WO2003093598A1

WO2003093598A1 - Concrete and glass tile

Info

Publication number: WO2003093598A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000277
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico Basso
Original assignee: Vetroarredo Sediver S.P.A.
Priority date: 2002-04-29
Filing date: 2002-04-29
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: AU2002304297A1

Abstract

Hollow concrete and glass tile (1) with heat-refractory properties and of the type comprising a pair of half-shells (2), each of which having a front wall (3) and lateral walls (4) and at least a pane or plate-like element (5) interposed between the half-shells (2) and fastened thereto. The pane or the plate-like element (5) are originally shaped in such a way that as their transverse thickness changes, the heat-refractory properties of the concrete and glass tile (1) change, for the same transverse thickness of the front wall (3) of each half-shell (2). The pane or the plate-like element (5) are made of glass, preferably laminated.

Description

CONCRETE AND GLASS TILE.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART. The present invention relates to a hollow concrete and glass tile with heat- refractory properties and of the kind comprising a pair of half-shells, each having a front wall and lateral walls, and a glass pane (or another plate-like element) interposed between the half-shells and fastened thereto. Concrete and glass tiles are particularly used in the construction industry whenever the need arises to delimit a space by means of masonry walls, but at the same time to ensure a space has sufficient lighting.

Concrete and glass tiles, in addition to allowing light to pass through the front walls made of glass, meet stringent mechanical strength requirements and confer a particular aesthetic value to the space in which it is inserted. In accordance with the prior art, a concrete and glass tile is typically made with a pair of half-shells that are glued to the same glass pane.

In particular, each half shell is constituted by a front glass wall through which light passes and by lateral walls secured to the front wall or made in a single piece therewith. Specifically, the lateral walls of each half-shell are glued to the glass pane. The finished obj ect is a regular parallelepiped with rectangular bearing bases and rectangular or square frontal walls, which are the visible walls. Masonry walls made with the concrete and glass tiles currently on the market must pass fire resistance tests and are certified according to the time interval over which they are able to guarantee their heat-refractory qualities. Specifically, fire resistance tests allow to divide concrete and glass tiles into refractoriness classes distinguished by the codes REI 30 (or F 30 or Insulation 30), REI 60 (or F 60 or Insulation 60), REI 90 (or F 90 or Insulation 90), REI 120 (or F 120 or Insulation 120) and REI 180 (or F 180 or Insulation 180), depending on the time interval over which fire resistance can be guaranteed, i.e. 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180 minutes.

Currently, fire resistance is obtained by suitably dimensioning the thickness of the front wall of the concrete and glass tile according to the heat- refractoriness class to be achieved. From document EP 853 166, a hollow concrete and glass tile is known, comprising two half-shells, each with a visible wall and a peripheral lateral wall in which is positioned a glass pane serving as a dividing wall with sealed connection, capable of withstanding water vapour, with both walls. The two walls constituting the visible surfaces have a thickness of at least 18 millimetres at most 25 millimetres for use in parts of single-shell refractory walls of refractoriness class F 30.

The document EP 853167 discloses walls made with a double row of concrete and glass tiles that define individual constructive elements. Specifically, each constructive element is constituted by two concrete and glass tiles placed in front of each other with their visible surfaces matching and glued, in order globally to define a single concrete and glass tile. In particular, visible surfaces are glued by means of a transparent, fire resistant adhesive. Generally, walls made with a double concrete and glass tile of the kind mentioned above have a fire resistance exceeding 30 minutes and usually belong to refractoriness classes REI 60 and REI 90. The concrete and glass tile described above, being double, has the drawback of being particularly heavy, about 8 kg, and bulky, with a transverse thickness of about 16 centimetres. Therefore, given the significant weight and bulk, installation is rather complex and costly.

Also known are hollow concrete and glass tiles that are filled with gelatinous substances, in order to provide the concrete and glass tile with the necessary heat-refractory properties.

Such a type of concrete and glass tile has the drawback of hampering, at least partially, the passage of light, and the gelatinous substance may be subject to problems connected with ageing. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION.

An aim of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks making available a concrete and glass tile that is economical to produce and that can be used for the entire production range, allowing its standardisation.

Another aim of the present invention is to make available a concrete and glass tile that can be installed in accordance with the normal technologies currently used in the construction industry.

Said aims are fully achieved by the concrete and glass tile of the present invention, which is characterised by the content of the claims set out below and in particular in that the plate or the plate-like element are so shaped that as their transverse thickness changes, the heat-refractory properties of the concrete and glass tile change, for the same transverse thickness of the front wall of each half-shell. hi particular, both the plate and the plate-like element are preferably made of laminated glass. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS . These and other aims shall become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments obtained, purely by way of non limiting example, in the accompanying drawing table, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a concrete and according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a concrete and glass tile according to the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION. With reference to the figures, the concrete and glass tile is globally indicated with the number 1 and it is constituted by a pair of half-shells 2, each of which has a front wall 3 of transparent glass and lateral walls 4. The concrete and glass tile 1 is of the hollow type and with heat-refractory properties and it comprises a pane or a plate-like element 5 interposed between the half-shells 2 and fastened thereto, preferably by gluing with a humidity-resistant glue.

The pane or the plate-like element 5 are originally shaped in such a way that as their transverse thickness changes, the heat-refractory properties of the concrete and glass tile change, for the same transverse thickness of the front wall 3 of each half-shell 2. In particular, the pane or the plate-like element 5 are suitably dimensioned according to the fire resistance to be achieved and they are made of glass, preferably laminated glass. The front wall 3 of each half-shell has a thickness of less than 15 millimetres. In particular, the preferred and illustrated embodiments comprise front walls having thickness of between 6 millimetres and 14 millimetres. With reference to the figures, the illustrated concrete and glass tiles, though they are constituted by half-shells 2 whose front walls 3 have the same transverse thickness, do not belong to the same refractoriness class, by virtue of the different thickness of the pane 5.

As the thickness of the pane 5 varies, it is possible to change the fire resistance of the concrete and glass tile. Assuming, for instance, front walls having thickness between 6 millimetres and 14 millimetres, a REI 60 refractoriness class can be obtained by interposing a pane 5 having transverse thickness of 17 millimetres.

Between the front wall 3 of each half-shell 2 and the pane 5 is present a volume 6 containing air, although an alternative embodiment provides for the possibility that said volume 6 be under vacuum.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown herein, the pane 5, in particular if made of laminated glass, may have at least a surface reflecting infrared rays.

The concrete and glass tile of the invention achieves important advantages. First of all, it is possible to standardise production choosing a given transverse thickness of the front walls of the half-shells and interposing a pane of appropriate thickness according to the refractoriness class to be achieved.

The possibility of inserting panes of variable thickness between half-shells with front walls of predetermined thickness allows to adapt the half-shells to any refractoriness class, differentiating production in extremely flexible and economical fashion.

In the second place, such a concrete and glass tile is extremely f nctional and confers aesthetic value to the space in which it is inserted. In particular, being a hollow concrete and glass tile, it allows a very good passage of the light and it therefore assures excellent environmental luminosity. Another advantage is represented by the fact that such a concrete and glass tile has a transverse thickness of less than 16 centimetres and a weight that is 50% lower than the weight of the double concrete and glass tile described in the mentioned prior art, for the same fire resistance, in particular for refractoriness classes REI 60 and REI 90. Consequently, given the reduced weight and bulk, the installation of a concrete and glass tile according to the invention is certainly easier and more economical.

Claims

1. Hollow concrete and glass tile ( 1 ) with heat-refractory properties and of the type comprising: a pair of half-shells (2), each having a front wall (3) and lateral walls (4); at least a pane or a plate-like element (5) interposed between the half-shells (2) and fastened thereto, characterised in that the pane or the plate-like element (5) are so shaped that as their transverse thickness changes, the heat-refractory properties of the concrete and glass tile (1) change, for the same transverse thickness of the front wall (3) of each half-shell (2).

2. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pane or the plate-like element (5) are made of glass.

3. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pane or the plate-like element (5) are made of laminated glass.

4. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the front wall (3) of each half-shell (2) has a thickness of less than 15 millimetres.

5. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the front wall (3) of each half-shell (2) has a thickness ranging between 6 millimetres and 14 millimetres.

6. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pane or the plate-like element (5) are glued to each half-shell (2).

7. Concrete and glass tile as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pane or the plate-like element (5) have at least a surface that reflects infrared rays.

8. Wall element of the type comprising at least a concrete and glass tile (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims.