GB2090887A - Precast concrete panel structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A precast concrete panel structure comprises a plurality of precast concrete panels 1-4 interconnected by a plurality of joints. Opposed face portions and/or edges of said panels 1-4 each said joint are each provided with a groove 10 and with at least one connecting loop or hook 12 having its central axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the groove 10. An elongate connecting member 13 extends through the aligned connecting loops or hooks 12 of the adjoining panels 1-4 in each joint, and a jointing material 19 extends between said opposed face portions and/or edges in each said joint. Each connecting loop or hook has an anchor portion secured in a recess which extends inwardly into the panel 1-4 from the root of the groove 10, into which recess said anchor portion 15 has been driven. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Precast concrete panel structures The present invention reiates to precast concrete panel structures.

Such structures are used for a variety of purposes such as bin shelters, garages and sheds and have the advantage of relatively simple erection procedures involving a minimum of on site labour. There does however arise a serious problem where the structures are assembled by a method which relies on grouted joints between adjacent panels to provide a substantial proportion of the structural strength of the structure. This is because until the mortar or other jointing material used has set the structures are vulnerable to attack by vandals in that the structures can be more or less readily pushed over and dismantled breaking open the joints.

It is an object of the present invention to minimise the above problem.

The present invention provides a precast concrete panel structure comprising a plurality of precast concrete panels interconnected by a plurality of joints, each panel having two faces on opposite sides separated by edges, opposed face portions and/or edges of said panels in each said joint each being provided with a groove opposite a said groove in the other, and each being provided with at least one connecting loop or hook having its central axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective joint, an elongate connecting member extending through the aligned connecting loops of the adjoining panels in each said joint, and a jointing material extending between said opposed face portions and/or edges in each said joint, said at least one connecting loop or hook having an anchor portion secured in a recess formed so as to extend inwardly into the panel from the root of the groove, into which recess said anchor portion has been driven.

With a structure according to the present invention, the connection between the panels provided by the connecting loops or hooks and the elongate connecting members is sufficient to enable the erected structures to resist a considerable degree of abuse from vandals and other sources during the period before the full strength of the joints between adjacent panels is developed with setting of the jointing material.

This results in a considerable saving of labour and material presently involved in re-erecting structures in some cases a number of times following attacks from vandals during periods when the erection site is unattended. The present form of structure employed is moreover based on a particularly simple and economic form of panel construction which can be readily adapted to suit differing requirements by simply modifying the disposition of the hook or loop receiving recesses.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of erecting a precast concrete panel structure according to the invention comprising the steps of forming recesses extending inwardly into the panels from the roots of the grooves at desired positions along the length of said grooves, securing the anchor portions of respective connecting loops or hooks so that their central axes extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the grooves, positioning the panels in closely spaced proximity with each other with the respective grooves and connecting loops or hooks in each joint substantially aligned with each other, inserting a said elongate member through the aligned connecting loops or hooks in each joint and then filling said joint with a said jointing material; as well as: a precast concrete panel suitable for use in a structure according to the invention which panel has at least one edge and at least one face portion adjacent an edge each provided with a groove having at least one recess extending inwardly into the panel from the root of said groove, into which recess has been driven the anchor portion of a connecting loop or hook extending outwardly from the groove for use in forming a joint between said panel and another said panel.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description given by way of example of a bin shelter structure according to the present invention illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a multiple unit bin shelter; and Fig. 2 is a detailed side view of part of a joint between jointing panels in the structure of Fig. 1.

Figure 1 shows a plurality of precast concrete panels comprising first and second side wall panels 1, 2, a rear wall panel 3 and a roof panel 4 in position for assembly to provide one section of a multiple unit bin shelter.

Each panel has two faces 5, 6 on opposite sides separated by first edges 7 and second edges 8.

Upon assembly of the panels joints are formed between opposed second edges 8 and portions 9 of the panel faces 5, 6 which portions 9 are adjacent an edge 7 or 8.

Each of the opposed face portions 9 and/or second edges 8 is provided with a groove 10 opposite a said groove 10 in the other side of the joint. The grooves extend longitudinally along the second edges 8 or parallel to an adjacent edge 7 or 8. The connecting loops 12 are arranged so that the panels may be assembled with the connecting loops of adjacent panels in partly overlapping relationship to enable an elongate member 13 in the form of a steel rod to be passed through the loops whilst maintaining a gap between the adjacent panels for accommodating a sufficient amount of grout or other jointing material 19 (Fig.

2) to complete the joint.

This enables the structure to be maintained in its erected form until the full strength of the joints is developed upon setting of the jointing material.

The arrangement, number and dimensions of the connecting loops and connecting members will depend on a variety of factors including the particular material from which the connecting loops and material are used and the size and weight of the panels and of the complete structure but may be readily determined by those skilled in the art by suitable calculation and/or simple experiment. In the case of domestic bin shelters the arrangement would conveniently be such as to provide an 8 mm grouting gap in each joint.

In more detail, each connecting loop 12 is in the form of a discrete component in the form of a screw 1 5 provided with an eye 1 6 at its head. The screw is securely held in a bore 1 7 extending into a panel 1 by means of a plug 18 or other fixing of the expanding type. This considerably simplifies the production of the panels insofar as it is not necessary to carefully and precisely position the steel rods 11 in the moulds and permits greater flexibility in the location of the connecting loops to meet particular individual requirements.The incorporation of the connecting loops in accordance with the modified embodiment is simply achieved by drilling bores of a suitable depth and diameter into the edge(s) and/or face(s) of panels, inserting suitable plugs or other expanding type fittings for screws, and screwing in the loop components. In other respects, the use and operation of the connecting loops of this embodiment are substantially similar to those of the previously described embodiment.

Although the individual panels would usually be flat and rectangular other forms of panel may be used also. In the case of the structure shown in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the roof panel is provided with a triangular depending side wall portion 14 along one side which ensures that the structure is provided with an inclined roof to aid water shedding etc. In this case a groove 10 is provided in a portion of the face of the side wall portion 14 adjacent its upper edge which location also coincides with an edge of the main part of the roof panel 4. This groove 10 can be used to complete a joint with the opposite end of a similar roof panel in a multi-unit bin shelter structure build up of a plurality of panels and in which the side walls of adjacent shelters (not shown) are shared.

It will also be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention, concrete free-standing dividing or boundary wall structures can be erected in a generally similar manner. If desired such walls can also be interconnected with bin shelters as described above.

Claims (11)

1. A precast concrete panel structure comprising a plurality of precast concrete panels interconnected by a plurality of joints, each panel having two faces on opposite sides separated by edges, opposed face portions and/or edges of said panels in each said joint each being provided with a groove opposite a said groove in the other, and each being provided with at least one connecting loop or hook having its central axis extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective joint, an elongate connecting member extending through the aligned connecting loops of the adjoining panels in each said joint, and a jointing material extending between said opposed face portions and/or edges in each said joint, said at least one connecting loop or hook having an anchor portion secured in a recess formed so as to extend inwardly into the panel from the root of the groove, into which recess said anchor portion has been driven.

2. A panel structure according to Claim 1 wherein each said at least one hook or loops anchor portion is screw threaded.

3. A panel structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein is provided in each said recess a deformable plug means which is engaged by a respective anchor portion so as to be compressed against the sides of said recess so as to resist withdrawal therefrom.

4. A method of erecting a precast concrete panel structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 comprising the steps of forming recesses extending inwardly into the panels from the roots of the grooves at desired positions along the length of said grooves, securing the anchor portions of respective connecting loops or hooks so that their central axes extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the grooves, positioning the panels in closely spaced proximity with each other with the respective grooves and connecting loops or hooks in each joint substantially aligned with each other, inserting a said elongate member through the aligned connecting loops or hooks in each joint and then filling said joint with a said jointing material.

5. A method according to Claim 4 wherein said recesses are formed by boring.

6. A method according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 which includes the step of inserting deformable plug means into said recesses prior to driving said hook or loop anchor portions thereinto.

7. A precast concrete panel suitable for use in a structure according to Claim 1 which panel has at least one edge and at least one face portion adjacent an edge each provided with a groove having at least one recess extending inwardly into the panel from the root of said groove, in which recess has been driven the anchor portion of a connecting loop or hook extending outwardly from the groove for use in forming a joint between said panel and another said panel.

8. A precast concrete panel according to Claim 7 wherein is provided in each said recess a deformable plug means into which a respective said hook or loop anchor has been driven.

9. A precast concrete panel structure substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of erecting a precast concrete panel structure substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A precast concrete panel substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.