EP0383656B1 - Panelling or partition element comprising a metal sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

A main metal sheet (2) is held in a state of tensile prestress by elastic elements preferably constituted by auxiliary metal sheets (7, 55, 56, 57) which have been elastically curved in order to be inserted between the folded-over edges (3, 50) or ribs (51, 53) of the main metal sheet. Advantageously, masses of insulating material (60, 61) are placed between the main metal sheet and the auxiliary metal sheets and/or between the auxiliary metal sheets and an additional metal sheet (53) which forms a caisson with the main metal sheet. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a facing or wall element comprising a flat sheet as a whole, but which may have perforations and / or ribs, and carrying stop elements placed on said sheet along at least two parallel lines, or forming a slight angle between them. These stop elements serve essentially to immobilize the element relative to an adjacent element, they can also serve to fix the element on a support structure. They can be constituted by a rib or a folded edge at right angles to the sheet itself, or by an independent piece, fixed by a suitable means on the sheet.

Such elements are commonly used for exterior fencing and / or building decoration or for constituting partitions. When combined with a suitable insulating material, they are used for sound or thermal insulation.

The sheet which constitutes these elements can deform, under the effect of thermal constraints in particular, which harms the overall appearance of the wall, or wall, which then takes the form of a series of irregularly warped surfaces. Furthermore, this sheet has its own resonant frequency. If this frequency corresponds to a sound emitted by a machine in a workshop, for example, it may result in an undesirable increase in noise, which appears only after the installation of the wall or partition and cannot be removed only by costly modifications or replacement of items.

The object of the invention is to provide an element of the type indicated at the beginning of this specification, and which does not have the drawbacks which have just been explained, that is to say the sheet of which retains a flat surface in together during the period of use, and / or whose natural frequency can be easily changed.

To obtain this result, the invention provides a facing or wall element comprising a sheet main plane as a whole, but may have perforations and / or ribs, and carrying stop means fixed to said sheet along at least two parallel lines or forming between them a small angle, which has the particularity that '' it further comprises at least one prestressing means which exerts on said sheet, by means of said stop means, a prestressing force directed parallel to the plane of said main sheet and of intensity such as the surface of said sheet remains flat as a whole during the period of use of the element, and / or the main resonant frequency of the whole remains within limits fixed in advance and which do not include the natural resonant frequencies of said sheet and the prestressing element when they are not under stress.

According to a particularly simple and advantageous method, the prestressing means is constituted by an auxiliary plate which has two edges spaced apart by a distance greater than the distance between the stop means and comes to bear by these edges on said means of stop, and the difference between the difference between the stop means carried by the main sheet and the distance between the edges of the auxiliary sheet is such that the second sheet is kept curved and exerts on the sheet, by means of the stop means, the desired prestressing force.

It can however be provided that the prestressing means consists of several elastic elements acting under compression between two points of the stop means, means being provided to possibly prevent a deformable parallelogram effect. Such an elastic element can be constituted, for example, by a rod or a metal blade whose length is greater than the distance between the points of the stop means, the difference being as defined above.

In any case, it is preferable that the means stop extend substantially over the entire length of the sheet and are placed along the edges thereof, or parallel to these edges.

As mentioned at the beginning, the stop means can be constituted by a rib or a folded edge of the sheet itself, and in this case the preferred method above is easily obtained. They can also be constituted by a separate part fixed on the sheet. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the prestressing means itself are involved in the fixing of the stop means. For this, it is provided that at least one of the stop means is immobilized relative to the main sheet by the fact that it is pushed by the prestressing means against a fold or a rib of the main sheet.

• l'élément comprend une tôle supplémentaire, située du côté du moyen de précontrainte opposé à la tôle principale, et maintenue par ladite tôle et/ou par les moyens d'arrêt. L'élément présente alors la forme d'un caisson fermé.
• l'élément comprend plusieurs tôles auxiliaires superposées, cintrées pour avoir des concavités dirigées dans le même sens ou en sens opposés. Cela peut permettre de diminuer l'effort de mise en précontrainte imposé à chaque tôle.
• l'élément comprend plusieurs tôles auxiliaires qui se succèdent sur la longueur de la principale tôle dans la direction des moyens d'arrêt. C'est une disposition intermédiaire entre la tôle unique et le moyen de précontrainte composé de tiges ou lames évoqué plus haut.
• l'élément comprend plus de deux moyens d'arrêt parallèles ou faisant un faible angle entre eux, et un nombre adapté de moyens de précontrainte prenant appui chacun sur deux moyens d'arrêt. Ces moyens d'arrêt peuvent être, par exemple, constitués par des nervures intermédiaires de la tôle. Cette disposition convient en particulier pour des éléments de grande largeur.

In its simplest version, the element comprises only two parts: a sheet, with lateral ribs or folded edges, and an auxiliary sheet which rests on these ribs or folded edges. Depending on the circumstances, we may be led to more complicated embodiments. We have already mentioned the fact of having means of stopping separate from the sheet. We can also foresee that:

• the element comprises an additional sheet, located on the side of the prestressing means opposite to the main sheet, and held by said sheet and / or by the stop means. The element then has the shape of a closed box.
• the element comprises several superimposed auxiliary sheets, bent to have concavities directed in the same direction or in opposite directions. This can reduce the prestressing force imposed on each sheet.
• the element comprises several auxiliary sheets which follow one another along the length of the main sheet in the direction of the stop means. It is an intermediate arrangement between the single sheet and the means of prestressing composed of rods or blades mentioned above.
• the element comprises more than two stop means which are parallel or make a small angle between them, and an adapted number of prestressing means each bearing on two stop means. These stop means can be, for example, constituted by intermediate ribs of the sheet. This arrangement is particularly suitable for elements of large width.

These various modalities can be combined with one another.

It was said at the outset that the element of the invention could be used to provide thermal and / or sound insulation.

We can, as is known, to absorb the sounds, the main sheet is perforated. One can also provide that the element comprises a thermal and / or sound insulator. This can be placed between the main sheet and the prestressing means. In this case, one can provide an insulator with very low mechanical characteristics, such as fiber stuffing.

One can also provide an insulating mass placed on the side of the prestressing means which is opposite to the sheet.

In this case, if the additional sheet mentioned above is not provided, the insulating mass must constitute a plate of sufficient rigidity not to escape.

Advantageously, then, one of the stop means also constitutes a holding means for said plate of insulating material.

If, on the contrary, the additional sheet is provided, the insulating mass does not have to have its own rigidity. According to an interesting method, the space between the auxiliary sheets and the additional sheet is filled with a mass of foam formed in place.

According to another variant of the invention, instead of being constituted by an auxiliary sheet, the prestressing means is constituted by a mass of foam elastic compressed between the additional sheet and at least one bent retaining sheet to have a convexity directed towards said mass of foam, and which rests on the main sheet in the vicinity of the edges and / or ribs of said main sheet.

• Figure 1 est une vue en bout d'un élément selon l'invention, montrant ses relations avec deux éléments adjacents d'un parement ou d'une paroi,
• Figure 2 est une vue en bout d'une seconde réalisation conforme à l'invention,
• Figure 3 est une vue en bout d'une troisième réalisation conforme à l'invention,
• Figure 4 est une vue en bout d'une quatrième réalisation conforme à l'invention, et destinée à l'isolation thermique et/ou phonique,
• Figure 5 est une vue en bout d'une cinquième réalisation conforme à l'invention, également utilisable à des buts d'isolation thermique ou phonique.
• Figure 6 est une vue en bout, à plus grande échelle, d'une sixième réalisation conforme à l'invention, également utilisable à des buts d'isolation thermique ou phonique.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments, illustrated with the drawings, among which:

• FIG. 1 is an end view of an element according to the invention, showing its relationships with two adjacent elements of a facing or a wall,
• FIG. 2 is an end view of a second embodiment according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is an end view of a third embodiment according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is an end view of a fourth embodiment in accordance with the invention, and intended for thermal and / or sound insulation,
• Figure 5 is an end view of a fifth embodiment according to the invention, also usable for thermal or sound insulation purposes.
• Figure 6 is an end view, on a larger scale, of a sixth embodiment according to the invention, also usable for thermal or sound insulation purposes.

Figure 1 shows the simplest type of embodiment according to the invention. An element, designated as a whole by 1, is composed of a main sheet 2, and which has on one of its edges a fold at right angles 3, extended by a wing 4 which is parallel to the whole of the sheet and which returns to the center of it. The other edge of the sheet 2 has a folded edge 5 extended by a wing 6 parallel to the whole of the sheet and which departs from the center of the latter. The height of the folded edge 5 is a little greater than that of the folded edge 3, the difference corresponds substantially to the thickness of the sheet. In the figure, this difference has been deliberately exaggerated, for the sake of clarity. Inside the U-shaped space formed by the edges 3 and 5 and the sheet 2, an auxiliary sheet 7 is placed, which, when it is not constrained, is substantially flat, and which, like the figure indicates, was bent to be able to come to bear on the edges 3 and 5, thus creating the desired prestress.

There is shown in the figure, to the left and to the right of the element 1, elements 1A and 1B, similarly designed and whose folded edges 5A and 3B come to bear respectively on the edges 3 and 5 of the element 1.

As shown in the figure, the auxiliary sheet 7 bears on the folded edges 3 and 5 in the immediate vicinity of their junction with the sheet itself 2, which avoids any unwanted bending stress.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment. The main sheet 2 has edges 11, 12 folded more than at right angles, that is to say at about 120 ° so as to create re-entrant angles. The element also comprises an additional sheet 13, identical to sheet 2, but turned differently, so that the folded edges 11, 12 of sheet 2 and the edges 14, 15 of sheet 13 point towards each other. other. Sheet metal stop pieces 16, 17 bear respectively on the edges 11 and 14 and 12 and 15 which face the two sheets 2 and 13. The shape of these stop pieces 16, 17 is relatively complex . Indeed, they comprise grooves intended for the insertion of fixing and / or interlocking parts, not shown, connecting the element to a frame, also not shown.

The prestressing means here consists of a series of successive elastic blades, 18A, 18B, each of which has, in section, a curved shape analogous to that of the auxiliary plate 7 of FIG. 1, and the width of which is sufficient to avoid a deformable parallelogram effect. These elastic blades rest on the two stop pieces 16, 17, approximately in their center, that is to say halfway between the sheets 2 and 13. It will be noted that the main sheet 2 and the additional sheet 13 play roles here completely symmetrical and the denominations could be reversed. As can be seen, the element 1 here has the shape of a closed box, except of course at its ends. The elastic blades 18A, 18B are thus protected, both against external aggressions and against unwanted removal.

Figure 3 shows an element 1 formed, like the previous one, of a sheet 2 and an auxiliary sheet 13, these sheets being practically identical to that of Figure 2. However, the element is provided with stop pieces 20, 21, which this time consist not of metal profiles, but of solid profiles in PVC, another plastic material, or even wood, which may be suitable, provided that it has the suitable mechanical characteristics. The use of a plastic profile avoids the formation of a thermal bridge between the sheets 2 and 13.

Furthermore, in FIG. 3, the auxiliary sheet 7 is replaced by two auxiliary sheets 22, 23, arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry of the stop elements 20, 21, and with inverted curvatures. It is understood that the auxiliary sheets 22 and 23 will each require, to exert a preload equal to that of the auxiliary sheet 7 of Figure 1, a force substantially half less.

Figure 4 shows an element similar to that of Figure 1, but also providing significant thermal insulation, and also sound. The sheet 2 has the same shape as that of FIG. 1. It is the same for the auxiliary sheet 7. However, an additional stop piece 40 has been introduced between the rim 5 and the adjacent edge of the auxiliary sheet 7 This stopper is constituted by a U-shaped section whose two wings are parallel to the sheet 2 and directed towards the center of it. Its lower wing, 41, is in abutment against the sheet 2, itself, its body 42 is in abutment against the folded edge 5, and the other wing 43 is used to hold a plate of insulating material, rigid or semi-rigid , 44 which is thus held between the wing 43 of the stop piece 40, and the wing 4 of the opposite folded edge 3. In addition, the space between the sheet 2 and the auxiliary sheet 7 has been filled of a mass 45 of insulating fibers.

FIG. 5 also shows an element having good sound and acoustic insulation performance. The sheet 2 has a folded edge 3, with a wing 4, identical to those of FIG. 2, but its opposite edge 50 is folded at 180 °, for a reason which will be seen later. In addition, it has, in its central part, ribs 51, 52, directed towards the inside of the element.

An additional sheet 53 is fixed on the one hand by inserting one of its edges inside the folded edge at 180 °, 50 of the sheet 2, and, on the other hand, by fixing to a mass of insulating material 54, which rests on the wing 4 of the folded edge 3.

Several auxiliary sheets 55, 56, 57 are provided. The first is supported on the folded edge 3 and on the nearest rib 51. The second auxiliary sheet bears on two adjacent ribs 51, 52. The last auxiliary sheet 57 rests on the last rib 52 on the edge 58 of the additional sheet 53 which is inserted into the folded edge 50 of the sheet 2.

The sheet 2 has multiple perforations 59, for a well known acoustic purpose. Such perforations can also exist on the sheets 2 of the other examples. A mass of fibers 60 is placed between the sheet 2 and each of the auxiliary sheets 55 to 57, in the same way as for FIG. 4. Between the auxiliary sheets 55 to 57 and the additional sheet 53, a mass 61 of polyurethane foam or polyisocyanurate was formed by the establishment of a suitable foaming mixture.

An element of high aesthetic, acoustic and thermal performance is thus obtained.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment, also with high aesthetic, acoustic and thermal performance. The main sheet 2 is similar to that of FIG. 5, but also has, between the main ribs 51, 52, additional ribs 70, 71, less pronounced but directed in the same direction, towards the top of the figure. The additional sheet 53 is the same, but the auxiliary sheets are replaced by retaining sheets 72, 73, which are not subjected to prestressing and rest on the sheet 2 in the vicinity of its edges 3, 5 and / or ribs main 51, 52 by their edges, and, by ribs 74, 75 directed downward in the figure, on the additional ribs 70, 71. The prestressing means is constituted by a mass of elastic foam 76, which has been formed between the additional sheet 53, the retaining sheets 72, 73 and the stop means constituted by a folded edge 3 of the main sheet and an edge 58, visible in FIG. 5, of the additional sheet. This mass of foam under pressure cannot deform the main sheet 2, because it is practically not in contact with it, and that the retaining sheets exert a compressive force on the main sheet only in areas which are stiffened by the folded edges or by ribs. On the contrary, the pressure exerted by the mass of foam on the stop means tends to keep the main sheet under a tension parallel to its plane.

Of course, variants are possible, for example the ribs 70, 71 and 74, 75 are eliminated if the dimensions of the element allow it. One can also provide a single retaining plate, going from one edge to the other of the main sheet, and resting on the latter near these edges, and possibly on intermediate ribs.

Claims (14)

1. A facing or wall element comprising a principal metal sheet (2), plane overall, but which can have perforations and/or ribs, and bearing stop means fixed to the said metal sheet along at least two lines which are parallel or form a small angle between them,
      characterised in that it also comprises at least one prestressing means (7, 18A, 18B, 22, 23, 55 to 57, 76), which exerts on the said metal sheet, through the said stop means (3, 5, 40, 58), a prestressing force directed parallel to the plane of the said principal metal sheet and of a strength such that the surface of the said metal sheet remains plane overall throughout the period of use of the element, and/or that the principal resonant frequency of the assembly remains within limits which are fixed in advance and which do not include the natural resonant frequencies of the said metal sheet or of the prestressing element when they are not stressed.
2. An element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the prestressing means consists of an auxiliary metal sheet (7) which has two edges separated by a distance greater than the distance between the stop means and bears, by these edges, on the said stop means, and the difference between the distance between the stop means borne by the principal metal sheet (2) and the distance between the edges of the auxiliary metal sheet (7) is such that the second metal sheet is kept curved and exerts, through the stop means, the desired prestressing force on the principal metal sheet.
3. An element according to Claim 1, characterised in that the prestressing means consists of several elastic elements (18A, 18B) acting under compression between two points on the stop means, means being provided to prevent, if necessary, any deformable parallelogram effect.
4. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the stop means (7) extend substantially over the entire length of the principal metal sheet and are positioned along the edges of the latter or parallel to these edges.
5. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one of the stop means (16, 17, 20, 21, 40) is immobilised with respect to the principal metal sheet by being pushed by the prestressing means (7, 18A, 18B) against a fold or rib in the principal metal sheet.
6. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises a supplementary metal sheet (13, 53), situated on the side of the prestressing means opposite to the principal metal sheet and held by the said metal sheet and/or by the stop means.
7. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises several superimposed auxiliary metal sheets (22, 23) arched so as to have concavities directed in the same direction or in opposite directions.
8. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises several auxiliary metal sheets which come one after the other over the length of the principal metal sheet in the direction of the stop means.
9. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises more than two stop means (3, 51, 52, 58) which are parallel or make a small angle between them, and a suitable number of prestressing means (7) each bearing on two stop means.
10. An element according to Claims 2 and 6 taken together, characterised in that the space between the principal metal sheet and the supplementary metal sheet is filled with a mass of foam (61) formed in situ.
11. An element according to Claims 1 and 6 taken together, characterised in that the prestressing means consists of a mass of flexible foam (76) compressed between the supplementary metal sheet (53) and at least one retaining metal sheet (72, 73) arched to present a convexity directed towards the said mass of foam, and which bears on the principal metal sheet (2) in the vicinity of the edges and/or ribs of the said principal metal sheet.
12. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that a thermal and/or sound insulation (45, 60) is placed between the principal metal sheet (2) and the prestressing means (7).
13. An element according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that a sheet (44) of thermal and/or sound insulation material is placed on the side of the prestressing means which is opposite to the principal metal sheet.
14. An element according to Claim 13, characterised in that at least one of the stop means (40) also constitutes a retaining means for the said sheet (44) of insulating material.

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