WO1994011591A1

WO1994011591A1 - Plate structure

Info

Publication number: WO1994011591A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000490
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lasse JÄMSÄ
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-19
Filing date: 1993-11-18
Publication date: 1994-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1995-05-19
Also published as: FI925267A0; FI925267L; FI93388C; FI93388B

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate structure in which at least two plates (11, 12) have been joined together in a telescopic manner by the aid of folds (14, 15) or similar members which project from the plate surface and which keep the plates attached to each other while allowing the longitudinal movement of the plates in respect to each other.

Description

Plate structure

This invention relates to a plate structure and, more precisely, that kind of plate structure which is suitable for very many different purposes and is easily variable in size so that it is possible to build very many different kinds of structures and at the same time to facilitate those work stages traditionally related to different kinds of plate work, especially to the working of sheet iron or corresponding materials.

Metal and plastic plates are generally sold as plates of certain length and the user makes appropriate pieces of lengths as he needs. Another alternative, and this is used especially when a roof is made of sheet iron, is that the client orders the plates in desired lengths to fit the places where they are to be installed. The disadvantage of the afore¬ mentioned methods is that the working of a metal plate is difficult and in private cases the worker often lacks the tools to work the plate. So the quality of the work is often poor and the working takes very much time. Also in those cases where surfaces are covered or long structures are made it is often difficult to join the plates end to end.

As mentioned above, although it is possible to order the plates at a given length, during high season especially the time between ordering and delivery may become very long.

Iron sheets are connected to each other by the aid of various seams. A conventional example of a seam is a roof made by a special machine in which the seam is formed of the edges of two adjacent sheets whose edges have been bent up and over each other. Other examples of seams where edges of two adjacent sheets go inside each other are included in US patent specification 3 555 758 and in EP publication 430 619. However, all of the above-mentioned seam structures concern two fixed sheets which cannot in any way be adjusted in respect of each other.

There is no good solution to the above-mentioned problems.

It is the purpose of this invention to achieve such a plate structure by which it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional plates. Additionally, it is the purpose to achieve such a plate structure, by the aid of which it is possible to lengthen and shorten the plate to make structures of different lengths without the need to use additional working stages or special tools. This feature does not, however, diminish the normal stiffness or carrying capacity of the plate, rather vice versa.

The advantages of the invention have been achieved in a way which has been shown to be characteristic of the invention in the accom- panying claims.

The invention is now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying patent drawings in which

Figure la shows in a simplified, and in some parts in an exaggerated manner, an example of one embodiment of the invention seen from above and from one side in its shortened form;

Figure lb shows the corresponding structure in its lengthened form;

Figure lc describes section lc-lc of figure la in three embodiments of different forms;

Figure 2 shows in a perspective manner an embodiment of the invention wherein a transverse support has been used to make the plate structure stiffer; and

Figure 3 shows an exemplary way to join two plate structures according to the invention.

Figures la-lc thus show in an exemplary manner how to achieve a plate structure, which can be lengthened and shortened, in a very simple manner. In Figure la the plate structure is in its shortened form and in Figure lb in its longer form. The plate has been shown, as an example, to be formed of three separate plate portions 1 1 , 12 and 13. In practice the number of the plates is not restricted in any way. It is essential that there are at least two plates. In the figures the plates are shown to be of different width so that the figures would be better understood, but it is to be presumed that in most cases the plates are essentially of equal width.

The plates 1 1 , 12 and 13 are equipped with folds 14, as an exampl of which can be taken the fold presented on the right in Figure lc that form a structure that keeps the plates tightly joined together whe they overlap as shown in Figure lc. The outward-extending corne 15 is one example of this kind of structure, but no means the onl possible form.

The relationship of the folds 14 is such that the fold of plate 1 1 is little bigger than the fold of plate 12, which in turn is a little bigge than the fold of plate 13, or vice versa. Naturally, the essential featur is that the folds can be fitted inside each other basically in a tigh manner but, however, so that it is possible to move the plates in respec of each other in a relatively easy way.

It is clear that the shape of those parts by which the plates are kep joined to each other but which allow the longitudinal movement o the plates relative to each other is not a critical matter in respect o the invention. Any form is acceptable presuming that it brings th desired result and its manufacture is technically possible at moderat cost. So the form may be angular, as in a triangle or it may be roun or T-shaped as has been presented in the three alternative shapes o Figure lc or may consist of different shapes. In the same manner th plate may be made of a single layer in this kind of attaching part regarding each of the plates 11, 12 or 13, or the folds or shapes of an of the plates may be formed of double sheet material.

In Figures la and lb only one fold has been shown in each of the plates, but it is self evident that the structure is by no means restricted to embodiments with one fold. Especially in broader plates it i advantageous to use more than one fold or corresponding structur each of which would be situated parallel to and at a certain distanc from the others.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a structure in which parts 16 giving transverse stiffness have been used. These parts may be, fo instance, of a rail-like material attached to the plate in a suitabl manner. On the other hand, a plate which has been folded into an angle is sufficient to give the desired stiffness to the whole plate. T stiffening parts 16 may be located on one side or on both sides of th plate structure.

It is possible to make very large surfaces from the plate accordin to the invention, especially when a plate structure which has bee stiffened in the transverse direction is used. The movement of th plates 11-13 can be limited in a number of ways, for example so th the plates cannot be separated from each other. This can be achieve by attaching a separate stopper to a suitable part of the plate or b forming recesses or ridges in the plates so that they move a certai distance in respect of each other but stop a a suitable point.

Additionally, it is possible to make the plates unmovable in respec to each other when making stationary structures. In its simplest for this may be done by beating a hollow into two overlapping plates wit a suitable tool, so that the plates cannot move after that in respec to each other.

The plate structure according to the invention finds many uses i various fields; the structure may be used as such as a part corresponding to a door or a lid, so that for example to open the wa into a certain space the plates are simply slid into a shorter structur whereafter the narrow or short part can easily be turned aside if desired Examples of this kind of structure may be the door of a garage or hal or a cargo hatch on a ship.

Still other exemplary objects are wall structures which can be opened protection devices lengthened in front of windows against burglary roof structures above grandstands which may be extended to protec from rain, and covers against sunshine instead of other sunshades It is also easy to make simple hall constructions from the plate structur according to the invention which can easily be transported from on place to another by sliding the plates of the big wall areas inside eac other, loading these parts into a truck and transporting them to anothe place where they can be extended into big surfaces again.

It is also to be noted that the plate structure according to the inventio can be transported in conventional transport vehicles, even thoug they are designed to make constructions whose length may be ten of meters. If such constructions are made in a conventional manner the transportation of a very long construction would be very tediou if not impossible.

The following further advantages of the invention may be mentioned There is no need to make any punching operations or take any extr steps when the plates are to be extended. A suitable length can b found without a precise design beforehand. It is, however, useful t know the approximate length of the structure so that the plate materia would not be wasted.

In addition to the fact that the folds strengthen the plate, they serv in a natural way as a space for leading different wires, cables and tube from one place to another. In practice this means that it is very eas to place suitable fastening devices into the folds of the plate structur according to the invention, so that they can be simply locked into thei place and thus support the wires and tubes which are located in the folds.

It is also easy to furnish the folds according to the invention with strip-like device by the aid of which the visible outer part of the fol can be covered. On the other hand, if the openings which lead to th folds or the like are meaningful in terms of acoustics, it is simple an cheap to equip the folds with a softer material like paperboard o mineral wool. Thus a good acoustic result can be attained.

The manufacture of the plate structure according to the invention on a big scale using modern technology, which already produces ver many different types of profiles especiallay in metal sheets, is a simple and cheap procedure. The plate parts to be joined to each other can be manufactured as a batch or separately. It is presumable that, by using several plate lengths, most demands can be met by joining 2 to 4 plates together into an extendable entity.

Only the use of a metal sheet or plate has been described above, bu it is evident that the invention can be adapted to any sheet or plate material, especially also to plastic plates. It is to be noted further that, if desired by the situation, the plate entities made in accordance with the invention can be lengthened by joining two plate entities to each other in a suitable way. This need may arise for instance when there are several adjacent plates and the intention is not to increase the fold demensions. It is then advantageous to join the plate structures with a "butt joint" so that a strip 17 conforming to the shape of the plates with their folds to be joined together, as shown in Figure 3, is inserted on the seam and attached in a suitable way, for instance with seam adhesive or a corresponding material, if a tight seam is desired.

Another joining method involves the use of joining pieces extending into the folds and which are supported by their surfaces. There are also other suitable ways, which are known in the various technical fileds.

Claims

1. A plate structure having two or more plate portions which are joine together with insertable folds which project from the plate surface characterized in that the plate portions (11, 12) are joined by th aid of the folds, and are longitudinally movable in the direction of th folds.

2. A plate structure according to claim 1 , characterized in that ther are at least three plate portions (11 , 12, 13).

3. A plate structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in tha the plates are joined together with intra-fitting folds which exten out from the plate surface, and which may be for example triangula folds (14, 15).

4. A plate structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate portions (11, 12, 13) are joined together with projections which are circular in cross-section.

5. A plate structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate portions (11, 12, 13) are joined together with projections folded to resemble a T in their cross-section.

6. A plate structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate structure has been stiffened in the transverse direction with transverse ribs or other suitable stiffeners (18).

7. A plate structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has stoppers which limit the longitudinal movement of the plates in respect to each other, so as to prevent the plates from separating from each other in the longitudinal direction.

8. A plate structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that there are at least two projections/folds (14), which enable the longitudinal gliding of the plates in respect to each other, in each of the plates (11 , 12, 13).