GB2161846A

GB2161846A - Partitioning

Info

Publication number: GB2161846A
Application number: GB08518164A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Raasch
Original assignee: Blohm and Voss GmbH
Current assignee: Blohm and Voss GmbH
Priority date: 1984-07-20
Filing date: 1985-07-18
Publication date: 1986-01-22
Also published as: NO852867L; GB8518164D0; DE3426831A1; FR2567841A1; KR860001264A; GB2161846B

Abstract

A room building system for ships and other constructions consists of rectangular wall and ceiling panels (12, 16). The adjacent wall panels (12) are connected together. Hat-section rails (13) are located at the upper edges of the wall panels (12) on which the ceiling panels (16) are held. The hat-section rails (13) have abutment and/or support members (14a, 14b; 15a', 15b'; 15b) for the ceiling panels (16), and/or retaining means (17) for connecting ceiling panels, which extend between two oppositely disposed spaced apart wall panels (12) and, on secure the latter against falling over. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A room building system for ships and other constructions consisting of wall and ceiling panels The invention relates to a room building system for ships and other constructions consisting of pre-fabricated rectangular wall and ceiling panels which are preferably of the same width, wherein the adjacent wall panels are connected together and wherein hat-section rails are provided on the upper edges of the wall panels with support members, which project away from the wall panels and on which the ceiling panels are held, being provided at the lower end of the lateral limbs.

Under other constructions in the sense of the present invention will be understood, amongst other things, off-shore units and also the shells of buildings such as hotels, office buildings etc.

Room building systems for ships are known in many forms.

By way of example DE-PS 1283113 describes a ship's chamber which is built-up of pre-fabricated wall and ceiling panels in which a cage-like frame construction of special sections is provided in order to accommodate wall and ceiling panels which latch resiliently into place.

In the known ship's chamber it is necessary to secure part of the sections to an abovelying deck, so that the latched-in wall panels are reliably held and also secured against falling over during the installation.

The arrangement of holders between the wall panels and the above-lying deck is however disadvantageous because hull noise is hereby transmitted from one deck into the next, and because the erection of the cage-like frame construction represents a complicated and expensive constructional measure due to fluctuations of the deck dimensions.

In contrast, it is the object of the invention to provide a ship's chamber of the initially named kind which can be rapidly erected without problems and without complicated and expensive measures having to be previously taken with regard to the foundations and installation, but which is nevertheless very stable, both during the installation and after completion, so that it is completely able to cope with the severe loads which occur during operation of the ship.

In order to solve this problem the invention provides that the hat-section rails which are pushed onto the upper edge of the wall panels, and/or optionally present T-shaped wall members, have abutment members for the upper side of the ceiling panels on their lateral limbs at a distance above the support members, and/or retaining means at their connection web for connecting ceiling panels which extend between two oppositely disposed spaced apart wall panels and which, after being placed on the retaining means of the two oppositely disposed wall panels, secure the latter against falling over and fix them at a defined spacing.

As a result of this construction it is possible to do away with holders between the upper edges of the wall panels and the above lying deck. At the same time however, there is no danger, that the wall panels which are erected after one another can fall over during the installation, because the connecting ceiling panels provided in accordance with the invention reliably hold the erected oppositely disposed wall panels in the vertical position. It is also particularly advantageous that in this way the transmission of hull noise between the above-lying deck and the ship's chamber is largely prevented. It is sufficient if connecting ceiling panels and the associated holding means are provided at the hat-sections of only one wall panel or a few wall panels of a chamber, and at positions approximately at the spacing of the walls of a branching-off room.

It is particularly advantageous when all the supply means and/or disposal means which are provided at the ceiling are arranged on the connecting ceiling panels. The supply means and/or disposal means include lighting elements, openings for the supply of air conditioning air or the extraction of waste air, sprinkler nozzles, smoke alarms etc. All these devices which require feed and extraction lines are concentrated, in accordance with the invention, in or on the connecting ceiling panels so that on the whole purely passive ceiling panels which carry no form of technical equipment are present, with connecting ceiling panels which carry the required technical equipment being present at suitable positions between the passive ceiling panels.The advantage of this division of functions lies in the fact that the cutting of openings or the boring of holes after or during installation of the ceiling panels is avoided. On the contrary, all the devices required for the technical function are provided from the outset in the connecting ceiling panels between which only the purely passive ceiling panels are to be placed.

A preferred constructional embodiment is so designed that the supply means and/or the disposal means are arranged in the central piece of the connecting ceiling panels. With this arrangement provision should in particular be made that the end pieces of the connecting ceiling panels adjacent the central piece are constructed, at least in part as flaps which can be opened from below.

In as much as the supply means and disposal means are concentrated in the central region of the connecting ceiling panels the lateral or end regions are available for the arrangement of the flaps, which can be removed to free openings which make access possible to the supply means and disposal means which are concentrated at the middle, or to the conduits which lead thereto. This is of importance in the event of repairs and also for the purpose of inspection.

The connecting ceiling panels of the invention thus also have the task, in addition to their function as mechanical connecting means for holding together oppositely disposed wall panels, of accommodating all the supply systems and disposal systems required in the ceiling region which can for example also include loudspeakers.

The connecting ceiling panels which are of self-supporting construction have for example a width of 500 to 600 mm and a length of approximately 3 m.

It is particularly advantageous when the connecting ceiling panels are telescopically extendable. The telescopic extension range should preferably be so dimensioned that the individual connecting ceiling panel can be adjusted over a range of length from 1 to 3 m.

Two types of connecting ceiling panel are preferably provided, namely a corridor connecting ceiling panel which is merely intended to accommodate lighting elements, indicator boards or loudspeakers, and which has a length corresponding to the corridor width of approximately 750 to 1 500 mm. The width of this type of connecting ceiling panels amounts to approximately three times the thickness of the wall panels, i.e. to approximately 1 50 mm. These dimensions are sufficient to accommodate lighting elements, indicator boards and loudspeakers.

The type of connecting ceiling panel intended for the erection of living chambers expediently has the abovementioned dimensions, namely a length of 1 to 3 m and a width of 500 to 600 mm.

An advantageous constructional embodiment is characterised in that the connecting ceiling panels are constructed at their ends as a downwardly open hooked rail part; and in that the retaining means of the hat-section rail are formed as retaining slots complementary to the hooked rail part.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the support members are outwardly directed support angles at the lower ends of the hat-section rail. In this embodiment the hooked rail part should extend downwardly to the support angle and should have an externally bent portion which contacts the support angle. This ensures a particularly reliable retention of the connecting ceiling panels on the wall panels.

An advantageous constructional solution is characterised in that the end pieces lie above the outwardly bent portion and in that the flaps are flush with the outwardly bent portion.

Three types of hat-section rail are preferably provided.

A first type of hat-section rail should, in accordance with the invention, be provided with the support angle and with an abutment angle which is constructed as the abutment member and which is located above the support angle at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the ceiling panels. This type serves for mounting of the passive ceiling panels. With this type of hat-section rail the retaining slots can likewise be provided for stability reasons or to define the correct position at the wall panel.

A second type of hat-section rail without support angle, but with the abutment angles, should be provided for the insertion of the ceiling panels for a specific ship's chamber. In this connection it is expedient if, for the second type of hat-section-rail, a plug-in angle is provided which can be mounted in place of the support angle and which is connectable by a bar with the support angles of neighbouring hat-section rails. The various ceiling panels can be inserted at the relevant position from below until they abut against the abutment angles before the plug in angle is brought into position from below. The various ceiling panels can subsequently be displaced horizontally in the one or other direction into their desired position.

A third type of hat-section rail should only be provided with the retaining slot and the support angle at at least one side and preferably at both sides of the wall panel. This particularly important type serves to accommodate the connecting ceiling panels.

Whereas, with the previously known wall panels, the oppositely disposed side edges are generally constructed so that they are a mirror image of each other, in order to ensure a reliable connection, or have complicated locking mechanisms, the invention provides a ship's chamber in which the abutting side edges of the wall panels have identical holding elements and one or more vertically distributed intermediate members which draw the neighbouring wall panels towards one another and/or hold them against one another. In this manner the wall panels can be straightforwardly built-in in two positions displaced through 180 about the vertical axis, a distinction between right hand and left hand or left hand and right hand is no longer necessary with these wall panels of the invention.

Complicated locking mechanisms in the wall panels are avoided because separate intermediate members are provided for the connection. In a preferred constructional realisation of this inventive thought the side edges have vertical slots at vertical intervals as holding elements and the intermediate member has correspondingly shaped hooks.

The hooks should expediently point downwardly on the side facing the one wall panel and upwardly on the opposite side.

Particularly good stability against bending in the horizontal direction of the wall put together from several wall panels is achieved if two respective vertical slots are arranged alongside one another at one level, and if each intermediate member likewise has two hooks on each side which lie alongside one another.

The vertical slots are preferably provided at the bases of vertical grooves, whereby the guiding is facilitated on assembling neigh bouring wall panels by means of the intermediate members.

It is expedient for economical manufacture if strip sections on which the holding elements are formed are provided at the side edges of the wall panels.

In order to achieve good stability on the one hand but lightweight construction on the other hand the wall panels and/or the ceiling panels and/or floor panels should consist of a light insulating material with a sheet metal cladding.

With this lightweight construction, which is also favourable from the point of view of sound attenuation, the problem however exists that water conduits cannot generally be accommodated in the inside of the wall panels because they do not find sufficient support there.

The invention helps in this respect, in as much as water conduits are substantially vertically arranged in one or more wall panels and have bends which project towards the wall surface at the level of the consumer, with sheet metal reinforcements which are arranged inside the wall panel being secured to the bends and extending parallel to the wall surface. In order to be able to secure also heavy apparatus, such as wash basins or toilet bowls, to such wall panels, reinforcement boxes are arranged inside the wall panels at the level of the apparatus which is to be connected to the wall panel.

In order that wash-rooms are sealed well in the lower region of the wall panels, so that no water can run into neighbouring rooms, the invention provides that the wall panels provided for wet cells have a lateral recess at the bottom to accommodate a steel coaming located on the deck. The seal at the base of wet cells is further promoted in that the sheet metal cladding extends partly into the recess from above.

In order to improve both the sealing of the wall panels for the wash-rooms at the lower edge, and also to provide the wall panel with increased stability in this region, an advantageous constructional embodiment is characterised in that a Z-section of sheet metal is arranged at the lower edge of the wall panel with its lower limb forming the lower edge, its central vertical web forming the inner boundary of the recess and its upper limb forming the top boundary of the recess.

With this arrangement provision can also be made for the two limbs to have downwardly and/or upwardly pointing angled portions for attachment to the sheet metal cladding.

For the simple but nevertheless reliable connection of adjacent ceiling panels, and indeed of both the passive ceiling panels and also the connecting ceiling panels which have a technical function, the invention provides that above their longitudinal edges the ceiling panels have U-shaped rail parts which are open towards one another and into which a tongue which connects two neighbouring ceiling panels is inserted.

Furthermore, it is advantageous when a substantially U-shaped footing rail is arranged at the lower edges of the wall panels and has upwardly open grooves at the outside into which hooked angled portions of the floor panels engage. In this arrangement the Ulimbs of the footing rails should be bent slightly outwardly in the upper region in order to be able to clamp a skirting board of plastic in place there.

The invention will now be described in the following by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which are shown: Fig. 1 an arrangement of several ship's chambers arranged alongside one another, and put together in accordance with the room building system of the invention, as seen in a schematic perspective view obliquely from above, Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of three adjoining ship's chambers which have been put together in accordance with the room building system of the invention, and indeed of a corridor, of a living chamber and of a washroom, with the ceilings being shown broken away above the living chamber and the washroom, Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view obliquely from below of a first embodiment of a connecting ceiling panel, in accordance with the invention, provided for mounting in a corridor, Fig. 4 a perspective view obliquely from below of a further embodiment of a connecting ceiling panel in accordance with the invention, Fig. 5 a schematic perspective oblique view from above of the telescopically extendable connecting ceiling panel of Fig. 3, when arranged on a hat-section rail in accordance with the invention, Fig. 6 a schematic detailed view seen obliquely from above of a ship's chamber assembled in accordance with the room building system of the invention in the region of the transition from a wall to the ceiling, Fig. 7 a schematic cross-section of the upper region of a wall panel and of the adjoining regions of the adjacent ceiling panels with a first type of a hat-section rail in accordance with the invention, Fig. 8 a schematic cross-section of the upper region of a wall panel and of the adjoining region of the adjacent ceiling panels with a second type of hat-section rail in accordance with the invention, Fig. 9 a schematic cross-section of the upper region of a wall panel and of the adjoining regions of an adjacent connecting ceiling panel with a third type of hat-section rail in accordance with the invention, Fig. 10 a schematic side view of a row of hat-section rails to illustrate the insertion of ceiling elements, Fig. 11 a schematic side view of several hat-section rails of all three types arranged behind one another, Fig. 1 2 a perspective part view of the connection area of the longitudinal sides of a connecting ceiling panel and of a normal ceiling panel, Fig. 1 3 a perspective oblique view from above of a wall panel in accordance with the invention with identically constructed side edges, Fig. 14 a perspective schematic view of an intermediate piece provided for the connection of two wall Panels in accordance with Fig. 13, Fig. 1 5 a horizontal section through two wall panels which are connected together with the intermediate piece of Fig. 14, Fig. 1 6 a schematic perspective view obliquely from above and from the front of a wall panel in accordance with the invention for a wash-room on board ship, Fig. 1 7 a section on the line VII-VII in Fig.

16, Fig. 18 a section on the line VIII-VIII in Fig.

16, Fig. 1 9 a vertical section of a wall panel for a wash-room onboard ship shown arranged on a ship's deck, Fig. 20 an enlarged perspective partial view of the wall panel of Fig. 1 9 in the lower region, Fig. 21 a vertical section of two abutting ceiling panels with the connection means arranged thereon, Fig. 22 a sectional view analogous to Fig.

21 but however with fire-proof collecting means, Fig. 23 a view similar to Fig. 22, however with the formation of a shaddow groove between adjacent ceiling panels, Fig. 24 a footing rail in accordance with the invention with floor panels mounted thereon, and Fig. 25 a vertical section of a wall panel in accordance with the invention with hat-section rails and footing rails attached thereto and also adjoining ceiling panels and floor panels.

In all figures the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts.

As seen in Fig. 1 a corridor 50 inside a ship is bounded by rectangular wall panels 1 2 of the same construction with a width of 50 to 60 cm and a thickness of approximately 5 cm, of which some also have a door opening 51 and which carry a footing rail 46 at the bottom.

In the regions where transverse walls 52 branch off into the adjacent living chambers of the ship the wall panels 1 2 are interrupted by wall elements 53 which are T-shaped in cross-section. The wall elements 53 are constructed so that they are substantially the same as the wall panels 1 2 but have additionally a stub wall 54 which extends towards the living chambers, with the stub wall likewise being constructed as a wall panel. The ratio of the width of the wall elements 53 to the width of the wall panels is 1:2.

The wall elements 53 are constructed in just the same way as the wall panels 1 2 at the side, top and bottom edges.

In accordance with the invention the wall elements 53 are connected with one another by connecting ceiling panels 1 8 in such a way that the wall elements 53 are mechanically held in their vertical position by the connecting ceiling panels alone. The connecting ceiling panels 1 8 also define the spacing between oppositely disposed wall elements 53.

ceiling panels 1 6 which are half as wide as the wall panels c2 are arranged on the wall panels 1 2 between the connecting ceiling panels 18.

Fig. 3 shows the connecting ceiling panel 18 for the corridor obliquely from below. It has a removable lighting element 55 and is provided at its narrow end faces with in each case a hooked rail part 23 which is hung into corresponding retaining slots or grooves 1 7 in a hat section rail 13" on the wall elements 53 as is described in more detail below, for example with reference to Fig. 9. The connecting ceiling panels 1 8 for the corridor have, by way of example, a length of 750 to 1 500 mm and a width of 1 50 mm.

Hat-section rails 13, 13' or 13", which will be described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 7 to 9 and which carry all the ceiling panels 16 and the connecting ceiling panels 18, 1 8', 18" are located on the upper edges of the wall panels 1 2. For the purposes of illustration the ceiling panels 1 6 above the corridor 50 are only partly shown. Adjoining floor panels 49 which are as wide as the wall panels 1 2 extend at the floor transversely across the corridor 50 and the adjoining living chambers 56.

As a wall element 53, on which there is provided a connecting ceiling panel 1 8 carrying a lighting element, is in each case provided at the transverse walls 52 of adjacent living chambers, measures have been taken to ensure adequate illumination of the corridor.

The transverse walls 52 of the living chambers 56 likewise consist of wall panels 1 2 which by means of the hat-section rails 1 3, 13', 13" which are placed on the upper edges, part carry narrow ceiling panels 1 6 which do not contain any form of technical equipment and are in part connected by broader connecting ceiling panels 1 8 into a stable box structure. The ceiling panels 1 6 consist of a light insulation which is clad in sheet metal whereas the connecting ceiling panel 18' has a central element 20 which contains technical equipment such as lighting and air supply and extraction ducts.The two end pieces 20a, 20b are formed as flaps 1 9 which can be opened downwardly through which the technical equipment and conduits of the connecting ceiling panels 1 8 are accessible.

The connecting ceiling panel 1 8 intended for the living chambers 56 expediently has dimensions of 3 m x 50 to 60 cm, and is thus precisely as wide as a wall panel 1 2.

The ceiling panels 1 6 are connected together at their abutting longitudinal edges by tongues 34 in the manner described in detail with reference to Figs. 21 to 23.

As seen in Fig. 2 a wash-room 57, the construction of which can be seen in detail from Figs. 1 6 to 20 which are described below, is accommodated in one corner of a living chamber 56.

Whereas the wall elements 53 of the corridor 50 are connected together by the narrow connecting ceiling panels 1 8 which contain only lighting elements, and the living chamber walls 52 are connected together by the connecting ceiling panels 18' which contain technical equipment and which are thick, the wall panel 1 2 of the wash-room 57 disposed near to the door opening 51 is connected with the oppositely disposed wall 52 of the living chamber by an auxiliary connecting ceiling panel 18" which serves merely to mechanically connect together two hat-section rails 13".

At the right hand side of Fig. 2 the washroom 57 is adjoined by a similar wash-room 57' with a mirror image outline. The supply and discharge conduits are laid vertically in the triangular chamber 57" which remains.

Flaps 12' indicated in broken lines, in the neighbouring wall panels 1 2 ensure accessability from the corridor 1 5.

When assembling the service rooms of Figs.

1 and 2 one proceeds, after erecting the wall elements 53 and/or some of the wall panels 1 2 to connect these together at their upper edges through the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18' or 18", which reliably avoids these walls falling over during installation. The remaining wall and ceiling panels 12, 1 6 can then be installed without problem in the manner described in detail below.

As seen in Fig. 4 the functional connecting ceiling panel 18' has a substantially rectangular frame 20, with for example a lighting element 55, sprinkler nozzles 58 and smoke alarm 59 being accommodated in the central piece 20c of the frame. Flaps 1 9 are arranged alongside the central piece 20c which close the end pieces 20a, 20b but which can however be removed for inspection or repair.

The end pieces 20a, 20b which are substantially U-shaped have limbs 22 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting ceiling panel 18' which aredisplaceably arranged in longitudinal guides 21 of the central piece 20c and which can be fixed in various positions. In this manner the length of the connecting ceiling panels 18' can be varied and can be adapted to suit different chamber dimensions. For each length of a connecting ceiling panel 18' it is necessary to prepare correspondingly dimensioned flaps 19.

As seen in Fig. 5 the guides 21 of the central element 20c are connected together by a transverse strut 60 which increases the stability of the functional connecting ceiling panel 18'.

As seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 1 2 retaining angles 82 are releasably secured to the longitudinal sides of the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18', 18" which support the adjacent longitudinal edges of the adjoining ceiling panels 1 6.

The various types of hat-section rails 13, 13' and 13" which are mounted on the upper edge of each wall panel 1 2 and which serve for the arrangement of the ceiling panels 1 6 and of the connecting deck panels 18, 18', 18" are shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9.

As seen in Fig. 7 the hat-section rail 1 3 has a base web 61 which extends parallel to the upper edge of the wall panel and the base web 61 is joined at the sides by angled portions 62, 63 which are first of all bent downwardly and then bent upwardly again.

The lateral or side limbs 64 are then bent downwardly from the upwardly directed angled portions 63, after this first of all abutment members 14a, 14b and finally, lower down, support members 15a, 15b branch off from the side limbs 64.

The ceiling panels 1 6 are then pushed into place between the abutment members 14a, 1 4b and the support members 15a, 15b. The ceiling panels 1 6 carrying U-shaped rail parts 33 at their longitudinal edges with the slots 33' of the U-shaped rails being pushed over the abutment members 14a, 14b. Plug-in tongues 65 which project out of the abutment members 14a, 1 4b or out of the support members 15a, 15b can be provided at the end faces for connection with adjacent hatsection rails or plug-in angles 15a', 15b' in accordance with Fig. 8.

In the hat-section 13' of Fig. 8 the lower support members 15a, 15b have been omitted so that the ceiling panel 1 6 can be inserted at these points from below and subsequently displaced horizontally. After the last ceiling panel 1 6 has been inserted a plug-in angle 15a' or 15b' dimensioned in accor dance with the support members 15a, 15b is slid into place and held by bars 25 inserted into the support members 15a, 15b of the adjacent hat-section 1 3 so that the ceiling panels 1 6 are also reliably carried on the plug-in angles 1 spa', 15b'.

A third type of hat-section rail 13" is illustrated in Fig. 9 in which the abutment members 14a, 1 4b have been omitted and in which only the support members 15a, 15b and the retaining slots formed at the top by the angled portion 62, 63 are present, which with this type of hat-section rail 13" are particularly important, although they could basically be omitted in the other types of Figs.

7 and 8.

As seen in Fig. 9 the retaining slots 1 7 in the base part 61 serve to accommodate the hooked rail parts 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18' and 18" respectively. The hooked rail part 23 is formed on a Z-section rail 66 the lower web of which, which is formed by an external bend 24, lies on the associated support angle 15a or 15b respectively. The Z-section rail is fixedly connected with one of the end pieces 20a or 20b of the frame 20. The flap 1 9 is so secured to the bottom of the frame 20 that it lies flush at the bottom with the web of the Zsection rail 66.

It is of particular importance for troublefree stability of the wall panels 1 2 which are connected by the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18', 18" that the flat vertical web 66' of the Z-section rail closely contacts the side limb 64 of the hat-section 13" at the side. In this way it is possible to prevent two wall panels 1 2 connected by a connecting ceiling panel 18, 18', 18" tilting in parallelogram-like manner. The contact of the angled portion 67 on the support angles 15a, 15b is also of importance in avoiding tipping of this kind.

In accordance with the invention a downwardly projecting rib 83 in the form of a recess is provided at the middle of the base web 61 of the hat-section rails 13, 13', 13".

In this way wall panels which are approximately half as thick can be used, for example in front of steel walls of ships or when panelling complete pre-fabricated wet cells, as indicated in Fig. 9 at 12'. This signifies a significant material and weight-saving in these regions.

Fig. 5 also shows the arrangement of an functional connecting ceiling panel 18' on a hat-rail section 13" as shown in detail in Fig.

9.

Fig. 6 and 10 illustrate how the ceiling panels 1 6 can be installed. For this purpose a wall panel 1 2 with a hat-section rail 13' of the type of Fig. 8 is for example arranged at the position 68. Ceiling panels 1 6 can then be inserted from below at this position and pushed horizontally into the intermediate spaces between the support angles 15a, 15b and the abutment angles 14a, 1 4b of adjacent hat-sections 1 3. After the last ceiling panel 1 6 has been brought into the position 68 the plug-in angle 15a' or 15b' is inserted from below and secured by the bar 25 to the adjacent support angles 15a, 15b respectively.

Fig. 11 shows in schematic side view a hatsection rail 13" as illustrated in Fig. 9. A hatsection rail 1 3 in accordance with Fig. 7 follows at the left hand side. A hat-section rail 13' in accordance with Fig. 8 with removable plug-in angle 15a' follows at the right hand side. Hat-section rails 1 3 in accordance with Fig. 7 then follow again at the right hand side.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and in particular in Fig. 12, the retaining angle 82 serves to retain or hold the longitudinal side of a ceiling panel 1 6 which adjoins a connecting ceiling panel 18, 18', 18". The retaining angle 82 is either screwed or welded at the outset to the connecting ceiling panel 18, 1 8', 1 8", with the slots 33' of the ceiling panel 1 6 then being displaced in the direction of the arrow f in Fig. 1 2 onto the horizontal limbs 82'.

Alternatively, when the adjoining ceiling panel 1 6 is the last one which is inserted from below, the limb 82' of the retaining angle is first inserted into the slot 33 and the retaining angle is inserted with the ceiling panel 1 6 from below. Only then is the retaining angle 82 secured to the adjacent longitudinal side of the connecting ceiling panel 18, 18' or 18" by means of screws 84, with the good accessability of the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18', 18" through the flats 1 9 or by removal of the lighting element 55 making itself particularly notable in advantageous manner for producing the screwed or other type of connection.

The width of the wall panels 1 2 and of the functional connecting ceiling panels 18' is preferably the same. The connecting ceiling panels 18, 18" and the simple ceiling panels 1 6 are expediently half as wide as the wall panels 12.

As seen in Fig. 1 3 the wall panels 1 2 consist of a filling of rock wool 35 with a sheet metal cladding 36. In this respect the ceiling panels 1 6 and the floor panels 49 are built in the same way.

The wall panels 1 2 have however, in accordance with Fig. 13, identical vertically extending wall sections 31 at their vertical side edges 26 and these wall sections are connected in hook-like manner with the sheet metal cladding 35 at 67 so that the rock wool 35 is also completely covered by sheet metal from the outside at the side edges 26. The hat-section rail 13, 13' of 13" respectively, which is not shown, is located on the wall panel 12, cannot however be seen in Fig. 1 3 because the wall panel is illustrated as having been sectioned below the hat-rail.

The strip sections 31 have vertically extending grooves 30 which are arranged alongside one another with vertical slots 28 which are arranged alongside one another in pairs being arranged vertically spaced apart at the bases of the grooves 30. By way of example four pairs of slots 28 can be provided over the height of a wall panel 1 2. The intermediate piece 27 illustrated in Fig. 14 cooperates with the slots and has two downwardly directed hooks on the one side separated by the distance between the vertical slots 28 and two corresponding, however upwardly pointing, hooks 29' on the other side. The hooks 29 can be inserted into the slots 28 whereupon the intermediate piece 27 is pushed downwardly somewhat and the hooks 29 are keyed with the strip section 31 by means of their inclined surfaces 72.

An adjacent, identically constructed wall panel 1 2 is now brought into place from the other side and its slots 28 are placed over the upwardly pointing hooks 29'. This wall panel is then lowered with the inclined surfaces 72 sliding past the slot edges and also becoming keyed there with the strip section 31. As a result of the inclined surfaces 72, 72' the two wall panels are drawn towards each other, i.e.

against one another by means of the intermediate piece 27 so that their side edges 26 are in close contact.

The length of the slots 28 and the arrangement of the hooks 29, 29' must be such that after the intermediate piece has become keyed with the two adjacent strip profiles 31 the two connected wall panels 1 2 are vertically completely aligned with one another.

Fig. 15 shows the wall panels 12 connected with the intermediate piece 27 in the end state.

In order to achieve complete sealing a seal 73 can be arranged into the space between the hooks 29 and 29' and can for example be realised by causing foaming of an inserted sealing material.

As seen in Figs. 1 6 to 18 a wall panel 12 intended for a ship's wash-room has vertically extending water conduits 37 inside the filling of rock wool. The two left hand water conduits 37 serve for the supply of cold and hot water to a wash basin arranged in this region, whereas the two right hand water conduits 37 can serve for the supply of water to a toilet and to some other water consumer.

Whereas the water conduits 37 terminate at the top in a connection at the upper edge of the wall panel 1 2 (the wall panel 1 2 is also illustrated in Fig. 1 6 as being cut through at the top), bends 38 are provided at the lower ends of the water conduits 37 which lead to the surface of the wall panel 12 where a corresponding connection is provided. The water conduits are secured in the region of the bends 38, via retaining disks 39' which are mounted on the water conduits 37, to a sheet metal reinforcement panel 39 which extends parallel to the surface of the wall panel and which is arranged inside the filling of rock wool and extends transversely across the wall panel 1 2 as seen in Fig. 16.

A reinforcement box 40 which extends over the width of the wall panel 1 2 is embedded inside the sheet metal cladding above the bends 38 and serves to reinforce the wall panel 1 2 in the region at which a wash basin or WC bowl is mounted. In this manner the light weight construction of the wall panels 1 2 can be retained without the stability requirements for the water conduits 37 which are arranged in the wall panel 1 2 or the apparatus which is mounted on the wall panel 12 being impaired.

The wall panel is expediently connected at the side edges 26 with adjacent wall panels as was described with reference to Figs. 1 3 to 15, this is however not shown in detail in Figs. 16 to 18.

The wash-room wall panel 1 2 can also have connections for a shower which extend to the opposite wall side in addition to the water connections for a wash basin and for a WC.

Further sheet metal reinforcements and reinforcement boxes can additionally be arranged in the upper region of the wall panel 1 2 inside the sheet metal cladding 39 in order to bring about adequate reinforcement of the wall panel 1 2 in the region in which the shower fittings are connected.

As can be seen particularly clearly from Figs. 1 9 and 20, but is also illustrated in Figs.

1 6 and 17, a recess 41 which extends transversely across the wall panel 1 2 is located in the lower region of the wash-room wall panel 1 2 at the side facing the wet cell 74, and the sheet metal cladding 36 projects from above somewhat over this recess. 41.

The recess is bounded by a Z-section of sheet metal 44 the lower limb 44a of which forms the base of wall panel 12, the vertical limb 44b of which bounds the recess 41 relative to the filling of rock wool 35 and the upper narrow limb 44c of which bounds the recess 41 at the top. End portions 44e and 44d at the ends of the Z-section serve for the connection with the sheet metal cladding 36.

As a result of this construction the wall panels can be mounted, in accordance with Fig. 19, in a vertically upright steel coaming 43 secured to the deck 42. Tiles 75 are then arranged in front of it. This construction reliably avoids moisture entering into an adjoining room 76 and indeed even if some moisture creeps behind the tiles 75.

As seen in Fig. 21 two adjacent ceiling panels 1 6 are provided along their elongate edges 32 on the upper side with U-shaped rail parts 33 defining elongate slots 33 the open sides of which face one another. A tongue 34 which has the shape of a double T is drawn into the elongate slots 33' which ensures that the adjacent ceiling panels 1 6 are horizontally aligned with one another.

In the embodiment of Fig. 22 the tongue 34 is provided with a sheet metal cladding 36', which is filled with rock wool 35, so that no fire can propagate through the gap between the neighbouring ceiling panels 1 6. As seen in Fig. 22 reinforcement ribs 77 which extend in the longitudinal direction can also be arranged on the tongue 34 of Fig. 22.

It is also important for the fireproof layout of the point of connection between two adjacent ceiling panels 1 6 that the U-shaped rail parts 33 of Fig. 22 are sunk within the wall panel.

The embodiment of Fig. 23 largely corresponds to that of Fig. 22 with the difference that a spacing A is left between adjacent ceiling panels 16 so that a shaddow groove is created which improves the optical appearance of the ceiling.

As seen in Figs. 24 and 25 a footing rail 46 is arranged at the lower edges 45 of the wall panels 1 2. The footing rail has essentially the shape of a U and is bent at the centre of its web 78 into a rib 79 which projects into the interior of the wall panel 1 2. The rib 79 serves, in similar manner to the rib 83 of Figs. 7 to 9, for the mounting of wall panels which are of half thickness where that is desired.

The side limbs 46a, 46b of the footing rail 46 extend vertically and have, approximately at the centre, an inwardly projecting bead in order to fixedly clamp the wall panel 1 2 so that a PVC skirting rail 80 can be clampingly inserted thereover, as shown on the right hand side in Fig. 24 and on both sides in Fig.

25.

The downwardly bent edges 48 of the floor panels 49 are hung into the outwardly directed, and upwardly open, angled portions 81 of the limbs 46a, 46b.

The embodiments of Figs. 24, 25 are particularly suitable for chambers in which, as a result of moisture, an arrangement of the skirting board or foot strip 80 which is as high as possible is desired.

A hat-section 1 3 of the type illustrated in Fig. 7 is arranged in the upper region of the wall panel 12 of Fig. 25.

It can be seen from this embodiment that the angled parts 62, 63 can also be pressed from above into the rock wool filling so as to ensure better retention of the hat-section rails 1 3 on the upper edge of the wall panel 1 2.

The angled parts 62, 63 which define the retaining slots 1 7 thus not only have the function of accommodating the hooked rail parts 23 in the region of the connecting ceiling panels 18, 18' and 18" respectively but instead also ensure a particularly rigid connection of the hat-section with the wall panels 12.

The bulk weight of a ceiling panel 1 2 amounts to approximately 300 to 400 kg/m3, the bulk weight of a wall panel 1 2 to 140 to 1 60 kg/m3. The mineral or rock wool filling must be selected accordingly.

The hat-section rails of neighbouring wall panels and wall elements can be connected together by suitable elongate cross-like, three cornered or right angled connecting sections so that a further stable connection and precise alignment of the wall panels and wall elements is effected via the hat-sections. An elongate connector 85 of this kind is schematically illustrated at one position in Fig. 1 between two wall panels 1 2.

Claims

1. A room building system for ships and other constructions consisting of pre-fabricated rectangular wall and ceiling panels which are preferably of the same width, wherein the adjacent wall panels are connected together, and wherein hat-section rails are provided on the upper edges of the wall panels with support members, which project away from the wall panels and on which the ceiling panels are held, being provided at the lower end of the lateral limbs, characterised in that the hat-section rails (13, 13', 13", 1 3"') which are pushed onto the upper edge (11) of the wall panels (12), and/or optionally present T-shaped wall members (53), have abutment members (14a, 14b) for the upper side of the ceiling panels (16) on their lateral limbs (12a, 12b) at a distance above the support members (15a, 15b;; 15a', 15b'), and for retaining means (17) at their connection web (12c) for connecting ceiling panels (18, 18', 18",) which extend between two oppositely disposed spaced apart wall panels (12) and which, after being placed on the retaining means (17) of the two oppositely disposed wall panels (12), secure the latter against falling over and fix them at a defined spacing.

2. A room building system in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that all the supply means and/or disposal means which are to be provided at the ceiling are arranged on the connecting ceiling panels (18, 18').

3. A room building system in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the supply means and/or disposal means are arranged in the central piece (20c) of the connecting ceiling panels (18, 18').

4. A room building system in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the end pieces (20a, 20b) of the connecting ceiling panels (18, 18') located adjacent the central piece (20c) are formed at least in part by flaps (19) which can be opened from below.

5. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting ceiling panels (18') are telescopically extendable.

6. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, character ised in that the connecting ceiling panels (18) have a frame (20).

7. A room building system in accordance with claim 5 and claim 6, characterised in that the frame (20) has one or two U-shaped end pieces (20a, 20b), the limbs of which are displaceable in guides (21) which extend in the longitudinal direction of the connecting ceiling panels (18') and are securable in the end positions and preferably also in some intermediate positions.

8. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting ceiling panels (18, 18', 18") are constructed at their ends as a downwardly open hooked rail part (23); and in that the retaining means of the hat-section rail (13) are formed as retaining slots (17) complementary to the hooked rail part (23).

9. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support members are outwardly directed support angles (15a, 15b) at the lower ends of the lateral limbs of the hatsection rail (13).

1 0. A room building system in accordance with claim 8 and claim 9, characterised in that the hooked rail part (23) extends downwardly to the support angle (15a, 15b) and has an externally bent portion (24) which contacts the support angle.

11. A room building system in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that the end pieces (20a, 20b) lie above the outwardly bent portion (24); and in that the flaps (19) are flush with the outwardly bent portion (24).

12. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first type of hat-section rail (13) is provided with the support angle (15a, 15b) and an abutment angle (14a, 14b) which is constructed as the abutment member and which is located above the support angle at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the ceiling panels (16) at the relevant edge (Fig.

6).

1 3. A room building system in accordance with on of the preceding claims, characterised in that a second type of hat-rail section (13') is provided without support angles but with the abutment angles (14a, 14b) (Fig. 7).

1 4. A room building system in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a third type of hat-section rail (13') is provided only with the retaining slot (1 7) and optionally with the support angle (15a, 15b) at at least one side and preferably at both sides of the wall panel (12) (Fig. 8).

1 5. A room building system in accordance with claim 13, characterised in that, for the second type of hat-section rail (13') a plug-in angle (15a') is provided which can be mounted in place of the support angle and which is connectable by a bar (25) with the support angles (15a, 15b) of neighbouring hat-section rails (13 or 13").

16. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the abutting side edges (26) of the wall panels (12) have identical holding elements (28) and one or more vertically distributed intermediate members (27) which draw the neighbouring wall panels (12) towards one another and/or hold them against one another.

1 7. A room building system in accordance with claim 16, characterised in that side edges (26) have vertical slots (28) at vertical intervals as holding elements; and in that the intermediate member (27) has correspondingly shaped hooks (29, 29'), with the vertical slots (28) and hooks (29, 29') preferably being provided pairwise.

18. A room building system in accordance with claim 17, characterised in that the hooks (29) on the side facing the one wall panel (12) point downwardly and the hooks (29') on the opposite side point upwardly.

19. A room building system in accordance with claim 1 7 or claim 18, characterised in that at one level two respective vertical slots (28) are arranged alongside one another and each intermediate member (27) likewise has two hooks (29 and 29' respectively) on each side which lie alongside one another.

20. A room building system in accordance with one of the claims 1 7 to 19, characterised in that the vertical slots (28) are provided at the bases of vertical grooves (30).

21. A room building system in accordance with one of the claims (16 to 19) characterised in that strip sections (31) on which the holding elements (28) are arranged, and which preferably serve as spacers for the two half shells of the sheet metal cladding (36), are provided at the side edges (26) of the wall panels (12).

22. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one of the claims 1 6 to 21, characterised in that the wall panels (12) and/or the ceiling panels (16) and/or floor panels (49) consist of an insulating material, in particular rock wool (35) with a sheet metal cladding (36).

23. A room building system in accordance with claim 22, characterised in that water conduits (37) are substantially vertically arranged in one or more wall panels (12) and have bends (38) which project towards the wall surface at the level of the consumer, with sheet metal reinforcements (39) which are arranged inside the wall panel (12) being secured to the bends (38) and extending parallel to the wall surface.

24. A room building system in accordance in accordance with claim 22 or claim 23, characterised in that reinforcement boxes (40) are arranged inside the wall panels (12) at the level of the apparatus which is to be connected to the wall panel (12).

25. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more wall panels (12) have a lateral recess (41) at the bottom to accommodate a steel coaming (43) located on the deck (42).

26. A room building system in accordance with claim 25, characerised in that the sheet metal cladding (36) extends partly into the recess (41) from above.

27. A room building system in accordance with claim 25 or 26, characterised in that a Zsection of sheet metal (44) is arranged at the lower edge of the wall panel (12) with its lower limb (44a) forming the lower edge, its central vertical web (44b) forming the inner boundary of the recess (41) and its upper limb (44c) forming the top boundary of the recess (41).

28. A room building system in accordance with clam 27, characterised in that the two limbs (44a, 44c) have downwardly and/or upwardly pointing angled portions (44c, 44e) for attachment to the sheet metal cladding (36).

29. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, above their longitudinal edges (32), the ceiling panels (16) have Ushaped rail parts (33) which are open towards one another and into which a tongue (34) which connects two neighbouring ceiling panels (16) is inserted.

30. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a substantially U-shaped footing rail (46) is arranged at the lower edges of the wall panels (12) and has upwardly open grooves (47) at the outside into which hooked angled portions (48) of the floor panels (49) engage.

31. A room building system in accordance with claim 30, characterised in that the Ulimbs (46a, 46b) of the footing rails (46) are bent slightly outwardly in the upper region.

32. A room building system, in particular in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ceiling panels (16) have elongate slots (33') at the longitudinal edges (32), preferably in the upper region or on the upper side, with the longitudinal slots being open towards the relevant longitudinal edge (32); and in that a tongue (34) which connects two neighbouring ceiling panels (16) is insertable into the longitudinal slots and is preferably also displaceable over the abutment members (14a, 14b).

33. A room building system in accordance with claim 32, characterised in that retaining angles (82) are secured to the longitudinal edges of the connecting ceiling panels (18, 18', 18") in such an arrangement that the horizontal limbs (82') of the retaining angles (82) are insertable into the longitudinal slots (33') of the ceiling panels (16) and that, when the retaining angles (82) are secured, the relevant longitudinal edge (32) of the ceiling panel (16) is held flush with the connecting ceiling panel (18, 18', 18").

34, A room building system substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.