Container with secured access, comprising walls in a monoblock structure

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of secure, theft-resistant enclosures, whether in furniture such as safes and strongboxes, or in rooms or units within buildings, such as vaults or bank vaults. With regard to furniture, the invention applies to various models, including fire-resistant versions. The invention also relates to the equipping of such secure building units or pre-existing secure furniture, and to the associated security and operating methods. More specifically, the invention relates to the walls of these secure enclosures, which protect against, or at least slow down, intrusion into the enclosure.

[0002] Secure enclosures typically consist of several walls forming a box, commonly rectangular in shape, defining a hollow interior. Secure enclosures also include a secure door providing access to this interior.

[0003] The function of secure enclosures is to at least slow down an intrusion into their interior, protecting objects placed within the enclosure.

[0004] In order to improve the protection of these objects, it is known that the walls of secure enclosures include various network-forming structures and possibly a hardened filler material poured over said network structures.

[0005] Document FR2511424A1 describes the walls of a secure access enclosure comprising various anti-pry and anti-perforation structures. The walls include an outer and an inner sheet metal panel, positioned on either side of the structures. The walls also include poured concrete between the panels. The network structures comprise a square grid of steel rods tied or welded together and, between this grid and the outer panel, vertically arranged steel compression springs, possibly twisted together.

[0006] Document EP0172065A1 describes a barrier, suitable for use in secure access enclosures, for protection against piercing tools such as diamond core drill bits. The barrier comprises an inner panel, a grid attached to the panel, and housings embedded in the grid. These housings contain movable balls. The barrier also includes another grid positioned opposite the inner panel, relative to the housings. The barrier incorporates a hardened filling material, such as concrete or synthetic rubber, which encases the grids and housings. The balls, enclosed within their housings, remain free to rotate.

[0007] Such walls make it possible to slow down an intrusion through them in order to protect objects placed on the other side of these walls.

[0008] However, such walls comprise multiple parts, increasing their size and manufacturing time. Furthermore, the increased number of parts increases the weight of the walls, complicating their installation and the stresses on their support structure. The increased number of parts also complicates the proper flow of the infill material around the network structures. In addition, network structures absorb very little impact and break easily after repeated shocks.

[0009] Another intrusion protection wall comprising an inner panel, an outer panel, a honeycomb structure and a hardened infill material is known from document IL60725A.

[0010] The objective of the invention is to provide a wall, for example for a secure access enclosure, slowing down an intrusion through it, the wall having a resistance at least equal to that of the walls of the prior art, requiring a simplified manufacture, being lighter than the walls of the prior art, facilitating the good flow of the filling material before its hardening and absorbing shocks better.

[0011] To this end, it is proposed, firstly, a protective wall against intrusion comprising an internal panel, an external panel and a honeycomb structure forming a three-dimensional network between the internal panel and the external panel, as defined in claim 1.

[0012] Such a wall slows down an intrusion through it.

[0013] The honeycomb structure also forms, together with the inner panel and the outer panel, a single-piece device.

[0014] Thus, the wall has a resistance at least equal to that of the walls of the prior art while being lighter, absorbing shocks better and being simpler to manufacture than the walls of the prior art.

[0015] Furthermore, the protective wall includes a hardened filler material within the cells of the honeycomb structure, increasing the wall's resistance to intrusion. This material fragments during an attempted intrusion while remaining trapped within the wall thanks to the honeycomb structure. Moreover, each cell of the honeycomb structure forms a first passage around the filler material, arranged along a casting axis substantially parallel to the inner and outer panels. This first passage is larger than a lateral passage formed by said cell along a lateral axis perpendicular to the casting axis, the inner panel, and the outer panel.

[0016] According to another characteristic, the alveolar structure forms, along a direction parallel to the axis, at least two alveoli.

[0017] Secondly, a method for manufacturing an intrusion protection wall according to claim 3 is proposed. The method comprises manufacturing a device having an inner panel, an outer panel, and a honeycomb structure disposed between the inner and outer panels. The device is a single piece, and its manufacture is carried out by additive manufacturing, either direct or indirect, thus making intrusion more difficult. The method includes introducing a filler material between the inner and outer panels. The filler material distributes itself within the cells of the honeycomb structure and hardens. During an attempted intrusion, the filler material fragments while remaining trapped within the wall by the honeycomb structure.Finally, the manufacture of the honeycomb structure forms a monobloc device in which each cell forms a pouring passage along the pouring axis larger than a lateral passage formed by said cell along a lateral axis perpendicular to the axis, to the internal panel and to the external panel; thus the wall presents a resistance at least equal to that of the walls of the prior art, absorbs shocks better while facilitating the good flow of the filling material before its hardening.

[0018] Various additional features can be provided, either alone or in combination: the filling material introduced is concrete, high-performance concrete, cellular concrete, refractory foam or bitumen; the manufacture of the honeycomb structure forms, in a direction parallel to the lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer panels, at least two cells increasing the resistance of the wall and limiting the heat transfer between the panels; the manufacture of the honeycomb structure forms, at a section substantially parallel to the inner and outer panels, hollow and solid areas, a percentage of the surface area of ​​said hollow areas relative to the surface area of ​​said solid areas being greater than 85%, plus or minus 10 points, limiting the heat transfer between the walls by heat exchange between the network and the filling material;During the manufacture of the device, the shortest distance separating the inner panel and the outer panel along branches of the cells of the honeycomb structure is at least 1.4 times, plus or minus 10%, greater than a distance separating the inner panel and the outer panel along the lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer panels, limiting heat transfer between the walls by heat exchange between the network and the filling material; the distance separating the inner panel and the outer panel along the lateral axis is between 35 millimeters and 150 millimeters; the one-piece device is made of steel, metal alloy or ceramic.

[0019] Thirdly, a secure access enclosure is proposed, comprising at least two protective walls as described above, the at least two walls forming a single monobloc unit.

[0020] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following explanatory description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example, illustrating several embodiments of the invention and in which: [ Fig. 1 ] - there figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a secure enclosure comprising walls; [ Fig. 2 ] - there figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of one of the walls shown on the figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] - there figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cell in the wall shown on the figure 2 ; Fig. 4 ] - there figure 4 is a schematic top view of the junction of two walls as shown on the figure 2 ; Fig. 5A ] - there figure 5A is a schematic top view of the wall according to the embodiment shown on the figure 2 ; Fig. 5B ] - there figure 5B is a schematic top view of the cells in a wall according to a first embodiment; [ Fig. 5C ] - there figure 5C is a schematic top view of the cells in a wall according to a second embodiment; [ Fig. 6 ] - there figure 6 is a schematic front view of the wall shown on the figure 2 ; Fig. 7 ] - there figure 7 is a schematic side view of the wall shown on the figure 2 one of the signs being not visible.

[0021] There figure 1 represents a secure access enclosure 1 comprising walls 100 defining a hollow interior.

[0022] Enclosure 1 also includes a secure door 200 allowing access to the interior.

[0023] The walls 100 have, according to one embodiment, an identical design to each other.

[0024] The walls 100 form, according to one embodiment, a single unit.

[0025] Depending on different embodiments, one or more walls are used to form a strongroom, a safe, or any partition requiring the protection of an element located behind it.

[0026] One of the walls 100 is represented according to an embodiment on the figures 2 , 5A , 6 And 7 . This wall 100 comprises an internal panel 110, an external panel 120 and a honeycomb structure 130 arranged between the panels 110, 120.

[0027] The wall 100 includes a hardened filling material poured between the panels 110, 120 so as to be distributed over the whole of the honeycomb structure 130.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the hardened filling material is a composite material (concrete, high-performance concrete, cellular concrete, refractory foam, bitumen,...).

[0029] In the figures the hardened filling material is not shown in order to reveal the honeycomb structure 130 of the wall 100.

[0030] During an attempt to intrude through wall 100, the hardened filling material tends to break up but remains trapped in wall 100 thanks to the honeycomb structure 130, making said intrusion more difficult.

[0031] The panels 110, 120 and the honeycomb retention structure 130 form a monobloc device 110, 120, 130.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the material of the monobloc device 110, 120, 130 has high mechanical resistance such as, for example, steel, a metal alloy or even ceramic.

[0033] The monobloc device 110, 120, 130 is manufactured by additive manufacturing, direct or indirect such as, for example, by 3D printing.

[0034] According to an embodiment shown in the figure 4 At the junction of two walls 100, the honeycomb structure 130 of one of the two walls 100 is at least partially embedded in the other wall 100. The hardening material poured into the walls 100 thus holds the two walls 100 together. The inner panels 110 of the walls 100 can also be welded together. The outer panels 120 of the walls 100 can also be welded together.

[0035] Such a junction makes it possible to improve the bonding of the walls 100 of the secure enclosure 1.

[0036] According to the embodiment shown, the honeycomb structure 130 comprises cells 131 in contact with each other forming a network.

[0037] According to the embodiment shown, the joining of four alveoli 131 forms in their center a fifth alveoli 131.

[0038] According to the illustrated embodiment, the honeycomb structure 130 comprises, in a direction parallel to a lateral axis L, two cells 131. The lateral axis L is substantially perpendicular to the internal and external panels 110, 120.

[0039] As can be seen on the figure 3 According to the embodiment shown, a cell 131 comprises branches 131a arranged end to end to form hollow shapes.

[0040] According to the embodiment shown, branches 131a have a triangular section.

[0041] The triangle is the geometric shape with the largest perimeter relative to its area. Thus, heat transfer within the cells 131 is optimized to promote heat exchange with the hardened filling material and therefore protect the other side of the wall 100.

[0042] According to the embodiment shown, two levels of cells 131 are joined by means of studs 131g of the cells 131.

[0043] According to the embodiment shown, the percentage of a surface area of ​​the hardened filling material at the level of a section substantially parallel to the panels 110, 120 compared to a surface area of ​​the honeycomb structure 130 at the level of said section is, following tests, greater than 85%, plus or minus 10 points.

[0044] This further improves the heat exchange between the cells and the hardened filling material, thus protecting the other side of the wall 100.

[0045] According to the embodiment shown, each cell 131 comprises four hexagons 131b connected in pairs by a common branch 131a and two squares 131c connecting the two pairs of hexagons 131b.

[0046] The two squares 131c are aligned, face to face, along a lateral axis L of the wall 100.

[0047] The common branches 131a of the pairs of hexagons are aligned, substantially parallel, along a casting axis C of the wall 100. The casting axis C is substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis L.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the length of the branches 131a is between 4 and 18 mm, plus or minus 10%.

[0049] Such a structure of the alveoli 131 allows to increase their resistance along the lateral L axis.

[0050] Such a structure allows the 131 alveoli to deform elastically upon impact in order to absorb it.

[0051] Such a structure of the cells 131 also makes it possible to maximize a distance separating the internal panel 110 and the external panel 120 by following the branches 131a of the cells 131 in relation to a distance separating said panels 110, 120 along the lateral axis L.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the distance separating the inner panel 110 and the outer panel 120 along the branches 131a of the cells 131 is, following tests, 1.4 to 1.6 times, plus or minus 10%, greater than the distance separating said panels 110, 120 along the lateral axis L

[0053] This increases heat exchange with the hardened filling material.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the distance separating the internal panel 110 and the external panel 120 along the lateral axis L is between 35 and 150 mm, plus or minus 10%.

[0055] Such a structure of the 131 cells also forms large-dimension 131d flow passages, arranged along the flow axis C as can be seen on the figure 5A , and lateral passages of reduced size, arranged along the lateral axis L as can be seen on the figure 7 in which the external panel 120 is not shown.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the 131d casting passes are inscribed within circles of diameter 14 mm, plus or minus 10%.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the lateral passages 131e attached to the panels 110, 120 and the lateral passages 131e separating two cells 131 along the axis L are inscribed in circles of diameter 4 mm, plus or minus 10%.

[0058] The dimensions of the 131d casting passages and the lateral 131e passages allow a wall 100 to be obtained with increased resistance against intrusion along the lateral axis L by improving the retention of the hardened filling material while ensuring good flowability of the hardened filling material around the honeycomb structure 130 during the manufacture of the wall 100.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown, the honeycomb structure 130 comprises facial passages 131f along a facial axis F substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis L to the casting axis C, as can be seen on the figure 6 .

[0060] These 131f facial passages improve the distribution of the filling material and lighten the wall 100.

[0061] The method of implementation illustrated on the figures 2 , 3 , 4 , 5A , 6 And 7is a third embodiment of the invention established following a long and complex design process.

[0062] Indeed, a first method of embedding the 131 cells is illustrated, from above, on the figure 5B and a second embodiment of the 131 cells is illustrated, from above, on the figure 5C .

[0063] These first and second modes of embodiment of the alveoli 131 also include branches 131a forming geometric shapes and passages 131d, 131e< , 131f along the three axes L, C, F.

[0064] Table 1 below compares, based on test results, these three implementation methods according to several criteria. [Table 1] First method of implementation Second embodiment Third mode of implementation Coefficient Rating (1 to 5) Weighted score Rating (1 to 5) Weighted score Rating (1 to 5) Weighted score Weight 2 3 6 3 6 3 6 Flow of the filling material 4 2 8 1 4 5 20 Impact resistance 5 2 10 1 5 5 25 Pull-out resistance 5 3 15 5 25 4 20 Thermal conduction 3 2 6 3 9 5 15 Cleaning 2 1 2 2 4 5 10 Control 3 1 3 2 6 5 15 TOTAL 14 50 17 59 32 111

[0065] As can be seen in Table 1 above, the weight of the different embodiments illustrated is virtually identical.

[0066] On the other hand, the flow of the filling material before hardening during the manufacture of wall 100 and the impact resistance along the lateral L axis are significantly better in the third embodiment.

[0067] The pull-out resistance of the external wall 100 is similar for all three embodiments, with the second embodiment being slightly more resistant.

[0068] Thermal conduction from one wall 100 to the other is significantly better for the third embodiment.

[0069] It is noted that the third embodiment allows for a significantly more effective cleaning of the deposits created by the manufacture of the 100 monobloc wall than for the other two embodiments.

[0070] It is also noted that the third embodiment allows for a significantly more effective visual inspection of the removal of deposits after the fabrication of wall 100 than the other two embodiments. This inspection ensures that each cell 131 is indeed hollow and unobstructed.

[0071] Wall 100, for example for secure enclosure 1, as described, makes it possible to slow down an intrusion through it.

[0072] Wall 100 has a resistance at least equal to that of walls of the prior art.

[0073] The 100 wall requires simplified manufacturing, for example by additive manufacturing, direct or indirect.

[0074] Wall 100 is lighter than walls of the previous art.

[0075] The 100 wall facilitates the proper flow of the hardened filling material.

[0076] The 100 wall improves shock absorption compared to the previous art.

Claims

1. An intrusion protection wall (100) comprising an inner panel (110), an outer panel (120) and a honeycomb structure (130) forming a three-dimensional network between the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) and making intrusion more difficult, the wall (100) also comprising a filler material hardened in the cells (131) of the honeycomb structure (130) and which crumbles during an intrusion attempt while remaining captured in the wall (100) owing to the honeycomb structure (130), the wall (100) being characterized in that the honeycomb structure (130) forms, with the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120), a single-piece device (110, 120, 130) whereof each cell (131) of the honeycomb structure (130) forms, around the filler material, a first passage (131d) arranged along a casting axis (C) substantially parallel to the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) larger than a lateral passage (131e) formed by said cell (131) along a lateral axis (L) perpendicular to the casting axis (C), the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120).

2. The protection wall (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the honeycomb structure (130) forms at least two cells (131) along a direction parallel to the axis (L).

3. A method of manufacturing an intrusion protection wall (100), the method comprising direct or indirect additive manufacturing of a device (110, 120, 130) including an inner panel (110), an outer panel (120) and a honeycomb structure (130) arranged between the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) and making said intrusion more difficult, the method comprising casting a filler material between the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) along a casting axis (C) substantially parallel to the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120), the filler material being distributed into the cells (131) of the honeycomb structure (130), and the hardening of the filler material distributed into the cells, the filler material crumbling during an intrusion attempt while remaining captured in the wall (100) owing to the honeycomb structure, the method being characterized in that the manufacture of the honeycomb structure (130) forms a single-piece device (110, 120, 130) whereof each cell (131) forms a casting passage (131d) along the casting axis (C) which is larger than a lateral passage (131e) formed by said cell (131) along a lateral axis (L) perpendicular to the axis (C), the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120).

4. The manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the manufacture of the honeycomb structure (130) forms, in a direction parallel to the lateral axis (L) substantially perpendicular to the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120), at least two cells (131).

5. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the manufacture of the honeycomb structure (130) forms, at a section substantially parallel to the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120), hollow zones and solid zones, a percentage of the surface area of said hollow zones relative to the surface area of said solid zones being greater than 85%, plus or minus 10 points.

6. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, during the manufacture of the device (110, 120, 130), the shortest distance separating the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) by following branches (131a) of the cells (131) of the honeycomb structure (130) is at least 1.4 times, plus or minus 10%, greater than a distance separating the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) along the lateral axis (L) substantially perpendicular to the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120).

7. The manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the distance separating the inner panel (110) and the outer panel (120) along the lateral axis (L) is between 35 millimeters and 150 millimeters.

8. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the device (110, 120, 130) is manufactured from steel, metal alloy or ceramic.

9. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the filler material introduced is concrete, high-performance concrete, cellular concrete, refractory foam or bitumen.

10. An enclosure (1) with secure access comprising at least two protection walls (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, the at least two walls (100) forming one single-piece assembly.