NL2000550C2 - System of floor elements as well as a method for manufacturing the floor elements and a method for manufacturing a floor construction with the aid of the floor elements. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of floor elements (2) which comprise thermally insulating material and are intended for placing on a substantially solid bottom as formwork for a ribbed floor to be arranged thereon. Each floor element is provided with a lower leg (12) for supporting on the bottom and with an upper leg (11) for supporting on a lower leg of a floor element (2) to be laid adjacently. The upper leg is provided on the underside thereof, and the lower leg on the upper side thereof, with co-acting profiles (13-16), this such that between adjacently placed floor elements there remains a free space (19) for the purpose of ventilation and a free space (18) for a rib. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the floor elements and to a method for manufacturing a floor construction using the system of floor elements according to the invention.

Description

SYSTEM OF FLOOR ELEMENTS AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE FLOOR ELEMENTS AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A FLOOR CONSTRUCTION USING THE

FLOOR ELEMENTS

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The invention relates to a system of floor elements, which floor elements comprise thermally insulating material and are intended to be placed on a substantially solid surface as a scaling for a rib floor to be applied thereon.

Concrete floors are generally known, consisting of concrete slabs which are provided with concrete ribs on the underside and provided with thermal insulation material of all shapes and profiles to the undersides. Such floors are manufactured in parts at the factory and set up in the structure as a cantilevered floor from support point to support point, also above so-called crawl spaces or pipe spaces of low heights, after which they are supplemented with a quantity of concrete, depending on the floor type. Such floor systems are known, for example, from Dutch patent applications 7904326 - 7907756 - 8002014 and 8006287, as well as from European patent 0558826.

Because these floors and also other types of larger-scale floor parts are not intended as resting on solid ground, but as cantilevered floors for spanning crawl spaces, they show concrete ribs of considerable heights, seen in cross-section, which leads to profiled lower surfaces of the insulating material.

The formation of crawl or pipeline spaces under the ground floor floors in construction works has in recent years been recognized by governments, including water boards, as well as scientists such as T.N.O. R.I.V.M. rejected, both for water management and for health reasons. Because of crawl spaces, water boards have to keep groundwater levels unnecessarily low in built-up areas, while it has just been realized that rainwater must infiltrate into the soil, on the one hand to store surplus water as much as possible and on the other hand to prevent dehydration.

30 Health aspects are a second important reason to see crawl spaces or. A few years ago, a national survey by T.N.O. that crawl spaces in the Netherlands are usually so moist that all kinds of imperfections in the ground floor floors, such as poorly closing hatches, recesses for pipes through the floors, seams and the like, on average, one liter of moisture 35 penetrates into the living spaces with all consequences such as dust mites, Cara problems etc. Needless to say, scientists pointed to the 2 crawl spaces where harmful Radon from the soil concentrates to penetrate living areas together with damp vapors. The tightened Standard for Radiation Admissibility in buildings, announced by the government, endorses these insights.

5 Building without crawl spaces, where pipes are laid in casing pipes so that the ground floor floors can be completely closed, is therefore constantly increasing. This is particularly noticeable in the extensive new residential areas, the so-called VINEX locations in the Netherlands.

It has long been known to make a concrete slab on a solid surface. The required thermal insulation can be applied both under the concrete slab and on the concrete slab. However, there are a number of drawbacks to such a simple construction. Firstly with regard to moisture and Radon radiation. Because good ventilation is lacking, moisture and Radon can only go in one direction, namely penetration into and through the floor construction. A second important objection is of a constructive economic nature. With a concrete floor on solid ground, smaller or larger subsidence and subsidence must be taken into account, even if the soil or sand has been compacted beforehand. This requires a reasonable thickness of the concrete slab, because double reinforcement nets must absorb both positive and negative pressure and tensile stresses. The economic benefits of ribbed floors, such as less concrete and steel consumption, are missing here.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system of floor elements of the type mentioned in the preamble which overcomes these disadvantages.

To that end, in the system according to the invention, each floor element is provided with a lower leg for support on the ground and with an upper leg for support on a lower leg of an adjacent floor element, in which the upper leg on its underside and the lower leg on its upper side is provided with cooperating profiles, such that there is both a free space between adjacent placed floor elements for ventilation and a free space for a rib.

The lower free spaces between adjacent floor elements form main ventilation channels for the removal of moisture vapors affected and mixed with the harmful Radon to and via the outer sides of the floor construction. The cooperating profiles guarantee a fixed location and exclude as much as possible unwanted loss of cement water from landfill material to be poured on it, such as concrete. The cooperating profiles also make it possible to package the floor elements compactly, which is an economic advantage in transport and storage up to the moment of processing.

According to a first practical embodiment of the system according to the invention, at least one protrusion per element comprises a corresponding recess. This leads to a simple design, so that the floor elements can be laid and manufactured relatively easily, for example by pressing them by means of the mold method known in the art. According to a further elaboration of this first practical embodiment, the upper leg comprises at least two protrusions on its underside and the lower leg comprises at least two recesses on its upper side. Adjacent floor elements can now easily be spaced apart at a fixed mutual distance, whereby between space floor elements there is created both a space at the bottom for a ventilation channel and a space at the top for a rib of bulk material of the same width as the ventilation channel. According to another development of the system according to the invention, the width of a cooperating recess and bulge is unequal. This guarantees a dimensionally stable connection.

In a further preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, channels extending substantially in the transverse direction are provided at the bottom of the floor elements in order to obtain transverse ventilation channels. Together with the main ventilation channels, these cross ventilation channels form a grid of ventilation channels.

A circuit is thus formed which is directed to vent to one or more sides of the floor construction.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, recesses extending substantially transversely to the top of the floor elements are provided for receiving transverse ribs of bulk material.

The floor elements can also be provided with incisions for the channels and / or recesses.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing floor elements according to the invention, which method comprises the following steps: - Selecting, preferably large-scale, shapes of a suitable thermal insulation material; - Cutting floor elements with the aid of a filament, wire saw or otherwise completely or virtually completely, such that the upper leg of a first floor element is cut loose from the lower leg of a second floor element; and - arranging the cooperating profiles during the cutting of the floor elements in the lower side of the upper leg of the first floor element and in the upper side of the lower leg of the second floor element. The method is used to cut in such a way that the legs of the floor elements connect to each other in a nested way, so that no cutting loss occurs.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for manufacturing a floor construction on a substantially flat surface with the aid of the system of floor elements according to the invention, which method comprises the following steps: - Laying the floor elements adjacent, wherein the lower leg of each floor element rests on the substrate and wherein the upper leg of each floor element rests on the lower leg of the adjacent floor element, such that there is both a free space for ventilation as well as a free space for a rib between adjacent floor elements; - Forming a floor construction on the adjacent laid floor elements by pouring a suitable pouring material, such as concrete, over the adjacent laid floor elements; and 15 - curing the bulk material.

With the aid of the method according to the invention, a thermally insulating and horizontally ventilating bottom-closing floor construction can be manufactured, resting on a substantially flat ground, which floor is provided on the downward-facing side with thermally insulating material. as a scaling for a floor construction of poured material, such as concrete, and which floor is provided with ventilation ducts on the underside, the floor construction consisting of a plate which is provided with ribs on the underside, at regular intervals from each other.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows in cross-section a preferred embodiment of the system of floor elements according to the invention as part of an insulated concrete rib floor; Figure 2 shows in cross-section a number of floor elements from figure 1 in nested position to illustrate the method according to the invention for manufacturing the floor elements;

Figure 3 shows a part of the insulated concrete rib floor from figure 1 in top view; Figure 4 shows in cross-section a side connection of the concrete rib floor of figure 1 against, for example, wallwork;

Figure 5 shows in cross-section parallel to the direction of movement of the floor elements of figure 1 an end connection of the floor against for instance wallwork; and Figure 6 shows in cross-section parallel to the running direction of the floor elements a cross ventilation channel formed in the lower leg of a floor element.

Figure 1 shows in cross-section a part of a concrete rib floor 1 intended for application on a flat, fixed floor, wherein the concrete structure is cast on a scaling of floor elements 2 of thermally insulating material with a general Z-shaped profile.

Each floor element 2 is provided with a lower leg 12 for support on the substrate and with an upper leg 11 for support on a lower leg 12 of an adjacent floor element 2. The upper leg 11 and the lower leg 12 are provided with cooperating profiles 13,14, 15, 16, which are located at the bottom or at the top thereof.

By placing the floor elements apart with respect to each other, space is created for a rib filling and concrete pressure layer which together give a T-shaped concrete construction 18. By placing the floor elements apart, space 19 is created on the underside between the floor elements as ventilation channels parallel to the concrete ribs. Because the thicknesses of the legs 11 and 12 of the floor elements can be the same but also different, a multitude of heights for the concrete ribs and ventilation ducts can be selected in the production of the floor elements.

The profiling on the underside of the upper legs 11 comprises at least two protrusions 13 and 14. The profiling on the upper side of the lower legs 12 comprises at least two recesses 15 and 16.

In addition, the combination 13-15, viewed in cross-section, is slightly heavier than the combination 14-16. By pushing the wider protuberance 13 into the narrower recess when moving the floor elements together, not only is an ensured width for concrete ribs and ventilation channels, but also a close lateral closure between the floor elements mutually, so that moisture loss from the fresh concrete is prevented. . The empty recess 15, which remains in the floor scaling for the concrete ribs, leads to a lowered position, compared with a flat floor scaling, of the usually single reinforcing rod 17 at the bottom of the ribs at 6 concrete rib floors, whereby a stronger concrete construction is achieved. The central location in the width of the rib is also ensured, because spacer rings or other spacers obtain a fixed position in the slot.

The ventilation channels 19 can be interconnected by forming transverse ventilation channels 20 at the bottom of the floor elements. These can be of different shape and can also be made internally right through the lower leg. This can be done most simply by forming these transverse channels, depending on the size of a floor field and the venting direction to one or more sides of the building in question, by means of rebates in the lower legs 12. If during the production of the floor elements an incision or saw cut is made at the location of one end, it can be used as required on the structure by means of a second incision, either for achieving a grating of ventilation ducts or for a ringing along the outer sides of the floor field or for a single transverse channel with a small floor field. Evil ground vapors, including Radon gas, are thus drained off horizontally.

Figure 2 illustrates in cross-section the method according to the invention for manufacturing floor elements 2.

In a first step, large-scale shapes of a suitable thermal insulation material, for example polystyrene foam, are selected.

In a second step, the floor elements are cut loose therefrom, such that the upper leg 11 of a first floor element is cut loose from the lower leg 12 of a second floor element. Filament, wire saw or other suitable techniques known in the art can be used for loosening. The floor elements can be cut completely loose or almost completely, for instance up to point 26. In the latter case, the floor elements can remain attached to each other until the moment of processing, at which they can be easily detached from each other.

In a third step, the cooperating profiles are applied during the loosening of the floor elements. The underside of the upper leg 11 of the floor element is provided with protrusions 13 and 14 and the upper side of the lower leg 12 is provided with recesses 15 and 16.

In the method, the horizontal legs 11 and 12 connect to each other in a nested manner so that no cutting loss occurs. At the beginning and end of the plate 35 portions of both lower leg and upper leg are released, but this small amount 7 will certainly be useful for side connections and the like in the floor field, as indicated in figure 4. Dotted line 25 indicates that for transverse concrete ribs rebates can be made, but also that floor elements can be made with lowered upper leg 21, for example for obtaining reinforced concrete strips 5 or for reaching locally lowered sections, for example for bathrooms and the like.

Figure 3 shows in top view a part of a floor field between enclosing borders of, for example, wall work. The transverse direction D and the longitudinal direction L are indicated. Reference is made to other figures for connection details.

The transverse ventilation duct according to figure 6 (69) need not lie in line, but can be staggered with uneven lengths of floor elements.

Figure 4 shows in cross-section a termination of the floor adjacent to wall work, opposite to the termination in Figure 1. Lower leg 12 is here kept clear of the wall, whereby ventilation channel 49 is created. Attachment 44, which is equal to the profile of upper leg 11, was released during the production of the floor elements and finds application here. Channel 49 can find ventilation through the wall work. A ventilation circuit is created together with channels along the other sides of the floor field.

Figure 5 shows in a cross-section parallel to the longitudinal direction of the Floor elements and concrete ribs a front end of the floor field. A transverse rebate in the lower leg 12 can also be used here to vent the channel 59 through the wall work. If an unreliable floor, or for whatever other reason, makes it necessary for the floor to be laid with the ends of the concrete ribs on the wallwork or the like, a reinforcement of the concrete cross-section near the support may be desirable. Locally lowered upper legs as indicated by dotted line 25 of Figure 2 and some shortening of the upper legs, as a result of which wider concrete ribs are created above and near the support, offer a solution for this.

Figure 6 shows in a cross-section parallel to the longitudinal direction of the floor elements and concrete ribs how transverse rebates in lower legs 12 connect the main ventilation channels by 69. Depending on the size of the floor field and the desire to arrive at a grid pattern of ventilation channels, cross channels can be formed at any desired place in the floor. This can be done most simply at one of the ends of the floor elements through two cutting lines, a number of pieces of which have already been pre-cut, so that a second cutting line is satisfactory at will.

The concrete ribbed floor shown in the figures, which is described as a preferred embodiment of the invention, is manufactured according to the method below. In a first step the of the floor elements 2 are laid adjacent, wherein the lower leg 12 of each floor element 2 is supported on the substrate and wherein the upper leg 11 of each floor element 2 is supported on the lower leg of the adjacent floor element, such that between adjacent laid floor elements 5 both a free space 19 remains for ventilation and a free space 18 for a rib.

In a next step, a floor construction is formed on the adjacent laid floor elements 2 by pouring a suitable pouring material, such as concrete, over the adjacent laid floor elements. Finally, the bulk material must cure.

With the aid of the system of floor elements and the method according to the invention, a thermally insulating and horizontally ventilating floor covering floor construction is provided, resting on flat ground, which floor is provided on the downward side with thermally insulating material as a scaling for a concrete construction and which floor is provided with ventilation ducts on the underside, wherein the concrete structure consists of a concrete slab which is provided with concrete ribs on the underside, at regular intervals from each other.

The invention is of course not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiment. It is noted that in order to obtain only 20 floor-closing ventilating floor constructions, in which the rib fillings only fulfill a closing ballast function, no concrete pressure layer need be applied over the upper surfaces and rib fillings and the concrete can be replaced by other material. An example of this is floor constructions, in which only little importance is attached to walkability, but the sealing of moisture and soil vapors all the more. Consider here, in particular, existing crawl spaces, which are almost always damp, not isolated and filled with accumulations of moisture vapor and radon gas. Compared to the concrete rib floor, the concrete pressure layer over the floor elements makes little sense here, but a cheap plastic film or the like does.

On the other hand, if reinforced concrete strips and the like are required in a floor field, for example for line loads to be included, floor elements with thinned thigh can be applied at these locations. It can also be considered constructively desirable to make a semi-laid floor if the bottom, although stabilized, is not trusted. Weighting close to the support can then be easily achieved both by a heavier concrete pressure layer on site and by widening and / or deepening the ends of the concrete ribs.

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In addition to a stiffening function for the entire construction, the concrete filling in the ribs also has a ballast function against floatation of the floor if the water level rises below the floor. The concrete can also be replaced with other materials of sufficient weight. If the floor elements are made of polystyrene foam, a material that absorbs virtually no water when immersed, the thermal insulating capacity of such a bottom-sealing floor will also remain virtually intact with a slight rise in the water level.

The present invention therefore extends to any embodiment that falls within the scope of the scope of protection as defined in the claims viewed in the light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.

Claims (9)

A system of floor elements, which floor elements comprise thermally insulating material 5 and are intended to be placed on a substantially fixed surface as a scaling for a rib floor to be arranged thereon, wherein each floor element is provided with a lower leg for support on the surface and of an upper leg for support on a lower leg of an adjacent floor element, in which the upper leg on the underside thereof and the lower leg on the upper side thereof are provided with cooperating profiles, all such that there is both a free space between adjacent placed floor elements remains for ventilation as a free space for a rib. 2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profiles comprise at least one protrusion per element with a corresponding recess. The system of claim 1, wherein the upper leg comprises at least two protrusions on its underside and wherein the lower leg comprises at least two recesses on its upper side. 20 A system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the width of a cooperating recess and bulge is uneven. 5. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein ventilation ducts extending substantially in the transverse direction are provided at the bottom of the floor elements. 6. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein recesses for transverse ribs extending substantially in the transverse direction are provided at the top of the floor elements. 7. System as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the floor elements are provided with incisions for the channels and / or recesses. A method for manufacturing floor elements as described in one or more of the preceding claims, which method comprises the following steps: a) Selecting, preferably large-scale, shapes of a suitable thermal insulation material; b) Cutting floor elements with the aid of a filament, wire saw or otherwise completely or virtually completely, such that the upper leg of a first floor element is cut loose from the lower leg of a second floor element; c) During co-cutting of the floor elements, arranging the cooperating profiles in the lower side of the upper leg of the first floor element and in the upper side of the lower leg of the second floor element. 9. Method for manufacturing a floor construction on a substantially flat surface with the aid of the system of floor elements as described in claims 1 to 7, which method comprises the following steps: a) Laying the floor elements adjacent, wherein the lower leg of each floor element rests on the substrate and wherein the upper leg of each floor element rests on the lower leg of the adjacent floor element, such that there is both a free space between adjacent floor elements for ventilation and a free space for a rib; b) Forming a floor construction on the adjacent laid floor elements by pouring a suitable pouring material, such as concrete, over the adjacent laid floor elements; and c) Allow the bulk material to cure.