Building panel and locking device therefor

Abstract

A concrete component connecting system includes first and second precast components ( 112, 118 ) adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship in an assembled configuration, the first and second precast concrete ( 112, 118 ) having respective first and second edges ( 116, 120 ) which face each other in the assembled configuration. A locking mechanism ( 122, 126 ) is also provided including mutually engageable components disposed at the facing edges ( 116,120 ). The locking mechanism ( 122, 126 ) including a remote actuating means to effect locking of the mutually engageable components ( 122, 126 ) at or beyond a third edge of one of the first and second precast components ( 112, 118 ), to secure the first and second precast components ( 112, 118 ) together. One of the building components may comprise a building panel ( 12 ) which is generally planar in form. The building panel ( 12 ) has a core ( 14 ) which is substantially planar in form with opposite sides and is substantially aligned with the plane of the building panel. Cementitious material is disposed on both sides of the core ( 14 ). The core being formed with a series of substantially parallel open channels ( 16 ) which are arranged with the openings on alternate sides of the core ( 14 ). Some of the channels are filled with the cementitious material.

1 . A connecting system for cementitious precast components including:
 first and second precast cementitious components adapted to be arranged in abutting relationship in an assembled configuration, the first and second precast components having respective first and second edges which face each other in the assembled configuration; and   a locking mechanism including mutually engageable components disposed at the facing edges, the locking mechanism including a remote actuating means to effect locking of the mutually engageable components at or beyond a third edge of one of the first and second precast concrete components, to secure the first and second precast components together.   
     
     
         2 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the two precast components are arranged side by side to one other and the third edge is on top of one of the components. 
     
     
         3 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the precast concrete components are arranged one atop the other and the third edge is atop the upper component. 
     
     
         4 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes:
 a pin having a head extending from the first edge of the first component; and 
 a locking device including a locking member which is disposed at the second edge of the second component, the locking member being movable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration whereby it is adapted to receive the head of the pin, the locking device further including an elongate member connected to the locking member and extending to the third edge of the second component, wherein operation of the locking member may be effected from the third edge by the elongate member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the pin is cast into the first component and a semicircular recess is formed about the pin such that it does not protrude beyond the main surface of the first edge. 
     
     
         6 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the locking member is rotatable about a pivot axis for movement between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the locking member has axial spigots. 
     
     
         8 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the axial spigots are received into a shaped plastic spacer which is cast into the second component. 
     
     
         9 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the locking member is a part-cylindrical shell, with the pivot axis defined at the rotational centre thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the part-cylindrical shell is one-half to two-thirds of a cylindrical wall, with a gap defined in the cylindrical wall to receive the head of the pin. 
     
     
         11 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar. 
     
     
         12 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar and wherein the locking member is interconnected with the rod or bar such that lineal movement of the rod or bar effects rotational movement of the locking member. 
     
     
         13 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the elongate member is pivotally connected to the locking member. 
     
     
         14 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the elongate member is connected to the locking member through one or more cable portions. 
     
     
         15 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein there are two cable portions allowing movement of the locking member between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration and also between the unlocked and the locked configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein there is a plurality of said locking members, each of which are connected to a common elongate member. 
     
     
         17 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the first component is a slab or footing and the second component is a wall panel and the elongate member extends upwards through the height of the wall panel and is connected to a roofing component. 
     
     
         18 . The connecting system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one of the concrete components includes an inspection shaft to check the configuration of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A locking device for use with a precast concrete component to lock the component to another precast concrete component, the device including a locking member adapted to receive the head of a pin extending from the edge of the other component; and an elongate member connected to the locking member, the elongate member being adapted for remote operation of the locking member. 
     
     
         20 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein lineal movement of the elongate member effects operation of the locking member. 
     
     
         21 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the locking member is rotatable about a pivot axis for movement between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the locking member is a part-cylindrical shell, with the pivot axis defined at the rotational centre thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the elongate member comprises a rod or a bar and wherein the locking member is interconnected with the rod or bar such that lineal movement of the rod or bar effects rotational movement of the locking member. 
     
     
         24 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the elongate member is pivotally connected to the locking member. 
     
     
         25 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the elongate member is connected to the locking member through one or more cable portions. 
     
     
         26 . The locking device as claimed in  claim 20  wherein there are a plurality of said locking members, each of which are connected to a common elongate member. 
     
     
         27 . A building panel which is generally planar in form, having a core which is substantially planar in form with opposite sides, the core being substantially aligned with the plane of the building panel, with cementitious material disposed on both sides of the core, the core being formed with a series of substantially parallel open channels which are arranged with the openings on alternate sides of the core, some of the channels being filled with the cementitious material. 
     
     
         28 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the core has top and bottom edges and the channels extend from the top to the bottom edges of the core and are substantially aligned with the height dimension of the building panel. 
     
     
         29 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the core extends from one lateral edge of the building panel to the other. 
     
     
         30 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the building panel is of a width to accommodate a plurality of cores arranged in side by side abutting relationship and extending from one lateral edge of the building panel to the other. 
     
     
         31 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the core has top and bottom edges and the building panel has top and bottom edges, the top and bottom edges of the core being spaced from the top and the bottom edges of the building panel thereby defining beams of cementitious material adjacent the top and bottom edges of the building panel. 
     
     
         32 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the core is corrugated. 
     
     
         33 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the core is of a regular zig-zag formation. 
     
     
         34 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the core comprises insulative material. 
     
     
         35 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the core is formed of rigid cellular plastics material, preferably expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene. 
     
     
         36 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the building panel includes reinforcing material and the core is provided with holding means for the reinforcing material. 
     
     
         37 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  further including void formers in the form of inserts which fit with or into the channels in the core to preclude one or some of the channels from being filled with cementitious material to facilitate the creation of service ducting. 
     
     
         38 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the panel also includes a lifting bracket comprising one or more lifting rods extending into the channels and embedded in the cementitious material. 
     
     
         39 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 27  wherein different grades of cementitious material are used on either side of the core. 
     
     
         40 . The building panel as claimed in  claim 39  wherein the building panel has a higher density cementitious material on one side of the core and relatively lower density cementitious material on the other side of the core. 
     
     
         41 . A building constructed using a plurality of building panels as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the building panels are installed with the higher density cementitious material on the inside of the building and the relatively lower density cementitious material on the outside of the building. 
     
     
         42 . A method of casting a building panel, the method including:
 using cementitious material of at least two different densities including a relatively higher density material and a relatively lower density material;   placing a first layer of the lower density material into a mould;   placing a core assembly over the first layer, the core assembly being substantially planar in form; and   placing a second layer of the relatively higher density material over the core assembly.   
     
     
         43 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the core assembly includes a core which is substantially planar in form. 
     
     
         44 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the core is of a regular zig-zag formation. 
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the core is formed of rigid cellular plastics material, preferably expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene or expanded polyethylene. 
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the core assembly includes reinforcing material and the core is provided with holding means for the reinforcing material. 
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the core assembly also includes a lifting bracket comprising one or more lifting rods extending into the channels and embedded in the cementitious material. 
     
     
         48 . A method of constructing a building using a plurality of building panels cast according to the method as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the panels are installed with the higher density material on the inside of the building and the lower density material on the outside of the building.