[0001] The present invention relates to a ceiling system for instance for a lowered ceiling
system consisting of flat profile pieces supporting filter parts, coupling pieces
connecting the profile pieces in airtight manner, suspending means connectable to
the profile pieces and/or the coupling pieces, and locking means for locking the coupling
piece and the profile piece relative to one another.
[0002] For ceiling systems for lowered ceilings used in so-called clean-room technology
strict requirements are laid down in respect of the sealing between outside air side
and clean air side. Because it is important that all air passes through the filters
of the ceiling, air leakages via the ceiling system are not desired.
[0003] Current ceiling systems consist for instance of a number of prefab profiles which
are connected at intersections with each other by means of angle pieces. Air leakage
via the angle pieces is prevented by arranging a mastic between the angle pieces and
the profile extremities. The drawback to such ceiling systems is that they are wholly
prefabricated in production, whereby eventual alterations at the assembly location
are only possible to a very limited extent. In addition the application of the mastic
requires great accuracy during assembly.
[0004] Other systems, which are known for instance from the German utility design 90 02122.3,
make use of identically shaped profile rails with straight extremities which are joined
at intersections by cruciform connecting pieces. For sealing the connecting pieces
have a body core with a bore wherein an add-on piece for receiving a seal is arranged
on the top in the assembled situation. Sealing results in that an insert placed in
a T-shaped groove has a trapezium-shaped groove into which engages a correspondingly
formed rib. The insert has a complicated form and the manufacture thereof therefore
entails relatively high costs and do not make the fixing of the ceiling system any
simpler. Air leakages can moreover still occur.
[0005] The present invention has for its object to provide a ceiling system which consists
of only a limited number of different components, is easily adaptable to a situation
occurring at the assembly location and is simple to assemble, while a simple and certain
sealing is provided.
[0006] This is achieved by the invention by a ceiling system wherein the locking means take
the form of a locking pin engaging in a substantially cylindrical open channel and
provided on its periphery with a sealing ring, and the coupling piece has a portion
complementing the open channel and that in this complementing portion a passage is
provided for a screw bolt engaging in the locking pin.
[0007] The use of a simply formed locking pin in combination with an O-ring facilitates
assembly and moreover reduces costs, whereby the total system can be embodied more
inexpensively, while a very certain sealing is ensured.
[0008] The ceiling system according to the invention comprises universal profile pieces,
three types of coupling piece and universal locking means. The profile pieces are
embodied such that it is possible to adapt them to the dimensions encountered on site
by simply sawing to size.
[0009] The profile pieces are substantially U-shaped, as are the coupling pieces which have
portions which can be arranged clampingly between the legs of the profile pieces in
close-fitting manner. The clampingly arrangable portions are preferably received in
the profile pieces with interposing of a gasket such as a rubber strip. The gasket
may additionally be a sealing material applied by means of immersion or spraying on.
[0010] The open channel is also involved in the suspending of the ceiling system. In this
case a suspending pin is situated in the channel at the position of a suspension point,
which pin is provided with a passage such as a threaded hole for the suspending means.
Because the open channel extends along the entire length of the profile pieces the
position of the suspension points is very flexible. This in contrast to some known
systems wherein the suspension points are fixed.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the coupling pieces are provided with
a passage opening for through-feed, for instance of cables or sprinkler installations.
When a passage opening is not in use as such it is preferably closed off by a cylindrical
insert having legs that run parallel. To remove the insert the flexible legs are pinched
together. The seal between the coupling piece and the insert is ensured by an O-ring
arranged therebetween. The inserts can in addition be adapted for through-feed of
cables and the like.
[0012] Both the profile pieces and the coupling pieces are substantially U-shaped. Due to
the presence of the open channel in the profile pieces and the complementing portion
in the coupling pieces, both are divided into two compartments. The compartments are
filled for instance with vaseline or a gel for receiving the filter sides therein.
[0013] The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the following drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like components and in which:
figure 1 shows a partly broken away perspective view of a ceiling system with filter
panels according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a partly broken away perspective view of a coupling piece according to
the invention;
figures 3a and 3b show two alternative methods for arranging the filter panels in
the ceiling system; and
figures 4a to 4c show three embodiments of inserts for in the coupling piece.
[0014] Figure 1 shows a lowered filter ceiling 1 which consists of filter panels 2, profile
pieces 3 and coupling pieces 4. The profile pieces 3 are substantially U-shaped and
each sub-divided into two compartments 6 and 7 which are filled with a gel 8 into
which the legs 9, 10 of the respective filter panels are received. The gel 8 provides
an airtight seal between the clean air side 12 and the outside air side 11 of the
room area. The profile piece 3 is provided with a substantially open channel 13 in
which is received a suspending rod 14 which is connected to suspending means 16 via
a screw bolt with eye 15. The ceiling further has coupling pieces 4 which are provided
with a fully closed insert 17.
[0015] Figure 2 shows an angle-shaped coupling piece 4 according to the invention. The coupling
piece is provided on its extremities 18 with a gasket 19 for providing an airtight
closure between the coupling piece 4 and profile piece 3. Both pieces are mutually
fixed by means of a locking pin 20 which is received in a substantially open channel
13 which is complemented to a cylinder by the ridge 5 on the coupling piece 4. The
locking pin 20 is provided on its periphery with an O-ring 21. The locking pin 20
contains a passage 22 for receiving screw bolts 26 with interposing of a ring 24.
After assembly the screw bolt 26 is situated in the opening 28 of coupling piece 4.
The compartments 6 and 7 are filled with for instance vaseline or gel prior to arranging
of the filter panels. The ceiling system according to the invention is very suitable
for the use of gel. This in contrast to present systems where the gel, which is poured
into the profile in liquid state, runs out again if the sealing mastic is not properly
applied. The figure further shows the passage opening 39 for instance for cables or
a sprinkler installation.
[0016] Figure 3 shows two alternative possibilities for arranging the filter panels 2. In
both examples compartments 30, 31 which are formed on the filter panel are filled
with gel. It can be seen particularly in figure 3 that in this manner a completely
flat bottom surface of the ceiling results. Figure 3a likewise clearly shows the groove
32 which is arranged in the profile piece 3 and which can for instance be used in
clean room areas to receive partition walls.
[0017] Figure 4 shows three alternative embodiments of insert pieces.
[0018] Figure 4a shows a completely closed insert piece 17 which is provided with parallel
flexible legs 33. On their extremities the legs have protruding portions 34 with which
they are clamped into the passage opening 39. The insert 17 is situated in the passage
opening with interposing of an O-ring 27.
[0019] Figure 4b shows a provision for arranging for instance a sprinkler installation.
A pipe 35 is fixed in the insert 36 by means of an open cap with snap-in fitting 37.
The pipe 35 is received in the coupled insert-snap ring with interposing of a seal
38. The insert piece 36 is received in the passage opening with interposing of an
O-ring 27.
[0020] Finally, figure 4c shows an insert piece 39 provided with screw thread 40 for receiving
a cable coupling 41. The insert piece 39 is received in the passage opening with interposing
of an O-ring 27.
[0021] The present invention therefore provides an easy to assemble ceiling system which
is very flexible in various respects (adaptability, suspending options) and in addition
provides a fully airtight seal between outside air side and clean air side.
1. Ceiling system for instance for a lowered filter ceiling consisting of flat profile
pieces (3) supporting filter parts, coupling pieces (4) connecting the profile pieces
(3) in airtight manner, suspending means (15, 16) connectable to the profile pieces
and/or the coupling pieces, and locking means for locking the coupling piece and the
profile piece relative to one another, characterized in that the locking means take the form of a locking pin (20) engaging in a substantially
cylindrical open channel (13) and provided on its periphery with a sealing ring (21),
and the coupling piece has a portion (5) complementing the open channel and that in
this complementing portion a passage (28) is provided for a screw bolt (26) engaging
in the locking pin.
2. Ceiling system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the profile pieces (3) are substantially U-shaped, and the substantially U-shaped
coupling pieces have portions which can be arranged clampingly between the legs of
the profile pieces in close-fitting manner.
3. Ceiling system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the clampingly arrangable portions are received in the profile pieces with interposing
of a sealing element (19).
4. Ceiling system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the sealing element is a rubber strip.
5. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the coupling piece has a passage opening (39) for an insert piece with interposing
of a sealing ring.
6. Ceiling system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the insert piece is cylindrical and has flexible legs (33) that run parallel.
7. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the U-shaped profile piece has a fixing groove (32) on its side remote from the legs.
8. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the coupling piece is a T-piece.
9. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the coupling piece is an angle piece.
10. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the coupling piece is a cross piece.
11. Ceiling system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that in the open channel (13) a suspending pin (14) is received which is connected to
suspending means (15, 16).