WALL STRUCTURE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall structure, according to the preamble of claim 1, made of fire-resistant material and comprising at least two mainly rectangular panel-like wall elements, which are adapted to be joined together by means of their longer sides and which comprise a surface plate element as well as a support element and an insulation element, which are to be attached thereto.

[0002] One previously known wall structure is disclosed in the publication EP 878390 B1. In this structure a stiffener is arranged at one vertical edge of the wall elements and both vertical edges are provided with a bend formed of a surface plate element, whereby the bends of adjacent wall elements are supported by the stiffener of the adjoining wall element. A supporting plate and an insulation plate secured to the wall element are located between the stiffener and one bend, whereby the insulation plate, which is important from the viewpoint of fire safety, covers only a part of the wall structure. The structure requires separate joint strips for holding itself together in the event of fire. Since the wall elements need to be joined together by screws at the backside, the structure cannot be used in all applications.

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved multi-purpose wall structure, which can be utilised especially in various applications onboard ships and similar watercrafts, for instance as a structure of cabins and corridors, and is structurally as simple, thin and lightweight as possible, economical to fabricate and easy to install. Moreover, an object is to further improve the fire-resisting properties of the wall structure.

[0004] The objects of the invention are achieved primarily as is disclosed in the appended claim 1, and more closely as explained in the other claims.

[0005] According to the invention the support element, providing stiffening of the wall element especially in the horizontal direction after installation of the wall element, is arranged to be installed in the space between the surface plate element and said recess and protrusion. The width of said recess and protrusion in the direction of the normal of the wall element is selected so that an insulation element can be installed on top of the support element, partially in the recess formed by the inner surface of the protrusion, so that it is located in a partially overlapping position with respect to said support element.

[0006] Since the edge bends are formed of the surface plate element itself, the fabrication of the structure and its installation in place is easy, and neither separate support elements nor stiffeners in the vertical direction are required. The structure does not require utilisation of separate fixing members either for attaching the adjacent wall elements together. In addition specifically in cabin applications it is sufficient to use a wall element having only one surface plate element, the open back sides of wall elements of adjacent cabin units being arranged opposite each other eliminating the need for e.g. wall elements of closed cassette type. Likewise the wall elements of this kind are with advantage applicable as separate corridor wall elements which together with the wall elements serving as cabin inner walls provide for the complete wall structure. All this makes the structure lightweight.

[0007] By arranging said recess and protrusion in the direction of the normal of the wall element at a distance from the level of the inner wall of the metallic surface plate element the support element can be installed in the space between the surface plate element and said recess and protrusion.

[0008] When the width of said recess and protrusion in the direction of the normal of the wall element is selected so that an insulation element can be installed on top of the support element, partially in the recess formed by the inner surface of the protrusion, the insulation element is located in a partially overlapping position with respect to said support element. Further, as the support element and the insulation element are arranged along the whole width of the inner surfaces of the edge bends of the surface plate element, a continuous structure advantageous in terms of fire safety is obtained.

[0009] In practise, the size of said overlapping portion is at least about 15 mm, most preferably even more, so that a fire-technically advantageous structure is provided.

[0010] To facilitate the installation, at least one of the mutually cooperating overlapping surfaces of said recess and of said protrusion are with advantage slightly sloped so that they guide the wall elements into each other in a wedge like manner.

[0011] For further improvement of fire safety the bends of the wall element may be developed so that they comprise two recesses at one of the longer sides arranged successively in the direction of the normal of the wall element, between which recesses there is a ridge-like protrusion and which overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend. Similarly, the other longer side is provided with two corresponding ridge-like protrusions dimensioned so as to coincide with said recesses, between which protrusions there is a recess and which overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend. In this way the overlapping may be increased and the structure stiffened.

[0012] In practise, the surface plate element, the support element and the insulation element may preferably be joined together by gluing. If, in the event of fire, the glue layer is burned away, the structure will, however, stay in its place due to said overlapping structure of the elements.

[0013] The invention also relates to a wall element included in the above-described wall structure, which element is characterised in that its longer sides are provided with bends formed of the edges of the surface plate element, which bends are shaped and dimensioned in one of the manners explained in the foregoing so that the wall element can be installed so as to form a part of said wall structure. The wall element is particularly characterised in that said bends are shaped so as to act as vertical stiffeners of the wall element and together with the surface plate element provides the vertical stiffening of the wall element as required.

[0014] In the following, the invention is explained by way of example with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which

• Figure 1 depicts a perspective rear view, partly in section, of a wall element included in the wall structure according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 show, as a sectional view in the direction of the shorter side of the elements, how two adjacent wall elements included in the wall structure are joined together;
• Figure 4 depicts the section IV-IV of Figure 3;
• Figures 5 and 6 show, as a sectional view in the direction of the shorter side of the elements, how two adjacent wall elements included in the wall structure according to the invention and provided with first alternative bend structures are joined together; and
• Figures 7 and 8 show, as a sectional view in the direction of the shorter side of the elements, how two adjacent wall elements included in the wall structure according to the invention and provided with second alternative bend structures are joined together.

[0015] The reference number 1 in the drawings refers to a surface plate element forming the outer surface of a wall element. One of its edges of the longer side forms a bend 1a and similarly the other edge of the longer side forms a bend 1b. The bends act as vertical stiffeners of the wall element and are arranged so that bend 1a forms a ridge-like protrusion 1c at the edge of one side of the wall element, whereas bend 1b forms a recess 1d at the edge of the other side of the wall element. The protrusion 1c and the recess 1d are arranged at a distance from the inner surface of the wall element so that a space of suitable size remains between them, in which space a separate support element 2, which stiffens the surface plate element 1 in the lateral direction, is installed. Moreover, the protrusion 1c and recess 1d are dimensioned so that an insulation element 3 to be installed on top of the support element 2 fits into the inside recess of the protrusion 1c. Thus, the insulation element 3 partially overlaps the support element 2, which is advantageous in view of holding the structure together as well as regarding fire safety. Thereby, the elements 1, 2 and 3 may be secured to one another by gluing without any substantial risk of the whole structure falling apart in the event of fire, even if the glue layer should burn away.

[0016] Figures 2 and 3 show how two adjacent, structurally coinciding wall elements 1 and 1' of the wall structure are joined together by utilising bends 1a and 1b' at the edge of their respective longer sides. The bends comprise surfaces 1e and 1f', which are slightly sloped in order to wedge the bends into each other and thus facilitate the installation of the wall elements. The protrusion 1c and recess 1d' are mutually dimensioned and shaped so that they settle tightly inside each other. In this way, a continuous fire-resistant wall structure is provided. The bends 1a and 1b' may, if so desired, be further joined together by screws 4, but this is not necessary for holding the structure together, but more or less a precautionary measure.

[0017] Figures 5 and 6 show one modification, and figures 7 and 8 another modification, of the bends in the wall structure shown in figures 2 and 3 and how adjacent wall elements provided with the modified bend structures are joined together. Also in these bend solutions one of the longer sides is provided with two recesses 1g and 1h arranged successively in the direction of the normal of the wall element, between which recesses there is a ridge-like protrusion 1c and which, unlike in the solution according to figures 2 and 3, overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend. Similarly, the other longer side is provided with two protrusions 1i' and 1j' dimensioned so as to coincide with said recesses 1g and 1h, between which protrusions there is a recess 1d' and which overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend. Figures 5 and 6, and on the other hand figures 7 and 8, illustrate mutually alternative ways to provide the overlapping of the recesses and protrusions. These overlaps may preferably be dimensioned so that the mutual overlapping of two protrusions 1i' and 1j' or two recesses 1g and 1h of the same bend is about 5 - 10 mm, as shown in figures 5 and 7, whereby the distance between the protrusion 1i' and the adjacent recess 1d', or correspondingly between 1c and 1g, is about 20 - 25 mm at most.

[0018] The surface plate element may preferably be made of e.g. sheet steel. As shown in the figures, the support element may, in a manner known per se, be made of corrugated sheet, whereby the structure may be kept thin and lightweight. Depending on the application and the required strength of the wall, their overall thickness may preferably be as small as 5 - 10 mm. In the manner shown in figure 1, the surface plate element may preferably be bent also at its shorter sides to cover the structure. As regards the insulation plate 3, it may be made of any soft material, which is adequate in view of fire safety and preferably also provided with good sound insulating properties. The material may advantageously be for instance rock wool and the thickness of the layer typically about 10 mm. Naturally, both fire safety and sound insulation are improved, if two or more superimposed insulating layers are used.

[0019] Due to the solidity and lightness of the wall elements of the described wall structure, they are easy to prefabricate and move to the construction site and further assemble there to form the wall structure, which tends to reduce the costs and speed up the erection stage.

[0020] The invention is not limited to the shown embodiment, but several variations are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wall structure made of fire-resistant material comprising at least two mainly rectangular panel-like wall elements, which are adapted to be joined together by means of their longer sides and which comprise a surface plate element (1, 1') as well as a support element (2, 2') and an insulation element (3, 3'), which are to be attached thereto, whereby the longer sides of the wall elements are provided with bends (1a, 1b, 1b') formed of the edges of the surface plate element, which comprise a groove-like recess (1d, 1d') at one of the longer sides, and a ridge-like protrusion (1c) at the other longer side, which protrusion is dimensioned so as to coincide with said recess, said recess (1d, 1d') and protrusion (1c) being in the direction of the normal of the wall element arranged at a distance from the level of the inner wall of the surface plate element (1, 1'), characterised in that the support element (2, 2') is arranged to be installed in the space between the surface plate element (1, 1') and said recess (1d, 1d') and protrusion (1c), and that the width of said recess (1d, 1d') and protrusion (1c) in the direction of the normal of the wall element is selected so that an insulation element (3, 3') can be installed on top of the support element (2, 2',), partially in the recess formed by the inner surface of the protrusion (1c), so that it is located in a partially overlapping position with respect to said support element (2, 2').

2. A wall structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the size of said overlapping portion is at least about 15 mm, most preferably even more, so that a fire-technically advantageous structure is provided.

3. A wall structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one of the mutually cooperating overlapping surfaces (1e, 1f, 1f') of said recess (1d, 1d') and of said protrusion (1c) are slightly sloped so that they guide the wall elements into each other in a wedge like manner.

4. A wall structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bends (1a, 1b, 1b') of the wall element comprise at one of the longer sides two recesses (1g, 1h) arranged successively in the direction of the normal of the wall element, between which recesses there is a ridge-like protrusion (1c) and which overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend, and that the other longer side is provided with two corresponding ridge-like protrusions (1i', 1j') dimensioned so as to coincide with said recesses, between which protrusions there is a recess (1d') and which overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the bend.

5. A wall structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (2, 2') and the insulation element (3, 3') are arranged along the whole width of the inner surfaces of the edge bends (1a, 1b 1b') of the surface plate element (1, 1').

6. A wall structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the surface plate element (1,-1'), the support element (2, 2') and the insulation element (3, 3') are joined together by gluing.

7. A mainly rectangular panel-like wall element as defined in a wall structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that its longer sides are provided with bends (1a, 1b) formed of the edges of the surface plate element (1), which bends are shaped and dimensioned as defined in one or several of the preceding claims so that the wall element can be mounted so as to form a part of the wall structure defined in the claims.

8. A mainly rectangular panel-like wall element as defined in a wall structure according to claim 1, characterised in that its longer sides are provided with bends (1a, 1b) formed of the edges of the surface plate element (1), which are shaped so as to act as vertical stiffeners of the wall element and together with the surface plate element (1) provides the vertical stiffening of the wall element as required.

Ansprüche

1. Wandstruktur aus feuerbeständigem Material, die mindestens zwei hauptsächlich rechteckige tafelartige Wandelemente umfasst, die dafür beschaffen sind, an ihren längeren Seiten miteinander verbunden zu werden, und die ein Oberflächenplattenelement (1, 1') sowie ein Stützelement (2, 2') und ein Isolierelement (3, 3'), die daran befestigt werden sollen, umfassen, wobei die längeren Seiten der Wandelemente mit Biegungen (1a, 1b 1b') versehen sind, die aus den Kanten des Oberflächenplattenelements gebildet sind, die eine nutartige Ausnehmung (1d, 1d') in einer der längeren Seiten und einen passfederartigen Vorsprung (1c) an der anderen längeren Seite umfassen, wobei dieser Vorsprung so bemessen ist, dass er mit der Ausnehmung zusammenpasst, wobei die Ausnehmung (1d, 1d') und der Vorsprung (1c) in der Richtung der Normalen des Wandelements verlaufen und in einem Abstand von der Ebene der Innenwand des Oberflächenplattenelements (1, 1') angeordnet sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Stützelement (2, 2') dafür konfiguriert ist, in dem Raum zwischen dem Oberflächenplattenelement (1, 1') und der Ausnehmung (1d, 1d') und dem Vorsprung (1c) installiert zu werden, und dass die Breite der Ausnehmung (1d, 1d') und des Vorsprungs (1c) in der Richtung der Normalen des Wandelements so gewählt ist, dass ein Isolierelement (3, 3') auf dem Stützelement (2, 2'), teilweise in der Ausnehmung, die durch die Innenfläche des Vorsprungs (1c) gebildet wird, so installiert werden kann, dass es sich in einer teilweise überlappenden Position mit Bezug auf das Stützelement (2, 2') befindet.

2. Wandstruktur nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Größe des überlappenden Abschnitts mindestens etwa 15 mm, ganz besonders bevorzugt noch mehr, beträgt, so dass eine brandtechnisch vorteilhafte Struktur entsteht.

3. Wandstruktur nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens eine der miteinander zusammenwirkenden überlappenden Flächen (1e, 1f, 1f') der Ausnehmung (1d, 1d') und des Vorsprungs (1c) geringfügig geneigt sind, so dass sie die Wandelemente keilartig ineinander führen.

4. Wandstruktur nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Biegungen (1a, 1b, 1b') des Wandelements auf einer der längeren Seiten zwei Ausnehmungen (1g, 1h) umfassen, die hintereinander in der Richtung der Normalen des Wandelements angeordnet sind, wobei zwischen diesen Ausnehmungen ein passfederartiger Vorsprung (1c) angeordnet ist, und die einander in der Längsrichtung der Biegung überlappen, und dass die andere längere Seite mit zwei entsprechenden passfederartigen Vorsprüngen (1i', 1j') versehen ist, die so bemessen sind, dass sie mit den Ausnehmungen zusammenpassen, wobei zwischen diesen Vorsprüngen eine Ausnehmung (1d') angeordnet ist, und die einander in der Längsrichtung der Biegung überlappen.

5. Wandstruktur nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Stützelement (2, 2') und das Isolierelement (3, 3') entlang der gesamten Breite der Innenflächen der Kantenbiegungen (1a, 1b, 1b') des Oberflächenplattenelements (1, 1') angeordnet sind.

6. Wandstruktur nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Oberflächenplattenelement (1, 1'), das Stützelement (2, 2') und das Isolierelement (3, 3') miteinander verleimt sind.

7. Hauptsächlich rechteckiges, tafelartiges Wandelement, das in einer Wandstruktur nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche ausgebildet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass seine längeren Seiten mit Biegungen (1a, 1b) versehen sind, die aus den Kanten des Oberflächenplattenelements (1) gebildet sind, wobei diese Biegungen, wie in einem oder mehreren der vorangehenden Ansprüche definiert, so geformt und bemessen sind, dass das Wandelement so montiert werden kann, dass es einen Teil der in den Ansprüchen definierten Wandstruktur bildet.

8. Hauptsächlich rechteckiges, tafelartiges Wandelement, das in einer Wandstruktur nach Anspruch 1 ausgebildet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass seine längeren Seiten mit Biegungen (1a, 1b) versehen sind, die aus den Kanten des Oberflächenplattenelements (1) gebildet sind, die so geformt sind, dass sie als vertikale Versteigungselemente des Wandelements wirken und zusammen mit dem Oberflächenplattenelement (1) in der benötigten Weise die vertikale Versteifung des Wandelements bildet.

Revendications

1. Structure de cloison constituée d'un matériau résistant au feu, comprenant au moins deux éléments de cloison rectangulaires du genre cloison, qui sont adaptés pour être reliés entre eux par leurs côtés plus longs et qui comprennent un élément de plaque de surface (1, 1'), ainsi qu'un élément de support (2, 2') et un élément isolant (3, 3'), destinés à être fixés à celui-ci, les côtés les plus longs des éléments de cloison étant pourvus de courbures (1a, 1b, 1b') formées par les bords de l'élément de plaque de surface, qui comportent un renfoncement du genre rainure (1d, 1d') sur l'un des deux côtés les plus longs, et une protrusion du genre saillie (1c) sur l'autre des côtés les plus longs, ladite protrusion étant dimensionnée de manière à coïncider avec ledit renfoncement, ledit renfoncement (1d, 1d') et ladite protrusion (1c) étant disposés à une certaine distance du niveau de la paroi intérieure de l'élément de plaque de surface (1, 1') dans la direction de la normale de l'élément de cloison, caractérisée en ce que l'élément de support (2, 2') est conçu pour être installé dans l'espace entre l'élément de plaque de surface (1, 1') et ledit renfoncement (1d, 1d') et ladite protrusion (1c), et en ce que la largeur dudit renfoncement (1d, 1d') et de ladite protrusion (1c) dans la direction de la normale de l'élément de cloison étant sélectionnée de manière à ce qu'un élément isolant (3, 3') puisse être installé en haut de l'élément de support (2, 2'), partiellement dans le renfoncement formé par la surface intérieure de la protrusion (1c), de sorte qu'il se trouve dans une position partiellement chevauchante par rapport audit élément de support (2, 2').

2. Structure de cloison selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la taille de ladite portion chevauchante est d'au moins environ 15 mm, de préférence supérieure, de manière à fournir une structure techniquement avantageuse contre le feu.

3. Structure de cloison selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce qu'au moins l'une des surfaces dudit renfoncement (1d, 1d') et de ladite protrusion (1c), qui coopèrent en se chevauchant mutuellement (1^e, 1f, 1f'), sont légèrement inclinées, de façon à guider les éléments de cloison les uns dans les autres, à la manière d'un biseau.

4. Structure de cloison selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que les courbures (1a, 1b, 1b') de l'élément de cloison comprennent deux renfoncements (1g, 1h) sur l'un de leurs côtés les plus longs, disposés successivement dans la direction de la normale de l'élément de cloison, renfoncements entre lesquels se trouve une protrusion du genre saillie (1c) et qui se chevauchent entre eux dans le sens longitudinal de la courbure, et en ce que l'autre des côtés les plus longs est pourvu de deux protrusions correspondantes (1i', 1j') du genre saillies, dimensionnées de façon à coïncider avec lesdits renfoncements, protrusions entre lesquelles se trouve un renfoncement (1d') et qui se chevauchent entre elles dans le sens longitudinal de la courbure.

5. Structure de cloison selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que l'élément de support (2, 2') et l'élément isolant (3, 3') sont disposés le long de toute la largeur des surfaces intérieures des courbures de bord (1a, 1b, 1b') de l'élément de plaque de surface (1, 1').

6. Structure de cloison selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que l'élément de plaque de surface (1, 1'), l'élément de support (2, 2') et l'élément isolant (3, 3') sont reliés entre eux par collage.

7. Elément essentiellement rectangulaire du genre panneau, tel que défini dans une structure de cloison selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ses côtés les plus longs sont pourvus de courbures (1a, 1b) formées par les bords de l'élément de plaque de surface (1), lesdites courbures étant formées et dimensionnées de la manière définie dans l'une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, de sorte que l'élément de cloison puisse être monté de manière à former une partie de la structure de cloison définie dans les revendications.

8. Elément essentiellement rectangulaire du genre panneau, tel que défini dans une structure de cloison selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ses côtés les plus longs sont pourvus de courbures (1a, 1b) formées par les bords de l'élément de plaque de surface (1), qui sont formées de manière à agir comme des raidisseurs verticaux de l'élément de cloison et à assurer, ensemble avec l'élément de plaque de surface (1), la rigidité verticale souhaitée de l'élément de cloison.

Drawing