GB1603859A

GB1603859A - Building panel

Info

Publication number: GB1603859A
Application number: GB30270/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: British Steel Corp
Current assignee: British Steel Corp
Priority date: 1977-07-19
Filing date: 1977-07-19
Publication date: 1981-12-02
Also published as: IT1108012B; DE2830867A1; IT7868701A0

Description

(54) BUILDING PANEL (71) We, BRITISH STEEL CORPORATION, a Corporation incorporated and existing under the Iron and Steel Act 1967 whose principal office is at 33 Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.1 7JG, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to building panels intended for system building and in particular to insulating composite panels of both the plain and windowed type.

According to the present invention a building panel comprises a front face including at least a plurality of metal sheets secured to a metal support frame having a rectangular border, adjacent sheets having interengaged portions, the panel having a rear face including means secured to the support frame for providing a backing for the panel and forming with the sheets and the frame an enclosure which is occupied by an insulating material.

Preferably the rectangular frame border includes sections of heavier gauge than the sheets. Suitably the vertical heavier gauge sections have vertically extending front covers forming part of the support frame and being of material similar to the metal sheets, the covers being secured to the sheets.

Preferably the support frame includes one or more transversely extending cross-pieces of similar material to the heavier gauge sections of the support frame, the cross-piece or pieces being secured to the vertical heavier gauge sections, each cross-piece being shaped so as to engage with the interengaged portions of the sheets and each cross-piece being secured to those portions.

Conveniently the panel backing means is secured to the cross-pieces as well as to the rectangular border.

The front face of the panel preferably also includes sills of similar material to the covers extending across the top and bottom edges of the front face of the panel to which edges the sills are secured.

The front face of the panel may comprise portions of the front of the frame and the metal sheets. Alternatively the front face of the panel in addition includes a window or windows and in this case the backing means is adapted to leave the window or windows uncovered.

In the case where the panel includes a window or windows, the frame for each window preferably comprises sections of material of similar gauge to the heavier gauge frame border sections, each window frame being sup ported by the heavier gauge frame border sections. Each window frame is suitably shaped so that sheets adjacent to the frame are interengaged with the front thereof, the backing means being secured to the back of the window frame.

Preferably the front face of the panel excluding the window is coated with a corrosion resistant coating of for instance a plastics material.

Suitably the backing means is a hardboard panel.

Conveniently the insulating material is an expanded foam plastics material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a view of the front face of a plain panel, Figure 2 is a view of a vertical section of the panel shown in Figure 1 along the lines II-II, Figure 3 is a view of a transverse section of the panel shown in Figure 1 along the lines III-III, Figure 4 is a view of the front face of a windowed panel, Figure 5 is a view of a vertical section of the panel shown in Figure 4 along the lines V-V, and Figure 6 is a view of a transverse section of the panel shown in Figure 4 along the lines VI-VI.

Referring to the figures where like parts bear the same reference numerals the front face of each panel 1 and 1' are shown respectively in Figures 1 and 4. The faces comprise a number of steel sheets 2, adjacent sheets being interengaged at their adjoining transverse edges 3, a pair of vertically extending steel sheet frame covers 4 at either panel edge and upper and lower steel sheet sills 5. The sheets 2, covers 4 and sills 5 are all of similar organic coated steel sheet such as COLORCOAT (Registered Trade Mark) so that the panel face exhibits a decorative and corrosion resistant surface. In the case of the windowed panel 1' shown in Figure 4 the front face also comprises the front surface of a window pane 6.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, the horizontal sections of the rectangular frame border comprise U-shaped mild steel channels 7 of heavier gauge than the steel from which the sheets, covers and sills are made so as to impart strength to the frame. The S-shaped vertical sections 8 of the rectangular border shown in Figures 3 and 6 are also of similar mild steel material to impart strength to the frame. Referring again to Figures 2 and 5 the uppermost and lowermost sheets 2 are each secured by rivets (not shown) to the front lip 9 of the adjacent U-shaped channel 7. All adjoining sheets have flanged adjoining transverse edges 3 such that the adjoining sheets 2 may be interengaged.The sills 5 comprise four sided open sheet structures and the sills 5 are secured by rivets (not shown) both to the front of the neighbouring sheet 2 and to the intermediate portion 10 of the Ushaped channel 7.

Each frame includes a number of cross-pieces 11 of a mild steel of gauge similar to that of the rectangular frame border.

These cross-pieces 11 extend between and are secured as by welding to the vertical S sections 8 of the rectangular border (see Figures 3 and 6). The cross-pieces 11 comprise Sshaped members in which an upwardly projecting front part 12 is secured by rivets (not shown) to the depending portion 13 of the flanged edges 3 of the adjoining sheets 2 to impart rigidity to the sheets 2. In the case of panel 1 the flanges 3 of the uppermost sheets 2 are merely clipped together by means of a spring clip 1 3a. Referring to Figure 2, a plain hardboard backing board 14 is secured by rivets (not shown) to the upper and lower rear lips 15 of each Ushaped channel 7 and also to each depending rear part 16 of the cross-pieces 11. As shown in Figure 3 the backing board 14 is also secured to the rear portions 17 (only one shown) of the pair of S-shaped sections 8.

Referring to Figures 3 and 6 the front of the S-shaped sections 8 are covered by steel sheet covers 4 which are provided with a double flange 17a at one edge for engagement with and securement to the sides of the Sshaped sections 8 and with a double flange 18 at their other edge for securement by way of a spring clip 19 (not shown in Figure 3) to the lateral edges of the sheets 2 and also to the flanged edge 20 of a sheet closure 21 in the case of the panel 1' shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 the window frame comprises a lower transverse window frame member 22 similar in shape and disposition to the cross-piece members 11 and an upper transverse window frame member 23 also similar in shape to the cross-pieces 11 but of inverted configuration. These transverse members 22 and 23 extend across and are secured to the pairs of S-shaped sections 8. The window frame is completed by a pair of vertical frame members 24 (only one shown in Figure 6) which are also similar in shape to the cross-pieces 11 and are each secured to the transverse members 22 and 23 to form a rectangular window frame. The window frame members are of a mild steel material of similar gauge to the cross-pieces 11 and the rectangular support frame border.

Referring to Figure 5 sheets 2 adjacent the transverse members 22 and 23 of the window frame are formed with a triple flange at one edge to engage internally respectively with the front lips 25 and the intermediate portions 26 of the transverse window frame members 22, 23.

Referring to Figure 6 the front face of the panel 1' is closed finally by the pair (only one shown) of steel sheet closures 21 of flanged channel section engaged via the flanges with the front lips 27 and intermediate portions 28 of the vertical members 24 of the window frame, the closures 21 also being formed with flanged upper and lower edges (not shown) engaging with adjoining sheets 2. The window pane 6 is peripherally enclosed by a neoprene gasket 29 which abuts with the flanges of the sheets 2 adjacent to the frame and with the flanges of the sheet closures 21.Thewindow pane 6 is held rigidly in position by beading 30 secured to the intermediate portions 26, 28 of the window frame members.The panel 1' has an apertured hardboard backing 31 secured to the rectangular frame border, the cross pieces and the window frame members, the aperture being of a size not to obscure the window pane.

The interstices of the panels 1 and 1' are occupied by an expanded polyurethane foam (not shown) injected through apertures (not shown) in the rectangular frame border.

To assemble the panels 1 and 1' various sheet metal sections consisting of the sheets 2, the vertical frame covers 4, the sills 5 and in the case of panel 1' the sheet closures 21 are interengaged and secured together by rivets or clips where appropriate and the panels 1 and 1' are laid face down on a suitable floor. The heavier gauge support frame sections including in the case of panel 1 the window frame are then laid down onto the assembled sheets and the various parts interengaged and secured by rivets. In the case of panel 1 the gasketted window pane 6 is then placed into the window frame and secured in position by the beading 30. The hardboard backing sheet 14 in the case of panel 1 and 31 in the case of panel 1' are then secured to the support frame by rivets.Finally the panels 1 and 1' are placed in a platen press and polyurethane foam is introduced through the apertures in the rectangular border of the frame support until the interstices of the panels 1 and 1' are filled.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A building panel comprising a front face including at least a plurality of metal sheets secured to a metal support frame having a rectangular boarder, adjacent sheets having interengaged portions, the panel having a rear face including means secured to the support frame for providing a backing for the panel and forming with the sheets and the frame an enclosure which is occupied by an insulating material.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the rectangular frame border includes sections of heavier gauge than the sheets.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 2 in which the vertical heavier gauge sections have vertically extending front covers forming part of the support frame and being of material similar to the metal sheets, the covers being secured to the sheets.

4. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the support frame includes one or more transversely extending cross-pieces of similar material to the heavier gauge sections of the support frame, the cross-piece or pieces being secured to the vertical heavier gauge sections, each cross-piece being shaped so as to engage with the interengaged portions of the sheets and each cross piece being secured to those portions.

5. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the panel backing means is secured to the cross-pieces as well as to the rectangular border.

6. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the front face of the panel includes sills of similar material to the covers, the sills extending across the top and bottom edges of the front face of the panel to which edges the sills are secured.

7. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the front face of the panel comprises portions of the front of the frame and the metal sheets.

8. A panel as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which the panel additionally includes a window or windows, the backing means being adapted to leave the window or windows uncovered.

9. A panel as claimed in claim 8 in which the frame for each window comprises sections of material of similar gauge to the heavier gauge frame border sections, each window frame being supported by the heavier gauge frame border sections.

10. A panel as claimed in claim 9 in which each window frame is shaped so that sheets adjacent to the frame are interengaged with the front thereof, the backing means being secured to the back of the window frame.

11. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the front face of the panel, excluding the window where fitted, is coated with a corrosion resistant coating.

12. A panel as claimed in claim 11 in which the coating is of a plastics material.

13. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the backing means is a hardboard panel.

14. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim in which the insulating material is an expanded foam plastics material.

15. A building panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

16. A building panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and 1' are placed in a platen press and polyurethane foam is introduced through the apertures in the rectangular border of the frame support until the interstices of the panels 1 and 1' are filled. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A building panel comprising a front face including at least a plurality of metal sheets secured to a metal support frame having a rectangular boarder, adjacent sheets having interengaged portions, the panel having a rear face including means secured to the support frame for providing a backing for the panel and forming with the sheets and the frame an enclosure which is occupied by an insulating material.