EP0797522B1

EP0797522B1 - Corrugated structures and a profiled batten used in such structures

Info

Publication number: EP0797522B1
Application number: EP95941111A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pekka Rapeli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-12-22
Filing date: 1995-12-21
Publication date: 2001-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-21
Also published as: AU4262796A; NO972917L; WO1996019379A1; EP0797522A1; FI946029A0; DE69520447D1; FI101278B; NO972917D0; FI946029A; FI101278B1

Description

The present innovation relates to structures made of corrugated sheets and to profiled battens used in such structures. Especially the invention relates to the locking together of corrugated sheet elements, defined in the introductory part of the claim 1, opposite to each other in their thickness direction, in order to combine them to each other and to the connection of the corrugated sheet elements together in sideways direction with a profiled batten at the longitudinal edges of their corrugations. The invention also, relates to the profiled batten, defined in the introductory part of the claim 18, to be used for the connection of the corrugated sheet elements together in sideways direction. The invention will be applied above all in the shipbuilding industry to produce various store room elements and handling room elements, especially for proviant stores and handling and processing rooms.

E.g. in passenger ships such stores are situated in locations, which for several reasons are not suitable for accommodation purposes, but whereto transportation connections from end operation sites, as from galley and shops, can be arranged and whereto loading possibilities from the pier are good. The storage rooms must fulfil very high hygienic requirements and to have good thermal insulation in order to maintain even and correct temperature. The fire resistance of the insulation must be as good as possible. In addition the structures used in ships always are required to have a good torsional strength.

In terms of constructional engineering it is desirable, that these rooms as far as possible can be manufactured in the factory, whereupon they after shifting into the ship do not need much finishing work. The moving of assembly work from the ship into the factory will increase the productivity, and it will shorten the delivery time of the vessel, it will improve the quality of the product and it will make it possible to lift the room modules onboard the ship having it's equipment already tested.

Today such sophisticated storage rooms are made of stainless sheet steel cassets having on one side of the casset a pressed or glued-on insulation layer. The cassets are as high as the respective deck height. The supporting structure of the wall is assembled onboard the ship requiring mainly manual labor and compricing many work stages. A strict planning of materials and transportation onboard the ship from the shipyard is required. Despite of all planning there is a great risk, that during these work stages the materials are suffering from surface damages and even from dents.

During the assembly stage of the wall supporting structure the cables and small pipings of provisional refrigerating equipment as well as drain and scupper pipes in the floor structures are drawn. Next the equipment will be mounted on the walls, e.g. the storage shelves, refrigerating fans and lighting. After finished erection work the testing of equipment will begin. Also these stages take a long time.

The present wall casset system does not make it possible to utilize high spaces within the ship and increasing of casset height would result in a supporting structure of excessive weight, which must be avoided.

When connecting the known wall cassets together, the seam must for hygienic reasons be sealed with a special composition. The international sanitary norms for this seam composition are tight and the seams are required to be renewed regularly, because bacterial strains can easily breed there.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to diminish disadvantages presented above.

This has been realized by the method according to the invention, which is chacterized primarily in what is presented in the characteristic features' part of claim 1 as well as to the profiled batten, which is characterized in what is presented in the characteristic features' part of claim 18.

The corrugated sheet element used in the method according to the invention means a plate combined of a backing sheet and a corrugated sheet, which usually is slightly thinner. The corrugations (8) are directed in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated sheet and the transverse cross section of the corrugation sheet (8) are forming a wavy line in which the crests (8a) and the troughs (8b) are horisontal linear elements of said line. Wave-formed corrugation is usually adopted but also rectangular corrugations can be used. The corrugated sheet is fixed to the backing sheet at the trough of the waves. The fastening is carried out by using known technologies, i.e. by spot-welding, laser welding, riveting or by glueing.

The opposite corrugated sheet elements are locked together in direction of thickness by using the method according to the invention, meaning that the sheet faces of the elements are locked together so that they form a double wall.

With the method according to the invention the corrugated sheet elements are also connected to each other in sideways direction mainly at their vertical edges by using a profile, meaning that the corrugated sheet elements are fastened side by side to each other at heir vertical edges so, that two or three corrugated sheet elements together will form broadwise a lengthy wall element.

The basis for the method according to the invention are the corrugated sheet elements known in itself, which are manufactured e.g. of stainless steel or alumina. The straight backing sheets are irrespective of their width and height of sheet having thickness of about 1 to 4 mm, and the corrugated sheets are of slightly thinner material. The corrugated sheets can also be manufactured of compound material, whereupon the internal side of the storage room is cladded e.g. with a layer of stainless steel having a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5.mm and the backing sheet is of normal carbon steel.

When locking the opposite corrugated sheet elements in direction of thickness together so that they are immovable in sideways direction, the corrugated sheet elements are placed opposite to each other or in other words opposite to each other in direction of the thickness either so that the crests and trougs are interlocked or so that the crests are placed next to each other, whereupon the opposite surfaces, i.e. locking members formed onto the crest surfaces or on the insulation material fastened onto the crest surfaces, are fastened to each other. The locking action of the members is based on their form so that the opposite locking members are directly fastened to each other or they are fastened to each other by means of a connection member.

In this way a rigid structure formed by two opposite corrugated sheel element is realized, which at the same time contains a well insulated separated room. The insulation ability can be improved by filling it with insulation material, e.g. with insulation board or by injecting it with foam or flakes.

When forming the room elements from corrugated sheet elements the adjacent corrugated sheet elements are connected to each other in sideways direction so that their side edges are fitted into the sideways direction outwards opening groove of the profiled batten, each edge into their own groove, the one edge into respective groove of the profiled groove and the other edge into respective groove of an other profiled batten, and are fastened to the profiles e.g. by fillet welding.

The wedge-like form of groove makes it possible to use different material thicknesses in the elements and enables their connection and at same time giving a small allowance in the sideways direction for adjustment. The welded connection makes the sealing of the seam unnecessary, which in case of proviant stores is a very significant aspect.

According to the advantageous embodiment of the invention the crest surfaces opposite to each other have locking members arranged so that the one crest surface has female members and the other opposite crest surface has male locking members.

The locking members can extend for the whole length of the connecting surface forming a continuous groove set. Alternatively the locking members can be formed of separate grooves and rifles or corresponding recesses and projections having equal or unequal length set according to a certain pattern.

The locking members can be placed on all crest surfaces or only on selected crest surfaces.

According to an other advantageous embodiment of the invention the locking members are formed of dovetail members or of members of an other shape, e.g. of shape of eight having a corresponding locking effect, whereupon the opposite crest surfaces have said locking members and the locking of the crest surfaces is carried out by inserting into the channel a rod member, whose cross section matches the shape of the channel between the locking members.

In order to insulate the corrugated sheet elements from each other, a layer of insulation material, which e.g is foamed plastic, plastic or mineral wool, is applied according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, onto surfaces to be insulated and opposite to each other, and at least some of the opposite insulation surfaces will have locking members described above.

The rod-like core member can be made of insulating material, e.g. plastic or it can be made of metal. Alternatively the rod-like member can be formed to an insulation piece to be fitted between the crest surfaces or as an insulation piece to be fitted between the opposite insulation layers, whereupon the width of the insulation piece matches that of the crest surfaces, it's thickness matches the desired insulation thickness and the projections formed like dovetails or other shapes in the midle of the insulation piece are matching the grooves of the crest surfaces or insulation surfaces.

According to the advantageous embodiment the rod-like member is devided into pieces, whereupon there is no need to raise a rod having length equal to that of the room element vertically above the room element, which at least in a restricted room within the ship can be impossible. From the point of view of the possible dismantling of the room element it also is advantageous to have the locking member devided into pieces. On the top ends of the pieces there are advantageously attached hook-like members, which are easy to grip when disassembling the room element.

The fastening of corrugated sheet elements to each other in order to form a room element in sideways direction is advantageously carried out by welding, if the room element in question is acting as a proviant store. When the hygienic requirements are less stringent, the fastening can be carried out by a sealing composition, by glueing or by a sealing wedge. The welding is carried out advantageously directly in a welding jig by fillet welding.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the fastening of the corrugated sheet elements in sideways direction to each other is carried out so that first the interlocking positioning of the profiled batten and corrugated sheet element is adjusted and by tack-welding them in desired position. The tack-welding is carried out by applying fixing fillets at the hole edges near the batten's edge. Next the edges of the corrugated sheet are fastened to the groove edges of the profiled batten by welding, e.g. by fillet welding or by plastic welding, or the fastening can be carried out with a sealing compostion, by glueing or by using sealing wedges made of various materials.

During the assembly stage the excessive width of a wall element can by means of this adjustable seam be set to exact right dimension by adjusting the exessive width within the groove. In this way assembly time can be saved and the exact measurements of the elements can be secured.

The corrugated sheet elements connected to each other in sideways direction or in the direction of the wall are formed to rectangular or square shaped room elements by bending the element into angle of 90°. The radius of the bend can be chosen as desired. The fastening of the wall elements to the upper and lower profiled battens binds the final shape of the room element.

Alternatively the corner of the room element can be formed with a profiled corner batten.

One or several walls of the room element can be reinforced to a bearing and torsionally rigid wall by joining an opposite corrugated sheet element onto it or onto them by means of the joining method described above.

When joining together opposite corrugated sheet elements, the connection is carried out on every crest of the wave or only on selected crests. In certain cases it is sufficient, that only the crests in the room element's corners are locked to each other, and in other cases the connection can be made on every second or third crest or on otherways suitable intervals.

The crest surfaces of the corrugated sheet elements have locking members alteranatively on every crest, whereupon the connection is made on every crest or alternatively on desired intervals, and in this case the connection is correspondingly made on these crests.

The room element can advantageously be formed to complete closed element before it is moved into the ship. In case the rooms within the ship are very confined and especially when there are welded pillar rows it might be necessary to move the room element only uncompleted onboard the ship.

According to the advantageous embodiment the pillar problem can be solved so that the corrugated sheet element forming a detachable wall of the room element is inside the room element, when the room element is moved onboard the ship. The detachable wall is moved out of the room element and it is fitted onboard the ship so that the pillars are ending in way of troughs of the corrugations and after that the detachable wall is connected to the room element, which has been fitted in way of the detachable wall, by inserting into the profiled battens edging the wall opening.

The other opposite room element can be fitted in a similar way against the former so that it's crests come next to those of the former room element and the pillars come between the crests. If there is on the opposite side more space available to the said former room element in regard to the pillar row, it can be fitted to place as a complete element and it can be fitted in way of the said former room element. In this way the pillars are ending up into channels formed by the opposite corrugation troughs and the space within the ship can be utilized completely.

The one of the profiled battens edging the opening of the room element has a groove, which advantageously has been simplified to a rectangular corner, where the other edge of the corrugated sheet element is fixed e.g by welding.

According to the advantageous embodiment of the invention two corrugated sheet elements in thickness direction opposite to each other are locked together in order to be used as a division wall having it's two backing sheets joined at least to one external wall by means of two halves of profiled batten, which further are fixed to the external wall of the room element.The both profiled battens have a groove widening in direction of the division wall, whereto the edge of the backing sheet is fixed.

Another rectangular or square-shaped room element is advantageously joined to the outer surface belonging to one or several external walls of a rectangular or square-shaped room element by locking the opposite corrugated sheet elements in thickness direction to each other in order to combine two or several room elements so that they form a cluster. The cluster of room elements joined together according to the invention forms a room entity of extreme torsional stregth, which for the ship and taking into account the motions and stresses of the ship under way is a very important factor. This kind of cluster can advantageously be lifted as such onboard the ship provided the intended space is accessible. Otherways the final forming and joining of the room elements is carried out within the ship, which can be done with minor measures.

The forming of room elements by means of a method according to the invention by locking the opposite corrugated sheet elements to each other and by joining corrugated sheet elements in sideways direction together by fixing them by welding to the profiled battens can , because of it's simplicity, be automated by means of robotic technology, which so far has not been possible.

The profiled batten according to the invention used to join the corrugated sheet elements in sideways direction to each other by the edges running in direction of the corrugation comprices grooves opening in sideways direction of the the batten and the said grooves are meant to accommodate the edges of the corrugated sheet elements. These grooves are opening outwards so that the one jaw is streight, in other words perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the batten and that the other jaw forms an acute angle with the former jaw. Because of this outwards opening groove it is possible to insert into this groove sheet elements of varying thicknesses.

The profiled batten with grooves opening in sideways directions also gives a small adjustment allowance for the sheet element in sideways direction, because the overlapping between the profiled batten and the sheet element can be varyed.

The body of the profiled batten is mainly rectangular. According to the advantageous embodiment it's outside jaw is wider than it's inside jaw. The outside jaw has near to it's outer edge advantageously holes to be used to fix the edges of the corrugated sheet element from outside by tack-welding during the assembly stages.

Additional shaping of the profiled batten can increase it's rigidity and at the same time the rigidity of the seam. This kind of stiffeners can be used for joining of the internal lining material, e.g. stainless steel cassets.

According to another advantageous embodiment the profiled batten has been splitted along the center line and so it has the groove only on one longitudinal edge. According to another advantageous embodiment the profiled batten forms a corner batten of 90°, where the ouside surface is bent outwards forming a corner batten or it forms an angled batten of 90°, where the the outside surface is bent inwards forming an angled batten.

The method of forming room elements and of joining them to self supported and torsionally rigid entities according to the invention is thus a method to be realized with simple measures, partly with robotic technology, which first of all essentially reduces the work within the ship and which effectively enables the utilization of such spaces onboard the ship not used by the passengers, crew or cargo. By means of the method according to the invention it is possible to form room elements. whose height equals even three deck heights or over 9 m. By penetrating several decks of the ship it is possible at the same time to utilize the void space occupied by the deep deck webb frames, which is about 40 to 65 cm. The high room elements are to be extended, but it is a simple measure to be carried out on land.

The strength, first of all the good torsional rigidity and easiness of fastening to the deck below, to the deck above or to supporting structures at sides , are the important benefits of the invention.

The seamlessness and tightness of the room element walls is also a remarkable advantage of the method according to the invention. The seamlessness and tightness result in a wall structure, which is 100 % condense tight. Because of this it is possible to use insulation materials, which are not perfect from the condense point of view but whose fire-resistance is superior e.g. like mineral wool products. The placement of room elements having this kind of fire insulation through several decks will reduce the need of the fire insulation on other wall structures as compared to the case where combustible uretan insulation has been used in room element. The seamlessness of the room element also provides the hygienic level required by the authorities and there is no need to renew the seams.

The room elements can be fitted with shelves, necessary channels for electrification, air conditioning and similar purposes, with air cushion pads for erection purposes and so on before they are moved onboard the ship. The equipment installed to the room elements can also be partially or completely tested before they are moved onboard the ship. At the assembly stage in the factory or at least at final assembly in the shipyard the quality of the structures, tightness of the penetrations and pipings, quality of welded seams, fastenings of the internal fittings is controlled, the test runs of refrigeration plant are made and functioning of electrical equipment is tested. In this way a remarkable saving in time is achieved only during the commissioning stage.

ln the following the advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described referering to accompanying drawings, where:

fig. 1 presents a storage room element combined of three parts in top view;

fig. 2 presents in a larger scale three room elements combined to each other accoirding to the invention in top view;

fig. 3 presents a room element cluster to be fitted in a corner room, combined of three elements in top view;

fig. 4 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements with insulation and joined to each other with dovetail connection, fitted unsymmetrically in respect to the pillars of the ship;

fig. 5 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other by means of insulation, fitted symmetrically in respect to the pillars of the ship;

fig. 6 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other by means of insulation and dovetail connection;

fig. 6a presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other by means of insulation and a dovetail connection on every second crest of the corrugation;

fig. 7 presents in side view the insertion of the core member of the dovetail connection as shown in fig 4;

fig. 8 presents as a partial image in top view the dovetail recesses formed onto the opposite crests of the corrugated sheet elements and the core member of insulation material;

fig. 9 presents the same image as fig 8 but fitted with two dovetail connections;

fig. 10 presents the same image as fig 8 but fitted with a dovetail connection formed onto the insulation layer, which has been fixed onto the crests of the corrugated sheet elements;

fig. 11 presents as a partial image in top view the insulation layer fixed between the opposite crests of the corrugated sheet element and additional layer fitted between them as well as the dovetail-formed core member fitted on these said three layers:

fig. 11a presents as a partial image in top view the insulation layer fixed between the opposite crests of the corrugated sheet element, which at the same time is forming the core member of the dovetail connection;

fig. 12 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheel elements fitted to each other so that the crests and troughs of the corrugated sheet elements arc falling interlocking within each other;

fig. 13, 13a and 13b present as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other with their corrugation crests fitted next to each other and the crest surfaces fitted with female and male locking members;

fig. 14 presents the female locking members of the corrugated sheet element according to the fig 13 having insulation mataerial attached on them;

fig. 15 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other, having the crests and troughs of their corrugations fitted opposite to each other and the corrugations are rectangular, and the insulation layer fixed between the crests, and the said insulation layer has recesses of dovetail shape;

fig. 16 presents as a partial image in top view two corrugated sheet elements joined to each other, having the crests and troughs of their corrugations fitted opposite to each other and the corrugations are rectangular, the room element seen in the position it will be used and essentially lower and broader than in the former embodiment, as well as the insulation layer fixed between the crests, where recesses of dovetail-shape has been formed;

fig. 17 presents the profiled batten as a cross section, fixed onto two sheet elements of unequal thickness and separately as seen from below;

fig. 18 presents the profiled batten of another embodiment as a cross section;

fig. 19 presents in a principal sketch the junction of the detachable wall onto the room element within an environment furnished with pillars;

fig. 19a presents two room elements joined to each other within an environment furnished with pillars in top view;

fig. 20 presents in top view the fixing of the divisional wall joined together according to invention onto the outside wall by means of the profiled batten halves;

fig. 21 a to g present different variations of the profiled batten, where the variation comprices additional fittings onto the external side of the batten;

fig. 22 a and b present two corner and angle variations of the batten;

fig. 23 presents in top view three profiled battens, which are attaching to each other in sideways direction two sheets of unequal thickness; and

fig. 24 presents the inwards bending of a flexible sheet element and it's detachment from two profiled battens or it's attachment into the said battens.

Fig. 1 presents a storage room element of three parts marked with an index numer of 31. The external walls 2 are open corrugated sheet elements and the dividing walls 3 are corrugated sheet elements joined to each other according to the invention, forming a corrugated double sheet wall having it's crests opposite to each other. The opposite crests are joined to each other e.g. by means of ways shown in any of the figures 8 to 11. On another divisional wall 3a a mat 4 of insulation material has been fitted surrounding the internal space completely. Because of the extremely good insulation in the dividing wall and the insulation mat it is possible to maintain quite different temperatures in various parts of the storage space, e.g. -15° and 0°. Against the walls of the parts of the storage space is reserved room for the pallets and in the center part there is room for handling equipment.

The wall 2 of the room element formed according to the invention from corrugated sheet elements joined to each other and the divisional wall 3 formed according to the invention from opposite corrugated sheet elements, are both structurally strong enough to receive also forces caused by the motions of the ship. The divisional walls 3 are because of their double structure remarkably strong and are capable to support big side forces even in high wall structures. Inside the refrigerated storage there often are welded horizontal stiffeners of open type. The vertical supports of the shelves and optional equipment like refrigeration blowers are fixed onto these stiffeners.

The fig 2 presents a so-called cluster of three room elements. They have been joined to each other by means of insulated dovetail connections shown in detail in fig 11. The pillars 5 of the ship are located in the recesses 6 formed by the corrugation troughs of the corrugated sheets.

It is possible to connect the room elements to each other already during the assembly hall stage, whereupon they will be hoisted onboard the ship by means of a spreader jig. During the hoisting stage the upper deck section has naturally been left away and the fitting to place is carried out by letting the pillars fixed onto the deck to fall into the open recesses 6 of the corrugations. The final adjustment to fit them in their desired place can be carried out by means of air cushion elements.

Alternatively the room elements can be lifted one by one onboard the ship whereupon the dovetail connections will be made onboard the ship.

It is obvious that the presented structure despite of it's lightness and height, which can be 8 to 9 m and even more, is very sturdy and torsionally rigid. In case the room element is situated in such a place within the ship, where people are moving, the corrugations of the external wall must be covered with a protecting sheet, wall casset or equal.

In fig 3 it is shown, how it is possible to form a cluster of room elements. By combining room elements of various shape and size in this way it is possible to utilize the spaces of various shape within the ship. As an integral cluster it is possible to lift the whole combination directly onboard the ship.

In fig 4 there is shown a double wall 3 made of corrugated sheets. The pillars 5 of the ship are situated unsymmetrically in the empty recesses 6 between the corrugations closer to the backing sheet 7 of the other corrugated sheet element. The crests 8 of the corrugations are opposite to each other. By fitting the one room element in this way unsymmetrically in respect to pillars 5, it is easy to push the other room element into the right place without pillars' interference.

According to fig 5 the room elements are situated at a distance away of each other so that the pillars 6 can be accommodated between the crests 8 of the corrugated sheet elements. The recess is insulated advantageously by a proper manner, e.g. by injecting foam plastic into the empty recess.

In fig 6 there is shown divisional wall 3 of room element or the junction wall 33 of the room element cluster, e.g. according as shown in fig 2. The dovetail connections with their dovetail-shaped recesses 9 and core members 9' have been formed onto the insulation material 10 fixed onto the crests 8a of the corrugations, which said insulation material can be of foam plastic, hard plastic, mineral wool or equal Because the dovetail connections are acting as connecting members between the opposite corrugated sheet elements, the connections between the corrugation crests and insulation material and the insulation material itself must be able to withstand the pulling forces in question.

The empty recesses between the corrugations and the empty spaces within the crests can all be filled with insulation material.

In fig 6a a similar wall as shown in fig 6 but with such a difference that there is a dovetail connection only on every second crest of the corrugation. Onto the corrugation crests between the dovetail connections there is a piece of insulation material fixed on one or on both opposite crests.

In fig 7 there is shown the core member 9' of the dovetail connection 9 as separated from the insulation 10 and from the dovetail channel formed onto it. By an arrow it is shown, how the core member is inserted into the female part of the dovetail junction. The core member 9' can be made insulating material like plastic or it can be made of metal of equal.

The core member 9' can alternatively be cut into pieces, whereupon when it is inserted into position, exessive room is not required ouside the channel. This is important in case the room elements are connected to each other only onboard the ship, whereupon the connecting is carried out in vertical position. For later demounting of the room element it is advantageous to fit the core member pieces with hooks or similar in order to make it easier to pull them away.

In fig 8 to 11 various dovetail connections are shown. In connection according to fig 8, a dovetail-shaped groove 9 is formed onto the corrugation crest 8a, whereupon the core member 9' is directly locking crests 8a to each other. In the middle of the core member 9' there is a layer 12' of another material. In the connection according to fig 9 there are two dovetail connections side by side while the connection in other ways is similar to the former. In fig 10 a dovetail body is shown acting at the same time depending on the material as insulation 10, fixed onto the corrugation crests 8a. The body 12 can be fixed onto the crest depending on material by tack welding. by screws, by glueing or equal. In fig 11a an insulated dovetail model has been shown, where the core member 9' has been formed equally wide than the insulation layer 10, so that it forms an insulation piece between the insulation layers 10, locking at the same time this connection. The insulation piece 9' can also be formed e.g. of three pieces, from the core member 9' and from separate border pieces 9'', fig 11. The thickness of insulation layer 10 between the two crests is ca. 25 to 50 mm.

In fig 12 the two corrugated sheet elements of the double wall are overlapping so that the crests 8a and troughs 8b of the corrugations are falling within each other.

In fig 13, 13a and 13b there are shown various embodiments of the locking members formed onto the crest surfaces 8a of the corrugated sheet elements. In fig 13 there are longitudinal grooves 13 and rifles 14; in fig 13a there is a broad chute-shaped recess 13 and a matching projection; and in fig 13b there are side by side two projections 14 and grooves 13 of rectangular shape in cross section.

By forming these kind of female and male members several benefits will be achieved:

1) The longitudinal strength and buckling strength of the corrugation crest is remarkably improved.

2) The assembly work of the room elements is speeded up appreciably, because the grooves and projections on the crests are guiding the next room element into precise position.

3) The fixing of room elements to each other will be faster.

4) The high structure of the room elements, normally 5 to 8 m and even higher, becames more durable in respect to buckling because of the fitting to each other of the said female and male members.

In fig 14 is shown, how it is possible to fix between the female and male members advantageously by glueing elastic plate pieces 15, which are e.g. of rubber material or insulation plastic.

The corrugation depth of the corrugated sheet elements is ca. 150 to 200 mm and the corrugation width is ca. 150 to 300 mm. The female and male members formed onto the crest of the corrugation are fairly large as compared to the size of the corrugation so, that it is possible to accommodate at best from one to three of them within the crest.

In fig 15 and 16 there are shown divisional walls similar to those in fig 6 but there is a difference in that the shape of the corrugation is rectangular. The corrugations are marked with index numer 28, the crests of the corrugation with 28a and the troughs with 28b. The dovetail grooves are marked with index number 29 and the dovetail core members with 29'.

In fig 17 is shown the profiled batten according to the invention, with which corrugated sheet elements are joined to each other in sideways direction. The profile in it's basic form is symmetrical compricing internal surface 17 and external surface 18. The internal and external surfaces are parallel to each other. The core part of the profile in cross section is mainly rectangular. Onto the shorter brims of the cross section there has between the internal and external surface formed grooves 19 opening in sideways direction, which said grooves are to accommodate the

edges

1a and 1b of the corrugated sheet elements to be joined to each other. The grooves 19 are according to the invention widening outwards so that the external jaw 27a is straight and parallel with the outside surface while the internal jaw 27b is forming an acute angle α with the external jaw. The angle α is not more than 40°, advantageously it is between 10° and 30° and most advantageously between 15° and 30°.

The bottom end of the profiled batten's groove is dimensioned according to the thinnest sheet to be used or ca. 1.0 to 1.5 mm. The skeweness of the groove enables the use of sheets of different thicnesses. At the borders of the profiled batten's external surface 18 there are oval holes 20 at certain intervals. When the backing sheet of the corrugated sheet element is fixed onto the profile, preliminary fitting fillets 21 are firstly applied at holes 20. Next the profile seam will be welded 22 completely tight from inside of the room element. This can be done by a welding automat in a welding jig.

In fig 18 a modification of the profiled batten is shown, where the other groove has been formed into a right-angled corner 23. A batten of this form has been used when joining the corrugated sheet element according to fig 19 or the movable wall onto the room element and avoiding the pillars. The narrow corner sheet of the room element has been fastened onto the left groove of the profiled batten by means of a welded seam 22, and the left edge of the movable wall has been connected onto the right right-angled groove 23 of the profiled batten by means of a welded seam. The tacking of the movable wall onto the profiled batten has been possible to carry out by applying spot-welding through the holes 20.

In fig 19 is shown the fastening of the movable wall to the room element and past the pillars. The movable wall is placed within the room element, whereupon the crests of the corrugations are not interfering , when pushing the room element against the opposite, not-shown room element. The movable wall is left at a location, where the pillars are residing in open rooms between the corrugation crests. The movable wall is now fixed to the room element fitted at the desired location, so that the left edge is fixed to the right-angle 23 of the groove of the left profiled batten and the right edge is fixed to the groove of the not-shown profiled batten. The right-handed groove can be acute-angled or right-angled. In the former case the movable wall will be bent slightly inwards, whereupon the edge of the wall can be fitted into the groove.

In fig 19a is shown, what is resulted in when two opposite room elements are located within the pillar environment. Depending on whether it is required to fit both or only one room element to position in a room confined exactly by two pillar rows, there are within both or only within one room element a separate movable wall during the movement of the room element onboard the ship. In this way it is possible to join room elements tightly against each other and having the pillars concealed in between.

In fig 20 is shown in partial image the fastening of room element's divisional wall to the external wall by means of a modified profiled batten 24. This profiled batten is made of the basic batten by splitting it longitudinally. It is fastened to the external wall 1 at the divisional section. To the fastening of a divisional wall two halves of the profiled batten 24 are needed.

In fig 21 a to 21 g is shown additional modifications of the porofiled batten having on their external edge additional projections to improve it's stiffness and /or to be used as a wall batten and/or to fit to additional structures outside the room element.

The profiled batten according to fig 21 a has a female extension, whereto e.g. wall panels can be fastened.

The profiled batten according to fig 21 b has a female extension having claws in order to improve it's clamping grip.

In fig 21 c to 21 f is shown various stiffeners, which at the same time are acting as decorations and/or are providing additional stiffness.

The extension of the profiled batten according to fig 21 g resembles a dovetail and can act as a clamp.

In fig 22 a and 22 b is shown profiled battens bent to an angle of 90°. The profiled batten 25 is a corner profile used in walls and in ceiling, where the internal wall 17 is turned inwards.The profiled batten 26 is an angled profile, where the internal wall 17 has been turned outwards.

In fig 23 there is an illustration about the joining of corrugated sheet elements of unequal thicknesses in sideways direction by means of profiled battens 16.

In fig 24 there is an illustration about the fastening of corrugated sheet element to two profiled battens 16 of the basic type firstly by bending the element and then by straigthening it up and by inserting the element into both grooves of the batten. The profiled batten according to the invention enables an easy fastening and detachment of the sheet.

The structure of the corrugated sheet element belonging to room elements according to the invention is presented above, as well as the joining of these elements together to form walls of the elements and to form room elements, the joining of room elements to clusters and the profiled batten used in this context by providing advantageous examples of the embodiments. It is clear that one can find lots of applications according to the invention within the claims.

Claims

Method for fastening of opposite corrugated sheet elements (1), the opposite location meaning sheet surfaces facing each other, immovably to each other in the plane of said elements, in order to form for example a divisional wall (3) of a room element or to fasten the opposite walls (2) of two side by side room elements to each other, said corrugated sheet element being comprised of a backing sheet (7) and a corrugated sheet (8) attached thereto, as well as for lateral joining of such corrugated sheet elements to each other from their edges which are substantially vertical by means of a profiled batten (16; 24; 25; 26) in order to form for example a wall (2) of a room element, said profiled batten being provided at its longitudinal edges with grooves (19; 23) opening in lateral direction outwards, characterized in that the opposite corrugated sheet elements (1) to be fastened to each other are placed with the crest and trough surfaces (8a, 8b) against each other:

so that the crests (8a) and the troughs (8b) are interlocking within each other, or

so that the crests (8a) having on each crest or on selected crests only locking members (13; 14; 9; 29) are placed opposite each other, whereby the locking members (13; 14; 9; 29) on the crest surfaces opposite to each other:

will directly interlock, whereby the locking effect of the locking members is based on the shape, or

will fasten to each other by means of a joining member (9'; 29'), whereby the locking effect of the locking members is based on the shape,

that the side edges (1a; 1b) of the corrugated sheet elements (1) to be fastened to each other in lateral direction are arranged into a groove (19; 23) of the profiled batten (16; 24; 25; 26), each side edge into a groove of its own, said groove opening widening outwards, and
in that the side edge is attached to the profiled batten in a prior known manner.
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the opposed crest surfaces (8a) is provided with female (13) and the other with male (14) members.
Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the female members (13) are continuous or intermittent longitudinal grooves or recesses arranged according to a certain pattern and that the male members (14) are rifles of a matching shape or projections arranged accordingly.
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking members are formed of dovetail members or of members of another shape having a similar locking effect so that the crest surfaces (8a) opposing each other are provided with recesses (9) of dovetail shape or of another shape and that the crest surfaces are locked to each other by inserting into the channel between the crest surfaces a rod-like member (9') having a matching cross section.
Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a layer of insulation material (10) has been fixed onto the opposed crest surfaces (8a), e.g. foam plastic, plastic or mineral wool and that at least on some opposed insulation surfaces there are formed recesses (9) of dovetail shape or of another shape.
Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rod-like member (9') is either of insulating or of non-insulating material.
Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the rod-like member is formed to an insulation piece between the crest surfaces (8a) or to an insulation piece (29') between the insulation layers (10) being opposed to each other so that the width of the insulation piece corresponds to that of the crest surfaces and its thickness corresponds to the desired insulation thickness, and so that projections of the dovetail shape or of another shape in the middle of it correspond to the recesses on the crest surfaces (8a) or on the insulation layers (10).
Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the rod-like member (9'; 29') has been cut into pieces.
Method according to claim 2, characterized in that an insulation layer (15) has been attached onto the surfaces of the female members (13).
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that edge (la) of the corrugated sheet element (1) parallel with the direction of the corrugation is fixed at first preliminarily to the groove (19) of the profiled batten (16) by tacking from outside through the holes (20) near the edges of the profiled batten, thereafter edges (1a, 1b) of the corrugated sheet are finally fixed to the grooves (19) of the profiled batten.
Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the final fixing to the groove (19) is carried out by welding, e.g. by fillet welding or plastic welding or it will be realized by means of a sealing composition, a glue or a wedge.
Method according to any one of claims above, characterized in that from the corrugated sheet elements (1) joined to each other in lateral direction, a rectangular or square-shaped room element (31) is formed by bending the corrugated sheet element to an angle of 90 °.
Method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the corner of the room element is formed by means of a corner batten (25) of the profiled batten.
Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that to one or to several walls of the room element (1) to be formed, another corrugated sheet element is joined in the thickness direction of the wall in order to form a double wall.
Method according to claim 12, characterized in that a movable wall (la) of the room element (31) is fitted inside the room element during the shifting onboard the ship of the room element and will be fixed into the grooves of the profiled battens bordering a wall opening, of which said grooves at least one (23) preferably is rectangular in shape (fig 18 and 19).
Method according to claim 12, characterized in that two opposed corrugated sheet elements are locked to each other to form a divisional wall (3, 3a) for being used in said room element, the two backing sheets of said wall being fastened to at least one wall by means of two halves of the profiled batten (24), which are attached to said wall and both have a groove widening in the direction of the divisional wall, into which groove the edge of the backing sheet is fixed.
Method according to claim 13 or 15, characterized in that onto the external surface of one or several external walls (2) of the room element having a rectangular or square shape, another room element (31) having a rectangular or square shape is joined by fastening the opposed corrugated sheet elements to each other in order to form a room element cluster comprising two or several room elements.
A profiled batten (16; 24; 25; 26) for lateral joining of corrugated sheet elements (1) to each other at the edges (1a, 1b) being parallel with the longitudinal direction of the corrugations (8), the cross section of the said batten being elongated and comprising an internal surface (17) turned inwards and an external surface (18) turned outwards, the internal and external surfaces are substantially parallel with each other, wherein at the side edges of the cross section, between the internal and external surfaces, grooves (19; 23) opening in lateral direction are provided in order to accommodate the edges of the corrugated sheet elements and to fasten them, characterized in that the grooves (19; 23) are widening outwards optionally so that the one jaw (19a) of the groove is straight and the other jaw (19b) forms an acute angle with the former jaw.
Profiled batten according to claim 18, characterized in that its external surface (18) is wider than its internal surface (17).
Profiled batten according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that it has on its external surface (18), close to the edges, holes (20) to be used when tacking the edges (1a, 1b) of the corrugated sheet element from outside.
Profiled batten according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that one of the grooves (23) forms an angle of 90°.
Profiled batten according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the profiled batten (24) is splitted along the centre line and comprices a groove only at its one longitudinal edge.
Profiled batten according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the profiled batten (25) has been bent to an angle of 90° as a corner batten and the external surface (18) turned outwards.
Profiled batten according to any one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the profiled batten (26) has been bent to an angle of 90° as an angled batten and the internal surface (17) turned outwards.