IL35349A - Prefabricated partition-wall elements and partition-walls formed of such elements - Google Patents

Description

rns'nai ni'snu ηχ'πο η τη» Prefabricated partition-wall elements and partition-walls formed of suoh elements The- present invention relates to a prefabricated partition- wall element of inter-level height constituted by a parallelepipe shaped plate.

The invention also concerns the various uses of such elemen which, by being appropriately shaped, offer multiple possibilit of assembling in vertical, horizontal and all directions. Such assemblies may serve as dividing walls for habitable rooms or fo industrial, commercial or ornamental purposes, as well as doubli or ceiling partitions.

In the present state of the art, 85 of the partitions used are. mounted in the "conventional" way, while the remaining 15 "prefabricated elements". Indeed, the latter do not yet meet the simplification and competitiveness purposes sought for in the manufacturing stage as well as the installation or placing stage Among the prefabricated elements of inter-level height prop up to the present, some are made : - exclusively from plaster. They are frangible, heavy and t at the level of the joints is concerned ; - from plaster coated with paper constituting thin sheets -assembled by. means. of cardboard. They are very flexible, very hydrosensitive, too light and therefore very sounding; - from plaster coated with paper, mounted on a metal frame o carcasSo Their drawbacks are the same as those mentioned above. Such partitions are very costly ; - from bricks coated with plaster. Their fabrication necessi tes considerable labour and their installation is carried out according to a process which is very close to conventional proces Their heavy weight, hydrosensjtivity and the _ inevitable cracking .at the level of the vertical. and horizontal joints, in addition t their relatively high cost resulting, from manufacturing and installation difficulties, are their main drawbacks ; - from wood particles coveredwith, veneer . They may be tubular or solid. Their main drawback is that their cost is very high, fo they are formed of costly raw materials and the process of fabrication is very complicated c Their appearance ' is not that of conventional partitions owing to the necessity, in most cases, of applying joint covers or butt straps and high and low braces, unl a "pronounced" joint is lefto They are fabricated in standard dim sions and must be sawn on the site .. Lastly they are very hydro-sensitive ; - from compressed straw impregnated with a synthetic resin and coated with paper„ Such a partition, the price of which is competitive, is however highly hydrosensitive, and this considera limits its use„ The systematic use of braces and joint covers im to it a highly unaesthetic appearance - from metal, especially aluminium. Such elements are costl The present invention is intended to remedy the aforesaid various drawbacks and to afford new advantages β .

The prefabricated partition-wall element according to the •invention is characterized mainly by the fact that it is composed of a '.rigid arid resistant core covered with apparent facings of smooth coatings, the dimensions of which are equal to the largest dimensions of the element, and is provided on its narrow faces and all around its periphery with sunk and raised portions provided in the material of the core and ensuring the binding with the adjacent elements subsequent to interposition of a binder.

The said element is strictly identical with the adjacent elements, especially in thickness, and is perfectly adaptable to the walls and floors.

The lower portion of the said element is waterproofed by way of steepingo It is convenient to design the sunk and raised portions on the narrow faces in the form of parallel grooves on the outer faces and of cavities whose axes are located in the* medial plane of the element but are oblique with respect to the said narrow faces.

The partitions assembled from the elements defined hereabove are characterized by the fact that the elements are accuratelyjuxtaposed by being keyed, and then a binder is injected between them so as to fill the grooves and the cavities and by hardening firmly binds together the various elements of the partition, a malleable product being cast on the side where the keys are located, the said keys thus remaining in place i the mounted partition.

In making vertical partitions, the elements, whose height is a little less than that ,of the wall between the floors, are keyed from underneath so as to be applied at their top and their sides on elements, partition-walls, and of the apparatus used to fabricate the elements forming the subject matter of the invention, and which are illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein : - Figure .1 is a perspective vie of one angle of an element; - Figure 2 is a sectional view along a medial plane parallel with outer faces of an element ; - Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a joint between two . elements ; - Figure 4 is an elevational view of a partition constituted by elements according to the invention, during construction ; .

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a key prior to . installation; - Figure 6 is a view in profile of the same key during installation ; - Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus serving to manufacture the elements according to the invention0 The plates 1 cons ituting the partitioning elements according to the invention are parallelepiped-shaped and their length. is relatively great as compared to their width. Where plates serving to make vertical partition-walls are concerned, the length of each element 1 is a little less than the height of a between-floors wall. Each element is composed of a rigid and resistant core covered with apparent facings consisting of smooth coatings 3, 4, the dimensions of which are equal to those of the core 2» In the examples illustrated, the surface of the apparent facings 3, 4 is equal to the section of the core 2 in a medial plane parallel with . the said facings 3, 4» All along the periphery of the element 1, . grooves 5, 6, 7 and cavities or cells 8 are cut in the material of the core 2 on the narrow face of the element 1.. In the example are parallel with the outer edges of the element 1„ The cavities 8 have their axes located in the medial plane of the elemento The axes of the cavities 8 are. oblique with respect to' the surface of the narrow faces of the element. It has been found advantageous to so arrange the cavities 8 that their axes are inclined obliquely, alternatively in one direction and the other ; the inclination of the cavity axis is of■ the order of approximately from 30 to 45° o.

The core 2 is made from a conglomerate of plaster reinforced with straw, while the apparent facings 3, 4 are made from compact, polished and calibrated plaster . Indeed, the dimensions of the various elements are respectively strictly identical..

The core is not compulsorily made from plaster reinforced with straw. It has also been found advantageous to make the core from expanded and reinforced polysterol.. Other materials may also be used provided they ensure the required resistance and their cost is not too high. ' In order to form vertical partition-walls by means of the elements just described, the latter are accurately juxtaposed by being keyed by means of lyres 9« Thereafter the elements are keyed by being clamped against one another and against the adjacent walls after the edges of -the narrow faces of the elements are coated with glue. The clamping is effected on one or another side and upwardly so as to apply the various elements against the. ceilin 0 The clamping is then preferably achieved by means of resilient metal keys having the shape of an open lyre or omega such as illustrated in Figure 5o When the key 9 is open (Figure 5) it has a given height h0 When the key 9 is closed and takes the shape of a lyre or of an omega obtained by constricting the two legs (arrows 10 and 11 towards one another' a new hei ht H su erior to h is are moved nearer to one another.

When the keying is completed, a fluid binder is injected under pressure into the joints from the bottom and fills the grooves , 6, 7 and the cavities 8. A very strong cement glue may be selected as a binder. When the said binder hardens, it firmly binds the various elements of the partition-wall to one another and to the' djacent walls of the structure. The binding takes place at the level of the core 2, not at the level of the facings 3, 4 which do noi partake in resistance and which, therefore, do not tend to crack subsequentl o The arrangement of the cavities 8 inclined alternatively in one direction and the other increases the cohesion of both elements held together by a cement glue joint, ..the shape of which recalls, that of a fish-bone. The binding to the walls 1 , 13 of the structure is also ensured by the cement glue. If necessary, grooves and cavities may be Cut in the walls 1 and 13o The binding of the partition-wall portion located on the side of the keys 9 to the corresponding wall 14 of the structure is achieved b filling the space comprised between the partition wall and the. wall 14 with a plastic material -which is cast between the keySo This material may be cement, plaster or any other synthetic material.

The prefabrication of the elements 1 is carried out at the factory on the machine diagrammatized in Figure 7. In this machine the special plaster and treated straw mixture 5 serving to make the core 2 is poured into the hopper 16 which distributes the same · onto the conveyor band 17» The mixture 15 may be compressed and pushed onto the band 17 which conveys it towards the die 20. The . die 20 may have a plane surface to which a reciprocating motion is imparted in order to suitably flatten and size the elemen „ The , 6, 7 and cavities 8 are imprinted by means of dies and pins or studs on the narrow faces of the "elements at the level of the die 20.

Behind the die 20 is arranged a severing device (not shown) which is so adjusted as to enable to obtain elements or boards having an accurately predetermined length ; as a rule, the length of the vertical partition-walls i's a little less than one inter-level height. The rough and rugose element thus formed is automatically conveyed and arranged onto a marble member 21 where it receives the desired coating on one or both faces to form the facing or facings 3 and 4. A series of. similar and readily adjust marble members having the selected dimensions in length as well as in thickness is provided on the side of the die 20 to receive the elements. The rotating speed of the marble members is calcu- · lated according to the setting and hardening time of the selected coating or coatings.

The element 1 constituted by a core 2 coated with facings 3 and 4 is then subjected to a die treatment -a second time in ord to be imparted quite definite dimensional characteristics, especially in thickness for which the tolerance is a few hundredt of a millimeter. The die 22. sed to this end achieves a smoothing a hardening of the faces which are to remain apparent. A so-calle "cut", "smooth" or "alumed" plaster is thus obtained depending on the choice made by the user or the architect..

The elements thus obtained have a constant width and a stric observed thickness. Their width may be readily adapted on the sit by way of sawing according to the dimension of the element. The sawing may be replaced by any other cutting operation.

The element leaving the die 22 is pushed onto a table 23 on papers, etc. In case of application of finis papers, the face or faces to be treated are printed at each edge with a cove or the like, so that the calico to be stuck on the site will not result in extra-thickness.

Subsequent to straightening, prints of paint, sound insulation or acoustic correction products or the like may be applied oh the elements 0 Thereafter, the elements covered with the coating are conveyed automatically and vertically to a drying device and a store 0 An insulating operation at the capillary rise of the unit may possibly be performed by making the foot of the element 1 pass through a constant-level tank filled with a damp- or water-proofing liquid o " .. · .' The elements and the method of manufacture thereof having thus been described, the manner in which they are, used on the site to form vertical partition-walls will now be indicated.

The elements in the dry state are arranged side b'y side and-retained in a vertical plane, for instance by means of a set of rules, and they are joined to the ceiling through the medium of sunk or embedded steel lyres such as those illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and the use of which has* already been described. Thereafter, cement glue is injected into the joints from the bottom of the elements into the channels formed by the grooves 5, 7o The last operation consists in casting a plastic material from the side where the partition-wall is keyed, for instance at the bottom between the keys 9 incase of a vertical partition- all. · The elements according to the invention, the use thereof and the partition-walls obtained therewith offer a great number, of advantages. They enable to make prefabricated partition-wall element assemblies in vertical, horizontal and all directions, and servmg to form division walls for habitable rooms or for industrial, commercial or simply ornamental purposes. It also- enables to make doubling or double-ceiling partitions. The jointing of the elements on the site enables to replace all the working operations in their conventional form.

' Their industrial manufacture eliminates all labour work at the factory and their jointing on the site enables to replace all the conventional working operations leading to the same results 0 The assembling of the elements limits labour work. The fact . that the elements are bound together by their cores prevents the vertical cracks which wereusually rejointed by means of special plaster. The upper binding prevents the partition from vibrating as a result oflack of firm connection with the ceilingo It should be reminded that, previously, the contraction of the head joint was also due to the displacement of the partition wall- esulting from its lack of sturdiness or from lack of resistance of the material with which it is completely coated on its six faces ; this drawback is completely avoided by using the element according to the invention.

The special features of the assembly are advantageousnot only owing to the manner in which the uncrackable head joint under the ceiling is designed and carried out, but also owing to the vertical joint being designed and carried- out in an original manner, i.e. owing to the particular arrangement of the grooves 5, 6, 7 and the cavities 8 dissociating an applied force into various components. The grooves and cavities result in an increase in cohesio after ' the binding of the elements to one another subsequent to the drying of the special injected cement glue. apparent facings. Such variety enables to take advantage of the apparent density of the complex thus constituted 0 Moreover, completely automated fabrication of the elements may be obtained, and since the fabrication is rapid it enables to comply with every requirement without having to keep important stocks „ It should not be. forgotten that the height of the lower horizontal joint in the case of a vertical partition-wall may vary within extensive limits, so that elements of one. and the same size may be used to form partition-walls of various heights., The partition-walls may be made to measure from standard' elements. .

The inclination of the cavities alternatively in one direction and another forming, an angle of from 30 to 45° with respect to the narrow faces of the element leads in fact to three desirable results. . .

Such an inclination does not result only in a "keying" of the juxtaposed elements when the final hardening of the binder is completed, nor does it ensure only the formation of a "fish-bone" distributing Aiithin the material of the core, in a complex form, . the stresses caused by external forces. 'Its purpose is above all to ensure the self-clamping of the elements with one another under the mechanical action of the contraction phenomena taking place in the cement, glue injected subsequent to arrangement and pre-clamping of the elements in the dry state, and this during the whol duration of its setting time.

It is thus seen that the partition-wall is of interest in that it enables in particular to take advantage of phenomena which were up to the present considered to be a major hindrance in other proposed types of partition-walls 0 . .

It is known from experience that the self-clamping of the Thus, advantage is now taken of. a particular property of binders which up to the present was considered to be harmful. .

Of course, the invention is by no means Itiiiiited to the forms •of embodiment described and illustrated, which have been given by way of example only. In particular, it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents to the means described as well as their combinations, should the latter be carried out according ■to the spirit of the invention. 35349/2

Claims (9)

1. Partition-wall for habitable, commercial or industrial buildings made of prefabricated partition-wall elements each comprising a parallelepiped-shaped core member made of a rigid and resistant material and having its main faces covered with smooth coatings forming apparent facings for the same, characterized in that the peripheral narrow faces of said core are provided with grooves which are parallel to the outer faces of said partition-wall elements- nd with substantially cylindrical cavities the axes of which are inclined obliquely alternately in one direction and the other, said partition-wall elements being bound with one another, at the level of said core members, and with the floor, the ceiling or other backing structure by a fluid binder injected under pressure between two juxtaposed elements or between one element and said floor, ceiling or backing structure.

2. in that sa core mem er s ma e o p as er re n orce w straw,

3. Partition-wall according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said core member is made of expanded and reinforced polystyrene.

4. Partition-wall according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said grooves provided in said narrow faces have a semicircular cross-section. 55349/2

5. Partition-wall according to Claim 1, characterized in that said grooves provided in said narrow faces have a φ triangular cross-section.

6. Partition-wall according to Claim 1 , characterized in that a portion at least of said partition-wall elements is water-proofed by way of steeping.

7. Partition-wall according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said partition-wall elements are supported by key means, said key means being subsequently embedded into plastic material cast after the partition-wall has been mounted.

8. Partition-wall according to Claim 7 made of vertical elements, characterized in that said elements rest upon lower key means so as to be applied at the top and the sides on the adjacent elements.

9. Par ition-wall according to one of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that key means have the shape of an open lyre. For the Bfi. B&IWfflVD ΛΰΟΒΚ Ώ ARTNER By: