NZ205105A - Multiple wall,roof,or floor panels supported on a structural member panel:panels having two external skins and a continuous core - Google Patents

Description

FORM 5.

S.9.

Reg.1^ Fee: $80.00 NEW ZEALAND 205105 tinder the provisions of 'Regtm lation 23 (!) the _ Specification has been ante-dated to I 9cP/ : Insert number of Provisional Specification! s) (if any) and date(s) of filing; otherwise leave blank.

PATENTS ACT 195 3 Number: 205105 Date: 25 February 1981 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Insert Title of Invention.

Insert full name, fu 11 street address and nationality of (each) applicant.

A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT I/yE MICHAEL PETER NOLAN, a British subject and New Zealand citizen of 3 The Esplanade, Raumati South, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I/v*£ pray that a patent may be granted to me/ys and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement ;Indicate if following — \ — ;page is numbered '1(a)' ;2-05105 ;This invention relates to a building structure employing a certain structural element and in particular a structural element comprising a laminated panel. ;An object of the present invention is to utilise the strength of suitable laminated panels in a building structure to reduce the cost of the structure. ;The present invention consists in a building structure comprising: ;a wall, roof or floor and a structural member supporting said wall, roof or floor, ;wherein said wall, roof or floor comprises a plurality of elongated laminated panels, each of said panels comprising two external skins of material bonded to a continuous core which can function to resist compressive forces tending to decrease the interspacing of the skins and tensile forces tending to widen the interspacing of the skins, and wherein said structural member comprises a panel comprising two external skins of material bonded to a continuous core which can function to resist compressive forces tending to decrease the interspacing of the skins and tensile forces tending to widen the interspacing of ;2 ;RECEIVED ;205105 ;the skins, and wherein the said structural member panel comprises first and second joining means, each said joining means being in the form of a channel, the said first and second joining means joining the edges of the skins of the said structural member panel together at first and second longitudinal edges of the panel respectively, and wherein the said structural member panel is rigidly fastened to the said wall, roof or floor panels such that the plane of the said structural member panel is perpendicular to the plane of said wall, roof or floor panels whereby one of the said joining means can function to withstand at least longitudinal compressive forces and the other said joining means can function to withstand at least longitudinal tensile forces. ;A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cross-section of a building structure, showing a beam and floor or ceiling. ;The panel 10 which is the structural member panel of the building structure shown comprises lamellae or skins 1, which may be of steel of other metals or even of some plastics, which enclose a mass 24 of polystyrene expanded ;NX PATENT OFFICE ;-8 OCT 1985 ;RECEIVED ;-3- ;205(05 ;foam or other lightweight material preferably thermoplastic of low thermal conductivity. The skins are joined at the first and second edges of the panel 3 and 4 ;shown in the drawing, are channels 22 and 23. The panels can be from 100 mm to 450 mm in thickness, are normally 1200 mm wide and can be of any length required. ;Such panels may be fabricated in long runs making them especially suitable for making long beams or columns. ;In the drawing the structural member panel 10 is what may be a very long structural element such as a beam or column. The panel can be quite thick and quite deep and thus have considerable strength. Panel stiffness is enhanced by the bonding of the polystyrene 24 to the skins 1 to resist compressive forces tending to decrease the interspacing of the skins and tensile forces tending to widen the interspacing of the skins. In use, the joining means function to withstand lengthwise compressive and tensile forces. For example the channel 23 functions to withstand compressive forces which will occur where the structural element 10 is used as a beam subject to downward deflection and will function to withstand tensile forces where the beam is subject to upward deflection. Where the panel is used as a beam under downward deflection then the lower joining means 22 functions to withstand lengthwise tensile forces and again is conveniently in the form by first and second joining means respectively which, as ;-4- ;205105 ;channel 22. Where the panel 10 is used as a column then the channels 22 and 23 will both function to withstand lengthwise compressive forces and any tensile forces caused by sideways loading. The channels are spot welded, rivetted or adhered to the skins 1. ;Such a structural element 10 used as a beam or a column -has considerable strength. It can be linked in its properties to a hollow rectangular section. The core 24 restrains buckling of the very light gauge skins 1. ;The structural member panel 10 is rigidly secured to a further such panel or array of panels 2 forming a roof or floor, or a wall. The roof or wall will of course be continuous over a considerable extent in both dimensions and will probably comprise a number of laminated panels joined together by known methods. Thus the roof or wall will form a diaphragm or skin which in association with the beam or column 10 makes a building structure of very considerable strength. ;One means of rigidly fastening the structural element 10 to a roof 24 is by utilising angles 12 which are pop-rivetted, spot welded or adhered to the skins 1 and through which pass nylon bolts 15. Nylon is particularly useful since mastic can be put under the bolt heads for ;' ■*. waterproof ing 205 P05 The laminated panels which are used in the present invention consist of two skins which, if of steel, are good conductors of heat enclosing a mass of material which, if of polystyrene, collapses at a relatively low temperature. It might then be considered that this present invention is a poor fire risk but the structural elements can be given a one or two hour fire rating by -wuch treatment as applied sprays, fire rated finishes, fire stops, etc.

A particular application of the present invention is in the construction of lift shafts which can utilise the properties of the structural elements as columns and another application is in air conditioning ducts. These can be very readily made of a thickness which may well be less than the normal, for instance 50 mm.

Claims (9)

205105 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A building structure comprising: a wall, roof or floor and a structural member supporting said wall, roof or floor, wherein said wall, roof or floor comprises a plurality of elongated laminated panels, each of said panels comprising two external skins of material bonded to a continuous core which can function to resist compressive forces tending to decrease the interspacing of the skins and tensile forces tending to widen the interspacing of the skins, and wherein said structural member comprises a panel comprising two external skins of material bonded to a continuous core which can function to resist compressive forces tending to decrease the interspacing of the skins and tensile forces tending to widen the interspacing of the skins, and wherein the said structural member panel comprises first and second joining means, each of said joining means being in the form of a channel, the said first and second joining means joining the edges of the skins of the said structural member panel together at first and second longitudinal edges of the panel respectively, and N.Z. PATENT OFP&E -7- RECS8Vr0 205205 wherein the said structural member panel is rigidly fastened to the said wall, roof or floor panels such that the plane of the said structural member panel is perpendicular to the plane of said wall, roof or floor panels whereby one of the said joining means can function to withstand at least longitudinal compressive forces and the other of the said joining means can function to withstand at least longitudinal tensile forces.

2. A building structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second joining means of said structural member panel each can function to withstand both lengthwise compressive forces and lengthwise tensile forces.

3. A building structure as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the skins of the said structural member panel and of the said wall, roof or floor panels are of metal.

4. A structural element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the continuous core of the said structural member panel and of the said wall, roof or floor panels is expanded polystyrene.

5. A building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said joining means are tiJZ. PATfsJ&y OFF ;CE ■a err ?985 RECEIVED -8- 205105 formed of steel.

6. A building structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the steel channels comprising the said joining means are rivetted to the skins of the said structural member panel.

7. A building structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said structural member panel is rigidly secured by fasteners to the said wall, roof or floor panels through two longitudinally extending right angle members which right angle members extend longitudinally of the joint between the said structural member panel and the said wall, roof or floor panels on each side of the said structural member panel, each said right angle member being secured to said structural member panel and said wall, roof or floor panels.

8. A building structure comprising a wall, roof or floor and a structural member supporting said wall, roof or floor, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. N.Z. PATENT 0 7 - '.CI; - G C j?85 RECEIVED WKf-WALKER, McCABE P0r' ATTORNEYS FOR Tt^ APPUCANT

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