DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an elastic floor structure, comprising a walking surface, supported by a support structure, interposed between the walking surface and a surface to be paved.

Preferably the invention relates to floors suitable to be installed on naval constructions.

As is known, in the design of large and medium sized passenger, merchant and pleasure craft vessels, increasing attention is paid to acoustic comfort.

In particular, designers and builders increasingly seek to reduce the so-called structural noise, i.e. noise that is transmitted through the structure of the hull, due to rigidity.

The skeleton of the ships is in fact made up of various superimposed bridges, on which passengers and personnel walk, rigidly interconnected by means of metallic vertical supports.

The structure itself therefore constitutes an excellent means for the diffusion of vibrations and noises .

To reduce the speed of structural noise, two different approaches are currently used.

A first solution consists in treating each bridge with a viscoelastic system, consisting of a layer of a few millimetres, which is interposed between the deck and the dunnage .

The viscoelastic layer, thanks to its mechanical features, absorbs part of the vibrations of the deck without transmitting them to the overlying dunnage, thus limiting the spread of vibrations along the entire hull of the vessel .

Although this system is particularly effective at medium-low frequencies, it becomes practically inefficient both for high frequencies and for sound insulation .

A different solution consists in treating each deck with a "floating", decoupling system, formed by mineral wool panels covered with cement materials.

This approach is particularly effective at high frequencies, but not at medium-low frequencies.

Often, in practice, to compensate for their characteristics, the two systems described above are combined, with quite critical results as regards the final weight of the system.

There is therefore an unmet need for systems known in the state of the art to provide a floor structure that solves the problems described above, so as to dissipate the vibrational energy of the structure of a ship.

The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a floor structure as previously described, wherein the support structure comprises at least a backing foot.

There is also a viscoelastic material layer interposed between the surface to be paved and the support surface at least at the backing foot and in contact with the backing foot.

The mechanical decoupling between the walking surface and the surface to be paved through the use of viscoelastic material allows to obtain a correct sound insulation between the various overlaps . Moreover, unlike the systems known in the state of the art, the peculiar configuration described has an effective sound insulation over a wide frequency band.

Preferably the viscoelastic material is provided exclusively at the backing foot or feet, so that the present invention allows the use of viscoelastic material to be optimized in relation to the effective absorption of vibrations .

According to a possible variant embodiment, height adjustment means of said at least one backing foot are provided.

It is evident that this improvement allows to limit the number of backing points of the support structure on the surface to be paved obtaining a precise levelling of the walking surface.

Unlike systems known in the state of the art, the height adjustment of the backing foot allows the installation of the floor structure of the present invention independently of the conditions of the surface to be paved.

Therefore no laying of material is required to level the surface to be paved and the waste of material and the weight of the entire structure are limited.

The height adjustment of the backing feet, in addition to guaranteeing flatness on any type of surface, also allows, if necessary, to generate underlying cavities of different heights according to requirements .

According to a possible embodiment variant, it is possible to provide a viscoelastic material layer placed between the walking surface and the support surface .

This viscoelastic material layer allows a decoupling to be achieved between the walking surface and the support surface, so as to further implement the dampening performance of the system.

Advantageously, the viscoelastic material layer is made of polymeric material with a high energy absorption capacity and having a limited aptitude for flame propagation and low fume opacity and toxicity.

In addition to the advantages obtained relating to sound insulation and the transmission of vibrations , the present invention aims to provide a floor structure that is easy to install and to mount on board the vessels, as well as manufactured in a simple, rapid and economical manner.

To accomplish these purposes, a first embodiment provides that the support structure is constituted by a reticular structure, the walking surface being constituted by a plurality of step-steady panels, supported by the reticular structure.

The reticular structure requires the joining of transverse beams with longitudinal beams, preferably providing fixing welds.

The fact that the viscoelastic material layer is provided underneath the backing foot, allows this element to be removed from any welding, limiting the risk of burns of this element that may compromise, at least in part, its mechanical characteristics.

Advantageously, the step-steady panels consist of honeycomb-type panels.

It is evident that the use of honeycomb panels contributes further to absorbing vibrations , in particular those deriving from forces acting directly on the walking surface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reticular structure comprises a plurality of rod-like elements arranged along two substantially orthogonal directions .

There is also a plurality of backing feet arranged at least in part at the intersections of said rod-like elements.

As will be seen from some embodiment examples attached to the present patent application, the backing foot is constituted by an elongated element arranged vertically, fixed to a plate-like element.

This elongated element is fixed to the support structure, while the viscoelastic material layer is fixed below said plate-like element.

This configuration is particularly advantageous in combination with a particular embodiment of the height adjustment means, according to which the elongated element has a threaded surface, the adjustment means being a ring designed to cooperate with this thread.

Moreover, according to a further embodiment, at least part of the rod-like elements has, at least at the intersections of the reticular structure, a substantially omega-shaped cross section suitable for defining a central backing surface interposed between two lateral backing surfaces defined below.

In this way the central backing surface supports the step-steady panels, while the lateral backing surfaces are suitable for supporting the said rod like elements. As will be seen later, thanks to the illustration of some embodiment examples, this arrangement allows to obtain a light structure with a better interlocking system based on the backing of transverse beams on tabs of longitudinal beams.

Preferably the rod-like elements have at least one through hole suitable for housing the elongated element .

The backing feet can therefore be positioned in a versatile manner, even if only in discrete positions, depending on the need.

Finally, according to this configuration, it is specified that the ring nut is arranged at the bottom of said rod-like elements.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some embodiment examples illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

figures la and lb show two schematic views of the floor structure object of the present invention; figures 2a to 2c illustrate some details of the reticular structure belonging to the floor structure object of the present invention;

figures 3a to 3c illustrate three different sections of the metal profile shapes belonging to said reticular structure;

figure 4 shows a schematic view of the floor structure of the present invention according to a possible embodiment;

figures 5a and 5b show two schematic views of the backing foot belonging to the floor structure object of the present invention; figures 5a to 6f illustrate some possible embodiments of the said backing foot.

It is specified that the figures annexed to the present patent application show a preferred embodiment of the floor structure of the present invention to better understand its advantages and characteristics .

This embodiment is therefore to be intended purely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes as to the inventive concept of the present invention, namely that of realizing a floor structure for naval constructions, which allows to optimally absorb the vibrations of the vessel and which is easy to install and easily adaptable to the various conditions of the surface to be paved.

With particular reference to figure la, an elastic floor structure is illustrated comprising a walking surface 1, supported by a support structure 2, interposed between the walking surface 1 and a surface 3 to be paved.

The support structure comprises a plurality of backing feet 4 , interposed between the support structure 2 and the surface 3 to be paved.

Each backing foot 4 has a viscoelastic material element 41 interposed between the foot itself and the surface 3 to be paved.

In the variants relating to the figures attached to the present patent application, a viscoelastic material element 41 is shown, but it is possible to provide a single viscoelastic material layer placed below all the backing feet 41.

The backing feet 4 can be made in any form and in any material . The backing feet are preferably made of metallic material to exploit its mechanical characteristics, while the viscoelastic material element can be made of polymeric material with a high capacity of energy absorption and having limited flame propagation likelihood and low fume opacity and toxicity.

Figures 6a to 6f illustrate some possible embodiments of backing feet 4 , in which each embodiment is illustrated first without a viscoelastic element 41 and with a viscoelastic element 41.

According to the various embodiments , the backing foot 4 has an elongated element 42 arranged vertically, fixed to a plate-like element 43.

The elongated element 42 is fixed, as will be described later, to the support structure 2, while the viscoelastic element 41 is fixed to the plate like element 43.

As is evident, the backing feet 4 of the figure differ in the particular shape of the plate-like element 43, which is illustrated in three different embodiment variants .

With particular reference to figure la, the backing feet 4 fixed to the support structure are then supported on the surface 3 to be paved.

The viscoelastic material element 41 is in contact with the surface 3 to be paved and thanks to its mechanical characteristics, it absorbs the vibrations that are transmitted through the surface 3 to be paved, preventing them from reaching the support structure 2 and the walking surface.

Advantageously, the viscoelastic material element 41 is fixed, for example with glues, double- sided tape or the like, to the plate-like element 43, but is simply supported on the surface 3 to be paved, with the exception of the viscoelastic material placed on the perimeter of the floor and glued to the surface 3 to be paved.

The surface 3 to be paved can for example be constituted by the deck of a ship, which has, as in the case of figure la, an irregular surface.

For this reason the backing feet 4 have height adjustment means, so that they can be in contact with the surface to be paved 3 and be adjusted so as to create a self-levelling horizontal plane of the walking surface 1.

These height adjustment means can be made in any manner known in the state of the art.

For example, the elongated element 42 could be constituted by a telescopic, pneumatic or hydraulic element, or the elongated element 42 and the plate like element 43 can provide a relative movement.

Figures 5a and 5b will describe a preferred embodiment of these adjustment means.

Still with reference to figure la, the walking surface 1 is constituted by the union of a plurality of step-steady panels 10, fixed to the support structure 2.

The step-steady panels 10 can be glued, riveted, screwed to the support structure 2 and possibly be fixed together.

Advantageously, the step-steady panels 10 consist of honeycomb-type panels.

According to a preferred embodiment, the support structure 2 is constituted by a reticular structure, which comprises a plurality of rod-like elements arranged along two substantially orthogonal directions .

Figure lb illustrates a possible embodiment of said reticular structure, which is formed by the interlocking of longitudinal beams 21 with transverse beams 22.

The beams 21 and 22 are preferably made of metallic material, so that the transverse beams 22 can be fixed, for example through welding, to the longitudinal beams 21.

Figures 2a to 3c illustrate some embodiment details of this reticular structure.

In fact, preferably the longitudinal beams 21 have, at least at the joints with the transverse beams 22, a substantially omega-shaped cross section, shown in figure 3a, suitable for defining a central backing surface 210 interposed between two lateral support surfaces 211.

The central bearing surface 210 constitutes the backing and/or fixing of the panels 10, while the lateral support surfaces 211 are adapted to support the end parts of the transverse beams 22.

Therefore, once the longitudinal beams 21 are arranged, the transverse beams 22 are arranged so that the end parts rest on the surfaces, or tabs, 211, in order to realize the reticular structure of figure lb.

On the basis of the position of the longitudinal beams 21, it will be possible to identify a different section: figure 3a illustrates the section of a longitudinal beam placed at the centre of the reticular structure, while figure 3b shows the section of a longitudinal beam 21 placed outside the reticular structure, which needs only one backing tab 211, facing towards the inside of the grid.

Once arranged, the transverse beams 22 can be fixed to the longitudinal beams 21 through welding or similar means.

Figure 3c illustrates instead a possible section of a transverse beam 22.

The lateral surfaces 211 can also be provided for the entire length of the longitudinal beams 21 and can for example be used for supporting plugging elements, inserted in the floor structure in order to increase the thermo-acoustic insulation.

More particularly, the dampening elements can essentially be constituted by mineral wool inserts, chosen for example between rock wool and glass wool .

Figure 4 illustrates a possible arrangement of the backing feet : these backing feet 4 are in fact preferably positioned at the intersections of the longitudinal beams 21 with the transverse beams 22.

It is advantageously possible to provide that the backing feet 4, or at least the viscoelastic element 41, have different shapes and size based on the positioning.

For example, it is possible to provide a larger size for the viscoelastic elements 41 located at the centre of the floor structure and a smaller size for the elements 41 located on the sides of the structure .

Depending on the size of the floor structure and on the basis of the operational needs, it is possible to envisage placing backing feet 4 not only at the intersections between beams 21 and 22, but also between one intersection and another. Generally, a linear distance of 600 millimetres is provided between one foot and the other, which obviously can also vary according to the conditions of the surface 3 to be paved.

To allow the elongated element 42 to be fixed to the beams 21 and 22, these beams advantageously have at least one through hole 20, figures 2a to 2c, inside which the elongated element 42 is inserted.

The elongated element 42, once inserted at the desired height, can for example be welded to the beam.

As will be described later, preferably the elongated element 42 is threaded, so as to cooperate with a corresponding ring 44 (figures 5a and 5b) , while the through hole 20 has a greater section than the section of the elongated element 42, so to allow insertion .

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a particular fixing configuration .

In figure 5a the backing foot 4 is provided at the maximum possible height, the elongated element 42 is located with its free end inserted inside the hole 20 of the beam 21.

A ring 44 is also present, which cooperates with the thread of the elongated element 42.

The rotation of the ring 44 allows the elongated element 42 to be displaced vertically with respect to the beam 21: in particular, the rotation of the ring 44 allows the passage from the maximum height configuration, figure 5a, to the minimum height configuration, figure 5b.

Once the height of interest has been established, the part of the elongated element 42 projecting with respect to the beam 21, in the opposite direction to the plate-like element 23, can be cut in order to allow the panels 10 to rest on the surface 210 of the beam 21.

Subsequently it is possible to envisage welding the ring nut 44 to the beam 21, so as to prevent further rotation thereof.

It is specified that figures 5a and 5b illustrate a specific plate-like element 23, but it is possible to provide any plate-like element 23, such as for example one of those illustrated in figures 6a to 6f.

Finally, according to a possible embodiment, it is possible to provide a viscoelastic material layer interposed between the walking surface 1 and the support surface 2.

This embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7 : the viscoelastic material layer 12 interposed between the panels 10 and the reticular structure 2 can be made in a manner very similar to the viscoelastic material layer 41.

Preferably the layer 12 has a thickness of between two and three millimetres and is positioned on the upper surface of the rod-like elements 21, 22 of the reticular structure 2, to which it can be fixed by gluing or by one of any of the modes known in the state of the art.

Laying of the layer 12 can take place continuously, that is, along the entire surface of one or more rod-shaped elements 21, 22, or discontinuously, that is, along only part of the surface of the rod-like elements 21, 22. Independently of the presence of the layer 12 , respectively figures la and 7, the panels 10 can preferably be fixed to the reticular structure 2 through tapping and/or self-tapping screws.

While the invention can be changed according to different modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments were shown in the drawings and described in detail .

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention of limiting the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, it aims at covering all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

The use of "for example", "etc.", "or" refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

The use of "includes" means "includes but not limited to", unless otherwise stated.