GB2144781A

GB2144781A - Extruded construction member

Info

Publication number: GB2144781A
Application number: GB08320102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Clegg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-26
Filing date: 1983-07-26
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: GB8320102D0

Abstract

An extrusion (10) has on one side a male formation (11) and on the other side a female formation (12), which formations (11), (12) are complementary to allow one or more lengths of the extrusion to be united, for example in a helical or spiral array to form a structure such as a tank or ducting. The extrusion is particularly suitable for constructing structures in positions which would make the introduction of a prefabricated structure difficult. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Extrusion This invention relates to an extrusion of a plastics material which can be used to construct containers, ducting and other structures in a simple and economical manner.

Accordingly the invention provides an extrusion of plastics material having a first formation on one side thereof and a second formation on an opposite side thereof, the other two formations being complementary and allowing adjacent lengths of the extrusion to be united to form a structure.

Preferably the extrusion is wound in a helix, spiral or similar formation to form a structure. Alternatively a plurality of the strips can be united sideby-side.

Advantageously the formations are such as to create a fluid-tight seal between adjacent lengths of extrusion.

Conveniently one of the formations is a male formation and the other is a female formation, their shapes being such that after being united they cannot easily be separated.

For use with the extrusion of the invention there can be provided a second extrusion capable of forming a circular or annular end structure on a wound helix and/or a wound spiral to facilitate installation and sealing of a formed structure. A generally L-shaped second extrusion could enable a spirally-wound sheet and a helically wound cylinder to be united to form a container such as a tank.

Use of the extrusion(s) of the invention is particularly suitable for installing containers or ducting structures in situ in a factory or the like, when the installation of a pre-fabricated structure would involve major modification or partial destruction of a building.

A former can be used as a centre piece in a helically-wound structure to accommodate, say, a double layer of the extrusion. Such a former could be generally circular or could be of any desired shape depending upon the desired final shape of the structure. Such a former could be a press or snap fit to the extrusion or could be adhered thereto.

The invention includes structure such as ducting, tanks, swimming pools and the like constructed using the extrusion of the invention. Such structures can be made to any practicable limit of size, unconstrained by the size of, say, a vacuum forming or injection moulding machine which have heretofore been used to construct tanks and the like, or an extrusion machine used to extrude tubes and ducting.

The invention will be described later, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a cross-sectional view through a possible extrusion conforming to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified extrusion; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing a helical container base structure and a circular cornerforming extrusion; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section on line IV to IV of Fig.3.

A preferred extrusion 10 of the invention is made from a conveniently resilient thermoplastics material such as polyethylene. The extrusion 10 has a male formation 11 and a female formation 12 which, when pressed together unite because of parts 118 and 12a to be not easily separable.

Flanges 13 embrace flanges 14 to hold the two walls of formation 11 together and enhance the seal between two lengths of extrusion 10. This seal can be made fluid tight by dimensioning the extrusion appropriately, by adding a sealant compound or by the inclusion of sealing strips or any combination of these factors.

A continuous length of extrusion 10 can be wound helically to form a tubular structure (not shown) which could form a pipe, duct or the like.

Such a method would be suitable for large e.g. 1 or 2 m diameter ducting and could be easily constructed in situ where prefabricated parts could not be easily introduced and assembled.

Similarly a flat structure 15 (Fig.3) could be constructed by winding the extrusion 10 spirally around a central former 16. The edge 17 of such structure would not be circular and could be engaged by a circular edge member 18, which could also be a length of extrusion. In the illustrated case edge member 18 is generally L-shaped and can engage the male formation of extrusion 10 (or 10a from Fig. 2) with varying degrees of penetration.

Horizontal limb 18a of member 18 can, if desired, embrace the full width of portion 11 and be sealed thereto with adhesive.

The vertical limb 18b of member 18 can receive the lowest turn(s) of a cylindrical tube (shown minimally at 19) formed by heically winding extrusion 10 or 10a.

In this way a cylindrical open-topped tank is constructed.

Many different shapes of structures can be made. For example, a tank which is generally rectangular with curved corners could easily be made.

When a large structure is to be made several lengths of extrusion may be joined end-to-end and a double-plug connector can be used for this purpose, with or without a suitable adhesive if necessary.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

1. An extrusion of plastics material having a first formation on one side thereof and a second formation on an opposite side thereof, the two formations being complementary and allowing adjacent lengths of the extrusion to be united to form a structure.

2. An extrusion as claimed in claim 1 and windable spiral or similar formation to form a structure.

3. An extrusion as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of pieces of the extrusion can be united side-by-side.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Extrusion This invention relates to an extrusion of a plastics material which can be used to construct containers, ducting and other structures in a simple and economical manner. Accordingly the invention provides an extrusion of plastics material having a first formation on one side thereof and a second formation on an opposite side thereof, the other two formations being complementary and allowing adjacent lengths of the extrusion to be united to form a structure. Preferably the extrusion is wound in a helix, spiral or similar formation to form a structure. Alternatively a plurality of the strips can be united sideby-side. Advantageously the formations are such as to create a fluid-tight seal between adjacent lengths of extrusion. Conveniently one of the formations is a male formation and the other is a female formation, their shapes being such that after being united they cannot easily be separated. For use with the extrusion of the invention there can be provided a second extrusion capable of forming a circular or annular end structure on a wound helix and/or a wound spiral to facilitate installation and sealing of a formed structure. A generally L-shaped second extrusion could enable a spirally-wound sheet and a helically wound cylinder to be united to form a container such as a tank. Use of the extrusion(s) of the invention is particularly suitable for installing containers or ducting structures in situ in a factory or the like, when the installation of a pre-fabricated structure would involve major modification or partial destruction of a building. A former can be used as a centre piece in a helically-wound structure to accommodate, say, a double layer of the extrusion. Such a former could be generally circular or could be of any desired shape depending upon the desired final shape of the structure. Such a former could be a press or snap fit to the extrusion or could be adhered thereto. The invention includes structure such as ducting, tanks, swimming pools and the like constructed using the extrusion of the invention. Such structures can be made to any practicable limit of size, unconstrained by the size of, say, a vacuum forming or injection moulding machine which have heretofore been used to construct tanks and the like, or an extrusion machine used to extrude tubes and ducting. The invention will be described later, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a cross-sectional view through a possible extrusion conforming to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified extrusion; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing a helical container base structure and a circular cornerforming extrusion; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section on line IV to IV of Fig.3. A preferred extrusion 10 of the invention is made from a conveniently resilient thermoplastics material such as polyethylene. The extrusion 10 has a male formation 11 and a female formation 12 which, when pressed together unite because of parts 118 and 12a to be not easily separable. Flanges 13 embrace flanges 14 to hold the two walls of formation 11 together and enhance the seal between two lengths of extrusion 10. This seal can be made fluid tight by dimensioning the extrusion appropriately, by adding a sealant compound or by the inclusion of sealing strips or any combination of these factors. A continuous length of extrusion 10 can be wound helically to form a tubular structure (not shown) which could form a pipe, duct or the like. Such a method would be suitable for large e.g. 1 or 2 m diameter ducting and could be easily constructed in situ where prefabricated parts could not be easily introduced and assembled. Similarly a flat structure 15 (Fig.3) could be constructed by winding the extrusion 10 spirally around a central former 16. The edge 17 of such structure would not be circular and could be engaged by a circular edge member 18, which could also be a length of extrusion. In the illustrated case edge member 18 is generally L-shaped and can engage the male formation of extrusion 10 (or 10a from Fig. 2) with varying degrees of penetration. Horizontal limb 18a of member 18 can, if desired, embrace the full width of portion 11 and be sealed thereto with adhesive. The vertical limb 18b of member 18 can receive the lowest turn(s) of a cylindrical tube (shown minimally at 19) formed by heically winding extrusion 10 or 10a. In this way a cylindrical open-topped tank is constructed. Many different shapes of structures can be made. For example, a tank which is generally rectangular with curved corners could easily be made. When a large structure is to be made several lengths of extrusion may be joined end-to-end and a double-plug connector can be used for this purpose, with or without a suitable adhesive if necessary. The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. CLAIMS

4. An extrusion as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the formations are such as to create a fluid-tight seal between adjacent lengths of extrusion.

5. An extrusion as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein one of the formations is a male formation and the other is a female formation.

6. An extrusion as claimed in claim 5 wherein the shapes of the formations are such that after being united they cannot easily be separated.

7. An extrusion as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a second extrusion capable of forming a circular or annular end structure on a wound helix and/or a wound spiral to facilitate installation and sealing of a formed structure.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second extrusion is generally L-shaped to enable a spirally-wound sheet and a helically wound cylinder to be united to form a container such as a tank.

9. An extrusion as claimed in any claim 1 to 6 in combination with a former used as a centre piece in a helically-wound structure.

10. An extrusion as claimed in claim 9 wherein such former is generally circular.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the former is a press or snap fit to the extrusion or is adhered thereto.

12. An extrusion substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. Structure, such as ducting a tank, a swimming pool constructed using the extrusion of the invention.