METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A FRAME FOR A HATCH-EQUIPPED WALL OPENING, AS WELL AS FRAME STRUCTURE

Abstract

 A method and a frame structure for an opening to be provided with a hatch (3) and made in a wall (2) constructed from a fire resistant material, said method comprising assembling the frame from one or more frame elements (4) bent from a plate-like metal material extending in a straight condition along a straight section of the opening's edge, said one or more frame elements (4) bent from a metal material comprising a rim portion (5) provided with a first segment settling against a surface of the wall (2), as well as a folding portion (7), which is connected in a bendable manner to the rim portion at least along the frame element's straight-extending section and which is provided with a first segment settling against an opposite surface of the wall, said folding portion being bent, after the frame element has been placed in a wall opening, in such a way that at least one set of clamping holes made in second segments of the rim portion and the folding portion become located sufficiently close to each other for inserting a clamping screw (8) through these holes, said clamping screw serving as a means for forcing said second segments of the rim portion and the folding portion to approach each other, which results in the first segments of the rim portion and the folding portion being pressed against opposite surfaces of the wall for fixing the frame immovably to the wall opening.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to constructing a frame for a hatch intended for an opening made in a wall structure of fire resistant material, as well as to such a frame structure.

[0002] Wall structures of a fire resistant material are commonly employed on sites where the consequences of a fire are more devastating than usual, such as for example in ships and other offshore structures. Typically, such fire resistant wall structures at these sites comprise metal plates which constitute surfaces of the wall structure, and a honeycomb assembly fitted therebetween, said honeycomb assembly being typically formed of sheet metal by bending. Within the wall structure can be further used a separate insulation material.

[0003] In these application sites, the structures are also typically implemented as reasonably compact units for saving space. Hence, in view of various maintenance procedures, the employed fire-resistant wall structures often require various maintenance openings equipped with hatches.

[0004] Such maintenance openings are typically produced by cutting an opening in a metal-framed fireproof wall structure, by framing the opening with a rim or frame made of sheet metal by means of which an openable hatch is fixed to the opening.

[0005] Making and outfitting these openings is typically an arduous undertaking, because it often requires operations from each side of what is oftentimes even an extensive wall structure and frequently the space available for installation procedures may be quite restricted indeed.

[0006] The presently conceived invention offers a solution for mounting a frame to a fire resistant wall, which enables all installation measures to be performed from one side of the wall, thus facilitating, enhancing and expediting the installation procedure and thereby the construction and installation process of a complete wall-including structure, such as a prefabricated cabin unit.

[0007] A method according to the invention of constructing a frame for a hatch-equipped opening made in a wall composed of a fire resistant material comprises assembling the frame from one or more frame elements bent from a plate-like metal material extending in a straight condition along a straight section of the opening's edge, whereby said one or more frame elements bent from a metal material comprise a rim portion, including a first segment placed against a surface of the wall, as well as at least a folding portion, which is connected in a bendable manner to the rim portion along the frame element's straight-extending section, and which includes a first segment placed against an opposite surface of the wall. After placing the frame element in a wall opening, the folding portion is bent in such a way that at least one set of clamping holes provided in a second segment of the rim portion and the folding portion become located sufficiently close to each other for inserting a clamping screw through these holes, said clamping screw providing a means for forcing said second segments of the rim portion and the folding portion to approach each other, resulting in the first segments of the rim portion and the folding portion being pressed against the opposite surfaces of the wall for fixing the frame at its place to the wall opening.

[0008] In one embodiment for a method of the invention, both the rim portion and the folding portion are composed jointly of one plate-like piece of metal material and are connected to each other by way of a hinge fold extending lengthwise of the frame element. This hinge fold preferably comprises a perforation, which facilitates bending of the folding portion relative to the rim portion.

[0009] In one embodiment for a method of the invention, the first and second segments of the rim portion are successive segments and bent relative to each other to a substantially right angle, and the first and second segments of the folding portion are successive segments and bent relative to each other to an angle of more than 90° and less than 180°.

[0010] In one embodiment for a method of the invention, both the rim portion and the folding portion comprise third segments extending from the ends of said second segments at an angle with respect to the second segments, said third segments settling in a substantially parallel relationship with each other and extending towards a middle area of the opening once the frame element has been clamped in place for providing an attachment or support surface for a hatch to be placed in the opening. In this embodiment, the rim portion and the folding portion connect to each other via these third segments.

[0011] In one embodiment for a method of the invention, all actions for placing and clamping said frame consisting of at least one or more frame elements are carried out from one side of the wall provided with an opening.

[0012] The invention offers also a frame structure for an opening made in a wall composed of a fire resistant material, said frame structure being assembled from one or more mutually attached frame elements bent from a plate-like metal material extending in a straight condition along a straight section of the opening's edge. The frame element's straight-extending section comprises a rim portion provided with a first segment settling against a surface of the wall, as well as a folding portion which is connected in a bendable manner to the rim portion and is provided with a first segment settling in the frame element's bent condition against an opposite surface of the wall, and said rim portion and folding portion being provided with second segments, said second segments including at least one set of clamping holes, as well as with a clamping screw connecting the clamping holes to each other in the frame element's bent condition for forcing said second segments to approach each other for clamping the frame structure at its place in the wall opening.

[0013] In one embodiment for a frame structure of the invention, the frame element is composed of one plate-like piece by bending and between the folding portion and the rim portion is provided a hinge fold extending lengthwise of the frame element. The said hinge fold comprises preferably a perforation to facilitate bending of the folding portion relative to the rim portion.

[0014] In one embodiment for a frame structure of the invention, the first and second segments of the frame element's rim portion are successive segments and at a substantially right angle relative to each other, and the first and second segments of the folding portion are successive segments and at an angle of more than 90° and less than 180° relative to each other.

[0015] In one embodiment for a frame structure of the invention, both the rim portion and the folding portion comprise third segments extending from the ends of said second segments at an angle with respect to the second segments, said third segments settling in a substantially parallel relationship with each other and extending towards a middle area of the opening once the frame element has been clamped in place for providing an attachment or support surface for a hatch to be placed in the opening. Thus, these third segments extend from those ends of the second segments which are opposite with respect to the first segments.

[0016] In one embodiment for a frame structure of the invention, the frame structure is a frame structure for an opening in the metal-structured wall of a ship.

[0017] More specifically, the features for a method of the invention have been presented in claim 1, and the features for a frame structure of the invention have been presented in claim 6. Preferred features and embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

[0018] The invention will now be described more precisely by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which

Fig. 1A shows schematically a hatch present in a wall structure and fixed with one frame structure of the invention,

Fig. 1B shows schematically the embodiment of fig. 1A in section,

Fig. 2A shows schematically the frame structure of fig. 1A prior to the fixing operations in a view from the installation direction,

Fig. 2B shows schematically the frame structure of fig. 1A when placed in a wall opening prior to the fixing operations in a view from the direction opposite to the installation direction, and

Figs. 3A-3F show schematically in sectional views the steps of mounting the frame structure of fig. 1A in its place in a wall opening.

[0019] Figs. 1A and 1B show schematically a hatch 3 fixed with a frame structure 1 of the invention to an opening made in a wall 2 constructed from a fire resistant material.

[0020] Such hatch-equipped openings are needed, among others, in the walls of a ship's cabin structures for inspection measures and/or retrofitting operations. Although it is desirable that such openings and hatches be always designed and completed in cabin structures beforehand prior to the installation of prefabricated cabins on board, the subsequent addition of such openings is also necessary for various reasons.

[0021] Figs. 2A and 2B show schematically the embodiment of fig. 1A for a frame structure 1 of the invention. In this embodiment, the frame structure 1 is composed of four separate frame elements 4, which are straight in a longitudinal direction thereof and connected to each other with joint pieces by the ends of the frame elements for providing a unitary frame structure. The separate frame elements 4 are made from sheet metal by cutting and bending. The segment of the frame structure placing itself outwards on an external surface of the wall structure is also preferably coated with an appropriate material for providing a visual effect which is consistent and compatible with a wall surface surrounding the opening.

[0022] The frame structure 1 is composed of frame elements 4 extending in a straight condition along the straight edges of an opening, said straight-extending sections comprising a rim portion 5 and a folding portion 7 connected by way of a hinge fold 6 to the rim portion. The hinge fold 6 is preferably formed in a perforated manner for facilitating manual deflection of the folding portion 7.

[0023] Figs. 3A-3F show schematically in sectional views the stepwise installation of a frame structure according to the invention as shown in figs. 1A-2B.

[0024] Fig. 3A shows a shape of the straight-extending frame elements 4 in a frame structure 1 of the invention as the frame structure is being fitted in an opening made in the wall 2. Fig. 3A also indicates the frame structure installation direction with an arrow.

[0025] The frame structure 1 is first placed in an opening of the wall 2 as presented in fig. 3B, such that the frame structure's rim portion 5 has its outer or first segments settling against a side surface of the wall 2 skirting the opening.

[0026] Next, the folding portions 7, included in the straight-extending frame elements 4 of the frame structure 1 and connected to the rim portion 5 by way of the hinge fold 6, are commenced to be manually bent relative to the rim portion 5 towards the edges of an opening in the wall 2 as presented in fig. 3C.

[0027] The frame structure 1 has its folding portion 7 bent to a sufficient extent relative to the rim portions 5 for the clamping holes formed in the folding portion 7 and in the rim portion 5 to end up sufficiently close to each other for fastening screws 8 to be threaded through these clamping holes, as presented in fig, 3D. It should be noted in this context that sufficient bending of the folding portions 7 achieves sufficient attachment of the complete frame structure 1 to the edges of an opening in the wall 2, such that the frame structure need not be specifically held in place before threading the fastening screws 8 into the clamping holes.

[0028] It is by way of the fastening screws 8 that final tightening of the straight-extending frame elements 4 of frame structure 1 is performed, whereby the rim portion 5 and the folding portion 7 initially approach each other to a position shown in fig. 3E, after which the tightening of the fastening screws 8 is preferably continued further, achieving a tension in the folding portion 7 and especially that a segment of the folding portion 7 settling against a surface of the wall 2 will be pressed firmly against the surface of the wall 2. This enables a tight attachment of the frame structure 1 to the opening, which is particularly important, among others, in a typical vibrating environment aboard ships, especially in consideration of thickness variations resulting from manufacturing tolerances of the walls.

[0029] Once the frame structure 1 is installed in place, it can be adopted for fastening the hatch 3 at its place in an opening made in the wall 2. In this embodiment, the attachment of the hatch 3 is carried out with screws 9 by way of a segment of the frame structure 1 extending towards a middle area of an opening in the wall 2, as can be seen from fig. 3F. Alternatively, depending on the intended use of a hatch, it is also possible to fasten the hatch to the frame structure with appropriate quick coupling elements or in a hinged fashion.

[0030] With regard to the embodiment shown in the figures for a frame structure 1 of the invention, it should be noted, as can be seen particularly from figs. 3A-3F, that the frame structure has the rim portions 5 and the folding portions 7 of its longitudinally straight-extending frame elements 4 at an angle relative to each other via the hinge fold 6 in all steps of installation, which is also the case with internal segments of the rim portions and the folding portions. In other words, the definition of various segments included in a frame structure of the invention requires preferably that the successive segments be at an angle relative to each other in all steps of installation.

[0031] The rim structure according to the invention is also constructed from steel plate by bending, but also other metal materials, such as for example aluminum, can be used as a manufacturing material. The thickness of a plate material is not as such a fundamental issue in terms of the invention as long as it is possible to establish easy flexibility for the folding portion 7 of a frame element 4 with respect to the rim portion 5 whenever the entire frame element 4 is composed of a single piece of metal by bending and perforating.

[0032] The frame elements 4 for a rim structure of the invention can also be composed of two separate pieces of sheet metal for example in such a way that the rim portion 5 and the folding portion 7 are made from separate pieces and those are connected to each other in a bendable manner by using for example appropriate overlapping portions.

[0033] Regarding the embodiment according to the invention discussed above and presented in the figures, it should be noted that it presents just one example for a frame structure of the invention, nor is it intended to limit the invention by any means. The scope of protection for the invention is solely and exclusively defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a frame for an opening equipped with a hatch (3) and made in a wall (2) composed of a fire resistant material, said method comprising assembling the frame from one or more frame elements (4) bent from a plate-like metal material extending in a straight condition along a straight section of the opening's edge, said one or more frame elements (4) bent from a metal material comprising a rim portion (5), including a first segment placed against a surface of the wall (2), as well as at least a folding portion (7), which is connected in a bendable manner to the rim portion along the frame element's straight-extending section, characterized in that the folding portion (7) includes a first segment placed against an opposite surface of the wall, and after placing the frame element in a wall opening, the folding portion is bent in such a way that at least one set of clamping holes provided in a second segment of the rim portion and the folding portion become located sufficiently close to each other for inserting a clamping screw (8) through these holes, said clamping screw providing a means for forcing said second segments of the rim portion and the folding portion to approach each other, resulting in the first segments of the rim portion and the folding portion being pressed against the opposite surfaces of the wall for fixing the frame at its place to the wall opening.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that both the rim portion (5) and the folding portion (7) are composed jointly of one plate-like piece of metal material and are connected to each other by way of a hinge fold (6).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second segments of the rim portion (5) are successive segments and bent relative to each other to a substantially right angle, and that the first and second segments of the folding portion (7) are successive segments and bent relative to each other to an angle of more than 90° and less than 180°.

4. A method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that both the rim portion (5) and the folding portion (7) comprise third segments extending from the ends of said second segments at an angle with respect to the second segments, said third segments settling in a substantially parallel relationship with each other and extending towards a middle area of the opening once the frame element (4) has been clamped in place for providing an attachment or support surface for a hatch (3) to be placed in the opening.

5. A method according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that all actions for placing and clamping said frame consisting of at least one or more frame elements (4) are carried out from one side of the wall (2) provided with an opening.

6. A frame structure (1) for an opening made in a wall (2) composed of a fire resistant material, said frame structure being assembled from one or more mutually attached frame elements (4) bent from a plate-like metal material extending in a straight condition along a straight section of the opening's edge, and the frame element's (4) straight-extending section comprises a rim portion (5) provided with a first segment settling against a surface of the wall, as well as a folding portion(7) which is connected in a bendable manner to the rim portion and is provided with a first segment settling in the frame element's bent condition against an opposite surface of the wall (2), characterized in that the rim portion and folding portion are provided with second segments, said second segments including at least one set of clamping holes, as well as with a clamping screw (8) connecting the clamping holes to each other in the frame element's bent condition for forcing said second segments to approach each other for clamping the frame structure at its place in the wall opening.

7. A frame structure (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the frame element (4) is composed of one plate-like piece by bending and between the folding portion (7) and the rim portion (5) is provided a hinge fold (6).

8. A frame structure (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the first and second segments of the frame element's (4) rim portion (5) are successive segments and at a substantially right angle relative to each other, and the first and second segments of the folding portion (7) are successive segments and at an angle of more than 90° and less than 180° relative to each other.

9. A frame structure (1) according to any of claims 6-8, characterized in that both the rim portion (5) and the folding portion (7) comprise third segments extending from the ends of said second segments at an angle with respect to the second segments, said third segments settling in a substantially parallel relationship with each other and extending towards a middle area of the opening once the frame element has been clamped in place for providing an attachment or support surface for a hatch (3) to be placed in the opening.

10. A frame structure (1) according to any of claims 6-9, characterized in that the frame structure (1) is a frame structure for an opening in the metal-structured wall (2) of a ship.

Drawing