DEEP RIBBED COMPOSITE THERMOINSULATING PANEL

Abstract: A deep ribbed composite thermoinsulating panel, comprising a metal outer facing (2) and a metal inner facing (4) between which an insulating layer (6) of expanded material is interposed, and also comprising on the outer facing (2) a female rib (12) provided along one longitudinal edge, and a male rib (14) provided along the opposite longitudinal edge and containing a longitudinal groove (22) engageable by a bent edge (16) of the female rib (12) of the adjacent panel, characterised in that: the female rib (12) comprises a longitudinal undercut (18) facing said bent edge (16), the male rib (14) presents a continuous longitudinal cut-away part (24) bounded externally by a bent edge (26) of said outer facing (2), and the male rib (14) comprises a plurality of elastic plates (30) distributed in the direction of its length and possessing a tooth for their coupling to the undercut (18) of the female rib (12) of the adjacent panel.

Description: DEEP RIBBED COMPOSITE THERMOINSUIATING PANEL This invention relates to a deep ribbed composite thermoinsulating panel. Deep ribbed composite thermoinsulating panels are known, comprising two metal facings and an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The two facings are preferably in the form of galvanized steel, aluminium, copper or stainless steel sheet, and the insulating layer is of foamed polyurethane or mineral wool. They are mainly used in roof construction. In particular, panels are known comprising a solid longitudinal rib (male rib) along one edge and a hollow longitudinal rib (female rib) along the opposite edge. During installation, the male rib of an already installed panel already fixed to the underlying purlins is embraced by the female rib of the adjacent panel, so providing roof continuity. A drawback of these known panels is that their installation requires the use of screws, which pass through the tow facings and are fixed into the underlying purlins. There is hence the need to drill the panel, involving the risk of infiltration through the roof when formed. Another drawback is that to prevent such infiltration or to rapidly disperse it, the panels have to be arranged with a slope of not less than 7°. A further drawback is that the screws for fixing the panels to the purlins must be of special type, in particular with their head comprising a plastic coating, to prevent any alteration with time due to the climatic conditions to which they are exposed. A further drawback is that as the joint between adjacent panels is made substantially at the purlins, to which both are fixed, there is no guarantee of tight fitting between the panels in those regions removed from the purlins, because the inevitable deformation to which the panels are subjected, for example because of their weight, means that perfect mating between their adjacent edges cannot be ensured. According to the invention all these drawbacks are eliminated through a deep ribbed composite thermoinsulating panel as described in claim 1. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure l is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective detailed view of one of the elastic plates provided on one edge of the panel in correspondence with the solid rib; Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective detailed view of a panel during its connection to another panel already fixed to the purlins; Figure 4 is an animated detailed view of the connection between two panels shown in cross-section taken at a purlin fixing screw; and Figure 5 shows the same animated detail shown in cross- section taken at an elastic plate. As can be seen from the figures, the panel according to the invention comprises an outer metal facing 2, an inner metal facing 4 and a layer of insulating material 6 interposed between the two. The outer facing 2 is in the form of sheet metal, preferably of galvanized steel, aluminium, copper or stainless steel, either bare or prepainted on its inside to facilitate gripping by the layer of insulating material 6. It comprises tall longitudinal ridges 8 the purpose of which is to stiffen the product and to create channels for dispersal of rain water, and also comprises light transverse ridges 10 having the double purpose of stiffening and of making slight face planarity defects. In the embodiment shown on the drawings, the panel comprises a single inner longitudinal ridge 8 of trapezoidal shape, filled internally with the same thermoinsulating material as forms the layer 6. The inner facing 4 is of flat sheet metal, generally of lesser thickness than the outer facing 2 and preferably of galvanized steel or aluminium sheet, bare or prepainted on its outer side and prepainted on its inner side to facilitate gripping by the insulating layer 6. The insulating layer 6 can consist of a single material or can be composed of several materials; the most commonly used materials are foamed polyurethane and mineral wool, preferably of orientated fibre type. In the panel according to the invention the outer facing 2 extends beyond the longitudinal edge of the panel to form a female rib 12 which on installing the panel is made to embrace, as described hereinafter, the male rib 14 provided along the opposite edge of the adjacent panel. The female rib 12 has an inwardly bent free edge 16 and, in a position facing this, an undercut 18. At the same edge of the panel according to the invention, the insulating layer 6 extends in proximity to the inner facing 4 to form a sort of longitudinal ridge 20 covered by the facing itself. The male rib 14 provided along the opposite edge of the panel differs from the central trapezoidal ridge 8, and in particular comprises in that side facing the panel interior a groove 22, and presents on the opposite side a longitudinal cut-away part 24, completely covered by the outer facing 2 and having its free edge 26 bent upwards to externally bound said cut-away part 24. Along the same edge of the panel, the insulating layer 6 comprises a further longitudinal cut-away part 28 substantially complementary to the ridge 20 provided along the opposite edge and, as in the case of this latter, covered by the inner facing 4. To the outer facing 2 there are also applied a plurality of coupling elements 30, consisting of elastic plates each provided with a tooth 32 cooperating, as described hereinafter, with the undercut 18 of the female rib 12. The elastic plates 30 are fixed to the lower side of the outer facing 2 at equal distances apart, preferably by a continuous automatic process. The procedure for installing the panels according to the invention is as follows: - the first panel is positioned on the purlins 34 and is securely fixed to it by screws 36, which are applied at the longitudinal cut-away part 24, to pass through both the facings 2 and 4 and the insulating layer 6, to engage in each purlin 34. A seal washer (not shown on the drawings) is preferably interposed between the head of each screw 36 and the underlying portion of outer facing 2. The bent outer edge 16 of the female rib 12 of the second panel, held inclined to the first panel, is then engaged in the longitudinal groove 22 of the male rib 14 of the first panel, after which the second panel is rotated, while maintaining the engagement, until it assumes a position coplanar with the first. In this manner the plates 30 are made to yield elastically towards the interior of the cut¬ away part 24 until the coupling tooth 32 of each plate 30 engages in the undercut 18 of the female rib 12 of the second panel, the ridge 20 of which engages in the cut-away part 28 of the first panel. On termination of this operation, ie when the second panel rests on the purlins 34 and is coplanar with the first panel, its ridge 20 is engaged in the cut-away 28 thereof and the undercut 18 of its female rib 12 is engaged by the coupling tooth 32 of all the elastic plates 30, the second panel can also be fixed by screws 36 to the purlins 34, to allow the third panel to then be installed, and so on until the roof is complete. From the aforegoing it is apparent that the panel according to the invention is considerably more advantageous than traditional panels, and in particular: - both facings 2 and 4 of each panel are engaged by the screws 36 which, because their head is located in the cut¬ away part 24 of each male rib 14 which is then covered by the corresponding female rib 12, are protected from the weather and can be of a type normally available commercially, ie without a plastic coating; - it ensures an effective connection between adjacent panels along the entire length of their contacting edges, and not only at the purlins; - all fixing points are totally hidden from view; - a longitudinal channel is present along the cut-away part 24 of each male rib 14; this channel is bounded externally by the upwardly bent edge of the outer facing 2, and because of the application of the elastic plates 30 to the lower side of the outer facing ensures complete dispersal of any water which may infiltrate into the joint. This complete dispersal achieved by virtue of the channel also enables the panel slope to be reduced from 7%, representing the currently minimum value, to 3%; - ensures an effective mechanical, connection between the outer facing 2 and the insulating layer 6 because of the application of the elastic plates 30 to the lower side of said outer facing.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A deep ribbed composite thermoinsulating panel, comprising a metal outer facing (2) and a metal inner facing (4) between which an insulating layer (6) of expanded material is interposed, and also comprising on the outer facing (2) a female rib (12) provided along one longitudinal edge, and a male rib (14) provided along the opposite longitudinal edge and containing a longitudinal groove (22) engagable by a bent edge (16) of the female rib (12) of the adjacent panel, characterised in that: - the female rib (12) comprises a longitudinal undercut (18) facing said bent edge (16) , - the male rib (14) presents a continuous longitudinal cut¬ away part (24) bounded externally by a bent edge (26) of said outer facing (2) , and - the male rib (14) comprises a plurality of elastic plates (30) distributed in the direction of its length and possessing a tooth for their coupling to the undercut (18) of the female rib (12) of the adjacent panel. 2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each elastic plate (30) is applied to the inner side of the outer facing (2) along the longitudinal cut-away part (24) . 3. A panel as claimed in claim 1, characterised by - 10 presenting along that longitudinal edge comprising the male rib (14) a longitudinal edge of the adjacent panel comprising the female rib (12) . 4. A panel as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the longitudinal cut-away part (28) and the ridge (20) are covered by the inner facing (4) .

Inventors: TOGNELLI GIORGIO, TOGNELLI, GIORGIO
Applicants: METECNO SPA, TOGNELLI GIORGIO, METECNO S.P.A., TOGNELLI, GIORGIO
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04C2
IPC codes: E04B7, E04C2, E04D3