 10), the end pieces of which engage in the cover layer of the panel modules. The cover layers (3, 4) of the panel modules consist of a rigid skin, the grooves (14, 15) which accommodate the end pieces of the clamps being formed before foaming. One clamp (9, 10) each is provided in the region of the butt joints both on the front and on the rear of the light-weight construction panel (1). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a lightweight board, in particular for vehicle superstructures, consisting of several identical board modules, which are constructed in a sandwich-like manner from two outer rigid cover layers and an intermediate foam core, the board modules abutting one another at the butt joints and in the area of the butt joints which bridge them. A clip is provided on the front and rear of the plate modules, the end webs of which are received by slots or grooves, the slots or grooves being crimped into the cover layers.

Such a lightweight panel made of panel modules is known from US-A-3 594 028. The plate modules consist of a foam core that is delimited on both sides by rigid cover layers that protrude into the side layers. Grooves are provided on both sides of the plate modules. The grooves themselves are folded into the stiff cover layers. When assembling the panels are placed side by side so that they meet with their side layers. Clamps are pressed into the grooves, which engage with their spring-like webs in the grooves and thus hold the plate modules together.

With this type of connection, the plate modules simply pressed together by the brackets. Particularly for lightweight boards, such as those used for vehicle bodies, it is therefore to be feared that this connection will loosen and become unusable due to constant shaking and shaking as well as twisting around the axis in the vehicle. The above-mentioned disadvantages therefore lead to the fact that the known lightweight panels are not suitable for the stated use, in which vibrations and torsions occur, and other types of use.

Furthermore, from DE-U-1 876 723 a lightweight building board in a sandwich construction is known, in which a core piece (foam core) of the sandwich board material-appropriate plate piece is inserted between the protruding ends of the cover layers of the sandwich boards and these plate pieces z. B. be firmly connected by gluing. This means that a torsionally rigid connection of lightweight panels required for truck bodies cannot be achieved.

It is therefore the task of a lightweight construction board according to the invention to provide a firm, in particular vibration-resistant connection that connects several plate modules to a stiffened, stable and torsion-resistant lightweight construction board, which is particularly suitable for truck bodies and which meets the adverse conditions prevailing there in every respect has grown.

This object is achieved in a lightweight board of the type mentioned, which is characterized in that the butt joints between the panel modules are connected with an adhesive layer and that the brackets are firmly glued, forming a torsionally rigid, box-like structure.

The aforementioned features result in a total torsion-resistant, stable lightweight building board made of plate modules, in which these cannot separate from each other and in which the clips embedded in the folded slots or grooves cannot be shaken out. The glued brackets, which lie on the front and back, form a kind of "candy" (= box-like structure), which increases the rigidity of the entire structure.

The lightweight building board has the advantage that even with the extreme temperature differences over the seasons and times of day there is a connection that does not loosen.

Another advantage is that when the butt joints are glued between the panels, an excess of adhesive that swells out is produced in many cases. This unsightly looking excess is advantageously covered by the clamps on both sides of the lightweight board.

• Figur 1 in perspektivischer Draufsicht eine Leichtbauplatte im Bereich einer Stoßstelle zweier Plattenmodulen;
• Figur 2 die zur Verbindung der Plattenmodulen verwendete klammer;
• Figur 3 eine konfiguration mit zwei verschiedenen Klammerbreiten, wobei auch hinterschnittene Nuten verwendet sind;
• Figur 3a eine Vergrößerung des Stegeingriffs in eine Nut,
• Figur 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform mit überlappenden Teil-Kammern.

Further features and details are explained in the following description of exemplary embodiments. The figures show:

• FIG. 1 shows a perspective top view of a lightweight building board in the area of an abutment between two board modules;
• Figure 2 shows the bracket used to connect the plate modules;
• Figure 3 shows a configuration with two different bracket widths, undercut grooves are also used;
• 3a shows an enlargement of the web engagement in a Groove,
• Figure 4 shows another embodiment with overlapping partial chambers.

In Figure 1, a lightweight board is partially shown, which consists of several identical plate modules 1, 2, wherein more than two such plate modules are usually assembled to form a lightweight board. The module width is, for example, 100 cm. The height can be 200 - 500 cm. The thickness of the plate modules is between 2 - 5 cm. Accordingly, it is also possible to produce relatively large lightweight building boards that significantly exceed the usual size of tools used in foaming machines.

The plate modules 1, 2 are constructed like a sandwich. You have two outer cover layers 3, 4, which consist for example of corrosion-resistant metal sheet. Other materials, such as torsion-resistant plastic film, plastic-coated or bare metal sheet, can also be used. Between the two cover layers 3, 4 is a foam core 5, which consists for example of polyurethane foam with high internal rigidity. The two plate modules 1, 2 shown abut one another. The butt joint 6 is filled with an adhesive layer 7.

The butt joint 6 is bridged on the front and back of the lightweight building board by a cross-section-shaped bracket 9, 10. The shape of the bracket 9 is shown in Figure 2. The brackets 9 and 10 have a back web 11 and two end webs 12, 13. These end webs 12, 13 are angled exactly vertically and aligned before being embedded in the slots 14, 15 described below.

The brackets 9, 10 serve to hold the adjacent ones To connect plate modules 1, 2 together. For this purpose, they are equipped with the slots 14, 15 already mentioned. In the present case, the slots 14, 15 have a trough shape, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

Instead of the shape of the grooves or slots shown, other shapes can also be selected, such as S-shapes, gamma shapes, hook shapes and the like, as are known per se from sheet metal rolling.

ist. Durch das Überlappen ist die Schwächung durch die Schlitze 14, 15 bzw. 17, 18 weniger ausgeprägt, als wenn diese genau gegenüber lägen. Weiterhin bilden die fest verklebten Klammern 9, 10 ein verwindungssteifes, kastenartiges Gebilde, das jeweils im Bereich der Stoßfugen 6 eine Art Standsäule ergibt.It is also essential that the grooves 14, 15 and 17, 18 lying on the front and rear are arranged offset from one another, so that the opposing brackets 9 and 10 are also offset from one another in the region of the butt joint. For this purpose, the distances A and B, which the grooves have from the respectively reminding edges of the plate module, are dimensioned such that the sum of the distances $$\text{A + B = A ′ + B ′}$$

is. Due to the overlap, the weakening through the slots 14, 15 and 17, 18 is less pronounced than if they were exactly opposite. Furthermore, the firmly glued brackets 9, 10 form a torsionally rigid, box-like structure, each of which results in the area of the butt joints 6 as a kind of pillar.

It should also be noted that the respective A or B wide strips 19, 20 and 19 ', 20' between the grooves and the edge of the plate module are chamfered in such a way that the embedded brackets 9 and 10 are flush with the adjacent cover layer 4 and 3 on the outside lie. They are only interrupted by a narrow slot in the area of the grooves. This design has the advantage that an almost invisible joint is created, which prevents corrosion spots that can occur at the bending and cutting edges from being covered and invisible.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of a joint area, in which the two selected bracket shapes 9 ', 10' have essentially the same shape as a bracket according to Figure 2. The grooves 14, 15, 14 ', 15' are arranged so that they are not opposite, but are arranged offset to each other. In mirror image to the butt joint 6, they have the same distances. With a configuration according to FIG. 3, the torsional stiffness can be selected differently in the different folding directions.

FIG. 3a shows that the webs 12, 13 are inserted into the groove 16 so that their outer sides each abut the outer wall of the recess 16. This is done by appropriate dimensioning of webs and distances. The webs are glued in the groove. A corresponding adhesive bead 22 has been injected into the trough before the plates are joined and remains below the angle formed by the web 11 and the end web 12, these parts being firmly bonded in the groove. The adhesive is not visible from the outside.

Figure 3 shows in the lower part of a special groove shape 14 ', 15'. Here, the grooves have been pressed in at an angle to the joint. The correspondingly pressed-in clip webs 12 ', 13' follow this shape and form inclined structures which exert an increased clamping force.

Figure 4 finally shows a further embodiment. In this, at least one edge 21 of a cover layer is designed so that it continues into a bracket 9 'designed as an overlap that bridges the butt joint 6. The overlap ends in an end web 12 ', which in the top layer of the adjacent plate module and engages in a corresponding groove 14. This same configuration is available at the bottom. The effect is based on the other module plate and ends in a web 12˝ on the opposite side. In this example, too, the webs 12 ′, 12˝ are glued in the grooves 14. Here, too, there is substantial stiffening in the region of the butt joint 6.

It is also possible to use clips with two different widths, which are alternately attached to the front and back and are also offset with their clip bars.

The aforementioned brackets are preferably a rail with a cross-sectional shape, which extend essentially over the entire height of the lightweight building boards. The lightweight panels are usually constructed so that the butt joints and rails run vertically. But it is not excluded that the installation is also horizontal. The brackets can also be divided over the length of the butt joint, whereby a reduction in the rigidity may be accepted.

Overall, the lightweight construction boards described above result in very stable, torsion-resistant and vibration-resistant structures in which the temperature expansions and the like can be compensated for and absorbed without any signs of loosening. Accordingly, the lightweight panels are particularly suitable for truck bodies, temporary shelters and the like.

Claims (3)

1. A lightweight building panel comprising a number of identical modules (1, 2) in the form of sandwiches of two outer rigid covering layers (3, 4) and a foam core (6) therebetween, the modules (1, 2) being contiguous with one another at joints (6), one attaching strip each (9, 10, 9′, 10′) being provided at the front arid back of the modules (1, 2) near the joints (6) and bridging the same, the end members (12, 13, 12′, 13′) of the attaching strips or clips being received in channels (14, 15, 14′, 15′, 17, 18) rebated into the covering layers (3, 4),
characterised in that
the between-modules joints (6) are connected by an adhesive layer (7) arid the attaching strips or clips (9, 10, 9′, 10′) are firmly stuck together, a torsionally rigid box-like structure being formed.

2. A panel according to claim 1, characterised in that the covering layers (3, 4) in which the channels are formed are made of sheet metal or plastics and/or plastics-coated sheet metal.

3. A panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that in the sticking of the strips or clips (9, 10, 9′, 10′) surplus adhesive (22) remains between the insides of the end members (12, 13, 12′, 13′) and the insides of the channels (14, 15, 14′, 15′, 17, 18).

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