CA1306841C - Joint formwork for glass structural members consisting of a plurality of glass members, particularly glass bricks - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract An a joint formwork for glass building units, which consist of a plurality of glass units, in particular glass blocks, which are connected by reinforced mortar or concrete joints which are covered on at least one side by outer frames which enclose the glass units, according to the invention it is provided that each outer frame forms a building unit and the cover strips of its angularly rig-idly interconnected frame members are individually posi-tively connected on their rear side to neighbouring frame members of adjoining outer frames by moulded-on, project-ing tongues and covered edge strips, the edge strip on each frame member being recessed for the guidance of at least one tongue of the neighbouring frame member and hav-ing for the frame recess of the other frame member a sub-stantially smooth tongue and at least one further tongue, which bears on its upper side a groove, which establishes the positive connection to the edge strip.

Description

13068'-~1 Description The invention relates to a joint formwork for glass building units, which consist of a plurality of glass units.
Glass building units according to the invention are typically glass plates which 5 differ from simple panes of glass by the profiling of their edge, it being possible for at least one of the major faces of the glass unit to be profiled for its part. Glass blocks generally combine two such glass units which are mutually offset and connected by their rear sides.
Glass building units according to the invention are generally prefabricated 10 compound units which are built into one or more space limitations of a building. They are preferably floor units, which due to their construction from glass units, allow the incidence of light and, due to their reinforced mortar or concrete joints, absorb their own weight and transfer it to load-bearing structures of the building. Such glass building units are generally fabricated horizontally, by laying out the glass units apart from one another 15 by the joint spacing, introducing the joint reinforcement into the joint spaces and then filling the joints with mortar or concrete. The underlying joint surfaces in fabrication must be encased. This produces joint faces as smooth as the formwork, which is of significance in particular on the visible side of the glass building unit.
For glass building units which are used in the vertical building confinements, that 20 is in walls or internal dividing walls, a joint formwork is known on which the invention is based. In this case, the glass units are bricked in situ, i.e. the glass building unit is built up from bottom to top. The joint formwork consists of continuous profiles, which are used for the horizontal wall joints, and of profile sections, with which the vertical joints are encased. The profile sections are connected to the horizontal joint limitations, 25 producing outer frames on both sides of the glass building unit, which enclose the glass units and mask the joint faccs.
Whilc the joint formwork according to the invention is a type of permanent formwork, hitherto repeatedly reusable formworks have generally been used for the horizontal fabrication of glass building units. These consist of a matrix in the form of a S mat-shaped mould, in the recesses of which the glass units are laid before the joints are cast following introduction of the reinforcement. The glass building units thus fabricated do not have any outer frames but joint faces as smooth as the formwork. This frequently requires different mortars in the joints in order to bring about the necessary strength on the one hand and the sealing of the joint on the other hand, because the joint mortar or 10 concrete interacting with the reinforcement is generally not watertight. Consequently, fabrication of the units is hampered not inconsiderably. It is also difficult to obtain in this way joints which, for reasons of strength, must have relatively large dimensions perpendicularly to the plane of the glass building unit. This applies in particular to glass building units of considerable dimensions which are exposed to stresses transversely to 15 their principal plane. For example, load-bearing floor units which are made as glass building units must, due to the considerable weight of the glass units and the resultant stresses, be made with joints which project to one side beyond the glass units, which later in the building is usually the inside.
The invention is based on the object of creating a joint formwork of the type 20 assumed as known which makes possible glass building units from the glass units described at the beginning and which simplifies the fabrication of the glass building units.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided joint form~ork for glass building units, which consist of a plurality of glass units connected by reinforced mortar or concrete joints which are covered on at least one side by outer frames which enclose 25 the glass units, wherein each outer frame forms a building unit, and wherein cover strips i~, ~

13068 ~1 of angularly rigidly interconnected frame members of each building unit are individually positively connected on their rear side to neighbouring frame members of adjoining outer frames by moulded-on, projecting tongues and covered edge strips, the edge strip on each frame member being recessed for the guidance of at least one tongue of the neighbouring 5 frame member and having for the edge recess of the other frame member a substantially smooth tongue and at least one further tongue, which bsars on its upper side a groove, which establishes the positive connection to the edge strip.
The joint formwork is made up of outer frames which are in each case assigned to a glass unit in such a way that they positively ffx the glass unit. This happens with the 10 outer frame members which, due to their integral design, have the necessary strength and angular rigidity. The frames can be positively interconnected in such a way that a matrix of them can be built up, by which the joint dimensions are fixed. The fastening of the outer frames to one another necessary for this and their mutual alignment are ensured by the interaction of the tongues with the edge strips. The tongues interacting with the 15 groove recesses can be used for the correct orientation of the outer frames. The positive interlock takes place by the edge strips and the tongue grooves.
The wall units can be produced from a material which is more resistant than mat, in particular of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thereby ensure the necessary strength even in the case of heavy glass building units, in particular glass blocks and thick 20 joints with considerable quantities of mortar or concrete, as well as heavy reinforcements.
In particular, the dimensions of the glass building units are immaterial, so that even such units having considerable surface dimensions can be fabricated. The outer frames may completely cover the joint faces on the side concerned. As a result, the joints are at once watertight. Due to the flat design for shaping the joint faces, these walled units can be 25 laid out on a level surface, but also on a curved surface, and positively interconnected.

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This makes it possible to fabricate the glass building units horizontally and make them flat or convex.
The outer frame preferably has cheeks which are inwardly projecting and this in conjunction with their preferably frustoconical shape, produces, on one side of the glass S building unit, which is underneath in horizontal fabrication, a projecting joint arrangement which makes it possible to increase the joint dimensions with respect to the thickness of the glass unit and thereby bring about the necessary strength of the glass building unit.
Preferably a retainer is used in order to be able to fix the glass building unit in the outer frame in cases of such increased joint dimensions, the retainer supports the glass unit in horizontal fabrication, but at the same time also fixes it positively in all directions.
This fixing takes place with the enclosing strip, while at the same time the building unit is supported. Generally, the result is a comparatively simple fabrication of the outer frames, which can be produced with preference by the injection-moulding process.
The retainer of the outer frame may be separate and form a frame of its own. In particular, this allows the use of extension frames for increasing the joint depth. The extension frames may be profiled in such a way that several of them can also be used together.
The joint depth may, in addition, be changed by the choice of the height of the cheek truncated cone.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below and explained with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a glass building unit according to the invention after its horizontal fabrication, Fig. 2 shows, in perspective representation, a first embodiment of an outer frame according to the invention, $~

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Fig. 3 shows an outcr frame according to the invention in a modified embodiment,Fig. 4 shows at the top an exploded representation of an outer frame and of a retaining frame according to the invention for a glass block and, underneath, a representation of the assembled parts, the formwork and the glass unit in each case being represented in cross-section, 13(~

Fig. 5 shows an extension frame in a representation aecor-ding to F;gs. 2 and 3, Fig. 6 sho~s an embo4;ment of the formuork acco~ding to the invent;on with retain;ng frame and extension frame in the design according to F;g. 4, Fig. 7 shows at the bottom the subject of Fig. 4 tor com-parison of the embodiment shown abo~e it for a modified glass unit, Fig. 8 shows, in a representation corresPonding to Fig. 4, a joint formwork with a plurality of extension franes, Fi~. 9 shows, on the Left, the connection of the outer frames according to the invention in plan v;ew and, on the right, partiaL sections through the parts thereby interacting with one another, Fig. 10 shows, on a reduced scale, at the top a plan ~ieY
and at the bottom a view of the joint formwork according to Fig g, Fig. 11 sho~s a glass building unit according to the in-vention in use of the joint formwork aecording to Figs. ~ and 10, in partiaL cross-section, Fig. 12 shows a glass building unit according to the in-vention in use of a ioint formwork accord;ng to F1g. 4, the bearing ele~ents also being repeoducad 2S in each case, and fig. 13 shous at the toP a retaining frame of the ioint formwork according to the ;nvention and at the bottom an insert which makes a vent Possible in the gLass bu;Ld;ng unit, the parts being repro-duced perspectivelY~
~he glass bu;lding unit t1) is fabricated hori-zontaLly on a Level surface (2). It consists of a plura-L;ty of glass units (3), wh;ch are interconnected by means of cont;nuous long;tudinal joints, of which some are shown at (4-6), and cont;nuous transverse joints, of which some are designated by (7-9) The joints are encased, the joint formwork being lost as a whole, i.e. permanentlY incorpor-ated in the gLass buiLding unit ~1).

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1~068 11 The joint formwork consists of outer frames, as are reproduced for example in Figs 2 and 3. ~he outer frame (10) according to F;g. 2 consists of the angularly rig;dly interconnected four fra~e members (11-14~. The S angular rigidity is achieved by the frame members (11-14) forming a buiLd;ng unit, so that the outer frame consists of one piece.
The outer frame (14a) according to Fig. 3 d;ffers from the outer frame (10) according to fig. 2 inter alia by its increased height. This is a resu~t of the in-creased di~ens;ons of the truncated cone ~15) formed by its cheeks (60-63). Another difference arises from the shaping of its retainer (16), which is formed by a peri-pheral prof;le and serves for the positive fixing of the g~ss unit ~3). Th~s~ thr~ fr~ln~ U~ 14-16) ~r~
connected ;n the embodiments according to Figs. 2 and 3 to a building unit, ;n other ~ords are integrally de-signed.
According to the representation of Fig. 4, the retainer ~16) s made as a separ;ate compound unit ~64) and has a cross-sectionally Z-shaped profi~e. This pro-file consists of an inner strip ~17), ~hich p~ojects to one side o~ a profile flange (18) i~to the truncated cone (1S) and of ~n outer rib ~19), wh;ch encloses the glass unit ~3) The gLass unit consists of two halves ~20, 21), which are placed together and interconnected at a joint ~22~. This is a typical glass block, the major surfaces of which are formed by panes (23, 24~ and are designed integrally ~ith per;phera~ ~ebs ~25).
In the case of the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the retaining frame ~16) can be pLaced on the inner edge (26) of the cheek cone ~15), in which the strip (17) is Positively fitted, the prof;~e f~ange (18) being supported by the inner fra~e The glass block is supPorted by the edge of ;ts pane ~23) on the flange (18), the rib ~19) positively fix;ng the glass block.
Fig. S shows, in perspective representat;on, an extension frame ~65), uith uhich the frame dePth can be 1~0~

lncreased. This results from the he;ght of the f~ame cheeks (66-69), which bear on their insides a Deripheral ledge (27), ~hich is a~so used in the case of the embodi-rent accord;ng to Fig~ 4, in order to support the strip ~17). This extension frawe (65) can therefore also be co~bined ~ith a retaining frame ~16). ~his is shown by the representation of F;g 6. Thereafter, the bearing frame ~16) ~ith its strip ~17) is inserted in the exten-sion frame (65), in which the strip ~17) is supported on the ledge ~27) The glass block can then be inserted into the bearing frame (16), as described in coniunct;on with Fig. 4, but the extension frame t65) increases the depth of the joint. The positive fix;ng of the extension t~a~e has the effect of a peripheral indentation ~?0) on the face edge of the frame ~65) oPposite the ledge (27) In this arrangement, a periPheral surface (70~ serves for support on the face edge (72) of the cheek truncated cone (15) and a periphera~ strip ~73), perPendicuLar thereto, serves for fixing in the plane of the frame ;
In the upper part of F;g~ 7, the use of the outer frame ~14) for a f~at glass unit ~3) is showfi. In this case, the outer frame has, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 4, an inner frame (15), which ;s des;gned in one piece with the outer frame ~14) and also has a bearing frame (16b), the profile of which is simpltfied ho~ever.
The angle profiLe, which is ~ade up of the ledge (27) and the flange ~), encloses with this f~ange t28) the g~ass building unit (3~. It is formed by a profi~ed pane ~28) ~ith flat l;miting surfaces (29, 30), but has a profiled edge, which is of ang~ed design, as shown at (31). The flange (28) can be inserted ;nto the inner angle of the edge (31)~ the ledge ~2~) supporting the adjoining edge of the inner pane ~9).
The representation underneath in Fig. 7 corres-ponds to the representation of Fi9, 6 and sho~s that the same outer frame (14a) can be used tor a glass blo~k by co~binat;on ~ith a retaining frane (16).
In the case of the embodiment according to Fig. 8, 1306~ ~1 the sa~e outer frame ~14a) ;s combined with a plu~aLi~y of extension frames (34-36), wh;ch are placed one on top of th~? other, a~ ~ rcsuLt of ~hich the ~oint d~pth c~n be increased virtually unlimitedly transversely to the build-ing unit.
A p~uraLity of outer frames can be combined in the ~ay evident in partic4lar from ~ig 9 into a formwork for the gLass bui~ding unit ~1).
The two outer frames (40, ~1) shown in Fig. 9 each bear on the rear side ~42) of their cover strips ~43-46) moulded-on, projecting tongues ~47, 48, and 49, 50 re-spectively), ~hich are denoted only for the ne;ghbouring cover strips (45) of the outer frame (~0 and 43) of the outer frame (41~. The tongues (47, 49) are assigned re-cesses (51, 52) in the neighbo~ring cover st~;PS, wh;ch recesses are made in rear~ard~y projecting edge str;ps ~53, 54). The tongue (49) can therefore be pushed onto the rear s;de (42) of the cover ser;p ~45), the edges of the recess guiding the edges of the tongue. Sim;Laily, the tongue (47) can be pushed onto the rear side of~the tongue (43), the edges of the recess (52) taking ov~r the guidance.
The ton~ues ~48, 50) have, on the other hand, a groove (55, 56), into wh;ch the sect;ons ~57, 58) assigned to the tongues engage dur;ng the push;ng-together of the frames (40, 41). The guidance in the recesses (51, 52) produces a Pos;tive ;nterlock ;n the p~ane of the dra~;ng from top to bottom The grooves (55, 56) and the str;ps (57, 58) on the other hand have the effect of ach;ev;ng a posit;ve ;nter~ock ;n the perpendicu~ar thereto~ S;nce the eongues are on the rear side ~42) of the cover strips, the longitudinal edges (59, 60) of the cover str;ps can be butted aga;nst each other. Therefore, the face edges of the unit joints ~an be complete~y masked by the cover str;ps.
fig 10 sho~s, in its upper representation, the course of the joints (4-6 to 7-9) and the ;nserted vert;-cal re;nforc;ng bars (75, 76)~ wh;ch are in each case 1~0~

fastened alternate~y at the hori20ntal reinforcing bars (77) running in the plane of the unit. These reinforcing bars are only provided singly according to Fig. 11 for relat;vely small joint he;ghts. According to Fig. 12, howeYer, their number is doubled, the reinforcing bars ~78, 79) arranged one above the other being held by the verticaL reinforcing bars ~75) In the representation of Fig. 13, ~ reta;n;ng frame (64), in the form denoted tor exampLe in conjunc-tion with Fig. 4, serves to receive a grille ~80) throughthe openings ~81) of which venting can t~ke place. The openings are bounded by mutual~y perpendicular ribs (82, 83). These for~ one-sided projections of a pLate (84) with a per;phera~ uninterruPted tlange ~85) and downwardly projacting feet ~86), which are suPported on the ledge ~18) of the retainer.
As otherwise represented in Figs. 11 and 12, the joints are filled with mortar or concrete. The Positive :interLock by the described tongues and str;ps ;s so re-~sistant that mortar or concrete can be compacted by vibra-tion without the formwork losing its unity.

Claims (8)

1. Joint formwork for glass building units, which consist of a plurality of glass units connected by reinforced mortar or concrete joints which are covered on at least one side by outer frames which enclose the glass units, wherein each outer frame forms a building unit, and wherein cover strips of angularly rigidly interconnected frame members of each building unit are individually positively connected on their rear side to neighbouring frame members of adjoining outer frames by moulded-on, projecting tongues and covered edge strips, the edge strip on each frame member being recessed for the guidance of at least one tongue of the neighbouring frame member and having for the edge recess of the other frame member a substantially smooth tongue and at least one further tongue, which bears on its upper side a groove, which establishes the positive connection to the edge strip.

2. Joint formwork according to Claim 1, wherein the frame members of the outer frames have cheeks which are inclined inwards and form with the cover strips a building unit, which serve as side formwork of joint projections and form with their faces a truncated cone, the sides of which are made parallel to the outer frame members at their inner edges.

3. Joint formwork according to Claim 2, wherein a retainer is provided on the free edges of the cheek truncated cone, which retainer consists of a profile which has a projecting flange and a peripheral inner ledge.

4. Joint formwork according to any one of Claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein a retaining frame is provided for the glass building unit, the angularly rigidly interconnected frame members of which have a Z profile, the inner flange of which interacts with the retaining profile of the cheek truncated cone, the web and the outer rib positively fixing a glass building unit or a ventilation grille.

5. Joint formwork according to any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein, to increase the joint depth, one or more extension frames are provided, the angularly rigidly interconnected frame members of which have an outer angle profile, interacting with the retaining profile, and an inner retaining profile, which is identical to the retaining profile of the outer frame.

6. Joint formwork according to any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the joint height is increased or reduced by the height of the cheek truncated cone.

7. Joint formwork according to any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cover strips are made flush and the cover strip edges are butted against each other, the tongues projecting inwards out of the plane of the cover strips.

8. Joint formwork according to any one of Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the glass units are glass blocks.