SPECIFICATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to insulating sheet for enclosures, and more specifically to applications in which it is desirable to allow a small bending radius in a thermoplastic twin-wall insulating sheet.

Background

A type of commercially available insulating sheet is referred to as "twin-wall" plastic sheet. In this structure, two or more parallel single-sheet layers of thermoplastic material are spaced apart from each other by continuous “rib” structures of similar thermoplastic material that determine, along with the thickness of each single-sheet layer, the overall thickness dimension of the twin-wall sheet. The two outermost layers are referred to as the “walls” and are often distinguished from each other as an interior wall and an exterior wall, depending on the details of the twin-wall sheet structure and possible surface treatment of one or both walls. The known and commercially available structures of this type have perpendicular ribs, diagonal ribs or certain combinations of perpendicular and diagonal ribs between and separating the parallel single-sheet layers. Fabrication of twin-wall sheets typically include extrusion of opaque or translucent thermoplastic material and bonding of one or more layers to each other may also be included in the fabrication process. Transparent or translucent materials are frequently desired and are known to be prepared from thermoplastic resins having the necessary degree of light transmission, such as polycarbonate or acrylic resins.

This concept of twin-wall plastic sheet or panels has been described in prior art since the early 1960’s with one example being U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,395 in which the two plastic sheets are separated by plastic plaiting to form the ribs and each of these components are fabricated separately rather than as a single extrusion. As plastic extrusion techniques advanced, improvements to the structure, rigidity and performance of twin-wall panels were suggested in the prior art, with an example being Ei.S. Pat. No. 4,443,987.

When the simplest configuration of twin-wall sheet is viewed in cross-section along the direction of extrusion, a series of perpendicular ribs separating a first wall from a second parallel wall create a row of longitudinal rectangular cavities, or “channels”. Each row of channels creates an additional insulating layer between the walls and in cases where additional single layer sheets are added between the walls, each row of channels creates an additional insulating layer between each adjacent pair of single-layer sheets, further increasing the R-value of the twin-wall sheet. Twin-wall sheet is used as light-weight insulating construction elements for various types of enclosures and the twin-wall sheet may be opaque or translucent. Common applications for the translucent form of twin-wall sheet include green houses, sky lights, and other types of window applications where vision quality is not critical.

If forces are applied to a twin-wall sheet as shown in Figure 6A of U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,475, where a horizontal twin-wall sheet is supported along two equal, parallel longitudinal lengths of the lower wall and a force is applied on the upper wall in the same length and parallel to the two supports, the upper wall will be in tension and the lower wall will be in compression, resulting in a deflection shown by “y”. The Shear Modulus, or Modulus of Rigidity, “G”, of the overall structure can be calculated using:

Where: G Shear Modulus of the twin-wall sheet, N/mm2 E Modulus of Elasticity of the material, N/mm2 F force on the twin-wall sheet sample, N D total thickness of the twin-wall sheet, mm W distance between the two supports, mm L length of sheet sample, mm t average wall thickness, mm y deflection resulting from applied force, mm

Polycarbonate is the most commonly used thermoplastic in the fabrication of this type of product because of its high rigidity along with its desirable optical qualities. Available products with the simplest configuration of polycarbonate twin-wall sheet comprised of a single row of channels formed only by ribs perpendicular to the walls have a typical transverse Shear Modulus in a range of approximately 0.3-0.6 N/mm ² , depending largely on the spacing, length, and thickness of the ribs. Various combinations of angled ribs can increase G substantially, but no other change in rib angle can reduce G from that of its simplest form.

The Shear Modulus in the longitudinal direction of the simplest form of twin-wall sheet is typically in the range of 0.007-0.009 N/mm ² , resulting in a recommended maximum bending radius of approximately 150 times the overall twin-wall sheet thickness, “D”. A common minimum twin-wall sheet thickness of 6 mm may have a bending radius of approximately 900 mm which limits its use to large radius curves found in applications such as high tunnel green houses. One example of the prior art where the longitudinal Shear Modulus is critical is a storm resistant window cover described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,233.

In the transverse direction, the maximum bending radius before the ribs begin to collapse may be greater than 4 m for D = 6 mm, thus manufacturers’ recommendations that polycarbonate twin-wall flexure only be attempted in the longitudinal direction.

The relatively high rigidity of currently available translucent twin-wall sheet made of materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic or high-density PVC make it unsuitable for many applications requiring a curved or flexible panel such as small greenhouses with curved roofs, hoop houses, crop tunnels, cylindrical plant protectors, and curves in structural glazing where a bending radius of less than 300 mm may be desired. The prior art for this type of application is typically in the form of a single corrugated sheet curved over a single flat sheet as in U.S. Pat.

No. 4,068,423 or two separated coaxial sheets as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,626,483 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,991. Twin-wall sheet can be created using a more flexible material such as polypropylene or low-density polyethylene; however, doing so reduces the Shear Modulus of the twin-wall sheet in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, making it less desirable for applications where high rigidity is still advantageous in one direction, such as hoop houses, crop tunnels, and plant protectors. One invention that addresses the desire for high longitudinal rigidity while being flexible in the transverse direction is U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,566; however, it does not have the form of a true twin-wall sheet in that the outer wall is periodically arcuated in such a way that eliminates the ribs as well as the desired continuous insulation characteristics.

The present invention addresses the problem of twin-wall sheet rigidity in applications requiring a small bending radius in only one direction by incorporating into the extrusion profile a contoured inner wall such that the inner wall can partially collapse with some bending resistance in order to allow a desired curvature in the transverse direction while retaining a desired high rigidity in the longitudinal direction and while maintaining an overall R-value characteristic of typical twin-wall sheet.

Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment of the present invention, a twin-wall sheet has the form of an outer single sheet of thermoplastic material with a Modulus of Elasticity greater than 2 GPa and an inner single sheet of similar thermoplastic material generally parallel to the outer sheet and the inner and outer single sheets separated by a series of ribs of similar thermoplastic material to form a connected row of longitudinal cavities or “channels”. In the case of the twin-wall sheet being in a generally flat or un-flexed position, the outer sheet is flat while the form of the inner sheet is contoured in a concave manner to form a relief between each rib. When the twin-wall sheet is flexed, each relief distorts to minimize stress in the transverse direction while maintaining high rigidity in the longitudinal direction. The plastic material used in the fabrication of the twin-wall sheet may be opaque or translucent.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of single thermoplastic sheets contoured similarly to that of the inner wall are added in a generally parallel manner between the contoured inner and flat outer walls. A series of ribs of similar thermoplastic material are located between each adjacent single sheet to form an array of multiple attached rows of longitudinal channels. When this multiple layer form of the present invention is flexed, all of the arcs formed in the multiple layers simultaneously distort to minimize bending stress in the transverse direction while maintaining rigidity in the longitudinal direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of extrusion of the present invention in a flexed, as well as unflexed, position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of extrusion of an embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of additional single sheets is incorporated between an outer wall and an inner wall.

Detailed Description

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is a twin-wall sheet that incorporates a generally flat outer wall and a contoured inner wall.

Referring to Figure 1, an orthogonal view of the present invention 1 in a flat, or un flexed, position is shown. The twin-wall sheet is comprised of a first wall 2; a second wall 3 that is generally parallel to and of the same length and width as the first wall 2, and a plurality of ribs 4 located at periodic intervals between, perpendicular to, and attached to the first wall 2 and second wall 3 to establish the overall thickness of the twin-wall sheet shown as “D”. The first wall 2 is generally flat in this position, has a longitudinal length shown as “L”, transverse width shown as “W”, thickness shown as “t ₀ ”, and typically serves as the outer wall of the twin-wall sheet 1 in applications in which the twin-wall sheet serves as a covering or enclosure, or any other application where the purpose of utilizing the twin-wall sheet is to provide an insulated separation between a generally interior environment and an exterior condition. The form of the second wall 3 has a thickness shown as “ti” and incorporates periodic concave relief arcs 5 between each pair of adjacent ribs 4 which have thickness “t _r ” and typically serves as the inner wall of the twin-wall sheet 1 in applications in which the twin-wall sheet serves as a covering or enclosure, or any other application where the purpose of utilizing the twin-wall sheet is to provide an insulated separation between a generally interior environment and an exterior condition. The preferred form of the curvature of the concave reliefs is a filleted half-circle; however, other circular section, elliptical or higher-order curve variations with different degrees of fillet may also be used for specific optimization of bending stress characteristics of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of extrusion of the present invention in a flexed position, as well as an unflexed position, is shown. Figure 2 shows the extrusion profile of the flexed position of the present invention la superimposed on the unflexed position of the present invention 1 in order to demonstrate the intent of the functionality of the present invention. Applying an equal pair of forces to the extents of the outer wall 2 along the longitudinal direction while supporting the inner wall 3 in a manner that maintains static equilibrium with the forces on the outer wall 2, causes tension, “T”, transversely along the outer wall 2 and compression, “C”, transversely along the inner wall, between the applied forces, further causing the relief portions 5 of the inner wall to distort, resulting in an overall transverse curvature if radius “R”. Since a minimum R is largely dependent on the depth, average radius, and periodicity of each relief 5, the Shear Modulus is used only to describe the initial bending resistance and it approaches the Modulus of Elasticity of the thermoplastic material as the thickness of the inner wall approaches zero. The Shear Modulus is proportional to the total thickness of the twin-wall sheet, D; an average of the wall thicknesses to, ti, and t _r ; the periodicity of the ribs 4; and the Modulus of Elasticity of the material. The present invention is anisotropic such that its rigidity in the longitudinal direction is similar to that of the prior art.

Referring to Figure 3, a sectional view in the longitudinal direction of extrusion of an embodiment of the present invention 6 in which a plurality of intermediate single sheets 9 is incorporated between an outer wall 7 and an inner wall 8 is shown. When the form of this embodiment is flexed around a longitudinal axis, the reliefs incorporated into the form of each intermediate single sheet distort simultaneously with each other as well as the reliefs incorporated into the form of the inner wall 8. The radii and depths of the intermediate sheet reliefs may differ between intermediate sheets and from those of the inner wall, depending on the intermediate sheet spacing and rib periodicity, in order to minimize overall distortion and bending resistance of the twin-wall sheet.

The specific dimensions and overall shape of the twin-wall sheet 1 in all its forms are generally unlimited, however, those practiced in the art will appreciate that specific dimensions are dictated by its functionality and a particular application.

The present invention can be constructed of a wide range of translucent or opaque thermoplastic materials including but not limited to polycarbonate, PVC, PET, acrylic, polypropylene, or HDPE. Those practiced in the art will appreciate that the present invention is typically formed through extrusion and can alternatively be formed through other techniques including, but not limited to, 3-D printing or ultrasonic welding as dictated by the specific application.

Specific examples of applications of the present invention include small greenhouses with curved roofs, hoop houses, crop tunnels, cylindrical plant protectors, curves in structural glazing where a bending radius of less than 300 mm may be desired, and opaque support structures such as room dividers or display frames where a bending radius of less than 300 mm may be desired.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention.