Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
  • E04C2/02—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials
  • E04C2/08—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by specified materials of metal, e.g. sheet metal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
  • E04D3/24—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like
  • E04D3/30—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like of metal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
  • E04D3/24—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like
  • E04D3/32—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets with special cross-section, e.g. with corrugations on both sides, with ribs, flanges, or the like of plastics, fibrous materials, or asbestos cement
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04D—ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS
  • E04D3/00—Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets
  • E04D3/36—Connecting; Fastening
  • E04D3/366—Connecting; Fastening by closing the space between the slabs or sheets by gutters, bulges, or bridging elements, e.g. strips

Definitions

• This invention relates to a plate structure and, more precisely, that kind of plate structure which is suitable for very many different purposes and is easily variable in size so that it is possible to build very many different kinds of structures and at the same time to facilitate those work stages traditionally related to different kinds of plate work, especially to the working of sheet iron or corresponding materials.
• Metal and plastic plates are generally sold as plates of certain length and the user makes appropriate pieces of lengths as he needs.
• the disadvantage of the afore ⁇ mentioned methods is that the working of a metal plate is difficult and in private cases the worker often lacks the tools to work the plate. So the quality of the work is often poor and the working takes very much time. Also in those cases where surfaces are covered or long structures are made it is often difficult to join the plates end to end.
• Iron sheets are connected to each other by the aid of various seams.
• a conventional example of a seam is a roof made by a special machine in which the seam is formed of the edges of two adjacent sheets whose edges have been bent up and over each other.
• Other examples of seams where edges of two adjacent sheets go inside each other are included in US patent specification 3 555 758 and in EP publication 430 619.
• all of the above-mentioned seam structures concern two fixed sheets which cannot in any way be adjusted in respect of each other.
• Figure la shows in a simplified, and in some parts in an exaggerated manner, an example of one embodiment of the invention seen from above and from one side in its shortened form;
• Figure lb shows the corresponding structure in its lengthened form
• Figure lc describes section lc-lc of figure la in three embodiments of different forms
• Figure 2 shows in a perspective manner an embodiment of the invention wherein a transverse support has been used to make the plate structure stiffer
• Figure 3 shows an exemplary way to join two plate structures according to the invention.
• Figures la-lc thus show in an exemplary manner how to achieve a plate structure, which can be lengthened and shortened, in a very simple manner.
• the plate structure is in its shortened form and in Figure lb in its longer form.
• the plate has been shown, as an example, to be formed of three separate plate portions 1 1 , 12 and 13.
• the number of the plates is not restricted in any way. It is essential that there are at least two plates.
• the plates are shown to be of different width so that the figures would be better understood, but it is to be presumed that in most cases the plates are essentially of equal width.
• the plates 1 1 , 12 and 13 are equipped with folds 14, as an exampl of which can be taken the fold presented on the right in Figure lc that form a structure that keeps the plates tightly joined together whe they overlap as shown in Figure lc.
• the outward-extending corne 15 is one example of this kind of structure, but no means the onl possible form.
• the relationship of the folds 14 is such that the fold of plate 1 1 is little bigger than the fold of plate 12, which in turn is a little bigge than the fold of plate 13, or vice versa.
• the essential featur is that the folds can be fitted inside each other basically in a tigh manner but, however, so that it is possible to move the plates in respec of each other in a relatively easy way.
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a structure in which parts 16 giving transverse stiffness have been used. These parts may be, fo instance, of a rail-like material attached to the plate in a suitabl manner. On the other hand, a plate which has been folded into an angle is sufficient to give the desired stiffness to the whole plate. T stiffening parts 16 may be located on one side or on both sides of th plate structure.
• th plates 11-13 can be limited in a number of ways, for example so th the plates cannot be separated from each other. This can be achieve by attaching a separate stopper to a suitable part of the plate or b forming recesses or ridges in the plates so that they move a certai distance in respect of each other but stop a a suitable point.
• the plate structure according to the invention finds many uses i various fields; the structure may be used as such as a part corresponding to a door or a lid, so that for example to open the wa into a certain space the plates are simply slid into a shorter structur whereafter the narrow or short part can easily be turned aside if desired
• Examples of this kind of structure may be the door of a garage or hal or a cargo hatch on a ship.
• Still other exemplary objects are wall structures which can be opened protection devices lengthened in front of windows against burglary roof structures above grandstands which may be extended to protec from rain, and covers against sunshine instead of other sunshades It is also easy to make simple hall constructions from the plate structur according to the invention which can easily be transported from on place to another by sliding the plates of the big wall areas inside eac other, loading these parts into a truck and transporting them to anothe place where they can be extended into big surfaces again.
• the plate structure according to the inventio can be transported in conventional transport vehicles, even thoug they are designed to make constructions whose length may be ten of meters. If such constructions are made in a conventional manner the transportation of a very long construction would be very tediou if not impossible.
• the folds strengthen the plate, they serv in a natural way as a space for leading different wires, cables and tube from one place to another. In practice this means that it is very eas to place suitable fastening devices into the folds of the plate structur according to the invention, so that they can be simply locked into thei place and thus support the wires and tubes which are located in the folds.
• the plate parts to be joined to each other can be manufactured as a batch or separately. It is presumable that, by using several plate lengths, most demands can be met by joining 2 to 4 plates together into an extendable entity.
• the invention can be adapted to any sheet or plate material, especially also to plastic plates. It is to be noted further that, if desired by the situation, the plate entities made in accordance with the invention can be lengthened by joining two plate entities to each other in a suitable way. This need may arise for instance when there are several adjacent plates and the intention is not to increase the fold demensions. It is then advantageous to join the plate structures with a "butt joint" so that a strip 17 conforming to the shape of the plates with their folds to be joined together, as shown in Figure 3, is inserted on the seam and attached in a suitable way, for instance with seam adhesive or a corresponding material, if a tight seam is desired.
• Another joining method involves the use of joining pieces extending into the folds and which are supported by their surfaces. There are also other suitable ways, which are known in the various technical fileds.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Roof Covering Using Slabs Or Stiff Sheets (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8536247

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (3)

Citations (8)

• 1992
  • 1992-11-19 FI FI925267A patent/FI93388C/fi active
• 1993
  • 1993-11-18 WO PCT/FI1993/000490 patent/WO1994011591A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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