The invention relates to a wall structure comprising panels arranged on top of one another and side by side.
A problem with known wall structures comprising panels fixed to a support structure supporting the wall, such as steel structures or composite columns, is that heavy and long bolts extending over the thickness of the panel are needed. The structure is prone to cause bending forces to the bolts. Sometimes this may cause that panels settle or even collapse. The bending forces focusing to the bolts are significant especially when panels arranged side by side are fixed with a bolt plate held in place by a single bolt that is attached between the panels through a vertical panel seam, i.e. in this case the bolt is not penetrating the panel surface itself. Ongoing tendency towards increasing panel thicknesses is intensifying the problem.
Viewed from a first aspect, there can be provided a wall structure comprising
Thereby a wall structure where at least most of the weight of the panels is transferred through the support structure to the wall support structure so that bending forces exerting to fastening means, such as bolts, extending through the thickness of the composite panel may be limited or even eliminated.
The wall structure is characterised by what is stated in the independent claim. Some other embodiments are characterised by what is stated in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also disclosed in the specification and drawings of this patent application.
In one embodiment, the second attachment part is attached to an upper half of the composite panel, such as to an upper edge area of the composite panel.
An advantage is that the first attachment part placed diagonally upwards from the second attachment part can be attached to the wall support structure prior to the panels above are attached, thus there is much room and good visibility to do the attachment work.
In one embodiment, the first attachment part comprises a mounting hole.
An advantage is that a simple attachment of the support element, optionally detachable attachment, may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the second attachment part is attached to two composite panels having the vertical panel seam therebetween.
An advantage is that a balanced attachment of the support element may be achieved, and the number of the support elements may be reduced.
In one embodiment, the wall support structure comprises connection points arranged on top of one another, and the first attachment part is attached to one of the connection points.
An advantage is that building of the wall structure may be simplified, and the connection points may be provided with threads to enable even more easy assembly.
In one embodiment, a second attachment hole is arranged in the second attachment part, said hole being aligned with the shaft part, and a second fastening means is arranged through the second attachment hole, said second fastening means extending in the vertical panel seam to the wall support structure and fastened thereto.
An advantage is that loosening of the panel from the wall support structure due to e.g. suction effects caused by wind may be limited or completely prevented.
In one embodiment, the wall support structure comprises connection points arranged on top of one another, the first attachment part is attached to one of the connection points, and the second fastening means is attached to another connection point arranged below the connection point to which the first attachment part is fastened.
An advantage is that an easily built and firm wall structure may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the wall support structure comprises columns, such as concrete columns, steel columns or composite columns, and at least one of said columns is carrying least part of the weight of the composite panels.
An advantage is that a simple and low-capex wall structure may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the composite panel comprises a first face skin of sheet metal, a second face skin of sheet metal, and a core arranged between the first face skin and the second face skin.
An advantage is that a light, durable and insulating wall support structure may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the core is of foamed polyurethane.
An advantage is that a panel having good thermal insulation properties may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the core is of polyisocyanurate.
An advantage is that a panel having good thermal insulation properties and excellent fire behaviour may be achieved.
In one embodiment, the core is of mineral wool.
An advantage is that a panel having good thermal insulation properties and excellent fire behaviour may be achieved.
Some embodiments illustrating the present disclosure are described in more detail in the attached drawings, in which
In the figures, some embodiments are shown simplified for the sake of clarity. Similar parts are marked with the same reference numbers in the figures.
The wall structure 100 comprises plurality of composite panels 1 that are arranged on top of one another and side by side. Thus, there is at least one vertical panel seam 2 between the composite panels side by side. The vertical panel seam has a first width w1. This means that said panels are not arranged in contact but there is said first width w1 therebetween. In one embodiment, the width w1 is 20 mm to 50 mm, preferably 30 mm to 40 mm.
Furthermore, there is at least one horizontal panel seam 3 between the composite panels arranged on top of one another. In the horizontal panel seam 3, the panels may be arranged in contact with each other. In one embodiment, a seal or weather strip (not shown) may be arranged in the horizontal panel seam.
In one embodiment, the composite panel 1 comprises a first face skin 15 of sheet metal, a second face skin 16 of sheet metal, and a core 17 arranged between the first face skin and the second face skin.
In one embodiment, the face skins are made of steel.
In one embodiment, the face skins are made of aluminum.
The thickness of the first face skin and the second face skin is typically less than 1 mm, preferably 0,4 mm - 0,7 mm. The total thickness of the composite panel 1 may be e.g. 100 mm - 230 mm.
In one embodiment, the core 17 is of foamed polyurethane (PUR).
In one embodiment, the core 17 is of foamed polyisocyanurate (PIR).
In one embodiment, the core 17 is of mineral wool.
In one embodiment, the wall structure 100 may be a part of façade or a partition wall. The composite panel 1 may thus be a façade cladding panel element or a partition wall panel element.
The wall structure 100 further comprises at least one wall support structure 4, typically plurality of wall support structures, that are arranged for carrying at least part of the weight of the composite panels 1.
In one embodiment, the wall support structure 4 is a column or pillar, such as a concrete column, a steel column or a composite column. In one embodiment, the wall support structure 4 comprises a concrete wall.
The wall structure 100 further comprises at least one support element 5. The support element 5 transmits at least part of the weight of the composite panel 1 to the wall support structure 4. The support element 5 comprises a first attachment part 6 that is attached to the wall support structure 4. The maximum width of the first attachment part 6 is a second width w2 that is not more than the first width w1.
The support element 5 further comprises a second attachment part 7 attached to an outer surface of the composite panel 1, by e.g. fastening means 10, such as one or more screw(s). The second attachment part 7 has a width w3 that is more than the first width w1. Said outer surface is the surface is situated away from the wall support structure 4.
The support element 5 still further comprises a shaft part 8 connecting the first attachment part 6 to the second attachment part 7. The shaft part 8 has a maximum width, i.e. a fourth width w4, that is not more than the first width w1. The shaft part 8, as well as the first attachment part, is arranged in the vertical panel seam 2 such that it extends diagonally downwards from the first attachment part 6 to the second attachment part 7.
In one embodiment, all the parts of the support element 5, i.e. the first attachment part 6, the second attachment part 7 and the shaft part 8 are made of one or more metal plates, such as steel plates. In another embodiment, the support element 5 is a molded element.
In one embodiment, the angle of the diagonal shaft part 8 in relation to the first attachment part 6 is selected in range of 30° - 80°, preferably 40° - 70°. The angle depends on e.g. the panel thickness. In one embodiment where the panel thickness is 230 mm, the angle may be 65°, for instance. The angle of the diagonal shaft part 8 in relation to the second attachment part 7 is at least substantially same as the angle between the shaft part 8 and the first attachment part 6.
In one embodiment, the second attachment part 7 is attached to an upper half of the composite panel 1. In one embodiment, such as shown in
According to an idea, the second attachment part 7 has two functional tasks: firstly, it transmits at least part of the weight of the panel to the wall support structure 4 via the shaft part 8 and the first attachment part 6, and secondly, it prevents together with a second fastening means 12 the panel 1 from loosening or coming off from the wall support structure 4 due to a suction effect caused by wind. Said second fastening means 12 may comprise e.g. a bolt arranged through a second attachment hole 11 and extending in the vertical panel seam 2 to a threaded hole 14 in the wall support structure 4. The second fastening means 12 carries mainly horizontally affecting forces caused by suction effects of wind, but not the weight of the composite panel(s) that would cause bending forces thereto. Thus, the second fastening means may have a light structure.
The second attachment hole 11 is arranged in the second attachment part 7 and aligned with the shaft part 8 as shown in
In one embodiment, the second attachment hole 11 has an elongated shape as shown in
In one embodiment, the lower part of the composite panel 1 is attached to the wall support structure 4 with a third fastening means 18 and a support plate 20. The third fastening means 18 is arranged in the vertical panel seam 2 and the support plate 20 is preferably attached to the composite panel 1 by fastening means 10, such as screws. In one embodiment, the support plate 20 is attached to two composite panels 1 having the vertical panel seam 2 therebetween.
In one embodiment, such as shown in
The third fastening means 18 may have a light structure since it is not carrying the weight of the composite panel (s), at least not much. The weight of the composite panel (s) is carried by the support element (s) 5. The third fastening means 18 carries mainly horizontally affecting forces caused by suction effects of wind.
In one embodiment, also the support element 5 is attached to one of the connection points 13 by the first attachment part 6. In one embodiment, such as shown in the Figures, the first attachment part 6 comprises a mounting hole 9 that is arranged on the third fastening means 18 and fixed to the connection point 13 by a nut 19.
In one embodiment, the connection point 13 comprises an inner thread, and the third fastening means 18 (as well as the second fastening means 12) comprises an external thread that fits to the thread in the connection point 13. The first attachment part 6 having the mounting hole 9 can be arranged on the third fastening means 18 and fixed to the connection point 13 by a nut 19 that match with said external thread. In one embodiment, the second and the third fastening means 12, 18 having the external thread are fully threaded rods.
In one embodiment, the connection point 13 comprises an external thread (not shown), i.e. it may be a threaded rod, for instance. The first attachment part 6 having the mounting hole 9 is fixed to the wall support structure 4 by a socket (not shown) comprising an inner thread that is screwed on the connection point 13. The socket has an excess length of the inner thread not occupied by the external thread of the connection point. The second and the third fastening means 12, 18 may then be fixed to said socket.
In one embodiment, such as shown in
In another embodiment, the connection point 13 to which the second fastening means 12 is fastened serves also as the connection point of the first attachment part of another support element (not shown) arranged below the support element. In other words, the third fastening means 18 of a lower arranged support element may also attach the second attachment part 7 of a higher arranged support element to the wall support structure 4. In this embodiment, the second attachment part 7 functions as the support plate 20 of the composite panel below.
In one embodiment, there may be sections, e.g. near the bottom or top of the wall structure 100, where two or more support elements 5 are installed in succession.
The invention is not limited solely to the embodiments described above, but instead many variations are possible within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims below.
The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. The invention may vary in detail within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the following claims.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.