Concrete panel construction

Abstract

A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side-by-side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each of the panels comprising a rectangular body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, the side edges each forming an angle of between eighty-five and ninety degrees with the rear surface, and a concave caulking groove lying between and connecting each of the beveled side edges with the front face, the side edges of adjacent panels forming a V-joint between the adjacent panels, a flexible sealant material in a portion of the caulking grooves of adjacent panels and a portion of the V-joint for providing a seal between adjacent panels, and a hanger element embedded in the rear of the panels for securing the panels to the supporting wall.

1. A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side-by-side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each of said panels comprising in turn;
 a rectangular body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, said side edges forming an angle of between eighty-five and ninety degrees with said rear surface;  
 a caulking groove connecting each of said beveled side edges with said front face, the side edges of adjacent panels forming a V-joint therebetween, and,  
 a flexible sealant material in a portion of said caulking grooves of adjacent panels and a portion of said V-joint for providing a seal between adjacent panels,  
 and wherein said V-joint widens from said rear surface toward said front surface  
 and wherein the apex of said V-joint lies in the plane of said rear surface upon installation of said panels.  
 
     
     
       2. A concrete panel system as in  claim 1  and wherein said panels include hanger means for securing said panels to said supporting wall. 
     
     
       3. A concrete panel system as in  claim 2  and wherein said-hanger means includes a hanger embedded in said panels and projecting from said rear surface. 
     
     
       4. A concrete panel system as in  claim 1  and including a coating on the exposed surface of said sealant material for protecting said sealant material from LTV UV light. 
     
     
       5. A concrete panel system as in  claim 4  and wherein said coating comprises a silica sand. 
     
     
       6. A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side-by-side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each of said panels comprising in turn;
 a rectangular body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, said side edges forming an angle of between eighty-five and ninety degrees with said rear surface;  
 a caulking groove connecting each of said beveled side edges with said front face, the side edges of adjacent panels forming a V-joint therebetween, and,  
 a flexible sealant material in a portion of said caulking grooves of adjacent panels and a portion of said V-joint for providing a seal between adjacent panels,  
 and wherein said side edges of each panel are in contact with the side edges of each adjacent panel at a crush zone formed in the panel for absorbing thermal expansion of said panels after installation.  
 
     
     
       7. A concrete panel system as in  claim 6  and wherein the apex of said V-joint lies in the plane of said rear surface upon installation of said panels. 
     
     
       8. A concrete panel system as in  claim 7  and wherein said panels include hanger means embedded in said panels and projecting from said rear surface for securing said panels to said supporting wall. 
     
     
       9. A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side-by-side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each of said panels in turn comprising;
 a rectangular body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, said side edges forming an angle of between eighty-five and ninety degrees with said rear surface;  
 a caulking groove connecting each of said beveled side edges with said front face, the side edges of adjacent panels forming a V-joint between the adjacent panels;  
 a flexible sealant material in portions of said caulking grooves of adjacent panels and a portion of said V-joint for providing a seal between adjacent panels, and,  
 hanger means embedded in said panels for securing said panels to said supporting wall and, a coating on the exposed surface of said sealant material for protecting said sealant material from UV light.  
 
     
     
       10. A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side- by - side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each said panel having:      a rectangular panel body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, such that the side edges of adjacent panels form a V - joint therebetween, said V - joint having its apex at the rear surfaces of the panels upon installation of the panels;        a caulking groove connecting each beveled side edge with said front surface; and        a flexible sealant material in portions of the caulking grooves of adjacent panels and said V - joints, for providing a seal between adjacent panels.     
     
     
       11. A concrete panel system as in  claim 10  wherein each panel includes hanger means for securing the panel to the supporting wall. 
     
     
       12. A concrete panel system as in  claim 11  wherein the hanger means comprises a hanger embedded in the panel and projecting from the rear surface thereof. 
     
     
       13. A concrete panel system as in  claim 10 , further including a coating on the exposed surface of the sealant material, for protecting the sealant material from ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       14. A concrete panel system as in  claim 13  wherein the coating comprises a silica sand. 
     
     
       15. A concrete panel system as in  claim 10  wherein the side edges of the panels are in contact with corresponding side edges of adjacent panels at crush zones formed in the panels at the apex of the V- joint, for absorbing thermal expansion of the panels after installation.   
     
     
       16. A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side- by - side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each said panel having:      a rectangular panel body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, such that the side edges of adjacent panels form a V - joint therebetween, said V - joint having its apex at the rear surfaces of the panels upon installation of the panels;        a hanger embedded in the panel and projecting from the rear surface thereof, for securing the panel to the supporting wall;      a caulking groove connecting each beveled side edge with said front surface;      a flexible sealant material in portions of the caulking grooves of adjacent panels and said V - joints, for providing a seal between adjacent panels; and        a coating on the exposed surface of the sealant material, for protecting the sealant material from ultraviolet light, said coating comprising a silica sand;      
         and wherein the side edges of the panels are in contact with corresponding side edges of adjacent panels at crush zones formed in the panels at the apex of the V - joint, for absorbing thermal expansion of the panels after installation.