PANEL AND SLAB DESIGNED FOR FORMING A FLOOR OR A WALL AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH PANELS AND SLABS

Abstract

A panel designed for forming a floor or a wall, including several beams, each beam including an armature fixed to a base, each base being made from a settable fixing material, the panel including a support having several formwork parts arranged salient from a surface receiving the support, the formwork parts forming housings to respectively receive the beams and having a bottom that is formed by the surface receiving the support, each beam being located in a respective housing where the base of the beam is fixed to the bottom of the housing, the support being formed by a single piece.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A panel designed to form a floor or a wall, comprising several beams, each beam comprising a base and an armature fixed to the base, each base being made from a settable fixing material, the panel comprising a support having several formwork parts located salient from a surface receiving the support, the several formwork parts forming housings to respectively receive the beams and having a bottom that is formed by the surface receiving the support, each beam being located in a respective housing where the base of the beam is fixed to the bottom of the housing, the support being formed by a single piece, wherein the support is made from a settable support material in which wooden elements are sunk.

9. The panel according to claim 8, wherein the support comprises an organic element of vegetal origin chosen from straw, cellulose, hemp or cork.

10. The panel according to claim 8, wherein each beam is configured so that the armature of each base is isolated from the support and each armature is not in direct contact with the support.

11. The panel according to claim 8, wherein the settable support material is cement to form a support made of concrete-wood material.

12. The panel according to claim 11, wherein the support comprises micro-cavities and wherein the base is made of concrete so that concrete forming the base penetrates y into the micro-cavities of support.

13. A slab for forming a floor, comprising the panel according to claim 8, and a concrete coating covering the several formwork parts and the housings of the panel.

14. The slab according to claim 13, wherein the settable fixing material of each beam is a concrete, the proportions of the concrete being identical to proportion of a concrete covering the several formwork parts and the housings.

15. A method for manufacturing a panel according to claim 8 comprising: providing a single-piece support made from a settable support material in which wooden elements are sunk, the support having several formwork parts situated salient from a surface receiving the support, the several formwork parts forming housings; placing an armature in each housing; and casting a settable fixing material in each housing so as to form a base, for each housing, fixed to the bottom of the housing to fix the armature to the support.

16. The method for manufacturing a slab according to claim 13, comprising: providing a panel designed to form a floor or a wall, comprising several beams, each beam comprising a base and an armature fixed to the base, each base being made from a settable fixing material, the panel comprising a support having several formwork parts located salient from a surface receiving the support, the several formwork parts forming housings to respectively receive the beams and having a bottom that is formed by the surface receiving the support, each beam being located in a respective housing where the base of the beam is fixed to the bottom of the housing, the support being formed by a single piece, wherein the support is made from a settable support material in which wooden elements are sunk; and casting a concrete coating covering the several formwork parts and the housings of the panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and implementation modes of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a beam support according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a panel; and

[0028] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a slab.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In FIG. 1 an embodiment of a support 6 has been represented, in FIG. 2 an embodiment of a panel 1 has been represented, and in FIG. 3 an embodiment of a slab 2 has been represented. Slab 2 is used in particular for ground coating, for example flooring, or for wall coating.

[0030] Panel 1 is designed to constitute a floor or a wall. i.e. panel 1 can be placed horizontally to constitute a floor or vertically to form a wall.

[0031] In general manner, panel 1 comprises several beams 3 and a support 6. A beam 3 is an elongate part the cross-section of which is designed to provide a flexural strength. In particular, each beam 3 comprises an armature 4 fixed to a base 5. An armature 4 is designed to reinforce the beam, and its cross-section, in conjunction with the cross-section of base 5, determines the flexural strength of beam 3. In general manner, armature 4 is made from metal. Base 5 is made from a settable fixing material, i.e. the settable material is designed to secure armature 4 to support 6. The settable fixing material can be a concrete. The concrete is a mixture of different elements such as gravel, sand, a binder and water. The binder can be a cement or lime. The proportions of the different elements of the concrete vary according to the required hardness of the concrete to be obtained. For example armature 4 has the shape of a parallelepiped or can have a triangular cross-section. Beam 3 generally extends along a longitudinal axis A of support 6. In particular, the length of a beam 3 is greater than its height and width.

[0032] Support 6 is designed in particular to support beams 3. Support 6 comprises several formwork parts 7 arranged salient from a surface 8 receiving support 6. More generally, formwork parts 7 form housings 9 shaped to respectively accommodate beams 3 to be supported. A housing 9 comprises a bottom corresponding to surface 8 receiving support 6, and side walls 10, 11 corresponding to the side walls of two formwork parts 7 situated consecutively on support 6. The two side walls 10, 11 of two consecutive formwork parts 9 are located facing one another and extend along a longitudinal axis A. In FIG. 2, it can be noted that each beam 3 is located in a housing 9. In particular, base 5 of a beam 3 is fixed to the bottom of the housing, i.e. to surface 8 receiving support 6. More particularly, support 6 is monolithic, i.e. the support is made from a single piece. A panel is thus provided that is easily transportable as beams 3 are secured by mechanical fixing to support 6. In addition, manufacturing of the flooring is better mastered as it is no longer necessary to assemble beams 3 on the site where the floor is to be laid. Advantageously, a support 6 is provided that presents a contact surface 13, opposite receiving surface 8, that is continuous. Support 6 therefore does not present any cracks and therefore no weak areas. Panel 1 therefore presents a higher flexural strength and provides a fire-resistance property due to the fact that support 6 partially protects beams 3.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, support 6 is made from a settable support material in which wooden parts are sunk. The wooden parts can be of different sizes. The settable support can be a binder, such as a cement, and in this case the support is made from concrete-wood. The concrete-wood material gives the flooring an enhanced fire-resistance property. Wood is in fact a better thermal insulator than the sand used in conventional concretes. Furthermore, the binder coats the wooden parts and protects them from flames. As a variant, support 6 can be made from, or comprise, a material comprising an organic element of vegetal origin. An organic element of vegetal origin can be wood, straw, cellulose, hemp or cork. An organic element contains carbon. A support 6 made from or comprising a material containing an organic element of vegetal origin therefore enables flooring to be made from carbon of natural origin, i.e. an organic element that was not produced by the chemical industry and that did not require an additional energy expenditure.

[0034] Furthermore, each beam 3 is configured so that its armature 4 is isolated from support 6 so that its armature 4 is not in direct contact with support 6. In other words, base 5 is fixed directly to the support and armature 4 is fixed directly to the base, armature 4 not being in direct contact with support 6. That is to say each armature 4 has an apparent part in the open air situated outside base 5. Panel 1 is therefore lightened as beams 3 are not completely coated. In addition, the fire-resistance property of the flooring is improved due to the fact that, when flames are in contact with contact surface 13 of the support, opposite receiving surface 8, the flames are not in direct contact with beams 3. Such a support 6 thereby limits heat propagation in case of fire. Furthermore, support 6 made from a concrete-wood material protects the beams from an excessive expansion which could occur in case of fire.

[0035] Furthermore, when support 6 is made from a concrete-wood material, base 5 is preferably made from concrete so as to secure base 5 solidly to support 6. When the concrete forming base 5 is cast, it does in fact penetrate easily into the micro-cavities of support 6.

[0036] Furthermore, a support 6 can comprise link parts 14 designed to engage in a complementary link part 15 of another support 6, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Link parts 14 are situated on a lateral surface of support 6. Several panels 1 can thus be joined to one another to form the floor or wall.

[0037] A slab 2 has been represented in FIG. 3. Slab 2 is obtained from panel 1 described in the foregoing and comprises a concrete coating 16 covering formwork parts 7 and housings 9. The apparent parts of beams 3 are thus sunk in concrete coating 16. According to yet another advantage, the settable fixing material of each beam 3 is a concrete the proportions of which are identical to those of concrete coating 16 covering formwork parts 7 and housings 9.

[0038] The main steps of an implementation mode of a method for manufacturing a panel 1 have been represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. The method for manufacturing panel 1, as defined in the foregoing, comprises: [0039] providing a support 6 in a single piece having several formwork parts 7 situated salient from a surface 8 receiving support 6, formwork parts 7 forming housings 9; [0040] placing an armature 4 in each housing 9, [0041] casting a settable fixing material in each housing 9 so as to form a base 5, for each housing, fixed to the bottom of housing 9 so as to fix armature 4 to support 6.

[0042] In FIG. 3, an implementation mode of a method for manufacturing a slab 2, as defined in the foregoing, has been represented. The method comprises: [0043] providing a panel 1, as defined in the foregoing; and [0044] casting a concrete coating 16 covering formwork parts 7 and housings 9 of panel 1.

[0045] When concrete coating 16 is cast, a metal framework 17 can be added so as to provide a reinforced concrete coating 16.