"WALL PANEL STHCTCTUBE PAHHOUIAHLT FOE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION" Technical Field
This invention relates to a wall panel structure particularly for building construction. This wall panel structure is specially suitable for its manufacture by pre-fabrication techniques. Background Art
Wall panel structures have been known in the building art. However, they have some substantial disadvantages which may be summarized as deficiencies of thermal and acoustic insulation and poor versatility in application, especially with regards to their sizing ability.
DISCLOSUHE OF THE INVENTION it is,therefore, the technical aim of this invention to provide a wall panel which can obviate the deficiencies of conventional wall panel structures especially with regard to their requisites for thermal and acoustic insulation. Within the above aim, it is an object of this invention to provide a wall panel structure which may be adapted for a large variety of construction techniques and minimise the components for the erection of buildings. A further object of this invention is to provide a wall panel structure of decreased weight, which affords economies in both materials and labour, and can be easily transported and lifted.
The above aim and objects are achieved by a wall panel structure which is characterized in that it comprises a base panel formed internally with channels
separated by lands, with the exterior whereof there is associated, with an interpositioned layer of insulating material, a plate, at least on the side ends of said panel there being formed openings, for connection means. Advantageously the structure is arranged with the channels extending vertically and the openings distributed in the height direction to permit stirrups hooked on iron bars led through the interiors of said channels to protrude therethrough. BRIEF DESCBIPTIOH OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages and features of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is an elevation view of a wall panel as viewed in the section plane I-I of Figure 2;
Figure 2 is a plan view of that same wall panel; Figure 3 is a view taken in the section plane II-II of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows the connection of two wall panels on a common plane to each other and to a partition wall;
Figure 5 shows the connection of two wall panels lying at an angle to each other; and
Figure 6 shows the connection between two superimposed wall panels.
WAYS OF CARHΪING OUT THE INTENTION With reference to the cited drawing figures, a wall panel according to the invention comprises a base panel 1, formed from a reinforced concrete mix and of two planeparallel slabs or plates 2,3 interconnected by ribs or
lands 4.
The reinforcing network is symbolically indicated in R in Fig. 5.
Between the ribs and plates 2, 3, there are defined vertical channels 5.
The channels extending along the sides of the panel 1 have a smaller cross-sectional area than the middle ones, and for clarity of illustration, they will be identified herein with the numerals 5a,5b. The channels 5a and 5b are open at the opposing heads of the panel 1 by means of outward flaring openings 6a,6b. Where the wall panel is to be connected to partition walls, as shown in Figure 4, the channels 5a and 5b are provided with additional openings which open toward the inner surface of the panel 1 and are indicated at 6c. Associated with the exterior of the panel 1 is a slab or plate 7 of a reinforced concrete mix which, with the plate 3 defines an interspace 8. Hibs 9, disposed at the ribs 4, divide the interspace into plural chambers 8 whereinto a material 10 is introduceable which has good thermal and acoustic insulating properties, e.g. expanded polyurethane. Obviously such an insulating layer may be introduced during the manufacture stage in the case of pre-fabricated panels, or may alternatively be placed in-aitu for example by conventional injection methods, in the case of prefabricated panels or even panels cast in-situ.
The connection between the plates 3 and 7 is accomplished by means of stirrups S led through the ribs 9. The ribs are also formed from an insulating
material and their main function is to delimit at the sides the chambers 8 so that polyurethane may be regularly poured therein.
The external plate 7 is formed after the formation of the base panel structure 2, 3, by placing on the horizontally led external surface of the plate formation 3 parallelepipedal core elements in spaced side by side relationship for temporary filling the spaces of the chambers 8. Between the side edges of the core elements at the gaps where the ribs 9 will be formed, and wherein the stirrups S project insulated material such as vermiculite is put to form the ribs 9. Thereafter, upon positioning of the reinforcing network the concrete of the plate 7 is poured on the cores and ribs 9 and left to harden. Afterwards the core elements are extracted leaving free the chambers 8, and the ribs 9, the chambers 8 being ready to receive polyurethane for the subsequent expansion therein.
It may be appreciated that the wall panel structure described above can perform different functions.
In fact, the panel comprising the two plates 2,3 serves a load-bearing function, whereas the plate 7 and insulating material layer 10 have thermal and acoustic insulation as well as protection functions. In order to make the connection between adjoining wall panels, one proceeds by inserting, through the channels 5a,5b, iron bars 11 provided with as many rings 12 as are the openings 6a,6b. After pulling the rings 12 out through the openings 6a and 6b and inserting them through the openings in the adjoining wall panel,
one proceeds by inserting, through the channel 5a or 5b of the latter, a further iron bar 13, and the seam casting is then performed by pouring concrete mix into the channels 5a,5b. Where, as shown in Figure 5, the wall panel 1 is to be connected to a further wall panel laid at right angles thereto, it is envisaged that the outer plate 7 has a portion 14 enclosing the head of the wall panel 1 for alignment to the outer board of the adjoining wall panel. Thus, continuity is provided in the formation of the interspace 8 and outer plate.
Expediently, the joints between adjacent wall panel would be covered with flat strips 15 inserted into juxtaposed grooves in the outer boards 7. The wall panel of this invention lends itself in particular to construction techniques involving the formation of successive floors. To that aim, and as shown in Figure 6, at the top of the wall panel there is formed a step 16 of sort which is defined by a diaphragm 17 normally closing the channels 5 at the top and by an upward extension of the plate 3.
The step 16 allows the formation of a casting 18 reinforced with irons 19 which are inserted through the aligned channels 5 of superimposed wall panels. It should be noted that the diaphragm 17 enables the casting 18 to be confined, to prevent it from leaking into the channels 5 where the latter are not involved in the formation of the structure. That diaphragm, being easily taken down, may be removed, where required, to allow for seam castings into the
selected channels for the formation of joints and pillars.
Industrial Applicability
One of the basic features of the wall panel of this invention is the possibility it affords of achieving a unitary construction with the assembled components, and accordingly, a structure of monolithic characteristics.
The plate 7 may have at the bottom an outwardly sloping cutout, and a likewise sloping dog at the top to prevent internal leaks of rainwater.
Furthermore, a connection between the vertical and horizontal elements is afforded which has the same static characteristics as that provided by suspending floors from vertical structures, which results in a high resistance to stresses of the seismic kind.
In practicing the invention, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may vary to meet individual applicational requirements, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.