EP0122661A2 - Mutual stiffening device for two adjacent metal frames at different levels - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for securing two metal frames to each other, characterized by a male part (7) integral with a profile belonging to a chassis and, on the other hand, by a female part (6) integral with a profile belonging to a contiguous chassis, so that, under the influence of a translational movement of one chassis relative to another, carried out in the general plane occupied by these two chassis, the male part (7) can freely execute a translational and / or rotational movement relative to the female part.

Description

This invention relates to a device making it possible to join together two contiguous metal frames belonging to two different levels of a "glazed skin", equipping the framework of a building, on which said frames are rigidly or flexibly mounted, the elements of said device being intended to be mounted on two chassis profiles which, in the mounting position, are contiguous and horizontal.

The expression "glazed skin" designates all the glazed frames fixed to the framework of a steel or reinforced concrete building, it can be considered as the equivalent of "curtain wall".

Technicians are fully aware of the constraints posed to the glazed structure by the deformations that the frame undergoes, either due to the settlement of the foundations, or due to the deformations of the building frame under fixed and mobile loads, or even the association of these two phenomena. The earthquakes, however small they are, are, of course, to be classified among the phenomena imposing very specific solutions, allowing the glazed frames to move, without damage, in relation to the frame of the building they equip.

The movements of the frames between them, in the general plan of what is commonly called "glazed skin", therefore require exceptional solutions.

Hitherto the glazed frames have generally been mounted in a fairly rigid manner in successive rows in the vertical direction, guiding each frame relative to the lower frame. In this order of ideas, pins fixed on the lower horizontal profile of a chassis slide during the mounting of a chassis belonging to a lower row in holes or these receiving members provided at the upper part of a chassis belonging to a lower row.

This assembly can possibly be associated with a system for suspending each chassis from the frame of the building, using a lifting beam resting at a single support point secured to the frame of the building.

Under these conditions, the flexibility of the "glazed skin" is insufficient to avoid serious damage to the filling elements, in the event of significant movements of the framework generated, inter alia, by earthquakes.

The applicant has already described the prior art and various means of improving it in its Belgian patents 825,631 and 839,314.

The object of the invention is to provide a device making it possible to join together contiguous metal frames belonging to two different levels, which ensure the greatest possible flexibility in the plane of the "glazed skin" as well as a hinged movement between two frames belonging to adjacent levels arranged in the same vertical row.

To this end, the device according to the invention is essentially constituted, on the one hand, by a male part secured to a profile belonging to a chassis and, on the other hand, by a female piece secured to a profile belonging to a contiguous frame, mounted, in the position of use, in a neighboring level, the female part having a longitudinal housing extending, in the mounting position, parallel to the general plane of the frame considered, and this in such a way that, under the influence of a translational movement of one chassis relative to another, carried out in the general plane occupied by these two chassis, the male part can freely execute a translational and / or rotational movement relative to the female part , while the two contiguous chassis are integral with their displacement in a plane normal to the general plane thereof, that is to say dans'un plane normal to the "glazed skin" formed by all of the aforementioned chassis , the elements of the device ensuring the trans mission of efforts from one chassis to another in the plane perpendicular to the facade.

In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned female part has, in a cross section, the shape of a U-shaped gutter.

Still according to the invention, the aforementioned male part has a swollen end whose diameter is slightly less than the spacing between the internal walls of the aforementioned U-shaped gutter, so as to allow a hinge movement of a frame by compared to each other.

Other details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which will be given below of a device making it possible to join together contiguous metal frames belonging to two different levels.

This description is given by way of example only and does not limit the invention.

The reference ratings refer to the attached figure.

The attached figure is a cross-sectional view of the device according to the invention mounted between the lower cross member of an upper chassis and the upper cross member of the chassis belonging to the lower level.

The device represented in section by this figure is designed to join together two contiguous chassis arranged one above the other in a vertical row, the upper chassis represented by the general reference 1 and the lower chassis represented by the reference general 2 are, all those, fixed to the framework of a building. This frame has not been shown. To suspend each chassis from the building, a system can be used using a lifting beam resting, for example, at a single central point on a support element anchored in the frame of the building and not shown in the drawing.

On the outside, the spacing between two frames is closed by sealing elements 3, preferably made of synthetic rubber and having the shape of a W.

This sealing technique and the profiles of the sealing elements have been developed previously by the applicant. These elements are not part of the subject of this patent application.

Each chassis is immobilized, moreover, with respect to the framework of the building by means of devices for taking over effects due to the wind. These organs have also been developed by the applicant and are designed to ensure a certain "buoyancy" of the "glazed skin", compared to the framework of the building equipped with glazed frames.

Up to now, each chassis belonging to a lower level has been joined to the chassis belonging to the immediately higher or contiguous level because the upper horizontal crosspieces of a lower chassis were equipped with pins which penetrated, during mounting in holes or cutouts. receiving these pins provided in the lower cross member of a chassis belonging to a higher level. The expression "level" is intended to denote a horizontal row of frames, it being understood that a frame can presently have dimensions such that it adapts to more than one river of the building itself.

To allow, mainly during earthquakes, a vertical displacement or a translational movement of a frame relative to an upper frame, in the plane of the facade or a rotation of a frame relative to the other, the sleepers facing each other in two adjacent chassis, for example the cross-member 4 of the chassis 1 and the cross-member 5 of the chassis 2, are respectively equipped with a female part 6 and a male part 7 which together constitute the device according to this patent application .

The female part 6 has essentially, in a cross section, the shape of a U-shaped gutter, which, in its position of use, constitutes an inverted gutter in which penetrates the male part 7 which is fixed, as has just been to be said, on the upper cross member of the chassis 2. The male and female parts 7 and 6 are fixed, for example, using a bolt 8. In the longitudinal direction the female part 6 in the form of a gutter is of preferably longer than the male part 7 and the external diameter of the bulged end 7 ′ of the male part is substantially equal to the distance which separates the internal faces of the gutter formed by the female part 6.

It is clear that not only horizontal and vertical translational movements of the chassis 2, relative to the chassis 1, in a plane corresponding substantially to that of the glazed skin, are possible, but also a hinged movement in a plane normal to that -this.

Referring to the single plate, it can be seen that the frames 1 and 2 have been shown in their normal static position, that is to say strictly in the same plane.

In reality, during this more or less significant movement or in particular earthquakes, more or less severe, the plane of the chassis 1 can form an angle relative to the plane of the chassis 2. The male element 7 and in particular its end 7 'can act as a ball inside the walls of the female element 6 and form a hinge.

It is therefore obvious that the chassis and their filling elements will easily support, without damage, contiguous chassis movements belonging to chassis levels of a row, execute a translational movement relative to the chassis of a neighboring row but also a hinge movement, that is to say, generally, in a plane normal to the general plane of the vitreous skin.

The invention is obviously not limited to the embodiment described above and many modifications could be made to it without departing from the scope of the present patent application.

Claims (3)

1. Device for securing. between them two contiguous metal frames belonging to two different levels of a "glazed skin" equipping the frame of a building on which said frames are rigidly or flexibly mounted, the elements of said devices being intended to be mounted on two profiles chassis which, in the mounting position, are contiguous and horizontal, characterized in that it consists essentially, on the one hand, of a male part 7 secured to a profile belonging to a chassis and, on the other hand, by a female part 6 secured to a profile belonging to an adjoining chassis, mounted, in the position of use, in a vdsin level, the female part 6 having a longitudinal housing extending, in the mounting position, parallel to the general plane of the chassis and this in such a way that, under the influence of a translational movement of one chassis relative to another, carried out in the general plane occupied by these two chassis, the male part 7 can freely execute a movement ment of translation and / or rotation relative to the female part 6, while the two contiguous frames are integral with their movement in a plane normal to the general plane thereof, that is to say in a normal plane to the "glazed skin" formed by all of the aforementioned frames, the elements of the device ensuring the transmission of forces from one frame to another in the plane perpendicular to the facade. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned female part 6 has in a cross section the shape of a U-shaped gutter. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the male part 7 has a bulged end 7 'whose diameter is slightly less than the spacing between the internal walls of the aforementioned U-shaped gutter, so as to allow a hinge movement of one chassis relative to the other.

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