Patent Publication Number: US-2011061325-A1

Title: Floor assembly as well as panel suitable for such a floor assembly

Description:
The invention relates to a floor assembly comprising at least two adjacent panels, which are each provided with ribs extending at least along sides of the panel, at least one rib being provided with at least one opening extending through the rib, through which a securing element extends for securing ribs extending parallel to each other of said adjacent panels together. 
     The invention also relates to a panel suitable for such a floor assembly. 
     In such an assembly, which is known from Canadian patent CA-586,557, the ribs and the beams extend on the underside of the panel, so that installing pipes and cables in the spaces located between the beams and the ribs and through the beams and the ribs is a laborious process, because the cables and pipes must be prevented from sagging under the influence of the force of gravity. The beams and the ribs are identical to each other, so that the mechanical behaviour of the floor assembly obtained at the location of the secured-together ribs of adjacent panels is different from that obtained at the location of the beams. 
     The object of the invention is to provide an improved floor assembly, in which the above-described drawbacks are obviated. 
     This object is accomplished with the floor assembly according to the invention in that each panel at the upper side thereof is furthermore provided with at least one beam extending parallel to the ribs, which beam is provided with a channel extending transversely to the beam, whilst the beam and the two secured-together ribs of adjacent panels are of substantially identical construction for uniformly supporting a finishing floor supported by the ribs and the beam. 
     The beam strengthens the panel, whilst cables and/or pipes may extend through the channel in the beam. The cables and/or pipes are supported on the panel in that case. 
     Passages in the ribs and the channel in the beam are preferably in line with each other, so that laying the cables or the pipes through the ribs and beams is relatively easy. 
     The ribs are secured together and pulled together by means of the securing element, so that a strong connection between two adjacent panels is realised. 
     Since each panel is provided with ribs on two sides extending parallel to each other, it is possible to position a number of panels beside each other and connect said panels together in pairs. 
     Since the beam and the two secured-together ribs of adjacent panels are of substantially identical construction, the mechanical behaviour of the floor assembly near the beam is substantially the same as the mechanical behaviour of the two secured-together ribs of adjacent panels. As a result, a finishing floor present at the upper side of the panels is optimally supported by the ribs and the beam. Furthermore, it is thus possible to optimise the amount of material required for the ribs and the beams, so that a constructionally equivalent construction of the beam and the two secured-together ribs is obtained while using a minimum amount of material. 
     Such a constructional equivalence can be obtained, for example, if the beam has the same length and height as a rib, but a thickness substantially twice that of a rib. Since the ribs are secured together by means of securing elements, which affect the mechanical behaviour of two secured-together ribs, the ribs may have a width which is not exactly half the width of a beam. The optimum dimensions both of the beam and of the ribs may be determined by experiment or by theoretic modelling. 
     It is noted that in a floor assembly which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,830, a number of panels are positioned adjacent to each other, whilst ribs of two adjacent panels extend parallel to each other. The ribs are present on an underside of the panels. Each panel is bevelled on a side remote from the ribs, so that a V-shaped groove is formed between two adjacent panels. Said V-shaped groove is filled with concrete for the purpose of attaching the adjacent, panels together. 
     A drawback of such a floor assembly is that concrete needs to be poured upon placement of the panels. If the concrete does not fill the V-shaped grooves completely, an uneven upper surface is obtained, whilst the poured concrete forms a projection on the panels if too much concrete is poured into the V shaped grooves. 
     One embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that at least the ribs of adjacent panels are each provided with at least one opening extending through the ribs, whilst the securing element extend through opposed openings of ribs adjacent to each other. 
     After the panels have been positioned adjacent to each other, the securing element can be passed through the opposed openings and subsequently the panels can be secured together by means of a securing element. 
     Another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the securing element comprises at least one bolt extending through the openings and a nut screwed onto said bolt. 
     The securing element may also comprise at least one stud and nuts screwed onto the two ends of said stud. 
     Such a bolt or stud can be readily passed through the opposed openings, whereupon the panels can be pulled tightly together by tightening (a) nut(s). 
     Another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that each opening tapers off in the direction of the associated panel, whilst the securing element comprises a conical element which is located in said tapered openings. 
     The conical element causes the panels to be aligned relative to each other upon being pulled against each other, thereby precisely positioning the panels relative to each other. 
     Yet another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the securing element is connected to a rib of a first panel with one side, whilst the securing element extends through an opening in a rib of the adjacent second panel. 
     The securing element does not extend through the two ribs of adjacent panels, but it is connected to a rib of a first panel, which was realised during production of the panel, for example. A strong connection between the two adjacent panels is then realised by positioning the opening in the rib of the adjacent second panel over the securing element. 
     Yet another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the rib is provided with a passage extending transversely through the rib. 
     Cables or pipes can be passed through the passage extending through the rib. 
     Yet another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that a support extending transversely to the rib is located between the ends of the rib and the beam or another rib. 
     The rib and the support preferably lie in a plane on a side remote from the panel, so that a wall can be positioned on the rib and/or the support in a simple manner. The rib and the support preferably extend on an upper side of the panel. 
     Another embodiment of the floor assembly according to the invention is characterised in that the rib is provided with a recess near one end thereof. 
     In such a recess, a cable duct can be provided in a simple manner, for example. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel of the floor assembly according to the invention and of securing elements to be connected to the panel; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the panels shown in  FIG. 1 , with securing elements provided therein; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a floor assembly built up of the panels and the securing elements shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the floor assembly according to the invention in the direction indicated by the arrow IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the floor assembly according to the invention in the direction indicated by the arrow V-V in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the panel shown in  FIG. 1 , in which the panel supports a finishing floor; 
         FIG. 7  is a larger-scale view of a part of the floor assembly shown in  FIG. 6  at the location of the beam; 
         FIG. 8  is a larger-scale view of a part of two coupled-together panels at the location of the ribs; 
         FIG. 9  shows a second embodiment of a panel according to the invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a further embodiment of a panel according to the invention; 
         FIG. 11  shows a fourth embodiment of a panel according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     Like parts are indicated by the same numerals in the figures. 
       FIGS. 1-5  show a panel  1  according to the invention, which comprises a concrete slab  2 , concrete ribs  3  extending along two sides of said concrete slab  2  and a concrete beam  4  extending between the ribs  3 . The slab  2 , the ribs  3  and the beam  4  are preferably formed as an integral whole. Each rib  3  is provided with a number of openings  5  extending transversely through the ribs  3  and with passages  6  located between said openings, which extend transversely through the ribs  3 . 
     The openings  5  taper off from a side remote from the beam  4  to a side that faces the beam  4  (see  FIG. 4 ). The beam  4  is provided with channels  7  extending transversely through the beam  4 , which channels are coaxial with the passages  6  in the ribs  3 . Concrete supports  8  are located between ends of the ribs  3  and the beam  4 , which supports lie in the same plane, on a side remote from the slab  2 , as the sides of the ribs  3  and the slab  4  remote from the slab  2 . 
     The floor assembly according to the invention further comprises securing elements  9 , which each comprise a conical element  10  and a stud  11  extending through the conical element  10 . Washers  12  and nuts  13  can be attached to the two ends of the stud  11 . To form a floor, a panel  1  is placed on a support with the ends of the ribs  3  and the beam  4 , which are preferably located on an upper side of the slab  2 . Following that, ends of the studs  11  are inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow P 1  into the openings  5  of the rib  3  of the panel being placed, until the conical element  10  abuts against the tapered opening  5 . A second panel  1  is then positioned beside the panel  1  that is already in place, and the studs  11  are passed through the openings  5  of the rib  3  that faces the panel  1  that is already in place. Washers  12  and nuts  13  are attached to both ends of the studs  11 . The ribs  3  are moved together and secured together by tightening the nuts  13 . The conical element  10  effects an alignment in horizontal direction is effected, as a result of which the ends of the ribs  3  are positioned in one plane. At the same time an alignment in vertical direction is taking place, as a result of which the undersides  14  (see  FIG. 4 ) are positioned in one and the same plane. 
     When adjacent panels  1  are secured together, a floor assembly  15  as shown in  FIG. 3  is obtained. In the floor assembly  15  thus formed, the channels  6  in the ribs  3  likewise extend coaxially (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     After the floor assembly  5  has been formed, cables and pipes can be laid on the slabs  2  through the openings  6  and the channels  7  across the entire floor assembly. Following that, a preferably removable, finishing floor  16  is laid on the floor assembly  15  (see  FIGS. 6-8 ). 
     Preferably, strips  17  are located between the finishing floor  16  and the ribs  3  and the beam  4 , which strips separate the ribs  3  and the beam  4  on the one hand and the finishing floor  16  on the other hand acoustically and/or thermally from each other. The beam  4  and the ribs  3  secured together by means of the securing elements  9  have a width B and b, respectively. Said widths B, b have been determined by experiment or theoretically, such that the beam  4  and the secured-together ribs, which have an overall width 2b, will exhibit substantially the same mechanical behaviour. 
     When the short end sides of the panels  1  extending transversely to the ribs  3  are positioned on a separation between two spaces, it is possible to position a wall on the supports  8  and the ends of the beam  4  and the ribs  3  after the placement of the floor assembly  15 . 
       FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a panel  21  according to the invention, which is different from the panel  1  in that the ribs  3 , the beam  4  and the slab  2  are provided with tubes  22  extending in the longitudinal directions of the ribs  3  and the beam  4 , in which cables or pipes can be laid. 
     The tubes  22  are provided in the slab  2  near the ribs  3  and the beam  4 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a panel  31  according to the invention, which is different from the panel  21  in that the tubes  22  are provided in the slab  2  between the ribs  3  and the beam  4 . Such tubes  22  may be used as climate control pipes, for example. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a panel  41  according to the invention, which is different from the panel  1  in that the ribs  3  and the beam  4  are provided with recesses  42 ,  43  near the supports  8 , in which recesses a cable duct may be provided, for example. 
     According to another possibility, the supports  8  are integral with the rest of the panel  1 . 
     It is possible to provide the ribs with a fire-resistant seal at the long sides and the short sides. 
     It is possible to provide the ribs  3  and the beams  4  with an acoustic separation layer or a sound-absorbing layer on a side remote from the slab  2 . 
     It is also possible to anchor one end of a stud  11  in a rib, with the other end of the stud  11  extending through an opening in an adjacent rib. 
     The stud  11  may also be movable with respect to the conical element  10 , in which case the stud  11  has been moved so far into the conical element  10  upon positioning the panels beside each other that the stud  11  does not form a projection. After said positioning, the stud  11  can be passed through the conical element  10  and the opening  5  of the adjacent rib  3 . 
     It is also possible to leave out the conical element  10 . 
     It is also possible to have the ribs extend both along the long sides and along the short sides of the slab  2 , so that the panels can be secured together both on their long sides and on their short sides. 
     Instead of using bolts of studs, it is also possible to secure the panels together by means of other securing elements, for example turnpin-like or pop rivet-like elements.