Integrated access floor system

Abstract

A prefabricated integrated access deck panel includes a bottom flange, one or more structural webs, and an optional top flange. The bottom flange acts as a ceiling soffit, and may include radiant tubing for heating or cooling. The top flange, when present, acts as the floor surface and also supports components of the access floor system. Alternatively, only support rails are used to secure the removable and reconfigurable access floor panels. The webs includes apertures to allow the passage of air and components of the building's electrical, communication, water, and mechanical systems. Individual deck panels may either be directly interconnected to each other or joined by a common beam to form a diaphragm. Alternative embodiments are disclosed including different deck panel connection and support arrangements, different numbers and configurations for the webs and flanges, and single and dual plenum constructions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A prefabricated integrated access deck panel comprising:
 a. a bottom flange;   b. at least one access floor panel;   c. a plurality of access floor panel support rails;   d. a top flange parallel to and in spaced relation from said bottom flange defining a cavity therebetween, said top flange forming a floor surface and further including receiver means for engaging said support rails and maintaining them in horizontal relation, said floor panel resting on said support rails and forming a co-planar floor surface with said top flange; and,   e. at least one structural web interconnecting said bottom flange and said top flange, said web including apertures to allow for the passage of air and components of a electrical, communication, plumbing, and power systems in said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  in which said bottom flange comprises a ceiling soffit. 
     
     
         3 . A deck panel as in  claim 2  in which said bottom flange includes radiant tubing for heating or cooling. 
     
     
         4 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  in which said receiver means comprises at least one channel cast in said top flange providing a recessed bearing location for said support rails. 
     
     
         5 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  further including a second said deck panel, in which said webs of said first and second said deck panels are arranged in parallel, spaced relation, and in which said plurality of support rails spans said receiver means of said first and second deck panels, said bottom flanges of said first and second deck panels being joined by flange connectors located along respective adjacent edges. 
     
     
         6 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  further including an interior beam, said interior beam including a ledge along a lower edge and a lateral face above said lower edge, and in which said web has one end in abutment with said lateral face and in which one edge of said bottom flange rests over said ledge, and further including means for interconnecting said one edge of said bottom flange with said interior beam. 
     
     
         7 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  further including an exterior beam, said exterior beam including a ledge along a lower edge and a lateral face above said lower edge, and in which said web has another end in abutment with said lateral face of said exterior beam and in which the other edge of said bottom flange rests over said ledge of said exterior beam, and further including means for interconnecting said other edge of said bottom flange with said exterior beam. 
     
     
         8 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  including first and second structural webs, said first and second webs being arranged in parallel spaced relation on said bottom flange, and in which said first web interconnects said bottom flange with a first top flange and said second web interconnects said bottom flange with a second top flange, said first and second top flanges having opposing inner edges provided with respective said receiver means and in which said access floor panel forms a co-planar floor surface with said first and second top flanges. 
     
     
         9 . A deck panel as in  claim 9  in which said first and second top flanges further include outer portions provided with respective said receiver means. 
     
     
         10 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  including first, second, and third structural webs, said first, second, and third webs being arranged in parallel spaced relation on said bottom flange, and in which said first web interconnects said bottom flange with a first top flange, said second web interconnects said bottom flange with a second top flange, and said third web interconnects said bottom flange with a third top flange, said first and second top flanges having respectively opposing inner edges provided with respective said receiver means and in which a first said access floor panel forms a co-planar floor surface with said first and second top flanges, and in which said second and third top flanges having respectively opposing inner edges provided with respective said receiver means and in which a second said access floor panel forms a co-planar floor surface with said second and third top flanges. 
     
     
         11 . A deck panel as in  claim 1  in which said bottom flange, said top flange, and said structural web are pre-fabricated from concrete. 
     
     
         12 . A prefabricated integrated access deck panel comprising:
 a. a bottom flange;   b. a plurality of access floor panels;   c. a plurality of access floor panel support rails;   d. a plurality of top flanges parallel to and in spaced relation from said bottom flange defining a cavity therebetween, said top flanges forming a floor surface and further including respective receiver means for engaging said support rails and maintaining them in horizontal relation, said access floor panels resting on said support rails and forming a co-planar floor surface with said top flanges; and,   e. a plurality of structural webs each interconnecting said bottom flange with a respective one of said top flanges, said plurality of webs including apertures to allow for the passage of air and components of a electrical, communication, plumbing, and power systems in said cavity.   
     
     
         13 . A deck panel as in  claim 12  in which said bottom flange, said top flanges, and said structural webs are pre-fabricated from concrete. 
     
     
         14 . A deck panel as in  claim 12  in which said access floor panels are detachably affixed to said support rails. 
     
     
         15 . A prefabricated integrated access deck panel comprising:
 a. a bottom flange;   b. a plurality of access floor panels;   c. a plurality of access floor panel support rails; and,   d. a first structural web and a second structural web, said first and second webs extending perpendicularly and upwardly from said bottom flange to respective upper ends, said plurality of access floor panel support rails extending across said upper ends of said first and second webs, said floor panels resting on said support rails and forming a co-planar floor surface, said floor panels and said bottom flange defining a cavity therebetween, said first and second webs including apertures to allow for the passage of air and components of a electrical, communication, plumbing, and power systems in said cavity.   
     
     
         16 . An access deck panel as in  claim 15  in which said bottom flange and said first and second structural webs are pre-fabricated from concrete. 
     
     
         17 . An access deck panel as in  claim 15  in which said bottom flange is pre-fabricated from concrete and said first and second structural webs are manufactured from steel beams which are attached to concrete anchors in said bottom flange. 
     
     
         18 . An access deck panel as in  claim 17  including cross-braces extending from said upper end of of said first structural web to a lower end of said second structural web, and from said upper end of said second structural web to a lower end of said first structural web. 
     
     
         19 . A prefabricated integrated access deck panel comprising:
 a. a bottom flange;   b. a plurality of access floor panels;   c. a plurality of pedestals each of said pedestals having a lower end and an upper end;   d. a first structural web and a second structural web, said first and second webs extending perpendicularly and upwardly from said bottom flange, said first and second webs including apertures to allow for the passage of air and components of a electrical, communication, plumbing, and power systems; and,   e. a divider deck between said bottom flange and said floor panels defining a lower air return chamber and an upper air supply chamber, said divider deck being supported by said first and second webs in parallel relation to said bottom flange and said floor panels, said lower ends of said pedestals resting on an upper surface of said divider deck, and said floor panels resting on said upper ends of each of said pedestals forming a co-planar floor surface.   
     
     
         20 . An integrated access deck panel as in  claim 19  in which said divider deck is supported by said first and second webs above said apertures to allow free movement of air through said lower air return chamber, and said divider deck is sufficiently spaced from said floor panels to allow free movement of air through said upper air supply chamber.