AU2020260532B2

AU2020260532B2 - A curtain wall

Info

Publication number: AU2020260532B2
Application number: AU2020260532A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Mccleary
Original assignee: Arch Window Systems Pty Ltd; Architectural Window Systems Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Architectural Window Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-01
Filing date: 2020-10-30
Publication date: 2022-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-07
Also published as: AU2023200277A1; AU2015202461A1; AU2015202461B2; AU2020260532A1

Abstract

A CURTAIN WALL ABSTRACT A unitised curtain wall assembly (10) including an upper sub-assembly (11) and a lower sub-assembly (12). The sub-assembly (11) includes a female transom frame member (13) that engages glass panels (14, 15) by way of structural glazing silicon (16). The sub-assembly (12) also engages the glass panels (14, 15) with structural glazing silicon (16).

Description

A CURTAIN WALL

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] The present application is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2015202461, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by cross-reference.

Field

[0002] The present invention relates to curtain wall assemblies for buildings, and more particularly but not exclusively to unitized curtain wall assemblies for multi storey buildings.

Background

[0003] Unitized curtain wall assemblies entail factory fabrication of the frame, and assembly with glass panels. The completed assemblies are transported and then hung on a building structure to provide the outer covering for a building.

[0004] Each panel assembly includes a pair of horizontally extending transom frame members, and a pair of vertically extending mullion frame members. The transom members are generally parallel, co-extensive and transversely spaced, with the mullion members also being generally parallel, co-extensive and transversely spaced. The mullion members are perpendicular to the transom members.

[0005] A glass sheet or sheets is secured to the frame members by structural glazing silicon.

[0006] A seal assembly extends between an upper mullion member (of a lower assembly) and a lower mullion member (of an upper assembly), with the seal assembly including a seal mounting often referred to as a "leg". The mounting extends longitudinally of the mullion member to which it is secured.

[0007] Typically the seal mountings are formed of plastics material. The plastics material has a similar thermal expansion rate to the aluminium forming the frame members.

[0008] Disadvantages of the above discussed curtain wall assemblies is that the plastic seal mountings degrade and becomes brittle, with the structural glazing silicon not adhering easily or effectively to the plastic seal mountings. A further disadvantage is that when exposed to high temperatures, as can be experienced in some Australian locations, the mounting distort and becomes disengaged.

[0009] A still further disadvantage is that machining is required where the transoms cross the mullions.

Object of the Invention

[0010] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of Invention

[0011] The present invention provides a unitized curtain wall assembly to separate a building interior from a building exterior, the assembly including: a longitudinally extending frame member having a glazing line; a seal mounting attached to the frame member and extending longitudinally of the frame member, the seal mounting being formed of plastics material, the seal mounting being configured to mount a seal external to the glazing line; and a shield fixed with respect to the seal mounting to shield the seal mounting from sunlight, wherein the shield is formed of metal, and wherein structural glazing silicon is fixed to the shield to fix the shield to a glass sheet.

[0012] There is disclosed herein a curtain wall assembly to separate a building interior from a building exterior, the assembly including: a horizontally extending transom frame member having a glazing line; a seal mounting attached to the transom frame member and extending longitudinally of the transom frame member, the mounting being formed of plastics material, the mounting extending away from the glazing line towards the exterior; and a shield fixed with respect to the mounting to shield the mounting from sunlight.

[0013] There is further disclosed herein a curtain wall to separate a building interior from a building exterior, the assembly including: a horizontally extending transom frame member having a glazing line; a seal mounting attached to the transom frame member and extending longitudinally of the transom frame member; and wherein the seal mounting is positioned so as not to intercept with the glazing line, and is located between the glazing line and the exterior.

[0014] Preferably, the seal mounting is formed of polyamide.

[0015] Preferably, the polyamide includes nylon.

[0016] In an alternative preferred form, the seal mounting is formed of metal.

[0017] In a further preferred form the metal is aluminium.

[0018] Preferably, the shield is formed of aluminium.

[0019] Preferably, structural silicon is fixed to the shield to fix shield to a glass sheet.

[0020] Preferably, the shield is of a "U" transverse cross-section so as to provide a longitudinally extending cavity within which the mounting projects.

[0021] Preferably, the shield engages with the mounting so as to be secured thereto.

[0022] Preferably, the shield snap engages with the mounting so as to be secured thereto.

[0023] There is further disclosed herein, in combination, the above assemblies, and a seal secured to the mounting, the seal having an upper portion fixed to the mounting, and a pair of longitudinally extending seal walls, being longitudinally parallel, but transversely inclined by an angle of 90° to 135.

[0024] Preferably, that angle is approximately 120.

[0025] Preferably, the walls are attached by a hinge portion so that the walls can pivot relative to each other about a generally horizontal axis.

[0026] Preferably, the curtain wall assembly includes at least one glass panel, with structural glazing silicon fixing each panel to the mounting and shield.

[0027] Preferably, the mounting is of a strip configuration.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0028] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of portion of a wall curtain assembly sectioned along a generally vertical plane; and

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of a mullion frame member, seal mounting and shield employed in the assembly of Figure 1.

Description of Embodiments

[0031] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a unitized curtain wall assembly 10 including an upper sub-assembly 11 and a lower sub-assembly 12. The sub assembly 11 includes a female transom frame member 13 that engage glass panels (sheets) 14 and 15 by way of structural glazing silicon 16. The sub-assembly 12 also engages the glass panels 14 and 15, with structural glazing silicon 16.

[0032] The transom member 13 includes a socket 17 that extends the longitudinal length of the transom member 13 and provides a longitudinally extending barb 18 and an abutment portion 19.

[0033] The sub-assembly 12 includes a male transom frame member 20 that together with a plate 21 provides a socket 22. The transom member 20 also provides a socket 23 providing a longitudinally extending barb 24. Snap engaged in the socket 17 is a longitudinally extending seal mounting 25, while snap engaged in the socket 23 is a further mounting 26.

[0034] The mounting 25 includes an end projection 27 (Fig. 2) that has a protrusion 28, with the projection 27 engaging in the socket 17 so that the protrusion 28 and barb 18 snap engage to securely fix the mounting 25 in the socket 17, and therefore securely fix to the transom member 13. The projection 27 also abuts the portion 19.

[0035] The mounting 25 is also provided with a pair of longitudinally extending grooves 29 that have longitudinally extending opposed pairs of flanges 30. The grooves 29 are shaped to engage the seal 31 to fix the seal 31 to the mounting 25 and therefore the transom member 13. The seal 31 includes a longitudinally extending upper portion 32 that has a pair of longitudinally extending "T" shaped projections 33 that are located in the slots 29 so as to fix the seal 31 to the mounting 25. The mounting 25 is located entirely above the seal 31.

[0036] The seal 31 includes a pair of longitudinally extending walls 34 that are attached by a hinge portion 35 so that the walls 34 may move angularly relative to each other about a generally horizontal axis provided by the hinge portion 35.

[0037] The walls 34 are longitudinally parallel and inclined by an angle 50. Preferably the angle is 90° to 135°, most preferably about 120.

[0038] Engaged with the socket 23, as described above, is the further mounting 26. However the further mounting 26 engages a sealing plate 36 against which the apex 37 of the seal 31 is engaged to aid in sealingly connecting the sub-assembly 11 and the sub-assembly 12. The plate 36 engagesin the socket22.

[0039] The mountings 25 and 26 are preferably formed of plastics material, and more preferably are formed of polyamide. Most preferably the polyamide includes about 25% GF nylon. Each mounting 25, 26 is preferably of a strip configuration with the mountings 25 and 26 being separate parts and spaced.

[0040] The mountings 25 and 26 are preferably identical with each of the mountings 25 and 26 being provided with a longitudinally extending slot 38 that is used to aid in securing in position longitudinally extending shields 39. Each shield 39 is of a "U" transverse cross-section so as to have a pair of longitudinally extending flanges 40 and 41 joined by a longitudinally extending base 42, so as to provide a longitudinally extending cavity 43 within which the associated mounting 25/26 is received. Each longitudinally extending barb 44 of the shields 39 engage within a corresponding one of the recesses 38 to secure the respective shield 39 in position fixed to its associated mounting 25/26. This arrangement provides shielding of the mountings 25/26 from sunlight.

[0041] Preferably, each shield 39 is formed of metal, such as aluminium. An aluminium shield 39 has the advantage that the silicon 16 will adhere to the shield 39.

[0042] The transom members 13 and 20 provide externally facing planar surfaces 45 that are vertically aligned and provide a glazing line (plane) 46.

[0043] The mounting 25 is located so as not to overlap the glazing line 46, and is preferably located between the glazing line 46 and the exterior surfaces 47 of the glass panels 14.

[0044] In an alternative embodiment the mounting 25, and also possibly the mounting 26, is formed of metal, such as aluminium.

[0045] The frame members 13 and 20 are preferably aluminium exteriors, with the curtain wall assembly 10 separating the building interior 48 from the building exterior 49.

[0046] The above preferred embodiments have a number of advantages including improved adhesion, by way of the silicon 16, between panels 14 and 15, members 13 and 20, with respect to the seal mountings 25 and 26, as the shields 39 are formed of metal, most preferably aluminium. Where one or both of the mountings 25, 26 is/are formed of metal, such as aluminium, again the adhesion with the silicon 16 is improved.

[0047] A further advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is the mounting 25 is a single mounting located above the seal 31, thereby overcoming the need for machining, particularly as the mounting 25 is located forward (toward the exterior 49) of the glazing line 46.

[0048] By having the mounting 25 purely as an upper mounting, and not part of the lower mounting 25, assembly of the seal 31 with respect to the member 13 is made simpler and easier.

Claims

1. A unitized curtain wall assembly to separate a building interior from a building exterior, the assembly including: a longitudinally extending frame member having a glazing line; a seal mounting attached to the frame member and extending longitudinally of the frame member, the seal mounting being formed of plastics material, the seal mounting being configured to mount a seal external to the glazing line; and a shield fixed with respect to the seal mounting to shield the seal mounting from sunlight, wherein the shield is formed of metal, and wherein structural glazing silicon is fixed to the shield to fix the shield to a glass sheet.

2. The curtain wall assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal mounting is formed of polyamide.

3. The curtain wall assembly of claim 2, wherein the polyamide includes nylon.

4. The curtain wall assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shield is formed of aluminium.

5. The curtain wall assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shield is of a "U" transverse cross-section so as to provide a longitudinally extending cavity within which the seal mounting projects.

6. The curtain wall assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shield engages with the seal mounting so as to be secured thereto.

7. The curtain wall assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shield snap engages with the seal mounting so as to be secured thereto.

8. The curtain wall assembly of any one of the preceding claims further including at least one glass panel, with the structural glazing silicon fixing each panel to the shield.

9. The curtain wall assembly of claim 8, wherein the seal mounting is of a strip configuration.

10. In combination, the unitized curtain wall assembly of anyone of the preceding claims, and a seal secured to a mounting point of the seal mounting, the seal having an upper portion fixed to the seal mounting, and a pair of longitudinally extending seal walls, being longitudinally parallel, but transversely inclined by an angle of 90° to 135.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the angle is approximately 120.

12. The combination of claim 10 or 11, wherein the walls are attached by a hinge portion so that the walls can pivot relative to each other about a generally horizontal axis.

Architectural Window Systems Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON