U.S. patent number 3,913,292 [Application Number 05/489,044] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-21 for self-sustaining wall and ceiling panel forming a hollow body and filled with a fireproof material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to A/S Akers Mek. Verksted. Invention is credited to Anton Braekkan.
United States Patent |
3,913,292 |
Braekkan |
October 21, 1975 |
Self-sustaining wall and ceiling panel forming a hollow body and
filled with a fireproof material
Abstract
A wall or ceiling panel comprising fireproof metallic sheets
forming a parallelepipedic body filled with fireproof material,
opposite parallel side edges of the body each being of a stepped
configuration and having locking means thereon, whereby like panels
may be interengaged and locked together to form a substantially
self-sustaining fireproof wall or ceiling.
Inventors: |
Braekkan; Anton (Oslo,
NO) |
Assignee: |
A/S Akers Mek. Verksted
(NO)
|
Family
ID: |
26979830 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/489,044 |
Filed: |
July 15, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
315326 |
Dec 15, 1972 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/406.1; 52/574;
52/241 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/825 (20130101); E04C 2/292 (20130101); E04B
2/7411 (20130101); E04B 1/6104 (20130101); E04B
9/04 (20130101); E04B 2/7403 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/82 (20060101); E04B 9/04 (20060101); E04C
2/292 (20060101); E04C 2/26 (20060101); E04B
1/61 (20060101); E04B 2/74 (20060101); E04B
002/40 (); E04C 001/07 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/349,588,589,404,592,241,406,522,578,524,580,519,515,516,574 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,985 |
|
May 1917 |
|
GB |
|
155,144 |
|
Feb 1954 |
|
AU |
|
995,733 |
|
Jun 1965 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Sutherland; Henry C.
Assistant Examiner: Braun; Leslie A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Watson, Cole, Grindle &
Watson
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 315,326 filed Dec.
15, 1972, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A fire-proof constructional panel of a modular type for the
construction of a compartment, wherein the panel is constructed
from fireproof materials and is capable of being interconnected
with other similar panels for providing substantially gas-tight
sealed joints and capable of being easily detachable, the
arrangement of the panel comprising in combination: fireproof
metallic sheets forming a parallelepipedic hollow body filled with
fireproof material; opposite parallel side edges of said body each
being of a stepped configuration such that said panel has a
T-shaped cross-section and each side edge comprising a first side
surface connected to one of the top and bottom spaced parallel
surfaces of said body, a second side surface connected to the other
of said top and bottom surfaces and a third surface parallel to
said top and bottom surfaces and interconnected with said first and
second surfaces and extending inwardly from said first surface a
distance of approximately one-half the spacing between said top and
bottom surfaces, said first and second surfaces being parallel and
extending towards one another a distance of approximately one-half
the spacing between said top and bottom surfaces; hook-shaped
locking elements provided on each of said third surfaces and
extending outwardly thereof; the stepped edges of said body being
capable of meeting the corresponding stepped edges of another said
body, with such body being arranged so that its T-shaped
cross-section is inverted with respect to said body, said stepped
edges of said bodies forming a labyrinth seal and said locking
element inter-engaging with corresponding locking elements on said
other body under the force of gravity thereby effecting a
substantially self-sustaining fireproof wall; opposite longitudinal
end surfaces of said body, each having correspondingly parallel
grooves therein, said grooves forming outwardly extending flanges
capable of being selectively brought into engagement with guide
rails mounted on a floor of a compartment to be constructed for
providing a labyrinth seal at the floor; and the other end of the
body being adapted to be selectively guided in a labyrinth sealing
channel secured in a ceiling of a compartment to be constructed,
such that the side walls of the channel provide support and
engagement surfaces for said body and provides a labyrinth seal
between said body and the ceiling.
2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said hook-shaped
locking means is punched out of the stepped portion of said body
and is orientated at a slight angle with respect to said third
surface.
3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the end of the
body inserted within the ceiling channel is held in place by a
side-by-side abutment against the side walls of the channel.
4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the metallic
sheets forming the parallelepipedic hollow body are provided with a
heat resistant material formed by a flame proof laminate coating,
with the surface of the body then being covered with a finishing
layer of material.
5. The panel according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements
comprise flaps extending outwardly of the plane of said third
surfaces.
6. The panel according to claim 1 wherein said locking elements
comprise spring steel flaps extending in a common direction for
each said third surface.
Description
The present invention relates to self-sustaining wall and ceiling
panels the exterior surfaces of which are preferably made of thin
fireproof sheets forming a parallelepipedic body, the hollow space
of which is filled with fireproof insulating material, and which
panels are connected by a tight joint.
Reference is made herewith to a cabin or the like on board a ship
as the room in which panels according to the invention are
utilized, but any type of room or wall or ceiling is in fact
included within the scope of invention as regards the field of
utilization.
Wall panels, having a core of asbestos or another fire preventing
material encased in wood material or some other facing for a ship's
cabin, have been heretofore available. It is also known to line
walls or bulk heads with asbestos panels as well as cover
sheathing, although this type of equipment is injurious to health
and will probably not be permitted on board of ships in the future.
Asbestos has until now been the most suitable insulating material,
not only because of its fire preventing properties. This property,
however, was not effective before the encasing material was burnt
through and the flames had direct contact with the insulating
lining.
Other types of wall panels are also available in which insulation
consists of other materials other than asbestos are used, but these
materials have the considerable disadvantage in that the panels
must be divided into larger or smaller spaces because the
insulating material is not able to sustain its own weight in a
vertical position. Such insulating material slowly sags to form
pockets without insulation on the panel. The panels thus consist of
considerable amounts of wood material or some other inflammable
material which is deformed and very rapidly burnt out in case of
fire on board. A fire in the cabin will therefore very soon cause
very high temperatures because of the enveloping steel hull.
The known panels are connected in various manners, e.g., by nailing
to a wooden framework, by screw fastener means, rotatable lugs
engaging slots in the opposite panel faces, etc.
The known connections, however, cannot effectively prevent flames
from penetrating the joints between panels of a cabin thereby
permitting the fire reach the adjoining cabins. Joints or
connections often form large openings between the panels which are
respectively covered by ledges of inflammable material.
Said ledges are rapidly attacked by fire thereby giving the flames
free access through openings to adjoining cabins in all directions,
which causes the fire to spread rapidly and uncontrollably all over
the ship. Smoke from a cabin on fire also easily penetrates through
the joints to the adjoining cabins at an early stage of the fire
development thereby lessening the chances of survival for the
inhabitants of the cabins.
During a fire, another disadvantage in the use of the known joints,
is that the joints or connecting means are substantially anchored
in wood material or the like, so that said connecting means
deteriorate when the flames penetrate through the joints.
Consequently the walls soon collapse resulting in an accelerated
spreading of the fire.
The known panels require the usual treatment with paint and varnish
to present an attractive and sanitary surface. During the high
temperatures occuring during a fire on a ship paint and varnish
coatings quickly cause the flames to spread, said connecting means
also contributing to increase of flame propagation speed.
Over the years any number of human beings have paid for these
disadvantages with their lives and ships representing enormous
values have been destroyed.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above
mentioned disadvantages and to provide wall and ceiling panels
wherein a fire proof cladding is arranged on the outer surface of
the panel, i.e., towards a fire zone, whereas a self-sustaining
fireproof layer is arranged in a closed, tight space within the
panel. A further object of the invention is to provide a connecting
system for the panels thereby ensuring an easy and secure assembly,
as well as comprising connection faces on the panels shaped in such
a manner as to prevent flames and smoke from a fire from
penetrating the labyrinth-shaped connection area at the joints.
The panels are preferably made from pre-formed sheets of a suitable
shape, preferably two halves, which are provided with a filling
layer, whereafter the two halves are connected, e.g., by welding.
The sheets are preferably steel sheets of a type having one or both
faces coated with a flame resistant coating with a surface finish
that renders any subsequent surface treatment unnecessary. The
filling layer is preferably of a fire resistant quality of a type
having self-sustaining properties and enchancing the panel rigidity
when glued or in any other way secured to the rigid sheets of the
panel.
The filling layer may also be supplied to the panel, e.g. when its
two or several parts have been assembled, by injection of a
suitable substance.
Sheets and filling material of any type may naturally be used for
the construction of the panel depending upon the requirements made,
e.g., for fire resistance, etc. Aluminium may for instance be
advantageous if the weight of the panel is of importance.
The construction of the lateral edges for the assembly of several
panels in sections or the like with their edges forming
zig-zag-extending labyrinth seal joints, where connecting or
locking means are arranged in the joint, also provide a very
favorable mounting and dismounting of the wall and/or ceiling. The
locking means are preferably stamped out of the sheets but may,
e.g., also be arranged as lugs on the bearing area of one panel to
engage with openings in the opposite bearing area, or in any other
suitable manner of locking together the joint surfaces inaccessibly
from the outside.
The connection of two or more panels is thus made without the use
of any mechanical means or insertion of separate connecting means
in the connection area, and the Z-shaped labyrinth joint prevents
flames and smoke from penetrating.
Other shapes of the lateral edges of the panels forming a labyrinth
seal or a zig-zag-extending joint are possible. For a further
description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings wherein, the assembly of the panels can be carried out
without use of supports of erected framework members. In ships, a
floor profile is welded in a manner known per se onto the deck
along the separating lines of the walls. The floor profile has a
height leaving a suitable space for the floor covering below the
lower edge of the panel after assembly.
To assemble the wall panels they are lifted high enough into the
ceiling profile to let the lower edge of the panel pass over the
floor profile welded to the floor, whereupon the lower part of the
panel is urged horizontally until the joint surfaces of the
labyrinth seal are in tight contact. The panel is then lowered,
during which operation the locking means engage and lock the panels
together during the continued lowering of the panel until it rests
on the floor profile in the groove made for this purpose.
This method of assemblage is based on locking means that are
stamped and forced out in the joint surfaces. The locking means,
however, could also be stamped and forced out in other faces of the
labyrinth seal joint.
The locking means for the ceiling panels may comprise a suitable
number of locking discs which are welded or otherwise secured to
the ceiling panel, preferably on the side not facing the cabin.
Assemblage is then carried out by placing the first panel on the
fitting flanges of the ceiling profile ledges and then placing the
next panel on the same ledges and moving the latter horizontally in
cross direction until the Z-shaped labyrinth seal edges are tightly
forced together.
All types of ceiling panels are preferably secured after the
assembly with the use of screws.
The tight Z-shaped or zig-zag-extending joints eliminate cover
ledges on the joints and permits a single panel or several panels
to be dismounted e.g., if damaged panels are to be replaced, a door
panel is to be moved, etc. The steps of the operation of assemblage
described above are then taken in the reverse sequence. The ceiling
above the area in question must then first be loosened and lifted
so as to make the securing screws accessible.
In order to prevent vertical movement of the wall panels said
panels are secured by suitable screws or bolts extending through
elongated openings to absorb the wall expansion in the longitudinal
direction.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of wall and ceiling panels mounted in
sections,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the assemblage of wall and ceiling
panels,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of connecting profiles,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line D--D of FIG. 1,
FIG. 6 shows ceiling panels with a locking disc,
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a corner member for an exterior
corner arrangement,
FIG. 8 shows details of the panel construction, e.g. along line C-C
of FIG. 1,
FIG. 9 shows a wall panel in perspective with locking means,
FIG. 10 shows a wall panel in perspective with a modified locking
means,
FIG. 11 shows the locking means as taken along the line A--A in
FIG. 8,
FIG. 12 shows details of a loose sheet having locking means,
FIG. 13 shows a locking disc in top plan view,
FIGS. 14 and 15 show ceiling panels in perspective, and
FIG. 16 shows a panel in perspective with respective right hand and
left hand locking means.
In FIG. 1 various types of panels are assembled to a wall and
ceiling section, the wall section comprising an adapter member 1,
wall panels 2, a door panel 3 with a fitted door 22, a window panel
with a fitted window frame 26, whereas the ceiling section consists
of ceiling panels 6. Said panels illustrate embodiments of the
invention although other kinds may naturally be produced according
to the invention, e.g., the corner members 5 as shown in FIG.
7.
The ceiling profile 7 with fitting flanges 20 for ceiling panels 6
are for example suspended from the deck 25 above by means of a stay
23. Connecting profiles 15 are suspended in the same manner by
means of stays 39. Should the height between the two decks 11 and
25 correspond approximately to the height of the panels, e.g., 2,
with accompanying profiles 10 and 7, the top profile 7 may be
secured directly to the deck 25.
The deck 11 is for example coated with a base substance 12 and a
floor covering 13 turned up along the floor profile 10, which
profile forms a guide for the guide grooves of the panels has a
very close fit which. The joint 19 between the panels forms a very
narrow slot thereby avoiding the need for a cover ledge. The
zig-zag-extension makes the joint flameproof.
FIG. 2 shows the manner in which wall panels are secured to the top
profile 7 by means of screws 24, that are preferably counter-sunk
in 7, whereas the ceiling panels 6 are secured to the fitting ledge
20 by screws 9. In the lower edge of the panels towards the floor
there is no securing means between the groove 27 and the floor
profile 10 in the embodiment shown.
From FIG. 2 it can also be seen that the floor covering 13 may be
placed continuously in all adjoining cabins before an assembling of
the panels is commenced. In this way considerable cutting work is
saved in connection with floor covering.
All openings for screw connections, e.g., 9 and 24, are preferably
elongated to absorb possible expansion movements, which, however,
will be of small magnitude due to the thin sheets 16. In long
corridors it may, however, be desirable to arrange expansion joints
(not shown). In particularly exposed areas the locking means 35
facing downwardly may be dimensioned narrower than those facing
upwardly at 34.
Furthermore, it appears from FIG. 2 that the panels, e.g., 2, are
provided with grooves 27 and grooves 40, the latter not being in
use in the example shown. The object of grooves in the upper as
well as the lower portion of the panels is that all panels, if
desired, are provided with a type of locking means 34 or 35, and
thus may be turned 180.degree..
FIG. 3 shows the manner in which the ceiling panels 6 are arranged
on a connecting profile 15 and secured to said profile by the screw
8. The ceiling panels 6 are preferably mounted by being lifted up
so that one end rests on e.g., 15, whereas the other end of said
panel is held in an inclined position by a wooden cleat or the like
placed between the lower edge of the panel and the fitting ledge
20. In such position the panels may respectively be slid
longitudinally for connected 18 the locking means 34-35. The cleats
are then removed and the ceiling panel is lowered into contact with
the ledge 20.
FIG. 4 shows the manner in which the door panel 3 forms the door
case of the door 22, which in this embodiment runs in the upper
edge of the floor profile 10 with tight connection 42 to the other
faces of the door case.
FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the adapter member 1 is secured by
screws 28, e.g., to the wall panel 2' which in this embodiment
faces a corridor or passage, whereas the wall panel 2' forms the
partition wall of a cabin. The floor profiles 10' and 10" are
welded to the deck during the construction of the ship, but the
positioning is not always so accurate that the profile 10" will
coincide with the total length of the prefabricated panels, e.g.,
of a long corridor when a partition wall is to be erected. The
object of the wall panel shape according to the invention is thus
to be able to permit a mounting of the first mounted panel for a
partition wall or the like to the position of the floor profile 10"
when it was secured by welding and then to be independent of the
overall length of a long section. It will also be possible to move
the partition wall at a later stage in time by loosening the screws
28 and moving the adapter member 1 to the new position, and by
securing the panel in that position. The floor profiles 10' and 10"
form a tight connection in the corner 41.
FIG. 6 shows a locking disc 44, which may e.g., be secured to the
ceiling panel 6'.
FIG. 7 shows an outside corner arrangement 30 wherein the locking
means 34 or 35 for the wall panel 2 is unchanged in the joint,
whereas a corner panel 5 is provided with locking means 34 or 35 in
the contact surface 43.
In FIG. 8 a sectional view taken along line of FIG. 1 C--C of two
assembled wall panels is shown. The sheets 16 form a closed space
with welded connections (not shown), and the Z-shaped labyrinth
seal forms a tight joint 19. On the two lateral edges locking means
34 facing upwardly and locking means 35 facing downwardly are shown
forming the connecting means 18 in the connected middle portion.
The filling layer 17 fills all parts of the space and is preferably
secured to the walls 16 by glue or the like.
In FIG. 9 the guide groove 27 in the lower edge of the wall panel
and the guide groove 40 in the upper edge of the wall panel are
shown, as well as the contact face 14 with locking means 34 facing
upwards. FIG. 10 shows the contact face 22 with its locking means
35 facing downwardly.
FIG. 11, shows the manner in which means 35 facing downwardly
engages the means 34 facing upwardly and lock the two panels
together.
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the manner in which connection forms
the tight Z-shaped labyrinth according to the invention may be used
in cases wherein the material of the panels has other properties,
e.g., where wood is used and the locking means 34 and 35 have to be
secured to the material to form the connecting means 18. In the
sheet 37 locking means 35 and 34 have been formed. The sheet 37 is
secured to the panels by means of screws 38, so that one contact
face 14 of the panel is provided with means 35 facing upwardly,
whereas the contact face 33 of the opposite panel is provided with
means 35 facing downwardly. The sheet 37 may be used for both kinds
of mountings.
FIG. 14 shows a ceiling panel 6 not provided with grooves 27 and 40
in the end portions 48, of the panel whereas the longitudinal faces
have the characteristic Z-shape for labyrinth sealing according to
the invention with locking means 34.
FIG. 15 shows a ceiling panel 6 without grooves in the end faces 48
and with locking means 35.
FIG. 16 shows a ceiling and/or wall panel with right hand locking
means 46 and left hand locking means 47. The end face may be as
shown at 48 or have grooves 27 and/or 40.
* * * * *