BUILDING PANEL AND LOCKING DEVICE THEREFOR
A concrete component connecting system includes first and second precast components (112, 118) adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship in an assembled configuration, the first and second precast concrete (112, 118) having respective first and second edges (116, 120) which face each other in the assembled configuration. A locking mechanism (122, 126) is also provided including mutually engageable components disposed at the facing edges (116,120). The locking mechanism (122, 126) including a remote actuating means to effect locking of the mutually engageable components (122, 126) at or beyond a third edge of one of the first and second precast components (112, 118), to secure the first and second precast components (112, 118) together. One of the building components may comprise a building panel (12) which is generally planar in form. The building panel (12) has a core (14) which is substantially planar in form with opposite sides and is substantially aligned with the plane of the building panel. Cementitious material is disposed on both sides of the core (14). The core being formed with a series of substantially parallel open channels (16) which are arranged with the openings on alternate sides of the core (14). Some of the channels are filled with the cementitious material.
The present invention relates to a building panel. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a precast concrete building panel. The invention also relates to a method of casting a building panel. While the building panel is commonly described herein in terms of a wall panel, the invention may have application to other types of precast panels including ceiling, roof and floor panels.
The present invention also relates to a connecting system for precast cementitious components. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a connecting system which is used to secure precast concrete wall panels into edgewise abutting relationship with each other. Thus, it may be used to secure two panels side by side or one panel atop another. The invention may also have application to connecting a wall panel to a slab. The invention also relates to a locking device for concrete components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditionally, precast concrete panels are formed as substantially solid bodies of concrete, albeit with reinforcing material. The thicker the concrete panel, the greater its insulative properties. Thermal insulative properties are measured in terms of R value and an R value of 1.5 is desirable for building walls. However, solid concrete panels would need to have a theoretical thickness of 375 mm millimetres in order to exhibit an R value of 1.5 and therefore achieve satisfactory thermal insulative properties.
It is known to provide locking devices that interconnect precast concrete panels or other components. See for example, my earlier Australian patent application no 71452/00. In this patent application, the locking devices comprise pins and keepers.
The pins are connected to one concrete component and are received in a keeper connected to another concrete component. The pin and associated keeper are disposed upon respective mating edges of the two concrete components. Thus, once the two edges are brought into mating engagement, it can be difficult to align the parts of the locking device and therefore difficult to effect the locking operation.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a building panel or a method of casting a building panel which overcomes at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages.
It is an alternative object of the present invention to provide a connecting system for concrete components which may be remotely actuated. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a locking device for concrete components which addresses the abovementioned disadvantage. Yet another alternative object of the present invention is to provide products which at least provide the public with a useful choice over known products.
Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction nor that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a building panel being generally planar in form and having a core which is substantially planar in form with opposite sides, the core being substantially aligned with the plane of the building panel, with cementitious material disposed on both sides of the core, the core being formed with a series of substantially parallel open channels which are arranged with the openings on alternate sides of the core, some of the channels being filled with the cementitious material.
The channels in the core may extend from top to bottom of the core and be generally aligned with the height dimension of the finished building panel. Thus the channels are arranged to alternate from one side to the other across the width of the core. The core may have a uniform cross-section over its height. Consequently, the form of the core could be described as corrugated, undulating, sinusoidal or crenellated. Preferably the corrugations are of a regular formation. The term corrugated includes a zig-zag formation, preferably a regular zig-zag formation. A preferred profile is one which reduces waste. The core may be of uniform thickness so that the crests on the first side of the core define the openings on the second side of the core and the openings on the first side of the core define the troughs on the second side of the core.
In one form, each of the channels has a necked region at or adjacent the opening and a main void, wherein the necked region is of narrower dimension(s) than the main void. In this form, the cross-section of the channels may be described as dovetailed.
In the finished panel, the cementitious material will be provided on both sides of the core, extending into some or most of the channels thereby creating alternating “columns” of cementitious material on either side of the core, with columns on the same side of the core being joined by a common plane of cementitious material. In the form with dovetails, the cementitious material on each side of the core is interlocked with the core by virtue of the necked regions.
The building panels according to the present invention may be precast building panels. The precast building panels may be part of a building system where the building panels are shaped so as to mesh with each other and also a building slab. For example, one possible building system is described in Australian patent no 785414 in the name of MACH Systems Pty Ltd. While the specification describes the invention in the context of precast building panels, the invention is not limited thereto and the present invention may also be applied to a building panel which is poured in situ.
The core of the building panel may comprise insulative material. The core may also be moisture impervious to minimise the penetration of water or moisture from the outside of a building to the inside. The core may be moulded or extruded to shape. In a preferred form of the invention, the core is formed of rigid cellular plastics material, for example, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene. The core may be cut from a solid block of cellular plastics material, for example by a hot wire. The core may have a smooth outer skin. Alternatively, the outer surface of the core could be shaped or roughened or deformed to enhance bonding with the cementitious material.
The building panel may also include reinforcing material. For example, traditional steel reinforcing mesh may be employed. However, alternative reinforcing materials may be used. These include steel mesh or fabric such as expanded metal, fibreglass fabric or carbon fibres. The core may incorporate holding means for the reinforcing material. For example, the core may include integral protrusions to create a seat for the reinforcing material. Alternatively, reinforcing sheet material such as fibreglass fabric may be permanently bonded to the outermost surfaces of one or both sides of the core.
Within the building panel, the core may extend from edge to edge and top to bottom. However, preferably the core does not extend all the way to the top and the bottom so that the two concrete sides of the panel may be joined to create concrete ‘beams’ at the top and bottom of the panel.
Rather than extending edge to edge, the core size may instead be a standard width (and height), with the building panels being of a width to accommodate a single core or multiple cores arranged side by side.
The cementitious material is preferably concrete, which is usually a composition of gravel, sand, cement and water. It is possible that different grades of cementitious material may be used on either side of the core. For example, a different density of concrete may be used on one side of the panel compared to the other side. This may be to reduce the overall weight of the panel while balancing strength and thermal performance characteristics.
Apart from concrete, other cementitious materials may be employed such as the newly developed cementitious materials. One such example is HySSIL developed by CSIRO in Australia. This modern cementitious material does not generally employ aggregate. It is aerated by the use of chemicals to produce insulated cementitious material which is lighter in weight than traditional concrete.
In a preferred form of the invention, the building panel has a higher density cementitious material e.g. 50 MPa concrete on one side of the core and relatively lower density cementitious material on the other side of the core, such as HySSIL or other forms of lightweight concrete (the units MPa refer to compressive strength). This arrangement improves the thermal performance of the panel when installed with the higher density cementitious material on the inside wall of a building and the relatively lower density cementitious material on the outside wall of the building. The use of the lower density material reduces the overall weight of the panel. A building so constructed constitutes a second aspect of the present invention.
The building panel may also employ void formers. The void formers may be in the form of inserts which fit with or into the channels in the core to preclude one or some of the channels from being filled with cementitious material. This facilitates the creation of service ducting for cabling, water pipes, air ducts for space heating or ducts for thermal heating pipes. These void formers are suitably attached to the core prior to pouring of the cementitious material.
The panel may also include a lifting bracket. The lifting bracket may comprise one or more lifting rods which extend into the channels to become embedded in the cementitious material. Preferably, the lifting rod(s) extends the full length of the panel. The lower ends of the lifting rods may have flanged ends. Preferably, there are three lifting rods with two positioned in adjacent channels on one side of the core and the other in an intermediate channel on the other side of the core. The three rods are united at the upper end by a lifting frame.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of casting a building panel, the method including:
using cementitious material of at least two different densities including a relatively higher density material and a relatively lower density material;
placing a first layer of the lower density material into a mould;
placing a core assembly over the first layer, the core assembly being substantially planar in form; and
placing a second layer of the relatively higher density material over the core assembly.
The mould may be vibrated and allowed to set.
The core assembly may include any of the features described above in connection with the first aspect of the invention such as reinforcing material, void formers, lifting brackets, cabling, water pipes, heating conduits etc.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing a building using a plurality of building panels cast according to the method as set out above in the third aspect wherein the panels are installed with the higher density material on the inside of the building and the lower density material on the outside of the building.
In accordance of the fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a connecting system for precast cementitious components including:
first and second precast cementitious components adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship in an assembled configuration, the first and second precast components having respective edges which face each other in the assembled configuration; and
a locking mechanism including mutually engageable components disposed at the facing edges, the locking mechanism including a remote actuating means to effect locking of the mutually engageable components at or beyond a third edge of one of the first and second precast components, to secure the first and second precast components together.
Where the two precast components are arranged adjacent to one other then the third edge may be on top of one of the components. Where the precast components are arranged one atop the other then the third edge may also be atop the upper component. This renders the remote actuating means most accessible when the components are being assembled. Typically, at least one of the components is substantially planar in form having a length, width and thickness. Side edges will be therefore defined across the thickness dimension at the sides. Also, top and bottom edges will be defined across the thickness dimension at the top and bottom.
More particularly, the present invention provides a connecting system including:
first and second precast cementitious components adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship, the first and second precast components having respective first and second edges which face one another in the assembled configuration;
a pin having a head extending from the first edge of the first component; and
a locking device including a locking member which is disposed at the second edge of the second component, the locking member being movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration whereby it is adapted to receive the head of the pin, the locking device further including an elongate member connected to the locking member and extending to a third edge of the second component, wherein operation of the locking member may be effected from the third edge by the elongate member.
The precast cementitious components may comprise wall panels which may be secured side by side to each other (in edgewise abutting relationship or alternatively may be secured one atop the other. The connecting system might also be used to join a wall panel to a slab or a concrete footing. Also, precast cementitious roof panels could be interconnected using the system. The system could also be used to join and fasten precast cementitious floor panels together.
In a system where one panel is disposed atop the other, the pin may dually serve as a lifting pin to move the panels into position. Such lifting pins are supplied by Reid Construction Systems Pty Ltd of Australia. These pins are cast into the component. Additionally, a semicircular recess is formed about the pins such that they do not protrude beyond the main surface of the associated edge but access to the pins can still be obtained.
The first and second facing edges of the precast cementitious components may have a complimentary profile as described in my Australian patent no 785414.
The elongate member forming part of the locking device may be movable linearly by the actuating means to effect operation of the locking member. The elongate member may comprise a rigid member such as a rod or a bar or alternatively may comprise a flexible member such as a cable. Where the elongate member is a rod, the rod may be threaded at the upper end. By screwing a nut onto the upper end of the elongate threaded rod, this will serve to draw the rod out of the concrete component once the nut abuts against the third edge. However, other means of moving the elongate member may also be employed. For example, if the elongate member is a cable, a cable actuating device may be used. The elongate member may also be a combination of a cable and a rigid member such as a rod.
In one particular form of the invention, there may be a plurality of locking members, each of which is connected by a short length of cable to a common elongate rod which extends to the third edge. Thus a plurality of locking members may be operated simultaneously.
Where the present invention is used to connect a wall panel to a slab or footing, the threaded rod may extend upwards through the height of the wall panel and be connected to a roofing component. This effectively ties the roofing component to the floor slab which may be a requirement in some cyclone areas.
The locking member may comprise any suitable member which is adapted to engage with the pin. Preferably, the locking member is an arcuate member with a recess formed to receive the head of the pin. For example, the locking member may be arcuate member which is forked. More particularly, the locking member may be a part-cylindrical shell. For example, the locking member is preferably one-half to two-thirds of a cylinder with the missing part defining a gap to receive the head of the pin.
The locking member may be pivotally mounted to the second component. An axial spigot may be incorporated into the locking member for this purpose. Preferably, the two ends of the spigot are received into a shaped plastic spacer which is cast into the concrete component.
Preferably, the locking member is pivotally connected to the elongate member. Most preferably, the interconnection in the unlocked configuration is at a point further from the third edge than the pivot axis to effect rotation of the locking member.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking device for use with a precast concrete component to lock the component to another precast concrete component, the device including a locking member adapted to receive the head of a pin extending from the edge of the other component; and an elongate member connected to the locking member, the elongate member being adapted for remote operation of the locking member.
The locking device may be cast into the concrete component. The locking device may include any of the features described above in accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention.
As used herein, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises” and “comprised”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.
This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the figures in which:
The zig-zag core is cut by hot wire from a solid block of polystyrene having dimensions of 5.5 m long×1220 mm wide and 600 mm thick. The cross-section selected is easy to cut and reduces waste.
The core has dimensions of length (which may equate to height in a wall panel), width (the other major dimension besides length/height) and thickness. The width of the core 14 may be substantially commensurate with the width of the building panel 12.
The zig-zag core 14 defines external points 22. On both sides of the core 14, steel reinforcing mesh 24 is bonded/secured to the external points 22 to extend across the opening 17 of each of the channels 16. The reinforcing mesh 24 extends on both sides of the core 14 and is substantially commensurate with the length (i.e. height) and width dimensions of the core 14. Instead of steel reinforcing mesh, fibreglass reinforcing mesh may be used.
Alternatively, as shown in
As shown in
The cementitious material used in the building panel 12 may be concrete. A preferred material is aerated cementitious material such as HySSIL developed by CSIRO in Australia.
The current Australian government guidelines for home insulation provide that in temperate zones, the insulation value for building walls should be R-1.5 or preferably R-2. It is believed that the present invention can achieve an R value of 1.74 by adopting the following design guidelines:
- a. Core material to be Isolite VH (expanded polystyrene) of 50 mm thick, providing an R value of around 1.28.
- b. HySSIL cementitious material of 115 mm in thickness is believed to give an R value of 0.46.
R1.28+R0.46=R1.74
It is understood that further improvements in the R value could be achieved if HySSIL cementitious material of 1500 kg/cm3 was used for one side of the building panel and HySSIL cementitious material of 900 kg/cm3 was used for the other side of the building panel 12.
While most of the channels 16 are intended to be filled with cementitious material, one or a number of these channels 16 may remain unfilled to provide service conduits. Void formers in the form of tubular plastic inserts 34 may be used for this purpose.
Cabling (not shown) may also be inserted into the core assembly 10, prior to being placed into the mould.
The left hand panel of
The concrete building panels 12 of the present invention may be compatible with known precast concrete building systems. In particular, the building panels 12 of the present invention may be constructed in accordance with the principles set down in Australian patent no 785414 in the name of MACH Systems Pty Ltd, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, as described in this Australian patent the building panel 12 may be mounted on a slab 40 provided with a rebate 42 to accommodate the building panel 12. The profile of the rebate 42 and the bottom edge of the panel 12 may be complementary or meshing to maintain the building panel 12 relative to the slab 40. Additionally, locking means (not shown) may be provided to secure the building panel 12 to the slab 40 and the panels to each other. Details of the edge profiles and the locking mechanism are disclosed in the abovementioned Australian patent and the reader is directed to that earlier specification for further information. Further, the reader is also directed to the locking device for precast concrete components, discussed further below in
As can be seen most clearly in
The lifting bracket 44 may be preassembled as part of the core assembly 10, prior to insertion of the core assembly 10 into the casting mould. Thus, the elongate rods 46 may be attached to the reinforcing material 24 in the core assembly 10. Suitably, there would be two lifting brackets 44 employed in each building panel 12, thereby distributing the load over six columns 17 in the cast building panel 12.
The mould used to cast the building panel comprises a casting bed of conventional form. The building panel 12 is cast on the casting bed with its general plane being horizontally disposed on the casting bed. The outside perimeter of the building panel 12 will be defined by formwork attached to the casting bed. The casting bed 62 will thereby define one side of the finished building panel 12.
Once the mould 60 is ready, a first layer of HySSIL aerated cementitious material (or other lightweight concrete) is placed in the base of the mould. The HySSIL is screeded to a predetermined depth that will allow for expansion of the material due to the contained gas producing additives (assume expansion of about 30%).
The core assembly 10 is positioned within the mould so as to allow a desired amount of cementitious material to form on both sides of the core 14. The desired position of the core assembly is achieved through the used of Nirvana Connectors 32 (see
A layer of high density concrete (50 MPa) is then placed on top of the foam core and the casting bed is vibrated in the conventional fashion to enable the cementitious material to settle in the mould. This will also enable the cementitious material to be worked into the channels 16 of the core 14, on the lower side of the core 14 within the mould 60.
Those skilled in the art will be aware that the polystyrene core will have buoyancy tending to urge the core 14 upwards during vibration. Pascals Principal provides: where a body is wholly or partly immersed in a fluid it is acted upon by an upthrust equal to the weight of fluid displaced. In this configuration with the high density concrete disposed above the lower density HySSIL, Pascal's Principal is exploited to maintain the core in position.
In this case the upthrust=1,500 kg/cm (weight of HySSil) whereas the weight of the concrete on top of the foam core is 2,500 kg/cm.
It should be noted that the depth of the layer of HySSil concrete will be screeded to a predetermined level to allow for the expansion of the material as the chemicals produce the hydrogen bubbles, allowing for a 30% expansion rate.
As will be understood from
The heavier density concrete will then resist the upthrust and force the expanding HySSil to progressively fill the V-shaped channels 16.
The side of the panel presenting the upper surface as it lies on the casting bed is then hand finished and the cementitious material is allowed to set.
Once the cementitious material has set to a satisfactory level, the building panel 12 can be lifted via the lifting brackets 44 (
The heating assembly 80 includes a conduit 82 formed from black polypropylene pipe arranged in a U-shape having upper ends, the first of which forms an inlet for the heating fluid and the second of which forms the outlet for the heating fluid. The heating fluid may be heated by any conventional means such as a gas or oil boiler or solar heating. Particular reference is made to our earlier application PCT/AU2006/000737 which teaches methods and apparatus for solar heating.
As shown in
In another embodiment, the conduits 82 may be arranged within a space heating conduit 88 of the type depicted in
The heating fluid e.g. water carried by the conduit 82 may be heated by any known means such as a fossil fuel boiler or a solar collector unit. The heating fluid passes through the conduit 82 to heat the panel 12. The heat retained within the building panel 12 is given off as radiated heat over a period of time. Additionally, the heat may be distributed by means of a convection current which flows through the space heating conduit 88 as depicted in
The connecting system 110 in
Protruding from the first edge 116 is a pin 122 which is cast into the concrete slab 112. The pin 122 has a head 124 which is uppermost. The panel 118 incorporates a locking device which includes a locking member 126 disposed at the second edge 120 of the panel 118 and a threaded rod 128 which extends from the locking member 126 at the second edge 120 to a third edge 130 of the slab 118. The third edge 130 is opposite the second edge 120. The locking member 126 is received in a void former 132 comprised of plastic so that the locking member 126 may be secured relative to the concrete panel 18. The locking member 126 is shown in greater detail in
Referring to
The part-cylindrical shell 134 is only one-half or two thirds of a full cylinder, defining a gap 140 in the cylindrical wall which can be most clearly seen in
It can also be seen in the Figures that the part-cylindrical shell 134 is split, with the opening of this split 142 defined at the edge of the part-cylindrical shell. This enables the two parts of the cylindrical shell on either side of the pin head 124 to engage underneath the head 124 as the shell 134 is rotated. When the connecting pin 138 reaches its uppermost position shown in
Reverting to
The wall panel 118 is shown with four locking members 126 which engage with respective pins 122 cast into the slab 112. While the above describes the locking of a wall panel 118 onto a slab 112, this embodiment may also have application to lock two slabs together.
The first wall panel 118′ is provided with two pins 122 which are located in spaced disposition at intermediate locations along a first edge 116′ of the panel 118′. The first edge 116′ faces a second edge 120′ on the other wall panel 118″ and the two edges have a complimentary profile as illustrated in
The second cable portion 152 is connected to the perimeter of the part-cylindrical shell 134′ at the upper edge of the gap 140′, where the second cable portion 152 is swaged at 160 as shown. The second cable portion 152 then passes under the cable guiding pin 156 and then passes upwardly to be connected to the threaded rod 128′ by a second forged steel sleeve 162. The second forged steel sleeve 162 is above the first forged steel sleeve 158.
As shown in
This system has some benefits over the previous embodiment of the concrete component connecting system 110 because in this embodiment, the part-cylindrical shell 134′ may be moved to the locked configuration shown in
For greater certainty, the locking member 126′ may include an indicator to indicate whether or not the part-cylindrical shell 134′ has moved to the locked configuration (See
The alignment of the two pairs of grooves 180, 182 can be visually inspected when an inspection shaft (not shown) is provided in the panel 118″, the inspection shaft having a longitudinal axis which aligns with the axis of rotation of the part-cylindrical shell 134′. The inspection shaft may comprise simply a cylindrical void extending through the side wall panel 118″ to check the position of the part-cylindrical shell 134′ and thus verify that engagement with the pin 122 has taken place. The inspection shaft may be formed by a PVC conduit which is put in place prior to casting.
The inspection shaft may also be put to use when one of the locking members 126′ fails to engage. The locking member 126′ may be provided with a hexagonal spigot 184 which may be manually rotated to rotate the part-cylindrical shell 134′, in the event that it fails to rotate, due to some malfunction of the concrete component connecting system 110′.
The inspection shaft may facilitate visual inspection of the locking mechanism or give a tactile indication. For example, the inspection shaft may receive an insert (not shown). The insert may have a key which engages with the pairs of grooves 180, 182 if and only if they are correctly aligned. The insert may be in the form of a plastic plug which remains in the inspection shaft to seal the inspection shaft once the inspection is complete.
Reverting to
The foregoing only describes only one embodiment at the present invention and modifications may be made thereto without departing from this scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A connecting system for cementitious precast components including:
- first and second precast cementitious components adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship in an assembled configuration, the first and second precast components having respective first and second edges which face each other in the assembled configuration; and
- a locking mechanism including mutually engageable components disposed at the facing edges, the locking mechanism including a remote actuating means to effect locking of the mutually engageable components at or beyond a third edge of one of the first and second precast concrete components, to secure the first and second precast components together.
2. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two precast components are arranged side by side to one other and the third edge is on top of one of the components.
3. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the precast concrete components are arranged one atop the other and the third edge is atop the upper component.
4. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism includes:
- a pin having a head extending from the first edge of the first component; and
- a locking device including a locking member which is disposed at the second edge of the second component, the locking member being movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration whereby it is adapted to receive the head of the pin, the locking device further including an elongate member connected to the locking member and extending to the third edge of the second component, wherein operation of the locking member may be effected from the third edge by the elongate member.
5. The connecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pin is cast into the first component and a semicircular recess is formed about the pin such that it does not protrude beyond the main surface of the first edge.
6. The connecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locking member is rotatable about a pivot axis for movement between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
7. The connecting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locking member has axial spigots.
8. The connecting system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the axial spigots are received into a shaped plastic spacer which is cast into the second component.
9. The connecting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locking member is a part-cylindrical shell, with the pivot axis defined at the rotational centre thereof.
10. The connecting system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the part-cylindrical shell is one-half to two-thirds of a cylindrical wall, with a gap defined in the cylindrical wall to receive the head of the pin.
11. The connecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar.
12. The connecting system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar and wherein the locking member is interconnected with the rod or bar such that lineal movement of the rod or bar effects rotational movement of the locking member.
13. The connecting system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the elongate member is pivotally connected to the locking member.
14. The connecting system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the elongate member is connected to the locking member through one or more cable portions.
15. The connecting system as claimed in claim 14 wherein there are two cable portions allowing movement of the locking member between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration and also between the unlocked and the locked configuration.
16. The connecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is a plurality of said locking members, each of which are connected to a common elongate member.
17. The connecting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first component is a slab or footing and the second component is a wall panel and the elongate member extends upwards through the height of the wall panel and is connected to a roofing component.
18. The connecting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the concrete components includes an inspection shaft to check the configuration of the locking mechanism.
19. A locking device for use with a precast concrete component to lock the component to another precast concrete component, the device including a locking member adapted to receive the head of a pin extending from the edge of the other component; and an elongate member connected to the locking member, the elongate member being adapted for remote operation of the locking member.
20. The locking device as claimed in claim 19 wherein lineal movement of the elongate member effects operation of the locking member.
21. The locking device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the locking member is rotatable about a pivot axis for movement between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.
22. The locking device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the locking member is a part-cylindrical shell, with the pivot axis defined at the rotational centre thereof.
23. The locking device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar and wherein the locking member is interconnected with the rod or bar such that lineal movement of the rod or bar effects rotational movement of the locking member.
24. The locking device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the elongate member is pivotally connected to the locking member.
25. The locking device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the elongate member is connected to the locking member through one or more cable portions.
26. The locking device as claimed in claim 20 wherein there are a plurality of said locking members, each of which are connected to a common elongate member.
27. A building panel which is generally planar in form, having a core which is substantially planar in form with opposite sides, the core being substantially aligned with the plane of the building panel, with cementitious material disposed on both sides of the core, the core being formed with a series of substantially parallel open channels which are arranged with the openings on alternate sides of the core, some of the channels being filled with the cementitious material.
28. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the core has top and bottom edges and the channels extend from the top to the bottom edges of the core and are substantially aligned with the height dimension of the building panel.
29. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the core extends from one lateral edge of the building panel to the other.
30. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the building panel is of a width to accommodate a plurality of cores arranged in side by side abutting relationship and extending from one lateral edge of the building panel to the other.
31. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the core has top and bottom edges and the building panel has top and bottom edges, the top and bottom edges of the core being spaced from the top and the bottom edges of the building panel thereby defining beams of cementitious material adjacent the top and bottom edges of the building panel.
32. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the core is corrugated.
33. The building panel as claimed in claim 32 wherein the core is of a regular zig-zag formation.
34. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the core comprises insulative material.
35. The building panel as claimed in claim 34 wherein the core is formed of rigid cellular plastics material, preferably expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene.
36. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the building panel includes reinforcing material and the core is provided with holding means for the reinforcing material.
37. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 further including void formers in the form of inserts which fit with or into the channels in the core to preclude one or some of the channels from being filled with cementitious material to facilitate the creation of service ducting.
38. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein the panel also includes a lifting bracket comprising one or more lifting rods extending into the channels and embedded in the cementitious material.
39. The building panel as claimed in claim 27 wherein different grades of cementitious material are used on either side of the core.
40. The building panel as claimed in claim 39 wherein the building panel has a higher density cementitious material on one side of the core and relatively lower density cementitious material on the other side of the core.
41. A building constructed using a plurality of building panels as claimed in claim 40 wherein the building panels are installed with the higher density cementitious material on the inside of the building and the relatively lower density cementitious material on the outside of the building.
42. A method of casting a building panel, the method including:
- using cementitious material of at least two different densities including a relatively higher density material and a relatively lower density material;
- placing a first layer of the lower density material into a mould;
- placing a core assembly over the first layer, the core assembly being substantially planar in form; and
- placing a second layer of the relatively higher density material over the core assembly.
43. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the core assembly includes a core which is substantially planar in form.
44. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the core is of a regular zig-zag formation.
45. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the core is formed of rigid cellular plastics material, preferably expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene.
46. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the core assembly includes reinforcing material and the core is provided with holding means for the reinforcing material.
47. The method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the core assembly also includes a lifting bracket comprising one or more lifting rods extending into the channels and embedded in the cementitious material.
48. A method of constructing a building using a plurality of building panels cast according to the method as claimed in claim 42 wherein the panels are installed with the higher density material on the inside of the building and the lower density material on the outside of the building.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2011
Applicant: MACH SYSTEMS PTY LTD (Hoppers Crossing ,Victoria)
Inventor: Roger A. Farquhar (Victoria)
Application Number: 12/671,855
International Classification: E04C 2/284 (20060101); E04C 2/40 (20060101); E04C 2/288 (20060101);