GB2188346A

GB2188346A - Frameless partitioning

Info

Publication number: GB2188346A
Application number: GB08705924A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Merin; Ilkka Makinen
Original assignee: Wartsila Meriteollisuus Oy
Current assignee: Wartsila Meriteollisuus Oy
Priority date: 1986-03-13
Filing date: 1987-03-12
Publication date: 1987-09-30
Also published as: GB2188346B; IT1204510B; ES2004554A6; DK126187D0; NO871031D0; NO871031L; DE3708278A1; IT8719667A0; FI861046A0; NO164854B; FI861046A7; GB8705924D0; DK126187A; NO164854C; DK168660B1; FI78431B; DE3708278C2; FI78431C

Abstract

A wall structure is described, which is made of wall assemblies separately transportable to the required site. The structure is intended for use in ships and off-shore buildings as a wall in an accommodation space such as a cabin, a corridor, a dining room or a meeting room. The structure is composed of self-supporting wall elements and is erectable on a base (2) as a self-supporting assembly without any supporting framework. The wall assembly consists basically only of wall elements attached to one another. These wall elements include panel units (11) and stiffener members (4, 5, 14, 15, 101). The panel units comprise cover plates 12 and can be filled with mineral wool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved structure for an accommodation space in a ship or off-shore construction The invention relates to a wall structure suitablefor use in ships and off-shore buildings as a wall in accommodation spaces such as cabins, corridors, dining and meeting rooms etc., which wall structure is made ofwall assemblies separately transportable to the site of use.

Generally, three different ways of providing ships and offshore construction with accommodation spaces are known. According to a first method, a steel framework is erected at the intended site and wall and ceiling panels are attached to this framework. However, the use of a steel framework makesthestructure heavy and assemblywork troublesome. Also, rebuilding such a structure at a later stage is difficult, because the steel framework is usually welded to present deck structures or the like.

Further, the number of parts to be assembled is great, and hence, the assembling work takers much time.

Asecond method isto use ready-made self-supporting cabins. The cabins are assembled in a workshop to prefabricated complete units, which are installed by means of a hoisting crane and possible wheels or rails This solution requires a large transport vehicle and work openings in bulkheads and decks. The moving of prefabricated cabin units in a ship under construction is difficult and requires the entire transportation route to be completely free from obstacles. This method can only be applied to cabins and not to larger accommodation spaces.

Athird method is to erect the accommodation spaces from panel units attached to the decks. When making such a panel type wall structure, a U-beam or similar profiled bar is attached to the deck. Directly above, to the underside ofthe next upper deck, is attached another U-beam or a corresponding profiled bar. Thereafter, the panel units are placed between the profiled bars and are attached to one another. This method has basically the same drawbacks as the first method.

The present invention seeks to avoid the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an improved wall structure suitable for use in ships and offshore constructions. The invention is generally characterized in that the wall structure is composed of self-supporting wall elements and is erectable on a base as a self-supporting assembly without any supporting framework. The wall structure consists basically only of the wall elements attached one to another. The wall elements include panel units and stiffener members.

By means of the invention several improvements are obtained. The wall structure forms a module system, in which are combined the favourable features of the previously used completely prefabricated cabin units apd of a wall structure assembled from parts at the required site. The wall structure is preferably assembled in a workshop to fully completely units, which are installed as prefabricated wall sections. The invention makes it possible to transport, move and install complete walls orwall sections. Single panel elements can easily be removed from the wall structure. Due to this, the installation of walls can be quicker and the flexibility of the work is improved.It is easy to make changes in the wall structure at the required site, because the structure can be changed during the installation work. The accuracy and finish of the joints is very good, because the wall assemblies are made in a workshop. A considerable weight reduction is obtained because of the framelss stiffening and support solution employed. The sound-proof properties of the wall can be extremely good, becausethe structure does not include a sound conducting framework attached to adjacent vibration-transmitting structures. When making two-sided walls, so called double panel walls, the width ofthe intermediate space between the panels can be freely chosen and opposite panel units do not have to be exactly in positions corresponding to one another.Ducts for cables can be provided previously in the wall structure in the workshop. Cable service and replacement of damaged cables is easy, because single panels can easily be removed. Moving a wall structure during the instailation work is relatively easy, because a wall can pass through narrow openings and can be lifted over obstacles.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectiop ofawall structure according to the invention, Figure 2A is a horizontal cross-sqction of a wall structure according to the invention, Figure 26 is a horizontal cross-section of a part of a panel unit to be used inthewall structure, Figure 2C is a horizontal cross-section of a joint region between two panel units, and Figures 3A and 38 are horizontal cross-sections of two other, slightly different embodiments of a wall structure according to the invention.

The wall structure is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. It is formed of panel units 11 attached to one another, of which each is supported at its lower end on a base 2, for instance the deck of a ship orthe like. The supportofthewall structure on the base 2 is arranged by means of attachement members 4, for example by angle bars attached by screw members to the base 2 and to the wall structure. A ceiling structure 3 is supported on the upper end ofthewall structure 10.The panel units 11 each include a cover plate 12, on the inner side of which sound and/orthermal insulation 13, such as a stiff mineral wool board, is attached, preferably by means glueing. Each panel unit 11 may be provided, if required, with one or more vertical stiffeners 15, which are attached to the inner side of the cover plate 12 by glueing or by using attachment members. The number of vertical stiffeners 15 to be used in a panel unit 11 is dependent on the width of the panel unit. In the case where abnormally wide panel units 11 are used, several vertical stiffeners 15 must be used in order to provide the required stiffness. The stiffness.The stiffness of the panel units can be improved by providing each ofthe vertical side edges of the cover plate 12 with a side bend, in Figures 2B and 2C indicated by reference numerals 21 a,21 b,22a and 22b.Also end bends 23 can beformedatthetopand bottom edgesofthe cover plate 12. Due to this, each panel unit 11 defines a stiffself-supporting member.

The wall structure loins formed by attaching several panel units 11 to one another. The drawings show three alternatives. Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show a first embodiment of such a form of panel attachment. The panel units 11 are attached to one another via their side bends. The cover plate 12 has, at one side edge, a first side bend 21 a, preferably perpendicularto the plane ofthe cover plate 12. The first side bend continues as a second side bend 22a, bent from the first side bend 21 a further in the same direction to be generally parallel to the plane ofthe cover plate 12. Thus,the cover plate 12 has a channel formed at its one side edge.

At the opposite side edge of the panel unit 11 is correspondingly formed a first side bend 21 bin the same angle to the plane of cover plate 12 as the side bend 21a. This first side bend 21b continues asa second side bend 22b bent in the opposite direction to be parallel to the second side bend 22a. When assembling the wall structure 10, the panel units 11 are attached to oneanothersothatthefirstside bends 21 a and 21 b of adjacent panel units meet as do the second side bends 22a and 22b. The panel units are attached to one another by means of attachment elements, for instance throughgoing screw members 25. As will be seen from the drawings, the lengths of the first side bends 21 a and 21 b should be siightly differentto provide a level outside fit ofthe cover plates 12.

In orderto stiffen the wall structure 10 in a horizontal direction a required number of horizontal stiffeners 14 are attached to the panel units 11. These stiffeners may be open box elements of the kind shown in Figure 1.They are attached to the second side bends 22a and 22b ofthe panel units 11, preferably by using the screw members 25 already present there, and/or to the vertical stiffeners 15. A further horizontal stiffening profiled member 5 is attached to the upper edge ofthe wall structure. The ceiling structures 3may conveniently be carried by the stiffener. At the lower edge of the wall structure there is the stiffening angle bar 4, which also is used as an attachment element for attaching the wall structure 10 to the base 2 as previously described.All the joints and attachments are rigid and not movable joints, which makes the wall structure 10 stiff. Due to the use ofscrew members at the joints, single panel units 11 can easily be removed from thewall structure 10 as and when required.

Figures 3A and 3B showtwo alternative embodiments of the wall structure 10. The wall structure of Figures 3A and 3B correspond generally to the wall structure of Figures 1 and 2A,2B and 2C, but is differentwith respect to the side bends of the cover plate 12. The object of these embodiments isto make removal of a single panel unit from the wall structu re easier. In the emb'odiment of Figure 3A the side edges of the cover plate 12 are bent symmetrically relative to each other. At both side edges there are first side bends 31, preferably perpendicular to the plane of the cover plate 12.The first side bend 31 continues as a second side bend 32, bent in the opposite direction relative to the first side bend 31 to be generally parallel to the plane ofthe cover plate 12. Since there are relatively few horizontal stiffeners 14 in the wall structure, a plate 101 is inserted, inthe embodiment of Figure 3A, between the second side bend 32 of the cover plate 12 and the horizontal stiffeners 14. The plate 101 and the horizontal stiffeners 14 are attached to the second side bends 32 of the cover plates 12 by screw members 25.

In Figure 3A also third side bends 33 have been formed by bending the outer edge ofthe second side bends 32 further through 90 in the same direction.

Thus, the first, second and third side bends form a channel. The third side bend 33 is considerably narrower than the first side bend 31, because the third side bend only has the function of forming a contact surface. The third side bends provide an improvement but are not essential.

The wall structure of Figure 3A is formed by placing the panel units 11 beneath one another so thatthethird side bends 33 of adjacent panel units meet. In case there are no third side bends 33, the edges of the second side bends 32 have the same function. In this position the panel units 11 are attached to the horizontal stiffeners 14 and/or to the plate 101 as already described. The attachment ofthe screw members 25 is made from the outside ofthe cover plate 12. The nuts may be attached to their support surfaces, or alternatively, nutless self-threading screw members may be used. When assembling the wall, a channel is formed between the first side bends 31 or adjacent panel units 11. This channel can be covered by a U-formed plastic strip 16 orthe like inserted in the channel.

Single panel units 11 can easily be removed from an installed wall structure. This is made by first removing the cover strips 16 at both sides of said panel. Thereafter the screw members 25 holding the panel unit are unscrewed and the panel unit is removed. A single panel unit can be removed, for instance, if it has been damaged, or if there is a need to work in the space behind the panel unit.

The embodiment of Figure 3B isto a large extent similar to the embodiment of Figure 3A. The cover plates 12 are bent at their side edges so that at each side edge first side bends 41 a and 41 bare formed generally perpendicularto the plane of the cover plate. Second side bends 42a, 42b are formed by bending the outer edges of the first side bends in an opposite direction. The second side bends 42a and 42b are generally parallel to the plane of the cover plate 12. The second side bends are of different width.

Awall structure according to Figure 3B isformed by placing the panel units 11 with their second side bends 42a and 42b in contact with the horizontal stiffeners 14. The narrower second side bend 42a is placed overthe wider second side bend 42b.

Thereafter, the side bends are attached to each other and to the horizontal stiffener 14 by th rough-going screw members 25. A channel of basically the same size and configuration as in Figure3Aisformed between adjacent panel units 11. The same type of cover strips 16 as in Figure 3A may be used in this channel.

A panel unit can be removed from a wall structure according to Figure 3B by first removing the cover strips 16 from both sides of the panel unit, whereafterthe screw members 25 are unscrewed.

After this the panel is displaced sideways so thatthe wider second side bend 42b is revealed from below the narrower second side bend 42a of the adjacent panel unit. The unfastened panel unit can now be removed by lifting it from the angle bar art its lower edge.

The invention is not limited to the example described, since several modifications are feasible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Awall structure suitable for use in a ship or off-shore building as a wall for an accommodation space, which wall structure is made of wall assemblies separately transportable to the intended site ofthe accommodation space, characterized in that the wall structure is composed of self-supporting wall elements and is erectable on a base as a self-supporting assembly without any supporting framework, said assembly consisting basically only of said wall elements attached to one another, said wall elements including panel units and stiffener members.

2. A wall structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the panel units comprise a cover plate, which has side bends formed at its vertical side edgesforstiffening the panel unit.

3. Awall structure according to claim 2, characterized in that sound and/orthermal insulation is attached to the inner side of the cover plate, preferably by glueing.

4. Awall structure according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the panel units are provided with at least one vertical stiffener attached to the inner side ofthe cover plate, preferably byglueing.

5. Awall structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said stiffener members include a horizontal stiffening profiled bar, attached to the lower edge of the wall structure, and at least one horizontal stiffener, to which the panel units are attached at said side bends of the cover plate.

6. Awall structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that there is a horizontal stiffener profiled member attached to the upper edge ofthewall structure.

7. Awall structure according to anyone ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the panel units are removably attached to the wall structure.

8. Awall structure according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that the panel units are attached to the base by means of a stiffening profiled bar located at the lower edge of the panel units.

9. A wall structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stiffening profiled member is provided at the upper end ofthe panel units and is arranged to function as a supporting element for a ceiling structure.

10. Awail structure for use in a ship or offshore building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1,2A, 2B and 2C or in Figures 3A or3B ofthe accompanying drawings.

11. An accommodation space provided in a ship or off-shore building from wall structures as claimed in any preceding claim.