Patent Application
20200024852
The present invention refers to the technical field concerning the construction of floating walkable surfaces, for example in the form of a floating screed.
In particular, the invention refers to a floating walkable surface, for example a screed, constructed in such a manner as to be fully assemblable/disassemblable, thus allowing also an easy access to the underlying surface, having heating elements integrated in itself.
Screed construction has been prior art for a long time.
Concerning construction industry, screed is the constructive horizontal element which is used to achieve one or more of these purposes: flattening a surface, thus making it perfectly flat; distributing the load of the elements above; receiving the final flooring. The screed thickness is variable depending on the ambient type (for example, inside a building can be comprised between 4 and 8 cm). Its purpose is to make the underlying concrete substrate flat (loft or flooring), secondly, it is necessary to contain pipes and service cables. If the flooring above (ceramics, stone or wood) is laid by gluing, it is exactly on the screed that the glue is laid. The screed, accordingly with the prior art, is therefore poured in place and generally consists of three materials used in appropriate proportions: cement, aggregate (sand and/or gravel, for example) and water. The dose of elements varies depending on the external environment and on the location of it (internal or external, for civil or industrial purpose). Quite often additive or other materials are added to the typical ones (common examples are polystyrene, used to lighten screed, or quartz, used to smooth it or make it more tough). To strengthen it and make it more collaborating, an iron net can be used, as in the case of concrete lofts.
As described above, it is therefore obvious that, accordingly with the prior art, the constructive technique of creed, or, anyway, of a walkable surface in general, leads de facto to the construction of fixed not disassemblable elements and therefore, once placed, they cannot be removed except that with a demolition action.
In that sense, if for example a maintenance service is necessary on the accessories under the screed, the service proves to be not simple at all and, on the contrary, it is invasive and destructive.
With the purpose to solve said technical inconveniences, solutions of the modular type exist, that is modules placed side by side each other.
Generally, each module is made by a simple carrying panel placed on supporting foot, so as to make it floating. In this way, the space between the panel and the carrying level creates the housing of potential plant design.
This solution creates a better maintenance access to the underlying areas but has also some technical inconveniences.
Generally, panels are simply placed side by side each other on supporting feet but not fixed at all, and, if on one side it simplifies their mobility, on the other side it can raise some stability issues. Other locking systems can comprise glue which makes the installation longer and obviously makes more difficult the mobility of the module for maintenance services.
In addition, such system of modular screeds does not integrate any heating system which has to be provided apart in the gap of the installation and requiring an additional assembly action to be taken into account before the installation of the screed modules.
For example, it is known the publication number KR200400444 which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1.
Such an embodiment discloses a module which is only partially made up by parts detachable one another.
In fact, it is formed by a top panel 210 which is connected in detachable manner to a bottom panel 250 whose shape is like an open box open at the top, as it is a container for concrete.
First of all, such a bottom panel 250 is welded to an intermediate closing panel 230, in such a manner as to form a closed containment box.
Concrete is injected into said bottom panel by means of holes 252 and it sets against the inner structure 259 and 259 of such a bottom panel, thus creating a strong adhesion and creating a single non-detachable piece formed by the bottom panel and the intermediate panel.
In that manner, the module is very heavy, because of the use of concrete, and moreover, the insulating system will be made up only by concrete, also with structural function.
Therefore, it is not possible to replace concrete with lighter materials with better thermal-insulating qualities, as it would entail a full removal of the whole bottom panel and intermediate panel, which is actually a single element with the concrete poured inside it.
Therefore, this embodiment is not convenient and functional and in addition, it makes the preparing process of the parts more complex, thus requiring a step of pouring concrete into the container 250.
It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an innovative module for a walkable surface, for example a floating screed, which solves said technical inconveniences.
In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a module which allows an easy accessibility to the underlying surface, thus being easily disassemblable but also stable at the same time.
In addition, the aim of the present invention is to provide a module which integrates in itself a heating system, which guarantees a fixing system at the same time, both of modules with one other and of various elements composing each module, being applicable/removable rapidly, in such a manner as to allow an immediate access to parts of the module itself or to allow a rapid removal of a module and a rapid re-positioning of itself as well.
These and other aims are therefore obtained through the present module for building a walkable surface, preferably a screed, according to claim 1.
Such a module (1) comprises a top panel (10) suitable to form a walkable surface.
Therefore, the top panel can further be covered with finishing elements or integrate in itself such finishing elements forming the final flooring (for example a parquet).
It will have well-known technical features in order to fulfill its load-carrying function as walkable element.
According to the invention, the module (1) further comprises the following elements:
A bottom panel (20) generally sized to be load-carrying;
A panel of thermally insulating material (30) and a heating device (50) configured for emanating heat, both comprised between the bottom panel (20) and the top panel (10).
The insulating panel (30) is a free-standing modular element of prebuilt type.
In order to keep such elements of the module connected together, that is stacked, connecting means (100) are provided applicable, for example, following the assembly of the module, configured in such a manner as to exert a mechanical action according to an approaching direction of the top panel (10) to the bottom panel (20).
In this way, the various elements of the module are fixed one another and the module is ready for use.
Such connecting means are further configured in such a manner as to be movable (that is fastening connecting means) in such a manner that, as they are removed, at least the top panel, the bottom panel and the thermally insulating panel interposed between them are disassemblable each other.
In this way, all said technical inconveniences are easily solved.
The module integrates in itself a heating element together with a thermally insulating element arranged to facilitate the heat irradiation upward. The heating element allow to irradiate heat and such a kind of configuration allows a good heat irradiation towards the walkable surface, thus simply creating a module assemblable with other modules for creating a screed able to emit heat. Therefore, heating systems are not required to be installed below the above-ground screed as separated element.
In this way, the module forming the screed, or the surface in general, can be installed on a potential floating support, also with the smallest heights, as the potential heating system is integrated into the module itself and has not to be integrated into the space between the screed and the carrying level. In addition, this solution allows a remarkable time saving during the assembly, as it does not require first the installation of the heating system and then the installation of the overhead screed.
The used connecting means are of the mechanical type, therefore they do not comprise glues, and, for this reason, they are easily removable. Once removed, they allow an easy removal of the parts of each module, if this is considered necessary for the maintenance.
The insulating panel is a prebuilt free-standing element and then it is easily arranged between the panels with no need of fillings with concrete. Thanks to the detachability between the parts, all the parts are accessible and replaceable, including the insulating layer 30 which can be also replaced with other layers made of different materials in case of need.
In this manner, the impediments of the prior art KR200400444 are overcome.
Advantageously, such a surface of insulating material, for example in form of a panel, is (30) placed above the bottom panel (20) and with the heating device (50) comprised between the top panel (10) and such a surface of insulating material (30).
This solution has the advantage of optimizing the heat irradiation towards the flooring in use to be stepped on, that is the top surface.
Advantageously, the above-described module is of the floating type, as means are provided to raise it to the desired level in respect to the supporting surface.
Such means are advantageously adjustable in height.
It is therefore possible to apply the system to any height of the end product, for example up to 1 meter.
Further advantages are deducible from the other dependent claims.
It is also described here, obviously, a screed or a flooring, therefore a walkable surface, formed by the assembly of two or more modules as described.
Further features and advantages of the device, according to the invention, will become clearer with the description that follows of some embodiments, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Both figures from 1 to 3 show an exploded view, displaying various components of the single module forming a floating screed object of the invention;
Figures from 4 to 6 show some axonometric view of the floating screed as assembled, highlighting some components of it;
Figure from 7 to 10 show some executive details, including the processing and the drilling for the slot of the fastening screw;
The present invention concerns a module (1) for the formation of a walkable surface, preferably a screed, the module (1) comprising a top panel (10) suitable for forming such stepping surface.
According to the invention, said module (1) further comprises the following elements:
A bottom panel (20);
A thermally insulating panel (30) and a heating device (50) configured for emanating heat, both comprised between the bottom panel (20) and the top panel (10), the insulating surface being preferable in form of a panel of insulating material (30) placed above the bottom panel (20) and with the heating device (50) comprised between the top panel (10) and the panel of insulating material (30);
and wherein connecting means (100) are comprised and configured in such a manner as to exert a mechanical action according to an approaching direction of the top panel (10) to the bottom panel (20) in such a manner as to keep said elements of the module stacked on each other, said connecting means being further configured in such a manner as to be removable in such a manner that, as they are removed, at least said bottom and panel (20), top panel (10) and insulating panel (30) are separable and/or accessible each other.
More in detail,
In the present invention, the term “screed” means any walkable surface, and therefore also a modular flooring in general and the term “screed” is not to be considered with limiting meaning.
The floating screed, as explained below, does not require the use of glues for its assembly and therefore it is fully disassemblable and/or re-assemblable. In addition, it is structured in such a manner that the system of floating support, that is the system allowing to make the height variable from the ground of the screed itself, allows the purpose of connecting element, by stacking one another the element of the single module, and at the same time, by fixing a module to an adjacent one for the assembly of the screed.
Therefore, the use of glue for fixing the module to the adjacent one is only optional in the case of need to make airtight the lateral edge which connects a module and the adjacent one.
Describing more in details the invention, such a floating screed is composed by modules (one or more than one). Obviously, in the case of more than one module, these can be placed side by side, in such a manner as to cover a predetermined area assembling the screed.
Such modules are for example highlighted in
Each module, in turn, is made of more overlapping elements and obviously, easily disassemblable one another, as, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the same fixing system that fix a module to its adjacent one are advantageously used also to stack the elements of the module at the same time. This entails that each part of the module can be easily removed and replaced, for example in the case of repairing.
Fixing systems, as explained further, are of the mechanic type and exert a pressure in the axial direction and are thus defined of the axial type.
Obviously, two independent mechanic systems with axial action, one of which for fixing a module to an adjacent one and one for fixing one another the stacked parts assembling the module, could be used.
Nevertheless, as said, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes an axial-action system which performs the function of the form of stacking and fixing a module to an adjacent module.
Therefore, the single module includes two external panel systems (10, 20), that is a top panel 10 and a bottom panel 20.
The top panel 10 is a carrying panel, for example made of Gres, marble or similar materials.
The bottom panel is equal to the top one, that is a carrying one.
Therefore, such panels are designed for carrying loads through the choice of suitable materials and thicknesses.
Therefore, the above panel 10 forms the walkable surface and further finishing elements can be applied on it, such as tiles, parquet, etc. Therefore, the finishing elements can be bought separately depending on personal tastes and can be applied with glues and adhesives commonly used in the technical field, once the whole screed is assembled.
As alternative, the top surface 10 can integrate in itself finishing elements (for example Gres, PVC, parquet, marble, etc.), shaped according to the form of the top surface, or it can be the end material (with potential decorative processing).
The other elements are included between these two panels (10, 20), comprising:
A panel 30 of insulating material, in such a manner as to hold heat, for example polystyrene, Styrofoam or similar ones);
A thermal conductive layer 40 (for example of aluminum);
A pipe 50 forming a heating system for transferring heat.
Going into the descriptive detail of the invention, the insulating panel 30 is processed in such a manner as to form a series of corridors incised on its surface that can intersect one another with right angle. For example,
Corridors are of such a size that they can contain the provided pipes inside them, that is the heating system.
Pipes are necessary for the passage of a warm fluid (for example, liquid like water as inside conventional heating radiators).
Such pipes are connected to a canal and from the canal to a pump and a normal boiler which heats up the circulating water.
The pipe can be one unique flexible pipe passing along corridors following a set path.
As alternative, it can be modular itself and made of rectilinear sections 51 linking to curved sections 52 which connect two rectilinear sections placed side by side.
In all cases, as it is explained further, the accessibility of each single module allows the repairing/replacement also of segments of broken pipes.
Panel 30 of insulating material (for example, in the case of Styrofoam or polystyrene) can be advantageously in mould, thus being of rapid manufacturing and low-cost.
The top layer is made of aluminum, metal in general or other materials with good thermal-conductive characteristics.
The purpose of layer 40, also shaped to trace the form of panel 30 and to couple to it as per
The insulating layer 30 is necessary to avoid heat loss downwards.
In this way, such a coupling of the insulating panel with layer 40 forming said corridors, in which pipes are passing, guarantees the maximum heat radiation towards the walkable surface 10, thus minimizing dispersions downwards, that is towards panel 20.
Going further with the structural description of the invention, the fixing of elements of each module is obtained de facto thanks to a mechanical clamping system of the axial type 100, for example as shown in
It is formed by a supporting axis, in which a clamping screw 102 inserts itself (or, similarly, a rivet, a bolt or similar ones).
The supporting axis 101 provides a duct 103 having a supporting base 104, for example circular one, in such a manner that such a duct can be placed firmly on a surface (that is the flooring), thus being emerging upwards from it.
The duct 103 is axially hollow, in such a manner as to hold the proper support element 105 of the module, that is the surface 106 in contact with the bottom panel. In fact, such a support component 105 is formed by said surface 106 and an axis 107 configured to insert itself in the canal formed by duct 103.
It is possible to regulate the extraction amount of the support element 105 in respect to the duct 103, as the axis 107 is threaded and inserts itself by screwing in the canal of duct 103.
In a variation of the invention (as shown in
In both ways, the overall heights of the whole axis 101 is easily adjustable, depending on needs, by varying the raising heights of the modules from the ground.
In its turn, the axis 107 is axially holed with a hole 109 leading to the surface 106. In this way, the screw 102 is insertable and screwable in the hole 109 which provides a complementary threading, compacting and clamping the elements that intersects as the latter ones are clamped between the enlarged head 102 ‘of the screw and the support surface 106.
Therefore, if a module is, for example, perforated at its center point with a through hole, once leaning on the plate 106 in such a manner that its hole is aligned with the hole 109, it is enough to pass the screw up to intercept the hole 109 and clamp the screw so that this stacks the module, namely its elements that compose it. In case of maintenance, for example, inspection of the piping 50, it is sufficient to loosen and remove the screw to detach the top panel, the lamina and the other elements if necessary.
For a better clamping, as also explained below, it is provided the use of a flat washer 110 that is interposed between the head 102 ‘and the surface of the top panel 10.
Optionally, it can also be provided a head gasket 108 which leans on the surface 106 (thus interposed between surface 106 and the bottom panel). It is made of plastic and provided with spacing wings for facilitating the alignment of the four edges that are leaning on the same surface and to avoid possible creaking.
It has surprisingly been found that a suitable processing or shape of the perimeter of each module means that the axial clamping system can effectively perform the locking function of a module with an adjacent module and, at the same time, fix one another the elements forming the module itself and described above.
Figures from 7 to 10 show in detail such a solution.
The top panel 10 and the bottom panel 20 of each module have a finishing in correspondence of their four corners that is very well highlighted in
The finishing consists of a removal of material in correspondence of the four corners.
In the top panel, that removal forms an angular countersink 111 (ninety-degrees angle) in correspondence of the corners. It penetrates into the thickness of such a panel for such a quantity as to hold the thickness of the washer 110 and therefore of the head of the screw 102′ that in this way, through the washer, is flush with the panel. Contextually, the angle is removed so as to generate a flat side 113. The side 113 is preferably orthogonal to the diagonal of the panel.
The formation of the countersink, as shown in
The countersink 11 has a dual effect. The washer exerts a pressure on the surface 112 of the panel, generated by said countersink 111, thus creating a higher-pressure surface of action, useful also to prevent the separation of a module from the adjacent one.
Furthermore, the screw is flush with the panel, thus not altering the surface of the same panel to the application of potential finishing elements.
In this way, as shown in
As shown in
The use of the washer 110 better distributes the clamping pressure and therefore creates a better stacking.
The system of axial clamping screw (including the equivalent solutions rivet, bolts, etc.) are advantageous for their simplicity, as simply screwing/unscrewing action allows to fasten the whole system or the disassembly of the screw and/or the possibility to inspect the module.
A further solution may always comprise an axial mechanical clamping action system in which the axial force is obtained thanks to a spring that pulls a pivot towards the hole 109. In this way, no thread is necessary. In this case, for example, the lifting of the pivot against the spring action could take place with a suitable magnet.
Obviously, the processing by removal of material must also be provided in the elements included between the top and bottom panel and therefore in the insulating layer and in lamina 40.
If the insulating layer extends with a wider area in respect of a single panel (10, 20), obviously, the processing is replaced with a simple through hole in the insulating layer.
Having described the essential structural elements of the invention, an assembly example is here described to better understand the invention.
Firstly, support axis 101 are arranged to the ground (as shown for example in
Possibly, these may also be fixed to the ground, for example through screws, bolts or also common glue.
Then it is possible to proceed by adjusting the height of these support axes so as to define the required height of the final screed in respect to the ground.
As mentioned, and as well known, an appropriate height allows to create advantageously a positioning slot for cables and wiring in general and also the air layer that is formed between the screed and the soil works as a further good thermal insulator.
At this point, bottom panels 20, which are selected in such a number as to cover the entire predetermined area and as a function of the installed axes 101, can be arranged. Obviously, also the support axes are selected in number and positioning such as to cover the selected area proceeding in the assembly for micro-areas.
The modules near the perimeter of the wall may be cut out of perimetric shape and size so as to go flush with the wall.
Assuming that a number of support axles 101 has established, the bottom panels are laid down on these, as for example shown in
The circular tubular connecting elements are highlighted on the outside of each module only for descriptive clarity but they must be understood as incorporated in the module structure.
As shown in the example of
In
The insulating layer, as shown in
Alternatively, it could be of an identical size to that of the panel 20 and with the identically processed angle.
At this point, once all the axes 101 and 20 panels are arranged with their insulating layer (which could also be a single surface), the proceeding comprises the arrangement of the lamina 40 and then the pipes. Finally, the whole in closed by applying the top panels 10 and by fixing them with the screws as
A single screw thus holds the four modules each other and also stacks together the component of such modules.
In the case of inspection, it is enough to remove the screw for removing segments of the module or the entire module.
As said, if it is required to better insulate the modules, the injection of an adhesive at the junction edge between a module and the flanked one can be provided, even if this makes disassembly difficult.
In a variation of the invention, although not optimal, the same structure described above might be provided, wherein, however, the insulating layer 30 and the sheet 40 are omitted and providing the fixing of pipes 50 of the heating system to the bottom panel.
In this case, there might be a more compact solution, wherein, however, a wider heat loss downwards takes place and with more difficulty in arranging the pipe coil (Styrofoam or polystyrene was in fact processed in order to form the slot inside it).
This heat loss can be partially offset by an adequate lifting height above the ground.
As described, this modular walkable surface is preferably of the floating type.
Therefore, nothing excludes the applicability of the expressed inventive concepts also to a modular structure applied in non-floating manner and thus maintaining the advantage to allow in any case the inspection of the internal electric heating elements and the replaceability of the modular elements themselves.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17425022.5 | Mar 2017 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2018/051273 | 2/28/2018 | WO | 00 |
