Sandwich panel with openings

Abstract

A sandwich panel including a first planar structural outer layer; a second planar structural outer layer orientated substantially parallel to the first planar structural outer layer; a core layer sandwiched between the first planar structural outer layer and the second planar structural outer layer; and a plurality of openings extending through the core layer in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the plane of the first and second planar structural outer layers, wherein the plurality of openings are surrounded on all lateral sides by the core layer.

1 . A sandwich panel, comprising:
 a first structural outer layer;   a second structural outer layer orientated substantially parallel to the first structural outer layer;   a core layer sandwiched between the first structural outer layer and the second structural outer layer; and   a plurality of openings, at least some of the openings each extending through the core layer from a first edge of the core layer to a second edge of the core layer to provide an open-ended channel through the core layer, extending in a longitudinal direction of the openings, substantially parallel to the planes of the first and second structural outer layers, wherein the plurality of openings are surrounded on all of their lateral sides by the core layer;   the sandwich panel having a length L in a direction substantially parallel to longitudinal direction of the openings, and a width W in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the openings, the width W being greater than the length L; and   the openings being provided as voids in an otherwise substantially uniform body of the core material, and being substantially regularly spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the openings.   
     
     
         2 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural outer layers sandwich respective first and second principal faces of the core layer. 
     
     
         3 . The sandwich panel of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of openings extend from one lateral side of the core layer to another lateral side of the core layer. 
     
     
         4 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein the core layer comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The sandwich panel of  claim 5 , wherein the core layer further comprises a mineral material. 
     
     
         6 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second structural outer layer comprises a metal, preferably aluminium or steel. 
     
     
         7 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of openings are closed-curved or polygonal in cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein two or more adjacent openings of the plurality of openings have a triangular cross-section, the orientation of which alternates by substantially 180 degrees from one opening to an adjacent opening. 
     
     
         9 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the openings is located closer to a first principal face of the core layer than to a second principal face of the core layer. 
     
     
         10 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the openings comprises an opening extending through a principal face of the core layer. 
     
     
         11 . The sandwich panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second edges of the sandwich panel each have a complimentary interlocking form, such that when placed adjacent one another, adjacent panel edges can interlock to prevent relative translation of the panels in at least one direction. 
     
     
         12 . A structure comprising a plurality of sandwich panels according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein a gas or water pipe or an electricity cable is provided in one or more openings in the plurality of sandwich panels. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein one or more openings in the plurality of sandwich panels contains a data cable. 
     
     
         15 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the data cable is an electrical data cable or an optical data cable. 
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal plane of one or more of the plurality of panels is in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal plane of one or more of the plurality of panels is in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal plane of one or more of the plurality of panels is orientated substantially between 0 and 45 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein a longitudinal plane of one or more of the plurality of panels is orientated substantially between 0 and 45 degrees from the horizontal. 
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of panels forms part of a roof of the structure. 
     
     
         21 .- 31 . (canceled)