FR2488515A1 - Low friction surface panels for non-refrigerated sports rinks - having high density polyethylene covers and a deep hexagonal cell structural cure - Google Patents

Abstract

A low friction surface for e.g. skating, curling, hockey, as an alternative to refrigeration, comprises modular panels of a low friction sheet material, such as high density polyethylene, supported on a cellular core where the cell walls are normal to the panel surfaces. Pref. the core cells have a hexagonal section. The core may be of metal, plastic, carbon fibre or resin-impregnated paper, pref. is of aluminium(alloy). An interlayer of aluminium foil or resin-impregnated glass fabric may be included between the cellular core and the low friction surface, together with interfacial bonding (epoxy)coatings or films as appropriate. The panels may be surrounded by a frame slotted to accept external slats for dyeing adjacent panels together. The composite structure offers a better strength/wt. ratio than timber or reinforced polyester resin, is also more sound absorbant.

Description

 The present invention relates to a construction element for a slippery surface, for example an ice rink for practicing ice sports such as figure skating, hockey, curling, etc.

Are already known, in particular from patent FR 2,059,397, construction elements for the production of artificial ice rinks having the advantage of requiring no refrigeration installation. Such building elements have a sliding surface made of a plastic material having a relatively low coefficient of friction and a high resistance to abrasion, the plastic material preferably being a high density polyethylene. They are generally in the form of panels (of a size of the order of 150 x 300 cm) of agglomerated or compensated wood coated on both sides with a sheet of the aforementioned plastic material, possibly previously treated to make it self-lubricating as described in the patent
BE 875.299. These panels also have assembly formations on their lateral edges allowing the juxtaposition of several of these panels in order to build an ice rink for example.

 However, such construction elements with a slippery surface have certain drawbacks, essentially due to the presence of a wooden support. This material has, for example, an insufficient stiffness / weight ratio and an insufficient mechanical strength / weight ratio.

 It is more likely to rot when the slippery surface is constructed outside, and is insufficiently fire resistant, especially in the case of construction inside a building. Finally, other materials have been used as a support for such construction elements, such as for example a thermosetting laminate such as a polyester, but their characteristics of rigidity and mechanical resistance have proved to be insufficient. It therefore appeared necessary to find a another type of support for building elements of the type described above, which tends to obviate the drawbacks of those currently used.

 Consequently, the object of this invention is to provide a construction element with a sliding surface comprising a support provided on at least one of its faces with a plastic plate having a low coefficient of friction and a high resistance to abrasion, and which is characterized in that said support is constituted by a honeycomb structure, in which the partition walls of the cells are perpendicular to said faces.

 As a honeycomb structure, use may be made, for example, of a structure of the honeycomb type, the cells of which have a hexagonal shape in section. Of course, other types of honeycomb structures can be used in which the cells have a non-hexagonal polygonal shape in section.

 The honeycomb structure can be made of various materials such as a light metal such as aluminum or an alloy thereof, a synthetic material reinforced or not, carbon fiber, bakelized paper, etc.

 Preferably, the construction element according to the invention comprises an intermediate sheet disposed between the honeycomb support and the sliding surface constituted by a sheet of plastic material such as high pressure polyethylene. This intermediate sheet is used in particular to ensure better contact and better adhesion between the support and the plastic sheet, and can be constituted by a glass fiber sheet, a dry glass film, an aluminum sheet or an alloy thereof, etc.

 In addition, it is also possible to also add an intermediate foam, for example polyurethane or "Klegecel11", or any other suitable material for constituting a sound insulator.

 The present invention will now be described and illustrated by way of example with reference to the single appended drawing, which represents a view partially in section and partially in perspective of a building element according to the invention.

 The illustrated construction element comprises a honeycomb support 1 of the honeycomb type, the cells of which are hexagonal and. whose partition walls 2 are perpendicular to the plane of said support.

 As a honeycomb type structure, those currently available on the market can be used, such as HEXCEL 1/4 5052 003N, AG 3-5052 or AG 5-5056 in aluminum, NOMEX HRM 10 and ACOUSTICOR in synthetic material, the the second being additionally supplemented with glass wool, OXCOR, FLEXCOR, or even carbon fiber or bakelized paper structures of the type used for the production of floors in certain aircraft.

 ne of the currently preferred structures is the HEXCEL honeycomb 1/4 5052 003 N, with a thickness of the order of 25 mm and of which each hexagonal cell fits into a circle of approximately 3 mm in diameter.

 The honeycomb support 1 is provided, generally by bonding as described below, on its two faces with a plate 3 of a plastic suitable for serving as a sliding surface, for example of high density polyethylene.

 Preferably, the bonding of the plastic plate 3 to the honeycomb support 1 is carried out in the presence of an intermediate sheet 4 serving to ensure better fixing of the two aforementioned elements. This intermediate sheet 4 consists for example of a glass film, a fabric or structure of glass fiber sheet, an aluminum sheet or an alloy thereof, etc.

 The building element illustrated by way of example finally comprises a frame 5, for example made of aluminum or a light alloy, surrounding the honeycomb support 1 and on which these plastic plates 3 are also preferably glued in the presence of said sheet. intermediate 4.

 Finally, the frame 5 has longitudinal slots 6 on its periphery intended to receive, during the construction of a sliding surface consisting of the juxtaposition of several construction elements such as that described above with reference to the accompanying drawing, elements link 7 also cooperating with the longitudinal slots of the adjacent building elements (see attached drawing).

 By way of illustration, the following two examples illustrate the manufacture, respectively hot and cold, of a construction element for a sliding surface according to the invention.

Example 1
The following elements are stacked in the form of a sandwich panel (maximum dimensions 240 x 100 cm) pressed under a pressure of the order of 5 to 6 bars, and
o heated to approximately 120 C for approximately 1 hour - covered polyethylene (4.5 mm thick) - HEXCEL R 382 adhesive film - EPOXY F 180 prepreg fiberglass sheet or
R 1500-1 15/85 - honeycomb CR 3 1 / 4-5052-003N (24 mm thick)
surrounded by an aluminum frame - EPOXY F 180 prepreg fiberglass sheet
or R 1500-1 15/85 - HEXCEL R 382 adhesive film - covered polyethylene (4.5 mm thick)
Example 2
The following elements are stacked in the form of a sandwich panel (maximum dimensions 240 x 100 cm), and pressed under a pressure of the order of 5 to 6 bars, at room temperature and for approximately 6 hours.

- covered polyethylene (4.5 mm thick) - resin F 104 G - dry glass film 15-81 (120 g / cm2) - honeycomb CR3 1 / 4-5052-003N (24 mm thick )
surrounded by an aluminum frame 2 - 15-81 dry glass film (120 g / cm2) - F 104 G resin - covered polyethylene (4.5 mm thick)
Compared to the known elements of construction of a sliding surface, such as those mentioned above, those according to the present invention have many advantages, among which there may be mentioned in particular stiffness / weight and mechanical strength / weight ratios much higher, a better resistance to atmospheric agents, more particularly to humidity (rot-proofing) and to corrosion, better mechanical resistance to aging and to temperature changes, as well as almost absolute fire resistance.

 These various advantages make said construction elements entirely suitable for the production of slippery surfaces, such as skating rinks, either outside or inside a building, without ceasing significant basic infrastructure, since thanks to the high rigidity / weight ratio of these elements, such a surface can be mounted on a simple transverse floor or on metal or wooden grating.

 Of course various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the element which has just been described solely by way of non-limiting example without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. Construction element of a sliding surface comprising a support provided on at least one of its faces with a plastic plate having a low coefficient of friction and a high abrasion resistance, characterized in that said support is constituted by a honeycomb structure (1), in which the walls (2) for separating the cells are perpendicular to said faces. 2. Building element according to claim 1, characterized in that the cells of the support have in section a hexagonal shape. 3. Building element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the honeycomb support (1) is made of metal, synthetic material, carbon fiber or bakelized paper. 4. Building element according to claim 3, characterized in that the honeycomb support (1) is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 5. Building element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate sheet (4) connecting disposed between the honeycomb support (1) and the plastic plate (3). 6. Building element according to claim 5, characterized in that said intermediate sheet (4) is a glass sheet, a fiberglass fabric, or a sheet of aluminum or an alloy thereof. 7. Construction element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it also comprises a sound insulating interlayer material. 8. Building element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the honeycomb support (1) is surrounded by a frame (5) having assembly means (6) intended to cooperate in the service position with corresponding assembly means of an adjacent building element. 9. Building element according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a sandwich panel having stacked on each of the two faces of a honeycomb support (1), from the outside to the inside, a plate polyethylene (3), a hot glue film and a glass fiber sheet (4). 10. construction element according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a sandwich panel having stacked on each of the two faces of a honeycomb support (1), from the outside to the inside, a polyethylene plate ( 3), a layer of synthetic resin and a glass film (4).