EP2115364A1

EP2115364A1 - A modular plate for forming a horizontal partition for dividing the cavity between a load bearing sill and a raised floor

Info

Publication number: EP2115364A1
Application number: EP08738421A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giovanni Porta; Stefano Carnevale; Roberto Messana
Original assignee: FCC Srl; Intec SpA
Current assignee: FCC Srl; Intec SpA
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-08
Publication date: 2009-11-11
Also published as: WO2008102395A8; WO2008102395A1; ITTO20070122A1

Abstract

A modular plate (30a-30e) with a quadrilateral shape comprises a horizontal central portion (31) and four corner portions (32) which are raised with respect to the central portion (31) and connected to the latter. The corner portions are able to be supported by four respective column-type devices (20) for supporting the modular panels (10) of a raised floor. At least one free space for the passage of air between at least two consecutive raised corner portions (32) is envisaged.

Description

A modular plate for forming a horizontal partition for dividing the cavity between a load bearing sill and a raised floor

The present invention relates to a modular plate for forming a horizontal partition able to divide the cavity between a load-bearing sill and a raised floor underneath which conditioned air is conveyed.

Systems which combine a raised floor with an air heating/conditioning system are known. In the more recent systems of this type, the conditioned air is introduced through the so- called air "plenum" defined by the cavity between a concrete load-bearing sill and the raised floor. The air serves one or more rooms, where it is emitted through outlets which are distributed in the raised floor according to requirements.

The systems of this type have a drawback in that the conditioned air inevitably introduces into the room a considerable quantity of dust which has accumulated on the underlying concrete sill. The hygiene-related problems may be accentuated owing to the presence of animal remains on the sill.

The object of the present invention is to provide a modular plate for forming a dividing partition which may be installed rapidly and precisely at an intermediate height between the load-bearing sill and the panels of a raised floor; the partition thus divides the cavity between the sill and the raised floor into two half-spaces, i.e. bottom half-space and top half-space, where only the top half-space serves as a plenum for conveying the air into one or more rooms to be conditioned. The abovementioned drawback is thus avoided. Another object of the invention is to provide modular plates such as to ensure a good air-tight seal between the half-spaces defined above and below the partition, in order to optimise the efficiency of the air heating/conditioning system.

These and other objects and advantages, which will be understood more clearly below, are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a modular plate having the features indicated in the accompanying claims.

The features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded side view of a raised floor associated with, a plate according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a dividing partition composed of plates according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a top plan view of a first type of plate according to the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are a perspective view and top plan view of a second type of a plate according to the invention;

Figures 7 and 8 are a perspective view and a top plan view of a third type of plate according to the invention;

Figures 9 and 10 are a perspective view and a top plan view of a fourth type of plate according to the invention; and

Figures 11 and 12 are a perspective view and a top plan view of a fifth type of plate according to the invention.

With reference initially to Figure 1, the modular panels 10 (only one of which is shown) which form a raised floor are supported by column-type supporting devices 20 each comprising a bottom column 21 with a base 22 which rests on a load-bearing concrete sill S and a horizontal head piece 23 with a tubular stem 24 which engages on the top end of the column 21. The latter has a threaded outer surface on which a nut 25 engages, said nut allowing heightwise adjustment of the head piece 23 and therefore the panelled floor 10.

The same supporting devices 20 for the raised floor also support a plurality of adjacent modular plates 30a-30e, preferably made of sheet metal, which in the installed condition together define a horizontal dividing partition able to divide the cavity between the sill S and the raised floor 10 into two half-spaces: a bottom half-space B, which is delimited at the bottom by the sill S, and a top half-space A, which is delimited at the top by the floor 10. Only the top half-space A serves as a plenum for conveying the air into one or more rooms to be conditioned. In this way, the air which is introduced into the room to be conditioned does not convey with it the dust present on the sill and any bad-smelling gaseous substances stagnating in the bottom half-space B, both because the top half-space is sealed with respect to the bottom half-space and because it is subject to an overpressure.

The plates 30a-30e advantageously have a quadrilateral (square or rectangular) modular format corresponding to that of the panels 10 of the floor.

As described in detail further below, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention three different types of modular plates 30a, 30b, 30c are envisaged, these plates being chosen depending on the position (central, perimetral and angular, respectively) in which each plate must be placed with respect to the layout of the room. If it is required to create a communicating channel between two adjacent rooms or form a plenum with a longitudinal extension and blind closure at the end thereof, as for example in the case of a corridor, it is possible to use plates denoted by 30d and 3Oe in Figures 9, 10 and 11, 12.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the modular plates 30a each have a horizontal central main portion 31, which is substantially flat, and four horizontal corner portions 32 which are situated in raised positions with respect to the flat portion 31 and joined to the latter by inclined or vertical connecting portions 33. A certain degree of inclination is to be preferred because it allows stacking of the plates in an orderly and compact manner during transportation and storage. Each raised corner portion 32 is rested on the head piece 23 of a column-type supporting device 20 and fixed to the latter by means of a self-tapping screw V. In general the raised corner portions 32 have the form of isosceles trapezia, as do also the connecting portions 33, and each have an angular extension of about 90° so that four plates resting on the same supporting device surround it completely, preventing the infiltration of air from the top half-space into the bottom half-space. The plate 30a shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a central plate and is suitable for being arranged in a non-perimetral position of the room where the floor is situated. Free spaces are left between the four raised corner portions 32 so as to allow the air to flow freely into the top half-space A above the plates 30.

Figures 5 and 6 show a perimetral plate 30b to be positioned along an edge of the room where the floor is installed. The sealing contact against a perimetral panel 10 of the raised floor (Figure 2) is ensured by a raised edge portion 39 in the form of a horizontal tongue which joins together two consecutive raised corner portions 32 and by an inclined connecting wall 40 which joins the central portion 31 to the raised edge portion 39 and to the raised corner portions 32 situated at the opposite ends of the portion 39.

Figures 7 and 8 show a corner plate 30c suitable for positioning in a corner of the room. The sealing contact against the perimetral panels of the raised floor is ensured, on two consecutive sides of the plate, by two raised edge portions 39 which connect together three raised corner portions 32 and by two inclined connecting walls 40 which are joined to the central horizontal portion 31.

Figures 9, 10 and 11, 12 show another two types of plate 30d, 30e having, respectively, two and three raised edge tongues 39 and two and three connecting walls which are joined to the central portion 31 so as to ensure the sealing contact against the perimetral panels. The use of the plates 30d, 30e is envisaged for forming connection channels between two separate plenums or for the air-conditioning of corridors.

42 denotes schematically reinforcing ribs which may be formed in the central portion 31.

hi Figure 1 a straight sealing strip arranged bridging two head pieces of two consecutive column-type supports is designated by 43. The strips 43 are thin parts made of plastic, for example PVC, having a cross-section in the form of an overturned V, and with a central rib 44 and two bottom flanges 45 (only one of which is shown). The rib 44 remains gripped between the facing edges of two adjacent panels 10, while the bottom flanges rest against the bottom edge surfaces of these panels. The strips 43 thus have dimensions and are formed such that the air pressure present in the plenum A under operating conditions pushes the thin bottom flanges 45 against the panels 10. In addition to improving the sealing contact between the panels, the strips 43 prevent dust or dirt falling from the treading surface of the panelled floor into the underlying plenum A.

A preferred method for laying the plates 30 envisages that the column-type supporting devices 20 are positioned on the load-bearing sill S in a quadrilateral mesh pattern depending on the layout of the room and the dimensions of the plates 30 and the panels 10 of the raised floor. A corner plate 30c is first laid in one of the corners, followed by laying of the perimetral plates 30b and then the central plates 30a. As laying is performed, the plates 30a-30c are fixed to the head pieces 23 of the supporting devices by screwing the screws V into holes 41 formed in the raised corner portions 32 and the adjacent edges of the flat portions 31 of the adjacent plates are sealed using aluminium self-adhesive tape (not shown). In order to improve further the air-tight seal, it is possible to apply between the connecting portions 33 or 39 between two adjacent plates a further seal (not shown), for example an adhesive seal made of foam rubber. A plastic or elastomer seal P is then placed on top of the four horizontal corner portions 32 arranged on a same head piece 23 (Figure 1), this seal being able to seal hermetically the spaces between the edges of these corner portions. Finally, the strips 43 and the panels 10 of the raised floor are arranged in position.

The invention is not to be regarded as limited to its embodiments described and illustrated here purely by way of example. Those skilled in the art will recognise that the plates may be modified with regard to the form, dimensions, constructional details and materials used. For example, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the corner portions 32 could have the form of a circular segment and the connecting portions 33 the form of frustoconical segments.

Claims

1. A modular plate (30a-30e) with a substantially quadrilateral overall shape for forming a horizontal dividing partition able to divide the cavity between a load-bearing sill (S) and a raised floor consisting of modular panels (10) supported by column-type supporting devices (20), characterized in that it comprises: a substantially horizontal central main portion (31 ), four corner portions (32), which are raised with respect to the central portion (31) and connected to the latter and able to be supported by four respective supporting devices (20), and at least one free space for the passage of air between at least two consecutive raised corner portions (32).

2. A modular plate according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the raised corner portions (32) are substantially horizontal flat portions.

3. A modular plate according to Claim 2, characterized in that the raised corner portions (32) have an angular extension of about 90°.

4. A modular plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised corner portions (32) have holes (41) for fastening elements (V).

5. A modular plate (30a) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has four free spaces for the passage of air between the four raised corner portions (32).

6. A modular plate (30b, 30c, 30d, 30e) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one connecting wall (40) which closes the space between the central portion (31) and two consecutive raised corner portions (32).

7. A modular plate (30b, 30c, 30d, 30e) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least two consecutive raised corner portions (32) are connected by a raised edge portion (39) in the form of a horizontal tongue.

8. A modular plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised corner portions (32) are joined to the main central portion (31) by connecting portions (33) inclined outwards and upwards.

9. A modular plate (30b, 30c, 30d, 30e) according to Claim 6, characterized in that said at least one connecting wall (40) is inclined outwards and upwards.

10. A modular plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of sheet metal.