GB2197670A

GB2197670A - Thermally insulating structural member

Info

Publication number: GB2197670A
Application number: GB08625710A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Ruhmann
Original assignee: KORRUGAL Ltd
Current assignee: KORRUGAL Ltd
Priority date: 1986-10-28
Filing date: 1986-10-28
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2006-10-28
Also published as: GB2197670B; GB8625710D0

Abstract

The member is assembled by producing a pre-assembled part which has an elongate core 2 of rectangular cross section formed of rigid thermal insulating material e.g. mineral wool or foamed plastics, a channel-shaped metal member 4 embracing one face and rigid insulating facing sheets 3 (e.g. of wood). This pre- assembled part i.s introduced to a further channel member 7 which has been previously secured to an underlying support 12 (e.g. a purlin). The rigid sheets 3 on the pre-assembled part are then secured to the channel. The channel 7 may be secured to the underlying structure by rivets 13. Further rivets or screws 15 may be used to secure the channel 7 to the sheets 3. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or relating to a thermally insulating structural member THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a thermally insulating structural member, and a method of making such a structural member. The structural member may be used for buildings, and may especially be used in the construction of a thermally insulating roof.

It has been proposed previously to provide a thermally insulating structural member for use in buildings, and one example of such a structural member is described in British Patent Specification No.

2025503A.

This prior proposed structural member comprises an elongate core of a rigid material having good thermal insulating properties, and two covering sheets which cover two opposed surfaces of the core.

The covering sheets are retained on the core by means of straps tightened externally around the member.

When a thermally insulated structural member of the type described above is used, for example in forming part of a roof structure, the member must be firmly connected to the underlying part of the structure. This is commonly achieved, at the present time, by securing a channel shaped member to the underlying structure, a lower part of the elongate member then being lowered into the channel. The elongate member may be connected to the channel by means of rivets or the like.

If this technique is adopted it is necessary for the channel that is mounted on the underlying structure to be made of the same material as the covering sheets used on the elongate structural member, since otherwise problems can arise from thermal expansion and contraction, and also corrosion problems can arise.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a method of assembling a thermally insulating structural member said method comprising the step of producing a pre-assembled part of the structural member, said pre-assembled part of the structural member, comprising an elongate core of substantially rectangular cross section formed of substantially rigid material having good thermal insulation properties, a channel shaped member embracing one longitudinal face forming an edge of the core and engaging rigid means, formed of material with good thermal insulation properties, and extending across the longitudinal faces forming the sides of said core towards the other edge thereof, said method further comprising the step of securing a channel member to an underlying support structure and introducing the said other edge of said pre-assembled part into said channel and securing the said rigid means on said pre-assembled part to the channel.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a thermally insulated structural member, said member comprising a pre-assembled portion consisting of an elongate core of substantially rectangular cross section formed of substantially rigid material having good thermal insulation properties, a channel shaped member embracing one longitudinal face forming an edge of the core and engaging rigid means, formed of material with good thermal insulation properties, and extending across the longitudinal faces forming the sides of said core towards the other edge thereof, the said other edge being received directly in and being secured to a channel member which is connected to an underlying sub-structure.

Preferably the channel is secured to the underlying support structure by means of rivets or the like passing through apertures formed in the base of the channel.

Conveniently the pre-assembled part is secured to said channel by means of fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

Advantageously the rigid means comprises a sheet of rigid material.

Conveniently said rigid means comprises a plurality of sheets of rigid material which are spaced apart in said side faces of the core.

Advantageously said rigid means comprises a wood-based material and preferably said rigid means comprises plywood.

Conveniently said core comprises mineral wool or comprises rigid foam plastics material.

Advantageously the upper channel is secured to the said rigid means by fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

In utilising preferrred embodiments of the invention it is not necessary to provide a separate channel on the underlying structure to receive a covering sheet present on a pre-formed thermally insulating structural member. Instead, a single channel is used which is on the underlying structure, this channel actually forming the lower cover sheet of the structural member.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of a structural beam in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing an elongate thermally insulated structural member in accordance with the invention is adapted to be finally assembled "on site". The member consists of a preassembled part 1, and a lower channel 7.

The pre-assembled part 1 consists of an elongate core 2 of rectangular cross section and of substantial length which is formed of a substantially rigid thermally insulating material. Thus the core 2 may be formed of mineral wool or rigid foamed plastics material.

Two opposed longitudinal faces of the core 2 which form the sides of the core are covered with sheets 3 of relatively stiff material having thermally insulating properties, such as, for example, plywood, or some other wood-based material. The sheets 3 may be bonded or adhered to the core 2 by means of an appropriate adhesive.

At the upper edge of the core 2 a covering sheet 4 is provided, the covering sheet being made of metal and having an inverted channel-shaped cross section. A plurality of apertures 5 are provided at spaced apart intervals in the side walls of the channel 4 and during assembly of the pre-assembled portion 1 of the structural member the stiff sheets 3 are located with the arms of the channel embracing the upper edges of the stiff sheets 3. The channel is then secured to the stiff sheets by means of, for example, pop rivets 6 which pass through the apertures 5 and through corresponding apertures formed in the stiff sheets 3. Of course, alternative fastening means may be used, such as screws.

The pre-assembled part 1 of the structural element is thus readily transportable as a single entity. However, the pre-assembled part 1 does not have a covering sheet at the lower edge of the member.

The lower channel 7 has a configuration corresponding to that of the upper covering sheet 4.

Thus the channel 7 is of channel-shaped cross section and has upstanding side walls 8 provided with regularly spaced apertures 9 therein. However, the base 10 of the channel is also provided with a plurality of evenly spaced apertures 11.

When the structural member is to be utilised initially the lower channel 7 is secured to the underlying supporting structure, schematically illustrated as part of a purlin 12, by means of rivets 13 or the like which pass through the apertures 11 formed in the base 10 of the channel and through corresponding apertures formed in the purlin. Of course, many other techniques may be used to mount the channel in position on the underlying structure.

Subsequently the pre-assembled part 1 of the structural member is located above the channel 7, and is then lowered into position, In the direction indicated by the arrow 14, so that the edge of the pre-assembled part 1 remote from the covering sheet 4 is Inserted into the lower channel 7. The lower channel 7 is then secured to the sheets 3, for example by means of screws 15 which pass through the apertures 9 formed in the sidwalls 8 of the channel 7, or by means of pop-rivets.

The end result is a structural member consisting of a core of rectangular cross section formed of rigid thermally insulating material, the two relatively large faces of the core being covered with sheets 3 of thermally insulating wood-based material, the sheets 3 being connected to an upper metal covering sheet of channel-shaped configuration and to a lower metal covering sheet of channel configuration, the lower covering sheet being secured to an underlying structure.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to one particular embodiment it is to be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus each stiff sheet 3 could be replaced by a plurality of parallel strips of rigid material extending between the upper channel 4 and the lower channel 7. Different techniques may be utilised for securing the channels to the sheets 3 and, of course, the structural member may have any desired size or configuration.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of assembling a thermally insulating structural member said method comprising the step of producing a pre-assembled part of the structural member, said pre-assembled part of the structural member, comprising an elongate core of substantially rectangular cross section formed of substantially rigid material having good thermal insulation properties, a channel shaped member embracing one longitudinal face forming an edge of the core and engaging rigid means, formed of material with good thermal insulation properties, and extending across the longitudinal faces forming the sides of said core towards the other edge thereof, said method further comprising the step of securing a channel member to an underlying support structure and introducing the said other edge of said pre-assembled part into said channel and securing the said rigid means on said pre-assembled part to the channel.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the channel is secured to the underlying support structure by means of rivets or the like passing through apertures formed in the base of the channel.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pre-assembled part is secured to said channel by means of fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

A A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rigid means comprises a sheet of rigid material.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said rigid means comprises a plurality of sheets of rigid material which are spaced apart In said side faces of the core.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said rigid means comprises a wood-based material.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said rigid means comprises plywood.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said core comprises mineral wool.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said core comprises rigid foamed plastics material.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper channel is secured to the said rigid means by fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

11. A thermally insulated structural member, said member comprising a pre-assembled portion consisting of an elongate core of substantially rectangular cross section formed of substantially rigid material having good thermal insulation properties, a channel shaped member embracing one longitudinal face forming an edge of the core and engaging rigid means, formed of material with good thermal insulation properties, and extending across the longitudinal faces forming the sides of said core towards the other edge thereof, the said other edge being received directly in and being secured to a channel member which is connected to an underlying substructure.

12. A member according to claim 11 wherein the channel is secured tc the underlying support structure by means of rivets or the like passing through apertures formed in the base of the channel.

13. A member according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the pre-assembled part is secured to said channel by means of fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

14. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein the rigid means comprises a sheet of rigid material.

15. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said rigid means comprises a plurality of sheets of rigid material which are spaced apart in said side faces of the core.

16. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein said rigid means comprises a wood-based material.

17. A member according to claim 16 wherein said rigid means comprise plywood.

18. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein said core comprises mineral wool.

19. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein said core comprises rigid foamed plastics material.

20. A member according to any one of claims 11 to 19 wherein the upper channel is secured to the said rigid means by fastening means which pass through apertures formed in the side walls of the channel to engage said rigid means.

21. A structural member substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of assembling a structural member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.