WALL ELEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract: Wall element system comprising construction components (1) to be used in semi-permanent construction. Each of these construction components (1) is composed of concrete slabs (2) with insulating material (3) between them. A profile (4) is fitted around each construction component (1) so that they can be linked together. These profiles (4) are placed between the concrete slabs (2) and do not protrude from them. The wall component system includes coupling elements (7) to be placed in the profiles (4) to link construction components (1) vertically.

Description: Wall element system. The invention concerns wall element system consisting of construction components to be used in semipermanent construction, wherby each construction component is composed of concrete slabs with insulating material between them, a profile is fitted around each construction component so that they can be linked together. The Dutch patent application 8304116 describes a similar component system in which construction components are used for the construction of, for example, pavilion walls. This known construction component is provided with a crenellated profiled part, which partly protrudes from the concrete slabs and partly lies between them. When the system is assembled, the profiled part is couped to a corresponding profiled part of a standard which is held in the profile between the concrete slabs. This component system allows the construction of walls with both good sound-insulating properties and, after filling the joints with an appropriate hardening substance, sufficient cross stability and vandal resistance. Since the mixing and application of the hardening substance calls for the use of a wet construction method, walls built in this way cannot be dismantled non- destructively. Furthermore, relatively expensive labour is needed for mixing and application of the hardening substance. Since the weather, an important influence on a wet construction method, needs to meet a number of specific requirements, the construction personnel will not be able to work continuously. The purpose of the invention is to provide a light¬ weight component system specially aimed at the semi-permanent construction market, such as pavilion construction. It should be possible to assemble this system quickly by someone without any special training. The system should ^ guarantee sufficient stability and vandal resistance, and it should be able to be dismantled. For these reasons, the wall component system according to the invention is characterized in that it uses profiles which have.been provided between the concrete slabs and do not protrude from them and that coupling elements are placed in the profiles to link the construction components vertically. The advantage of the wall elementsystem according to the invention is that it is less vulnerable to shocks during loading, transport, storage on construction sites and during the actual process of building the wall. In practice it has proved impossible to pound the profile sunk between the concrete slabs. It will be possible to link horizontally construction components by means of the profiles fitted on the sides of the construction component. The corresponding profiles of, for example, a vertical coupling column, a standard or a corner column fit into these profiles. The components can be linked vertically using coupling elements which fit into the profiles at the top or bottom of the construction components. The invention also concerns a construction component to be used in the wall component system according to the invention. The internal and external walls of the wall component system are formed by the surfaces of the concrete slabs concerned. Especially for use in semi-permanent construction, they are finished on both sides during manufacture, rendering additional plastering, white-washing, painting and/or wall-papering unnecessary. This is one of the essential differences between the construction component as outlined in the invention, and rough concrete construction, or construction using bricks or concrete blocks. The construction component as described in the invention is on the one hand strong and resilient, and on the other hand, light and easy to handle. This, is due to the use of polymer concrete which contains polyester._Zrom an environmental point of view, the use of fibrous concrete and gypsum concrete is preferable to the use of purejpolymer concrete, as the former generally contain fewer polymers. The hard polymer concrete used in the construction component as described in the invention, will absorb forces sufficiently to be^able to guarantee the solidity of the system. Furthermore, the sandwich-like r-onstruction of the component, in combination with the rela vely high density of the polymer concrete, forms the basis for meeting the soundinsulation criteria which are particularly important in semi-permanent construction such as for classrooms or offices. Not only is fibrous concrete highly shock-resistant but, similar to gypsum concrete, it is also fire-proof and absorbs very little liquid, so that the insulating materials remain dry and the insulating qualities are retained longer. It can be manufactured with small tolerances, guaranteeing exact dimensions. The positive shrinking and expanding features of fibrous and gypsum concrete allow the construction components to be connected virtually without seams, guaranteeing exact dimensions over a longer period of time, and minimizing the risk of draught. Due to their relatively light weight and force resistance, various kinds of polymer concrete, including the very strong polyester concrete, are ideal for use in the construction component as described in the invention. Fibrous concrete and the recently developed gypsum concrete are especially suitable. These kinds of concrete will enable a 50% weight reduction compared to standard construction components with stone-like finish. In one version of the wall component system as described in the inventon, the profile is fully embedded in the insulating material. The advantage of the wall component system as described in the invention is that both the coupling elements and the standards are fully embedded in insulating material and out of contact with the concrete slabs. This prevents the occurrence of a cold bridge inside the wall and reduces the risk of local condensation. Another version of the wall component system as described in the invention features corresponding beveled contact surfaces at the top and bottom of the concrete slabs These surfaces are coupled to corresponding contact surfaces on a neighbouring construction component when the wall is assembled. The advantage of this latter version of the wall component system as described in the invention is that pointing is no longer necessary to obtain sufficient cross stability of the wall. Now a dry building method can be used and weather influences are not important anymore. Therefore erection of the wall is no longer influenced by prevailing weather conditions. The corresponding contact surfaces resting on top of each other, possibly in combination with force absorbing vertical standards, are capable of absorbing bearing forces from, for example, roof panels or roof frames. In this way it will even be possible to erect a storey on the pavilion without problems. The invention also concerns a method for manufacturing the construction component for use in semi¬ permanent construction. This method is as follows: polymer concrete slabs are manufactured with a thickness ranging from one to several centimeters. Two polymer concrete slabs are placed opposite each other and between them elements with profiles complimentary to the profile to be placed between the polymer concrete slabs and whereby the space between the polymer concrete slabs and the elements is filled with insulating material. The advantage of the work method for the manufacture of the construction component as described in the invention is that it is not necessary to press the concrete slabs onto each other, using a relatively large amount of energy, in order to achieve good adhesion of the insulating material to the concrete slabs. Gluing is not necessary either but it can be applied if desired. In addition to the previously mentioned advantages, polymer concrete has proved to have very good properties of adhesion to insulating material. The invention concerned makes full and good i-se of these properties in order to prevent detachment and separation of the slabs as a result of the forces exerted on them. Since the concrete slabs are not pressed on each other in the work method described in the invention, the insulating material is not pressed together and, in combination with sufficient force resistance, its thermal insulating properties are fully maintained. Also because of this, the eventual product, the construction component as described in the invention, will offer an optimum conbination of the positive features of the various materials for the application in question. The invention will hereinafter be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing in which identical elements bear identical numbers of reference. Fig. la, lb and lc show respectively a top view, a front view and a side view of a construction component as described in the invention for use in the wall component system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of two construction components as described in the invention to be connected to a standard by means of profiled ends; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the profiled ends of construction components as described in the invention which are to be mounted on eacht other, to be linked by means of a coupling element. Figures la, lb and lc show respectively a top view, a front view and a side view of a construction component l. Construction component 1 is composed of two parallel concrete slabs 2 between which a layer 3 of insulating material is poured. A somewhat H-formed or crenellated profile 4 as indicated in Fig. la is placed in the insulating material 3. Fig. 2 shows in retail how the corresponding ends of neighbouring construction components are linked horizontally by means of profile 4. Especially between adjoining concrete slabs of construction components, there will be a seam to allow the material to respond to temperature changes without giving rise to negative effects. In general, profile 4 will be shaped so that the dividing surface between two adjoining construction components staggers as much as possible. Thus the distance to be covered by sound-waves going form one side of the construction component to the other side is lengthened, ensuring the optimum sound resisting properties of such a staggered 5 profile. A standard 5, whether bearing or not, is situated between the profiled ends of the neighbouring construction components 1. This standard is fitted with profiles 6 which correspond with profiles 4. Fig. 2 clearly shows that standard 5 is covered with the insulating material 3. This 10 results in the important physical advantage that there is no cold bridge at the dividing surface between two construction components. Fig. 3 is cross-section showing how two construction components 1, to be placed on each other, are 15 linked by means of a coupling element 7. Coupling element 7 fits in the profiled ends 8 of the construction components. The coupling element shown has a very simple rectangular cross-section. The profiled end 8 is again staggered in order ___ to lenghten the distance. Concrete slabs 2 are fitted with 20 corresponding contact surfaces 9 and 10 which have been bevelled slightly. This makes them more watertight and gives better cross stability. Furthermore, pointing is no longer necessary. A dry building method can be used for constructing a wall. 25 Polyurethane foam could be used as insulating material. Lightweight polymer concrete containing polyester, fibrous concrete or gypsum concrete is best used for manufacturing concrete slabs 2. Such synthetic concrete slabs can be thin 30 without reducing stability and shock resistance. The contact surfaces or profiles concerned can be glued for the construction of a so-called windbracing. However, the wall component system can no longer be easily sidmantled. The construction components are manufactured 35 preferably with polymer concrete slabs ranging in thickness from one to several centimeters. The slabs may be placed 6-10 cm apart. Elements with a profile that is complimentary to or that forms the counterpart of the profile to be placed near the edges of the slabs. The space which has now been' created is filled with an appropriate hardening insulating liquid. Before filling this space with the insulating material, glue van be applied on the sides of the fibrous concrete slabs facing this space.

Claims: C A I M S 1. Wall element system, comprising construction components to be used in semi-permanent construction, whereby each construction component is composed of concrete slabs with insulating material between them, whereby each construction component is provided with profiles all round allowing mutual coupling of the construction components characterized in that the profiles are provided between the concrete slabs and do not protrude from them, and that the wall element system includes coupling elements which are placed in the profiles to link the construction components vertically. 2. Wall element system according to claim 1, with the profile fully embedded in the insulating material. 3. Wall element system according to claim 1 or 2, with corresponding bevelled contact sufaces at the top and bottom of the concrete slabs which are coupled to corresponding contact bevelled surfaces on a neighbouring construction component during assembly of the wall. 4. Construction component for use in the wall element system according to any one of the claims 1-3. 5. Construction component according to claim 4 with concrete slabs containing polymer concrete. __ 6. Construction component according to claim 5 with polymer concrete containing polyester. 7. Construction component according to claims 5 or 6 with concrete slabs containing fibrous concrete and/or gypsum concrete. 8. Method for manufacturing the construction component for use in semi-permanent construction, characterized in that polymer concrete slabs are manufactured with a thickness ranging from one to several centimeters, that two polymer concrete slabs are placed opposite each other and between them elements with profiles complimentary to the profile to be placed between the polymer concrete slabs, and that the space between the polymer concrete slabs and the elements is filled with insulating material. . e o as accor ng o c a m , w g ue - applied to the sides of the polymer concrete slabs facing the space before filling this space with insulating material.

Inventors: VONKEN HAROLD JOHANNES THEODOR, VONKEN, HAROLD, JOHANNES, THEODORUS
Applicants: REWA BUDEL BV, REWA BUDEL B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04C2
IPC codes: E04C2