U.S. patent number 3,879,911 [Application Number 05/354,109] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-29 for partitioning.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GKN Sankey Limited. Invention is credited to Francis John Howells.
United States Patent |
3,879,911 |
Howells |
April 29, 1975 |
Partitioning
Abstract
A partitioning section comprising two metal side walls and a
rigid corrugated board of a heat insulating material which is
interposed between the side walls so as to hold them apart and out
of contact and which is secured to the side walls by adhesive to
form an integral assembly. The side walls have at one side edge of
the section inturned flanges which are disposed in spaced parallel
planes perpendicular to the walls and are each of a width less than
one half of the thickness of the section. The other side edge of
the section is either planar or provided with similar flanges. Two
sections may be fitted together in a portion so that they are
disposed in a common plane and two side edges thereof provided with
flanges are disposed in abutting relationship, there being heat
insulating material between the two pairs of abutting flanges and
between each pair of abutting flanges and the opposite side wall.
The abutting flanges are secured together by removable joints.
Inventors: |
Howells; Francis John (Telford,
EN) |
Assignee: |
GKN Sankey Limited (Stafford,
EN)
|
Family
ID: |
10138623 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/354,109 |
Filed: |
April 24, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 29, 1972 [GB] |
|
|
19997/72 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/578;
52/794.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/7403 (20130101); E04C 2/292 (20130101); B63B
3/68 (20130101); F16L 59/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
59/00 (20060101); E04C 2/292 (20060101); E04C
2/26 (20060101); B63B 3/00 (20060101); E04B
2/74 (20060101); B63B 3/68 (20060101); E04b
001/62 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/241,615,281,282,404,594,593,619,618,592,588 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro &
Klose
Claims
I claim:
1. A partition comprising two sections each of which comprises two
metal side walls and a rigid board of heat insulating material
which is interposed between the side walls, the side walls of each
section having at at least one side edge of the section inturned
flanges disposed in spaced parallel planes and each of a width less
than one half of the thickness of the section, the sections being
fitted together so that their said one side edges are disposed in
abutting relationship with the two flanges at each side of the
partition in abutting face-to-face contact, the abutting flanges at
at least one side of the partition having formations which are
releasably engaged by joint means enclosed within the partition and
spaced from the side walls at the other side of the partition
whereby the sections are detachably secured together.
2. A partition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the board of heat
insulating material of one of the sections extends between the
flanges and the joint means engaged therewith at said one side of
the partition and the side walls at the other side of the
partition.
3. A partition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the board of heat
insulating material of each section has a portion which extends
right up to the inner surface of the outer one of the flanges at
said one side edge of the section and the said portions of the heat
insulating boards of the sections are in overlapping face-to-face
contact.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to partitioning and in particular is
concerned with fireproof sectional partitioning for use, for
example, in ships and buildings.
An essential requirement of fireproof partitioning is that in order
to combat the spread of fire, it shall prevent the transfer of heat
from one side of the partitioning to the other at least for a
minimum period, for example a half hour, which is usually specified
in fire regulations.
The object of the invention is to provide simple partitioning means
which meet this requirement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a
partitioning section comprising two metal side walls and a rigid
heat insulating material which is interposed between the side walls
so as to hold them apart and out of contact and which is secured to
the side walls to form an integral assembly, the side walls having
at at least one side edge of the section inturned flanges disposed
in spaced parallel planes and each of a width less than one half of
the thickness of the section.
When two sections of this form are fitted together in a partition
so that the sections are disposed in a common plane and their two
side edges provided with the flanges are disposed in abutting
relationship, the two flanges at each side of the partition are in
face-to-face contact. Since the flanges of each section are
disposed in spaced parallel planes and each of a width less than
one half of the thickness of the section, there is a substantial
distance between the two pairs of abutting flanges and also between
each pair of flanges and the opposite side wall, so that there is a
good heat insulation at the location where the sections fit
together.
Since there is no metal-to-metal contact between the walls at the
respective sides of the partition, the transfer of heat from a fire
at one side to the other side to an extent sufficient to cause a
fire on said other side is prevented at least for a period of time,
whereby the spread of fire is inhibited. Thus, it takes a
considerable time for the metal walls on said other side of the
partition to reach a temperature which is such as to set on fire
any inflammable material in contact with or close to said
walls.
Since the side walls of the section are secured to the rigid heat
insulating material between them, the section is of a unitary form
and does not have to be assembled during installation of the
partition.
Preferably the flanges at the side edge of the section are at right
angles to the side walls.
The insulating material is preferably arranged so that it extends
right up to the inner surface of the outer one of the two offset
flanges at the side edge of the section so that a portion of the
material is exposed between the flanges. Thus, the or each side
edge is of rabbeted form.
The heat insulating material preferably comprises a rigid
corrugated board of a heat insulating material. Thus, there are
provided at opposite sides of the board channels the mouths of
which are closed by the side walls and which may be filled with air
or mineral wool. These channels assist the heat insulation between
the metal walls, improve the sound proof qualities of the
partitioning, assist in reducing the weight of the partitioning,
and also enable electrical wiring to extend through the
partitioning.
The metal side walls are preferably secured to the insulating
material by a suitable adhesive which is heat resistant at least up
to high temperatures and non-toxic i.e., does not give off fumes
when heated. One conventional, commercially available adhesive of
this type is sold under the name TRETOBOND 848 by Tretobond Limited
of Great Britain.
The heat insulating material is preferably a mineral or a
mineral-based material. It may be asbestos but is preferably a
vermiculite based material. Thus, the material may comprise
exfoliated pre-treated vermiculite bonded with an inorganic binder
and pressed to produce a non-combustible board of the required
corrugated shape. Such a material is available under the name
"Vicuclad".
Both side edges of the section may be provided with inturned
flanges, or flanges may be provided at only one side edge, the
other side edge being planar.
The section will usually be rectangular in shape and of planar
form. If desired, the metal side walls can be painted or coated
with a plastics material such as polyvinylchloride.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
partition comprising at least two sections according to the first
aspect of the invention, the sections being fitted together so that
they are disposed in a common plane and their two side edges
provided with the flanges are disposed in abutting relationship,
the two flanges at each side of the partition being in face-to-face
contact but there being no contact between the pairs of abutting
flanges and between each pair of flanges and the opposite side
wall.
Preferably the flanges are arranged so that the shortest distance
between the two pairs of flanges is not less than the shortest
distance between each pair of flanges and the opposed side wall so
that there is a substantial thickness of heat insulating material
between the two pairs of flanges and between each pair of flanges
and the opposed side wall.
The invention is primarily applicable to so-called demountable
partitioning. Thus, the upper and lower parts of the sections may
be removably received in channel section members secured, for
example, to the floor and the ceiling in the case of a building or
to the deck and the deckhead in the case of a ship.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of part of a partitioning
structure formed by a number of partitions embodying the
invention,
FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line II--II--II in
FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view showing a joint between two
adjacent partitions,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the
partitions prior to their connection together by the joint,
FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the
manner in which the two partitions are connected together by the
joint, and
FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line VI--VI in FIG.
1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 of the drawings shows part of a typical partitioning
structure fitted between the deck and the deckhead in a ship to
form cabins, corridors and so on.
The structure is constructed from a plurality of partitions each
comprising two spaced parallel metal side walls 10 and 11 which
have interposed between them a rigid corrugated board 12 of a heat
insulating material, for example a vermiculite-based material such
as that sold under the Trade Name "VICUCLAD". The heat insulating
board 12 is secured to the side walls 10 and 11 by a heat resistant
and non-toxic adhesive, such as that sold under the name Tretobond
848, so as to form an integral assembly. The sections are
rectangular and of planar form and are arranged so that the closed
channels 13 formed between the heat insulating board 12 and the
side walls 10, 11 extend vertically. If desired, these channels may
be filled with heat insulating mineral wool such as that sold under
the Trade Name "STILLITE".
The sections can be joined together in various configurations. For
example two adjacent sections may be arranged either in a common
plane as in the case of the sections designated A and B or at right
angles to one another as in the case of the sections designated C
and D. Three adjacent sections may be arranged in a T-configuration
in plan as in the case of the sections designated E, F and G. A
section such as that designated H may be arranged perpendicular to
a part S of the ship's structure.
All of the sections have one side edge generally of rabbeted form.
Thus, the side walls 10, 11 at said side edge are formed with
inturned parallel flanges 14 and 15 disposed at right angles to the
side walls and laterally offset from one another along a line
perpendicular to the flanges. Each flange is of double thickness as
shown. The heat insulating board 12 is arranged to extend right up
to the inner surface of the outer one of the two offset flanges so
that a portion 16 of the board is exposed between said flanges.
Where two sections such as A and B are arranged in a common plane,
their rabbeted side edges are disposed in abutting relationship as
shown in detail in FIG. 3, the flanges 14, 15 of each adjacent two
side walls 10, 11 being in face-to-face contact and the portions 16
of the heat insulating boards 12 overlapping so that they too are
in face-to-face contact. The shortest distance between the inner
edges of the abutting flanges 14 at one side of the sections and
the inner edges of the abutting flanges 15 at the other side of the
sections is not less than the shortest distance between the inner
edges of each pair of abutting flanges 14, 15 and the opposed side
wall 11, 10 so that there is a substantial thickness of heat
insulating material between the two pairs of abutting flanges and
also between each pair of flanges and the opposed side wall. The
abutting flanges of each pair are connected together by four
vertically spaced joints 17 which are described in detail
below.
The other side edge of each section is either similarly of rabbeted
form or of planar form with no inturned flanges.
Where two adjacent sections such as C and D are arranged at right
angles to one another, a corner post 18 is arranged between a
planar side edge of one section C and a rabbeted side edge of the
other section D. The corner post 18 is generally of L-shape in
section and comprises two metal side walls 19, 20 bent to the cross
sectional shapes shown in FIG. 2. Interposed between the walls 19,
20 and secured thereto by adhesive is a piece of heat insulating
board 21. One side edge of the corner post is of rabbeted form, the
side walls 19, 20 being bent inwardly to form two inturned double
thickness flanges 22, 23 which are connected by joints similar to
the joints 17 to the flanges 14, 15 of the rabbeted side edge of
the section D. At the other side edge of the corner post the side
walls 19, 20 are bent inwardly to embrace the limbs of a U-section
metal member 24. The outwardly facing channel defined by this
member receives the planar side edge of the section C, mineral wool
25 being interposed between the side edge of the section and the
base of the member. It will be seen that the base of the member
abuts the piece of heat insulating board 21.
Where three sections such as E, F and G are joined together in a T
configuration, a post 26 generally of T-shape in section is
arranged between planar side edges of the sections E and G and a
rabbeted side edge of the section F. The post 26 comprises a flat
metal side wall 27 and two metal side walls 28 and 29 of L-shape in
section, the side walls being arranged as shown in FIG. 2 and
having interposed between them and secured thereto by adhesive a
piece of heat insulating board 30. The side edge of the post at the
adjacent outer edges of the two walls 28 and 29 is of rabbeted
form, the said walls being bent inwardly to form inturned double
thickness flanges 31 and 32 which are connected to the flanges 14
and 15 of the rabbeted side edge of the seection F by joints
similar to the joints 17. At each of the other two side edges of
the post the walls 27, 28 or 27, 29 as the case may be, are bent
inwardly to embrace the limbs of a U-section metal member 33. The
outwardly facing channels defined by the members 33 receive the
planar side edges of the sections E and G, mineral wool 34 being
interposed between the side edges of the sections and the bases of
the members 33 which it will be seen abut the piece of heat
insulating board 30.
Where a section such as that shown at H is to be fitted against a
part of the structure S of the ship, there is welded to the
structure as shown in FIG. 2 a vertically extending U-section metal
member 35. The section has a planar side edge which fits in the
channel of the member 35 and mineral wool 36 is interposed between
the side edge of the section and the base of the member.
It will be observed that where a channel 13 formed between the heat
insulating board 12 and the side walls 10, 11 of a section is open
at a side edge of the section, this channel is filled with mineral
wool.
Referring to FIG. 6, the side walls 10, 11 of each section have
inturned flanges 37 and 38 at the top and bottom of the section,
the inner edges of each pair of flanges being spaced from one
another. The upper and lower parts of the section are received in
channel section members 39 and 40 secured respectively to the
deckhead and the deck. One limb of the lower member 40 is shorter
than the other limb, and the section is fitted in position simply
by locating the upper part of the section in the upper member 39,
lifting the section, swinging its lower part over the shorter limb
of the lower member 40 and lowering the section to engage its lower
part in the lower member. The lower part of the section is then
secured to the lower member 40 by screws passing through holes 41
in the member. Heat insulating mineral wool 42 is provided between
the upper part of the section and the base of the upper member 39,
and sealing strips 43 of a plastics material such as "NEOPRENE" are
provided between the upper part of the section and the upper member
39.
The lower member 40 is welded to the deck and the upper member 39
is either welded directly to the deckhead or spaced from and
connected to it by vertical straps welded to the member and the
deckhead.
The lower parts of the sections and the lower member 40 may be
covered by skirting secured to the sections by clips.
The partitioning structure may include a door which is of the same
construction as the sections, i.e., comprising two metal side walls
separated by a corrugated heat insulating board.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, each joint 17
comprises a sheet metal plate 45 of L-shape in section. One limb 46
of the plate is rectangular in shape and the other limb 47 is of
elongated hexagon shape with one side edge 48 thereof joined to one
side edge 49 of the limb 46 so that the limb 46 and the two side
edges 50, 51 of the limb 47 at opposite sides of the side edge 48
form between them two V-shaped notches 52 and 53. Each joint also
has two slots 54 and 55 formed in the two flanges which are to be
connected together by the joint.
The flanges 14, 15 of the sections A and B are connected together
in the following manner.
With the two sections A and B apart as shown in FIG. 4, the four
plates 45 to connect the pair of flanges 14 are fitted to the
section A and the four plates 45 to connect the pair of flanges 15
are fitted to the section B. Thus, the limbs 46 of the plates are
inserted through the slots 54 in the flange 14 of section A or
through the slots 54 in the flange 15 of section B, as the case may
be, into the interior of the section concerned, each plate being
turned to bring its limb into a position parallel to the flange (as
seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) whereupon the plate is held in this position
by the heat insulating material 12.
With the limbs 47 of the two groups of plates thus projecting from
the respective flanges 14 and 15 of the two sections, section B is
moved towards section A as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 5A so that
the limbs 47 enter the slots 55 in the flange 14 of section B or
the slots 55 in the flange 15 of section A, as appropriate. The
rabbeted side edges of the sections are brought into abutting
relationship as shown in FIG. 5B and then the plates are moved in
turn to positions in which they lock the sections together. Thus, a
thin blade or the like is inserted between the two abutting flanges
14 or 15 above each plate 45 and moved downwards so as to engage
the plate and move it downwards as shown by the arrow B. The notch
53 of the plate therefore receives the portions of the flanges
below the slots 54, 55 whereby the flanges are firmly secured
together. The blade or the like is then withdrawn.
* * * * *