GB2159549A

GB2159549A - Thermal insulating material

Info

Publication number: GB2159549A
Application number: GB08406222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Henry Butcher
Original assignee: SLATELODGE Ltd
Current assignee: SLATELODGE Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-09
Filing date: 1984-03-09
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: EP0172904A1; GB2159549B; GB8406222D0; WO1985004206A1; AU4068685A

Abstract

A thermal insulating material (1) is formed from layers of reflective sheet material (7) (8) and has expanders (10, 11) operable to convert it, on the application of transverse tension, from a closed state to a state in which the layers are held spaced apart. The material is provided with boundary portions (2, 3) for securing it eg. to the underside of ceiling joists (4, 5) and with deflector means (12) operable to space the material from a planar covering when such covering is applied. Advantageously the deflector means (12) is provided flat and has a triangular cross-section when erected.

Description

SPECIFICATION Thermal insulating material The present invention relates to thermal insulating material, and especially for the thermal insulation of buildings.

Various proposals have been made for the provision of thermal insulating materials which, when installed, provide spaced-apart layers-usually of paper or card materi al-which are faced with a radiation barrier material of the reflective type, usually aluminium foil. Such a material provides insulation by reflecting energy received as radiation. It also has a low emissivity for heat energy received by conduction or convection. The material is usually provided in a folded or rolled compact form which, after un-rolling or unfolding, .is converted to provide the spacedapart layers by the pivotal action of in built expanders produced by tensioning the material transversely.

The materials are normally used for lining roofs or flooring, being applied for example to lofts. Installation by securing the material to the upper side of the ceiling joists exposed in a loft is a simple matter. Installation on the under sides of ceiling joists is also required in many cases. This involves attaching the material to the vertical faces of the joists so that it is spaced apart from the ceiling. Such spacing is especially necessary when the reflective material of the bottom layer is downwardly facing. If the material contacts the upper side of the ceiling it receives heat by conduction and, since its conductivity is high, makes little or no contribution to the required insulation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a material which is readily attached, when required, to the underside of ceiling joists whilst avoiding the foregoing difficulty.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a thermal insulating material of the type in which a main length of, and at least one further length of, sheet material are secured together in face to face relationship and are connected with expanders positioned in the neighbourhood of their edges, said main length and said further lengths each having at least one face constituted by a radiation barrier material of the reflective type, the arrangement being such that the insulating material can be converted from a closed state, in which the layers have longitudinal folds, to an unfolded opened state, by applying transverse tension to said main length and thereby opening the folds and causing the expanders to space and hold the lengths apart over a major part of their widths with the main length substantially flat, said material having longitudinal boundary portions which in the tensioned material, project outwardly in the transverse direction from the level of the main length, said main length being provided with deflector means for so deflecting it in the direction of said further length or lengths of sheet material at least when a planar material contacts the boundary portions simultaneously that a substantial proportion of the area of said main length is spaced away from said planar material.

Installation of the insulating material of the invention is readily effected by nailing or stapling it by its boundary portions to the underside of the joists. For this purpose the material preferably has the boundary portions each reinforced by a reinforcing strip, formed for example of a card-like material, which resists tearing action.

In a convenient and preferred arrangement the lengths of sheet material aforesaid are formed of cellulosic material, preferably paper card material. A card material of the kind used in the manufacture of packaging cartons gives satisfactory results. Aluminium or other metallic foil is a convenient material for the radiation barriers. The foil is readily laminated to the sheet material. For safety reasons cellulosic or other flammable material, when employed as a sheet material (or elsewhere eg.

for constructing the expanders or the deflector means.) employed, is desirably treated with a flame retardant.

Another form of sheet material is synthetic resinous film, eg. polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene or polytetrafluorethylene. In this case one or both faces of the material may be provided with an aluminium or other reflective coating formed in situ rather than being applied by lamination.

In a preferred arrangement, the deflector means is secured to the main length of sheet material. This arrangement is more convenient, in installation, than having the deflector means suplied separately.

Toenable the insulating material, complete with the deflector means. to be supplied in a rolled or folded form, the deflector means is advantageously provided in a flat state, and is convertable from the flat state to an erected state.

An arrangement which is especially preferred because of its simplicity is to provide the deflector means in the form of a single, centrally located deflector. Where this deflector is provided in a flat state and is so arranged and constituted that it may be erected to, and secured in, a projecting form, an arrangement is obtained which is convenient in manufacture, storage, distribution and on-site application.

The deflector, or each deflector, is advantageously provided in such form that it may be secured in the erected state without the application of separately provided material or components eg. staples, clips adhesives or adhesive activators. For this purpose it may be provided, at regions which are to be secured together, with coatings of impact adhesive of the type which unite when brought together but do not adhere to adhesive-free areas.

Another, and more preferred arrangement, is to form the deflector with mechanically interlocking edge portions.

A deflector having a generaly triangular cross-section when in the erected state is advantageous in that it has a stable configuration with its angles determined solely by linear dimensions. Having its base secured to the sheet material distributes the load. The concentrated apex loading is normally unimportant when bourne by the upper side of a ceiling because of the mechanical properties of the ceiling materials.

The following description in which reference is made to the acompanying drawings is provided in order to illustrate the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows, in cross-section, an example of an insulating material according to the invention applied to ceiling joists, Figure 2 shows the same material in a stage of its transition from the folded state in which it is supplied, Figure 3 shows the effect of securing a ceiling to the joists, Figure 4 is a plan showing a part of the deflector incorporated in the insulating material, Figures 5 and 6 show the deflector in further detail.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a flameproofed thermal insulating material 1 is secured by flat boundary parts 2 and 3 to the undersides of an adjacent pair of ceiling joists by tacks (or staples) 6.

Material 1 has a main length of a stout, paper-like material 7 and two further lengths 8 and 9. Length 7 has aluminium foil laminated to their lower faces. The lengths are secured in a known manner to a pair of expanders 10 a 11.

As the material is pulled in the direction A-A it is converted from the flat, and normally also rolied, state in which it is supplied with the layers folded longitudinally to the open state shown in Fig. 1. Expanders 10 8 11 swing about positions 1 2 a 13, at which they are secured to length 7 (see arrow A in Fig: 2) to bring the lengths into, and hold them in, the said open state.

A centrally located deflector 1 2 extends along the centre of the outer length 7. Its width is divided into an inner portion 1 3 and two equal outer portions 1 4 8 1 5 by longitu dinal creases 1 6. The longitudinal outer edges 1 7 a 1 8 are shaped to provide a series of projections 1 9 opposite complementary re cesses 20. Inner portion 1 3 is adhesively secured along the centre of length 7, the adhesive being shown with an exaggerated thickness at 21 in Fig. 1.

After the material has been secured to the joists as shown in Fig. 1, plasterboard ceiling components 22 are tacked or otherwise secured to the undersides of the joists. Reaction with the deflector 1 2 produces a space 23 between the plasterboard and length 7 to give the advantages hereinbefore described. The pivotal moments produced upon outer portions 14 and 1 5 by reaction with the plasterboard act to force edges 1 7 and 1 8 together.

Thus the projections 1 8 and recesses 20 which secure edges 1 7 and 1 8 together during installation are not required to withstand loading in the completed ceiling.

The single centrally located deflector 1 2 is normally adequate. A plurality of deflectors may be provided when preferred. Deflectors in the neighbourhood of the expanders can modify the action thereof but such modification can be allowed for in the construction of the material, eg. a tendency to cause length 8 to sag may be reduced or eliminated by giving length 8 a reduced width.

Whilst the primary purpose of the material is for the construction of insulated ceilings, it will be recognised that it can be employed in a similar manner in the construction of walls.

The preferred arrangeent is to provide the deflector means as part of the insulatingmaterial assembly. It may however, less conveniently, be provided separately. For example it may be in the form of one or more rods or tubes sandwiched between the installed insulating material and the ceiling-finishing material. Providing the ceiling finishing material with the deflector means attached is possible but such an arrangement interferes with the transport and storage of the finishing material.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is given for purposes of illustration only and that various departures may be made therefrom within the inentive concept involved.

Claims

1. A thermal insulating material of the type in which a main length of, and at least one further length of, sheet material are secured together in face to face relationship and are connected with expanders positioned in the neighbourhood of their edges, said main length and said further lengths each having at least one face constituted by a radiation bar rier material of the reflective type, the ar rangement being such that the insulating material can be converted from a closed state, in which the layers have longitudinal folds, to an unfolded opened state, by applying transverse tension to said main length and thereby open ing the folds and causing the expanders to space and hold the lengths apart over a major part of their widths with the main length substantially flat, said material being characterised by longitudinal boundary portions which in the tensioned material project out wardly in the transverse direction from the level of the main length, said main length being provided with deflector means for so deflecting it in the direction of said further length or lengths of sheet material at least when a planar material contacts the boundary portions simultaneously that a substantial proportion of the area of said main length is spaced away from said planar material.

2. A material according to claim 1 in which said boundary portions are each reinforced by a reinforcing strip.

3. A material according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which said lengths of sheet material are formed of cellulosic material.

4. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the radiation barrier material is aluminium or other metallic foil.

5. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the deflector means is secured to the main length of sheet material.

6. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the deflector means is provided in a flat state and is convertible from the flat state to an erected state.

7. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the deflector means is a single, centrally located deflector.

8. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which cellulosic material present in the product is treated with a flame retardant.

9. A material according to claim 6 or either of claims 7 or 8 as dependent thereon, in which the deflector means has a generally triangular cross section.

10. A thermal insulating material of the reflective type, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by reference to.the acompanying drawings.

11. A wall or ceiling structure incorporating a material according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12: A method of forming a ceiling structure substantially as herein before described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.