EP0887484B1 - Facade, in particular a glazed one - Google Patents

Abstract

The facade (1) comprises a glazing element (2) fixed onto a carrying structure (6) by fixings (7). In addition there is a stiffener (12) which is connected to the structure by a connection piece (13) with at least one degree of freedom, excluding that in the direction normal to the facade. The structure has two lateral reinforcements and the connecting piece has two complementary projecting parts enabling it to slide in the structure.

Description

The present invention relates to a facade, in particular a glass facade, in which facade elements are mounted on a supporting structure, in particular a metal structure.

It is becoming more common, especially to give an impression of lightness to imposing buildings, to achieve a substantial part of facades of these glass buildings. The architect must, however, find a compromise between the search for aesthetics and the reliability of the installation, which must withstand the particular climatic constraints experienced by glazed elements once mounted.

It is known when installing a partition or a glass wall, in particular made of tempered glass, mounted in rebate, by engravure, or by clamping on the faces of the glazing by linear metal enclosure or by parts punctual metal, to brace the glass wall by a stiffening element in direct connection with the latter, to ensure strength, rigidity and stability of the installation.

FR-A-2 031 927 discloses a retaining device to a frame of a structure carrying at least one facade panel, this device comprising elements connected to the upper edge of the facade panel and allowing vertical and lateral adjustment (in the plane of the front panel). This retaining device does not allow sliding between the supporting structure and the facade panel, and moreover the restraint between the two elements is realized by a non-supporting intermediate part of the facade panel.

The invention is more particularly concerned with facades in which the frame of the supporting structure is compact and discrete for highlight facade elements forming sets, especially glazed, wide.

A particular example of a façade to which the invention is susceptible of apply is a glazed facade consisting of Attached External Glazing (VEA) sometimes referred to as "structural glazing".

This type of glazing is fixed on the supporting structure not by its periphery to using a peripheral frame but with mechanical attachment points located usually at each of its corners. This type of very discreet installation allows to obtain building facades consisting entirely of glazed elements, very aesthetic, generally presenting a minimum of surface discontinuity from the outside.

For this purpose, it is desirable to use as a carrier structure elements that are the least visible from the outside, such as for example poles or pillars. We generally use a metal frame, such than steel, which has sufficient strength to withstand the weight of glazing and that fits well with the glass from an aesthetic point of view. Steel has in addition the advantage of having a coefficient of thermal expansion relatively close to that of glass so the difference between the thermal behaviors of the various elements constituting the facade is not very much accused.

This mounting system also provides for the use of a fixed stiffener directly on the glazed elements, this stiffener being generally constituted by a tensile element stretched between the vertical members of the framework metallic. Such a system is described in EP-A-0 201 212, where the pulling element is a wire rope.

The proposed solutions to achieve this type of facade are generally very similar to each other. To meet the architects' wish to diversify their achievements, in particular by the choice of materials authorizing new forms of framework, the aim of the invention is to propose a facade mounting system allowing freer choice of materials, particular which guarantees the necessary reliability even when the structure is relatively light or where the elements constituting the facade behave differently with respect to thermal stresses, in particular with relatively large thermal expansion differences.

The invention is also in line with the recent trend of design modular sets with interchangeable elements available in several models manufactured by series and whose installation claims a mounting system with a certain flexibility, capable of overcome the difficulties related to manufacturing tolerances.

This goal, as well as others that will appear later, has been achieved in the framework of the present invention by designing a facade comprising at least one facade element such as glazing fixed on a supporting structure by fastening means, further comprising a stiffening member such as a bracing, which is in connection with the structure via at least a connecting piece which is characterized in that said connecting piece is different from said fixing means so that the stiffening element is in connection with the structure via at least the said one connecting piece with at least one degree of freedom excluding one degree of freedom in one direction normal to the facade.

For the purposes of this description, the word "facade" means common term one of the sides, exposed to the view, of a building, but also of more generally any architectural work constituting a wall of a building, whether exterior or interior, such as a partition.

"Supporting structure" means the elements on which is fixed the facade, without necessarily that they alone support the entire weight of the facade.

Finally, the term "stiffener" refers to a system intended to stabilize the assembly of facade elements and fight against deformation, especially in a direction normal to the facade.

The invention therefore provides for stiffening the facade by means of a stiffener in connection with the structure, with no degree of freedom in the normal direction to the facade to ensure full and direct transmission of transverse forces such as those due to the wind, both in the direction of a pressure inwards than an outward aspiration, but with at least one degree of freedom in another direction to catch up with positional offsets, possibly due to different deformations in charge of the elements forming the facade.

The invention applies to all known facade types, in particular but not limited to glazed facades in which one or more glazed elements form a glass wall visible from the outside or the inside of the building. This wall can be full or include one or more berries in which doors, windows or others are installed equipment, in particular glass or any other material. The glazed elements can indifferently comprise a substrate of glass and / or plastic material, in the form of monolithic glazing, having in particular undergone a treatment of tempering, laminated glazing, or double glazing.

The method of fixing the façade elements to the structure is not no longer limited. In the case of glazing, it is possible to envisage traditional fixtures such as taking on rabbet on two, three or four sides, the parclosing, the engravure, as well as techniques such as Mechanical fastening (VEA) or bonding (VEC technique: external glazing glue). These techniques can possibly be combined: for example we will also use a system of integral bonding, where the glass volume is glued on 4 sides on an invisible chassis, a gluing system partial, where the glass volume is taken in classic rabbet on 1, 2 or 3 sides, the other sides being glued to a holding structure.

Similarly, the supporting structure can also be chosen very freely. The invention applies more particularly to structures with a discrete, light frame, made mainly of elements of elongated form such as beams, beams, sleepers. Such elements are likely to see their main dimension (length or height) fluctuate according to climatic conditions by thermal expansion. If a stiffening element reacting differently to the same stresses thermal was totally fixed on this structure, the dilations resulting differentials would impose on one or the other of the elements a additional constraint that could affect its stability and prevent it from play his role properly.

Thus, in the particular embodiment where the carrier structure has an elongate shape along a main axis, the connection between the element stiffener and the structure has a degree of freedom along this main axis, more particularly at least one degree of freedom in translation according to this axis.

This degree of freedom is particularly advantageous when the structure carrier is metallic, especially a light metal and coefficient of high thermal expansion such as aluminum, or a material composite, materials generally highly subject to expansion thermal.

These materials can be advantageously used in the form of profiles for making discrete structures, whether arranged in the plan of the facade or set back from it (indifferently in or out of the building).

The invention applies more particularly to this last variant, where the transmission to the structure set back from the transverse forces undergone by the façade is very localized, provided by connecting pieces located between the structure and the facade, and fixed on points of attachment facade elements.

The degree of freedom allowed by the stiffener-structure connecting pieces can be located indifferently on the stiffener or on the structure. In one particular embodiment, the connecting piece is attached to the element stiffener and this is the binding part to the structure that is free to move in a direction other than perpendicular to the facade.

For this purpose, it is advantageous to provide the connecting piece and the structure complementary shapes respectively recessed and protruding, or conversely, allowing a connection with sliding of the piece along the structure. The choice of the forms adapted to each particular case is at the range of the skilled person, and is virtually unlimited if one realizes a profiled supporting structure, such as an aluminum profile. The only requirement to respect is that the forms are such that a relative motion in a normal direction to the facade is impossible.

In a particular variant, the structure has two recesses side and the connecting piece has two protruding parts of form complementary allowing the connecting piece to slide on the structure.

Conversely, in another particular variant, the structure comprises a groove and the connecting piece has a protruding portion of shape complement allowing the connecting piece to slide in the structure (In other words, the connecting piece is a male element in sliding connection with the structure as a female element).

The stiffening element can also be of any known type. He must be located in a plane normal to the facade to provide the desired resistance to the wind or other transverse forces. In a particular mode, this plan Normal to the facade is a vertical plane.

The stiffening element may advantageously comprise one (or more) flat plate, especially a glass plate, which arranged perpendicular to the facade is very little visible from the outside.

As mentioned above the facade can be vertical or in a substantially vertical plane, but it can also be inclined eventually horizontally forwards or backwards, at any angle from - 90 ° to + 90 ° with respect to the vertical.

In a particular embodiment where the facade is not horizontal, the structure and the stiffener are both mounted between a level upper and lower level, preferably with one-point fixation rotational point (pivot connection) to at least one of the ends of the structure and / or stiffener. Preferably, the carrier structure and the stiffening element are suspended at the upper level.

Advantageously in this case, the other end of the structure and / or the stiffening element is in free support against means intended to block the orientation of the structure and / or the stiffening element with respect to facade elements to adequately ensure the transmission of efforts.

The good transmission of efforts also requires a fixation effective of the connecting piece to the element which it is secured. In the case where the fastening is made on the stiffener, the latter having the shape of a plate, the invention provides a very effective fastening system.

In this embodiment, the connecting piece comprises a head of attachment to the stiffening element having a through bore, the plate is also having a through bore having a frustoconical portion, a rod having a frustoconical portion is inserted into said holes placed in coincidence and is abutted against the frustoconical portion of the bore crossing the plate.

In a preferred variant, the invention provides means for compensate for manufacturing tolerances that may lead to alignment incorrect stiffener in relation to the structure or stiffening elements between them. These means are advantageously integrated with at least one piece linkage which is equipped with means for adjusting the position of the head of fixation with respect to the axis of the bore passing through the plate, in particular for to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances of the holes. These means can include two toothed washers connected one to the fixing head and the other at the stem and whose toothed faces are arranged facing one of the other. Another embodiment uses the relative displacement of two oblong holes not perpendicular.

• la figure 1 représente une vue partielle d'une façade selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale selon l'axe II-II de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une coupe transversale selon l'axe III-III de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe transversale selon l'axe IV-IV de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une coupe transversale suivant l'axe II-II d'une façade selon un autre mode de réalisation l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est un détail d'une pièce de liaison représentée sur la figure 5,
• la figure 7 est une coupe transversale suivant l'axe II-II d'une façade selon encore un autre mode de réalisation l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a partial view of a facade according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a cross section along the line II-II of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a cross section along the axis III-III of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a cross section along the axis IV-IV of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a cross section along the axis II-II of a facade according to another embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 6 is a detail of a connecting piece represented in FIG. 5,
• Figure 7 is a cross section along the axis II-II of a facade according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 represents a partial view of a facade 1 made up of glazing 2 arranged between a higher level 3 (ceiling) and a level lower 4 (floor). Each glazing 2 is mechanically fixed to its four corners by attachment points 5 on a supporting structure 6.

The sectional view of FIG. 2 presents a side view of the structure carrier 6 and the fasteners 7 which connect the points 5 to the latter.

In the embodiment shown, the carrier structure 6 consists in an aluminum profile placed vertically, suspended at the upper level 3 to a point 8. For this purpose, the profile is equipped with a connecting piece 9 which protrudes beyond the upper end of the profile 6, provided in the part overflowing with a through hole intended to be put in place next to corresponding holes on the ceiling 3 whose axis is represented by the point 8. A stud 10 engages in the axis of the aligned bores to ensure fixing the section 6 in the upper part with pivot connection about the axis 8.

In the lower part, the hollow section 6 is fitted on a protruding form 11 on the lower level 4 and whose function is to ensure lateral.

The method of attachment shown is a particular solution to which the invention is not limited and it is possible to envisage a multitude of equivalent means for making a fastening of one end of the profile to a first level by a point and a free support link from the other end of the profile at the opposite level.

In particular, the use of a connecting piece 9 is not indispensable, and provision can be made for fixing points directly on the profile. The solution described is however advantageous in the extent to which it defers the point of attachment out of the structure.

As an alternative to the system shown in FIG. 2, instead of being suspended under the upper level 3, the profile 6 can be surface-mounted to the front of the upper level 3 as on a floor nose.

The facade shown in FIG. 2 is further equipped with an element stiffener constituted by a bracing 12 disposed at the rear of the carrier structure 6 (assuming that the facade 1 is arranged in front of the supporting structure), mounted between the upper level 3 and the lower level 4, and connected to the supporting structure 6 by means of connecting pieces 13. Other usual arrangements of bracing (especially on horseback) are however included in the invention.

In the embodiment shown, the stiffening element 12 is formed by a glass plate 14, and the connecting pieces 13 are metal, in particular of aluminum. The glass plate 14 can be monolithic as represented, ie consisting of a single sheet of glass, possibly having undergone heat quenching treatment and / or chemical and possibly carrying one or more functional layers, but can also be laminated structure consisting of at least one sheet of glass and at least one sheet of plastic material such as PVB.

The shape of the glass plate is not specifically limited and may be chosen very freely depending on the desired aesthetic.

In particular, the edge of the plate 14 may be parallel to the profile 6 as shown but also disposed at an angle to the vertical.

The mounting of the stiffening element 12 between the upper and lower levels The lower section is similar to that of the profile 6. At the upper level 3, a piece of link 15 is clamped to the upper edge of the glass plate 14. has a portion protruding beyond the plate and having a bore intended to be installed next to corresponding holes at the level higher and to receive a fixing pin 16.

At the lower level, the plate 14 is in mechanical connection with a shoe 17 having a longitudinal groove in which the lower edge of the plate 14 engages in free support (so it has a degree of freedom in translation in the plane of the plate) with a lateral lock. Room 17 thus makes it possible to block the orientation of the glass plate 14 with respect to the supporting structure 6.

As previously for the mounting of the profile 6, many fixing variants are conceivable within the scope of the invention.

Preferably, the structure and the stiffener are each fixed by a point at one end and free support at the other end, preferably the degree of freedom at the same end, for example the lower end.

The supporting structure and the stiffening element are advantageously hanging at their upper end. However, especially when their weight is high, it is possible to make them rest on the lower level, in thus maintaining a degree of freedom in the upper part.

All these modes of assembly nevertheless suitably substantially equivalent to play the plate 14 role of stiffener.

For this purpose, the connecting pieces 13 ensure the integral transmission forces suffered by the facade 1 in a direction transverse to this last.

In this respect, it is generally advantageous to have a piece of link 13 of the stiffening element to the supporting structure at the same level that a connecting piece 7 of a facade element to this same structure carrier, because this arrangement allows direct transmission of efforts.

In FIG. 2, the connecting pieces 7 and 13 have been represented staggered essentially to avoid confusion between parts.

The skilled person is able to determine the usual way to the case per case depending on the materials used, the size of the elements and the conditions of use, the number and arrangement of the connecting pieces 13 adapted to the chosen embodiment.

According to the invention, the connection between the part 13 and the supporting structure has no degree of freedom in the direction normal to the facade.

The sectional view of FIG. 3 illustrates a particular embodiment of this connection, as well as an example of advantageous fixing of the piece of link 13 on the glass plate 14.

The connecting piece 13 consists of two identical half-pieces 18 arranged symmetrically each on the marginal part of the plate of glass 14 with a portion protruding beyond the surface of the latter. The two half-rooms are assembled together in two places: one on the portion engaged with the glass plate; the other on the overflowing portion of the glass plate. On the portion engaged with the glass plate, the half-pieces 18 comprise a fastening head 19 pierced with a through hole 20, intended to to be compared with a bore 21 passing through the glass plate 14.

The assembly is carried out by means of a threaded rod 22 inserted in the holes 20, 21 and two nuts 23 tightened on the outer face of each half-piece 18.

On the overflowing portion of the glass, the assembly is carried out by a screw system 24 - nut 25.

The connection with the profile 6 is carried out on the overflowing part of the glass plate 14 by means of two ribs 26 parallel to the axis of the profile 6 and cooperating with two longitudinal grooves 27 practiced in this latest. The height of the ribs 26 and the depth of the grooves 27 are chosen so that, once the piece 13 is engaged on the section 6 with the ribs 26 inserted in the grooves 27, a separation by traction transverse to the axis of the profile is impossible. Exhibit 13 is by elsewhere free to slide along the profile 6.

In order to facilitate sliding, it is preferable that the coefficient of friction of the surface of the rib 26 on the groove 27 is relatively low. For this purpose, slippery pads 28, especially of a material such as polyamide, are incorporated in the ribs 26 of to form a substantial proportion of the contact area.

The constitution of the connecting piece 13 in two parts is not a necessity in itself but is advantageous in this embodiment particular, because it facilitates the assembly of the elements: the glass plate 14 being kept in a position close to its final blocked position laterally in the groove of the shoe 17, the two half-pieces 18 on either side of the plate 14, each rib is engaged 26 in the corresponding groove 27 on the profile 6, the two ribs acting as two jaws engaged on the profile, insert the threaded rod 22 and the screw 24 in the respective corresponding holes brought into coincidence and we tighten the nuts 23 and 25.

During this operation, the edge of the glass plate 14 is protected from any impact against metal parts by skates compressible 29, in particular of elastomer, placed in support-against a face glass and the inner side of the half-piece opposite. The skates are held tight between the inner face of each half-piece 18 and the glass 14 once the editing is finished.

Alternatively, the connecting piece 13 may consist of a single piece, especially when the solution adopted for the connection to the structure carrier no longer provides jaws leaning on two opposite sides of the profile, but a protruding shape inserted inside a profile presenting a substantially tubular section portion.

The assembly remains easy in this configuration: the connecting parts before being inserted into the profile, the glass plate is brought closer to gradually of the profile, so as to engage the edge of the plate in the air gap of the connecting piece.

The most appropriate variant of a configuration particular of the connection to the supporting structure can be determined easily by the skilled person.

The sliding connection between the part 13 (and consequently the plate of bracing 14 which it is secured) and the profile 6 allows a relative vertical displacement of these elements very useful to catch up with their differential dilations. Indeed, under the effect of the outside sunshine and / or heating on the inside, the aluminum profile 6, which expands significantly more than the glass of the plate 14, is free to play against the piece 13, the latter transmitting no effort corresponding to the plate of bracing, without affecting the transmission of efforts transverse.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, we will now describe in detail the connection between the connecting piece 13 and the glass plate 14.

This link must be such as to allow full transmission to the stiffener 12 transverse forces to the facade. For this purpose, the link comprises, in addition to the clamping on the faces of the glass plate (parallel to the direction of transverse forces), support following an incident surface non-zero with the direction of the transverse forces.

This additional support is realized in the system represented on the 3 on the one hand by an intermediate portion of the threaded rod 22, of shape frustoconical coaxial with the cylindrical end portions of the rod, and on the other hand a hollow receiving element 30 of inner surface corresponding frustoconical section disposed in the bore 21.

To this end, we will have, prior to the assembly of the facade, equipped with the plate 14 of a hollow element not exceeding or slightly beyond the surfaces of the plate, as described in particular in EP-A-0 655 543.

The hollow receiving element 30 consists of a metal screw hollow, the outer contour of which bears against the countersunk hole 21, advantageously by means of a flexible joint-collar 31 of aluminum, which is held by a nut 32 pressed against the glass plate 14 by via a flexible washer 33 including plastic.

The tightening of the nut 32 on the screw 30 is adjusted to create at rest a compression stress in the material surrounding the hole so as to increase the resistance of the weakened zone by drilling. This strength of tightening is finalized before mounting the facade so that guarantee the strength of the bracing independently of the force applied to the assembly when fixing the connecting piece 13.

The receiving part of the hollow element 30 comprises at least one conical portion conforming to the taper of the tapered intermediate portion of the shank 22. In the embodiment shown, this receiving part comprises a conical portion of sufficient length to receive the entire part conical threaded rod 22 which is extended by a cylindrical portion 34 coaxial diameter greater than that of the threaded cylindrical parts of the stem 22.

For the assembly of the part 13, it is preferred that the cylindrical portion of the hollow receiving member 30 protruding from the surface of the plate 14 is longer than the washer 33 - nut 32, so that that the half-piece 18 can be supported on the end of the part cylindrical 34.

For setting up the second half-piece 18 on the opposite side of the glass plate, a washer 35 was disposed against the end of the hollow receiving element 30, this washer acting as a spacer to provide the second half-piece 18 with a bearing surface symmetrical with the first.

The part 13 formed after tightening the nuts 23 is symmetrical compared to the plane of the glass plate. Generally, such a tightening is done by arranging the threaded rod coaxially with the bores 20 provided in the half-rooms 18.

The position of the connecting piece 13 is defined accordingly by that of the milling axis of the hole 21 with an uncertainty related to the tolerances of manufacture of glass plates with countersunk holes.

As long as no more than two connecting pieces are used 13 between the glass plate 14 and the profile 6, the exact position of the part 13 by relationship to the edge of the glass plate is not of crucial importance. If the two pieces are slightly offset, it will be enough to slightly incline the plate rotating glass around the suspension point on the upper level. it However, it may not be desirable, especially for aesthetic. As long as at least three connecting pieces are used, appropriate to ensure that they are aligned along the edge of the glass plate.

In this respect, the invention provides a system for fine tuning the position of the connecting piece, and correct if necessary the clearance due to drilling the countersunk hole.

The bore 20 on the half-piece 18 is constituted by a bore in two parts of different diameter, separated by a shoulder, the part of the small diameter having a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical portion Threaded rod 22.

On the shoulder is disposed a toothed washer 36. In a variant, the shoulder itself can be notched.

For the assembly is inserted between the half-piece 18 and the nut 25 a toothed washer 37 with a notch identical, arranging the two cruises face to face.

The washer 37 is adjusted with a weak clearance on the cylindrical portion of the threaded rod 22.

The piece 13 being supported on the structure 6, that is to say in its precise position of use, and the rod 22 being in a locked position in the hollow receiving element 30, the tightening of the nut 25 brings the notching of the washer 37 in coincidence with the complementary notching of the washer 36, the washer 37 being more or less eccentric with respect to the axis of the drilling 21 as a function of the difference between the actual position of the milling axis and its reference rating.

Figure 4 illustrates the use of a similar fastening system for the connecting piece 15 of the upper part of the glass plate 14 at the level of higher 3.

When elements shown in FIG. 4 are identical to elements already described, they carry the same reference as the latter. The room link 15 is here in one piece. Each side of the groove has bores 20 consisting of bores in two parts of different diameters separated by a shoulder.

The upper edge of the glass plate 14 is equipped as on the FIG. 3 of a hollow element 30 intended to receive this time an insert 38 tapered at each end.

Fixing is done by means of two screws 39 tightened in the threads insert 38.

This method of attachment could alternatively be applied to fix on the glass plate 14 a connecting piece to the supporting structure such as 13 but molded in one piece.

In the above description, the stiffening element 12 was constituted of a single glass plate. A variant provided by the invention consists of to use a stiffener in several elements, in particular consisting of several glass plates associated with each other by appropriate means.

This variant is illustrated in Figure 5 which is a side view of a facade such as that of Figure 1 equipped according to the invention of a stiffener consisting of two glass plates 40.

The two plates are interconnected by two pieces 41 each comprising two fastening heads 19 connected by an arm 42. These parts are advantageously arranged transversely to the junction line two plates, here vertically. The fixing on the glass plate is done with the same system as for parts 13 already described.

Each plate 40 is connected to the carrier structure 6 by through a part 13.

This façade meets all the usual security criteria for a work consisting essentially of glazed elements despite the constitution in two parts of the bracing 12 because the rupture of a glass plate 40 does not cause the fall of all or part of the rest of the bracing.

Once the facade has been mounted, it is possible to precisely adjust the alignment of two glass plates 40 thanks to the system of toothed washers described in reference to Figure 3.

To adjust the position of the plates 40 at a time along a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, an advantageous solution consists in arranging the washers 36, 37 with their notches substantially horizontal on one of the pieces 41 and on the other piece with their notches substantially vertical.

According to a variant illustrated in FIG. 6, it is possible to use a part 41 whose fixing heads 19 are equipped with a serrated washer system, and a piece 43 whose head is equipped with two notched washers for a relatively coarse adjustment and the other head 44 is equipped with a system of finer adjustment.

The attachment head 44 has a groove 45 (here horizontal) and a through hole 46 of oblong shape oriented perpendicular to the groove (here vertically).

In the groove 45 is disposed a slide 47 comprising itself an oblong hole 48, which is superimposed on the hole 46 and whose main axis is inclined relative to the axis of sliding in the groove, therefore not perpendicular to the main axis (vertical) of the oblong hole 46. The slider 47 is capable of being stopped in translation by two screws 49 arranged at each end of the groove 45.

The rod of the type of the rod 22 being inserted through the two oblong holes, a horizontal offset of the slider 47 in the groove causes a vertical offset of the head 44 relative to the axis of attachment. Once the desired position is obtained, the tightening of the screws 49 makes it possible to definitively fix the position of the slider 47 in the groove.

Slotted or slotted disc systems are only two particular embodiments for adjusting the positions of the glass plates between them and / or in relation to the structure. As we have just seen, they can be combined in the same connecting part, or used each in a separate room of the same facade. It is possible while staying in the framework of the invention, to combine them or even to replace them with others equivalent systems known per se, for example using rings eccentric or otherwise.

In another variant, it may be advantageous to have a part link to the structure at the junction between two elements, possibly in addition to a connecting piece 41 as it has just been described.

This variant is illustrated in FIG.

The stiffener assembly has three connecting pieces to the structure: two pieces identical to the pieces 13 previously described and a piece 50 connecting the two plates 40 to the profile 6.

This connecting piece 50 comprises a fixing part on the glass similar to the part 41, each fixing head 19 being furthermore connected to a arms respectively 51 and 52 which meet at a part of connection to the profile which comprises as before two cooperating ribs with the grooves of the profile.

In this embodiment, it is furthermore advantageous to have the opposite of the piece 50 another connecting piece 41 (or such as 43) independent to maintain the alignment of the two plates 40.

In all the proposed embodiments, it may be desirable especially when the facade elements are large, to add another stiffening element to the transversally disposed facade at first.

This additional stiffener may especially take the form of a wire rope stretched between posts parallel to the structure 6.

In the case where the structure 6 and the stiffener 12 are vertical, we can have a horizontal cable stiffener between amounts vertical.

An advantageous variant in the case where the main stiffener is consisting of several associated elements, consists in associating this cable with connecting pieces 41 or 50 for example by passing it between the elements of the main stiffener by a hole in the middle of the arm 42 of the parts 41 or 50.

The foregoing description has been made with regard to figures where the facade 1, the supporting structure 6 and the stiffener 12 are in planes substantially vertical. The invention is not limited to this particular configuration and encompasses all variants where the facade and its structure are more or less inclined from vertical to horizontal and applies to the realization of all types of structures such as glass roofs, entrance halls ...

Claims (22)

1. Façade comprising at least one facade element (2) such as a glazing pane fixed to a bearing structure (6) by fixing means (7), also comprising a stiffening element (12) such as a cross-brace, which is connected to the structure (6) by means of at least one connecting piece (13), characterised in that the said connecting piece (13) is distinct from the said fixing means (7) so that the stiffening element (12) is connected to the structure (6) by means of at least the said one connecting piece (13) with at least one degree of freedom to the exclusion of a degree of freedom in a direction normal to the facade.
2. Facade according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bearing structure (6) has a part of elongate shape along the principal axis, such as a beam or a profiled section, and in that the connection between the stiffening element (12) and the structure (6) has a degree of freedom along the principal axis of the structure (6).
3. Facade according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the bearing structure is metallic or made from a composite material.
4. Facade according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bearing structure (6) is disposed so as to be recessed with respect to the facade elements (2).
5. Facade according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting piece (13) is fixed to the stiffening element (12).
6. Façade according to Claim 5, characterised in that the connecting piece (13) and the structure (6) have complementary shapes recessed and projecting, or vice-versa, allowing a connection with sliding of the piece (13) along the structure (6).
7. Facade according to Claim 6, characterised in that the structure (6) has two lateral indentations (27) and the connecting piece (13) comprises two projecting parts (26) with a complementary shape enabling the piece (13) to slide on the structure (6).
8. Facade according to Claim 6, characterised in that the structure (6) comprises a groove and in that the connecting piece (13) comprises a projecting part with a complementary shape enabling the piece (13) to slide in the structure (6).
9. Facade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stiffening element (12) is situated in a vertical plane normal to the façade.
10. Facade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stiffening element (12) comprises at least one flat plate (14).
11. Facade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the façade elements (2) are disposed vertically.
12. Façade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bearing structure (6) and the stiffening element (12) are mounted between an upper level (3) and a lower level (4), one of the ends of the structure (6) and/or of the stiffening element (12) being fixed by one point to the corresponding level.
13. Façade according to Claim 12, characterised in that the other end of the structure (6) and/or of the stiffening element (12) is in free abutment against means (17) intended to lock the orientation of the structure and/or of the stiffening element with respect to the facade elements (2).
14. Facade according to Claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the bearing structure (6) and the stiffening element (12) are suspended on the upper level (3).
15. Façade according to Claims 5 and 10 taken together, characterised in that the connecting piece (13) comprises a head (19) for fixing to the stiffening element provided with a through perforation (20), in that the plate (14) is also provided with a through perforation (30), this perforation having a frustoconical portion, and in that a rod (22) having a frustoconical portion is inserted in the perforations (20, 21) in abutment against the frustoconical portion of the perforation (30) passing through the plate (14).
16. Facade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stiffener (12) is in at least two parts and in that two adjacent parts (40) are connected together by a connecting piece (41).
17. Facade according to Claim 16, characterised in that two adjacent parts (40) are also connected both to each other and to the structure by an additional connecting piece (50).
18. Facade according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, characterised in that at least one connecting piece (13, 41, 50) comprises a fixing head (19), provided with means (36, 37; 46, 47) for adjusting the position of the fixing head (19) with respect to the axis of the perforation (21) in the plate (14).
19. Façade according to Claim 18, characterised in that the said means comprise two corrugated washers (36, 37) connected one to the fixing head (19) and the other to the rod (22) and whose corrugated faces are disposed opposite each other.
20. Façade according to Claim 18, characterised in that the fixing head (19) comprises an oblong-shaped through perforation (46) and a slide (47) also having an oblong hole (48) with its principal axis not perpendicular to that of the hole (46).
21. Façade according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also comprises a second stiffener transverse to the first stiffener (12).
22. Facade according to Claims 16 and 21 taken together, characterised in that the second stiffener is a metallic cable also associating the connecting pieces (41, 50) connecting two adjacent stiffener parts (40).

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