Joint of parallel sandwich panels

Abstract

A number of multi-panel wall segments are connected together in a parallel orientation with bonding material to form a double wall segment. The connections between the multi-panel wall segments are bridged at a joint between the segments. In one embodiment, the connections between the multi-panel wall segments are bridged by a reinforcement member that extends on both sides of the connection between the sandwich panels of the multi-panel wall segments. In another embodiment, the joint is bridged an offset between the connections of the sandwich panels multi-panel wall segments to form a discontinuous joint. The bridged joint increases the rigidity and stiffness of the wall and also transfers loads between the multi-panel wall segments.

1 . A joint connecting two multi-panel wall segments together, the joint comprising:
 a first multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   a second multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   bonding material between the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment, the bonding material connecting the multi-panel wall segments together in a generally parallel orientation; and   a reinforcement bridge between the multi-panel wall segments   
   
   
       2 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement bridge overlaps the connections between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment. 
   
   
       3 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding material connects the multi-panel wall segments together in a generally parallel orientation such that connection between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment is offset from the connection between the second multi-panel wall segment. 
   
   
       4 . A joint connecting two multi-panel wall segments together, the joint comprising:
 a first multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   a second multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   bonding material between the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment, the bonding material connecting the multi-panel wall segments together in a generally parallel orientation; and   a reinforcement member between the multi-panel wall segments, wherein the reinforcement member overlaps the connections between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment.   
   
   
       5 . The joint of  claim 4 , wherein each sandwich panel includes an outer layer, an inner layer and a core between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
   
   
       6 . The joint of  claim 5 , wherein the connections include a cavity defined by a portion of the outer layers and a portion of the panel cores. 
   
   
       7 . The joint of  claim 6 , further comprising a pathway to the cavity through which bonding material is injectable. 
   
   
       8 . The joint of  claim 7 , wherein the pathway is at least one of an opening in the outer layer of at least one of the sandwich panels or a gap between the outer layers of the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel. 
   
   
       9 . The joint of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement member includes a layer of fiber glass laminate between the panels. 
   
   
       10 . A joint connecting two multi-panel wall segments together, the joint comprising:
 a first multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   a second multi-panel wall segment including a first sandwich panel, a second sandwich panel, and a connection between the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel;   bonding material between the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment, the bonding material connecting the multi-panel wall segments together in a generally parallel orientation such that connection between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment is offset from the connection between the second multi-panel wall segment.   
   
   
       11 . The joint of  claim 10 , wherein each sandwich panel includes an outer layer, an inner layer and a core between the outer layer and the inner layer. 
   
   
       12 . The joint of  claim 10 , wherein the connection between the first sandwich panel and second sandwich panel of each multi-panel wall segment includes a cavity into which bonding material is injectable. 
   
   
       13 . The joint of  claim 12 , wherein the cavity is defined by a portion of the core of the first sandwich panel, a portion of the outer layer of the first sandwich panel, a portion of the core of the second sandwich panel, and a portion of the outer layer of the second sandwich panel. 
   
   
       14 . The joint of  claim 13 , further comprising a pathway to the cavity through which bonding material is injectable. 
   
   
       15 . The joint of  claim 14 , wherein the pathway is at least one of an opening in the outer layer of at least one of the sandwich panels or a gap between the outer layers of the first sandwich panel and the second sandwich panel. 
   
   
       16 . A method of connecting two multi-panel wall segments comprising,
 connecting two or more sandwich panels together with bonding material to form a first multi-panel wall segment;   connecting two or more sandwich panels together to form a second multi-panel wall segment;   connecting the first multi-panel wall segment to the second multi-panel wall segment in a generally parallel orientation with bonding material to form joint between the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment; and   bridging the joint between the multi-panel wall segments.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the bridging includes offsetting the connection between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment from the connection between the sandwich panels of the second multi-panel wall segment. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the bridging includes connecting a reinforcement member to first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bridging includes overlapping the reinforcement member with the connection between the sandwich panels of the first multi-panel wall segment and the connection between the sandwich panels of the second multi-panel wall segment. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the bridging includes connecting the reinforcement member to the first multi-panel wall segment and the second multi-panel wall segment such that the reinforcement member extends on both sides of the connections between the sandwich panels of first and second multi-panel wall segments.