EP0494029B1 - Metallic panel for covering or filling-up supporting structures f.i. facades or roofs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a new structure of flat metallic exterior panels intended for covering or filling various load-bearing structures, in particular, although not exclusively, of facades and roofing of buildings.

Embodiments of such panels with a planar appearance are known, from a simple thin metal sheet, generally folded over by bending on 2 or 4 sides in order to give a certain stiffness to the panel and to constitute attachment means or of fixation.

• soit à augmenter fortement l'épaisseur des tôles lorsque les dimensions des panneaux deviennent importantes ;
• soit à y incorporer des profils raidisseurs ponctuels collés ou soudés au dos de la tôle de parement.

However, to achieve a sufficiently planar appearance of these panels, one can generally be led:

• either greatly increase the thickness of the sheets when the dimensions of the panels become large;
• either to incorporate punctual stiffening profiles glued or welded to the back of the facing sheet.

In addition, on the simple mechanical level, a thin sheet of large surface is subjected to significant loads (self-weight, forces due to wind or snow, for example) which practically systematically justify one and / or the other. of these provisions.

However, these solutions, if they can meet the mechanical criteria rarely meet that of aesthetics, because good flatness of the panel is only rarely achieved due to deformations of the thin sheet by thermal expansion or shrinkage. These dilations cause either buckling or warping effects of the sheet metal, i.e. marking phenomena of stiffening profiles (ghost effect) due to differential expansions between sheet metal and stiffeners.

To eliminate these unsightly phenomena, and by increasing the overall inertia of the panel without increasing the thickness of the sheet in an economically unacceptable way, composite panel systems have been designed associating two very thin sheets, but located at a certain controlled distance from each other and linked together by connecting devices. The spacing between the external facing sheet and the internal sheet (of the order of 5 to 25 mm) thus improves the inertia of the panel, and the device for bonding the two sheets can also contribute by its nature to the mechanical performance. overall of the panel.

• le parement externe vu doit avoir un aspect parfait,
• le parement interne joue le rôle de raidisseur et est généralement constitué d'un matériau de même nature que le parement externe,
• le dispositif de liaison entre les parements constitue l'âme du panneau, avec parfois une fonction complémentaire dans la performance mécanique totale du panneau.

Schematically, these panels are similar to a sandwich structure where:

• the external facing seen must have a perfect appearance,
• the internal facing acts as a stiffener and is generally made of a material of the same nature as the external facing,
• the connecting device between the facings constitutes the core of the panel, sometimes with a complementary function in the total mechanical performance of the panel.

• soit sur les bords rabattus des panneaux,
• soit au dos du parement interne par des systèmes de type agrafe.

In the various known elements of this type, the aim being mainly to obtain an aesthetic appearance of the perfectly planar external facing, the panels are generally held by non-traversing and hidden fixing devices:

• either on the folded edges of the panels,
• either on the back of the internal facing by clip-type systems.

It is important in all cases that the external facing, while remaining flat, have a uniform appearance and free of any markings which could come from contacts between the external facing sheet and the core, in particular due to differential expansions.

This therefore generally leads to a core principle consisting either of a completely continuous material on the face in contact with the external facing, or on the contrary to a core leading to contacts whose surface will be almost zero if possible.

In illustration of these principles, a known element is a three-component panel composed of a thin and flat external sheet, an internal stiffener made of an identical material, and a core made of a continuous layer of constant thickness in synthetic or plastic material, polyethylene type.

Polyethylene, as a core material, is interesting because it is easy to work with, adheres well to the sheets, is easily foldable to form panels, while remaining rigid enough to ensure the connection between the two sheets and give the 'flat appearance to the external facing sheet which may then only have thicknesses of the order of 0.5 mm.

However, this type of core has the disadvantage of being combustible and giving off toxic vapors. In addition, the manufacture of such panels is relatively expensive because it requires the assembly of three elements and two bonding operations.

Another type of known element, also tri-component, comprises a core of honeycomb type, generally metallic, but possibly plastic. The advantage of honeycomb structures is that the constituent material rarely exceeds a few tenths of a millimeter. Depending on the size of the mesh, a very large number of fine linear contacts are thus obtained with no preferred direction between the core and the external facing and the internal stiffener, the surface contact almost zero between the honeycomb and the facing. external guarantees the absence of marking.

Very light, but also very fragile, the honeycomb links the external facing to its stiffener and thus constitutes a panel with great mechanical and aesthetic performance.

However, in addition to this fragility of the central core, such a honeycomb structure is very expensive and the manufacture of the panel still requires the assembly of three elements and two bonding operations.

• de par le côté unidirectionnel de sa propre structure, de créer un sens privilégié dans la tenue mécanique du panneau, et donc de favoriser des déformations dans le sens perpendiculaire à l'axe des nervurations ;
• le contact linéaire entre les sommets d'ondes de l'âme et le parement externe est alors réalisé sur de grandes longueurs en continu et augmente le risque d'apparition sur le parement externe du "fantôme" de l'âme par effet de dilatations différentielles entre les différents composants ;
• de plus, pour minimiser ce risque, il faut que les contacts linéaires soient de surface extrêmement réduite, ce qui oblige à utiliser des âmes de nervurations extrêmement faibles et rapprochées, l'inertie complémentaire potentiellement apportée par l'âme étant ainsi réduite à néant.

Another element of known type consists in using as core a thin sheet, of metal or other, very finely wavy or ribbed. In such a system, the core then plays a complementary mechanical role due to its own rigidity, depending on the thickness of its undulation or ribbing. However, she has a handicap:

• from the unidirectional side of its own structure, to create a privileged direction in the mechanical behavior of the panel, and therefore to favor deformations in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the ribs;
• the linear contact between the wave summits of the core and the external facing is then carried out over long lengths continuously and increases the risk of appearance on the external facing of the "ghost" of the soul by the effect of differential expansions between the different components;
• moreover, to minimize this risk, it is necessary that the linear contacts are of extremely reduced surface, which obliges to use souls of extremely weak and close ribbings, the additional inertia potentially brought by the soul being thus reduced to nothing.

Finally, in such a panel, the core no longer ends up playing the simple role of connection between external facing and stiffener, without however excluding the risks of marking of the core on the external facing. This panel, moreover, remains expensive, always due to the assembly of three components and two bonding operations.

Furthermore, from document FR-A-1,045,315, composite panels are known which are formed from two parallel metal sheets connected by spacer tongues formed in one of the sheets.

However, these are structuring panels responsible for resisting forces liable to be exerted in the three dimensions and not covering panels and the arrangement of the spacer tongues does not allow the number of points to be multiplied and densified fixing between the two sheets while reducing the surface of each contact zone, but on the contrary, reduces the flexibility of the reinforcing reinforcement, transferring any planimetric defects thereof to the outer skin. This prohibits the production of covering panels, the visible face of which must be perfect and without any trace or mark in line with the fixing points of the skin constituting the external element of the panels.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a new system of metallic flat panels for covering or filling structures, of simpler design, faster and economical to produce and offering an impeccable surface appearance, in particular for the skin constituting the external element. Signs.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a metal panel for covering or filling load-bearing structures, in particular facades or covers, of the type comprising an external metal skin fixed to a reinforcing structure, said reinforcing structure consisting of a metal sheet folded, cut and / or deformed perpendicular to its plane so as to obtain elongated tongues comprising a central part fixed in particular by gluing to said outer skin and inclined parts for connection to said metal sheet, so as to obtain a three-dimensional structure defining, at least on the side facing said external skin, a plurality of contact points, of suitable surface and distribution, arranged in the same plane, characterized in that the zones of realization of said tongues are of rectangular shape elongated and aligned in parallel alignments and staggered from alignment to neighboring alignment, over the entire surface of said thin sheet, said three-dimensional structure having an overall thickness of a few millimeters and means being provided for fixing the entire panel on a load-bearing framework.

The skin and the reinforcement are advantageously made from two similar sheets of thin metal of steel, aluminum, zinc or another metal or alloy, and the fixing of the skin to the reinforcement is preferably carried out by bonding of said skin in line with said contact points provided on the reinforcement.

The means for fixing the external skin-reinforcement assembly are, for example, constituted by metal profiles, of known type, glued to the rear face of the reinforcement and taken up at their ends on folded edges of the external skin, using rivets, screws, welds or the like.

According to a more elaborate variant embodiment, intended for filling a load-bearing framework or for constituting a wall or partition, the panel is provided with edge profiles attached to said metal profiles, so as to provide a space behind the reinforcement. receiving a thermal insulation material, said sections serving both as a support for a possible interior wall closing said space and for fixing the panel to said load-bearing framework.

The possible interior wall mentioned above may also have the same two-component structure as the other facade of the panel, that is to say the same skin-reinforcement association, the skin advantageously being able to receive any glued coatings, plastics, papers or carpet, etc ...

• Figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un panneau conforme à l'invention selon un mode de réalisation ;
• Figures 2 à 4 illustrent divers modes de réalisation du renfort du panneau de l'invention ;
• Figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale de deux panneaux adjacents, agencés et montés pour former une cloison, et
• Figure 6 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de la figure 5.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of embodiments of panels according to the invention, description given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a panel according to the invention according to one embodiment;
• Figures 2 to 4 illustrate various embodiments of the reinforcement of the panel of the invention;
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of two adjacent panels, arranged and mounted to form a partition, and
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 5.

In Figure 1 there is shown schematically a panel according to the invention consisting of an external metal skin 1 bonded to a metal reinforcement 2, on the face opposite to the skin 1 which can be bonded metal profiles 3 known in themselves and intended to serve as means of fixing the panel and possibly to provide additional transverse rigidity to the panel.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the edges 1a and 1b of the skin 1 are folded, opposite the ends of the profiles 3, in the known manner so as to allow the interlocking of two adjacent panels, providing between them a channel 4 for collection and possible drainage of water, in particular when the panels are used as cover.

The ends of the profiles 3 are fixed to the folded edges 1a, 1b by rivets, screws, welds or other means.

The panels thus formed are fixed by any appropriate means on a secondary frame 5, in front of a masonry 6 or other, or above a roof (not shown).

The outer skin 1 and the reinforcement 2 are obtained from sheet metals, for example aluminum, steel, zinc or any other metal or alloy.

The metal of the skin 1 can be protected from oxidation and receive any surface treatment, in particular color prepainting or an anodization treatment.

The skin 1 may for example have a thickness of 5/10 to 20/10 of mm., A width of 0.3 to 2 m. and a length of up to 15 m. It may have folds 1a, 1b on its edges, of shapes different from those shown in Figure 1, for example simple edge dropped at right angles or rounded edge, or not have folded edges.

The folded edges (1a, 1b), if there are any, are formed along the longitudinal and / or lateral edges of the skin 1.

The reinforcement 2 is of the same nature as the skin 1 to avoid the phenomena of differential expansion and is formed of a thin metal sheet worked so as to obtain an overall thickness of the metal sufficient to give rigidity.

Thus the sheet intended to constitute the reinforcement 2 is folded, ribbed, perforated and deformed or punctures are produced by a punching-stamping operation, so as to give the sheet (initial thickness of a few tenths of mm.) thus deformed perpendicular to its plane, an overall thickness of 5 to 20 mm. by way of example, by defining a certain number of contact points arranged in the same plane, parallel to the initial plane of said sheet, the surface and the distribution of the contact points, at least on the side facing the skin 1, being chosen appropriately and consistently.

The variation in the overall thickness of the reinforcement thus deformed, in combination with the distribution of the contact points, depends on the inertia desired for the panel, this need for inertia itself being variable, in particular depending on the dimensions panels and the nature of the loads that will be applied to them.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate three embodiments of such a reinforcement.

2 shows a reinforcement 2 ′ formed of a sheet in which punctures have been made, by punching and stamping, so as to define, on each side of the initial plane of the sheet, elementary surfaces 7 arranged in the same plane , and used for bonding the skin 1.

FIG. 3 represents a reinforcement 2˝ produced by punching then folding so as to form small bonding surfaces 8 situated in the same plane and aligned on the line of crests of parallel ribs N obtained during folding.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the reinforcement consisting of a thin sheet 2˝ ′ deformed by punching and stamping in zones 9 of elongated rectangular shape, distributed regularly in staggered rows over the entire surface of the sheet 2˝ ′.

At the height of the zones 9 the metal of the sheet 2˝ ′ is pushed back on the same side of the sheet, so as to form a tongue comprising a central part 10a parallel to the plane of the sheet 2˝ ′ and two inclined parts 10b of sheet connection.

All the central parts 10a are in the same plane, parallel to the plane of the sheet 2˝ ′ and at the same distance from this plane and are fixed, preferably by gluing, by their external face, to the skin 1.

In this embodiment, the internal face of the skin assembly 1-reinforcement 2˝ ′ is flat and relatively large and can thus allow for example a bonding of said assembly on a support face.

Advantageously, the punching zones 9 can be formed, one row out of two, of rectangular windows oriented perpendicularly to the others as illustrated by the dashed windows 9 ′. With such an arrangement of the punching zones (9.9 ′), remarkable stiffness of the reinforcement 2˝ ′ is obtained since it is maximum in the two orthogonal directions defined by the rectangular zones 9 and 9 ′ respectively.

In general, the shapes, dimensions and distribution of the punching areas (9.9 ′) may vary within wide limits.

The overall thickness of the reinforcement (2, 2 ′, 2˝, 2˝ ′) is 5 to 20 mm. and the points of contact (7, 8, 10a) with the external skin 1 are sufficiently dense and of small area to avoid the appearance of the trace of these points under the effects of exposure to the sun and to the cold to which will be subjected the outer skin. The thinner this skin, the smaller the distances between the contact points between the reinforcement and the outer skin (generally less than 25 mm.).

The reinforcement (2,2 ′, 2˝, 2˝ ′) is bonded to the internal face of the skin 1 using hot or cold glue, or else adhesive film, double-sided, hot or Cold. This bonding is done either by vacuum, or by heating press, which is preferable if the reinforcement 2 is highly structured.

The width and the length of the reinforcement (2,2 ′, 2˝, 2˝ ′) are substantially and depending on the folding device selected, the same as those of the skin 1.

The bonding operation carried out, the skin and the reinforcement form a rigid composite making it possible to produce flat panels, while retaining the possibility, by employing a lower inertia reinforcement, of conferring on the panel a certain flexibility, necessary for example the production of curved panels.

The panels can be usefully supplemented by metal profiles on their edges, providing a space between the interior wall and the supporting framework of the two-component system of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates such an embodiment in which the outer skin 1 of each panel, glued to a reinforcement, is provided with folded edges 1a, 1b arranged so as to receive edge profiles 11 and 12 delimiting, on the rear face of the external skin assembly 1-reinforcement 2, a space capable of being filled with a material 13 for thermal and sound insulation (glass wool for example).

The edge profiles 11, 12 are fixed at 14 and 15 to the folded edges 1a, 1b and are shaped so as to form therebetween a space where an air seal 16 and a receiving interval 17 are received. wiring sheaths.

Holes 18 formed in the profiles 11, 12 at the right of the interval 17 allow the passage of said sheaths towards the inside of the panels.

Stiffeners can be provided at 19 between two adjacent sections 11, 12.

The internal flanges 11a, 12a of the sections 11, 12 are arranged in the same plane and so as to receive an internal wall 20 for closing the internal space filled with insulation. A composite partition is thus constituted, the internal facing of which is constituted by the wall 20. There is shown symbolically at 21 in FIG. 5 the supporting framework of the panels and at 22 the fixing of the latter on said framework.

FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the device of FIG. 5 showing the fixing of the panels on the framework shown at 23.

The inner wall 20 is optional and may consist of the same skin panel 1-reinforcement 2 as the outer wall, the inner skin (facing the frame) can receive, in addition to the treatment possibilities mentioned for the outer skin 1, glued coatings, plastics, papers or carpet.

The edged metal profiles 11, 12 generally allow the panels to be fixed on one side only, on the beams or posts of the frame and to slide the profile of the next panel under that of the panel already laid and fixed to the frame 23 .

Sockets and switches can be built into this wall 20.

In some cases, in general on the roof, the detail of the joint of the edge profiles, between them, will be adapted so that rainwater is systematically discharged on the next panel without being able to enter the building.

The panels, both on the cover and on the facade, can be cut and allow their replacement by translucent parts and thus provide lighting for the building.

It should also be noted that the two-component external skin 1-reinforcement 2 assembly can be easily folded, for example at a right angle, by making a groove in the reinforcement on the internal face, at the desired location, 2 to allow easy folding of the skin 1 at this location.

The panels of the invention can be used to constitute ceilings, walls and various arrangements, advertising panels, metal furniture, etc.

The implementation of the invention requires less material, less production time, fewer bonding operations than the manufacture of the known metal panels mentioned above.

Finally, the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments shown and described above but on the contrary covers all the variants thereof, in particular as regards the shapes and dimensions of the reinforcement (2,2 ′, 2˝, 2˝ ′), the shapes, dimensions and distribution of the surfaces (7,8,10a) intended to be fixed, by gluing or other technique, to said reinforcement and the means for fixing the skin 1-reinforcement assembly (2, 2 ′, 2˝, 2˝ ′) on the reception structure.

Claims (5)

1. A metal panel for cladding or infilling supporting structures, particularly wall or roof coverings, of the type including an external metal skin (1) fixed to a reinforcing structure, said reinforcing structure comprising a metal sheet (2''') which is folded, cut out and/or deformed perpendicular to its plane so as to obtain elongated tongues, including a central part (10a) which is fixed to said external skin particularly by adhesion and inclined parts (10b) for connection to said metal sheet (2'''), so as to obtain a three-dimensional structure defining a plurality of coplanar contact points of appropriate area and distribution, at least at the side facing towards said external skin, characterised in that the zones (9) where said tongues (10a, 10b) are formed are of elongated rectangular shape and are aligned in parallel alignments and staggered from one alignment to the next, over the whole area of said thin sheet (2'''), said three-dimensional structure having an overall thickness of a few millimetres, and means being provided for fixing the whole panel to a supporting skeleton.
2. A panel according to claim 1, characterised in that it has means for fixing the external skin (1) / reinforcement (2''') assembly, comprising metal sections (3) of known type which are stuck to the rear surface of the reinforcement and held at their ends on folded edges (1a,1b) of the external skin (1), by means of rivets, screws, welds or the like.
3. A panel according to claim 1 or 2, more particularly intended for infilling a supporting skeleton or forming a wall or partition, characterised in that it is fitted with edge sections (11,12), so as to leave a space behind the reinforcement (2''') to receive a heat insulation material (13), said sections acting as means for fixing the panel to said supporting skeleton (23).
4. A panel according to claim 3, characterised in that said edge sections (11, 12) receive an inner wall (20).
5. A panel according to claim 4, characterised in that said inner wall (20) comprises a skin (1) / reinforcement (2''') assembly.

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