Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03127040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
1
A hanger and installation thereof on a cladding panel
The present invention refers to a hanger and
installation thereof on a cladding panel.
A particular area where the invention can be of use is
installation of cladding panels of interior and exterior
façades, which guarantees safety of users and other
parties. The invention guarantees especially safe
installation of thin-walled cladding panels, having a
thickness of 3 mm or more. Cladding panels are usually made
of a respectively durable material, in particular a
material highly resistant to destructive atmospheric
conditions, in particular they are made of stone, mineral
mass, especially ceramic mass, which contributes to a
significant weight of façades installed on buildings.
There are known methods of installing cladding panels
on metal substructures, especially aluminum ones, using
certified adhesive systems. These systems use durable
elastic adhesives, which make it possible to adapt
dimensions of a cladding panel relative to a substructure.
Polish patent document no. PL 174021 discloses a
method of mounting installing elements on a building wall,
which consists in providing their rear face facing the
building wall with a permanently fixed layer of soft foam
material, favorably polyurethane material, onto which a
liquid adhesive mass is laid until its full volume is
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
2
saturated. Next, cladding elements are pressed onto a
building wall while the foam material layer is still soft,
with this mass of foam material being compressed. While the
soft foam material layer is compressed, the adhesive mass
is dried or cured until the soft foam material layer
reaches inelastic condition and its shape is stable.
Polish patent document no. PL 219887 discloses a
method, system and installation set for installation of
building tiles to a building partition with a binding
agent, said tiles being in particular ceramic or stone
tiles. This method comprises consecutive steps, such as
installing at least two longitudinal mounting elements in a
building partition, applying an adhesive thereto, sliding
at least one virtually cuboidal tile on these mounting
elements, said tile having at least on longitudinal
mounting recess formed over the entire tile length. This
method comprises also a stage of pressing a building tile
with mounting elements to an adhesive and a building
partition, and also stabilizing building tile position by
attaching at least two press-on stabilizing elements in the
building partition. The foregoing wall façade system
comprises multiple exterior building tiles, especially
ceramic or stone tiles installed on a building partition of
a building with the use of an adhesive and tile mounting
elements.
European patent document no. EP 2336444 discloses a
method of attaching insulation panels with the use of
assembly aid, which consists in attaching insulation panels
to a substrate, e.g. a wall, with an adhesive, usually an
adhesive foam. In particular, insulation panels are
provided as thermal and/or acoustic insulation panels, e.g.
insulation panels made of hard expanded polystyrene foam
(EPS), polyurethane foam (PUR), hard extruded polystyrene
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
3
foam (XPS), polyisocyanurate (PIR), mineral foam, hard
phenolic resin (PF), wooden wool, soft wooden fiber, cork,
hemp, sheep wool, and mineral wool, and others.
In the first stage of the method, a second insulation
panel, favorably made of polystyrene, is attached with an
adhesive mass to a substrate close to a first insulation
panel which is already attached. This first insulation
panel may also be mounted with an adhesive foam to a
properly cured substrate. The second insulation panel is
placed next to, favorably above, the first insulation panel
and is positioned in an appropriate way. In the second
stage of the method, at least one assembly aid is used. For
this purpose, a binding element is detachably connected to
the first insulation panel. It is achieved by inserting
connection prongs into the first insulation panel until the
abutment surface lies on the first insulation surface. At
the same time, abutment center should contact the second
insulation panel, specifically, the abutment surface area
of the abutment center should be located on the second
insulation panel. During the third stage of the method,
this assembly aid is removed. Favorably, it happens at the
moment after which adhesive foam is cured or one cannot
expect any change in the position of the second insulation
panel.
Polish patent application no. P.417531 "Anchor-free
system for fastening of cladding panels and a method of
fastening thereof" discloses an anchor-free system for
fastening of cladding boar elements which comprises a metal
base profile where two-element hangers are mounted. The
two-element hangers have the form of an upper element
coupled with a bottom element, advantageously with a screw.
The contact surface of this connection forms a horizontal
or inclined ledge, the central part of which is
CA 03127040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
4
advantageously provided with an opening to accommodate an
adjustment bolt. The vertical wall of the hanger's upper
element has at least one tongue placed at an angle relative
to the vertical surface of the hanger's upper element's
vertical wall. The vertical wall of the hanger's bottom
element has at least one tongue placed at an angle relative
to the vertical surface of the hanger's bottom element's
vertical wall. Each cladding panel is provided with incised
installation grooves for tongue fixing on the invisible
side. A method of fastening an anchor-free system for
fastening of cladding panels consists in gouging at least
two installation grooves on the invisible surface of a
cladding element, said grooves being directed at an angle
towards the inside of the invisible surface of this
cladding element. After that, along the direction of one
groove's installation depth, in line with the direction of
the installation groove, the tongue of the hanger's bottom
element is inserted. This tongue forms a part of a hitch.
After that, along the direction of another groove's
installation depth, in line with the direction of the
installation groove, the tongue of the hanger's upper
element is inserted. This tongue forms the other part of
the hitch. Afterwards, the upper and the bottom element of
the hanger are riveted, screwed or bolted together. Each
component of the two-element hanger is attached to the
invisible surface of a cladding panel element in line with
the direction of the actual installation groove.
In particular technological and structural cases, a
method of fastening an anchor-free system to cladding
panels uses assembly aid in the form of an adhesive applied
between installation grooves of the upper element tongue
and bottom element tongue suspension of the anchor-free
CA 031270 20217-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
system in the area of contact between the bottom element's
tongue and the cladding panel.
As it can be concluded from the foregoing, there are
no methods to easily, quickly and safely fasten thin-walled
and other cladding panels, both interior and exterior ones,
which would simultaneously use an adhesive mass and a
hanger according to this invention. In the present art,
installation of cladding panels at a construction site is
conducted by bonding panels directly to vertical profiles
of a load-bearing structure. To what extent this
installation is effective depends mainly on atmospheric
conditions during installation. Moisture, low and excessive
temperature as well as dust in the air have negative impact
on adhesive bonding quality. Therefore, it is problematic
to obtain the required strength properties of bonded
structures which are installed directly onsite. Thus, in
the previous art, correct installation of cladding panels,
including glass panels, in controlled conditions and by
bonding is conducted as workshop activity comprising
bonding of cladding panels to structural frames of the
suspension system. In one of the solutions, workshop is
where complete facade forms are made, having a form of a
frame with a cladding panel bonded thereto and ready for
installation. In the previous art one will not find any
connection between a system where interior and exterior
cladding panels are bonded with an adhesive and a system of
installing profiles and hangers, and other necessary
elements enabling installation on the inside faces of
cladding panels. In the known art, cladding panels are not
installed by simultaneous bonding and mechanical connection
of load-bearing structural elements. Either one or the
other solution is used.
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
6
The present invention refers to a hanger and its
installation on a cladding panel which is performed as
anchor-free mechanical installation with the aid of an
adhesive. The hanger according to the invention is made of
a profile, one surface of which is installed on the
invisible surface of a cladding panel, and which has a
permanently fixed upper installation profile on the other
side. Said profile has a bend on its upper and lower end,
and the outside edge of the upper and lower bend is in
direct contact with the invisible surface of the cladding
panel. Inclination angle of the upper and lower bend
relative to the hanger's profile ranges from 90 to 165 .
In the central part of the profile, there is an opening to
accommodate a mounting bolt or a mounting screw, or there
is a tongue which is permanently fixed. The central part of
the profile is in direct contact with the invisible surface
of the cladding panel, thus forming a contact area.
Favorably, a hanger has a lower installation profile
which is located below an upper installation profile which
is permanently fixed. The upper installation profile is
permanently connected with the hanger profile and it serves
to install the hanger with a cladding panel on a building
facade structure. The upper installation profile and the
lower installation profile of the hanger make it possible
to install the hanger with a cladding panel on an
installation structure which is located between a
building's exterior wall and a wall which is formed by
cladding panels being installed. This interior structure is
a basic element of a building's facade structure. The
hanger's profile forms its basic structural element and is
mounted directly on the invisible surface of the cladding
panel. The hanger's profile has a bend at its upper and
lower end. This bend's width is favorably equal to the
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
7
width of the hanger's profile. The upper and lower bend is
directed outside the hanger's profile relative to each
other. In the central part of the hanger's profile there is
an opening to accommodate a mounting pin or a mounting bolt
to fix the hanger to the invisible surface of the cladding
panel. This central part of the hanger's profile is in
direct contact with the invisible surface of the cladding
panel. Favorably, the hanger's profile, in its central part
on the side of contact with the invisible surface of the
cladding panel, instead of an opening, has a tongue which
is fixed over its entire width and which protrudes outside.
The tongue is perpendicular or at an angle ed relative to
the hanger's profile. Favorably, the hanger's tongue length
corresponds to the hanger's width. The hanger's profile
central part, having an opening to accommodate a mounting
pin or a mounting bolt, or having a tongue protruding
towards the outside, adheres directly to the invisible
surface of the cladding panel with its surface. Above and
below the opening for a mounting pin or a mounting bolt,
and also above and below the installed tongue, the hanger's
profile has a space in the area of contact with the
invisible side of the cladding panel, said space limited by
the profile's upper and lower bend. This space is filled in
with an adhesive during the installation
Favorably, the hanger's profile height is not greater
than the height of the cladding panel to which the hanger
is fixed.
Installation of the hanger on a cladding panel is a
combination of two systems for cladding panels installation
¨ a system of mechanical cladding panels installation and a
system of cladding panel installation with an adhesive.
Installation of the hanger on the invisible surface of the
cladding panel according to the invention consists in
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
8
making an installation opening on the invisible surface of
the cladding panel for each hanger so that a mounting bolt
or a mounting pin can be accommodated inside. If the hanger
with a tongue is used, a longitudinal installation groove
is gouged on the invisible surface of the cladding panel to
accommodate the tongue. Each longitudinal installation
groove is perpendicular or diagonal to the outer area of
the invisible surface of the cladding panel. Each
longitudinal installation groove has a length and depth
making it possible to passively insert a perpendicular or
diagonal tongue which is installed in the central part of
the hanger's profile. Inclination angle of the longitudinal
installation groove relative to the outer area of the
invisible surface of the cladding panel corresponds to an
inclination angle of the diagonal tongue installed on the
hanger profile.
After that, an adhesive is applied inside the
installation opening or inside the longitudinal
installation groove on the invisible surface of the
cladding panel, said adhesive sealing the connection of the
hanger with the invisible surface of the cladding panel.
The adhesive is also spread above and below the
installation opening, or above and below the installation
groove for accommodation of the tongue. This area is not
lesser than the area of contact between the invisible
surface of the cladding panel and the hanger's profile.
Next, the hanger profile is laid on the adhesive, thus
filling in thoroughly the space limited with the outer
bends of the profile. Next, a mounting bolt or a mounting
pin is inserted into the hanger's installation opening and
into an installation opening drilled into the cladding
panel. If the hanger with a tongue is installed, the
hanger's tongue fixed to its profile is inserted into the
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
9
installation groove at an appropriate inclination angle
relative to the groove. This tongue forms part of a hitch.
Next, a double-sided adhesive installation tape is
temporarily attached to the hanger's profile. As long as
the adhesive binds, mechanical loads related to the weight
of the cladding panel are transferred by this double-sided
adhesive tape attached beforehand. The outer bends of the
hanger, closing the inner space from the top and the
bottom, push out the excess adhesive to the sides, which
makes it possible to bond the hanger in such a way that the
adhesive fills in the entire space between the hanger and
the panel, assuring quality of the adhesive connection. In
such connection of the hanger and the cladding panel, the
adhesive used seals the connection.
Favorably, until the adhesive binds, in order to
secure the hanger profile and to keep the stability of the
cladding panel on an installation substructure, assembly
aid is used on the hanger profile in the form of double-
sided adhesive tape placed above and below the connection
element.
After binding, the adhesive bonds the hanger with the
cladding panel and secures the hanger against sliding off a
bolt, pin or tongue as a result of horizontal force caused
wind pressure or suction. The adhesive makes the cladding
panel stiffer in the area of the drilled opening or gouged
groove. The adhesive improves connection strength by
increasing connection resistance to shear force, and it
also fixes the hanger on the invisible surface of the
cladding panel in a permanent way. This feature results
from large elasticity of the adhesive connection relative
to the cladding panel and the hanger's profile.
As the adhesive is more elastic than the facade board and
the hanger, strain is diffused by using the entire space of
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
the opening or groove. Installation of the hanger is
performed with a single-element hanger which is connected
to a cladding panel with a mounting pin, mounting bolt or a
diagonal tongue according to this invention. Favorably,
installation of the hanger is performed with a multi-
element hanger connected to a cladding panel. Mechanical
installation of the hanger takes over the load directed
vertically to the bottom and/or to the top over the entire
height of the erected vertical building wall. Using an
adhesive makes it possible to achieve significant
elasticity of the connection relative to the cladding panel
and the hanger. In the area where the hanger is fixed, the
panel is made stiffer thanks to being coupled with the
hanger. The adhesive strengthens the panel and makes it
stiffer in the area where an opening or groove is made,
which at the same time increases strength of this
connection.
The hanger's profile is installed on the invisible
surface of the cladding panel in line with the direction of
the installation groove gouged into it. The adhesive used
fixes the hanger's profile to the invisible surface of the
cladding panel in a permanent way. The spots in which
openings or grooves are made on the invisible surface of
the cladding panel keep the hanger in position.
Favorably, any inaccuracy in drilling an opening or
gouging a groove is compensated by filling these areas with
an adhesive.
Favorably, the place where the hanger's profile is
installed on the invisible surface of the cladding panel
with an adhesive can be optically checked thanks to the
side elements of the hanger which make it possible to add
some adhesive or remove its excess.
CA 0=040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
11
Every cladding panel has at least two hangers
according to the invention mounted to its invisible side.
Favorably, a set of four hangers according to the invention
is mounted in the corners of the invisible surface of the
cladding panel. The hangers fixed are not interconnected.
Next, a cladding panel with hangers is installed on
structural profiles of the interior or exterior building
facade.
An advantage of the hanger and installation thereof to
a cladding panel is quick and safe installation of cladding
panels to substructures upholding a building facade. During
installation, no strains occur that would be caused by
various linear expansion properties of materials due to
change of temperature or absorption of water between a
cladding panel and only one element of the hanger inserted
into an installation opening or a diagonal installation
groove. The connection of the hanger and the cladding panel
has large elasticity given by the adhesive to the cladding
panel and hanger. Using adhesive during installation of
cladding panels secures firmly the hanger, preventing its
accidental rotation, and therefore it facilitates and
accelerates the process of cladding panels installation.
Using the adhesive makes it possible to correctly install
the hanger even if the invisible surface of the cladding
panel is rough, as it is compensated by a layer of
adhesive. A method of installing the hanger according to
the invention makes it possible to adapt the depth of
mounting bolt insertion in a stepless manner depending on
the cladding panel's thickness and to adapt the diameter of
a mounting bolt or mounting pin depending on strength
requirements. Using hangers according to the invention
makes it possible to safely install cladding panels at the
height of over 25 meters.
CA 03127040 2021-07-16
WO 2020/162769 PCT/PL2020/000009
12
An embodiment of the hanger according to the invention
is shown in a drawing, where Fig. 1 shows the hanger
connected with a cladding panel with a mounting bolt, Fig.
2 shows the hanger connected with a cladding panel with a
mounting pin, Fig.3 shows the hanger mounted with the use
of a diagonal tongue, Fig.4 shows the hangers with
permanently fixed upper and lower profile, Fig.5 shows the
hangers with the height lesser than the height of the
cladding panel with permanently fixed upper and lower
profile.
The hanger 2 made of a profile 3 has a permanently
fixed upper installation profile 4 and a lower installation
profile 11. Profile 3 has a flat bend 5 on its upper and
lower end. Outer edge of each flat bend 5 is in direct
contact with the invisible surface of the cladding panel 1.
In the central part of the profile 3 there is an opening 6
to accommodate a mounting pin 7 or a mounting bolt 8 or
there is a tongue 10 fixed permanently thereto. This
central part of the hanger 3 is in direct contact with the
invisible surface of the cladding panel 1 on contact
surface 9.
