HOLLOW-FLOOR ELEMENTS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A HOLLOW-FLOOR ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to hollow-floor elements for use in a hollow-floor. The hollow-floor elements comprise at least two superimposed load-bearing individual panels, which are firmly joined together. Especially preferably the at least one load-bearing individual panel comprises a gypsum fiberboard. In addition, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such hollow-floor elements.

Claims

1. A hollow-floor element for use in a hollow floor, wherein the hollow-floor element comprises at least two superimposed load-bearing individual panels which are firmly joined together.

2. The hollow-floor element according to claim 1, wherein the load-bearing individual panels have a thickness of between 9 and 25 mm.

3. The hollow-floor element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the load-bearing individual panels is a gypsum fibreboard.

4. The hollow-floor element according to claim 3, wherein the at least one load-bearing individual panel comprises a gypsum matrix with cellulose fibres and glass fibres.

5. The hollow-floor element according to claim 4, wherein the at least one individual panel comprises cellulose fibres in an amount of 1 to 25% by weight and chopped glass fibres in an amount of 0.5 to 15% by weight, wherein the weightings refer to the mixture of all constituents.

6. The hollow-floor element according to claim 4, wherein the glass fibres have a length of between 5 and 25 mm.

7. The hollow-floor element according to claim 1, wherein the individual panels are manufactured by means of a dry process or a semi-dry process.

8. The hollow-floor element according to claim 1, wherein the at least two individual panels are joined firmly together offset from each other.

9. A method for manufacturing a hollow-floor element comprising at least two load-bearing individual panels, wherein the at least two load-bearing individual panels are superimposed and firmly joined together.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the load-bearing individual panels is a gypsum fibreboard, which is manufactured by means of a dry process or semi-dry process.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one load-bearing individual panel is manufactured from a mixture, comprising at least -semi-hydrate, -semi-hydrate as required, cellulose fibres, glass fibres, and water.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the mixture for manufacturing the load-bearing individual panel comprises -semi-hydrate in an amount of 60 to 100% by weight, -semi-hydrate in an amount of 0 to 40% by weight, with reference to the total amount of the calcium sulphate.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein cellulose fibres in an amount of 1 to 25% by weight and chopped glass fibres in an amount of 0.5 to 15% by weight with reference to the mixture of all dry constituents are added to the mixture for manufacturing the at least one load-bearing individual panel.

14. The method according to one of claim 9, wherein the at least two individual panels are firmly joined together offset from each other.

15. The hollow-floor element according to claim 1, wherein the at least two superimposed load-bearing individual panels are glued together.

16. The method for manufacturing a hollow-floor element according to claim 9, wherein the at least two load-bearing individual panels are superimposed and firmly joined together by gluing.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the chopped glass fibres have a length of between 5 and 25 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a sheet-panelled access floor element;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a cut-out from a sheet-panelled access floor;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a double-floor element; and

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a cut-out from a double-floor.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a hollow-floor element, in this case a sheet-panelled access floor element, which consists of one first load-bearing panel 1 and one second load-bearing panel 3. Both individual panels 1, 3 are laid on top of each other and firmly joined together. The fixed connection is preferably accomplished by gluing the two individual panels together. It is, however, possible to use other ways of connecting the two panels such as by screwing, interlocking or other means known to the expert.

[0035] In this case the two load-bearing elements 1, 3 are gypsum fibreboards. It is of course also possible to produce a hollow-floor element from two or more panels of different materials firmly joined together.

[0036] The two individual panels 1, 3 are superimposed and offset from one another. Due to the offset a defined overhang is produced on the longitudinal and/or the transverse sides of the hollow-floor element. This offset can be used for joining individual hollow-floor elements in a kind of tongue-and-groove joint together, thereby forming a contiguous floor.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a cut-out from a sheet-panelled access floor, where the hollow-floor elements of FIG. 1 are joined together in a kind of tongue-and-groove system. Individual hollow-floor elements are resting with their lower corners and edges on supports 5.

[0038] The gypsum fibreboards, which are used for manufacturing the hollow-floor elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 each are 18 mm thick. This results in an overall thickness of 36 mm of the finished hollow-floor elements. The individual panels are manufactured by means of the dry process.

[0039] Individual panels are manufactured by mixing the following dry constituents together: -semi-hydrate 80% by weight with reference to the total calcium sulphate content, -semi-hydrate 20% by weight with reference to the total calcium sulphate content, cellulose fibres 9% by weight with reference to all dry constituents, and glass fibres 3% by weight with reference to all dry constituents, length: 8 mm

[0040] Two individual panels manufactured from this mixture are respectively arranged on top of each other and glued together. The hollow-floor elements produced in this way have a breaking load of >6 kN, tested in accordance with DIN EN 13213.

[0041] The same material was used to manufacture a double-floor element, which also consists of two individual panels 1, 3 firmly joined together, see FIGS. 3, 4. In contrast to the sheet-panelled access elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the double-floor elements are square-shaped. In order to remove them again at any time from the finished floor without efforts, the panels have smoothly polished slightly chamfered edges such that the floor surface comprises a bigger area than the floor lower surface. The individual panels 1, 3 lie flush on top of each other.

[0042] The term comprising (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of having or including and not in the exclusive sense of consisting only of. The terms a and the as used herein are understood to encompass the plural as well as the singular.

[0043] All publications, patents and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference, and for any and all purposes, as if each individual publication, patent or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. In the case of inconsistencies, the present disclosure will prevail.