Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a composite builcing
panel.
M~ny attenlpts have been made to devise cost
effective methods of building COnStrUCtiGn, especially for
domestic dwellings. This has lead to the concept of modular
systems of building using pre-fabricated elements which are
adapted to be assembled on site These modular systems
usually include pre-fabricated composite panels for internal
and external walls, adjacent panels of the structure being
either joined together in edge to edge fashion or via an
intermediate ~"ember which forms a stud between the top and
bottom plates. Preferably the pre-fabricated elements are
of lightweight construction (hence the use of composite
panels) as generally speaking the lighter t~e material from
which the structure is formed then the lighter the member
supporting the structure can be with the result that a
structure can be manufactured which is very economical so
far as building materials are concerned.
If a structure is made of the lightest materials
possible it becomes prone to the effects of high wind
loadings. ~iost conventional methods of construction using
wood, brick, stone and concrete have sufficient dead load
inherent in the structure to prevent them from being severly
damaged or demolished in situations of high wind loadings.
The high dead load of conventional methods of construction
however can, during seismic loadings, generate extremely
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high forces within the structure and these high forces ha~e
to be dissipated saticfactorily ~i,thout undue deflection or
distortion. ~ major cdvantase of a structure made of
lightweight material is its resistance to seismic loadings.
Earthquakes generate ground undulations and
lateral movements which impose an acceleration vertically
and horizontally but more particularly horizontally. These
accelerations cause the structure or the elements cf the
structure to be accelerated and moved laterally or
horizontally though in most cases in both directions at once
with the degree of acceleration and deflection being
directly prGportional to the mass of the structure. A light
con~truction thus has insufficient weight to be excited by
ground movement and therefore the effect upon it of seismic
loading is virtually non-existent. Accordingly the amount
of bracing and stiffness built into composite panels used in
modular type constructicns together with the connections
thereof with the roofing construction and floor/foundation
construction must be sufficient to ensure that small loads
induced by seismic activity can be coped with and dissipated
satisfactorily.
It is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide â composite building panel which is
able to be readily and economically constructed from
lightweight building materials but is so constructed and
arranged as to be able to withstand wind loadings and
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27661-2
dissipate small loadings induced by seismlc activity.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is
provided a composite building panel comprising a parallel and
spaced-apart pair of substantially rigid side members; at least a
pair of substantially rigid transverse members disposed between
said side members atf or adjacent, respective ends ~hereof and
normal thereto; a body portion of foamed plastic makerial
accommodated within the area defined by said side and transverse
members; a cladding panel overlying each face of said body
portion; and a pair of bracing members, of thin cross-section and
high tensile strength, dlsposed between at least one of said
cladding panels and said body portion, said bracing members
extending be~ween diagonally - opposed corners defined by said
side and transverse members; characterised 1n that said transverse
members are not mechanlcally afixed to said side members but only
in abutting relationship therewith; and in that said transverse
members are afflxed to said bracing members.
Preferably, there are additional, substantially rigid
transverse members disposed between the side members intermediate
~he said at least one pair of transverse members.
In order that the reader may gain a better understanding
of the present invention, hereinafter will be descrlbed ~ertain
preferred embodlments thereof, by way of example only, and with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of one lorm o~ ~he
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composite panel, with a cladding panel removed;
Fig~lre ~ is a fragmentary cide view of thecomposite panel shown in Figure 1 but drawn to a larer
scale, with the side member removed for clarity.
Figure ~ is a plan view of a further form of the
composite panel, again with a cladding panel removed.
The panel 10 in its preferred embodiment is
formed from a pair of rigid side members 11 which are formed
from extruded aluminium and are preferably Gf such
cross-sectional shape that the side member 11 of one panel
can mate with the side mem.ber of another panel. In the
preferred form ~he side members 11 are such that they mate
in a snaplock fitting arrangement so that a positive
connection between adjacent panels is formed. Extending
between the ends of the side members 11 are transverse
members 12 which are once again of extruded aluminium
constructlon. In the preferred form of construction the two
end transverse members 12 are not fastened directly to the
side members 11. Also according to the preferred form of
the invention and as more clearly shown in Figure 2 the
cross-sectional shape of each end transverse member 12 has a
tongue portion 13 which can fit into a suitably dimensioned
and shaped recess in an extruded aluminium element which
forms the top and bottom plates of a modular building
construction system.
Each side of the frame which is effectively
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formed by the side members 11 and end transverse members 12
is clad with a panel 14 and 15. ~here the composi~e panel
10 is to form an exterior wall the panel 15 (which in use of
the composite panel 1~ will form the outer surface of the
building constructic,n) is formed by a manufactured cement
panel such as fibrous cement. The panel 14 which is to form
the inner wall surface of the wall is in the preferred form
of the invention constructed from a manufactured panel such
as gibralta board or a particle board. Panels 1~ and 15 are
pop rivete~ to the side members 11 and end transvrse members
12.
Saridwiched between the two panels 14 and i5 may
be one or more blocks 16 of a foamed plastic material. In
the form of the panel illustrated in Figure 1 three such
blocks 16 are incorporated and these blocks are preferably
of a polystyrene foam. Additional transverse members 17 are
located between adjacent blocks 16 and in the preferred form
of the invention these transverse members 17 are of channel
cross-section with the distance between the flanges thereof
being sufficient to enable the edge of one block to be
inserted therein. Once again in the preferred form of the
invention these transverse members are not mechanically
fastened to the side members 11.
The panel is completed by one or two sets of
bracing members 18. This cross bracing 18 is formed by a
pair of thin cross-section straps 19 constructed from a
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high-tensile ~,aterial such as steel or a plastic Gr
compo~ite plastic strap. The members 19 are pop rivcted at
their ends ~o the corners Gf the panel formed by the side
members 11 and transverse members 12 and are also fastened
along their lengths to the transverse members 17. Once
again it is preferred that the method of attachment is by
pop rivetirg. ~.h~re the panel ls for an eY~ternal wall and
thus the outside panel 15 is of a cement construction, then
bracir.g members are not provided on that side of the frame
so as to ens-lre that undue distortion of the panel 15 does
not occur.
The composite panel 1~ is cf a very
straightforward construction and according to the preferred
method of r.~anufacture is built within a jig. By means of
this method of construction one of the panels, say panel lS,
i5 laid within the jig and then placed on top of that panel
but within the confines of the jig are the side members 11
and end transverse members 12. The inside face of the panel
is then coated with a contact adhesive as are the facing
surfaces of the polystyrene blocks 16 whereupon the two end
blocks are placed in position and preferably these have
engaged thereon the transverse members 17. The central
block 16 is then placed in position. The bracing members 13
are then laid in position and drilled and pop riveted to the
corners and transverse members. No pretensioning of the
members 19 is required. The upwardly facing surfaces o~ the
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block 16 are then coated with a further contact ad'nesive and
the facing panel 1~ is placed in position. Following this
the facing panel 14 is pop riveted to the aluminium side and
transverse members following which the panel is removed ~-rom
the jig, turned over and the panel 15 then pop riveted to
the aluminium side and transverse members to thereby
complete construction o~ the panel.
It wlll be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that when the panel is used in a modular building system
the panel shown in Fiaure 1 forms a basic wall panel without
any so-called "reveals" for windows or doors. lhe
constructicn of the panel can readily be modified so as to
provide such reveals and reference is made to Figure 3 o,
the drawings wherein a panel suitably modified is proviaed
with reveal 2~ for a window frame to be inserted therein.
The composite panel according to the present
invention is most suited for a modular type building
construction using lightweight materials. For example the
construction can be formed primarily from aluminium material
and manufactured panels. The roof trusses, top and bottom
plates, floor bearers and joists can all be formed from
aluminium componentry of suitable dimensions and
cross-sectional configurations. The construction panels are
butted together preferably in a locking arrangement so that
the side members 11 of adjacent panels effectively combine
to form studs. In the finished construction continuous
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bolts extend from the founaation to the trusses and these
bolts are tensioned ~hen the structure is ~ully erected so
as to preload or prestress the wall panels 10 to ensure that
wind load uplift is carried without the initial deflection
which normal modec Gf construction have to develop before
they can carry the ~ind load. The bracing and stiffness
built into the panels 10 together ~ith the bracing and the
connections formed by t:he continuous bolts between the
trusses and oundations ensure that small loads induced by
seismic activity are coped with and dissipated without any
undue deflection or distortion taking place.
The composite panel according to the present
invention is of lightweight construction, can be readily and
quickly constructed and is economic so far as use of
materials and labour is concerned. ~onetheless, the
particular construction and arragement of the panel ensures
that the panel can be employed in situations where high wind
loadings are experienced and it is able to dissipate small
loads induced by seismic activity.
From the abovegoing, the reader will readily
appreciate that composite building panels made in accordance
with the present invention will provide the public with a
new or much-improved building component or, at the very
least, offer to it a useful and attractive choice.
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