Wall element and structure constructed therewith

Abstract

Wall element for separating two areas situated on either side of a wall, wherein the wall element is made by extrusion from a composite material having a synthetic matrix and incorporated therein wood particles, such as wood fibers or other cellulose-containing particles, wherein the wall elements are panel-shaped and comprise a first main plate, a second main plate spaced therefrom and transverse plates for connecting both main plates to each other, wherein both main plates and the transverse plates define hollow spaces, wherein the wood particles comprise a high fraction of elongated wood particles, which elongated wood particles are predominantly oriented in the profile direction, wherein the wall element has first and second, opposite longitudinal edges extending in the profile direction, which longitudinal edges are provided with first and second coupling members, respectively, wherein the first coupling members define an accommodation recess space for a protrusion formed at a second longitudinal edge of another, similar wall element, wherein the accommodation recess space is defined by plate continuations of both main plates.

1 . Wall element wherein the wall element is made from a composite material having a synthetic matrix and incorporated therein wood particles, wherein the wall element is panel-shaped and comprises a first main plate, a second main plate spaced therefrom and a plurality of transverse plates connecting both first and second main plates to each other, wherein both main plates and the transverse plates define hollow spaces, wherein said first and second plates have a major dimension and a minor dimension, said major dimension being a profile direction, wherein the wood particles comprise a fraction of elongated wood particles, which elongated wood particles are predominantly oriented in the profile direction, wherein the wall element has first and second opposite longitudinal edges extending in profile direction, which longitudinal edges are provided with a first and second coupling member, respectively, wherein the first coupling member defines an accommodation recess space for receiving a protrusion formed on a second coupling member at a second longitudinal edge of another wall element when assembled therewith, wherein the accommodation recess space is defined by plate continuations of each first main plate and second main plate.  
   
   
       2 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein each first and second plate continuations extend over the same distance.  
   
   
       3 . Wall element according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second the main plates and plate continuations have the same thickness.  
   
   
       4 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein each first and second main plates have the same thickness.  
   
   
       5 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein each first and second plate continuations have the same thickness.  
   
   
       6 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein a protrusion extends from an end transverse wall opposite to said accommodation recess space.  
   
   
       7 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the wall element in profile direction is larger than the width of the wall element.  
   
   
       8 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first and second main plates and the transverse walls is the same.  
   
   
       9 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second coupling members are provided with an expansion joint.  
   
   
       10 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member can be brought into mating operative connection with a second coupling member of an adjacent wall element when assembled by sliding said first coupling member into said second coupling member of an adjacent similar wall element.  
   
   
       11 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , further comprising continuous reinforcement elements incorporated with the composite material.  
   
   
       12 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , which has been surface treated by brushing or embossing to provide enhanced wood-like appearance.  
   
   
       13 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , which has been brushed to obtain enhanced adhesion for water-based paints.  
   
   
       14 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member can be brought into operative connection with a second coupling member by sliding said first coupling member transverse to the profile direction, parallel to the first and second main plates.  
   
   
       15 . Wall element having a major dimension and a minor dimension made from a composite material having a synthetic matrix and incorporated therein wood particles, wherein the wall elements are panel-shaped and comprise a first main plate, a second main plate and a plurality of transverse plates for connecting both first and second main plates to each other, wherein said first and second main plates and the transverse plates when assembled define hollow spaces therebetween, wherein the wood particles of the composite comprise a fraction of elongated wood particles, which elongated wood particles are predominantly oriented in a profile direction, wherein the wall element is provided with first and second end edges extending substantially in a profile direction conforming to said major dimension, which end edges are provided with first and second cooperating coupling means, respectively.  
   
   
       16 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , wherein the first coupling means are provided with projections having hooks that extend from the first end edge and the second coupling means are provided with grooves in recessed areas of the second end edge.  
   
   
       17 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second end edge are provided with a transverse plate.  
   
   
       18 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second coupling means are formed for forming a snap coupling.  
   
   
       19 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , wherein the transverse walls or transverse plates are provided with openings for passing a tensioning element.  
   
   
       20 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , provided with recesses at the first and/or second longitudinal edges, near the longitudinal ends of the wall element.  
   
   
       21 . Wall element according to  claim 15 , wherein the height of the recess at least almost corresponds to half the height of the wall element.  
   
   
       22 . Wall element according to  claim 21 , wherein the wall element comprises several parallel hollow chambers.  
   
   
       23 . Wall element according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second edges are formed for mutually fitting in each other.  
   
   
       24 . Wall element according to  claim 21 , wherein the first edge forms a narrowed protrusion and the second edge an accommodation space for a first edge of an adjacent second similar wall element when assembled with said wall element, wherein the recess is arranged in the second edge.  
   
   
       25 . Wall element for partitions, retaining walls and barrages, made by extrusion from a composite material having a synthetic matrix and incorporated therein wood particles, such as wood fibers or other cellulose-containing particles, wherein the wall elements are panel-shaped and comprise a first main plate, a second main plate spaced therefrom and transverse plates connecting both main plates to each other, wherein both main plates and the transverse plates define one or more hollow spaces, wherein the wood particles comprise a fraction of elongated wood particles, which elongated wood particles are predominantly oriented in profile direction, wherein the wall element is provided with first and second end edges extending substantially in profile direction, wherein the first and second edges are formed for mutually fitting into each other.  
   
   
       26 . Wall element according to  claim 25 , wherein the first edge forms a narrowed protrusion and the second edge an accommodation space for the first edge of an adjacent similar wall element.  
   
   
       27 . Wall element according to  claim 26 , stackable with similar wall elements having the corresponding main plates in at least almost the same plane.  
   
   
       28 . Wall element according to  claim 27 , wherein the first main plate and the second main plate form separate parts that can be coupled to each other, wherein the transverse plates are divided into a first portion that is formed as a one piece unit with the first main plate and a second portion that is formed as a one piece unit with the second main plate.  
   
   
       29 . Wall element according to  claim 28 , wherein the first and second main plates are coupled to each other by means of a rigid coupling.  
   
   
       30 . Wall element according to  claim 1  for a roof, wherein the first main plate is formed with crests and valleys in a corrugated manner.  
   
   
       31 . Wall element for walls, such as head walls, ceilings or roofs of buildings and noise barriers, made by extrusion from a composite material having a synthetic matrix and incorporated therein wood particles, such as wood fibers or other cellulose-containing particles, wherein the wall elements are panel-shaped and comprise a first main plate, a second main plate spaced therefrom and transverse plates connecting both main plates to each other, wherein both main plates and the transverse plates define hollow spaces, wherein the wood particles are predominantly oriented in profile direction, wherein the first main plate and the second main plate form separate parts that can be coupled to each other.  
   
   
       32 . Wall element according to  claim 31 , wherein the transverse plates are divided into a first part that is formed as a one piece unit with the first main plate and a second part that is formed as a one piece unit with the second main plate, wherein preferably both transverse plate sections coupling.  
   
   
       33 . Wall element according to  claim 31 , wherein the first and second main plates are coupled to each other by means of a rigid coupling.  
   
   
       34 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of wood particles is between 50 and 85% by weight.  
   
   
       35 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic material is a thermoplastic synthetic resin material.  
   
   
       36 . Wall element according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic synthetic material is a polyolefin, PVC or polycarbonate.  
   
   
       37 . Wall element according to  claim 36 , wherein the synthetic material is polypropylene or polyethylene.  
   
   
       38 . Wall element according to  claim 37 , wherein the hollow sections are filled with tubular foam elements.  
   
   
       39 . Building having a pitched roof constructed with wall elements according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       40 . Building according to  claim 39 , wherein the roof has a pitched shape, and wherein the upper edges of wall elements meeting at the ridge of the roof are oriented transverse to the main plates and in between them define a discharge opening that is in open connection with the hollow spaces.  
   
   
       41 . Building according to  claim 40 , wherein the discharge opening is upwardly covered by a ridge strip.  
   
   
       42 . Earth or water-retaining structure constructed with wall elements according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       43 . Earth or water-retaining structure according to  claim 42 , wherein the upper side of the wall elements is covered by a cap, wherein the cap is U-shaped.  
   
   
       44 . Noise barrier structure constructed with wall elements according to  claim 1.