WO2008086818A1

WO2008086818A1 - Profile element as carrier structure for the construction of walls

Info

Publication number: WO2008086818A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/000300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfons Jean Knauf
Original assignee: Knauf Insaat Ve Yapi Elemaniari Ve Ticaret A.S.
Priority date: 2007-01-15
Filing date: 2007-01-15
Publication date: 2008-07-24
Also published as: TN2009000301A1; EP2106487A1; DK2106487T3; EA014816B1; EG25165A; EP2106487B1; MA31184B1; HRP20171253T1; WO2008087009A1; EA200900916A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a profile element (1) to serve as a carrier structure for the construction of walls, such that the profile element (1) comprises at least one bridge region (2) and at least one flange region (3). With the goal of disclosing a profile element (1) of lightweight construction, in which the static requirements are still met as previously, it is provided in accordance with the invention that, firstly, the bridge region (2) comprises at least two support braces (5, 5') oriented substantially in the long direction of the profile, by way of which the forces acting on the profile element (1) are taken up and transmitted away in the long direction of the profile, and that secondly,the bridge region (2) further comprises a plurality of connecting braces (7) that are each disposed between the support braces (5, 5') and mechanically connected to at least two support braces (5, 5') in such a way as to take up torsion forces and transmit them to the associated support braces (5, 5').

Description

PROFILE ELEMENT AS CARRIER STRUCTURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF

WALLS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a profile element to serve as a carrier structure for the construction of walls, in particular walls consisting of gypsum plaster boards, said profile element comprising at least one bridge region and at least one flange region, such that the at least one flange region additionally comprises fixation means that can be brought into engagement with wall segments, in particular gypsum plaster boards or the like.

A profile element of this kind is known in principle in the state of the art, for the construction of, e.g., lightweight double partition walls. Such partition walls as a rule consist of two or more gypsum plaster boards that are connected to one another with an insulating layer, preferably made of mineral fibres or the like, disposed between them. To simplify the construction of such partition walls and enable the associated gypsum plaster boards to be connected to one another in the simplest possible but stable manner, in the interior of the partition wall a profile element is provided to serve as the actual carrier structure of the partition wall, by means of which most of the forces imposed on the partition wall are diverted away.

Such profile elements as a rule are vertically oriented supporting components, which absorb and transmit forces mainly in the direction of their long axis. These profile elements can in principle be made of any of the building materials that are sufficiently resistant to pressure. In the building trade the materials mainly employed are wood or metal, e.g. aluminium. The carrying capacity of a profile element depends in particular on the stability of the chosen material, the cross-sectional dimensions and shape, the length or height of the profile element, and the characteristics of the bearings at their ends (rotation permitted or prevented). Other factors that crucially affect the carrying capacity of a profile element are geometric imperfections, for example slanted positions, distortions, twisting or the like.

Customarily so-called C or U profiles are used as profile elements, i.e. profile elements that comprise a bridge region to take up transverse forces and two flange regions, which as a rule are disposed at right angles to the bridge region and serve to take up moments of flexion. It is to these flange regions that the wall segments, for instance gypsum plaster boards or the like, are screwed, riveted, nailed or fastened by some other means.

The conventional profile elements must however be so arranged, in particular with respect to their cross-sectional dimensions, that the planned loading will with adequate reliability not cause the wall construction to fail, i.e. break down or be bent away. For the static calculation, to the load- bearing and material parameters of the profile elements there are customarily also applied partial safety factors to ensure that the profile elements will remain useful even in extreme cases. However, the result of this is that profile elements employed as carrier structure for the construction of in particular high partition walls must be correspondingly strongly dimensioned, which distinctly increases the overall weight of the partition wall and also the costs of such a partition wall.

The present invention is directed to the problem that it has not previously been possible for profile elements that are to be used as carrier structure for the construction of walls, in particular lightweight partition walls, to be made with minimal weight, because the static calculation of the forces, tensions and deformations that will be imposed on such a wall construction demands overdimensioning of, in particular, the profile elements.

Taking this problem as a point of departure, the present invention is directed to the technical objective of disclosing a profile element to serve as carrier structure for the construction of walls, of the kind cited at the outset, which is made light in weight with no negative influence on the static properties, in particular the stiffness and stability of the profile element and hence, in a broader sense, of the wall construction. Thus on one hand the consumption of raw materials can be lowered while on the other hand the overall weight of the wall construction can be reduced. In particular, however, the profile element should still ensure the performance capability determined by static calculation as previously.

This objective is achieved in accordance with the invention in that a profile element of the kind cited at the outset incorporates, firsdy, a bridge region comprising at least two support braces oriented substantially in the long direction of the profile, by way of which forces acting on the profile are taken up and transmitted away. Secondly, the bridge region further comprises a plurality of connecting braces, each of which is disposed between the support braces and mechanically connected to at least two support braces in such a way that by way of the connecting braces, the torsion forces acting on the profile element can be taken up without hindrance and transmitted to the associated support braces.

The solution according to the invention is thus distinguished by the fact that a profile element such as is used for conventional wall construction is replaced by a specially designed moulded part that, because of structural features, conducts all forces impinging on the profile element direcdy into the support braces that run in the longitudinal direction of the profile, as a result of which the properties of diis component are die same even diough die diickness of the wall is less. In detail, it is provided that the bridge region of the profile element comprises at least two support braces that are oriented in the long direction of the profile and serve to transmit forces, so that in the long direction of the profile almost all forces are taken up and transmitted away by die support braces. Expressed differendy, this means that in the solution according to the invention the longitudinal stability of the profile element is determined substantially by the dimensioning and the number of the support braces extending on the long direction of the profile. Because in contrast to a conventional profile element, force is no longer transmitted by the entire bridge region, in the solution according to the invention it is no longer necessary for the entire bridge to be dimensioned accordingly, which results in a saving of material. Furthermore, die provision of support braces extending in the long direction of the profile makes it possible for the course followed by the forces that are transmitted away by the profile element to be determined precisely in advance.

So that furthermore the profile element designed with lightweight construction in accordance with the invention can be endowed widi the required transverse stability, despite the saving of material, there are advantageously also provided in the bridge region of the profile element a plurality of connecting braces, each of which is disposed between the support braces and mechanically connected to at least two support braces in such a way as to take up torsion forces and transmit them direcdy to the associated support braces.

Accordingly, with the solution in accordance with the invention it is possible to obtain a force guidance, i.e. transmission of forces away by means of the profile element, that is optimally matched to the intended application despite the lightweight construction.

Advantageous further developments are disclosed in the subordinate claims. Thus in an especially preferred implementation of the connecting braces it is provided that at least some of the several connecting braces are set at an acute angle to the support braces. As used here, the term "acute angle" should be understood to include every angle between 0° and (including) 90°. The important thing is that according to this preferred embodiment of the profile element in accordance with the invention, at least a proportion of the connecting braces form such an angle with the support braces. This arrangement ensures optimal force transmission as is known, for example, from trellis technology. Preferably the angle enclosed between the connecting braces and the support braces amounts to approximately 45°. In this case, the profile element exhibits an optimal transverse stability.

In order to make the profile element such that it has the same static properties throughout its entire length, in a preferred further development it is provided that the plurality of connecting braces is uniformly and regularly disposed along the profile. In particular, this preferred embodiment makes it possible for the length of the profile element to be made shorter, depending on the requirements of the current application, regardless of the pattern of connecting braces provided in the bridge region. The regular arrangement of the connecting braces offers the added advantage that with this profile element a direction-independent transmission of force is always ensured.

In another preferred further development of the solutions in accordance with the invention described above, it is provided that the multiple connecting braces are arranged symmetrically with respect to the support braces. The result thus achieved is that torsion forces can be uniformly taken up by the profile element and transmitted away by the support braces.

So that the profile element according to the invention can be manufactured in a particularly economical manner, it is provided that both the connecting braces and the support braces are formed by rolling in the bridge region of the profile element. This "roll forming" of profiles is a continuous bending method in which wall material made of sheet metal is shaped by stepwise passage through a number of paired rollers, until the desired final cross section has been reached.

It is an especially economical manufacturing procedure when relatively large lengths or large quantities are to be produced. Of course, however, other manufacturing procedures can also be considered. In a particularly preferred implementation of the solution in accordance with the invention, it is proλdded that the plurality of support braces includes one central support brace disposed in the middle of the bridge region which, being situated in the surface cross section of the bridge region, forms the long axis of the profile. By the provision of such a central support brace, it can be ensured that the transmission of forces is as optimal as possible.

It would further be conceivable that the support braces and connecting braces have substantially the same widths, which on the whole simplifies the layout, i.e. design, of the profile element. However it would also be conceivable for the support braces, e.g. altogether, to have a greater width than the connecting braces. It would additionally be conceivable to dimension individual support braces so that they have different widths.

In order to enable the profile element in accordance with the invention also to be suitable for the construction of walls that have a profile with concave or convex curvature, in one preferred further development it is provided that the flange region comprises a plurality of flange sections adjacent to one another, each of which is mechanically connected to the bridge region. As a result, the profile element has a flexible structure and can in particular be processed by hand and brought into its desired form in a simple and precise manner.

With regard to a structural means of sound-absorption, it would furthermore be likewise conceivable for the bridge region to comprise at least one preferably V-shaped groove that is oriented in the long direction and, given an appropriate design, serves as a absorbing means. As profile elements so-called C or U profiles, double-T profiles, Z profiles or the like can be considered.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the profile element in accordance with the invention is described with reference to a drawing.

This single Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the profile element 1 in accordance with the invention. Although the illustrated embodiment is a C or U profile, the invention is not limited to a special basic profile shape of this kind.

The essential aspect is that the profile element 1 consists of a bridge region 2 and at least one flange region 3. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 - because in this case it is a C profile - a total of two flange regions 3 are provided, each of which projects substantially orthogonally away from the bridge region 2. The flange regions 3 further comprise fixation means 4, for instance fixation holes, which can be brought into engagement with wall segments not explicitly shown in Fig. 1 , in particular gypsum plaster boards or the like.

As shown here, in the bridge region 2 there are provided a total of three support braces oriented substantially in the long direction of the profile, by way of which forces imposed on the profile element 1 can be taken up and transmitted away in the long direction of the profile. In detail, at each of the outer regions 2' of the bridge region 2 there are two support braces 5 with a somewhat greater width, while the support brace 5' disposed in the middle of the bridge region 2, i.e. the central support brace, is correspondingly less wide. The dimensions of each of the support braces 5, 5' depend in particular on the intended use of the profile element 1. In particular, however, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

All of the support braces 5, 5' are connected to one another by connecting braces 7 disposed at an angle. It is evident that the connecting braces 7 are disposed uniformly and regularly over the length of the profile, and in particular are symmetrical with respect to the support braces 5, 5'. These connecting braces 7 serve to transmit to the associated support braces 5, 5' transverse forces that act on the profile element 1.

As already indicated, the profile element 1 in accordance with the invention is preferably produced by a roll-forming method. Accordingly, it can be seen that in such a case the support braces 5, the central support brace 5' and the connecting braces 7 each occupy a common plane, whereas the triangular region enclosed by the central support brace 5' and the associated connecting braces 7 lies in another plane. However, other manufacturing procedures can also of course be considered.

As indicated above, the solution in accordance with the invention is not limited to the especially preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1. For example, it would of course also be conceivable for the profile element 1 to comprise more than three support braces 5, 5'. It is further conceivable that the support braces 5 provided at the two side edges 2' of the bridge region 2 may be of thinner dimensions than the central support brace 5'. It is also possible to do without the V- shaped groove 6 in one or more of the support braces 5, 5', if sound-absorbing is not required. In addition, it is of course conceivable for at least some of the connecting braces 7 to be disposed at angles other than ca. 45° with respect to the support braces 5, 5', for example under 90°. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Profile elemennt

2 Bridge region 2' Outer region of the bridge region

3 Flange region

4 Fixation means

5 Support brace

5' Central support brace 6 Sound-absorbing groove

7 Connecting brace

Claims

1. Profile element (1) to serve as a carrier structure for the construction of walls, in particular walls consisting of gypsum plaster boards, said profile element (1) comprising at least one bridge region (2) and at least one flange region (3), such that the at least one flange region

(3) further comprises fixation means (4) that can be brought into engagement with wall segments, in particular gypsum plaster boards or the like, characteri2ed in that the bridge region (2) comprises at least two support braces (5, 5') oriented substantially in the long direction of the profile, by way of which the forces acting on the profile element

(1) are taken up and transmitted away in the long direction of the profile, and that the bridge region (2) further comprises a plurality of connecting braces (7) that are each disposed between the support braces (5, 5') and mechanically connected to at least two support braces (5, 5') in such a way as to take up torsion forces and transmit them to the associated support braces (5, 5').

2. Profile element (1) according to Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of connecting braces (7) encloses an acute angle with the associated support braces (5, 5'), in particular an angle of about 45°.

3. Profile element (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of connecting braces (7) is uniformly and regularly disposed over the length of the profile.

4. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of connecting braces (7) is disposed symmetrically with respect to the support braces (5, 5').

5. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting braces (7) and the support braces (5, 5') are constructed as roll- formed profiles.

6. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of support braces (5, 5') comprises a central support brace (5') disposed in the middle of the bridge region (2), situated in the center of the surface of the bridge region.

7. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support braces (5, 5') and the connecting braces (7) each have substantially the same width.

8. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile element (1) is a C or U profile, a double-T profile or a Z profile.

9. Profile element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flange region (3) comprises a plurality of flange sections adjacent to one another, each of which is mechanically connected to the bridge region (2).