EP1772206B1

EP1772206B1 - Thin plate, method for manufacturing a thin plate, and apparatus for manufacturing a thin plate

Info

Publication number: EP1772206B1
Application number: EP06121479A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keijo Kuunila; Janne Tanhuanpää
Original assignee: Rautaruukki Oyj
Current assignee: Rautaruukki Oyj
Priority date: 2005-10-07
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2009-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-29
Also published as: FI20055541A; EP1772206A1; ATE431203T1; DK1772206T3; PL1772206T3; NO20064524L; DE602006006771D1; FI20055541A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a thin plate (1) whose both sides are provided with protrusions (2) while corresponding depressions (4) are provided on a side of the thin plate (1) opposite to the protrusions (2). According to the invention, on its first side the thin plate comprises protrusions (2) which extend uninterruptedly in a first direction and, between the protrusions (2), depressions (4) which extend at an angle with respect to the protrusions. An apparatus and a method for manufacturing sucha thin plate are also disclosed.

Description

The invention relates to a thin plate, according to the preamble of claim 1, whose both sides are provided with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions. The invention further relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 11 for manufacturing a thin plate whose both sides are provided with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions, the apparatus comprising a pair of rolls whose outer surface is provided with teeth and which are arranged to rotate in different directions with respect to one another around parallel axles and to be spaced apart from one another such that during operation, the teeth of a first/second roll extend to cavities provided in a second/first roll, whereby the thin plate is provided with protrusions/depressions as it travels between the rolls. The invention still further relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 20 for manufacturing a thin plate, the method comprising providing both sides of the thin plate with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions.
Prior art thin plates comprise dot-like, short and line-shaped protrusions on a first and a second side thereof while corresponding depressions are provided on an opposite side of the this plate. Thin plates also exist which comprise continuous uninterrupted protrusions and depressions which extend in one or more predetermined directions of the thin plate. Such protrusions are conventionally provided in the thin plates by embossing or stamping, and they generally serve to increase the stiffness of the thin plate for desired uses. In the present context, embossing refers to providing the surface of a plate with an embossing pattern by means of a rotary tool. Stamping, in turn, herein refers to compression moulding or deep drawing. Such embossed prior art thin plates are disclosed e.g. in publications WO94/12294 and EP0279798 , on which the preambles of claims 1, 11 and 20 are based.
A problem with the above-described arrangement is that the prior art protrusion and depression embossing patterns as such are not suitable for all uses in which the thin plate is to have different characteristics in different directions. Regular dot-like embossing patterns generally also provide a relatively regular stiffening in different directions. Further, using uninterrupted protrusions/depressions makes the thin plate stiffen substantially in the direction of these uninterrupted protrusions/depressions only. Furthermore, using uninterrupted protrusions exclusively makes the thin plate more difficult to employ in different structures where e.g. screw fastenings are necessary since such a plate provides no spot where to arrange a screw or another fastening element such that it will not slip while being tightened. Such aforementioned embossing patterns are generally mainly used for providing metallic materials with a desired look.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is thus to provide a thin plate, an apparatus for manufacturing a thin plate, as well as a method for manufacturing a thin plate so as to enable the aforementioned problems to be solved. The object of the invention is achieved by a thin plate according to claim 1. The object of the invention is further achieved by an apparatus according to claim 11, and by a method according to claim 20. Claim 32 refers to uses of the thin plate according to the invention.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The idea underlying the invention is that a thin plate is provided which on its first side comprises protrusions extending in a first direction and, between the protrusions, separate depressions in succession in the first direction. These successive depressions constitute protrusions on one side of the thin plate; similarly, on the opposite side, the uninterrupted protrusions constitute depressions such that the depressions corresponding to all protrusions are, correspondingly, provided on the side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions. These separate depressions may have a desired shape, they may be e.g. dot-like or line-shaped. In the present context, dot-like refers to a separate depression or protrusion which may have the shape of a circle, square, oval, triangle or any other polygon or the like. Line-shaped, in turn, herein refers to an elongated depression which has a predetermined size and which may have the shape of e.g. a square, oval or a line in general; however, it does not have to be absolutely straight but it may be curved or otherwise winding. The definition that the depressions reside between the protrusions herein means that the depressions do not extend or they are not located above the protrusions or they do not intersect with the protrusions, but are situated completely within the area between the protrusions such that the protrusions extend uninterruptedly in a first direction of the thin plate. Similarly, the corresponding separate protrusions residing on the other side of the thin plate are situated between the uninterrupted depressions. The idea of the present invention is that a first side of the thin plate is provided with continuous uninterrupted protrusions which continue along the entire length of the thin plate in order to stiffen the thin plate in the direction of these uninterrupted protrusions. The areas between these protrusions are further provided with separate depressions in succession in the direction of the protrusions.
An advantage of the solution according to the invention is that using the uniform uninterrupted protrusions extending in a given direction makes the thin plate even stiffer in the direction of these protrusions. At the same time, the stiffness of the thin plate changes with respect to the uninterrupted protrusions in a traverse direction. The solution of the invention thus enables the stiffening effect provided by the uninterrupted protrusions to be utilized, and further, desired stiffness characteristics to be achieved for the thin plate in a direction traverse to these uninterrupted protrusions by arranging separate depressions therebetween. By modifying the shape, spacing, size, depth, and orientation of the depressions, the thin plate may be provided with the desired characteristics while at the same time the stiffness of the thin plate may be made to increase or decrease in the direction of the uninterrupted protrusions as well. It is thus possible to provide the thin plate with a dynamic stiffness in a desired direction, which in many structures plays an important role e.g. for airborne sound insulation. In addition, the separate depressions residing between the uninterrupted protrusions provide advantageous places for screws and other fastening means, so that they do not slide along the surface of the plate but stop at a depression, which, in turn, considerably alleviates procedures at a working site.
A thin plate herein refers to any plate-like product, which may be made of metal, such as steel, sheet steel, copper, aluminium, or any other metal, plastic, or other corresponding plate-like material which can be processed by embossing or stamping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 schematically shows a first side of a thin plate according to the present invention; and
Figure 2 schematically shows a second side of the thin plate of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a thin plate 1 according to the present invention whose first side is provided with uninterrupted and uniform protrusions extending in one direction and having a predetermined distance between one another; these are designated in the thin plate 1 by broken lines 2 and they extend in a first direction of the thin plate 1. These protrusions 2 are arranged at predetermined intervals and provided with a predetermined width, according to a desired stiffness of the thin plate. They may be provided e.g. at intervals of 4 mm, having a width of 1 mm. The direction in which these protrusions 2 extend may be as desired and made suitable for a given use. In other words, they may extend in a longitudinal or a lateral direction of a thin plate 1 being manufactured, or at an angle with respect to the longitudinal and lateral directions thereof. The most important point is that in their direction they extend uninterruptedly along the entire length of the thin plate 1.
Between these parallel uninterrupted protrusions 2, separate depressions 4 are further provided in succession in a first direction, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the protrusions 2. These depressions are thus provided between the uninterrupted protrusions 2 such that they do not substantially extend above the protrusions and do not intersect therewith. Between two adjacent protrusions 2, the depressions 4 form a line of successive depressions 4, wherein a distance between the successive depressions 4 may vary as desired. Between two adjacent protrusions 2, two or more adjacent separate depressions 4 may also be provided such that these adjacent depressions are repeated in succession between the protrusions 2 and in the direction thereof.
The depressions 4 may have a desired shape, e.g. that of a dot or a line. Dot-like herein refers to a separate depression or protrusion which may have the shape of a circle, square, oval, triangle or any polygon or the like. Line-shaped, in turn, herein refers to a longitudinal depression which has a predetermined size and which may have the shape of e.g. a square, oval or a line in general; however, it does not have to be absolutely straight but it may be curved or otherwise winding. Even the line-shaped depressions 4 do not extend above the protrusions 2; nor do they intersect therewith. These line-shaped depressions 4 may be substantially parallel with respect to the uninterrupted protrusions 2, or at an angle thereto. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the line-shaped depressions 4 are at an acute angle with respect to the uninterrupted protrusions 2, but they may also be at an obtuse angle with respect to the protrusions 2 or perpendicular thereto. Line 6 in Figure 1 depicts a shape line which is not a part of the depression 4 itself but which depicts the shape that is formed when producing successive depressions 4 according to Figure 1.
According to Figure 1, the adjacent depressions 4 residing in adjacent spaces provided by the protrusions 2 form a line designated in broken line 12, which extends at an angle with respect to the protrusions 2 extending in a first direction. In this embodiment, this line 12 extends at an acute angle with respect to the direction of the protrusions 2, i.e. the aforementioned first direction. The adjacent depressions 4 residing in the spaces adjacent to the protrusions 2 may also be provided such that the line 12 defined thereby is perpendicular, in which case the depressions 4 reside completely in parallel with respect to the direction of the protrusions 2 or at an obtuse angle thereto. Of course it is also possible to provide the depressions 4 such that no straight regular lines occur.
The depressions 4 may further be provided such that their shape, size, orientation and spacing differ at different points of the thin plate, in other words e.g. at edges of the thin plate 1. In such a case, the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions 4 residing between the protrusions 2 extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions 4 residing between two adjacent protrusions may also extend mutually in parallel or in different directions with respect to the protrusions 2. The orientation of the line-shaped depressions 4 refers to their longitudinal direction.
In order to manufacture a thin sheet 1 according to the present invention, its both sides are to be provided with protrusions, the corresponding depressions thus being provided on a side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions. In the case of Figures 1 and 2, on its first side the thin plate 1 comprises protrusions 2 extending uninterruptedly in a first direction and, between the protrusions, separate depressions 4 in succession in the first direction. Thus, a second side of the thin plate 1 comprises, correspondingly, depressions 8 and protrusions 10 such that the depressions 8 correspond with the protrusions 2 and the protrusions 10 with the depressions 4 on the first side of the thin plate 1. Hence, all that has been disclosed above with respect to the first side of the thin plate 1 is, correspondingly, applicable to the second side when taking into account that the protrusions and the depressions correspond with one another on the opposite sides of the thin plate. It is also to be noted that the shape of the protrusions is always determined in accordance with the depressions on the opposite side, in other words the protrusions are provided by pressing from the opposite side, when the dimensions of the depressions are generally more accurate than those of the protrusions.
The thin plate according to the invention may be manufactured e.g. by stamping or embossing. In embossing, the apparatus comprises a pair of rolls provided with teeth on the outer surfaces thereof and arranged to rotate in different directions with respect to one another around parallel axles and spaced apart from another such that during operation, the teeth of a first/second roll extend to cavities provided in a second/first roll, whereby the thin plate is provided with protrusions/depressions as it travels between the rolls. In order to manufacture a thin plate 1 according to the invention, the teeth of the first roll are provided such that they provide a first side of the thin plate 1 with uninterrupted protrusions 2 extending in a first direction, and that the teeth of the second roll are provided such that they provide the first side of the thin plate 1, between the protrusions 2, with separate depressions 4 in succession in the first direction. In such a case, the first roll touching the surface of a second side of the thin plate 1 is provided with circumferentially extending teeth which continue uninterruptedly between the ends of the first roll. These circumferential uninterrupted teeth may provide the first roll with one or more circles, in which case the uninterrupted protrusions 2 and depressions 8 being provided in the thin plate extend in parallel with the direction of travel of the thin plate 1 in the apparatus. These circle-forming teeth then extend perpendicularly to the axle of the first roll. In an alternative embodiment, these teeth are provided in parallel with the direction of the axle of the first roll such that they extend uninterruptedly between the ends of the first roll, providing the thin plate with uninterrupted protrusions/depressions perpendicular to the direction of travel of the thin plate in the apparatus. In a further embodiment, these teeth of the first roll may extend sprirally around the first roll, from one end to another, at an angle with respect to the axle of the first roll. The thin plate 1 is then provided with uninterrupted depressions/protrusions at an angle with respect to the direction of travel of the thin plate in the apparatus. The second roll is then to be provided with cavities or grooves corresponding with the teeth of the first roll and capable of receiving the teeth thereof.
The second roll is further equipped with separate teeth which provide the space between the protrusions 2 extending in parallel on the first side of the thin plate with separate depressions 4 in order to provide the thin plate 1 with the above-described separate depressions. The first roll thus comprises cavities, grooves or the like for receiving these teeth of the second roll such that the first side of the thin plate is provided with depressions 4 while the second side is provided with protrusions 10 as the thin plate 1 travels between the first and the second rolls. The teeth of the second roll are situated in the slots of the grooves therein which receive the teeth of the first roll such that the teeth of the second roll are not in connection with these grooves therein, in which case the depressions/protrusions provided in the thin plate by the teeth of the second roll are situated between the uninterrupted protrusions/depressions provided in the thin plate by the first roll, but not above them. These teeth of the second roll are provided such that the separate depressions are dot-like or line-shaped, as described above. In such a case, the teeth may be provided in the second roll in lines in parallel with the axle thereof, in lines at an angle with respect to the axle, or in lines perpendicularly to the axle. It is thus possible to provide lines like those described above when the first direction in which the uninterrupted protrusions/depressions extend is e.g. a direction perpendicular to the axle of the roll. In addition, not all teeth have to be similar to one another but they may differ from each other, and they may even be arranged such that they do not form any accurate lines of separate depressions at all.
In accordance with the above, the teeth of the second roll may be provided such that the separate depressions 4 are line-shaped and extend at an angle with respect to the protrusions on the first side of the thin plate. Alternatively, the teeth of the second roll may be provided such that the separate line-shaped depressions 4 being formed on the first side of the thin plate extend at an acute angle with respect to the protrusions being formed on the first side of the thin plate. Furthermore, the teeth of the second roll may be provided such that the adjacent separate depressions between the protrusions being provided in the thin plate and extending in the first direction form a line which extends at an angle with respect to the protrusions extending in the first direction.
When line-shaped separate depressions/protrusions are used, the teeth of the second roll may be provided such that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions residing between the protrusions extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions residing between two adjacent protrusions are mutually parallel with respect to the protrusions. Alternatively, the teeth of the second roll are provided such that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions residing between the protrusions extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions residing between two adjacent protrusions extend mutually in different directions with respect to the protrusions. In addition, the teeth of the second roll may be provided such that the separate line-shaped depressions residing between the protrusions extending in the first direction extend in different directions with respect to the protrusions in different areas of the thin plate.
It is further to be noted that although in the above the thin plate and the rolls have been described by referring to a first and a second roll, the location of these rolls is interchangeable, but the uninterrupted and separate protrusions are always provided on opposite sides of the thin plate.
The thin plate according to what has been disclosed above and according to the invention may be manufactured by means of the described embossing apparatus or by stamping. According to the invention, such a thin plate provided with embossed patterns may be used when manufacturing different building elements or other structures, such as dividing wall beams, frontal side beam structures for buildings, frontal side panel structures for buildings and roof coverings or the like. In such a case, the embossing pattern according to the invention stiffens the thin plate such that a thinner thin plate may be utilized for achieving a desired stiffness, which enables materials to be saved. In addition, by providing a metallic thin plate with the embossing pattern according to the invention increases the temperature of the thin plate during the embossing procedure, thus tempering the thin plate. In the dividing wall and frontal side beam structures for buildings, the uninterrupted protrusions 2 preferably extend in the longitudinal direction of the beam, stiffening the beam in its longitudinal direction and adjusting the flexibility transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction as desired.
It is obvious to one skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above-described examples but they may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

A thin plate (1) whose both sides are provided with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate (1) opposite to the protrusions, wherein the thin plate (1) comprises on its first side protrusions (2) extending continuously and uniformly in a first direction and, characterized in that the thin plate (1) further comprises between the protrusions, separate depressions (4) in succession in the first direction.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the separate depressions (4) are dot-like.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in claim 1. characterized in that the separate depressions (4) are line-shaped and extend at an angle with respect to the protrusions on the first side of the thin plate.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the line-shaped depressions (4) on the first side of the thin plate (1) extend at an acute angle with respect to the protrusions (2) on the first side of the thin plate (1).
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends at an angle with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions extend mutually in parallel with respect to the protrusions (2).
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions extend mutually in different directions with respect to the protrusions (2).
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the thin plate (1) is manufactured by embossing.
A thin plate (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the thin plate (1) is manufactured by stamping.
An apparatus for manufacturing a thin plate (1) whose both sides are provided with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate (1) opposite to the protrusions, the apparatus comprising a pair of rolls whose outer surface is provided with teeth and which are arranged to rotate in different directions with respect to one another around parallel axles and to be spaced apart from one another such that during operation, the teeth of a first/second roll extend to cavities provided in a second/first roll, whereby the thin plate is provided with protrusions/depressions as it travels between the rolls, wherein the teeth of the first roll are provided such that they provide a first side of the thin plate (1) with protrusions (2) continuously and uniformly extending in a first direction, characterized in that the teeth of the second roll are provided such that they provide the first side of the thin plate (1), between the protrusions (2), with separate depressions (4) in succession in the first direction.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the separate depressions (4) are dot-like.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the separate depressions (4) are line-shaped and extend at an angle with respect to the protrusions (2) on the first side of the thin plate (1).
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the separate line-shaped depressions (4) on the first side of the thin plate (1) extend at an acute angle with respect to the protrusions (2) on the first side of the thin plate (1).
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions being formed in the thin plate (1) and extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends at an angle with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) being formed in the thin plate (1) and extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, char - acterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions are mutually parallel with respect to the protrusions (2).
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the adjacent separate fine-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions are divergent with respect to the protrusions (2).
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the teeth of the first and the second rolls are provided such that the separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction are divergent with respect to the protrusions (2) in different areas of the thin plate (1).
A method for manufacturing a thin plate (1), the method comprising providing both sides of the thin plate with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate opposite to the protrusions, wherein the method comprises providing a first side of the thin plate (1) with protrusions (2) extending continuously and uniformly in a first direction, characterized in that the method further comprises providing the first side of the thin plate (1) between the protrusions (2), with separate depressions (4) in succession in the first direction.
A method as claimed in claim 20. characterized by forming the separate depressions (4) as dot-like depressions.
A method as claimed in claim 20, characterized by forming the separate depressions (4) as line-shaped depressions such that they extend at an angle with respect to the protrusions (2) on the first side of the thin plate (1).
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized by forming the protrusions (2) and/or depressions (4) by embossing.
A method as claimed in claim 23, characterized by forming the protrusions (2) in the thin plate (1) by arranging the thin plate .(1) to travel between a pair of rolls having teeth on their outer surface, the rolls being arranged to rotate in different directions with respect to one another around parallel axles and to be spaced apart from one another such that during operation, the teeth of a first/second roll extend to cavities provided in a second/first roll.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized by forming the protrusions (2) and/or depressions (4) by stamping.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 25, characterized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the separate line-shaped depressions (4) on the first side of the thin plate (1) extend at an acute angle with respect to the protrusions (2) on the first side of the thin plate (1).
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26, characterized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends at an angle with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26, characterized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the adjacent separate depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction form a line (12) which extends perpendicularly with respect to the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction.
A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions (2) extend in parallel with respect to the protrusions (2).
A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, charac - terized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the adjacent separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction and/or the successive separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between two adjacent protrusions (2) extend in different directions with respect to the protrusions (2).
A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, characterized by forming the thin plate (1) such that the separate line-shaped depressions (4) residing between the protrusions (2) extending in the first direction are divergent with respect to the protrusions (2) in different areas of the thin plate (1).
A use of a thin plate (1) whose both sides are provided with protrusions while corresponding depressions are provided on a side of the thin plate (1) opposite to the protrusions and which, on its first side, comprises protrusions (2) extending continuously and uniformly in a first direction and, between the protrusions (2), separate depressions (4) in succession in the first direction, in a dividing wall beam structure, frontal side beam structure for buildings, frontal side panel structure for buildings or roof coverings.