GB2092637A - A composite floor slab - Google Patents

Abstract

A composite floor slab is formed of a metal box the bottom (11) of which has stamped prints (18) and which is provided with a filling of a material (13) such as a light weight concrete, which has been fed into the metal box in a liquid state and allowed to subsequently harden. The slabs may be used to make double floors intended for administrative and commercial offices, rooms for computers, etc. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A composite floor slab The present invention relates to removable floor slabs which generally are supported by means of jacks in order to make double floors for administrative and commercial offices, for rooms intended for computers, etc.

In the present specification and claims unless more precisely specified, the term "metal plate" should be understood to mean a sheet or plate of steel, sheet iron or the like.

The following types of removable floor slabs are known a) wood or agglomerated wood (multilayered) with or without a metal plate cover. Despite such covers, these slabs remain easily ignitable; their combustion develops high heating values while evolving poisonous smoke; moreover wooden slabs are very sensitive to moisture and ageing.

b) steel-plates: these plates even when covered with a carpet have a very strong resonance and do not satisfy the acoustic requirements of some rooms.

c) concrete (reinforced or not): their weight causes them to be very hardly suitable for handling by reason of the dimensions intended for that kind of slabs (60 x 60 cm).

The invention provides a method of making a floor slab, which method comprises introducing a castable material into a space at least one side of which is defined by a shaped metal plate, and allowing the material to set to form a composite floor slab including the set material and the metal plate.

The invention also provides a removable floor slab comprising a pressed or stamped metal plate formed of a metal box, the bottom of which has stamped prints, and which is provided with a filling of material which has been fed in a liquid state and allowed to harden or set subsequently.

A preferred slab according to this invention is distinguished by the fact that it is formed of a metal box the bottom of which has stamped prints and which is provided with a filling of a material which has been fed in a liquid state and allowed to harden or set subsequently.

For a better understanding of the invention, two embodiments thereof are described hereinafter by way of example referring to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of slab made according to the invention with some parts being cut out: Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment thereof.

The slab shown in Figure 1 comprises a box formed of an upper flat plate 10 and a bottom stiffening plate 11 provided with stamped prints 1 8.

Both plates are connected to one another by butt-welding at their periphery 12.

According to the invention, the hollow space formed between the two plates is filled with a material 1 3 which has been fed in a liquid state and has been allowed to set within the slab of steel plate, sheet iron plate or the like.

Said filler material generally is fed by injection.

One thus may obtain a slab which may be considered as a new article, the qualities of which are based upon a compromise among all qualities required in practice and never present together in already known slabs.

The filling for example may consist of a "microconcrete" the composition of which is such that the slab has a sufficient mass or weight without it becoming too heavy for handling and such that it has an appropriate resonance.

In a purely exemplary way, experience has shown that the following composition provides satisfactory results: - i00lofwater - 0.5 to 2 1 of an emulsifying product based on casein and lime - 35 to 65 kg of quick-setting cement (P 500) -fine sand in amount as desired.

Depending on the dosage of the different ingredients, one may obtain a filling product having a density varying between 350 and 1800 kg/m3.

Another example of slab embodiment is shown in Figure 2.

The slab consists of a box formed of a stamped bottom plate 14 filled with a material 15, the surface of which is made smooth on a level with a fold 1 6 of the plate.

The assembly may be covered with a carpet 1 7.

According to this embodiment, without upper closure or cover plate, the mechanical properties of the fillter material 15 obviously must be better than those previously in use.

According to this embodiment, a suitable filling may be of cement concrete reinforced with glass fibers known as "GRC" (Glass Reinforced Concrete).

According to each of the embodiments: Thanks to the favourable effect of the mixed steel-concrete combination one may contemplate, as regards strength, reducing the quality and/or thickness of steel, sheet iron or similar plates for use.

Particularly for the embodiment of Figure 1, the flat plate 10 presently used is of superior quality and the thickness of the plates is relatively great causing the cost price to be relatively high, which can be lowered by applying the invention.

The slabs made according to the present invention have the following advantageous properties simultaneously together: - resistance to moisture - sound-proofing against impact noises - fire-proofing - no sensitiveness to ageing - high thermal insulating value - smaller sag at the edges and at the central point of the slab under pin-point or distributed load - markedly improved resistance to punching of the upper face.

The described above floor slabs which do not have the drawbacks of wooden, steel, and concrete slabs discussed above and possess all qualities needed as regards acoustics, handling, inflammability and even cost price.

It should be understood that many modifications may be brought by the skilled art man to the above described device, the description of which has been effected by way of a non-limiting example without going out of the limits of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A method of making a floor slab, which method comprises introducing a castable material into a space at least one side of which is defined by a shaped metal plate, and allowing the material to set to form a composite floor slab including the set material and the metal plate.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 ,wherein the castable material is introduced into the space by injection.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the space is defined between a lower plate which is generally dished in shape, and an upper plate which is generally flat.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the castable material is a concrete.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the concrete includes glass reinforcing fibres.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the shaped metal plate is generally dished in shape and includes stamped portions in its base which serve to vary the thickness of the cast material in the finished slab.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the stamped portions project upwardly to locally lessen the thickness of the castable material.

8. A method of making a floor slab substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A floor slab formed by a method as Claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.

10. A floor slab comprising a shaped metal plate having a filling formed by casting a castable composition.

11. A removable floor slab comprising a pressed or stamped metal plate formed of a metal box, the bottom of which has stamped prints, and which is provided with a filling of material which has been fed in a liquid state and allowed to harden or set subsequently.

12. A removable floor slab as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said material is fed by injection.

13. A floor slab as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12 consisting of a pressed or stamped plate and an upper flat plate, the hollow space left between said two plates being filled with the setting material.

14. A slab according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, in the form of a stamped bottom plate filled with a setting material the surface of which is rendered smooth generally on a level with a fold of the plate, said assembly being able to receive a carpet cover.

1 5. As a new article for industry or commerce, a mixed steel (or similar)-concrete slab according to any of Claims 11 to 14, the properties of which result from a compromise among those properties required and not present simultaneously together in already known slabs, the filling and the metal part being made in order to satisfy such a compromise.

1 6. A floor slab substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.