GB2123053A

GB2123053A - Suspended integrated ceiling

Info

Publication number: GB2123053A
Application number: GB08313045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Roy Holford; Edward Anthony Mcelhinney
Original assignee: ROYAIR Ltd; SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SERVICES LIMI
Current assignee: ROYAIR Ltd; SPECIAL ACOUSTIC SERVICES LIMI
Priority date: 1982-05-12
Filing date: 1983-05-12
Publication date: 1984-01-25
Also published as: GB8313045D0; GB2123053B

Abstract

Fixed length hangers (4) support an air diffuser assembly (3) from a horizontal grid system (1). The air diffuser assembly (3) includes means to support a plenum box (18) and ceiling panels (17). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ceiling system and method of erection thereof This invention relates to a method of installation of a suspended integrated ceiling, that is a ceiling incorporating in it services such as air conditioning diffusers, light fittings etc. The invention also relates to an integrated suspended ceiling for installation by the method of the invention.

When installing a suspended ceiling, it is usual to either hang the ceiling panels from a grid support system itself suspended from the concrete or other structure to be covered or to rest the panels on a support grid which is suspended from the concrete structure. With both of these systems, the resulting ceiling-that is to say the assembly of ceiling panels-is not strong enough to support the weight of air diffusers for an air conditioning system so the diffusers, normally a plenum box with adjustable diffuser blades in it, have to themselves be separately suspended from the concrete structure and their height adjusted so that their bottom surface is flush or generally coplanar with the remainder of the ceiling panels.This can be very time consuming and costly and the finished result can be unsatisfactory from a visual point of view if the levels are not all correct. Light fittings can rest on the ceiling panels without any additional means of support because they are much lighter.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of assembling and erecting an integrated ceiling and ceiling system itself which overcomes or substantially reduces the problems just discussed.

A method of erecting an integrated suspended ceiling according to one aspect of the invention comprises the steps of: (i) suspending, from the concrete or other structure to be covered, a primary grid system in such manner thup it is substantially horizontal, and (ii) suspending from the primary grid system via fixed length hangers ventilation assemblies, each including means therein to support ceiling panels.

An integrated suspended ceiling according to another aspect of the invention comprises: a primary grid system, suspendable substantially horizontally; fixed length hangers engageable and extendable down from the grid system; and ventilation assemblies suspendable from the grid system by the fixed length hangers, each ventilation assembly including means therein to support ceiling panels.

A plenum chamber is normally required in each ventilation assembly. With the latter securely hung from the grid system, the plenum chambers are preferably each supported from the grid system via the respective fixed length hangers, although the plenum chambers may be additionally or alternatively supported directly from the grid.

In the preferred ceilings, the ventilation assemblies comprise air diffuser assemblies supported on the fixed length hangers and themselves supporting the plenum chambers.

The air diffuser assemblies are preferably assembled from a plurality of inter-connected extrusions supported on side members, conveniently also extrusions, which both engage with the fixed length hangers and incorporate the means for supporting adjacent ceiling panels. The extrusionsmmay be inter-locking or interconnected by spacers and a transverse support.

It will be appreciated that with the present invention the installation of the air diffuser assemblies in the ceiling becomes a very simple job because no separate levelling of the air diffuser assemblies is necessary as they are suspended from the already levelled primary grid system on fixed length hangers. Assembly therefore becomes a relatively unskilled job as the only levelling required is of the primary grid system and this can easily be done using for instance a laser beam to mark a horizontal line extending all round the surrounding walls. The primary grid system is then adjusted as a whole to be level with the line.

A preferred ceiling system of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows part of a complete ceiling system in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 a perspective view of the plenum box shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a hanger used with the system of Figure 1 and Figure 4 shows a modification of the system of Figure 1 with a snap-in edge sealing strip.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a ceiling system comprising a primary grid system 1 made up from a plurality of generally U shaped beams 2 each of which is suspended from the structure to be covered by suspension means (not shown) which are adjustable so that when the primary grid system has been erected and suspended from the concrete or other structure to be covered, its attitude can be adjusted so that it is substantially horizontal.

A diffuser assembly 3 is suspended from the primary grid system 1 by means of hangers 4 fitted into longitudinally extending, projecting lower and upper lugs 5, 6 forming upwardly and downwardly open grooves on the outside of side members 7 of the diffuser assembly.

The diffuser assembly 3 comprises side members 7, bridge members 8, T-pieces 9, central cruciform members 10, adjustable blades 11 which slide up and down on central post 12 of each cruciform member 10. The blades 11 are retained on the members 10 by means of spring clips 13.

The bottom of each side member 7 is formed with an inwardly directed portion 14 which defines one edge of the air outlet opening of the diffuser assembly, the other edge being defined by portion 1 5 on T-piece 9. As can be seen, the assembly repeats itself across the width of the diffuser. It will also be appreciated that because all the parts inter fit, a diffuser can be assembled with any number of air outlets and need not have the three illustrated in Figure 1.

Each side member 7 also includes an outwardly projecting foot 1 6 to fit into a rebated edge on ceiling panel 17 and support it.

A plenum box 18 is fitted into a slot 1 9 at the top of the side members 7, air from the ventilation ducting system (not shown) being supplied to the plenum box in known manner. Although the plenum box can be supported only in the slots 19 in the side members, it is preferable to additionally support it on the primary grid system 1 by means of brackets 20.

Instead of using the plenum box mounting arrangement shown in Figure 1, the arrangement shown in Figure 4 can be used. This is particularly useful if the plenum box has to be lined with insulating material 21. In this arrangement, instead of the foot of the box 1 8 fitting directly into side members 7a, a T-shaped member 22 is snap-fitted into channel 23 provided with nibs 24 and 25.

T-shaped member 22 comprises an upright part 26 and a laterally extending part 27. The upright 26 has a flange 29 on it and the lateral part 27 has a nib 28 on it. A gasket 30 is compressed between the part 27 and the nib 25 on the upper edge of the member 7a.

It will be seen with the illustrated arrangement that upright 26 provides a retaining wall inside the plenum box 18 to retain insulating material 21 therein. Gasket 30 forms an air tight seal between the side member 7a and the plenum box 1 8 and is prevented from coming out by nib 28.

The diffuser assembly shown in Figure 4 is generally similar to that of Figure 1 and comprises side members 7a (only one is shown) formed on its inner surface with a ledge 34 to receive and locate bridge member 8a therein The bridge member 8a has a central portion with oppositely protruding flanges 33 which fit between downwardly protruding L-shaped feet 32 deformed out of a U-shaped cross channel support member 36. The central section of the bridge member 8a also includes a channel with inwardly directed flanges 37 over which the top of central cruciform member 1 Oa slides and is retained thereby. A screw (not shown) locks the bridge member relative to the support member 36.

As can be seen from Figure 4, T-piece 9a is also formed with ledge 38 to receive and locate the other end of bridge member 8a, the upper corners of said member being located in slots 39, 40 respectively in members 7a and 9a. The bridge members 8a space apart the T-pieces 9a in the air diffuser assembly. The support member reinforces the bridge members in supporting the T-pieces and the cruciform members 1 Oa, although at the sides bridge members support the intervening assembly by engagement in the slots 34 in the side members.

Adjustable blades 11 slides up and down on the central pillar of cruciform member 1 Oa in the same manner as has been described with reference to Figure 1, the blades being retained in position by springs (not shown).

Figure 3 shows more clearly the hanger 4 illustrated in Figure 1 and 4. it comprises a lower portion 41 and an upper portion 42 which is twisted through 90 and provided with a hook portion 43 shaped to fit over and locate on a primary grid channel member 2 (see Figure 1). Its position relative to the channel 2 may be fixed by inserting a screw through hole 44.

The lower portion 41 is formed on each side with feet 45 and 46, feet 45 being bent out of the plane of the lower portion 41 to leave a gap therebetween wide enough to accommodate lug 6 (see Figure 1) of diffuser side members 7, 7a.

The foot 46 is similarly deformed out of the plane of the lower portion 41 so that it will fit into lugs 5 on the outside of diffuser side members 7, 7a. Due to the simplicity of the hangers 4, it will be seen that they can be cheaply manufactured.

It should be noted, that the embodiments just described are illustrative only and that modifications can be made to the diffuser assembly without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the shape of the foot 16 can be altered depending on the shape of the ceiling panel it has to cooperate with and support.

It should also be noted that the members 7, 9,10 and 11 are all linear extrusions which are cut to length or site depending on the length of diffuser assembly required, whereas the bridge members having only a small thickness in the direction of the extrusions 7a, 9a, Oa.

Of course the air diffusers may be diffusing heated air, unheated air or cooled (air conditioned) air according to individual circumstances.

Claims

1. A method of erecting an integrated suspended ceiling comprising the steps of: (i) suspending, from the concrete or other structure to be covered, a primary grid system in such manner that it is substantially horizontal, and (ii) suspending from the primary grid system via fixed length hangers ventilation assemblies, each including means therein to support ceiling panels.

2. An integrated suspended ceiling comprising:- a primary grid system, suspendable substantially horizontally; fixed length hangers engageable and extendable down from the grid system; and ventilation assemblies suspendable from the grid system by the fixed length hangers, each ventilation assembly including means therein to support ceiling panels.

3. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 2 wherein each ventilation assembly includes a plenum chamber supportable on the grid system via respective ones of the fixed length hangers.

4. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein each ventilation assembly includes a plenum chamber directly supportable on the grid system.

5. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 4 wherein each plenum chamber is supportable on the grid system via brackets protruding therefrom and engageable directly on the grid system.

6. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein each ventilation assembly comprises an air diffuser assembly engageable for support with respective ones of the fixed length hangers.

7. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 6 wherein side members of each air diffuser assembly are adapted for engagement with the said hangers.

8. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 7 wherein the side members each include a longitudinally extending downwardly open grove for engagement with the said hangers.

9. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 8 wherein the side members include a longitudinally extending upwardly open groove complementary to the downwardly open groove.

10. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any one of claims 7, 8 and 9 as appendant to claim 3 or either of claims 4 and 5 as appendant to claim 3 wherein the side members are adapted to support their own plenum chamber.

11. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 10 including a longitudinally extending upwardly open slot or channel for supporting the respective plenum chamber.

12. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 11 including a further member engageable in each upwardly open slot or channel and having a laterally extending part on which the respective plenum chamber is supportable.

1 3. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in claim 12 further including a gasket engageable between each side member and each further plenum-chamber-supporting member.

14. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein each each diffuser assembly comprises one or more T-piece members supported between respective side members, bridge members by means of which adjacent ones of these members are interconnectable and at least one support member connectable with the bridge members across the T-piece members, the intervening assembly so formed being supportable by the bridge members engaging the side members.

1 5. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14 wherein the side.

members are adapted to support the ceiling panels by means of outwardly projecting longitudinally extending feet.

1 6. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each fixed length hanger comprise a lower portion having a lower foot bent out of the plane of the lower portion and at least one upper foot also bent out of the plane of the lower portion and an upper portion for engaging a grid of the grid system.

1 7. An integrated suspended ceiling as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each fixed length hanger is twisted through 900 between an upper and a lower portion thereof.

1 8. A method of erecting an integrated suspended ceiling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 9. An integrated suspended ceiling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings or as modified with reference to Figure 2 or Figure 4.