Modular Wall Panel Section And Bolted Wall Construction

Abstract

This is a modular hollow panel wall section and a wall constructed from a bolted together assembly thereof, each section including a pair of spaced apart smooth surfaced planar inner and outer panel sheets rigidly connected together by a supporting frame structure including reinforcing spacer members, one of which forms an interfitting member along one horizontal section edge, and a pair of vertical structural side members fixed to the respective side edges of each section with a portion thereof overlapping the marginal side edges of the inner and outer panel sheets and another portion thereof extending transversely across the space between the side edges of said penel sheets each of the side members having bolt receiving apertures therethrough with bolt anchoring means fixed to the inside enclosed overlapped side edges of each section in registration with the apertures through the overlapping portions to permit easy connection of one section with another.

Description

A number of different types of bolted together wall section assemblies have been designed in the past such as the storage bin constructions illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,870 to Fairchild and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,420 to Oliver. Both of these patented structures require horizontally disposed stiffening and reinforcing bends or ribs in each of the wall panel units and these obstructions provide inner shelves which materially increase the possibility of bridging of the granular materials stored in the bins.

In order to overcome the problems incurred with such prior art structures as Fairchild and Oliver, this invention provides a modular wall section having a pair of spaced apart smooth surfaced planar wall panel sheets connected together to form a strong rigid structural unit having upright apertured angle members fixed to the ends thereof and oriented to permit quick and easy bolted-together assembly of a plurality of such sections to form an integrated upstanding building wall such as a storage bin wall having a smooth inner surface free from horizontally disposed obstructions.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a bolted-together wall construction embodying a plurality of modular panel sections which provide an insulation space therebetween and which are specifically designed to provide a smooth planar wall surface on at least the inside thereof, each section being specifically designed to permit easy bolted-together assembly of a plurality of such sections into an integrated wall structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bolted storage bin construction embodying a plurality of smooth-surfaced modular panel sections which, when assembled, produce a storage bin having an inner surface which is free from horizontally disposed inwardly extending ledges thus eliminating to the greatest extent possible the bridging problem frequently occurring in the storing of granular materials while still providing the necessary strength and ease of construction obtained with the bolted together modular panel units.

More specifically it is an object to provide a double walled modular bin section wherein the wall panel sheets have smooth planar surfaces with suitable stiffening spacer members interposed there-between and having apertured structural angle members fixed to the ends thereof oriented to permit easy bolted assembly wherein all of the connecting bolts are exposed for easy access.

It is still another object to provide a modular wall section having spaced apart inner and outer panel sheets adapted to provide smooth inner and outer panel surfaces with insulation there-between and having vertical support members on the ends thereof and formed from apertured structural angles in which one leg is fixed in adjacent overlapped relation to the opposite marginal end portions of the respective inner and outer panel surfaces and the other leg traverses the space between the ends of the panel sheets and extends therebeyond on opposite sides thereof to provide an apertured attachment flange exposed for easy bolted connection to adjacent sections.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular panel section embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 4 and showing an assembly of sections forming a portion of a storage bin and showing a modified form of connection at corner C.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower panel sections of a partially constructed storage bin;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a partially assembled storage bin with portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a bin wall taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 but drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the typical connection between the angles 13 and 14 of adjacent sections forming a corner and showing the nut and bolt arrangement for fastening two sections together.

While the modular wall panel sections embodying this invention are well suited for various types of wall constructions, a storage bin wall which includes a plurality of bolted-together wall sections is specifically disclosed herein. FIG. 1 illustrates a single modular wall panel section designated by the letter M. The section M includes a first panel sheet 10 and a second panel sheet 11. These panel sheets, 10 and 11, are spaced apart and suitable reinforcing spacer members or girts such as the channels 12 are securely fixed therebetween as by welding.

A pair of structural angle members 13 and 14 are respectively fixed to the upstanding edges of each section M as by being welded thereto. The angle members 13 and 14 have overlapping legs disposed generally parallel to the sheets 10 and 11. These legs are respectively designated by the reference characters 13a and 14a. The angle members 13 and 14 also have transversely extending legs disposed generally normal to the panel sheets 10 and 11 and these legs are respectively designated by the reference characters 13b and 14b. The transversely extending normally disposed legs 13b and 14b have extension portions respectively designated by the reference characters 13c and 14c.

In the form shown suitable interfitting means are provided such as the horizontally disposed header bar 15 fixed along the upper edge of each section M. The header bar 15 is shown in the form of an inverted U-shaped channel member having slightly longer legs than the reinforcing spacer channel members 12. The header bar 15 forms a "tongue" element adapted to be received into the space between the lower marginal edge portions of the sheet members 10 and 11 of another section M stacked thereon and the downwardly extending legs overlap in straddling relation the upper end portions of the sheets 10 and 11 are fixed thereto as by being welded thus closing the upper edges of each section. The header bar 15 of one section is received between the lower edges of sheets 10 and 11 of the adjacent upper section and extends across the space between the adjacent edges of the sheets of adjoining sections to close the same to provide an imperforate wall surface both inside and outside. With the legs of the header bar 15 straddling the upper ends of sheets 10 and 11 water cannot run into the hollow sections and also the edges of the sheets 10 and 11 of stacked sections are offset and eliminates any possibility of transferring vertical load from upper sheets to the lower ones to prevent buckling of the sheets.

When the sections are erected on the job the angle members 13 and 14 of adjacent sections will be maintained in vertical alignment and will be abutted in end to end relationship. This permits a direct transfer of the vertical load from one structural angle member to the next adjacent member therebelow.

The bottom channel 12a of each section is oriented with its flanges extending upwardly and is positioned so that a space in the order of 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch is provided between its web and the web of the header bar 15 of the adjacent section stacked thereon. A seal is provided between said webs, as by a bead of mastic or caulking material 23, best shown in FIG. 5.

Bolt receiving apertures are provided in both the overlapping parallel legs 13a and 14a of the two angles 13 and 14 of each section and matching apertures are also provided in the extension portions 13c and 14c of said angles. The marginal edge portions of the panels 10 and 11 underlying the overlapping legs of the angles 13 and 14 are provided with matching apertures in registration with the apertures in said overlapping legs and internally threaded nuts 16 are positioned on the inside of each panel sheet 10 and 11 in respective registration with said apertures and are secured to the sheets as by being welded thereto prior to assembly of said sheets 10 and 11 on each section M.

In the form shown the wall sections M are of sufficient length to extend continuously from one corner of the bin to the other. Three different corner constructions are illustrated and will be respectively designated by the letters A, B, and C. The corner A is an outside corner and the two adjacent sections joined at the corner are initially bolted together with bolts 17 extending through the apertures of the extension portion 13c of one section which are aligned with the apertures of the overlapping leg 13a of the adjacent section. These bolts are received in the nuts 16 and securely connect the inside portions of the sections at corner A. A corner angle member 18 connects the outer edge portions of the two sections and is provided with a straight leg 18c and a flanged leg 18b having the connecting flange 18c. The edge portion of the straight leg 18a has apertures which register with the apertures in the overlapping leg 13a of angle 13 and bolts 17 are respectively received by the aligned apertures and the respective nuts disposed therebehind. The attachment flange 18c of the other leg of the angle 18 is attached to the extension portion 14c of the angle 14 of the other section as by bolts and nuts as illustrated. Frequently a group of bins are formed having common interior wall panels. Such a bin structure is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and a three-way corner construction B having three sections joined together is formed thereby. The respective overlapping legs and adjacent extension portions of the angles of the three sections are bolted together as illustrated and a connecting angle 19 is provided to connect the outer extension portion 14b of one of the outer wall sections to the overlapping leg of the angle 13 of the adjacent outer sections. A four-way interior corner C is formed by four sections joined together with the respective attachment portions of the angle members being bolted together as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Obviously the respective angle members 13 and 14 of the four interior sections form a complete enclosed square box structural column member and require no additional closure members such as the angles 18 and 19 used with the corner constructions A and B.

The length of the lower most sections of the connecting angles 18 and 19 is one-half the height of the panel sections M as shown herein or is one and one-half times this height to permit the upper angle sections to extend continuously across the connecting joint between adjacent panel sections and thus maintain vertical end to end alignment of the adjacent stacked angles 13 and 14. This produces a rigid structural rectangular column unit which carries the vertical load of the wall assembly.

A suitable supporting base 20 can be provided as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 to support the bottom edge of the lower most sections. If desired a hopper (not shown) of conventional design also can be provided under the bottom of each bin unit to facilitate emptying the same. In the form shown a mounting plate 21 is secured to the base 20 and the lower most sections are supported thereon as by having the angle members welded thereto. The lower edges of the panel sheets are closed by providing a channel or tongue member 22 welded to the plate 21 and extending up between the sheets of the lower sections.

Each section is assembled by initially welding the complete frame structure together which includes the angle members 13 and 14, the header bar 15 and the intermediate spacer members or channels 12 and bottom sealing channel 12a. The panel sheets 10 and 11 are then welded to the frame with the nuts 16 preassembled on the inside of the respective rows of apertures. This can be done by any conventional method such as by spot welding machine such as Model Linde VI 252 with Linde SWM-31 wire drive and timer which is manufactured by Union Carbide Corporation of New York, N.Y. or other similar equipment available on the market.

Occasionally it is necessary to increase the section modulous of at least certain of the corner constructions due to greater than normal loading such as would be produced with extremely larger size bins. I have found that this can be accomplished by adding auxiliary angles 24 having an apertured leg to receive the bolts 17 therethrough and assist the angles 13 and 14 in carrying the vertical loading. This permits the sections to be efficiently and economically designed for normal loads while still providing for easily assembled auxiliary section modulous for the column. It will be apparent that the four-way connection C must be designed to carry more vertical load than the other columns and therefore the supplemental angles 24 have been shown in FIG. 2 at connection C.

It will be seen that this invention provides a hollow smooth surfaced planar wall section which can be easily and quickly assembled into a smooth surfaced planar building wall as by being bolted together with similar sections. All of the sections are interchangeable and provide an insulation space between the inner and outer panel sheets 10 and 11. It is contemplated that the smooth surfaced wall sections can be used for conventional building walls as well as for bins for storing granular materials. If desired the space between the panel sheets can be filled with insulation material to further improve the insulation property of the wall sections.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter set forth in the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A generally hollow interchangeable sheet metal wall section having upstanding side edges and horizontal top and bottom edges and being particularly adapted for bolted-together assembly and comprising

first and second generally spaced-apart panel sheets forming insulating compartments therebetween and at least the first sheet having a smooth planer outer surface,

a pair of upstanding load carrying supporting members, each having at least two leg portions respectively fixed at the upstanding side edges of said panel sheets with one of said leg portions overlapping adjacent marginal side edge portions of said sheets,

another leg portion of said supporting member connected to the other panel sheet and extending therebeyond and having a plurality of spaced bolt receiving apertures therethrough to permit bolted-together assembly of adjacent sections,

the overlapping leg portions of each supporting member and the respective overlapped portions of said sheets having a plurality of spaced bolt receiving apertures therethrough,

bolt anchoring means fixed inside of said overlapping legs and sheet portions in respective registration with said apertures, and

interfitting means extending along one of the horizontal edges of the section to interfit and meet with an adjacent stacked section.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said interfitting means constituting an elongated channel member fixed between said angle members and extending vertically beyond the adjacent edges of the panel sheets of one horizontal edge of the section to be received in tongue and groove relation between the two panel sheets of the adjacent stacked section and align the planar inner surfaces so that the two adjacent sections form a smooth planar inner wall surface.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and said adjacent edges being received between the legs of the channel at said one horizontal section edge.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2 and a horizontal channel member fixed between said panel sheets adjacent the other horizontal edge of the section at a location to be positioned in slightly spaced relation to the interfitting channel of the next adjacent stacked section.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and sealing means interposed between said two channel members.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 and said supporting members constituting structural angles,

one of the legs of each angle being disposed generally parallel to the panel sheets and overlapping the marginal edge portions thereof and the other leg of said angles being disposed at right angles to said sheets and respectively extending across the ends of each panel section.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 combined with a plurality of such wall sections to form wall panel having a smooth inner surface and upstanding angle members bolted to the vertically aligned side angles of stacked sections to connect such sections and provide structural reinforcement for the vertical angle members of the aligned sections.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and a plurality of auxiliary angles bolted to said structural angles to increase the load carrying capacity of said connected structural angles.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein both of said panel sheets are flat and present substantially smooth planar inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of generally horizontally disposed spacing and reinforcing members interposed between said sheets and extending the full distance between said supporting members and respectively fixed at their ends thereto.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9 and said supporting members, said header bar, said spacing and reinforcing members all being rigidly fixed together to form a rigid structural frame unit with said panel sheets secured in fixed relation on both sides thereof to provide a rigid panel unit having smooth planar surfaces on both sides thereof.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10 and said interfitting means constituting a channel member extending vertically beyond the adjacent horizontal edges of the panel sheets and one of said reinforcing members constituting a horizontal channel member fixed between adjacent panel sheets adjacent the other horizontal edge of the section at a location to be positioned in slightly spaced relation to the interfitting channel of the next adjacent stacked section.