The invention relates to composite insulation panels of the type comprising inner and outer skins with a body of insulating material therebetween.
Insulation panels of this type are widely known and used extensively, especially for roof and wall panels in buildings.
There are however limitations on the size of the panels that can be manufactured using known technologies.
There is therefore a need to provide an improved panel and associated manufacturing technique which will overcome at least some of these drawbacks.
According to the invention there is provided a manufactured insulating panel comprising
In one embodiment the overlap parts are side overlap parts. In one embodiment the external sheet of the panel portions have a longitudinally extending recessed region along both side edges, the recess region along one side being filled with foam and defining a male side overlap part and the recessed region along the opposite side being open to define a female overlap part for reception of the male overlap part of an adjacent panel portion. The recess regions may be of generally trapezoidal form.
In a preferred embodiment the recessed regions of the external sheets are bonded together at the side overlap.
In one embodiment the backing sheet of the panel portions comprise a projecting part extending along one side edge and a recessed part extending along the opposite side edge, the projecting and recessed parts of the backing sheets of the panel sections being overlapped.
In this case preferably the backing sheet projecting part and recessed part of the panel portions are bonded together at the side overlap.
In one case the panel portions are adhesively bonded.
In one embodiment at least one further similar panel portion is bonded to the first or the second panel portion.
The manufactured insulated panel may have a width of from about 2 to 3 metres.
Preferably the manufactured panel has a width of about 2 metres.
In a preferred embodiment there are two panel portions and the width of each panel portion is half the width of the insulated panel
The invention also provides a stack comprising a plurality of insulated panels of the invention. The panels in the stack are preferably nested. Alternate panels in the stack are preferably in different orientations.
In another aspect the invention provides a method for manufacturing an insulating panel comprising the steps of:—
In one embodiment the method comprises the step, prior to engagement, of applying an adhesive to the overlap parts of the panel portions.
In none case, prior to application of the adhesive at least one of the side overlap parts are pre-treated. The pre-treatment may comprise heating.
In one embodiment the method comprises post-treating after joining of the panel portions. The post-treating may comprise pressing the panel portions together at the joint therebetween.
In one case the overlap parts are side overlap parts.
In one embodiment the method comprises the step of stacking the panels. The method may comprise the step of inverting alternate panels during stacking.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, in which: —
a) and 3(b) are cross sectional views illustrating the jointing of the panel portions to form the panel of
a) to 4(b) are diagrams illustrating various steps in a method for manufacturing the panel of
a) and 5(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating another jointing of panel portions to form a panel.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The corresponding overlap parts 10, 11 of adjacent panels 2, 3 are bonded together during manufacture at the overlap therebetween. In this case adhesive 15 is applied to one or both of the overlap portions 10, 11 which may be pre-treated to receive the adhesive or post-treated (for example by pressing) after engagement to ensure positive bonding between the overlap parts of the panel portions 2,3 and thereby forming a larger single panel 1 which is about 2 metres wide. Adhesive may be applied in the form of beads 15(a), 15(b) as illustrated in
The external sheet 5 has a number of recesses which in this case are defined by trapezoidal shaped formations 20. One of the formations 20 is open to define a female overlap part 10 whilst the other formations 20 are filled with foam. The formation at the side of the panel section opposite to the side overlap part 10 defines a male side overlap part 11. When the panel sections are joined together during manufacture the male side overlap part 11 of one section 3 is received in the female side overlap part 10 of an adjacent panel section 2 as shown for example in
Advantages of the wide panel of the invention include speed of construction with less panel handling and consequential reduction in damage, less crane costs and the like. Further, the adhesive bonding of one panel to another before the panels are delivered to a construction site ensures that correct sealing and bonding between the joined panels can be assured. Thus quality assurance is improved. In addition, generally trailers are about 2 metres wide and can therefore more readily and efficiently accommodate the larger panel of the invention.
Referring to
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2006/0444 | Jun 2006 | IE | national |
2007/0004 | Jan 2007 | IE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IE2007/000055 | 6/11/2007 | WO | 00 | 12/1/2008 |