GB2188658A

GB2188658A - Sandwich panel and connection profile therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2188658A
Application number: GB08608045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugo Arie Jan Landheer
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority date: 1986-04-02
Filing date: 1986-04-02
Publication date: 1987-10-07
Also published as: DE3767192D1; JPS62296033A; SG54093G; AU583718B2; AU7071587A; JPH068549B2; SG28490G; GB8608045D0; EP0240161A3; GB2188658B; EP0240161B1; EP0240161A2

Abstract

A sandwich panel in which a connection profile 21 is provided on at least one edge and co-operates with a tongue 15 on the edge of an adjacent panel. The sandwich panel itself is filled with an insulating material, such as foam, and has on opposite faces metal sheets 12, 13, 18, 19. A connection profile 21 includes a web 22, first and second edge flanges 23 and 24, and third and fourth flanges 29 and 32 therebetween. The fourth flange extends into a recess 33 in the tongue and is spaced from the first flange sufficiently to accommodate a part of the tongue as well as the clamping portion 30 of a clamp 31 which holds the panels against a support member 35. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB2188658A 1 SPECIFICATION the web abutting the insulating core, a third

flange extending from said web parallel to and Sandwich panel and connection profile between said first and second flanges and therefor spaced from said first flange by a distance 70 sufficiently to accommodate in said space the The present invention relates to sandwich clamping part of a support clamp and a ton panels and to connection profiles for use on gue of an adjacent panel, the third flange be at least one edge of such a profile. ing positioned to engage an outer face of said Sandwich panels have been used for a con- tongue, a fourth flange extending from said siderable time now in the building trade and 75 web parallel to and between said first and incorporate a front and rear sheet, usually third flanges, said fourth flange being posi formed of metal, and sandwiched between tioned and shaped to co-operate with and ex this sheet is an insulating core which can be tend into a recess formed in the end of said formed of a variety of materials such as cellu- tongue, so that a part of said tongue and the lar or foam plastic, recontituted wood, fibrous 80 clamping portion of said support clamp are materials or the like or a mixture of all of between the fourth flange and the first flange these. when the clamping portion of said clamp is Many different proposals have been made engaged with the inner surface of said first for joining the edges of such panels and one flange to hold said panel.

such proposal is in GB-A-1072595. Here one 85 With such a construction the provision of abutting panel edge is provided with a profiled the third and fourth flanges greatly rigidifies strip, which includes two edge flanges around the connection profile and enables the fourth which are bent the ends of the front and rear flange to extend into a recess formed in the sheets respectively, and a protruding tongue end of the tongue of the cooperating panel.

portion. The interior of the tongue portion and 90 This also allows the insulating core material to the space between the front and rear sheets enter to immediately adjacent the end of the is filled with the insulation. The other co-oper- tongue. These provisions both increase the ating member has both a front and rear sheet rigidity of the structure and improve the insu bent first inwardly and then longitudinally par- lating effect. Furthermore, it enables one to allel to the main surfaces of the sheet material 95 use a sandwich panel construction which is to provide free edges, the tongue of the first very similar to that already available and is panel being inserted between these free edges shown in GB-A-1072595 with very little modi to provide a joint. A clamp is provided by fication. Thus the construction of the present which the assembly can be secured to a sup- invention allows one to use identical first and porting structure, the clamp engaging one of 100 second sheets, one on each face of the panel, the flanges of the profiled edge member. and it enables one to maintain the same thick While such a construction is generally satis- ness of panels and the same clamps while factory, it does have a number of problems. overcoming the problems previously men Firstly, particularly if the sandwich panel ar- tioned.

rangement is used for ciadding the exterior of 105 Preferably the first, third and fourth flanges a building, and to a lesser extent on internal have a sufficient length to allow for adjustable partitioning, the result of wind on the outside telescoping interlocking with the tongue of an of the structure can produce a suction effect. adjacent panel and/or to allow compressible This puts the sheet material which projects sealing to be accommodated between the beyond the second panel edge and engages 110 third and fourth flanges this again helping to the exterior surfaces of the tongue under con- rigidify the junction and improve the insulation siderable loading, the sheet material not really effect.

having sufficient strength to support any sub- In a most convenient construction, the stantial loading. Secondly there is a significant fourth flange is positioned substantially cen reduction in the insulating effect in the vicinity 115 trally between the first and second flanges. It of the junction between two panels. can therefore engage substantially centrally in It is now proposed, according to the pre- the tongue of the adjacent panel so that this sent invention, to provide a sandwich panel tongue is equally strong in either direction comprising an insulating material core sand- should a lateral load be put on the panels, for wiched between first and second spaced 120 example, by the wind or some other external sheets, at least one edge of the panel being force.

closed by a connection profile in the form of Desirably the fourth flange is tapered to an elongate channel member of constant cross wards its free end to facilitate insertion into section, said cross section including a web the recess during construction of a panelling portion, having first and second flanges ex- 125 wall with the sandwich panels of the inven tending parallel to one another from opposite tion.

edges to define, with the web, a channel In order to ensure that the connection pro shape, said first and second sheets being bent file is firmly secured to the insulating core, to around the free edges of said first and second distribute the load and to rigidify the structure, flanges respectively, with the opposite face of 130 at least one anchoring portion is preferably 2 GB2188658A 2 provided to project from the face of the web cellular foam polystyrene material, which can portion opposite to face from which the adhere firmly to the sheets 12, 13. The insu flanges project, to be engaged by the insulat- late material is thinned down, on the right, to ing material, which is preferably a cellular ma- provide a tongue 15, and the sheets 12, 13 terial. 70 continue to cover this tongue at 16 and 17 In order to make up a series of panels, pre- respectively. The tongue is substantially cen ferably the edge of the panel opposite to the trally of the thickness of the panel 10.

one edge, which carries the connecting profile, The second panel 11 has rear and front may include a thinned down tongue configura- sheets 18 and 19 respectively sandwiching tion with a sheet extending along each of the 75 therebetween further similar insulating material opposite faces of the tongue configuration, 20. The edge of the panel 11 is provided the front edge of the tongue having an axially with a connection profile indicated by the gen extending recess formed therein, to accommo- eral reference numeral 21, this being of a date the fourth flange of an adjacent similar generally channel cross section having a web panel. It is also contemplated that any given 80 22 and first and second flanges 23 and 24 panel could have two connection profiles on extending generally parallel to one another and opposite edges to co-operate with a tongue to the left in Figure 1, of the web 22. The on an adjacent panel which may itself be pro- profile connection 21 is secured to the insula vided with two tongues if this is appropriate. tion by anchoring portions 25 and 26 which Normally the connection profiles will be pro- 85 extend in the opposite direction from the web vided on at least one side edge but it is also from the flanges 23 and 24. Free edge por contemplated that they could be provided on tions 27 and 28 of the front and rear sheets the top and/or bottom edge when one is 19 and 18 are bent around the free edges of building a structure which has several panels the first and second flanges 23 and 24. A one above the other. 90 third flange 29 extends from the web portion The invention also relates to a sandwich 22 parallel and between the first and second panel connection profile coMprisinp an elon- flanges 23 and 24. The flange is spaced from gate channel member of constantkcross sec- the first flange by a distance sufficiently to tion, said cross section including a web por- accommodate in the space the whole of the tion, having first and second flanges extending 95 tongue portion 15 and the clamping part 30 parallel to one another from opposite edges of of a support clamp 31 to be described further said web portion to define a channel shape later. The third flange is then positioned to with said web portion, a third flange extending engage the outer face of the sheet 16 defining from said web portion parallel to and between the outer face of the tongue 15.

said first and second flanges and said third 100 A fourth flange 32 extends from the web flange being spaced from said first flange su- 22 parallel to, and between, the first flange fficiently to accommodate in said space the 23 and the third flange 29, the fourth flange clamping part of a support clamp and a ton- 32 being positioned and shaped to co-operate gue of an adjacent panel, and a fourth flange with, and extend into a recess 33 formed in exending from said web parallel to and be- 105 the end of the tongue 15, so that part of the tween said first and third flanges, said fourth tongue and the clamping portion of the sup flange being spaced from said first flange su- port clamp ire between the fourth flange 32 fficiently to enable a portion of the tongue and and. the first, flange 23 when the clamping the clamping part of a support clamp to ex- portion 30 of the clamp 31 is engaged with tend into the space between said first flange 110 the inner surface of the first flange to hold the and said fourth flange. panel, The panel is in fact held by the clamp In order that the present invention may be 3 1, which includes a bolt 33 and a nut 34, to more readily understood, the following de- a support member 35 and is engaged and scription is given, merely by way of example, disengaged by turning the clamp 31 about the reference being made to the accompanying 115 axis of the bolt 33 so that the clamping por drawing, in which: tion 30 can engage and disengage the flange Figure 1 is a cross section which shows a 23.

junction between two sandwich panels accord- A compressible sealing element 36 is in ing to one embodiment of the invention; serted between the third and fourth flanges Figure 2 is a section on the line A-A of 120 29 and 32.

Figure 1; and If reference is made to Figure 3 it will be Figure 3 is an end view of the connection seen that the first flange 23, the second profile of the panel of Figure 1. flange 24, the third flange 29 and the fourth Referring first to Figure 1 there is illustrated flange 32 of the connection profile 21 are all a first sandwich panel 10 and an adjacent 125 substantially of the same length. The first and second sandwich panel 11. The first panel 10 second profiles 23 and 24 are provided, on includes rear and front sheets 12, 13 of their inner face, with grooves 36 and 37 re metal, eg aluminium, and which are preferably spectively, to receive the free ends of the in parallel. Between these is sandwiched an insuturned portions 27, 28. The inner surface of lating material 14, which may for example be 130third flange 29 is serrated at 38 to improve 3 GB2188658A 3 engagement with the sheet 16 of the tongue 6. A sandwich panel according to any pre and the fourth flange 32 is tapered to ceding claim wherein the edge of said panel facilitate insertion into the recess 33. opposite said one edge includes a thinned The dimensioning of the first, third and down tongue configuration with the sheets ex fourth flanges, particularly their length, is ade- 70 tending along each of the opposite faces of quate to allow adjustable telescoping and in- the tongue configuration, the front edge of terlocking with the tongue 15 of the adjacent said tongue having a generally axially extend panel and also allows the compressible sealing ing recess formed therein, to accommodate element 36 to be inserted and accommodated the fourth flange of an adjacent similar panel.

between the third and fourth flanges. 75 7. A sandwich panel connection profile comprising an elongate channel member of

Claims

CLAIMS constant cross section, said cross section in

1. A sandwich panel comprising an insulat- cluding a web portion, having first and second ing material core sandwiched between first flanges extending parallel to one another from and second spaced sheets, at least one edge 80 opposite edges of said web portion to define of the panel being closed by a connection a channel shape with said web portion, a third profile in the form of an elongate channel flange extending from said web portion parallel member of constant cross section, said cross to and between said first and second flanges section including a web portion, having first and said third flange being spaced from said and second flanges extending parallel to one 85 first flange sufficiently to accommodate in said another from opposite edges to define, with space the clamping part of a support clamp the web, a channel shape, said first and sec and a tongue of an adjacent panel, and a ond sheets being bent around the free edges fourth flange extending from said web parallel of said first and second flanges respectively, to and between said first and third flanges, with the opposite face of the web abutting 90 said fourth flange being spaced from said first the insulating core, a third flange extending flange sufficiently to enable a portion of the from said web parallel to and between said tongue and the clamping part of a support first and second flanges and spaced from said clamp to extend into the space between said first flange by a distance sufficiently to ac- first flange and said fourth flange.

commodate in said space the clamping part of 95 8. A sandwich panel connection profile ac a support clamp and a tongue of an adjacent cording to claim 7, wherein said third and panel, the third flange being positioned to en- fourth flanges have substantially the same gage an outer face of said tongue, a fourth length.

flange extending from said web parallel to and 9. A sandwich panel substantially as herein- between said first and third flanges, said 100 before described with reference to and as il fourth flange being positioned and shaped to lustrated in the accompanying drawing.

co-operate with and extend into a recess 10. A sandwich panel substantially as here formed in the end of said tongue, so that a inbefore described with reference to and as part of said tongue and the clamping portion illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

of said support clamp are between the fourth 105 flange and the first flange when the clamping CLAIMS portion of said clamp is engaged with the in- Amendments to the claims have been filed, ner surface of said first flange to hold said and have the following effect:

panel. Claim 10 has been textually amended.

2. A sandwich panel according to claim 1, 110 10. A sandwich panel correction profile sub wherein the first, third and fourth flanges have stantially as herein before described with ref a sufficient length to allow adjustable teles- erence to and as illustrated in the accompany coping interlocking with the tongue of an adja- ing drawing.

cent panel and/or to allow a compressible Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office sealing element to be accommodated between by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd, Dd 899 1 C)85, 1987 the third and fourth flanges. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings,

3. A sandwich panel according to claim 1 London, WC2A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.

or 2, wherein said fourth flange is positioned substantially centrally between said first and second flanges.

4. A sandwich panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said fourth flange is tapered towards its free edge to facilitate insertion in said recess.

5. A sandwich panel according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one anchoring portion projects from the face of said web portion opposite to said face from which the flanges projects, to be engaged by said insulating core.