Stud for a wall construction
The invention relates to a stud for a stud frame for a wall construction to be produced in dry construction. Preferably, the invention relates to a wall construction with sound protection. There is a conflict of objectives in prior art metal studs (standard C- or U- studs) when these studs are used to build drywalls with increased sound protection, which also have to satisfy enhanced static requirements. For higher static requirements, studs made from thicker metal sheets are used, which also means that they are stiffer and show stronger acoustic coupling. A better static performance thus brings about poorer acoustic properties.
The invention is therefore based on the object of disclosing a stud of the type mentioned in the introduction, which allows sufficient static performance for higher than usual room height constructions and at the same time sufficient sound protection. This object is achieved by a metal stud, the material (e.g. a metal sheet, preferably cold rolled) of which is thicker in parts, i.e. sections or parts have a higher material thickness. The stud material in the region of the web, at least in a section of the web width, is thicker than in the region of the flanges. The cross-section of the stud comprising the web and the flanges shows at least a U-shape, preferably a C-shape. The studs are used to construct a stud frame, to which at least one layer of building boards, preferably based on a cementitious, more preferably based on a gypsum material, is affixed.
The present invention demonstrates that it is possible to meet static requirements essentially over the thickness of the material in the web region, particularly when the decisive failure criterion under load is “torsional buckling”. With the features mentioned above, no serious losses in the sound protection have to be accepted, since the material thickness of the flanges remains relatively thin, in any case thinner than parts of the web. The lower material thickness of the flanges preserves the sound protection properties of the (standard) stud.
For good sound insulation, acoustic decoupling between the building boards on either side of the stud is necessary. From the state of the art, it is known to solve this problem by attaching building boards to only one side of the stud, if all parts of the stud have a more or less equal or constant material thickness. In this case separate studs are used for the two sides of a wall construction. A cavity or hollow space remains between the studs so that the boards on either side of the wall are acoustically coupled to one another only via this cavity, but not via the studs. This type of construction requires space, which is not always available. Therefore, there are situations in which it is desirable or mandatory to attach the building boards to both sides of a stud for a two sided wall construction. In the state of the art, studs with similar dimensions and acoustic properties can be found. However, these do not meet all static or all spatial requirements. In the stud according to the invention, only the web of the stud, preferably only a section of the web width has a higher material thickness and is thus designed stronger. It has been found that higher static requirements can readily be met with these modifications. Surprisingly, it has been found that there is no need to strengthen the stud in its entirety. Since, according to the invention, the flanges remain relatively thin, this stud simultaneously also fulfills high acoustic decoupling requirements.
The reinforced web also has acoustic advantages, apart from its static function, since it is less prone to natural oscillations. Natural oscillations can also lead to acoustic problems. But, in the case of a thicker or stronger web, natural oscillations can be favorably detuned with respect to the natural frequencies of the bending modes of the web. This is particularly advantageous for larger web widths. For
example, according to the invention, web widths of not only 50 mm, 75 mm and 100 mm but, for example, 150 mm can also be used. These dimensions can vary internationally, so that the values given are to be understood as an example of orders of magnitude without limiting the invention to specific values. Typical material thicknesses for the flange regions, without being limited to exact dimensions themselves, are, for example, between 0.45 mm and about 0.75 mm, preferably about 0.6 mm. Material thicknesses for the thick web section may be about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm, preferably about 2.0 mm. The thick web section preferably has at least twice the material thickness of the rest of the stud, particularly the flanges. According to a development of the invention, the thick section of the web can be made of multiple material layers. Preferably, at least one further material layer can be attached to the web material for this purpose. The fastening can be effected by a friction-lock and/or form-fitting method, for example riveting, welding, gluing, clinching etc. Preferably, the stud as well as the reinforcement is made from a metal sheet.
In another development all sections of the stud consist of one layer, i.e. the web is made from one piece of material, which means it has only one layer albeit the thickness of the layer varies. This can be achieved by rolling out the thicker section differently, for example with less pressure, than the remainder of the stud. This means that the remaining regions of the stud have a different material thickness than the web. Preferably, they are thinner in cross-section. In this way a stud, according to this development, can be manufactured relatively easily, cost-effectively and with precision.
It is also considered to manufacture the web and the flanges separately, for example even from different materials, and later joining them by e.g. welding. However, this procedure is more complex and presumably more expensive.
In a further development of the invention the web comprises a thick section, which is situated centrally within the overall web when looking at the cross-section of a stud orthogonally to its length, framed by at least one thin edge sections, the width of the edge section being > 0.1 mm and < 6 mm. On their distal side, the edge sections border on the respective flange. This development has the advantage that the
transition region between the web and the respective flange remains unreinforced and unstiffened, so that maximum elasticity is maintained here; the edge sections have elastic properties. As a result, the flanges as well as the building boards attached to the flanges, are acoustically decoupled from the web as much as possible. Sound transmittal via the web, and also the stimulation of natural oscillations of the web are minimized.
Again, only by way of example and as a suggestion for the practitioner as to the order of magnitude, the reinforcement or thickening of the web ends about 4 mm to 5 mm, preferably, for example, 4.4 mm before the transition of the web to the flange (i.e. the edge section).
Another development of the stud according to the invention is characterized in that the transition region between the web and the flange, including the edge section of the web, has elastic properties. The edge section of the web, the transition edge itself or the flange can be modified for more elasticity. This modification can be present additionally to the differing material thicknesses of web and flange.
It is also possible to carry out elasticizing measures in the actual flange region in order to make the flange more elastic as a whole.
An exemplary possibility to improve the elastic properties of the transition region including the edge section of the web is that the edge section has a material deformation. This can be, for example, a beading that extends over the entire length of the stud or sections thereof.
Another exemplary possibility to improve the elastic properties of the transition region including the edge section of the web is that the edge section has a material deformation, especially a weakening. This can be a material weakening, for example, in the region of the beading.
Another exemplary possibility to improve the elastic properties of the transition region including the edge section of the web is that the edge section provides one or a plurality of recesses in the web, particularly the edge section of the web, or the edge section of the flange. In particular, these recesses could be fashioned as slots or holes extending over longitudinal sections of the stud.
An embodiment from which further inventive features may also arise, but in principle should regarded only as an example and which is not intended to limit the subject of the invention or its protective scope, is shown in the drawing. It shows:
Fig. 1 an embodiment of a stud according to the invention in a partially sectioned front view.
In Fig. 1, a cross-sectional profile of a stud is shown enlarged in order to indicate the different material thicknesses in the different regions. The cutaway view of the stud is shown interrupted over its width by dash-dotted lines 1.
The cross-section of the stud has essentially a C-shape, which is formed from a web 2, two flanges 3 adjoining it and end regions 4 arranged at an angle to the flanges.
In the right part of the illustration, a part of a front view of the stud is shown and in the left part of the illustration, the stud is cut to show a cross-section distanced from the front face of the stud in the longitudinal direction.
The central web section 5 of the web 2 has a higher material thickness than the rest of the stud. This can be achieved by rolling out this web section 5 less intensely and less thinly before angling the flanges 3 and the end regions 4.
Alternatively, the central web section 5 can be formed by providing a plurality of layers in this region of the web 2, preferably two layers. Additional strips of material can be applied to the web 2 and be joined to the web 2, for example by gluing, welding or riveting.
In the edge sections 6 of the web 2, the thickening of the web section 5 ends near the transition or the edge 7 to the respective flange 3. As a result, the respective edge section 6 is more elastic than the central web section 5. The flanges 3 are not only more elastic, but also elastically connected to the web 2. As a result, they can absorb acoustic vibrations of the attached building boards without passing these vibrations on to the web 2. Thus, the transmission of the acoustic vibrations through the web 2 from one side of the wall to the other is effectively prevented or at least
strongly reduced. There is also no risk that the web 2 is compromised by natural oscillations which negatively influence the sound insulation.
The flanges 3 can be designed more elastically by material recesses, for example, by slots in the material. Similarly, the edge sections 6 of the web 2 could also be designed more elastically. This elastic design is not necessarily limited to the edge sections 6 of the web 2, but can additionally or alternatively be realized in the edge sections of the flanges 3 near the transition edge 7. The edge sections 6 of the web 2 and/or the edge sections of the flanges 3 could be designed elastically, if, for example, the thickening of the web 2 should extend out to the respective transition edge 7 for production-related reasons.
List of reference numerals
1 dash-dotted line indicating an interruption
2 web
3 flange
4 end region
5 thicker web section of web/section of the web with higher material thickness
6 edge section of web
7 transition edge between the web and flange
8 beading