Reinforced connecting element between a connector and a concrete wall and associated construction panel

Abstract

Reinforced connection element between a connector and a concrete wall and associated construction panel. The invention relates mainly to a reinforced connection element (1) between a concrete wall (2) and a connector (3), which element (1) is intended to be embedded in the concrete wall (2), has a principal axis of symmetry (X) and comprises: - an anchor plate (24) having an external face (9) intended to be opposite the external face of the concrete wall (2), and - a housing body (4) projecting from the anchor plate (24) on the opposite side of its external face (9), which housing body (4) comprises a through-hole for receiving an end portion of the connector (6) which extends along the principal axis of symmetry (X) of the connection element (1), and means for fixing said end portion of the connector (12) in said through-hole (5). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Reinforced connecting member between a connector and a concrete wall and associated construction panel

[0001] The invention falls within the field of construction, and relates more particularly to the connecting elements within construction panels.

[0002] In the field of construction and building, double-walled construction panels known as sandwich panels are well known, comprising two concrete walls facing each other and separated by a space in which thermal insulating materials are integrated to prevent heat loss. The connection between the concrete walls of these sandwich panels is ensured by connectors partly embedded in the concrete of the two walls. These connectors are metal or composite material reinforcements generally having a corrugated shape and whose crests or peaks are embedded in the concrete.

[0003] In order to reduce the weight and thickness of the sandwich panels, the external or exterior wall, i.e. the wall which will be outside the building with such panels, is made of a high-performance fiber-reinforced or reinforced concrete characterized by a very high compressive strength, i.e. greater than 100 MPa. Such concrete makes it possible to reduce the thickness of this external wall to a few centimeters.

[0004] However, due to the small thickness of the external wall, only the extreme part of the connectors is taken into the concrete. Thus, the resistance to tearing or shearing of the connectors is lower, which implies the use of a large number of connectors to ensure a sufficiently strong connection between the two walls of the sandwich panel.

[0005] To overcome the various drawbacks mentioned above, the invention aims to propose a system making it possible to ensure the structural resistance of a sandwich panel, regardless of the type of concrete used for its walls.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a reinforced connecting member between a concrete wall and a connector, which member is intended to be embedded in the concrete wall, has a main axis and comprises: • an anchor plate having an external face designed to be opposite the external face of the concrete wall, and • a housing body projecting from the anchoring plate on the opposite side of its external face, which housing body comprises a through housing for receiving an end portion of the connector which extends along the main axis of the connecting member, and means for fixing said end portion of the connector in said through housing.

[0007] The connecting member of the invention thus has a dual function: to fix an end portion of the connector to said member, and to increase the contact surface with the concrete wall, which reinforces the resistance to shear forces and tearing.

[0008] The reinforced connecting member may also include the following optional characteristics considered in isolation or according to all possible technical combinations: • The main axis forms the main axis of symmetry of the reinforced connecting member. • The external face of the anchor plate is flat. • The reinforced connecting member comprises elements for maintaining the distance between the anchor plate and the outer face of the concrete wall, which distance elements protrude from the outer face of said anchor plate. • The anchor plate comprises two wings which extend on either side of the housing body and the main axis of symmetry, and in that the smallest width of each wing is at least equal to the width of the through housing. • The anchor plate comprises at least two symmetrical legs which extend on either side of the housing body from said housing body. • The anchor plate comprises four legs distributed two by two symmetrically on either side of the housing body. • Each leg has at least one through recess. • The housing has a convex curvature designed to fit the curvature of the connector portion. • The housing body has a U-shaped section, and the fixing means provided at the level of the through housing are means of securing by elastic engagement.

[0009] The invention also relates to a reinforced connection device for a construction panel of the sandwich panel type, comprising a corrugated connector comprising a plurality of ridges and at least one reinforced connecting member as described previously arranged at a ridge, which forms the end portion of the connector fixed in the housing of said connecting member.

[0010] The reinforced connection device may also include the following optional characteristics considered in isolation or in all possible technical combinations: • The connector is made of composite material.

[0011] The invention also relates to a construction panel which comprises an interior concrete wall and an exterior concrete wall arranged opposite each other, the exterior wall comprising an interior face opposite the interior wall and an opposite exterior wall, which panel comprises a layer of thermal insulating material arranged between the two concrete walls and at least one reinforced connection device as described above connecting the two walls while keeping them at a distance from each other, which reinforced connection member is embedded in the exterior concrete wall, the external face of its anchoring plate being opposite the external face of the concrete wall in question.

[0012] The invention also relates to a method for connecting a connection device as described above to a concrete wall, comprising the successive steps of: • Insertion of at least one end portion forming a crest of the connector into the housing of the reinforced connecting member in question, to form the connection device, each reinforced connecting member comprising a plurality of elements for positioning the member in the concrete wall; • Arrangement of the connection device in a concrete wall mold, the positioning elements being in contact with the bottom of the mold; • Pouring concrete into the mold so as to completely cover the reinforced connection member(s), and • Drying of the poured concrete to form a concrete wall in which the connecting members of the connection device are taken.

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figure:

[0014] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a sectional view of a building panel comprising a connection device of the invention.

[0015] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view from above of the connecting member reinforced according to the invention.

[0016] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view from below of the connecting member reinforced according to the invention.

[0017] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a view of one side of the reinforced connecting member according to the invention.

[0018] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a view from another side of the reinforced connecting member according to the invention.

[0019] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents a top view of the reinforced connecting member according to the invention.

[0020] It is first of all specified that in the figures, the same references designate the same elements regardless of the figure in which they appear and regardless of or the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references can be easily found by referring to another figure.

[0021] It is also specified that the figures essentially represent an embodiment of the subject of the invention but that there may be other embodiments which meet the definition of the invention.

[0022] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention relates to a construction panel called a sandwich panel 15, which comprises two concrete walls 2, 16 facing each other and connected to each other via connection means, as well as a layer of thermal insulation 17 arranged between the two concrete walls 2, 16.

[0023] One of the walls, called the external or outer wall 2, because it is intended to be oriented towards the outside of the building constructed with such sandwich panels 15, is made of high-performance fiber-reinforced or reinforced concrete, and which has a compressive strength of the order of 100 MPa. This external wall 2 has a thickness of the order of 3 cm and therefore contributes to the lightness of the sandwich panel 15.

[0024] The other wall, called the internal or interior wall 16, because it is intended to be oriented towards the interior of the building, is made of lightweight concrete with a density of between 800 kg / m3 and 1300 kg / m3, and which has a compressive strength of between 12 and 20 MPa. Preferably, the lightweight concrete has a density of the order of 1000 kg / m3 and a compressive strength of the order of 16 MPa. This internal wall 16, having a thickness of the order of 15 cm, ensures the structural integrity of the sandwich panel 15 while limiting its weight.

[0025] With reference to the figures, the connection means connecting the two walls 2, 16 together comprise a plurality of connection devices 11 according to the invention.

[0026] Each connection device 11 comprises a connector 3, which is shown in full in [Fig. 1]. In a non-limiting manner, this connector 3 is a composite material frame comprising glass fibers reinforced with polymer resins, for example resins based on vinyl esters. Furthermore, the connector 3 has a periodic undulating shape, preferably sinusoidal as shown in [Fig. 1]. Alternatively and without departing from the scope of the invention, the undulating connector 3 may have a period of another shape, for example trapezoidal, in other words a sinusoid with flattened crests.

[0027] The period of connector 3 is defined by the pattern between two facing peaks 14. Furthermore, the height of connector 3 is defined as the peak-to-peak amplitude of connector 3.

[0028] In order to connect the two concrete walls 2, 16 together, extreme portions of the connector 6 comprising its crests are taken from said concrete walls 2, 16. In fact, the height of the connector 3 is greater than the thickness of the layer of insulating material 16 of the sandwich panel 15.

[0029] Nevertheless, the thickness of the high-performance concrete external wall 2 being relatively thin, it is necessary to reinforce the connection between said external wall 2 and the connector 3.

[0030] According to the invention, each connection device 11 comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of reinforced connecting members 1, shown in detail in Figures 2 to 6. Each reinforced connecting member 1 is fixed to the connector portion 6 taken in the concrete wall 2 - which connector portion 6 comprises the considered crest of the connector 3 - so that said connecting member 1 is embedded in the concrete of the external wall 2.

[0031] The connecting member 1, preferably made of a polymer-based material preferably reinforced with glass fibers, is a part having two axes of symmetry X and Y perpendicular to each other, these axes being shown in Figures 3 to 6. Furthermore, the connecting member 1 extends along the axis of symmetry X which also forms a longitudinal axis, the axis of symmetry Y in fact forming a transverse axis.

[0032] The connecting member 1 comprises a housing body 4, which itself comprises a through housing 5 which extends along the longitudinal axis X, the housing body 4 having a U-shape in cross section: the housing body 4 thus comprises a bottom wall and two side walls. Alternatively and without departing from the scope of the invention, the through housing 5 could extend along the transverse axis Y, the essential thing being that this housing 5 extends along an axis of symmetry of the connecting member 1.

[0033] The edges 20 of the housing 5 are defined by the edges of the side walls of the housing body 4, which housing 5 is intended to receive a portion of the connector 6, comprising a ridge of the connector 3. For improved fixing of the ridge considered in the housing 5, the latter has the same section as that of the connector 3, and a convex curvature which matches the curvature of the ridge housed in said housing 5.

[0034] The symmetrical positioning of the through-housing 5 makes it possible to distribute in a balanced manner the mechanical forces generated at the connection between the connector 3 and the external wall 2 of the sandwich panel 15, when the connecting member 1 is fixed to the connector 3 and embedded in the concrete wall in question 2.

[0035] Finally, the housing body 4 comprises means for fixing by elastic engagement 12 - or by clipping - the ridge in the housing 5, which means are provided at the edges 20 of the side walls of the housing body 4.

[0036] The connecting member 1 further comprises an anchoring plate (24) which has an external face 9 which is intended to be opposite the external face of the wall of external concrete 2. External face 9 is understood to mean that onto which the housing 5 opens, the internal face being the opposite face.

[0037] The anchoring plate 24 further has two wings 13 which extend on either side of the housing 5 in a plane defined by the axes of symmetry X and Y. More precisely, the two wings 13 extend from the edges 20 of the side walls of the through housing 5. The housing body 4 further comprises two reinforcements 21 perpendicular to the wings 13, each secured to one of the legs of the U-shaped housing 5 and to the internal face of the wing in question 13, these reinforcements 21 improving the rigidity of the wings 13.

[0038] The main body 4 has a generally quadrilateral shape with curved longitudinal edges 25, and the minimum width L1 of each wing 13 is at least equal to the width L2 of the through-housing 5. The contact surface between the external concrete wall 2 and the connecting member 1 is thus much greater than that between the connector alone 3 and the external concrete wall 2, which increases the resistance to tearing of the connection device 11 from said concrete wall 2.

[0039] In order to further increase the contact surface of the connecting member 1 with the concrete wall 2, the anchoring plate 24 comprises four tabs 7 which extend two by two on either side of the through housing 5 and symmetrically with respect to the two axes of symmetry X and Y, always to respect the distribution of forces at the level of the connections between the connection devices 11 and the concrete wall considered 2. More precisely, the tabs extend from the four corners 26 of the respective wings 13.

[0040] Each leg 7 thus extends from the main body 4 to a free disc-shaped end 23 so as to further increase the contact surface between the connecting member 1 and the external concrete wall 2, and thereby increase the resistance to tearing. In addition, each leg 7 comprises a through recess 8 which improves the distribution of the concrete around the legs 7 and improves the anchoring of the connecting member 1 in the external concrete wall 2.

[0041] Finally, each leg 7 comprises a reinforcement 22 perpendicular to the plane defined by the axes X and Y, which reinforcement 22 is integral with the through housing 5 and the internal face of the leg considered 7, these reinforcements 22 improving the rigidity of the legs 7. As can be seen in Figures 2, 3 and 6, each recess 8 is delimited by the corner considered 26 of the wing considered 13, the edge of the disc considered 23, and the lateral edges 27 of the leg 7, one of said lateral edges 27 being integral with the reinforcement considered 22.

[0042] According to the invention and with reference to Figures 3 to 6, the anchoring plate 24 has a flat external face 9 parallel to the plane defined by the axes X and Y. Thus, the external faces of the wings 13 and the legs 7 are all in the same plane. In addition and as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the connecting member 1 comprises a plurality of positioning elements 10 of the connecting member 1 in the concrete wall considered 2, which elements 10 are conical protrusions projecting from the flat external face 9 of the anchoring plate 24. Furthermore, all these positioning elements 10 are identical and of the same size.

[0043] The positioning elements 10 make it possible to position the flat external face 9 of the anchoring plate 24 at a determined distance from the external face of the external concrete wall 2, this distance being equal to the height of the cones forming the positioning elements 10. Furthermore, all the cones 10 being identical, the flat external face 9 of the anchoring plate 24 is parallel to the external face of the external concrete wall 2 in which the connecting member 1 is embedded, which balances the distribution of the tearing forces and improves the tearing resistance of the connection devices 11. The external face of the external wall 2 is the face intended to be oriented towards the outside of a building constructed with the sandwich panels 15 of the invention.

[0044] A method of manufacturing a sandwich panel 15 according to the invention will now be described.

[0045] During a first step, at least a portion of the ridges of each connector considered 3 is fixed to at least one reinforced connecting member 1. More precisely, the connector portions 6 comprising the ridges are inserted into the housings of the housing bodies 4 of the connecting members considered 1 and fixed by elastic engagement in said housings 5. At the end of this step, a plurality of connection devices 11 has been produced.

[0046] During a second step, these connection devices 11 are arranged in the bottom of a concrete mold. More precisely, the external flat faces 9 of the anchoring plates 24 of the connecting members 1 of each connection device 11 are opposite the bottom of the mold, and the positioning cones 10 are in contact support against the bottom of the mold.

[0047] During a third step, high-performance concrete is poured into the mold so as to embed the reinforced connecting members 1 in the wet concrete. After the concrete has dried, connecting devices 11 are obtained, fixed in the external concrete wall 2 to form an external portion of the construction panel 18.

[0048] During a fourth step, an insulating layer 16 is placed against the internal face of the external concrete wall 2. The parts of the connectors which are not taken in the external wall 2 are thus inserted into the insulating layer 16, apart from the free ridges 14 of said connectors 3.

[0049] During a fifth step, the outer portion of panel 18 is placed in a second mold, the free ridges 14 of the connectors 3 being in contact support against the bottom of this second mold.

[0050] During the sixth step, lightweight concrete is poured into this mold to form, after drying, the internal wall 16 of the construction panel 15.

[0051] The reinforced connecting member 1 and the connection device 11 of the invention thus allow the production of concrete construction panels 15 of the sandwich panel type which are particularly resistant to tearing and to the shear forces experienced by the connectors 3, even when the concrete wall(s) 2 of the panel 15 are of low thickness, typically of the order of 3 centimeters.

[0052] The embodiment described above is in no way limiting, and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the reinforced connecting member does not necessarily have an axis of symmetry, but simply a main axis forming, for example, the longitudinal axis of said reinforced connecting member according to the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Reinforced connecting member (1) between a concrete wall (2) and a connector (3), which member (1) is intended to be embedded in the concrete wall (2), has a main axis (X) and comprises: • an anchoring plate (24) having a flat external face (9) intended to be opposite the external face of the concrete wall (2), and • a housing body (4) projecting from the anchoring plate (24) on the opposite side of its external face (9), which housing body (4) comprises a through housing for receiving an end portion of the connector (6) which extends along the main axis (X) of the connecting member (1) and which opens onto said external face (9), and means for fixing said end portion of connector (12) in said through housing (5).

2. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the main axis (X) forms the main axis of symmetry of the reinforced connecting member (1).

3. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises elements for maintaining the distance of the anchoring plate from the outer face of the concrete wall (10), which distance maintaining elements (10) project from the outer face (9) of said anchoring plate (24).

4. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchoring plate (24) comprises two wings (13) which extend on either side of the housing body (4) and the main axis of symmetry (X), and in that the smallest width (L1) of each wing (13) is at least equal to the width (L2) of the through housing (5).

5. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchoring plate (24) comprises at least two symmetrical tabs (7) which extend on either side of the housing body (4) from said housing body (4).

6. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the anchoring plate (24) comprises four legs (7) distributed two by two symmetrically on either side of the housing body (4).

7. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that each tab (7) has at least one through recess (8).

8. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (5) has a convex curvature intended to match the curvature of the connector portion (6).

9. Reinforced connecting member (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing body (4) has a U-shape in section, and in that the fixing means (12) provided at the level of the through housing (5) are means of securing by elastic engagement.

10. Reinforced connection device (11) for a construction panel of the sandwich panel type (15), comprising a connector (3) of corrugated shape comprising a plurality of ridges and at least one reinforced connecting member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 arranged at a ridge, which forms an end portion of connector (6) fixed in the housing (5) of said connecting member (1).

11. Reinforced connection device (11) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connector (3) is made of composite material.

12. Construction panel (15) characterized in that it comprises an inner concrete wall (16) and an outer concrete wall (2) arranged opposite each other, the outer wall (2) comprising an inner face opposite the inner wall (16) and an opposite outer wall, which panel (15) comprises a layer of thermal insulating material (17) arranged between the two concrete walls (2, 16) and at least one reinforced connection device according to claim 10 or 11 connecting the two walls (2, 16) while keeping them at a distance from each other, and in that the reinforced connection member (1) is embedded in the outer concrete wall (2), the outer face (9) of its anchoring plate (24) being opposite the outer face (28) of the concrete wall in question (2).

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