GB2082720A

GB2082720A - Joining sheets

Info

Publication number: GB2082720A
Application number: GB8122647A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PAR ACOUSTICS Ltd
Current assignee: PAR ACOUSTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-07-23
Filing date: 1981-07-22
Publication date: 1982-03-10
Also published as: GB2082720B

Abstract

The method of forming a joint between two sheets of material 1, 2 comprises forming a substantially S- shaped section along one edge of a first sheet and locating one edge of the other sheet in one 4 of the two channel sections formed by the S- shaped edge of the first sheet. This method is particularly applicable to the construction of panel units which can be used themselves in the construction of doors, partitions, or walls of enclosures. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Joints, panels, doors, enclosures and the like, and methods of manufacturing them The present invention relates to joints, panels, doors, enclosures and the like and methods of manufacturing them, and more particularly to joints formed between sheets of material which could be of metal, plastics, plastics coated metal, or indeed any suitable material.

1) According to the present invention a method of forming a joint between two sheets of material comprises: a) forming a substantially S-shaped section along one edge of a first sheet; and b) locating one edge of the other sheet in one of the two channel sections formed by the S-shaped edge of the first sheet.

2) In the method in paragraph 1 above the material is metal and the S-shaped edge is formed by rolling, pressing or extruding.

3) In the method in paragaph 1 the material is plastics and the S-shaped edge is formed by moulding or extruding.

4) In the method in paragraph 2 the metal is coated with plastics.

5) In the method of any one of paragraphs 1 to 4 at least one of the sheets of material has a plurality of perforations through it.

6) A method of constructing a panel unit, door or the like comprises forming box-sectioned units from sheets of material which have been joined to one another by the method set out in either paragraph 1 or 2 above.

7) The method of constructing a sound deadening panel unit, door or the like comprises the method as set out in paragraph 2 but with the additional step of inserting between two mutually parallel said sheets of material and infill of sound deadening material.

-8) A method of constructing a folding door, partition or the like which comprises interconnecting at least two panels formed by the method as set out in either paragraph 6 or 7.

9) A method of constructing a folding door, partition or the like as set out in paragraph 6 or 7 in which the interconnection is made by a hinge having a first arm which is located in one of the aforesaid channel sections in a first panel and a second arm which is located in another of the aforesaid channel sections in a second panel.

10) A method of constructing an enclosure which comprises interconnecting panel units formed by the method as set out in paragraph 3 or 4 above and a door or doors formed by the method as set out in either paragraphs 3, 4, 5 or 6.

11) A method of constructing a panel unit as set out in paragraph 6 which comprises; (a) forming a frame each of the side members of which consists of a planar section and two adjacent side members are mitred where they meet at corners in the frame sections; (b) locating two panels one in each of the two sets of the S-shaped sections; and (c) securing the frame side-members together at the corners of the frame by cleats.

12) A method as set out in paragraph 1 1 above, in which ends of the side members of the frame are not mitred and the step (c) is replaced by securing the frame side members together by means of interconnecting members each of which includes two spigot members to engage one in the overall channel-section end of each frame side member, the two spigot members being joined together by a corner member which has grooves in it which register with those externally facing said channel-sections of the said S-shaped sections of the frame members.

13) A method as set out in any one of the previously numbered paragraphs in which the members forming a joint are held together by a friction fit.

14) A method as set out in any one of the above numbered paragraphs 1 to 12 in which the members forming a joint are held together by screws or rivets.

1 5) A joint constructed by the method set out in any one of either paragraphs 1 to 5 or paragraphs 1 to 5 as modified by either paragraph 11 or 12.

16) A panel unit, door or the like constructed by the method as set out in any one of paragraphs 6, 7,11 or 12 or paragraphs 6, 7, 11 or 12 as modified by either paragraph 13 or 14.

17) A folding door, partition or the like constructed by the method as set out in either paragraph 8 or 9 or paragraph 8 or 9 as modified by either paragraph 11 or 12.

18)An enclosure constructed by the method set out in paragraph 10.

Although the invention has general application, where it is desired to join two sheets of material together, a particular application relates to the formation of box-sectioned units from metal sheets. Box-sectioned units formed in this way can be designed to have shapes and sizes suitable to form panel units which can be used to form doors, partitions or the walls and roof of an enclosure.

Although such enclosures could be used for a variety of purposes a particular application is as a sound deadening enclosure for machinery, equipment or personnel.

The application of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a joint formed between two panels and constructed according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective diagrammatic view of a sound deadening panel unit constructed according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of an alternative method of constituting corners for the panel unit shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a method of hinging two panel units together.

Figure 1 illustrates a method of joining a first metal sheet 1 to a second metal sheet 2.

One edge of the sheet 1 is formed, by rolling, into a substantially S-shaped cross-section 3 to thus form two adjacent channels 4 and 5.

The plane edge 6 of the second sheet 2 can locate in either the channel 4 or the channel 5 (broken lines) to form a joint with the first panel 1.

Although the panel 1 is shown normal to the panel 2 other configurations of the two jointed panels could be employed by forming the S-shaped edge at any desired angle to the plane of the main body of the panel 1, it being shown at 900 in Figure 1.

An application of the joint shown in Figure 1 will now be described with reference to Figure 2 which illustrates a sound deadening panel, a number of such panels being designed to be secured together to form a sound deadening enclosure.

The panel unit shown in Figure 2 consists of a metal frame, made up of four frame members 6, 7, 8 and 9 and two panels 10 and 11 between which there is sandwiched an infill of sound deadening material 12 and a fibreglass lamina 13.

Each of the frame members 6, 7, 8 and 9 consists of a planar section 6a, 7a, 8a, and 9a respectively and two S-shaped sections 6b and 6c,7band 7c, 8b and 8c and 9b and 9c respectively.

The two ends of each of the frame members 6, 7, 8 and 9 are mitred so that they fit together as a frame and are held together by four corner cleats 14.

The panel 10, which in this embodiment is a galvanised perforated sheet of metal, fits into the first channel section A formed by the S-shaped sections 6b, 7b, 8b, and 9b.

Similarly the panel 11 fits into the second channel section B formed by the S-shaped sections 6c, 7c, 8c and 9c.

The frame is braced by one or two bracing members 15 which are secured across the two frame members 6 and 8 at an intermediate point or points along their lengths to interconnect them.

A number of panels such as 10 can be secured adjacent to one another to form a larger panel unit which can be used to form the walls and a roof of a sound deadening enclosure.

In the embodiment shown and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 the frame members 6, 7, 8 and 9 are mitred at their ends in order to form the corners, the frame members being held together by cleats 14 as described earlier.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the frame members are not mitred but are cut with square ends and are adapted to fit over spigot members 1 6a and 1 6b of an interconnecting member 16.

Each interconnecting member includes the two spigot members 1 6a, 1 6b which are interconnected by a corner member 1 6c which has grooves 1 6d formed in it which register with those externally facing channel sections of the S-shaped sections of the frame members.

The advantage of this alternative method of constructing corners to the frames is that it will make assembly easier than with the mitred corners shown in Figures 1 and 2. This is due to the fact that in mass production there will be variations in the accuracy with which the mitred corners are cut.

Figure 4 illustrates a method of hinging two panel units together. Two panel units 17 and 18 are hinged together by a full length piano' hinge 19, a first arm 1 9a of the hinge 19 being located in one of the channel sections of the panel 17 and another arm 1 9b of the hinge 19 being located in one of the channel sections of the panel unit 18.

The rubber or similar seal 20 may be located in a further channel section of for example the panel unit 17. Instead of a rubber seal a brush seal could also be used.

The hinging arrangement of panel units is particularly applicable where it is desired to manufacture folding partitions or doors. Such partitions could be adapted to be moved or folded horizontally, or vertically.

As stated earlier the invention has general application to the construction of joints which in turn can be used to fabricate panels which themselves can be incorporated in doors, partitions or walls of enclosure. The invention is not limited to any particular material nor to any particular method of shaping the elements which go to make up the joint.

Claims

1. A method of forming a joint between two sheets of material comprises: a) forming a substantially S-shaped section along one edge of a first sheet; and b) location one edge of the other sheet in one of the two channel sections formed by the S-shaped edge of the first sheet.

2. In the method as claimed in claim 1 the material is metal and the S-shaped edge is formed by rolling, pressing or extruding.

3. In the method as claimed in claim 1 the material is plastics and the S-shaped edge is formed by moulding or extruding.

4. In the method as claimed in claim 2 the metal is coated with plastics.

5. In the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 as least one of the sheets of material has a plurality of perforations through it.

6. A method of constructing a panel unit, door or the like comprises forming box-sectioned units from sheets of material which have been joined to one another by the method set out in either claims 1 or 2 above.

7. A method of constructing a sound deadening panel unit, door or the like comprises the method as set out in claim 2 but with the additional step of inserting between two mutually parallel said sheets of material and infill of sound deadening material.

8. A method of constructing a folding door, partition or the like which comprises interconnecting at least two panels formed by the method as set out in either claim 6 or 7.

9. A method of constructing a folding door, partition or the like as set out in claim 6 or 7 in which the interconnection is made by a hinge having a first arm which is located in one of the aforesaid channel sections in a first panel and a second arm which is located in another of the aforesaid channel sections in a second panel.

10. A method of constructing an enclosure which comprises interconnecting panel units formed by the method as set out in claim 3 or 4 above and a door or doors formed by the method as set out in any one of claims 3, 4, 5 or 6.

11. A method of constructing a panel unit as set out in claim 6 which comprises: (a) forming a frame each of the side members of which consists of a planar section and two adjacent side members which are mitred where they meet at corners in the frame sections; (b) locating two panels one in each of the two sets of the S-shaped sections; and (c) securing the frame side-members together at the corners of the frame by cleats.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 1, in which ends of the side members of the frame are not mitred and the step (c) is replaced by securing the frame side members together by means of interconnecting members each of which includes two spigot members to engage one in the overall channel-section end of each frame side member, the two spigot members being joined together by a corner member which has grooves in it which register with those externally facing said channelsections of the said S-shaped sections of the frame members.

13. A method as claimed in any previous claim in which the members forming a joint are held together by a friction fit.

14. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the members forming a joint are held together by screws or rivets.

1 5. A joint constructed by the method set out in any of either claims 1 to 5 or claims 1 to 5 as modified by either claim 1 1 or 12.

16. A panel unit, door or the like constructed by the method as set out in any one of claims 6, 7, 11 or 12 or claims 6, 7, 1 1 or 12 as modified by either claim 13 or 14.

17. A folding door, partition or the like constructed by the method as set out in either claim 8 or 9 or claim 8 or 9 as modified by either claim 1 1 or 12.

18. An enclosure constructed by the method set out in claim 10.

19. The method, joint, and panel unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.