FR2697556A1 - Fixing system for roofing made from layers of different materials - uses connectors with thrust discs on one end which can be attached to corrugated metal sheeting by adhesive layers - Google Patents

Abstract

The system, e.g. for corrugated sheet metal (5) and a layer (10) of insulating material resting on top of its ribs, covered by an outer sealing layer (11), consists of a series of connectors (17), each with a thrust plate (18) and a shank (21) which passes through the layer of insulating material and, if necessary the outer sealing layer. At the tip of the shank there is a locking element (24), which can be a screw fitting into a threaded hole in the shank end or a threaded cap fitting over it. The thrust plate of each connector is attached to a flat surface on a rib of the corrugated metal sheet by a layer of adhesive in the form of a flat disc with a protective film layer over the adhesive on one side. ADVANTAGE - Improved fixing of roofing material layers without having to pierce corrugated metal sheet or resorting to welding.

Description

 The present invention relates to a fixing device for roofing or the like, consisting in particular of a support element of metal sheet, preferably having stiffening ribs, a thick layer of a thermal insulating material applied to the element of support and a waterproof coating covering towards the outside, opposite the support element, the insulating layer.

 Such a roofing arrangement is conventional in the art, the ribs of the sheet metal constituting the support element being parallel to each other and forming preferential zones for the installation of connecting members ensuring the proper fixing on this sheet of the insulating layer and external waterproofing coating. This layer is generally made up of panels juxtaposed in an appropriate synthetic or mineral material, such as glass or rock fibers or other equivalent product, or else formed of continuous strips suitably unrolled and applied to the sheet metal. formed in the most usual way by strips or strips of a bituminous material, advantageously comprising an internal reinforcement formed of a mat of nonwoven fibers and impregnated on both sides with a charged bitumen, the successive strips on the top of the roof partially overlapping along their respective selvedges to ensure continuity of the covering.

 A roof of this kind is subjected during its use to many mechanical stresses, in particular on the part of the wind and bad weather outside the construction which comprises it. It is therefore essential to ensure an effective connection between the metal sheet, the insulating layer and the sealing coating, in particular so that these three elements do not separate under the effect of the forces which they undergo by causing the destruction of the roof.

 An obvious solution for ensuring this connection may consist in the use of screws, tie rods or studs, arranged so as to pass successively through the external covering, the insulating layer and the metal sheet, these screws being stopped outside the covering by a support head and cooperating beyond the sheet with a clamping nut or the like. However, this arrangement necessarily implies that the end of the screw crosses the sheet and is thus visible from below it, appearing in these conditions in what constitutes the ceiling of the room. To hide these unsightly growths and which result from a prior piercing of the metal sheet by weakening or interrupting the overall continuity of the latter, it is then necessary to make a false ceiling under this sheet, which significantly increases the cost price of the roof and does not is not necessarily satisfactory from the point of view of the general appearance of the structure.

 The present invention relates to a fixing device meeting the connection requirements mentioned above, but arranged so that it avoids piercing the sheet, or even any welding on the latter, by not modifying its integrity, this sheet metal in its face directed towards the interior of the room which can be painted or otherwise decorated, by directly constituting the ceiling of the room.

 To this end, the device according to the invention, for the connection between a support element consisting of a metal sheet comprising a plurality of parallel ribs, an insulating layer resting on the ribs of the sheet and an external sealing coating, is characterized in that it comprises a set of connecting members, each of which consists of a support plate, extended by a pin passing through the insulating layer and, where appropriate, the external coating, and cooperating with a means blocking device mounted at its end, the metal support plate being applied against a rib of the sheet with the interposition of a thickness of an adhesive material, disposed between this plate and the sheet.

 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribs of the sheet have, facing outward, a flat bottom against which the support plate of the connecting members is applied, these being distributed at regular intervals according to the length of each rib.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the thickness of adhesive material under each support plate is constituted by a flat wafer, coated on one and preferably on its two opposite faces by a protective plastic film, suitable for be removed from the patty before its application against the bottom of a rib.

 Advantageously, the adhesive material consists of a bonding sealant injected between the plate and the sheet. As a variant, this material consists of a flat disc of an adhesive product, the two faces of which can be glued against the plate and the sheet respectively, after removal of the protective plastic film from these two faces.

 Preferably also, each support plate is constituted by a magnetic and flat metallic element, delimiting with the sheet a gap in which the thickness of adhesive material is interposed, the pin passing through the insulating layer and, if necessary, the coating. external extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wafer, opposite the sheet.

 In a first alternative embodiment, the spindle of each plate has a threaded axial bore capable of cooperating with a locking screw whose head is supported on a washer applied to the external surface of the insulating layer or of the coating.

 In another variant, the spindle is full and has a tapered end, provided with external notches, so as to pierce the coating and immobilize it against the insulating layer. Where appropriate, the tapered end of the solid spindle cooperates with a protective cover, forcibly attached thereto from the outside of the coating and preferably comprising a shoulder or a support flange, possibly provided in its face in contact with the coating of an additional film of an adhesive material, put in place during manufacture or in situ.

 As a variant, the spindle has a smooth end, cooperating with a metal washer pierced in its center and provided with two or more elastic radial tongues, each comprising a notch in which the spindle engages, so as to immobilize the washer vis-à-vis screw of this pin in the manner of a clip, by exerting on the insulating layer a bearing force ensuring its maintenance in application on the metal sheet.

The nature of the metallic material constituting each wafer, whether or not it is magnetized, as well as that of the bonding mastic or the adhesive wafer, can naturally vary from one embodiment to another insofar as this material metallic and this putty has a suitable affinity. Advantageously, the adhesive sealant is of the type
Butyl having a crosslinkable composition or is a polyurethane type sealant.

 Depending on the case, the spindle extending axially each plate is made of the same material as the latter or of a different material.

Other characteristics of a fixing device established in accordance with the invention will become more apparent from the following description of several exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawing plate, on which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view in partial section, with parts broken away, of a roof fragment provided with a fixing device according to the invention.

 - Figure 2 is an enlarged view, also in perspective, of a connecting member comprising a magnetized metal plate and a thickness of a bonding sealant.

 - Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting member according to Figure 2, to better explain the operation and implementation thereof.

 - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating a variant of the connecting member.

 - Figure 5 illustrates another variant of the connecting member.

 In FIG. 1, the reference 1 generally designates a roof element, intended to be mounted on support beams 2 themselves resting on a wall or a support cross-member 3.

 In itself known in the art, the element 1 comprises a metal support sheet 4, resting directly on the beams 2, this sheet advantageously having a ribbed surface, each rib 5 comprising a flat bottom 6 extending horizontally and being joined to the main part 7 of the sheet by inclined sides, respectively 8 and 9. On the sheet 4 is disposed a layer 10 of a thermal insulating material 11, being in the form of juxtaposed panels or continuous strips suitably placed on the sheet, in the immediate vicinity of the bottoms 6 of the ribs 5. On the top of the insulating layer 10 is finally disposed a waterproof covering 12, preferably formed of successive strips or strips, respectively 13 and 14 whose edges such as 15 and 16 overlap slightly with a partial overlap of one on the other to ensure the continuity of the coating.

 Due to the constraints and in particular the upward pulling forces of the element 1 in its use of roofing, it is necessary to ensure an effective connection between the sheet 4, the layer 10 and the covering 12, this connection before, however, for the reasons already explained, do not lead to piercing the sheet 4, or even to weld parts or other connecting members thereof.

 For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, a plurality of connecting members 17 is used, of which Figures 2 and 3 illustrate on a larger scale certain essential parts.

 Each member 17 is composed in particular of a metal plate 18, which can be in particular, as in the example more particularly considered in relation to Figures 1 to 3, made of a material capable of being suitably magnetized, so as to create in combination with the material of the sheet 4, a notable magnetic attraction force, giving this wafer a faculty of permanent connection with the sheet.

 However, it turns out that this attractive force is not in itself sufficient to immobilize the member 17 and in particular to prevent in all circumstances that the latter and the insulating layer 10 as well as the waterproof coating 12 which are linked to it in the manner described below, do not separate from the sheet 4 by damaging, if not completely destroying the roof.

 To overcome this drawback, provision is made, according to the invention, to have under the underside of the plate 18 of each member 17, between this plate and the bottom 6 of the rib opposite against which it applies a thickness 19 d 'a bonding sealant, preferably in the form of a wafer with the same profile of the wafer. Advantageously, this wafer is itself protected by a self-adhesive plastic film 20, which can be easily removed before use, that is to say before the magnetic plate 18 is applied to the sheet 4.

 Optionally, instead of using a bonding sealant which is injected in situ between the plate 18 and the sheet metal 4 in line with the flat bottom 6 thereof, provision may be made to place a wafer of an appropriate adhesive material. . Preferably, such a wafer can be constituted by a polyethylene foam treated with acrylic adhesives, this wafer being advantageously protected on its two faces intended to come into contact respectively with the plate and the sheet metal by plastic films of the kind of that designated. under the reference 20 above, in relation to the example illustrated in Figure 2.

 In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the magnetic plate 18, with a substantially cylindrical profile, is provided in its center with a pin 21 which extends perpendicular to the plane of the plate and whose length is determined by so as to correspond approximately to the thickness of the insulating layer 10 which it passes through when the latter is placed on the sheet 4. In the same example, the spindle 21 has an axial bore 22, in which the l end 23 of a locking screw 24 (see Figure 1), the head 25 of which is capable of being applied to the waterproof coating 12 from above it, so as to immobilize it relative to the pin 21 by means of a support washer 26, or directly on top of the insulating layer as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the waterproof coating 12 then covering the layer and the locking screws 24.

 Figure 3 provides a better understanding of the operation of the connecting members 17 thus implemented according to the invention, combining the magnetic attraction effect of the plate 18, the force due to the bonding of the latter against the bottom flat 6 of the associated rib 5.

 Apparently, the presence of the mastic cake 19 may seem paradoxical since it results in limiting the force of magnetic attraction of the plate 18, shown diagrammatically in the drawing by the arrow 27, by increasing the air gap between this plate and the sheet surface. However, this effort is still very largely sufficient to permanently exert a residual restoring force on the wafer and thus subject the thickness of adhesive sealant 19 to a constant force. The mastic slab under the wafer is thus subjected to a tension, which cancels the creep effect which would result from the succession of alternating and random tearing forces, shown diagrammatically by arrow 28 in the opposite direction to arrow 27, which are applied to the roof under the effect of gusts of wind in particular.

 The thickness of mastic 19 has a certain capacity of elasticity which allows a certain variation in the height of the wafer, then a return of the latter to the initial position, thanks firstly to the elastic restoring force which it provides, and on the other hand to the effect of magnetic traction.

 The material constituting the metal plate 18 preferably has a high permeability, in particular of the sintered steel type, such a material furthermore having the advantage of high compatibility with the adhesive sealant which is strongly joined to the plate. Advantageously, the putty is of the Butyl type and has a crosslinkable composition or is of the polyurethane type.

 Note that, once the connecting members 17 are in place and the locking screws 24 fixed on the pins 21, the immobilization of the structure can be further improved by depositing under the support washer 26, which applies on the top of the waterproof coating 12 or under it, on the insulating layer 10, an additional layer of the adhesive sealant or of another similar product, this additional layer being able to be provided during the manufacture of the washers or placement in situ.

 Figure 4 illustrates another variant of the connecting member where the magnetic plate 18 is this time provided with an axial pin 29 which is solid and not internally threaded, this pin comprising opposite the plate a tapered end 30 provided with protruding notches 31, so that, after the insulating layer 10 has been impaled on the pins 29, this layer is automatically held in place by these notches. Advantageously, the pointed end 30 which in principle outcrops and in this variant beyond the waterproof coating 12, can be covered with a cap 32 provided with an external shoulder 33 playing exactly the same role as the washer 26 in the previous example.

 Figure 5 illustrates another variant of the connecting member and in particular of the axial pin 29 whose upper end which passes through the insulating layer 10 and the waterproof coating 12 is provided to cooperate with a washer 34 pierced in its center and which comprises two elastic tongues 35 and 36, these tongues each comprising a notch capable of coming to engage the external surface of the spindle in the manner of a clip, by allowing the washer 34 to slide on the spindle by compressing the layer 10 directly or from above the coating 12, while preventing this washer from escaping in the opposite direction thanks to the blocking provided by these tongues.

 This produces a fixing device of very simple design which has the advantage of avoiding any deterioration and in particular any piercing of the lower support sheet of the roofing element, while nevertheless providing an effective and permanent connection of the insulating layer. and waterproof coating available on this sheet. The distribution of the connecting members according to the extent of the surface of the sheet can be adapted to the request as a function of the importance of the tearing forces to be supported. In addition, no particular limitation is to be taken into consideration with regard to the shape of the metallic support plates magnetized or not and the structure of the pins which extend from these plates.

 Of course, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments more specifically described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings; it embraces all its variants. In particular, one could not use a cap or protective cover on the ends of the pins, but only level them once the sealing coating is in place.

Finally, the axial pins could be made of a material which may be different from that which constitutes the metal support plates.

Claims (12)

 1 - Device for the connection between a support element of a roof or the like, consisting of a metal sheet (4) comprising a plurality of parallel ribs (5), an insulating layer (10) resting on the ribs of the sheet and an external sealing coating (12), characterized in that it comprises a set of connecting members (17), each of which consists of a support plate (18), extended by a pin (21- 29) passing through the insulating layer and, where appropriate, the external covering, and cooperating with a locking means (24, 31) mounted at its end, the support plate being applied against a rib of the sheet, with interposition d 'a thickness of an adhesive material (19), disposed between this plate and the sheet.  2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (5) of the sheet (4) have, directed outwards, a flat bottom (6) against which the bearing plate (18) is applied. connecting members (17), these being distributed at regular intervals along the length of each rib.  3 - Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness of adhesive material (19) under each support plate (18) consists of a flat wafer, coated on one and preferably on its two opposite faces of a protective plastic film (20), capable of being removed from the wafer before its application against the bottom (6) of a rib (5).  4 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adhesive material (19) consists of a bonding sealant injected between the plate (18) and the sheet (4).  5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adhesive material (19) consists of a flat disc of an adhesive product, the two faces of which are bonded respectively against the support plate ( 18) and the sheet metal.  6 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each support plate (18) is constituted by a magnetic and flat metallic element, delimiting with the sheet (4) a gap in which is interposed l thickness of adhesive material (19), the pin (21-29) passing through the insulating layer (10) and, if necessary, the external sealing coating (12) extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wafer opposite of the sheet.  7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spindle (21) of each plate (18) has a threaded axial bore (22), suitable for cooperating with a locking screw (24) whose the head (25) is supported on a washer (26) applied to the insulating layer (10) or the external surface of the waterproof covering (12).  8 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spindle (29) is full and has a tapered end (30), provided with external notches (31), so as to pierce the waterproof coating ( 12) and immobilize it against the insulating layer (10).  9 - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the tapered end (30) of the solid spindle (29) cooperates with a protective cover (32), forcibly fixed thereon from the outside of the coating and comprising a support shoulder (33), optionally provided in its face in contact with the waterproof coating (12) with an additional layer of adhesive sealant, put in place during manufacture or in situ.  10 - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the tapered end of the solid pin (29) cooperates with a metal washer (34) pierced in its center and provided with two or more elastic radial tongues (35, 36), each comprising a notch in which the spindle engages so as to immobilize the washer in the manner of a clip.  11 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the adhesive material (19) consists of a bonding sealant of the Butyl type having a crosslinkable composition or is of the polyurethane type.  12 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support plate (19) and the pin (21-29) passing through the insulating layer (10) and, if necessary, the external coating sealing (12) are made of the same material or in different materials.