VERMEULEN RENE (NL)
FRANKEN ADRIANUS LEONARDUS MAR (NL)
VERMEULEN RENE (NL)
FR2558503A1 | 1985-07-26 | |||
DE3535201C1 | 1986-08-14 |
1. | Panel, composed of modules (2), which are positioned alongside one another and each define a Ushaped elongated channel, characterised in that the modules (2) are fitted in various layers (15, 16) located above one another. |
2. | Panel according to Claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal orientation of the modules (2) differs between layers thereof. |
3. | Panel according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bases (4) of the modules (2) of two adjacent layers (15, 16) face away from one another and the modules (2) of said layers rest directly on one another. |
4. | Panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a peripheral section is fitted around the panel (1), which peripheral section grips round the edges of the layers (15, 16) and holds said layers together. |
5. | Panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein module linking means (26, 26', 34) are incorporated between two adjacent layers (15, 16), which linking means are provided with flanges (28), beyond which hook edges (29) engage on the modules (2) in at least one of the layers (15, 16). |
6. | Panel according to Claim 5, wherein the modulelinking means run in the longitudinal direction of the modules (2) with which they interact by means of the hook edges (29) and have a spacing which essentially corresponds to the width of a module (2). |
7. | Panel according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the modulelinking means delimit parallel tubes and have, on the side facing towards the module to be linked thereto by hooking, a longitudinal slit (30), the width of which is less than the internal width (31) of the tube, and wherein the modules (2) to be linked to said linking means by hooking have a hook element on the side walls (3) of the Ushaped channel, which hook element protrudes essentially transversely to said walls and is incorporated in the tube with the side wall (3) extending through the slit (30). |
8. | Panel according to Claim 7, wherein a separate stripshaped retaining element (12) is fitted in the tube, which retaining element is clamped in the space between the hook element and the tube wall to the side of the longitudinal slit (30). |
9. | Panel according to Claim 8, wherein the retaining element has a flat shape and runs at an angle with respect to the side wall (3). |
10. | Panel according to one of the preceding Claims 7 to 9, wherein the longitudinal slit (30) has longitudinal edges (29) which face inwards, preferably towards the opposite side of the tube, the retaining element (12) resting against said edges. |
11. | Panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the layers (15, 16) of modules (2) are linked to one another with spacer elements (17), which preferably are parallel to one another and are some distance apart from each other, inserted between them. |
The present invention relates to a panel according to the preamble of Claim 1. A known panel of this type is used, for example, as a ceiling panel or as a partition wall or acoustic or thermal panel. For this purpose the modules have a suitable filling of, for example, mineral wool. Because of the modular construction, panels of this type are relatively inexpensive to produce. The dimensions are easy to adjust to the requirements, by increasing or reducing the number of modules used. A disadvantage of this known panel is that the modules positioned alongside one another make hardly any contribution to the transverse flexural strength thereof. Consequently it is necessary to encase the modules in a frame of high flexural strength. In order to overcome this disadvantage a panel displaying flexural strength is usually made up of U-beams which are arranged in a grid pattern and welded to one another, the rectangular spaces between the beams being sealed on either side with sheet material. This is a relatively complex construction which requires a great deal of welding work, whilst a large number of relatively short U-beams running in the transverse direction are needed to bridge the gap between the continuous U-beams running in the longitudinal direction.
The aim of the invention is to provide a panel of a modular construction which has a flexural strength appreciably higher than that of the known panel of modular construction, without the need for expensive constructional measures such as, for example, are required for a panel based on a grid pattern.
To this end it is proposed to make up the panel in accordance with Claim 1. A preferred embodiment can be seen from Claim 2. As the modules have flexural strength mainly in the longitudinal direction thereof, a panel displaying flexural strength in various desired directions can be made up by building up a panel in layers of such modules, the layers having different orientations. The maximum effect can be achieved with a 90° difference in orientation.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a fixing construction for mutually joining two adjacent layers of the panel to one another, with which construction an effective connection can be
produced, wnilst the construction itself can be produced m a practical and reliable manner. This preferred embodiment is specified in more detail in Claims 5 to 11 and in Figures 3 to 6.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the adjacent layers of the panel are connected to one another with intervening spacers. Consequently, the thickness of the panel can be increased as desired, without deviating from the dimensions of the modules. It is even possible to arrange for the thickness of the panel to increase gradually in one direction by choosing the dimensions of the spacers correctly. Said spacers, like the tubular sections of the fixing constructions, can run in both the longitudinal and the transverse direction of the panel.
With the spacers between the layers, the connection points are readily accessible for assembly of the panel. The spacers also provide the panel with additional flexural strength if they are continuous sections. Consequently, a panel which has modules of the same orientation in every layer and spacers oriented in a transverse direction of said modules has adequate flexural strength in the two principal directions in the plane of the panel. The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of non-limiting illustrative embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows, diagrammatically, a perspective view of a first embodiment of the panel according to the invention; Figure 2 shows, diagrammatically, a perspective view of the construction of a module for the panel in Figure 1 , with various components shown in an exploded view;
Figure 3 shows, diagrammatically, a perspective view of a second embodiment of the panel according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a side view of detail IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a view corresponding to Figure 1 , partially exploded, of a third embodiment of the panel according to the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows a view corresponding to Figure 4 of a modified embodiment.
Figure 1 shows a panel 1 which is made up of diverse modular elements 2, one of which is shown in more detail in Figure 2. Said module 2 is composed of two U-shaped sections 3 which run parallel to
one another and have the arms facing one another. A perforated sheet 4, which bridges the gap between the U-shaped sections 3, is fixed on one side of said U-shaped sections 3 to the relevant arms thereof. Said sheet 4 is a conventional perforated metal sheet for acoustic purposes. When constructed as an acoustic panel for fixing in a stream of hot exhaust gases, for example originating from an industrial combustion apparatus, such as a gas turbine for the generation of electricity, the base 4 and side walls 3 of each module 2 are made of metal, for example an aluminium alloy or a steel alloy. Other material, such as plastic, which can be fibre-reinforced if appropriate, can also be chosen. A fabric 5 is applied, as is shown. As is shown, a pack of mineral wool 6 further fills the space between the U-shaped sections 3. This pack 6 is in two parts. The longitudinal edges of the fabric 5 are clamped between those two parts. In reality, the fabric 5 and the pack of mineral wool 6 completely cover the perforated sheet 4; for the sake of clarity, in
Figure 2 they are shown partly cut away with respect to the perforated sheet 4. It will be clear that modules 2 of this type are relatively simple to assemble in any desired length, width and height. In this context it is preferable to choose the outside dimensions of the module 2 as a function of the conventional commercially available sizes for the basic materials, such as the U-shaped sections 3 and the perforated sheet material 4.
According to the present invention, a panel 1 as shown in Figure 1 can be made up of diverse modules 2 as shown in Figure 2, a surprisingly high dimensional stability of the panel 1 being achieved using relatively few means. To this end the panel 1 is composed of a bottom layer 7 and a top layer 8, which layers 7, 8 are, in turn, composed of diverse modules 2. In this context, the filling of each module 2, comprising the glass fabric 5 and the pack of mineral wool 6, has been omitted in Figure 1 for the sake of clarity.
The modules 2 of the panel 1 are linked to one another at the indicated points by means of welded joints 9, 10 and 11. In this context, in Figure 1 the fourth module has been omitted from the top layer 8 for the sake of clarity, so that part of the bottom layer 7 is more clearly visible. Of course, the layers 7, 8 actually cover one another completely. The welded joints 11 are in corresponding positions on the outside of the bottom layer 7. For example, it is possible first to weld the modules of the bottom layer to one another by means of welds
9 and 11 , af er which the modules of tne top layer 8 are welded one by one to the bottom layer by means of welds 10 and 11. Other methods of linking the modules together and/or other weld positions can also be chosen. What is important is that the panel is composed of modular layers. By this means it is also possible to obtain a panel which is closed on both faces from modules which themselves are open on one side, so that they are simple to produce.
Subsequently a U-shaped peripheral section (not shown) can be fitted around the panel 1 assembled from modules 2 in this way, which peripheral section as it were forms a frame, grips around the longitudinal and transverse edges of the panel 1 and constitutes a peripheral closure. The flexural strength of the panel 1 is further increased as a result of said peripheral section. Optionally, it is then even possible to dispense with all welded joints 9, 10 and 11. It is obvious that other variants also fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the panel 1 can be constructed from fire-resistant modules 2. The perforated sheet 4 is then replaced by a solid sheet and the filling 5, 6 is also adapted to the requirements. It is also possible for the modules 2 to lie at a different angle, for example 0° or 45°, between the layers 7, 8. The modules 2 can be made, for example, from a w de sheet which has a perforated centre strip, the longitudinal edges of sa d sheet having been turned over nto the shape shown in Figure 2. Of course, said sheet can also be perforated over the full width, so that the edge sections 3 are also perforated. It is also possible for one or both arms of the sections 3 to face away from one another. Optionally, the arm on that side of section 3 which is distal to the sheet 4 also extends to the other side of the body thereof. The panel 1 can also, for example, be equipped for a different function, for example as a fire-resistant partition wall. Both the base 4 and the side walls 3 are then of completely closed construction. The mineral wool fill and the lining of the base 4 are then chosen in accordance with the requirements for fire-resistance.
Figure 3 shows another variant of the invention. In this case the fixing sections 26 are attached to the flanges of the side walls 3 of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15 of the panel 1, for example with the aid of welds 27. of course, attachment by other fixing means, such as rivets or bolts, is also possible. With this arrangement, the longitudinal direction of the fixing sections 26 is chosen parallel to
that of the modules 2 of the top layer 16 of the panel 1. The fixing sections 26 are mutually parallel and have a spacing which essentially corresponds to the width of a module 2. Although Figure 3 shows that the modules 2 of one layer are also welded to one another, this is not absolutely necessary. The mutual linking of the layers 15, 16 by means of the sections 26 already gives the panel 1 adequate cohesion.
As the side view of detail IV shows more particularly (Fig. 4), each fixing section 26 has an essentially U-shaped cross-section with flanges 28 which face inwards from the upright arms and have downwards- facing hook edges at the end thereof. The two flanges 28 delimit a slit 30 providing a passage to the interior of the section 26, the width of said slit being considerably less than that of the space 31 enclosed by the section 26. As is shown, the facing s de walls 3 of two adjacent modules 2 of the top layer 16 of the panel 1 are in each case inserted in said space 31 in the fixing section 26. The flanges of the two side walls 3 which are located back to back define a width greater than that of the space 30 between the hook edges 29. Elongated retaining strips 12, which, as is shown, have an essentially rectangular cross-section, in each case extend in the longitudinal direction of the fixing section 26 on either side of the side walls 3. Because each of said retaining strips 12 rests against the flange, the side wall 3, the hook edge 29 and the upright arm of the U-shaped fixing section 26, the side walls 3 can not be pulled vertically out of the fixing section 26. Consequently, the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15 of the panel 1 are reliably connected to the modules 2 of the top layer 16 of the panel 1. When the top layer 16 is not yet in place, the fixing sections 26 can easily be welded to the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15. As the retaining strips 12 can be pushed from the top into the fixing section 26, good accessibility of the connection points between modules of the top and bottom layers, 15 and 16 respectively, of the panel 1 from either side is not a requirement. Compared with direct welding of the flanges of the modules 2 of the two layers of the panel 1 in the overlapping regions (Fig. 1), the alternative embodiment according to Figure 3 provides an appreciably improved fixing, which can be produced in a practical and cost-effective manner.
As shown in Figure 4, use is made of a retaining strip 12 which has a thickness less than the size of the gap between the hook edge 29 and the body 13 of the U-shaped fixing section 26, which body runs
parallel to the flanges. Furthermore, the width of the retaining strip 12 is greater than half the width of the enclosed space 31 less the thickness of a side wall 3. If these conditions are met, the surface area of the cross-section of the strip 12 is then as small as possible and, consequently, the retaining strip 12 is as inexpensive as possible. At the ends of the panel 1 , the side wall 3 which faces towards the outside of the panel 1 does not abut a side wall 3 of a subsequent module 2. Accordingly, a modified fixing section 26', which is essentially U-shaped and has only one flange 28 with an associated hook edge 29, has been fitted in this location. Said section 26' is approximately half as wide as the section 26. However, as a result of the good accessibility, the layers 15, 16 can also be welded directly to one another at the edges of the panel 1.
Of course, it is also possible to choose a different shape of cross-section of the retaining strip 12. For example, said strip can also be narrower but thicker, in order to fill up the rectangular space enclosed by the side wall 3, the upright arm of the fixing section 26, the bottom of the hook edge 29 and the flange. Modifications to the fixing section 26 are also possible. For example, the hook edge 29 can be omitted, as is shown, for example, in Fig. 6. In Figure 6 the fixing section 26 has also been replaced by two essentially V-shaped sections 34, which are fixed to the bottom layer of the panel 1 parallel to one another and some distance apart and which likewise delimit a passage 30 and an enclosed space 31. The space 30 is now larger than the width taken up by the flanges. Combinations of embodiments according to Figure 4 and Figure 6 are, of course, also possible.
Figure 5 shows another way in which the panel 1 can be made up of two layers placed on top of one another, each layer again being composed of parallel, abutting modules 2. Here again, fixing sections 26 are first fixed to modules 2 assembled to form a bottom layer 15. For the sake of clarity only some of the modules 2 of the top layer 16 are shown here. In the variant according to Figure 5, the longitudinal direction of the fixing sections 26 has been chosen parallel to the longitudinal direction of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15. With this arrangement the fixing sections 26 are fitted on strips 17, which are upright in the widthwise direction thereof and are provided with a bent-over flange 18, by means of which said strips 17 are welded to the flanges of the side walls 3 of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15. With this arrangement
the longitudinal direction of the strips 17 is set at an angle of about 90° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15. As described in connection with the embodiment of the panel 1 according to Figure 3, the side walls 3 of the modules 2 of the top layer 16 are inserted in the fixing sections 26 and fixed relative thereto by means of the retaining strips 12. However, the longitudinal direction of the modules 2 of the top layer 16 is now parallel to that of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15.
As a result of the insertion of the strips 17, the thickness of the panel 1 according to Figure 5 is now appreciably greater than that of the panel 1 according to Figure 1 , despite the fact that the cross- sectional dimensions of the modules 2 are the same for both variants. The thickness of the panel 1 according to Figure 5 can be chosen depending on the extent to which the strips 17 rise upwards from the flanges of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15. Furthermore, both the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15 and the modules 2 of the top layer 16 now provide the panel 1 with the intended flexural strength in the plane thereof in the installation, whilst the strips 17 provide that in the other direction. By giving the strips 17 an increasing height over the longitudinal or transverse direction of the panel 1 , it is possible to produce special panel shapes, the thickness of which gradually increases.
Per se, the layers 15, 16 can also be assembled without fixing sections 26, 26' or 34 inserted between them, but with the use of the spacer strips 17. Provided the strips 17 are of adequate height, the layers can also be fixed together more practically in this situation, since the connection points between the modules 2 and the strips 17 are relatively easily accessible.
During the assembly of a panel 1 as shown in Figs 3 and 5, the bottom layer 15 will usually be assembled first, after which any sections 26, 26', 34 and then the strips 17 will be fitted. The top layer 16 will then be assembled by placing the modules 2 thereof successively in their positions on top of the bottom layer 15. If said upper modules are hooked in place, the strips 12 are then pushed into the space 31 from the sides of the panel. Otherwise, every time a module of the top layer has been placed in position said module will immediately be welded, riveted, etc., to the strips 17 or the modules of the bottom layer 15.
Of course, it is also possible, in the context of the e oodiment according to Figure 5, to join the fixing sections 26 to the strips 17 in such a way that they are parallel to one another and run jointly in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the modules 2 of the bottom layer 15.
On the one hand, the modules 2 can be installed in various layers, optionally with a different longitudinal orientation per layer. On the other hand, an effective linkage for the layers is obtained. Moreover, by installing the modules in various layers it is possible to produce panels which are covered on both faces from modules which each have one open face.