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(11) | EP 0 605 905 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Floor system |
| (57) A floor system comprises a number of vertical supports (3) to be fixedly disposed
in a chosen pattern on a substantially horizontal bearing surface (2); a number of
steel floor plate elements (4) supported at their edges by these supports, wherein
adjoining elements are mutually coupled by co-acting coupling edges, which coupling
edges all have a profile form increasing the bending stiffness in lengthwise direction,
between which coupling edges of an element a profile form is present increasing the
bending stiffness in transverse direction, around which floor plate elements is arranged
a common standing peripheral edge such that this edge forms the standing walls of
a tray, the combined floor plate elements of which form the bottom, which tray is
filled with a hardened filling mass, the top surface of which forms the floor surface
of the floor system. |
[0001] The invention relates to a floor system. A floor system is known wherein a covering floor is supported at a distance by a bearing surface, for example the concrete floor in an office space. Such floors are very suitable for invisible incorporation of tubes, pipes, cables and leads.
[0002] An object of the invention is to provide a floor system which can offer a very high quality with simple means. To this end the invention provides a floor system, comprising:
a number of vertical supports to be fixedly disposed in a chosen pattern on a substantially horizontal bearing surface;
a number of steel floor plate elements supported at their edges by these supports, wherein adjoining elements are mutually coupled by co-acting coupling edges, which coupling edges all have a profile form increasing the bending stiffness in lengthwise direction, between which coupling edges of an element a profile form is present increasing the bending stiffness in transverse direction, around which floor plate elements is arranged a common standing peripheral edge such that this edge forms the standing walls of a tray, the combined floor plate elements of which form the bottom, which tray is filled with a hardened filling mass, the top surface of which forms the floor surface of the floor system.
[0003] The system preferably has the feature that the tray is liquid-tight and that the filling mass is introduced into the tray in liquid state and subsequently hardened and that the tray can be walked on prior to the introduction of the filling mass. This embodiment has the great advantage that the filling mass applied in liquid form forms itself into a completely horizontal floor surface that can be walked on. The system according to the invention is thus self-levelling.
[0004] A very suitable choice is that wherein the filling mass contains a substantially non-shrink binder, for example a suitable type of cement, plaster, anhydrite, plastic, bitumen, latex. The filling mass is related to concrete but has a considerably greater bending-tensile strength.
[0005] In order to counter contact noise as far as possible the system can display the feature that the supports are supported by vibration-damping cushions.
[0006] This embodiment can advantageously have the special feature that the cushions contain rubber, for example in the form of granulated tyres.
[0007] The system according to the invention also lends itself very well to sub-division of the floor into a number of portions mechanically separated from each other, whereby vibrations and sound transfer cannot occur. For this purpose the system can have the characteristic that the floor system has an division, for example a saw-cut, which extends over the whole length or breadth and which is filled with a flexible mass.
[0008] In a further development this embodiment can have the feature that a standing wall resting on the floor surface is situated on either side of the division, which two walls together bound a cavity. Two or more room areas mutually separated acoustically are thus obtained. The sound transmission through the two walls and the cavity bounded thereby can be improved further if per se known damping material such as mineral wool is arranged in the cavity.
[0009] For related technical reasons the system according to the invention can display the feature that the peripheral edge connects via a flexible strip to the wall of a room area in which the system is assembled.
[0010] In respect of the three above mentioned embodiments it is further noted that the divisions filled with a flexible mass or a flexible strip can also serve as expansion joint. In cases where considerable temperature variations can occur, this can be a very suitable means to compensate for thermal expansion phenomena.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment the system has the characteristic that each floor plate element has complementary coupling edges on both longitudinal sides. This embodiment is so advantageous because use can substantially be made in this embodiment of only one type of floor plate element which can be mutually coupled with their complementary coupling edges.
[0012] An embodiment is conceivable in which the peripheral edge is formed by peripheral edge parts formed on the floor plate elements. Preferably however the system has the feature that the peripheral edge is formed by mutually connecting peripheral edge elements.
[0013] This variant can have the characteristic that a peripheral edge element is supported by supports and is coupled substantially with bending stiffness to each adjoining floor plate element. By using separate peripheral edge elements a very easy and flexible adaption to the available space can be obtained. The above stated criterium that the formed tray must be liquid-tight must of course also be complied with in this case when using filler to be introduced in liquid form.
[0014] Partly with regard to the possible corrosion by moisture in the filler the system can advantageously have the characteristic that each floor plate element is provided with a corrosion-resistant covering layer, for example a plastic layer or a layer of galvanically applied zinc.
[0015] Finally, the invention also relates to components for a floor system as specified above and in the annexed claims. In particular these components can be floor plate elements and peripheral edge elements.
[0016] The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing. Herein:
figure 1 shows a partly broken away perspective view of a floor according to the invention;
figure 2 shows the detail II of figure 1 on a larger scale;
figure 3 shows a partly broken away perspective view of a floor according to the invention, with emphasis on the connection thereof to existing walls;
figure 4 shows a cross section through a floor according to the invention, on which walls extending in lengthwise direction are placed in a sound-insulating configuration; and
figure 5 shows a longitudinal section through a construction related to figure 4.
[0017] Figure 1 shows a floor system according to the invention. This comprises a number of vertical supports 3 fixedly arranged in a chosen pattern on a substantially horizontal bearing surface 2.
[0019] The floor system also comprises a number of steel floor plate elements 4 supported on their edges by these supports 3, wherein adjoining elements 4 are mutually coupled with co-acting coupling edges 25, 26, which coupling edges all have a profile form increasing the bending stiffness in lengthwise direction, as is clearly shown in figure 2. A dam wall profile 5 increasing the bending stiffness in transverse direction is situated between these coupling edges 25, 26 of an element (see also figure 3). A common standing peripheral edge 6 is arranged around the placed floor plate elements (see in particular figure 3), such that this edge 6 forms the standing walls of a tray, the bottom of which is formed by the combined floor plate elements 4. An assembled tray is filled with liquid non-shrink mortar, the top surface of which forms the floor surface after hardening.
[0020] The supports 3 are supported by vibration-damping cushions 7 which contain rubber, for example granulated tyres.
[0021] Figure 3 shows three respective walls 8, 9, 10 of a space in which the system 1 is placed. The standing edge 6 rests against the wall 8 via a flexible strip 11. The edge 6 here forms part of an edge element 12 which makes a liquid-tight connection via a sealing cushion 13 to the relevant plate element 4 by means of nails 14. Other fastening elements which can be arranged from the top are suitable such as self-tapping screws or the like.
[0022] Another part of the standing edge 6 connects to the wall 9 via the strip 11. Here the standing edge 6 forms part of an edge element 15 that likewise makes a liquid-tight connection via a sealing cushion 16 to the plate element lying thereunder.
[0023] Also connecting to the wall 10 via the flexible strip 11 is a part of the standing edge 6, which forms part of an edge element which in this embodiment is identical to the edge element 12 and is therefore designated with the same reference numeral.
[0025] What is essential is that the tray formed by the plate elements 4 and the edge elements 12, 15 with the standing edge 6 can be walked on and is liquid-tight, since otherwise problems can occur when the liquid mortar (or other suitable poured floor mortar) is introduced. Figure 2 shows the manner in which the coupling edges 25, 26 are formed such that they make a mutual liquid-tight connection. The coupling edge 25 has a downward extending portion 18, a horizontal portion 19, a vertical portion 20 and a portion 21 bent through 180° with an aligning edge. A rubber sealing strip 22 is situated between the portions 20 and 21. The coupling edge 26 comprises a downward extending portion 23, a horizontal portion 24 and a vertically upward extending portion 27 having a length such that it can sealingly co-act with the sealing strip 22.
[0026] As figure 2 clearly shows, the configuration of the mutually coupled coupling edges 25, 26 is such that they can be collectively supported by a saddle 28 with a form adapted to the shape of the parts 26, 24, 25, 18. A sufficient compression of the sealing strip 22 takes place due to the weight of the applied mortar so that a complete seal is ensured. It will be apparent that the sealing function is only required during the pouring of liquid mortar.
[0027] Figure 4 shows a floor system 29 of the type shown in the preceding figures which is provided however with an division 29 formed by a saw-cut, in which a flexible strip 31 is arranged. On either side of the saw-cut 29 is placed a wall 31 respectively 32. Together these walls form a cavity. As a result of this construction the spaces on either side of the wall construction 31, 32 are acoustically very well insulated from each other. In the embodiment according to figure 4 the saw-cut 29 extends in the lengthwise direction of plate elements 4, thus parallel to coupling edges 25, 26.
[0028] Figure 5 shows a variant in which the saw-cut extends transversely thereof, thus parallel to the lengthwise direction of the dam wall profile 5. In order to clarify the functional relationship the saw-cut, the strip arranged therein and the walls are also designated respectively with 29, 30, 31, 32.
1. Floor system, comprising:
a number of vertical supports to be fixedly disposed in a chosen pattern on a substantially horizontal bearing surface;
a number of steel floor plate elements supported at their edges by these supports, wherein adjoining elements are mutually coupled by co-acting coupling edges, which coupling edges all have a profile form increasing the bending stiffness in lengthwise direction, between which coupling edges of an element a profile form is present increasing the bending stiffness in transverse direction, around which floor plate elements is arranged a common standing peripheral edge such that this edge forms the standing walls of a tray, the combined floor plate elements of which form the bottom, which tray is filled with a hardened filling mass, the top surface of which forms the floor surface of the floor system.
a number of vertical supports to be fixedly disposed in a chosen pattern on a substantially horizontal bearing surface;
a number of steel floor plate elements supported at their edges by these supports, wherein adjoining elements are mutually coupled by co-acting coupling edges, which coupling edges all have a profile form increasing the bending stiffness in lengthwise direction, between which coupling edges of an element a profile form is present increasing the bending stiffness in transverse direction, around which floor plate elements is arranged a common standing peripheral edge such that this edge forms the standing walls of a tray, the combined floor plate elements of which form the bottom, which tray is filled with a hardened filling mass, the top surface of which forms the floor surface of the floor system.
2. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tray is liquid-tight and the filling mass is introduced into the tray in liquid
state and subsequently hardened.
3. Floor system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the filling mass contains a substantially non-shrink binder.
4. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the supports are supported by vibration-damping cushions.
5. Floor system as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the cushions contain rubber, for example in the form of granulated tyres.
6. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the floor system has an division, for example a saw-cut, which extends over the whole
length or breadth and which is filled with a flexible mass.
7. Floor system as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a standing wall resting on the floor surface is situated on either side of the division,
which two walls together bound a cavity.
8. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral edge connects via a flexible strip to the wall of a space in which
the system is assembled.
9. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each floor plate element has complementary coupling edges on both longitudinal sides.
10. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral edge is formed by mutually connecting peripheral edge elements.
11. Floor system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a peripheral edge element is supported by supports and is coupled substantially with
bending stiffness to each adjoining floor plate element.
12. Floor system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each floor plate element is provided with a corrosion-resistant covering layer, for
example a plastic layer or a galvanically applied zinc layer.
13. Components for a floor system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, in particular
floor plate elements and peripheral edge elements.