GB2247900A

GB2247900A - Spacer for double-skin building panel

Info

Publication number: GB2247900A
Application number: GB9019863A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Wallwork; Martyn Tyers
Original assignee: PRECISION METAL FORMING Ltd
Current assignee: PRECISION METAL FORMING Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-11
Filing date: 1990-09-11
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Also published as: GB9019863D0

Abstract

Two skins of a double-skin building panel are spaced apart by a bracket/channel section combination, wherein the channel 10 has outwardly extending flanges 8 which are gripped by jaws or recesses of the bracket, the other end of which has a flange for attachment to one of the skins, e.g. via a screw-hole. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or relating to Double-Skin Walls This invention relates to a system for spacing apart the skins of a double-skin wall or roofing panel.

Such a spacer system is required to separate two skins of e.g.

profiled metal sheet in a building envelope so as to accommodate insulation materials of different types and thicknesses.

Currently the 'standard' method is to use a 'Z' section of the appropriate web depth combined with a plastic ferrule. With the demand for ever increasing thickness of insulation the deeper 'z' sections become unstable and expensive giving the need for an alternative solution.

We have now devized a system which uses a channel section with outwardly-extending flanges which is engaged with a spacer bracket which may be of varying depth depending on the desired spacing between the skins.

This invention consists of a double-skin wall or roofing panel, wherein the two skins are spaced apart by means of a channel member adapted to be attached to one skin and having a pair of walls with outwardly extending longitudinal flanges, and a plurality of brackets adapted to be fixed to the other skin and having pairs of jaws adapted to grip the flanges of the channel member.

The brackets may be slid on to the flanges of the channel member and then secured by twisting them so that they grip the flanges of the channel.

In the alternative, the bracket web may be split into two sections and the action of fixing may cause these sections to close together to grip the flanges of the channel member.

Normally the bracket will have a right angled flange pierced by one or two fixing holes, for fixing the bracket to the relevant skin.

In a second aspect the invention consists of a bracket for use in a spacer system as defined above, wherein the bracket has a fixing flange, perforated by a fixing hole or holes, an upstanding web and a pair of jaws or recesses cut into the web at the end remote from the flange, these jaws being adapted to embrace the outwardly-extending flanges of an associated channel-member.

Some of the advantage of the spacer system, according to this invention may be enumerated as follows:1. Shape of bracket plus screw hole location means that a single fixing per bracket can be installed with a standard screw gun, whenh channel-section is in place.

2. Design of system ensures high stability to accommodate very thick insulation.

3. System is very economic.

4. The system requires approximately half the number of fixings than existing standard system.

5. The system minimises cold-bridging.

The invention will now be further described by reference to the accompanying 4 figures of diagrammatic drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows one design of bracket for use in the spacer system according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 shows the bracket of Figure 1 in engagement with an inverted channel section to form a spacer system according to the invention.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative design of bracket for use in the system according to the invention.

FIGURE 4 shows this second bracket in engagement with an inverted channel section to form a spacer system.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the bracket shown in Figure 1 has a flange 1 with a screw hole 3, bent at right angles to the main web of the bracket 2. The upper end of the bracket, remote from the flange is formed with lugs (4,5) forming recesses (6,7) with the main web of the bracket. As shown in Figure 2 these lugs are fitted over flanges 8 in a channel section having a base 9, side-walls 10 and outwardly extending flanges 8. In this particular embodiment the bracket is slid over the flanges 8 in channel section 9 so that the flanges fit into recesses 6 and 7 in the upper part of the bracket.Once the bracket has been correctly positioned along the length of the inverted channel section 9 then it is twisted to lock it in place and the screw hole or holes 3 are used to attach it to an underlying skin of a double-skin roofing or wall panel (not shown.) Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, the channel section is identical with that of Figure 2 and is given the same reference numerals. However the web of the bracket is split into two parts (2a, 2b) with a V-shaped division down the centre of the web. Again the flanges 8 of the channel 9 are slid into recesses 6 and 7 of the bracket but on tightening down the bracket to the underlying skin, by virtue of a screw through screw-hole 3 the jaws 2a, 2b of the bracket are drawn together thus exerting a clamping action on the flanges 8 of the inverted channel section 10.

Various modifications may be made to the shape of the bracket provided there is provision for anchoring it to one of the skins at one end and provision is made for gripping the flanges of the channel-section by means of jaws or recesses at the other end. Two or more screw holes may thus be used as necessary.

Claims

1. A double-skin wall or roofing panel, wherein the two skins are spaced apart by means of a channel member adapted to be attached to one skin and having a pair of walls with outwardly extending longitudinal flanges, and a plurality of brackets adapted to be fixed to the other skin and having pairs of jaws adapted to grip the flanges of the channel member.

2. As claim 1, wherein the bracket is split into two sections and the action of fixing causes the sections to close together to grip the flanges of the channel.

3. As claim 1 wherein the brackets are slid onto the channel section and then secured by twisting.

4. A spacer system for a double-skin wall substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

5. A bracket for a spacer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said bracket has a fixing flange, perforated by a fixing hole or holes, an upstanding web and a pair of jaws or recesses cut into the web at the end remote from the flange, these jaws being adapted to embrace the flanges of an associated channel member.