FR2861767A1 - Thermal break for concrete floor has insulating blocks with supports to hold it in predetermined position while concrete is being poured - Google Patents

Abstract

The thermal break (1) consists of >=1 thermal insulating block (20) connected to support that holds it in predetermined position while floor concrete is being poured. The support is in the form of an open container (30) and has retaining elements for the insulating material in the form of indentations on two opposite parallel sides. The system can also be used with prefabricated floor slabs (4). The thermal break (1), made from plastic, glass fibre, rock wool or cellular concrete, consists of at least one thermal insulating block (20) connected to a support that holds it in a predetermined position while the floor concrete is being poured. The support is in the form of an open container (30) made from wood, cardboard, metal, synthetic or composition material and has retaining elements for the insulating material in the form of indentations on two opposite parallel sides. The system can also be used with prefabricated floor slabs (4). Independent claims are included for: (1) Prefabricated flagstone (4) for floor (5) in concrete; and (2) Process for manufacturing a concrete floor.

Description

THERMAL BREAKER FOR CONCRETE FLOORS, PREFABRICATED SLAB EQUIPPED WITH

  THERMAL BREAKER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FLOOR

  The present invention relates to a thermal breaker for concrete floor, a prefabricated slab equipped with such a thermal breaker and a method of manufacturing a floor.

  In buildings that are thermally insulated from the inside, and especially in multi-family dwellings, most of the solid concrete floors do not have perimeter insulation and thus generate significant "thermal bridges" that are detrimental to the building. thermal efficiency of the building and the comfort of the inhabitants. Consequently, it is sought to reduce these thermal losses at the periphery of floors made of solid concrete in all types of buildings whose outer walls are insulated from the inside. One of the solutions is to insert, on the site, an insulating material in the thickness of the walls. This solution is complex to implement for a random result. Another solution is to insert between the periphery of the floor and the walls of the polystyrene blocks held by anchor rods connecting the walls to the floor. In this solution, the anchor rods must be made of stainless steel to avoid the risk of corrosion, some of the rods being external to the concrete. This solution is very expensive to implement. In addition, it modifies the mechanical characteristics of the building in a prejudicial way in case of fire or earthquakes. These solutions are therefore not satisfactory.

  The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a simple, effective, easy to implement, economical, in compliance with the fire and anti seismic standards and without affecting the mechanical characteristics of the building.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a thermal breaker for floors, characterized in that it comprises at least one thermally insulating element coupled to at least one support intended to maintain said thermally insulating element in a predetermined position at the time of pouring the concrete forming said floor.

  The thermally insulating element may comprise at least one material selected from the group comprising at least polystyrene, polyurethane, glass wool, rockwool, cellular concrete and may be in the form of a substantially parallelepiped block .

  The support may consist of an open container made of a material selected from the group comprising at least wood, cardboard, metal, synthetic materials, composite materials. It is preferably designed to be in two stable states: a storage state in which it is unfolded and defines a substantially planar surface capable of being superposed and a state of use in which it is folded and defines an open volume suitable for receiving said thermally insulating element.

  In this case, the support is formed of a single piece of material having fold lines defining its edges and assembly areas at least at two of its lateral faces, these assembly areas comprising complementary nesting.

  The support comprises, advantageously, means for retaining said thermally insulating element in its interior volume, these retaining means including at least indentations provided in at least two of its lateral faces and protruding inwards.

  In the preferred embodiment, the support also comprises anchoring means intended to be sealed in the concrete of a prefabricated slab or said floor to position said support in a standing position adapted to receive said thermally insulating element.

  These anchoring means may be coupled to joints intended to make said mobile support relative to the prefabricated slab between at least a supine position and a standing position.

  The support may also comprise at least one spacer capable of determining a constant interval between two consecutive supports.

  The invention also relates to a prefabricated slab for concrete floor, characterized in that it comprises at least along one of its edges at least one thermal breaker as defined above and preferably several thermal interrupters aligned substantially parallel at this edge and separated from each other by an interval capable of providing a passage for the projecting reinforcements integral with this slab. The supports thermal breakers therefore have a height less than or equal to the thickness of the prefabricated slab surmounted by its projecting reinforcements.

  The invention finally relates to a method of manufacturing a concrete floor by shuttering, characterized in that, in said formwork and at least along one of its edges, a set of thermal breakers as defined above is positioned. and pouring the concrete to form said floor by sealing said thermal breakers.

  It also relates to a method of manufacturing a concrete floor by prefabricated slabs, characterized in that prefabricated slabs are used in which are integrated at least along one of their edges thermal breaker supports as defined above in each of these supports is placed a thermally insulating element and pouring the concrete to form said floor by sealing said thermal breakers.

  In both cases, the total height of said thermal breakers is determined so that it is at most equal to the thickness of the floor.

  The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of embodiments given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B show the support of the thermal breaker according to the invention in an unfolded version respectively in bottom and top views, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of several supports of FIG. 1 stacked on a transport pallet, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B are partially folded and assembled, partial perspective views of a prefabricated slab equipped with articulated thermal breakers, respectively in supine and upright position, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an articulation of thermal breakers. FIGS. 4A, 4B; FIG. 6A is a partial perspective view of a prefabricated slab equipped with supports according to FIG. e 6B represents two slabs of FIG. 6A superimposed, FIGS. 7A to 7D show four stages of manufacture of a floor comprising thermal breakers according to the invention, and FIGS. SA and SB schematically represent heat losses in a floor. concrete made respectively according to the invention with thermal breakers and according to the prior art without thermal break.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermal breaker 1 according to the invention is particularly intended for concrete floors 5, whether they are made from prefabricated slabs 4 made of reinforced concrete, also called pre-slabs, or from solid slabs cast on site in a formwork. The thermal breaker 1 comprises a thermally insulating element 2, shown in broken lines in Figure 3, coupled to a support 3 facilitating its implementation both in the factory and on site.

  The thermally insulating element 2 is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped block 20 made for example of polystyrene. It can also be made in other thermally insulating materials such as polyurethane, cellular concrete, glass wool, rock wool, etc. Depending on the chosen material, its shape may vary and be for example panel, bag, etc. To simplify the description, we will use the term "polystyrene block 20" without this being limiting.

  The support 3 is in the form of an open container 30, such as a box formed of a bottom 31 and four lateral faces: two transverse faces 32 and two longitudinal faces 33, able to receive a block 20 of polystyrene to the appropriate dimensions. Other shapes may be suitable such as a simple plate, stirrups U, a basket mesh, etc. To simplify the description, we will use the term "containing 30" thereafter without this being limiting. This container 30 may be made of different materials, recycled or otherwise, such as wood, cardboard, metal, synthetic materials, composite materials, etc. In the example shown, the container 30 is made of a single section of molded or injected plastics, incorporating fold lines defining the edges of the container 30 and complementary interlocking shapes for assembling the transverse faces 32.

  This container 30 also comprises feet 34 extending from its bottom 31 outwards and forming anchoring means in the concrete, indentations 35 in its longitudinal faces 33 forming block retaining means 20 and a spacer 36 extending from one of the transverse faces 32 outward defining the gap I between two consecutive containers 30. Of course, this configuration is only an exemplary embodiment. The feet 34 are at least three in number to ensure good stability of the container 30. They may be optional, especially in the case where the containers 30 are intended to be placed on site in the formwork of the floor 5. The indentations 35 are obtained by deformation of the material between two parallel slots and protrude into the interior volume of the container 30 to form gripping zones in the polystyrene block 20. Other equivalent means may be suitable such as for example stop lugs or harpoons formed in the walls, a rough interior surface condition, etc. In the unfolded position (see FIG 1A, 1B), this container 30 can easily be stacked on other identical containers 30, their forms being complementary in particular at the feet 34, indentations 35 and the spacer 36. it can be easily packaged on pallet 6 (see Fig. 2) reducing the volume and cost of transport. On site or in the factory, the container 30 can be easily handled, folded and assembled to form a rigid support 3 that can be integrated in prefabricated slabs 4 (see FIG 6A) or positioned in a formwork to receive preferably a block 20 of polystyrene or several adjacent blocks according to their dimensions. When it is integrated with prefabricated slabs 4, its height does not exceed that of the projecting reinforcements 40 of the slab 4 to allow their stacking (see Fig. 6B).

  To produce a prefabricated slab 4 according to the invention, containers 30 are positioned in the mold, at the periphery or along one or more edges of said mold, as shown in FIG. 3. These containers 30 are aligned in parallel. at the edges of the mold and separated from each other by an interval I determined automatically by the spacers 36 to pass the projecting reinforcements 40 arranged in the mold. Similarly, the height of the feet 34 substantially corresponds to the thickness of the prefabricated slab 4 and allows the anchoring of the container 30 in this slab. Thus, these containers 30 can be easily positioned upright on their feet 34 directly in the mold, relative to each other, before pouring the concrete forming the prefabricated slab 4 or positioned directly in the fresh concrete of the prefabricated slab 4 before hardening. Depending on the dimensions of the prefabricated slab 4, the containers 30 provided at the ends can be cut. For the container 30 will be chosen more or less standard dimensions with respect to the spacings of the protruding reinforcement 40 so as to have only one container 30 between two projecting reinforcements 40 making it possible to ensure continuity of the insulation.

  FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the thermal breaker 1 in which the container 30 forming the support 3 comprises articulations 7 associated with two feet 34 making it possible to make the container 30 movable relative to the prefabricated slab 4 in which it is sealed between a supine position (see Fig. 4A) and a standing position (see Fig. 4B). Thus, this thermal breaker 1 can be prepared directly in the factory by immediately integrating the polystyrene block 20 into the container 30. In this case, the thermal breakers 1 are in a supine position, their width not exceeding the height of the projecting reinforcements 40 prefabricated slabs 4 to allow them to be transported stacked for example on the tray of a truck. On site, after the laying of prefabricated slabs 4 and before pouring the concrete forming the floor 5, the thermal breakers 1 are straightened in a standing position by simply pivoting about the axis of the joints 7. These articulations 7 are two in number. , aligned and placed at two corners on the same side of the container 30. Each hinge 7 consists of a cylindrical finger 70 rotatable in a ring 71 carried by a foot 34. This cylindrical finger 70 is secured to the container 30 by a fixing lug 72 and locked in translation in the ring 71 by a stop button 73 reported.

  With the thermal breaker 1 according to the invention, the method of manufacturing a concrete floor 5 is greatly simplified. FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate the steps of this method applied to a floor 5 made with pre-slabs 4. In FIG. 7A, prefabricated slabs 4 are placed on load-bearing walls 8 carrying internal insulation 80. Already integrated containers 30 able to receive polystyrene blocks 20 to form the thermal breakers 1. They are positioned facing the outer walls 8 substantially in extension of the inner insulation 80. In Figure 7B, it is implemented in the In Figure 7C, the concrete is poured to form the floor 5. In Figure 7D, the walls 8 of the upper floor are mounted. Of course, the details of construction of such a floor 5 are not given here, including the establishment of lattices and reinforcements reinforcements. The height of the polystyrene blocks 20 is such that it corresponds to that of the floor 5 so as to be flush with the top of the finished floor 5 (see Fig. 7C). Therefore, the height of the blocks 20 can serve as a visual cue when pouring concrete on site to determine the thickness of the floor 5. The intervals I between the thermal breakers 1 consecutive can create concrete ribs extending the floor 5 and ensuring its mechanical strength relative to the load-bearing walls 8.

  FIG. 8A illustrates heat losses obtained with a floor 5 incorporating thermal breakers 1 according to the invention in comparison with FIG. 8B which illustrates a floor 5 without thermal break. The effectiveness of the thermal insulation obtained by the establishment of the thermal breakers 1 at the periphery of the floor 5 facing the outer walls 8 is clearly visible.

  The description makes it clear that the invention makes it possible to achieve the goals set. In particular, the containers 30 greatly facilitate the use of the thermal breakers 1 both on site and in the factory in prefabricated slabs 4 since they precisely define both horizontally and vertically the position of the polystyrene blocks 20. In addition, the design of these thermal breakers 1 which allows the passage of the reinforcements of the prefabricated slabs 4 and / or the floor 5 under and on both sides of the containers 30, outside the blocks 20 of polystyrene, and the embodiment regularly spaced concrete ribs, possibly armed, preserves all the mechanical functions of the floor 5, especially with regard to the seismic and fire.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variation obvious to a person skilled in the art while remaining within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims (18)

claims   1. Thermal breaker (1) for concrete floor (5), characterized in that it comprises at least one thermally insulating element (2) coupled to at least one support (3) intended to maintain said thermally insulating element (2). in a predetermined position at the time of pouring concrete forming said floor (5).   2. thermal breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said thermally insulating element (2) comprises at least one material selected from the group comprising at least polystyrene, polyurethane, glass wool, rockwool, concrete cellular.   3. Thermal breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said thermally insulating element (2) is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped block (20).   4. thermal breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3) consists of an open container (30) made of a material selected from the group comprising at least wood, cardboard, metal, materials synthetic materials, composite materials.   5. thermal breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that said support (3) is designed to be in two stable states: a storage state in which it is unfolded and defines a substantially planar surface capable of being superposed and a state in which it is folded and defines an open volume adapted to receive said thermally insulating element (2).   6. Thermal breaker according to claim 5, characterized in that said support (3) is formed of a single piece of material having fold lines defining its edges and assembly areas at least at two of its faces. lateral (32).   7. Thermal breaker according to claim 6, characterized in that the assembly zones 5 comprise complementary interlocking forms.   8. Thermal breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that said support (3) comprises means for retaining said thermally insulating element (2) in its internal volume.   9. Thermal breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that said retaining means comprise at least indentations (35) provided in at least two of the lateral faces (33) of said support (3) and protruding inwards.   10. thermal breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3) comprises anchoring means (34) intended to be sealed in the concrete of a prefabricated slab (4) or said floor (5) for positioning said support (3) in a standing position adapted to receive said thermally insulating element (2).   11. thermal breaker according to claim 10, characterized in that said anchoring means (34) are coupled to joints (7) intended to make said support (3) movable relative to the prefabricated slab (4) between at least a supine position and said standing position.   12. thermal switch according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (3) comprises at least one spacer (36) capable of determining a constant gap (I) between two supports (3) consecutive.   13. Prefabricated slab (4) for concrete floor (5), characterized in that it comprises at least along one of its edges at least one thermal breaker (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12.   14. Prefabricated slab according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises at least along one of its edges several thermal breakers (1) aligned substantially parallel to this edge and separated from each other by an interval (I) fit to provide a passage for the projecting reinforcements (40) integral with this slab (4).   15. Prefabricated slab according to claim 14, characterized in that the supports (3) thermal breakers (1) have a height less than or equal to the thickness of the prefabricated slab (4) surmounted by its projecting reinforcements (40).   16. A method of manufacturing a concrete floor (5) by formwork, characterized in that, in said formwork and at least along one of its edges, a set of thermal breakers (1) according to the one of claims 1 to 12 and in that the concrete is poured to form said floor (5) by sealing said thermal breakers (1).   17. A method of manufacturing a concrete floor (5) by prefabricated slabs (4), characterized in that prefabricated slabs (4) are used in which are integrated at least along one of their edges supports (3) thermal breakers (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, in that is placed in each of these supports (3) a thermally insulating element (2) and in that the concrete is poured to forming said floor (5) by sealing said thermal breakers (1).   18. A method according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the total height of said thermal breakers (1) is determined so that it is at most equal to the thickness of the floor (5).