Self-sustaining wall and ceiling panel forming a hollow body and filled with a fireproof material

Claim 1

A fire-proof constructional panel of a modular type for the construction of a compartment, wherein the panel is constructed from fireproof materials and is capable of being interconnected with other similar panels for providing substantially gas-tight sealed joints and capable of being easily detachable, the arrangement of the panel comprising in combination: fireproof metallic sheets forming a parallelepipedic hollow body filled with fireproof material; opposite parallel side edges of said body each being of a stepped configuration such that said panel has a T-shaped cross-section and each side edge comprising a first side surface connected to one of the top and bottom spaced parallel surfaces of said body, a second side surface connected to the other of said top and bottom surfaces and a third surface parallel to said top and bottom surfaces and interconnected with said first and second surfaces and extending inwardly from said first surface a distance of approximately one-half the spacing between said top and bottom surfaces, said first and second surfaces being parallel and extending towards one another a distance of approximately one-half the spacing between said top and bottom surfaces; hook-shaped locking elements provided on each of said third surfaces and extending outwardly thereof; the stepped edgEs of said body being capable of meeting the corresponding stepped edges of another said body, with such body being arranged so that its T-shaped cross-section is inverted with respect to said body, said stepped edges of said bodies forming a labyrinth seal and said locking element inter-engaging with corresponding locking elements on said other body under the force of gravity thereby effecting a substantially selfsustaining fireproof wall; opposite longitudinal end surfaces of said body, each having correspondingly parallel grooves therein, said grooves forming outwardly extending flanges capable of being selectively brought into engagement with guide rails mounted on a floor of a compartment to be constructed for providing a labyrinth seal at the floor; and the other end of the body being adapted to be selectively guided in a labyrinth sealing channel secured in a ceiling of a compartment to be constructed, such that the side walls of the channel provide support and engagement surfaces for said body and provides a labyrinth seal between said body and the ceiling.