GB2101650A

GB2101650A - Wall and door panels

Info

Publication number: GB2101650A
Application number: GB08112181A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Charles Ovenden; Roger Arthur White
Original assignee: MEDICAL AND SCIENT STRUCTURES
Current assignee: MEDICAL AND SCIENT STRUCTURES
Priority date: 1981-04-16
Filing date: 1981-04-16
Publication date: 1983-01-19

Abstract

The edge flanges of two adjacent plastics coated metal panels are brought into abutment and the plastics material is welded together (e.g. 17 or 26) to conceal the joint. The panels may form the outer skins 13, 14 of wall panels 10, 11 or the outer skins 22 of a door panel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Prefabricated panels In the manufacture of prefabricated buildings for medical or scientific use, it is frequently desirable that at least certain areas of the building should be completely sterile. Such areas are subjected to repeated cleaning, and it is therefore important that the surfaces to be cleaned are free from gaps or crevices within which foreign matter might otherwise collect.

The buildings are generally constructed from prefabricated panels, and a problem therefore arises when joining two panels together. Even with a close fitting tongue and groove joint, there is inevitably a visible gap or groove between the panels.

A particularly desirable form of constriction for a prefabricated building panel is one in which an inner core is sandwiched between a pair of steel skins coated with PVC. Another problem therefore arises when using such panels for door units since there will be a visible joint along at least one of the exposed edge faces of the door where the two skins meet. To overcome this problem it is customary to cap such edge faces with capping strips.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of concealing the V-joint between two abutting members each having a plastics coated metal skin, the method comprising welding together the plastics coatings.

The abutting members may comprise prefabricated panels in which an inner core is sandwiched between the two metal skins, or, in a door unit embodying the invention, the metal skins may comprise the free ends of two skins projecting beyond one edge of an inner core sandwiched between the skins, the projecting ends each being folded to a generally U-shaped configuration around respective backing members.

The welded joint is preferably made using a welding torch and a filler cord. the resulting welded seam will normally protrude from the surface but can be trimmed back to provide a smooth, continuous plastic surface having no visible joints. Such surfaces are easily cleaned and are therefore ideal for use in sterile building units.

In the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, Fig. 1 is a section through a pair of prefabricated wall panels embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a section through a prefabricated door unit embodying the invention.

In Fig. 1 a wall panel 10 is interlocked with a wall panel 11 using a conventional tongue and groove construction. Each panel consists of an inner core 12 sandwiched between a pair of metal skins 13 and 14. The metal skins are coated with a plastics material 1 5 such as PVC.

When the panels are interlocked with one another, a V-joint 1 6 is normally visible. This is shown for the inside (bottom as viewed in the figure) surface of Fig. 1. We have found, however, that this joint can be concealed if the PVC coatings 1 5 are welded to one another to provide a welded seam 1 7 as shown on the opposing surface of the Fig. 1 construction. The welded seam 1 7 can be trimmed to provide a smooth, continuous PVC finish with no visible joints.

The inner core 12 of each panel may be a solid core, a honeycomb core, or may consist of a generally rectangular timber frame bounding foam insulation.

In Fig. 2, a door unit consists of an inner core 20 sandwiched between plywood panels 21 and metal skins 22. The metal skins are coated with a PVC coating 23.

The skins 22 are extended beyond the ends of the panels 21 and are then folded around backing members 24 so that the free ends 25 of the skins lie closely adjacent und substantially parallel with one another. The joint between the two skins is then concealed by welding together the PVC coatings 23 to provide a seam 26.

In both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the welding of the PVC coatings is made by moving a welding torch progressively up or down the seam while continuously feeding a three millimetre PVC welding cord to the heated area.

Claims (Filed on 13 April 1982) 1. A method of concealing the V-joint bettween opposed square-ended faces of two abutting members each having a metal skin faced with a plastics material, the method comprising welding together the plastics material on the respective skins to form a continuous method seam concealing the said joint.

2. A method comprising to claim 1 in which each member comprises a prefabricated wall, or ceiling panel.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the joint is formed along an edge face of a prefabricated door panel by folding a pair of opposed plastic faced metal skins projecting beyond the edge face, the two overlapping skins being folded inwardly toward one another around respective backing members.

4. A wall construction consisting of at least two prefabricated wall panels interlocked with one another, each panel having a metal skin faced with a plastics material, and the V-joints between the or each abutting pair of panels being concealed by a welded seam of the plastics material.

5. A door construction comprising a prefabricated panel having an inner core sandwiched between a pair of metal skins, the skins overlapping one edge of the core and each being folded inwardly in a generally U-shaped configuration around respective backing members, the resulting V-joint between the members being concealed by a welded seam of the plastics material.

6. A method according to claim 1 and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Prefabricated panels In the manufacture of prefabricated buildings for medical or scientific use, it is frequently desirable that at least certain areas of the building should be completely sterile. Such areas are subjected to repeated cleaning, and it is therefore important that the surfaces to be cleaned are free from gaps or crevices within which foreign matter might otherwise collect. The buildings are generally constructed from prefabricated panels, and a problem therefore arises when joining two panels together. Even with a close fitting tongue and groove joint, there is inevitably a visible gap or groove between the panels. A particularly desirable form of constriction for a prefabricated building panel is one in which an inner core is sandwiched between a pair of steel skins coated with PVC. Another problem therefore arises when using such panels for door units since there will be a visible joint along at least one of the exposed edge faces of the door where the two skins meet. To overcome this problem it is customary to cap such edge faces with capping strips. In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of concealing the V-joint between two abutting members each having a plastics coated metal skin, the method comprising welding together the plastics coatings. The abutting members may comprise prefabricated panels in which an inner core is sandwiched between the two metal skins, or, in a door unit embodying the invention, the metal skins may comprise the free ends of two skins projecting beyond one edge of an inner core sandwiched between the skins, the projecting ends each being folded to a generally U-shaped configuration around respective backing members. The welded joint is preferably made using a welding torch and a filler cord. the resulting welded seam will normally protrude from the surface but can be trimmed back to provide a smooth, continuous plastic surface having no visible joints. Such surfaces are easily cleaned and are therefore ideal for use in sterile building units. In the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, Fig. 1 is a section through a pair of prefabricated wall panels embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a section through a prefabricated door unit embodying the invention. In Fig. 1 a wall panel 10 is interlocked with a wall panel 11 using a conventional tongue and groove construction. Each panel consists of an inner core 12 sandwiched between a pair of metal skins 13 and 14. The metal skins are coated with a plastics material 1 5 such as PVC. When the panels are interlocked with one another, a V-joint 1 6 is normally visible. This is shown for the inside (bottom as viewed in the figure) surface of Fig. 1. We have found, however, that this joint can be concealed if the PVC coatings 1 5 are welded to one another to provide a welded seam 1 7 as shown on the opposing surface of the Fig. 1 construction. The welded seam 1 7 can be trimmed to provide a smooth, continuous PVC finish with no visible joints. The inner core 12 of each panel may be a solid core, a honeycomb core, or may consist of a generally rectangular timber frame bounding foam insulation. In Fig. 2, a door unit consists of an inner core 20 sandwiched between plywood panels 21 and metal skins 22. The metal skins are coated with a PVC coating 23. The skins 22 are extended beyond the ends of the panels 21 and are then folded around backing members 24 so that the free ends 25 of the skins lie closely adjacent und substantially parallel with one another. The joint between the two skins is then concealed by welding together the PVC coatings 23 to provide a seam 26. In both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the welding of the PVC coatings is made by moving a welding torch progressively up or down the seam while continuously feeding a three millimetre PVC welding cord to the heated area. Claims (Filed on 13 April 1982)

1. A method of concealing the V-joint bettween opposed square-ended faces of two abutting members each having a metal skin faced with a plastics material, the method comprising welding together the plastics material on the respective skins to form a continuous method seam concealing the said joint.

6. A method according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A wall or ceiling construction consisting of a plurality of prefabricated panels substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A door construction substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.