PREFABRICATED PANEL

Abstract

 A panel (10) for prefabricated buildings, which comprises:
- a metal frame (11),
- a reinforced concrete slab (12), the slab (12) being within the frame (11),
- a plurality of structural reinforcement and support elements (13), each of the structural reinforcement and support elements (13) extending from one side of the frame (11) toward the opposite side, the structural reinforcement and support elements (13) being embedded in the reinforced concrete slab (12);
the panel (10) comprises a layer/seal (30) interposed between the frame (11) and the slab (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a panel for prefabricated buildings.

[0002] The invention can be applied in construction, for building residential, industrial and commercial buildings.

[0003] Prefabrication is a construction process wherein the elements of a construction project are made industrially, on-site or at the factory, and then mounted directly on-site, with pre-established procedures.

[0004] Nowadays, this process is widely used in much of the world, because it enables faster construction times, and consequently faster delivery to the commissioning client, with respect to more traditional and craft-based construction techniques.

[0005] Panels exist on the market for prefabricated buildings which comprise a reinforced concrete slab.

[0006] Usually these panels are made by associating a frame, made with steel profiles, with the reinforced concrete slab.

[0007] To do this, a concrete casting is performed directly inside the frame, from which a plurality of wings extend which are adapted to be embedded in the concrete in order to create an association between the frame and the slab.

[0008] The layer of reinforced concrete is optionally associated with a layer of thermal insulation, for example of expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is adapted to generate thermal insulation between the inside and the outside of the building.

[0009] Such conventional techniques have a number of drawbacks.

[0010] The law currently in force, known as the 2008 Technical Standards for Construction, in fact require prefabricated panels with a reinforced concrete slab to have a thickness equal to at least 1/20th of its height, for it to be considered a structural bracing element and to meet the criteria for seismic safety.

[0011] These aspects result in the manufacture of panels that are very heavy and cumbersome; consider that for a panel 300 cm high it is necessary to have a reinforced concrete slab 15 cm thick.

[0012] This has resulted in considerable manufacturing costs, owing to the amount of material used, and considerable costs of transporting the panels from the warehouse to the site, owing to the space occupation and weight.

[0013] In order to overcome such drawbacks, the prefabricated panel of Italian patent no. 102019000001041 in the name of Mauro Pizzolato, for example, is known.

[0014] This panel comprises:

• a metal frame,
• a reinforced concrete slab within the frame,
• a plurality of structural reinforcement and support elements, each of which extends from one side of the frame toward the opposite side, and which are embedded in the reinforced concrete slab.

[0015] This prefabricated panel, although it has met with enormous commercial success, does have some aspects that show room for improvement, however.

[0016] In fact this panel, although it has a considerable strength if subjected to static loads, can experience breakage in the event of seismic forces, in that the high rigidity of the structure can prevent a sufficient dissipation of seismic energy.

[0017] The aim of the present invention is to provide a panel for prefabricated buildings which is capable of improving the prior art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0018] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a panel for prefabricated buildings that offers greater resistance to breakage with respect to similar, conventional panels, if subjected to seismic events.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a panel for prefabricated buildings that has a high resistance to static loads and at the same time allows the dissipation of seismic energy in the event of seismic events.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art in an alternative manner to any existing solutions.

[0021] Another object of the invention is to provide a panel for prefabricated buildings that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0022] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a panel for prefabricated buildings which comprises:

• a metal frame,
• a reinforced concrete slab, said slab being within said frame,
• a plurality of structural reinforcement and support elements, each of said structural reinforcement and support elements extending from one side of said frame toward the opposite side, said structural reinforcement and support elements being embedded in said reinforced concrete slab,

said panel being characterized in that it comprises a layer/seal interposed between said frame and said slab.

[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the panel for prefabricated buildings according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

• Figure 1 is an overall view of a panel for prefabricated buildings according to the invention,
• Figure 2 is a detailed view of the structure of Figure 1,
• Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the structure of Figure 1,
• Figure 4 is a view of a detail of the structure of Figure 1,
• Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the structure of Figure 1,
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the panel of Figure 1.

[0024] With reference to the figures, a panel for prefabricated buildings, according to the invention, is generally designated by the reference number 10.

[0025] The panel 10 for prefabricated buildings comprises:

• a metal frame 11,
• a reinforced concrete slab 12 within the frame 11,
• a plurality of structural reinforcement and support elements 13.

[0026] The slab 12 comprises a metal mesh 20 that is electrowelded and, as shown in Figure 5, embedded in the concrete.

[0027] The link of this mesh 20 has a substantially square profile and measures 10 mm on a side.

[0028] The mesh 20 is not welded to the frame 11, during the manufacturing of the panel, before performing the concrete casting.

[0029] The frame 11 has sides made with C-shaped steel profiles 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b.

[0030] In particular, the profiles that constitute the sides of the frame are in mirror-symmetrical pairs, respectively 14a and 14b, 15a and 15b.

[0031] The wings of the C-shape of each profile 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b extend in the direction of the profile, respectively 14b, 14a, 15b, 15a, that forms the opposite side of the frame 11.

[0032] Both on the wings and on the core of each C-shaped profile 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b there is a plurality of through openings and/or holes 16 which are adapted for the insertion of means for connection to other panels and/or construction elements, not shown in the figures.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a panel 10 during production, before casting the slab 12.

[0034] One of the peculiarities of the invention consists in the presence of a plurality of these structural reinforcement and support elements 13.

[0035] These elements 13 are welded to the frame 11.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a structural reinforcement and support element 13.

[0037] The element 13 is substantially C-shaped in profile with the ends 17a, 17b of the wings 18a, 18b tending to converge.

[0038] Such structural reinforcement and support element 13 is constituted by a drawn metal part for the construction sector, having a substantially circular cross-section, such as for example a round bar for reinforced concrete and/or a ribbed reinforcing rod, shaped as shown in Figure 4.

[0039] Each one of these elements 13 extend from one side of the frame 11 toward the opposite side, and are embedded in the slab 12.

[0040] Another peculiarity of the invention consists in the presence of a layer/seal 30 interposed between the frame 11 and the slab 12.

[0041] In particular the stiffening and support elements 13 pass through the thickness of such layer/seal 30.

[0042] Such layer/seal 30 is made of a material adapted to dissipate any seismic energy originating from the deformation of the reinforcement and support elements 13.

[0043] The layer/seal 30 is, preferably, made of elastic material such as a polyethylene tape, with a thickness preferably comprised between 3 mm and 10 mm.

[0044] Advantageously, the layer 30 extends along the entire internal perimeter of the frame 11, fully surrounding the perimeter of the slab 12.

[0045] In particular, each substantially C-shaped structural reinforcement and support element 13 is associated with the respective profile 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b of the frame 11, at its core 19.

[0046] The length of the core 19 of the C-shape of the element 13 is in the order of 100 mm.

[0047] The wings 18a, 18b of the C-shape of the element 13 have a length in the order of 350 mm.

[0048] The substantially circular section of the element 13 has a diameter of 8 mm.

[0049] Preferably, all the cores 19 of the elements 13 are coplanar with and parallel to the planes identified by the corresponding wings of the mutually opposite profiles 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b.

[0050] The angle comprised between each wing 18a, 18b and the respective end 17a, 17b is in the order of 145°.

[0051] The presence of these elements 13 makes it possible to render the slab 12 a structural bracing element of the building, with a thickness less than that required by current regulations, i.e. 1/20th of the height.

[0052] In the event of an earthquake, the interaction between the deformation of the reinforcement and support elements 13 and the presence of the layer/seal 30, between the frame 11 and the slab 12, makes it possible to dissipate the seismic energy, so giving the panel a greater resistance to dynamic loads with respect to similar, conventional panels.

[0053] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a panel for prefabricated buildings that offers greater resistance to breakage with respect to similar, conventional panels, if subjected to seismic events.

[0054] According to the invention a panel for prefabricated buildings has been devised that has a high resistance to static loads and at the same time allows the dissipation of seismic energy in the event of seismic events.

[0055] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0056] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0057] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102023000009924 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0058] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A panel (10) for prefabricated buildings, which comprises:

- a metal frame (11),

- a reinforced concrete slab (12), said slab (12) being within said frame (11),

- a plurality of structural reinforcement and support elements (13), each of said structural reinforcement and support elements (13) extending from one side of said frame (11) toward the opposite side, said structural reinforcement and support elements (13) being embedded in said reinforced concrete slab (12),

said panel being characterized in that it comprises a layer/seal (30) interposed between said frame (11) and said slab (12).

2. The panel (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said stiffening and support elements (13) pass through the thickness of said layer/seal (30).

3. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said layer/seal (30) is made of elastic material.

4. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said layer/seal (30) extends along the entire inner perimeter of said frame (11), entirely surrounding the perimeter of said slab (12).

5. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slab (12) comprises an electrowelded mesh (20).

6. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said structural reinforcement and support elements (13) has a substantially C-shaped profile in which the ends (17a, 17b) of the wings (18a, 18b) tend to converge.

7. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said structural reinforcement and support elements (13) is constituted by a drawn metal part for the construction sector, having a substantially circular cross-section.

8. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame (11) has sides made with C-shaped steel profiles (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b), said profiles being mirror-symmetrical in pairs, the wings of said C-shape of each of said profiles (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) extending in the direction of another of said profiles (14b, 14a, 15b, 15a) which forms the opposite side of said frame (11).

9. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of through openings and/or holes (16) is present both on the wings and on the core of each of said C-shaped profiles (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b).

10. The panel (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slab (12) has a thickness of less than 1/20th of its height.

Drawing