GB2365881A

GB2365881A - Interlocking structural panel set

Info

Publication number: GB2365881A
Application number: GB0016523A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Paul Aviram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-06
Filing date: 2000-07-06
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Also published as: WO2002004757A1; GB0016523D0; AU2001270770A1

Abstract

A panels set comprising at least two panels, where at least one edge of a first panel (1) has two internal, vertically opposed tongues (9a) which, in use, butt against opposite tongues (9) of a second, adjacent panel (2), the tongues of the adjacent panels being joined by means of a set of internal clamps (4). Preferably the tongues have a seal located on the joining faces, thereby providing a weatherproof seal (5a) when the panels are clamped together. The internal clamps may be spring loaded and are moved from a locked position (Figure 2) to a retracted position (Figure 3) by means of a shuttle (7) and an arm (11) hinged upon a shaft (10).

Description

2365881 Inter-lockable structural panel sets The invention relates to

inter-lockable structural panel sets consisting of panels and joining parts.

Demountable structural panels are known and used in the construction of lightweight structures such as aircraft, space structures, and advanced permanent or temporary buildings such as geodesic domes. The structural integrity of this type of structural form is dependent upon bolted 10 or pinned connections at the nodal positions of a skeletal structure.

US 4,309,852 describes a geodesic structural configuration where connection between neighbouring panels is dependent upon peripheral nodal connections. The method of connection employed has a low load 15 transmission capacity and leaves a gap between adjacent panels, which necessitate an additional external cover on the skeleton after the structure has been erected. The method of connection is complex to manufacture and seal and is dependent upon assembly and adjustment of a multitude of component parts of all the individual subassemblies.

GB 2 115 452 A describes a structural panel system, which is dependent upon extruded H-sections for joining protrusions of adjacent panels. The joints allow a sliding fit connection, which can be inserted along a straight edge or made of two separate parts, which impose limitations of strength, 25 method of construction and make the assembly slow and cumbersome while requiring a separate means of connection and means of weather proofing. Furthermore, the structure is not designed to allow removal of individual panels once the structure has been assembled.

30 As a consequence of this complex design approach, high stress concentration occurs at nodal connection points, which in turn lead to penalties such as a multitude of parts, assembly and construction complexity, high dead weight and low structural and thermal efficiency.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a structural unit, which can be used for producing permanent or temporary structures of a type that is not made in a conventional manner and that will overcome the limitations, mentioned above.

An alternative solution for the construction of lightweight structures, which are composed of modular, demountable and interlocking structural panels, is the main aim of this invention.

10 Accordingly, this invention provides for inter-lockable structural panel sets, consisting of at least two panels and at least two joining clamps, characterized in that at least one edge of a first panel has two internal and vertically opposed tongues which butt against opposite tongues of an adjoining panel in the assembled position, wherein the two sets of 15 tongues are joined internally by means of a set of internal joining clamps, which rotate about internal hinges and wedge upon the two sets of opposing tongues of both panel edges, and which may also have an internal seal at their joining faces, thereby effecting a structural and weather-tight sealed joint.

In one preferred embodiment of the opposing tongue and clamp arrangement, such tongues and clamps may be horizontally staggered for improving structural and mechanical properties of the section by way of increasing the cross sectional area of the tongued panel edge.

By such means a quick and accurate method for production, assembly and sealing of structural panel sets, with a minimum of separate joining parts, can be attained. In particular, the tongue and clamp system provides accurate panel positioning, thereby obviating the need for 30 external means of alignment of major subassemblies. This is especially beneficial with multiple panel sets where several panels may be connected.

Such application may be found in the construction of a geodesic dome where arrays of hexagonal panels must join at highly precise angles.

Several embodiments of the invention will be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of two adjoining panel edges of an interlockable structural panel set with joining clamps in the semiretracted position; 10 Fig. 2 shows a cross section of an edge of an inter-lockable structural panel set with joining clamps in the locked position-, Fig. 3 shows a cross section of an edge of an inter-lockable structural panel set with joining clamps in the retracted position; Fig. 4 shows a geodesic dome consisting of flat panel sets according to the invention; Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of two adjacent panel edges I and 2 20 with clamps 4, in the semi-retracted position.

The edge extrusions 1 and 2 have an expanding and curved recess 3, for accommodating fibreglass sheets, 13, of a composite panel with foam core 14. The sheets are adhesively bonded and locked in the expanding 25 recesses 3, which prevent high stress concentration by virtue of the curvature at the edge of the recess.

Tongues, 9 and 9a, provide the structural means of connection between adjoining panel edges 1 and 2, with clamping parts 4, which rotate about 30 hinges 8. A seal 5a is positioned in a reclined external edge 5, for providing a means of sealing the joint.

Shuttle 7, transmits axial movement to the spring-loaded plungers 6, which result in a rotational movement of the clamps 4. The circular heads of the plungers 6b, engage in the circular tails 4a, which are spring loaded for maintaining intermediate clamp positions by springs 12.

The horizontal movement of the shuttle 7 is achieved by arm 11 which is hinged upon and driven by vertical shaft 10. The arm end is equipped with 5 a pin 11 a, which slides about an internal central recess of shuttle, 7a, thereby facilitating a horizontal movement in opposite directions.

In this position, the clamping parts 4 are spring-loaded and will facilitate automatic clamping once the bull-nose, 4a, of the clamping part 4 is lifted 10 by tongue 9a and the inner wedge 4c of the clamping part 4 is engaged with tongue 9 under spring load, to complete initial engagement of tongues 9 and 9a with clamping parts 4.

All tongues 4 have curved tips and wedged engagement surfaces. The 15 curved tips allow easy engagement during assembly while the wedged surfaces draw the neighbouring panels together thereby effecting correct positioning and a structural connection.

The tongues and clamps have elastic coating for improving the weather 20 tightness of the joint.

The external surface of the seal housing 5 is raised for the purpose of separating the boundary layer flow in this region. By such means the lift and drag forces on the external surfaces of a structure may be 25 considerably reduced. This is especially important for buildings of rounded form at areas prone to high winds.

Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of two panel edges in the engaged and fully locked position.

The clamping parts 4, are fully engaged with tongues 9 and 9a and the shuttle 7 maintains a vertical lock of the clamping parts 4, via the plungers 6, due to the wedged profile of the contact surfaces, 6a, between the plungers 6 and clamping parts 4, which compresses the springs until contact is made between the shuttle top 7, the plunger wedged top, 6a, and the wedged under-side of the clamp part 4. The wedges of these surfaces also enable vertical and horizontal adjustments by the arm 11, whose angular travel determines the extent of the horizontal travel of the 5 shuttle, which in turn, drives the wedged plungers 4 vertically.

Fig. 3 shows two panel edges in the fully retracted position. In this configuration, a panel can be detached and withdrawn from surrounding panels since no protruding clamping parts 4 inhibit a vertical movement.

The arm 11, and shuttle 7 are fully withdrawn and the plungers 6 are fully extended due to the springs 12. In this position a geometric and spring loaded lock is maintained due to the position of the spring thrust being to the rear of clamp hinges 8.

Fig. 4 shows a demountable geodesic dome as an example for the use of the structural panel sets according to the invention.

The use of demountable panels as described above, leads to several 20 advantages. The method of joining by tongues and clamping parts allows the loads imposed on the dome to be distributed along most of the length of each panel edge, thereby eliminating load concentrations as found in current domes which depend on a skeletal and nodal support structure.

25 Additionally such panels may be constructed with composite sandwich panels, which act both as a cladding and a structural entity while providing a weather-tight enclosure. The low weight and demountability afforded by the method of joining described, permits rapid transport, construction and demountability of the structure.

Claims

1 Inter-lockable structural joint sets consisting of at least two edge parts 5 (1, 2) characterised in that the external edges of both edge parts have two facing tongue sets (9 &9a) and the first edge part (1) has two internal rotating clamping parts (4) that are situated opposite each other wherein these clamping parts (4) are operated by means of a central assembly consisting of a horizontally traversing shuttle (7) and spring loaded plungers (6) which engages and rotates the clamping parts (4) of the first edge part to draw together and clamp upon the tongues (9a) of the second edge part (2), thereby drawing together both joint sets (1,2) and effecting a structural joint.

2. Inter-lockable structural joint sets according to claim 1 characterised in that the clamping parts front ends (4a) are bull nose shaped for facilitating automatic spring-loaded latching upon the tongues (9a) of the second part (2) when the bull noses (4a) engage the tongues (9a) of the second edge part (2) and while the plungers (6) and shuttle (7) are in the 20 spring-loaded semi retracted position.

3. Inter-lockable structural joint sets according to one of claims 1 and 2 characterised in that the plungers faces (6a) are inclined to the horizontal for driving the lower mating surfaces of the clamping parts (4) 25 unto the tongues (9 &9a).

4. Inter-lockable structural joint sets according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the plungers rear faces (6b) are curved for engaging and rotating the curved tails of the clamping parts (4b) in the 30 process of releasing and retracting the clamping parts (4).

5. Inter-lockable structural joint sets according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the shuttle (7) is driven by a rotating arm (11) that has a driving pin (11 a) which slides in a channel (7a), thereby driving the shuttle fore and aft, and that the arm is activated by a central shaft 10.

6. Inter-lockable structural joint sets according to one of claims 1 to 5 5 characterised in that the opposing tongues (9&9a) have externally protruding seal housings (5) and seals (5a) with mating faces inclined to their mating faces.

7. Inter-lockable structural panel sets according to one of claims 1 to 6 10 characterised in that the joining parts (1&2) have recessed expanding slots (3) for accommodating adhesively bonded fibre-boards (13), and that the internal faces of the slots (13) are curved for reducing stress concentration and facilitating multiple positioning of the boards (13) relative to the edge parts (1 &2).