Assembly for securing two juxtaposed panels to a structure so as to allow thermal expansion and contraction

A panel assembly comprising:

• two juxtaposed panels, each of said panels including a first surface, an opposing second surface and a joining flange located in association with an edge thereof, said edge defining a longitudinal axis of the panel, said joining flanges being configured for fastening by at least one securing element, and
• a securing assembly for securing said two juxtaposed panels to a structure so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panels relative to said structure consequent to longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, said securing assembly comprising:
• a support element configured for slidably supporting the two juxtaposed panels relative to the support element in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, said support element being adapted for fixedly attaching directly or via an intermediate element to the structure;
• a retaining member adapted for retaining the respective joining flanges of the two juxtaposed panels and being mounted within the support element and configured for longitudinal sliding relative thereto;
• and
• a securing element for clamping together the respect joining flanges of the two juxtaposed panels;
• wherein:
• the support element supports opposing side walls that form a channel that is dimensioned to allow free sliding therein of the associated retaining member;
• the retaining member and the securing element are both formed of a material having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to the panels so that when the retaining element moves within the channel of the support element, the panels and the securing element and the retaining member move together;
• each panel is fastened to the or a respective securing element without applying lateral pressure to the side walls of the support element;
• and
• the support element is formed of metal and the retaining member is formed of plastics,

A panel assembly comprising:

• two juxtaposed panels, each of said panels including a first surface, an opposing second surface and a joining flange located in association with an edge thereof, said edge defining a longitudinal axis of the panel, said joining flanges being configured for fastening by a securing element,
• a securing assembly for securing said two juxtaposed panels to a structure so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panels relative to said structure consequent to longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, said securing assembly comprising:
• a support element configured for slidably supporting the two juxtaposed panels relative to the support element in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, said support element being adapted for fixedly attaching directly or via an intermediate element to the structure;
• the support element supporting opposing side walls that form a channel that is dimensioned to allow free sliding therein of the securing element;
• wherein:
• the securing element is formed of a material having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to the panels so that when the securing element moves within the channel of the support element, the panels and the securing element move together;
• each panel is fastened to the securing element without applying lateral pressure to the side walls of the support element;
• and
• the support element is formed of metal and the retaining member is formed of plastics.

A panel assembly comprising:

• two juxtaposed panels each of said panels including a first surface, an opposing second surface a first one of the panels having a joining flange protruding out of an end surface thereof, and a second one of the panels having a recess in an end surface thereof;
• a securing assembly for securing said two juxtaposed panels to a structure so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panels relative to said structure consequent to longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, said securing assembly comprising:
• a retaining member supported by the pair of juxtaposed panels,
• a support element configured for slidably supporting the retaining member together with the panels relative to the respective support element in a direction that permits longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, wherein:
• the support element is adapted for fixedly attaching directly or via an intermediate element to the structure and supports opposing side walls that form a channel that is dimensioned to allow free sliding therein of the retaining member;
• the retaining member is formed of a material having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to the panels so that when the retaining member moves within the channel of the support element, the panels and the retaining member move together;
• each panel is supported by the retaining member without applying lateral pressure to the side walls of the support element;
• and
• the support element is formed of metal and the retaining member is formed of plastics.

A panel assembly comprising:

• two juxtaposed panels, each of said panels including a first surface, an opposing second surface and a joining flange located in association with an edge thereof and being mounted inward from the adjoining edge so as to leave sufficient overhang, for the installation of the support member,
• a securing assembly for securing said two juxtaposed panels to a structure so as to allow unimpeded mutual sliding of the panels relative to said structure consequent to longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, said securing assembly comprising:
• a pair of securing elements each for clamping a respective joining flange of the two panels;
• and
• for each securing element, a respective support element configured for slidably supporting the securing element together with a respective one of the panels relative to the respective support element in a direction that permits longitudinal expansion or contraction of the panels, wherein:
• each support element is adapted for fixedly attaching to the structure and supports opposing side walls that form a channel that is dimensioned to allow free sliding therein of the respective securing element;
• wherein:
• the securing element is formed of a material having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion to the panels so that when each securing element moves within the channel of the respective support element, the panels and the securing elements move together;
• and
• each panel is fastened to the respective securing element without applying lateral pressure to the side walls of the respective support element.