ARRANGEMENT FOR A WALL OR ROOF CONSTRUCTION BUILT BY ELEMENTS

Abstract: The present invention concerns an arrangement for a wall or roof section constructed of elements (1), comprising a first extended U-shaped profile (2), or a track, and a second extended U-shaped profile (3), or a track, whereby the profiles (2, 3) are intended to take between them one or several sheet-shaped elements. Along the side surfaces of the element, a reactive material (4; 12), intended to meet the side surface of the neighbouring elements, is arranged that is capable of expanding (4'; 12') to at least ten times its own thickness on heating on a temperature that exceeds 100 DEG Celsius, filling and sealing against the neighbouring element. Furthermore, a track or a depression (7; 10) may be arranged along the side surface of the element for receiving the reactive material (4; 12) and the depression (7; 10) preferably demonstrates such a depth that the reactive material is located within the outer edges of the element when in its inactivated condition.

Description: Arrangement for a wall or roof construction built by elements The present invention concerns an arrangement for a wall or roof construction built of elements according to the introduction to claim 1. The building of walls from sheet-shaped wall elements or panels is known within marine applications. The wall elements are usually of a sandwich type and demonstrate an insulating and supporting sheet-shaped core with a thin layer of durable surface material on its primary surfaces. Such wall elements are arranged side-by-side for the building of a wall. Resistance to fire is important in marine applications. In order for walls built of elements to offer sufficient resistance to the spreading of fire and the gases that are associated with it, neighbouring elements are connected by mechanical fixing elements in order to resist deformation and leakage. Various types of such fixing elements are available, including screw connectors, barbs, locking beads, snap fixtures, etc. However, these fixing elements introduce disadvantageous properties, such as extra operations required during mounting and the fact that dismounting becomes more difficult, and in certain cases, impossible. It follows from this that exchange of damaged wall elements and occasions on which wall elements need to be temporarily removed in order to allow inspection are made more difficult or impossible. The fixing elements may also contribute in unfavourable cases to the transport of heat through a wall, something that is a disadvantage from the point of view of fire safety. It is an aim of the present invention to diminish or overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to achieve an arrangement for wall or roof constructions built from elements which meet the required fire safety classification and makes possible repeated mounting and dismounting of individual elements. This aim is achieved with an arrangement that has been mentioned for the first time above and that demonstrates the characteristics that are defined in the subsequent claim 1. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be made clear by the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which comprise examples and are thus not limiting for the protective scope of the invention. In order to make understanding more easy, references to the attached drawings have been added to the text, in which equivalent or similar parts have been given the same reference descriptor. Fig. 1 shows schematically walls constructed of elements with an arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows schematically an enlargement of a cross-section of a joint between the elements in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the joint according to Fig. 2 following the effects of a fire. Fig. 4 shows a profile design of a surface sheet for the element according to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 shows schematically an element according to Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 shows the joint according to Fig. 6 following the effects of a fire. Figs. 8 and 9 show schematically details of the embodiment according to Fig. 6. With reference to Fig. 1, a wall is built from sheet-shaped rectangular wall elements 1. The wall elements demonstrate two primary surfaces facing in opposite directions and four side surfaces that bind the primary surfaces together. Two of these are vertical side surfaces and two of them are horizontal side surfaces. At the top, against a ceiling for example, an extended upper U-shaped profile 2 that is open at the bottom, is arranged, or a track, following the line where the wall is to be built intended to receive the upper edge part of the wall elements. At the bottom, against the floor, a similar extended lower U-shaped profile 3, or a track, is arranged following the line where the wall is to be built intended to receive the lower edge part of the wall elements. By arranging the downwards stretching shafts of the upper U-shaped profile to be longer than the shafts of the lower U-shaped profile, and by arranging the profiles at a distance between the respective profile bottoms equivalent to the height of the wall elements with an addition for the shaft height of the lower profile, a wall element 1 can be mounted by placing it into the upper U-shaped profile 2 and subsequently guiding it into the lower U- shaped profile 3, after which the wall element is mounted and positioned in both profiles. Neighbouring wall elements are positioned in the profiles in a similar manner and pushed up against each other, forming the wall. In order to ensure that the neighbouring wall elements, which are not mechanically connected, form a tight seal in the event of a fire, a reactive sealant material 4 is arranged along at least one of the side surfaces of the wall element that are intended to be arranged against neighbouring wall elements, or on both of the vertical side surfaces. It is preferred that the reactive sealant material, as is shown in the example, is arranged on both of the two side surfaces that meet. The reactive material is capable of expanding to at least ten times its own thickness when heated to temperature exceeding 100° Celsius. The material can be applied, for example, in the form of a strip and it can be attached to the element by means of an adhesive. Thus, the reactive material has no function until a fire arises. This means that the wall elements, which are not mechanically connected to each other, can be dismounted or exchanged using simple operations, individually and without consideration of sequence. In the event of a fire, the temperature at the wall rises and the reactive material 4 expands 4' (see Fig. 3) and seals the space between neighbouring elements, even if the wall elements are somewhat deformed or displaced as a consequence of the development of heat or minor explosions. Examples are shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 of how an element may be constructed. A mineral wool core 5 in the shape of a sheet is provided on both of its primary surfaces with galvanised sheet steel 6. It is an advantage if the element is provided with a track 7 or with a depression along its vertical side surfaces in order to receive the material 4 that expands on heating. In this way, the sealant material is protected within the side edges of the element and does not affect the mutual mobility of the elements during mounting and dismounting, as long as the material 4 has not been activated. Furthermore, the track 7 provides a maintaining and strengthening influence during the expansion of the reactive material. In an alternative embodiment, which is schematically shown in Figs. 6-9, two parallel tracks 10 are each arranged along one of the vertical side surfaces of the wall element. Each track 10 is arranged along and next to one of the two primary surfaces 11 of the wall element. A strand of reactive material 12 is arranged at the bottom of the tracks 10. A U-shaped outwardly open profile beading 13 is arranged to lie along the strand in the track 10 of the strand 12. The track 10 is sufficiently deep such that the profile beading 13 is completely enclosed by the track 10 when the reactive material 12 is in its unaffected state. Thus the profile headings 13 do not introduce any influence on the possibility of mounting and dismounting the wall elements, in the same way as has been specified above. In the event of a rise in temperature to a temperature that activates the reactive material 12, this reactive material will, through its expansion 12', press the profile beading out, and the beading will in this way enter into interaction with the opposite profile beading in the neighbouring wall element, whereby an efficient sealing is achieved. As an example, the track in the latter embodiment can have a depth of 10 mm and a width of 15 mm, while the strand of reactive material may be 2 mm thick. It is then appropriate that the shafts of the profile element be 13 mm long. In this particular embodiment, the reactive material 12' nearest to the side of the fire will, as is shown schematically in Fig. 7, be the first to react. In this way, a mechanical locking and sealing between neighbouring wall elements is achieved. In the embodiments referred to above, the elements described will be exploited in the construction of wall sections. In alternative embodiments, the same or similar elements can be used for the construction of roof sections. In this case, it is to be understood that the elements that carry the U-shaped profiles are arranged in a manner that is intended for this, that is, arranged parallel and open towards each other in the plane in which it is intended to construct the roof section.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An arrangement for a wall or roof section constructed of elements (1) comprising a first extended U-shaped profile (2), or a track, a second extended U-shaped profile (3), or a track, whereby the profiles (2, 3) are intended to take between them one or several elements, characterised in that along the side surfaces of the element a reactive material (4; 12), intended to meet the side surface of the neighbouring elements, is arranged and that the reactive material (4; 12) is capable of expanding (4'; 12') on heating to a temperature that exceeds 100 ° Celsius to at least ten times its own thickness, filling and sealing against the neighbouring element. 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that a track or a depression (7; 10) is arranged along the side surface of the element to receive the reactive material (4; 12) and that the depression (7; 10) demonstrates such a depth that the reactive material is located within the outer edges of the element when in its inactivated state. 3. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the depression (7) demonstrates a greater width than depth. 4. The arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that two tracks (10) are arranged along the side surfaces of the element in direct association with the respective primary surface (11), that the reactive material (12) is arranged at the bottom of the track (10) and that a profile beading (13) is arranged on the reactive material in the particular track (10), whereby the profile beading (13) is pressed out and into interaction with the neighbouring element by its expansion on activation of the reactive material. 5. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the track (10) demonstrates a U-shaped profile, that the profile beading (13) demonstrates a U-shaped cross-section with a body section intended to rest on the reactive material (12) against the bottom of the track (10) and from which shafts stretch towards the opening of the strand supporting against the sides of the track. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 01 November 2001 (01.11.01); original claim 1 amended; remaining claims unchanged (1 page)] 1. An arrangement for a wall or roof section constructed of elements (1) comprising a first extended U-shaped profile (2), or a track, a second extended U-shaped profile (3), or a track, whereby the profiles (2, 3) are intended to take between them one or several elements, characterised in that along the side surfaces of the element a reactive material (4; 12), intended to meet the side surface of the neighbouring elements, is arranged and that the reactive material (4; 12) is capable of expanding (4'; 12') on heating to a temperature that exceeds 100 ° Celsius to at least ten times its own thickness, filling and sealing against the neighbouring element wherein the elements are suitable for repeated individual mounting and dismounting. 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that a track or a depression (7; 10) is arranged along the side surface of the element to receive the reactive material (4; 12) and that the depression (7; 10) demonstrates such a depth that the reactive material is located within the outer edges of the element when in its inactivated state. 3. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the depression (7) demonstrates a greater width than depth. 4. The arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that two tracks (10) are arranged along the side surfaces of the element in direct association with the respective primary surface (11), that the reactive material (12) is arranged at the bottom of the track (10) and that a profile beading (13) is arranged on the reactive material in the particular track (10), whereby the profile beading (13) is pressed out and into interaction with the neighbouring element by its expansion on activation of the reactive material. 5. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the track (10) demonstrates a U-shaped profile, that the profile beading (13) demonstrates a U-shaped cross-section with a body section intended to rest on the reactive material (12) against the bottom of the track (10) and from which shafts stretch towards the opening of the strand supporting against the sides of the track.

Inventors: JOHANSSON ANDERS, JOHANSSON, ANDERS
Applicants: ISOLAMIN AB, JOHANSSON ANDERS, JOHANSSON, ANDERS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, E04B2