GB2174433A

GB2174433A - Element for vibration-free ceilings

Info

Publication number: GB2174433A
Application number: GB08610556A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rolf-Ingo Krech
Original assignee: Blohm and Voss GmbH
Current assignee: Blohm and Voss GmbH
Priority date: 1985-05-03
Filing date: 1986-04-30
Publication date: 1986-11-05
Also published as: NL8601133A; KR860009202A; NO172700B; GB2174433B; DE3516013A1; KR940008308B1; GB8610556D0; DE3516013C2; NO861702L; NO172700C

Abstract

An elongate trough-like ceiling element has on one side a horizontal plug-in flange 15 and, on the opposite side, a horizontal groove- defining fold 16 for receiving flange 15 of a neighbouring ceiling element. Each end face 18 has means, e.g. a hook-shaped member 19, for holding the element on a support, e.g. a strut or wall. USE in ships. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A set of construction elements for the ceilings of rooms The invention relates to a set of construction elements for the ceilings of rooms or chambers having an elongate ceiling element of trough-like profiled cross-section which is provided with holding devices, in particular at its end faces.

With sets of construction elements of this kind the problem exists of reliably connecting the various ceiling elements together at their longitudinal sides. This is important, in particular in ship building, because, as a result of the vibrations which occur, it is essential to avoid two neighbouring ceiling elements from moving relative to one another and thereby creating correspondingly loud noises.

It was previously necessary to provide special frames or the like with which the ceiling elements are connected together. Such constructions are however costly and complicated and also correspondingly heavy.

The object underlying the invention is to provide a set of construction elements in which the individual ceiling elements can be easily connected together and in which the ceiling which is so formed can easily be secured to appropriate constructions.

The solution in accordance with the invention consists in that the ceiling element has, at one longitudinal side, a plug-in flange which is substantially horizontal in the installed position, and, at the other longitudinal side, a groove defining fold which is substantially horizontal in the installed position for accommodating the plug-in flange of a neighbouring ceiling element which, in this respect, is of the same form.

If the first ceiling element has been set in place then the second ceiling element can be reliably connected with it by pushing the plugin flange of the one ceiling element into the groove defining fold of the other ceiling element. As the plug-in flange and the groove defining fold have a substantially horizontal extent in the installed position the two ceiling elements can be arranged alongside one another in their installed position. The one ceiling element is then lifted slightly so that it no longer lies on the corresponding supports.

It can then be displaced sideways with ease until the two ceiling elements are connected with one another.

This way of putting together the ceiling is in particular possible when the end face holding device is formed by a hook section which lies on a corresponding strut, on a wall, or the like. With this arrangement the entire ceiling that is formed can be held by the end face holding devices.

If an initial ceiling element is provided which has a holding section for connection with a wall element or the like at its longitudinal side in place of the plug-in flange then the ceiling can likewise be held at this longitudinal side.

The holding profile at the longitudinal side is in this arrangement advantageously a hook section.

In similar form one advantageously provides a terminal ceiling element which has a holding device instead of the groove defining fold.

This holding device can also be a hook section. Obviously the ceiling is particularly reliably held when the initial ceiling element and the terminal ceiling element each have a holding device.

When the hook sections at the longitudinal sides and the hook sections at the end faces have the same cross-sectional shape then the parts to which the ceiling is to be secured can have the same shape throughout. In this manner it is not necessary to keep a supply of very many different securing elements and the like.

The hook sections at the ceiling elements are all preferably formed by bending the free ends of the respective end faces or side walls outwardly to form a first horizontal portion and then downwardly to form a second vertical portion. In this way a section through the respective end face or sidewall and the bent over horizontal and vertical portions resembles an inverted hook.

In order that the ceiling can be secured to a wall a wall hook section is advantageously provided for cooperating with one or more of said hook sections of said ceiling elements.

After the wall hook section has been connected with the wall the ceiling element can be suspended thereon, with the "inverted hooks" of said ceiling elements engaging over vertical lips of said wall hook sections.

When the wall hook section is provided with a soft support then noises are avoided if the deck elements should move (for example with vibrations in a ship).

One can however also provide a sealing section for the sealed connection of the ceiling element at a wall hook section. In this way the entry of air, dust and moisture at this point is prevented.

When the wall hook section is provided with outwardly bendable stamped out lugs then the ceiling elements can be reliably retained. After they have been hooked into place the stamped out lugs arranged above the hook section of the ceiling elements are bent outwardly so that the ceiling elements can no longer move upwardly. In this manner one not only avoids a reliable fastening but also avoids noise generation due to moving ceiling elements on the occurrence of vibration, for example in a ship.

Normally, at least the largest part of the ceiling elements are merely provided to close off a room. The ceiling elements are then fixedly installed. If, however, a ceiling element is constructed as a service element which has hinges at a longitudinal side in place of the plug-in flange or the groove defining fold, with the hinges being connectable with the groove defining fold/plug-in flange of the adjacent element, and with the ceiling element having means at its other longitudinal side for retaining the element in the closed position, then this ceiling element can be swung outwardly so that one can reach the space located above the ceiling elements.

It has turned out to be particularly advantageous when the ceiling elements have an approximately flat base, a chamfer or angled face extending obliquely outwardly and upwardly adjoining the base at the long sides and side surfaces which adjoin the chamfers, with the chamfers extending perpendicular to the plane of the base and carrying the plug-in flange/groove defining fold. In this way one obtains an appealing outer shape for the ceiling elements. Moreover, there are in each case two contacting side surfaces so that the ceiling gives the impression that it is a closed surface, and indeed it is.

A particularly advantageous ceiling element has, in place of its base, holders for a light cover. In this way lights, which are arranged in ceiling elements with dimensions which corresond to those of normal ceiling elements, can easily be inserted at any position in the ceiling.

When the groove defining folds are constructed as clamping folds, so that they are secure against vibration, the two ceiling elements are reliably connected together at their longitudinal sides because the clamping fold reliably holds the plug in flange.

The ceiling design of the invention can be particularly advantageously used in ship-building. It is however equally well suited for use in buildings, for example.

The invention will now be described in the following by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and with regard to advantageous embodiments. The drawings show: Fig. 1 in perspective view a ceiling put together from a plurality of ceiling elements, Fig. 2 a ceiling element which is used in the set of construction elements; Fig. 3 a further ceiling element (initial ceiling element); Fig. 4 a further ceiling element (terminal ceiling element); Fig. 5 an end face holding device for a ceiling element; Fig. 6 a ceiling element designed as a ventilation element; Fig. 7 in cross-section a ceiling element with a light cover; Fig. 8 the securing of the ceiling elements to the walls; Fig. 9 a different type of wall hook section than that used in the design of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 another different wall hook section.

As is shown in Fig. 1 the ceiling construction produced from the set of construction elements of the invention has a plurality of parallel ceiling elements 10, 20 and 30 arranged alongside one another. Each of the ceiling elements 10 has, as is shown in Fig.

2, a trough-like construction with a base surface 11, with sidewalls 12 and 13, and with chamfers or angled faces 14 being provided in the transition region between the base surface 11 and the side surfaces 12 and 13 respectively.

At the upper edge of the ceiling element 10 a plug-in flange 15 projects at the one longitudinal side beyond the sidewall 13 and is horizontal in the installed position. On the opposite side a groove defining fold 16 is arranged at the upper edge of the corresponding sidewall 12 and is formed by a material strip folded into a U-shape with the one limb of the U which is secured to the sidewall 12 projecting at right angles from the sidewall 12. The two limbs of the U-shaped groove defining fold 16 are bent towards each other so that a plug-in flange 15 plugged into the groove defining fold 16 of a neighbouring ceiling element is reliably held here. In order to facilitate the introduction of the plug-in flange 15 into the socket defining fold 16 the opening of the socket defining fold is broadened at 17.

The trough-like element is terminated at the end faces by the end walls 18 on which the holding devices can be provided as will be explained further beiow.

A ceiling element 20 is shown in Fig. 3 which corresponds essentially to the ceiling element 10 of Fig. 2. A distinction however exists with this initial ceiling element 20 in as much as a holding device in the form of a hook section 21 is provided here in place of the plug-in flange 15 by means of which this initial ceiling element can be hooked onto a wall or the like. In similar manner, a hook profile 31 is provided in the terminal ceiling element of Fig. 4 in place of the plug-in flange 16 by means of which the terminal element can be hooked onto a wall or the like.

A ceiling element 10 is shown in Fig. 5 which has a hook section 19 at its end face 18 by means of which the ceiling element can be hooked at its end face onto a wall, a wall hook section or the like. Corresponding hook sections 19 can also be provided for the initial ceiling elements 20 and the terminal ceiling elements 30. As one can see from Fig. 5 it is however not absolutely essential that the end wall 18 be connected with the sidewalls 12 and 13.

A ceiling element 40 is shown in Fig. 6 which not only serve for bounding a chamber.

This ceiling element namely has a rectangular opening 41 in its lower surface 11 with the opening being covered, other than at an edge region, by a downwardly projecting plate 42 so that air can flow out of or flow into the gap region at the edge of the plate 42 between the base wall 11 and plate 42. A ceiling element of this kind can be used for ventilation.

Fig. 7 shows a ceiling element 50 which can likewise be connected with the previously described ceiling elements. In place of the lower surface 11 a removable light cover 51 is provided for this ceiling element and can have different heights as is indicated at the right and left hand sides of Fig. 7. The light cover 51 is held by appropriate clips 52 or the like. In this manner one obtains a light which has the width of a normal ceiling element.

Fig. 8 shows the layout of a ceiling construction of the ceiling elements 10. The ceiling elements 10 are suspended by their hook sections 19 at the end faces 18 on a wall hook section 60 which is in turn secured to a wall 61 of the ship or the like. The wall hook section 60 has an essentially U-shaped crosssection with the hook section 19 of the ceiling element 10 being placed onto the free limb of the U. For this purpose a strip of soft material and/or ceiling material is placed on the end of the free limb of the U at 62.In order that a wall 63 can also be simultaneously securely held at this position, the wall 63 having a flange 64 at its upper side on which a strip 65 of soft or ceiling material is arranged, the end region of the U-shaped wall hook section 60 is bent outwardly so that the end region of the wall 63 can be clamped beneath the strip-like element 62 between the wall hook section 60 and the end wall 18 of the ceiling element 10.

If the ceiling element 10 is removed then it must first be drawn to the left in the figure so that the connection between the plug-in flange 15 and the groove defining fold 16 is released. The ceiling element can subsequently be lifted out. In order to prevent this upwardly directed movement of a ceiling element (or of all the ceiling elements together) stamped out lugs 66 are provided which can be bent outwardly in the direction of the arrow 67 over the hook section 19 so that the ceiling element 10 is reliably retained.

Fig. 9 shows a somewhat different shape for the wall hook section 60 which has greater stability through an additional region with a U-shaped cross-section at its upper end.

The wall hook section of Figs. 8 and 9 should be suspended on walls. The wall hook section of Fig. 10 can however be secured in a different manner to a wall. It has essentially the same shape as the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 carries however in addition a box-like element 68 at its lower part which is contacted by the end wall 18 of the ceiling ele- - ment 10. In this way the end wall 18 is held at a defined distance from the wall hook section, and thus from the wall, so that a sealing lip 69 of a corresponding sealing section 70 on the wall hook section 60 can develop its full sealing effect.

Claims

1. A set of construction elements for the ceilings of rooms having an elongate ceiling element of trough-like profiled cross-section which is provided with holding devices, in particular at its end faces, characterised in that the ceiling element has, at one longitudinal side, a plug-in flange (15) which is substantially horizontal in the installed position, and, at the other longitudinal side, a groove defining fold (16) which is substantially horizontal in the installed position for accommodating the plug-in flange (15) of a neighbouring ceiling element which, in this respect, is of the same form.

2. A set of construction elements in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the end face holding device is formed by a hook section (19) which is preferably formed by bending the free end of the or each end face over to define a first horizontal portion and a second vertical portion said first and second portions defining, together with a vertical portion of the associated end face, said hook section.

3. A set of construction elements in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that an initial ceiling element (20) is provided which has a holding section (21) for connection to a wall element or the like at one of its longitudinal sides instead of the plug-in flange (15).

4. A set of construction elements in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the holding section at the longitudinal side of said initial ceiling element is a hook section (21).

5. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a terminal ceiling element (30) is provided which has a holding device (31) instead of the groove defining fold (16).

6. A set of construction elements in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that said holding device (31) of said terminal ceiling element is a hook section.

7. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the hook sections (21, 31) at the longitudinal sides and the hook sections (19) at the end faces have the same crosssectional shape.

8. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a wall hook section (60) is provided to cooperate with one or more of said hook sections (19, 21, 31) of said ceiling elements.

9. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the wall hook section (60) is provided with a soft support (60, 69).

10. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised in that a sealing section (60, 69) is provided for the sealed connection of a ceiling element (10, 20, 30) onto a wall hook section (60).

11. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the wall hook section (60) is provided with stamped out lugs (66) which can be bent outwardly.

12. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 11, characterised in that one ceiling element is designed as a service element which has hinges at one longitudinal side in place of said plug-in flange or said groove defining fold, with the hinges being connectable with the respective groove defining fold/plug-in flange of the neighbouring ceiling element, and with the ceiling element having a means for retaining the element in the closed position at the other longitudinal side.

13. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the ceiling elements (10, 20, 30) have an approximately flat base (11), a chamfer or angled face (14) which extends obliquely outwardly and upwardly adjoining the base at the long sides and side surfaces (12, 13) adjoining the chamfers (14), with the side surfaces extending perpendicular to the plane of the base (11) and carrying the plug-in flange/groove defining fold (15, 16).

14. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 13, charac prised in that a ceiling element (50) has, in place of its base, holders for a light cover (51).

15. A set of construction elements in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the groove defining folds (16) are constructed as clamping folds so that they are secure against vibration.

16. A set of construction elements substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.