Cavity shaft wall

Claim 2

An air shaft cavity wall in a building generally surrounding a vertical air shaft extending continuously through at least two stories and subjected to destructive wind loading, the wall comprising at least one floor and adjacent ceiling cut away to define the continuous shaft therethrough, a plurality of liner panel members, a plurality of studs engaging the liner members, at least one partition member spaced away from the liner members by the studs so as to form an air gap between the partition member and a corresponding one of the liner members, floor and ceiling runners attached to said floor and ceiling, respectively, and means permitting said liner members and the studs to be inserted within the runners from only the side of the wall opposite to the shaft side.

Claim 3

The wall as defined in claim 1, wherein said studs are fitted within but not attached to the runners, said liner mEmbers being abutted against the runners and held thereto by said studs only.

Claim 4

The wall as defined in claim 2, wherein some of said studs are each a metal channel comprising a base having a width in excess of the thickness of a liner member, a first side flange extending generally perpendicularly to the base, and a second side flange extending both generally perpendicularly to the base and parallel thereto toward said first flange, the extreme unattached edge of said second flange being spaced apart from said first flange a distance approximately equal to the thickness of one of the liner members.

Claim 5

The wall as defined in claim 3, wherein some of said channels are abutted base to base, said second flanges extending away from each other.

Claim 6

The wall as defined in claim 1, wherein some of said studs are each a one-piece metal channel having means for engaging the liner members on three vertical sides thereof.

Claim 7

The wall as defined in claim 5, wherein said partition member comprises two continuous rows of wallboard panels.

Claim 8

The wall as defined in claim 5, and further including a gradually resilient bend in said stud positioned between the liner members and the partition member and especially adapted to minimize sound transmission between said members and the partition member.

Claim 9

The wall as defined in claim 5, wherein said engaging means include a base doubled upon itself so as to form a fold along a plane extending between the edges of the base, and a side flange extending from one edge of the base generally parallel to said fold.

Claim 10

The wall as defined in claim 5, wherein said engaging means include side flanges and knock-out tabs spaced along said flanges, the free edges of said flanges being bent so as to extend generally parallel to said tabs.

Claim 11

The wall as defined in claim 5, and further including means for moving said engaging means toward the liner members when heat is applied to the members and the studs from the shaft side of the wall.

Claim 12

The wall as defined in claim 10, wherein said moving means include side flanges, said flanges being abutted but not connected together at portions which are exposed to the shaft.

Claim 13

The wall as defined in claim 5, and further including a base as an integral part of said stud for supporting the partition member, the base having no openings therethrough.

Claim 14

The wall as defined in claim 12, wherein said engaging means includes two side flanges extending from said base, one of which contacts said one side of one of the liner members and the other of which contacts said one side of the adjacent liner member and the side of both said members which is opposite to said one side.

Claim 15

The wall as defined in claim 12, wherein said engaging means include side flanges extending from the base and bent so as to form pockets therein.

Claim 16

The wall as defined in claim 14, wherein said base is abutted against the partition members and said flanges extend out into the shaft.

Claim 17

The wall as defined in claim 15, wherein said each stud includes means for biasing said pockets together at a point spaced from the base.

Claim 18

The wall as defined in claim 16, wherein said flanges each extend outwardly from said base so as to be separated from the other flange the width of the base, a portion of each flange spaced from the base being bent approximately at a 90* angle to form said pockets, said pockets being in contact with each other at said point, the flanges continuing from said point out into the shaft, said flanges and said point being exposed to the shaft.

Claim 19

The wall as defined in claim 1 and further including electrical conduits conveyed generally vertically through the air gap.

Claim 20

The wall as defined in claim 1, wherein said liner members are each an individual non-laminated board the thickness of which does not exceed 1 inch, and wherein said air gap is wide enough to accomodate at least electrical conduits.

Claim 21

A temporary air shaft wall in a building generally surrounding a vertical air shaFt extending continuously through at least two stories and capable of generating destructive wind loading, the wall comprising at least one floor and one adjacent ceiling cut away to define the continuous shaft therethrough, floor and ceiling runners attached to said floor and ceiling, respectively, each of said runners having at least one flange, at least two liner panel members one side of which is exposed to the shaft, means for abutting but not attaching said one side to the flange of both the runners, at least one stud characterized by means for engaging said liner members on three vertical sides thereof, and means for erecting at least one partition member away from the shaft and spaced from said liner members so as to leave an air gap therebetween, said erecting means being independent of said liner members, whereby the temporary wall is completely assembled for use and the shaft completely enclosed without the necessity for immediate erection of the partition member.

Claim 22

A temporary air shaft wall in a building generally surrounding a vertical air shaFt extending continuously through at least two stories and capable of generating destructive wind loading, the wall comprising at least one floor and one adjacent ceiling cut away to define the continuous shaft therethrough, floor and ceiling runners attached to said floor and ceiling, respectively, each of said runners having at least one flange, at least two liner panel members one side of which is exposed to the shaft, means for abutting but not attaching said one side to the flange of both the runners, at least one stud characterized by means for engaging said liner members on three vertical sides thereof, and means for erecting at least one partition member away from the shaft and spaced from said liner members so as to leave an air gap therebetween, said erecting means being independent of said liner members, whereby the temporary wall is completely assembled for use and the shaft completely enclosed without the necessity for immediate erection of the partition member.

Claim 23

The wall as defined in claim 20, wherein said stud is fitted within but not attached to the runners, said liner members being abutted against the runners and held thereto by said stud only.

Claim 24

The air shaft wall as defined in claim 1, wherein said shaft is an elevator shaft having means for moving an elevator car therethrough.