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EP-4284986-B1 - MODULAR PANEL SYSTEM

EP4284986B1EP 4284986 B1EP4284986 B1EP 4284986B1EP-4284986-B1

Inventors

  • BEN DAVID, MICHA
  • KATAN, Ilan

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20211117

Claims (13)

  1. A modular panel system (60), comprising: at least first (62, 63) and second (65) mutually juxtaposed panels, each of said panels being supported by spaced apart purlins (70, 70') of a building structure that extend along a width of the panels, the second panel (65) having a projection (71) projecting upwardly from an upper surface (72) of the panel and extending along a length of the panel at a first side (73) of the panel constituting a proximal side of the projection, said projection having on a distal side (76) an undercut (75) defining an internal recess extending along a length of the panel, said undercut having a lower surface flush with an upper surface (72) of the panel, the first panel (63) having an integral wing-type female coupler (91) of complementary shape to the projection, said female coupler extending along a length of the first panel and overlaying the projection of the second panel, and fasteners (96) of similar shape to the wing-type female coupler for overlaying the wing-type female coupler, each fastener having a hook shaped lip (97) along an edge (98) thereof for engaging the undercut of the projection and being fixedly attached using a bolt (94) that extends through the fastener, the wing-type female coupler and the projection, whereby the second panel is supported between the wing-type female coupler of the first panel and the hook shaped lip.
  2. The modular panel system according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said fasteners are affixed to the first panel where it overlays respective adjacent purlins.
  3. The modular panel system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said fasteners (FIG. 5) is affixed to the first panel at a location intermediate adjacent purlins.
  4. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein for each panel at least two of the fasteners are located in line with respective purlins and are secured to the projection of the second panel by respective screws (94, 94') that are sufficiently long to penetrate the respective purlins.
  5. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second panel (65) has an outwardly projecting flange (79) extending along a length of the second panel at a lower surface thereof on a side of the panel for engaging a complementary depression (92) extending along a length of an adjacent first panel (63) at a lower surface thereof.
  6. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first panel has a high rigidity relative to the second panel.
  7. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first panel (62, 63) is a sandwich-type structure consisting of two sheet metal skins and a filler material.
  8. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second panel (65) is formed of polycarbonate.
  9. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second panel (65) is light-transmissive.
  10. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein both the first and second panels are sandwich-type structures consisting of two sheet metal skins and a filler material.
  11. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the projections (71) are trapezoidal in shape.
  12. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a proximal edge (99) of the fastener is screwed (94") to an upper surface (100) of the first panel.
  13. The modular panel system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the recess is formed by an undercut (75) having a lower surface flush with an upper surface

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to polycarbonate roofs panels adapted for interconnection with so-called sandwich-type panels having outer metal skins. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sandwich-type panels formed by a structure consisting of two sheet metal skins and a filler material are commonly used as roof and wall coverings. Each panel has at opposite ends joints of complementary geometries thus allowing multiple panels to be coupled end to end and fixed to the building structure using screws, which may be visible or concealed. The metal skins are of course opaque so that such a structure is used where light transmission is not an issue. Also known are light-transmissive polycarbonate panels that are coupled to sandwich-type panels for use on roofs and walls of industrial buildings in general, whereby light can enter the building, while protecting the roof from inclement weather and providing a degree of insulation to the upper part of the building. EP 3 290 613 discloses a modular polycarbonate panel for roofs of buildings, comprising a cell structure defining a plurality of chambers, such that a first side has at least one tab defining a cavity that is suitable for being coupled to a second panel. A second side of the panel is suitable for being coupled to a third panel and has a projection defining a geometry complementary to the cavity defined by the tab of the first side. The modular panel can be coupled to successive adjacent panels for covering a surface of a roof or enclosure rapidly and safely while reducing the installation time. The need to join polycarbonate panels and sandwich panels is particularly acute when used for roofing applications since the polycarbonate panels may be transparent or translucent to light while the sandwich panels are opaque. It is normal therefore to employ a modular construction wherein several sandwich panels are interconnected and at suitable intervals polycarbonate panels are interposed and must then be joined to the respective sandwich panels on either side. Fig. 1 shows a prior art polycarbonate panel 10 corresponding to the teachings of EP 3 290 613 configured for coupling at opposite ends to respective sandwich-type panels (not shown). The polycarbonate panel 10 has a cellular body portion 11, a base 12 of which has an outwardly projecting flange 13 on one end and a depression 14 at the opposite end. A projection 15 of generally trapezoidal shape projects upwardly from an upper surface 16 of one end of the panel. The opposite end of the panel supports a jib arm 17 an upper end of which supports a polyhedral tab 18 whose shape may be complementary to that of the projection 15, and such that the respective base angles α and β of the projection 15 and jib arm 17 are substantially identical. This allows multiple panels to be joined end to end, the projection 15 constituting a male connection and the shaped tab 18 constituting a female connector of complementary shape. Fig. 2a shows a detail of a modular panel system 20 wherein a chain of series-connected sandwich panels 21 are coupled at opposite ends of the chain to respective first and second polycarbonate panels 10', 10" by respective first and second coupling members 22', 22". Each sandwich panel 21 is fixedly attached to a building structure 23 and has a projection 25 (constituting a male connector) projecting upwardly from an upper surface 26 of the panel toward a first end and a tab 27 (constituting a female connector) of complementary shape projecting upwardly at its opposite second end. The tab 27 is shown schematically projecting upwardly from an edge of the panel bounding the upper surface 26 and the second end of the panel. The tab 27 extends outwardly away from the upper surface so as overlap the adjacent polycarbonate panel. Each of the polycarbonate panels 10', 10" has at least one joining flange 28 as shown in Fig. 2b toward each end projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the panel. A U-shaped support 29 is secured to the building structure 23 by a screw 30 and serves to support an end of the respective polycarbonate panel, while allowing it to thermally expand or contract relative to the sandwich panel 21. The first coupling member 22' has a planar support member 31 adapted for attachment to the upward projection 25 of the sandwich panel 21. Conveniently this is achieved by means of the same screw 32 that fixes the sandwich panel to the building structure. The support member 31 may be bent to provide a side portion 33 that fits the outer contour of the projection 25 thereby impeding water leakage and rotation of the first coupling member 22'. Projecting downwardly from the support member 31 is a socket 34 adapted for coupling to the upwardly projecting flange 28 of the first polycarbonate panel 10'. A similar arrangement is provided for fastening the tab 27 to the upwardly projecting flange 28 of the second polycarbonate panel 10". Fig. 3 shows a modular panel system 40 comprisi