EP1282749B1 - Enhanced curtain wall system - Google Patents

Enhanced curtain wall system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1282749B1
EP1282749B1 EP00930255A EP00930255A EP1282749B1 EP 1282749 B1 EP1282749 B1 EP 1282749B1 EP 00930255 A EP00930255 A EP 00930255A EP 00930255 A EP00930255 A EP 00930255A EP 1282749 B1 EP1282749 B1 EP 1282749B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
wall system
air
seal
fastener
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00930255A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1282749A4 (en
EP1282749A1 (en
Inventor
Raymond M. L. Ting
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Advanced Building Systems Inc
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Advanced Building Systems Inc
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1282749A4 publication Critical patent/EP1282749A4/en
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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B7/00—Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows
    • E06B7/14—Measures for draining-off condensed water or water leaking-in frame members for draining off condensation water, throats at the bottom of a sash
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/88—Curtain walls
    • E04B2/96—Curtain walls comprising panels attached to the structure through mullions or transoms
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B1/00—Border constructions of openings in walls, floors, or ceilings; Frames to be rigidly mounted in such openings
    • E06B1/04—Frames for doors, windows, or the like to be fixed in openings
    • E06B1/32—Frames composed of parts made of different materials
    • E06B1/325—Frames composed of parts made of different materials comprising insulation between two metal section members
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B1/00—Border constructions of openings in walls, floors, or ceilings; Frames to be rigidly mounted in such openings
    • E06B1/04—Frames for doors, windows, or the like to be fixed in openings
    • E06B1/36—Frames uniquely adapted for windows
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B1/00—Border constructions of openings in walls, floors, or ceilings; Frames to be rigidly mounted in such openings
    • E06B1/62—Tightening or covering joints between the border of openings and the frame or between contiguous frames
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/04—Wing frames not characterised by the manner of movement
    • E06B3/263—Frames with special provision for insulation

Definitions

  • This invention relates to curtain wall systems, specifically an improvement on curtain wall systems utilizing multiple framed panels with various facing materials, e.g., as described by Ting in U.S. Patents 5,452,552 and 5,598,671 .
  • the structure disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 5,452,552 is also known as an exposed frame airloop curtain wall system and the structure disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,598,671 is also known as a hidden frame airloop curtain wall system.
  • the two aforementioned U.S. Patents are primarily directed to solving problems with excessive air and water infiltration or leakage using an airloop system. Previous designs dealing with water leakage typically required a nearly perfect seal to stop excessive air and water infiltration.
  • the aforementioned U.S. Patents describe a pressure equalized airloop having two seals that separate the functions of sealing water and air, providing acceptable air and water infiltration rates even with imperfect seals.
  • one embodiment of the airloop system allows panels to be shop assembled with perimeter panel frame extrusions so that a more reliable seal can be fabricated and a pressure equalized inner airloop is formed along the facing panel frame edges. A pressure equalized outer airloop is formed after field erection of the panels with bordering panel frames.
  • the prior airloop systems described can still allow, e.g., under extreme dynamic wind conditions, rain water to get to the air seal. Since the air seal in the airloop system can be assumed to be imperfect, water leakage can occur.
  • the panel securing fasteners in the airloop systems described in U.S. Patents 5,452,552 and 5,598,671 would be put in tension under negative wind load conditions (e.g., winds and/or wind loads directed away from the building interior on one side of the building) such that the connection strength and seal compression may be reduced. Still further, repeated negative wind loads could cause the securing screws to become loosened or stretched, causing the danger of one or more panels to fall off the building.
  • the panel frames may not provide the desired thermal insulation for some applications. Still further, seismic and other loads may tend to crack or loosen panels and damage seals if the building structure is even slightly deformed.
  • the objective of the invention is to provide a wall system for supporting a plurality of panels from one or more structural supports, said wall system comprising the panels, a nominally horizontal panel frame element attached to one of said panels, a nominally vertical panel frame element attached to said one of said panels and to said horizontal panel frame element to form a panel assembly and a fastener securing said panel assembly to said one or more structural supports, which may better resist negative wind loads.
  • said nominally vertical panel frame element comprises a load bearing surface capable of mating to a surface attached to said one or more structural supports and resisting a force acting on said panel assembly having a component in a building outward direction and said load bearing surface resists a significant portion of said force in addition to any resistance provided by said fastener.
  • the enhanced curtain wall system may further have one or more of the following features: an inner airloop and an outer airloop that separates water and air seal functions, water draining functions and sealing functions, a circuitous path at an air entry opening to limit water entry into at least one of the airloops, an air entry opening sufficiently large to equalize the pressure in an airloop with the exterior environment, a two point support of each panel assembly combined with sliding seals and a clearance dimension to allow interfloor side sway deflections under seismic or other loads without causing significant stress in the panel assembly, a splitter in a drainage cavity in the outer airloop that creates a dual drainage path and a surface upon which droplets can collect, thermal breaks in the panel frame to increase the resistance to heat transfer between the building interior and the exterior environment, and clip-on insert members to allow easier panel assembly installation and removal.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the enhanced airloop curtain wall system 10 comprising an assembly of multiple curtain wall panels (e.g., panels 11a through 11f) that are supported by structural members or spaced-apart vertical mullions 14 of a building (not shown for clarity).
  • Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an enhanced curtain wall system 10 in which a facing or curtain wall element of each curtain wall panel 11a through 11f is composed of insulated, dual glass segments, the enhanced curtain wall system can also comprise other solid materials as facing elements.
  • the curtain wall panels 11a through 11f are shown in Figure 1 as generally square, substantially flat panel assemblies, other assembly shapes of panels may also be used. But however the individual panels are shaped, multiple panels must be joined together to form a portion of the curtain wall of the building.
  • Two types of wall joints are typically formed between adjacent curtain wall panels, namely nominally horizontal wall joints 12 (e.g., between facing panels 11a and 11b) and nominally vertical wall joints 13 (e.g., between facing panels 11a and 11c).
  • nominally horizontal wall joints 12 e.g., between facing panels 11a and 11b
  • nominally vertical wall joints 13 e.g., between facing panels 11a and 11c.
  • many other types of wall joints can be formed and used, e.g., nonlinear joints, linear joints oriented at a diagonal or other direction, or joints made to accommodate wall protrusions or irregular panel boundary geometries.
  • Figure 2 shows a typical fragmentary cross-section of one embodiment of a horizontal wall joint 12 located between panels 11a and 11b, the cross section taken along line 2-2 as shown in Figure 1 .
  • the upper facing panel 15 is attached near its lower edge to a lower frame segment 16 forming a portion of the glass panel 11a.
  • the horizontal wall joint 12 shown is formed between the lower frame segment 16 and an upper frame segment 18 connected to the upper portion of lower facing panel 17 forming a portion of a lower panel assembly 11b.
  • the two panel assemblies 11a and 11b are typically located on the exterior of an associated building and each attached to the building/building structure using a pair of fasteners 34 such that each panel is supported by two spaced-apart vertical mullions 14.
  • the lower frame segment 16 is typically shop assembled to the upper facing panel 15 and the upper frame segment 18 is typically shop assembled to the lower facing panel 17.
  • frame segments such as lower frame segment 16 are preferably aluminum extrusions
  • alternative frame segments may also be fabricated using different fabricating means and from many other materials.
  • Other fabrication means and/or other materials of construction can include other metals, elastomerics, injection molded plastics, and composites.
  • the upper frame segment 18 is shown in Figure 2 as attached to one or more vertical mullions 14 or other supporting structure associated with a building using one or more screws 34, but rivets, nuts and bolts, hooks and slots, clamps, or other means for attaching can also be used.
  • the screws 34 preferably form a 2 "point" attachment attaching each end (or locations/points near each end) of the upper frame segment 18 to two different L-shaped attaching flanges 14a (a portion of one flange 14a is shown dotted in Figure 2 and a flange 14a is also shown in Figure 3 ) that protrude generally outward from a main box-shaped supporting structure 14b of the vertical mullion 14.
  • T-shaped protrusion e.g., where outwardly directed loads would put a fastener in shear instead of in tension
  • no protrusion where a fastener would be attached directly to the box-shaped supporting structure or other shaped supporting structure
  • floor beams e.g., where a fastener would be attached directly to the box-shaped supporting structure or other shaped supporting structure
  • cross beams e.g., where cross beams.
  • each threaded fastener hole 34a in the protruding flange 14a does not penetrate into an interior air space of the building ( Figure 3 shows one interior air space IS)
  • a separate air seal for each fastener 34 is not required and air leakage to or from the exterior environment E to an interior space IS (e.g., an air conditioned space) from this potential leakage source is eliminated.
  • the lack of a pressure differential across the threaded fastener hole 34a also minimizes water leakage to an interior space IS and any attendant corrosion problems.
  • Another benefit of the preferred two-point fastener attachment is when other later-described clip-on or otherwise removable components (e.g., such as a water seal member 26 and a rain screen member 27) are detached, the screws 34 are easily accessed for removal, maintenance or repair/replacement of a panel.
  • Initial installation of the screws 34 prior to installing clip-on components is also simplified, allowing the enhanced curtain wall system to be substantially erected from inside the building without scaffolding, e.g., reaching from interior space IS shown in Figure 3 through uninstalled upper panel spaces to the exterior portions of the upper frame segments 18 to be attached to the mullion 14.
  • Still another benefit of the preferred two-point fastener attachment and clearance dimension D is that the orientation of the two screws 34 allows the attached frame segments to move as a pinned bar linkage under interfloor deformation loads, e.g., to move without damage under a deflecting seismic load in a lateral direction having a horizontal component in the plane of the panel 11a.
  • relative motion of the support points (or motion of screw holes 34a in protruding flanges 14a) in a horizontal direction between mullions 14 are accommodated by the lower frame segment 16 sliding on air/water seals 24 and 25 without significant stress or strain on the glass facing element 15 or other panel components.
  • the design clearance D of the invention allows relative panel motion during horizontal inter-floor deflections or side sway motion, e.g., due to wind or seismic loads on the building.
  • Design clearance D is provided between a mullion 14 and the vertical edge of a panel near the bottom of a panel. Allowable interfloor lateral or side-sway motion (e.g., during a seismic event) for a typical high rise building is in the order of about L/200, where L is the distance or height between floors. For example, for an interfloor height of 12 feet, the building structure is designed to allow an interfloor side-sway (under extreme loads) of about 3/4 inch.
  • a 6-foot square panel could be exposed to side-sway support deflections of about 3/8 inch.
  • the design clearance D is typically selected to accommodate the extreme deflection of a panel, in this example at least about 3/8 inch, but design clearance D may be as much as 3/4 inch or more. Design clearance D may also be as little as 1/4 inch or less if a stiffer building structure is designed, or some damage at these extreme deflections can be accepted, or smaller panels are used.
  • each panel frame is fastened to the mullions 14 near the two top corners (in upper frame element 18) with motion-capable or motion-accepting attachment (e.g., fasteners) and seals.
  • the lower frame segment 16 can move relative to the joint spline 50 in the horizontal direction within the design clearance D without hitting the mullion 14 during side sway events. Therefore, the building side sway motion (within clearance "D" limits) is absorbed by the system without causing damaging stresses in the curtain wall panels.
  • seal 46 a dry type of seal or other material having a seal coating material for seal 46, such as a resilient foam, an elastomer such as Teflon, or a molybdenum disulfide powder.
  • seal coating material for seal 46 such as a resilient foam, an elastomer such as Teflon, or a molybdenum disulfide powder.
  • other types of motion-capable or motion-accepting seals may also be used such as lubricated elastomeric seals, grease, putty or other gap fillers, and resilient adhesives.
  • an air space 20 is formed generally within bottom panel 11b and is generally adjacent to an upper edge of the bottom facing element 17.
  • the air space 20 is the top segment of an inner airloop around the bottom panel 11b.
  • the top frame segment 18 of the bottom panel 11a is similar to the top frame segment of panel 11a (not shown in Figure 2 for clarity) and is also typically similar to the lower frame segment 16, allowing mitered ends of each protrusion or portion of the top frame segment to be attached to one or more common side frame segments 36 or 38 (as shown in Figure 3 ) to form a substantially continuous inner airloop around each panel.
  • One or more air holes or openings 23 in the lower frame segment 16 serve a primary purpose of air entry, but may also serve other purposes.
  • the air opening or openings 23 are typically sized to allow a flow of air into the inner airloop such that pressure within the inner airloop (including inner airloop segments 19 and 20) is substantially equal to the air pressure of the exterior or building external environment E.
  • the air openings 23 are typically sized such that a "worst case" flow of air through the air openings will not cause a significant pressure drop across the air openings, e.g., a maximum pressure drop across the air openings of about 0.1 inches of water, more typically less than 0.05 inches of water, and preferably even less than 0.03 inches of water under worst case flow of air.
  • a worst case flow of air into the inner airloop through air openings 23 is typically caused by a combination of environmental, design, and sealing factors, the most important of which is typically air leakage past an imperfect facing element air seal 31.
  • the most likely area of seal imperfection is at the mitered corners of the air seal 31 and various estimates (or actual test data) can be used to approximate air leakage at the air seal/panel assembly corners under various conditions of differential pressure across an imperfect air seal.
  • Another potential leakage path is around the glazing stops GS.
  • an auxiliary seal 46a such as caulking is placed between the panel frame segments 16 & 18 and the glazing stops.
  • auxiliary and/or air seal ends or imperfections at the four mitered end joints can be estimated to each be the equivalent of circular openings about 5 square millimeters and that air leakage past these seal imperfections or corners is the major cause of air entering or leaving the air openings 23.
  • one method is to size the air openings at least about 20 times as large as than the equivalent seal imperfections, or having at least about 100 square millimeters or one air opening preferably having a diameter of at least about 3/8 inch, more preferably having a diameter of at least about 1/2 inch.
  • the most preferred embodiment includes three air openings 23 having a diameter of at least about 3/8 inch.
  • At least one of the air openings 23 should be in the lower frame segment 16 as shown in Figure 2 and be at least about 1/8 inch in diameter, preferably at least about 1/4 inch in diameter.
  • the preferred location of at least one air opening 23 is near the center of the lower frame segment 16 to provide for the primary air flow purpose (i.e., away from draining water paths proximate to side frame segments 36 and 38 shown in Figure 3 ).
  • Other air openings 23 can be provided in other frame segments or locations to further assure that air pressure within the inner airloop is substantially equal to pressure in the exterior environment E.
  • one or more of the portions of the inner airloop may be discontinuous (e.g., for lower building edge panels) and additional air openings (e.g., located near the lower portion of the side segments of the inner airloop) may be needed for air entry and/or to drain water from the inner airloop.
  • at least two of the air holes are located in the lower frame segment 16 near each mitered corner of the panel. This dual corner location of air openings 23 allows water to easily drain from at least one air opening 23 at one end and air to enter the other air opening 23.
  • Putting a preferred third air opening 23 between the dual corner located air openings in lower frame segment 16 or on another lower frame segment allows water to easily drain from both ends (e.g., water entering from imperfect water seals in the side or vertical segments) and sufficient air flow to enter through the third or middle air opening 23 to substantially equalize the air pressure within the inner airloop to about the air pressure in the exterior environment E.
  • air from the exterior environment E is forced around an exterior protrusion or first baffle 16a, a clip-on rain screen or baffle member 27, and the second or L-shaped baffle or protrusion 16b prior to entering the air opening 23 as shown by tortuous or circuitous path arrow "A" in Figure 2 .
  • the rain screen member 27 and protrusions 16a and 16b form alternating path baffles that preclude a straight path flow of air (with possibly entrained water) from the exterior environment E to the air opening 23.
  • the alternating path baffles provide surfaces on which entrained water or particulates tend to impact since the less dense air can change flow direction more easily around the baffles than the more dense water droplets and particulates which tend to be "thrown” outward onto the alternating path baffles and collect thereon.
  • the baffle-collected water droplets tend to coalesce and drain outward (e.g., on drain surface 27a) towards the exterior environment E and/or downward towards rain gutters 35, also carrying particulates with the draining water.
  • the L-shaped baffle protrusion 16b is preferred at or near one of the air openings 23 as shown (e.g., the L-shape tends to increase the circuitousness of the air path "A")
  • the L-shaped baffle protrusion is essentially a continuation of side ribs 36a and 38a (see Figure 3 ) and upper rib 18a protruding from the upper frame segment 18 which are not shown as L-shaped.
  • Portions of the L-shaped protrusion 16b that are spaced-apart from an air opening 23 may not be required to be L-shaped since little or no air is entering at a spaced-apart distance from the air opening.
  • a straight upper protrusion 18a is therefore shown in the preferred embodiment.
  • baffle protrusion 16b that is L-shaped extends at least 1/16 inch on either side of air opening 23 and alternating path baffles/protrusions are spaced apart by at least about 1/16 inch, more preferably at least about 1/8 inch, but preferably spaced-apart by no more than about 1/2 inch, and typically protrude into the first joint space 21 by at least about 1/4 inch, more preferably at least about 9/16 inch.
  • baffle shapes, spacings, and protruding lengths are possible in alternative embodiments. Increased baffle lengths, smaller spacing, and thicker shapes may be needed when even less water entering the air opening 23 is desired, but the opposite may be desired if lower costs and a closer approach to pressure equalization is desired.
  • extruded aluminum for the exterior protrusion 16a, the second or L-shaped protrusion 16b, and the rain screen member 27, one or more of these components may also be composed of other materials, such as other metals, wire screen, porous materials, and elastomerics. Other materials may have advantages in the areas of increased retaining/draining of impacted water and reducing water/particulate re-entrainment problems.
  • the rain screen member 27 and the rain seal holder 26 are clipped or otherwise removably attached to tabs 18b and 18c on upper frame segment 18. This clip-on configuration allows easy installation and removal of the rain screen member 27 and rain seal holder 26 as well as easy access to screws 34 or other attachment means for installation or removal of an entire panel.
  • clipped attachment is the preferred attachment means, alternative embodiments can attach screens or seal holders by means of pinned connections, hooks and slots, adhesives, or fasteners.
  • Air openings 23 in an alternative embodiment may have different shapes and sizes, e.g., several openings primarily sized for air flow having a preferable diameter of at least about 3/8 inch plus a separate drain hole near a water path, e.g., a hole about 1/4 inch in diameter or less near a mitered corner.
  • Other alternative embodiments can include an air hole in most if not all frame segments, air opening slots instead of the circular air opening 23 shown, a screen or filter placed over the air opening 23 to further minimize water entry, and additional baffles placed in or near the air opening 23 or inside lower loop segment or space 19 to still further minimize water entry.
  • the air space or outer airloop portion within the horizontal wall joint 12 is essentially separated into two sections of an outer airloop, namely the first or wet joint space 21 and the second or dry joint space 22.
  • the first joint space 21 serves concurrently as a drain path (as the bottom segment of the first section of the outer airloop of the top panel 11a) and as the top segment of the first section of the outer airloop of the bottom panel 11b.
  • the second joint space 22 serves concurrently as the bottom segment of the second section of the outer airloop of the top panel 11a and the top segment of the second section of the outer airloop of the bottom panel 11b.
  • the rain or water seal 24 is placed between third protrusion 16c of the lower frame segment 16 and interior baffle or rain seal holder 26.
  • the water seal 24 is preferably attached to the rain seal holder 26 and extends for some distance from the ends of upper frame segment 18 and toward the center of the panel 11a or 11b, but the water seal 24 may not be continuous over the entire width of a panel.
  • the clipped attachment of the interior baffle 26 to a protrusion 18c of the upper panel frame segment 18 may not be sealed against air infiltration.
  • the exterior air can therefore enter into first and second joint spaces 21 and 22 and are both pressure equalized with the air in the exterior environment E, similar to the upper loop segment 20 and lower loop segment 19 of the inner airloop.
  • air can be transferred between the outer airloop and the inner airloop, equalizing the pressure between the inner airloop pressure and the exterior air pressure, but water is effectively prevented from entering the second joint space 22.
  • additional air passageways can be provided between the first and section joint spaces 21 and 22 in locations away from drainage paths, if required.
  • the panel or facing glass element 17 of the bottom panel 11b is nominally sealed to the upper frame segment 18 by a panel water seal 32 and a panel air seal 33.
  • the wall joint 12 between the panels 11a and 11b is nominally sealed by a frame water seal 24 and a frame air seal 25. Since some or all of the air and water seals may be discontinuous and/or field or site assembled, the chance for bypass, misalignment, dirt, or other causes of leakage may be present and some imperfect seals among the many panels present on larger buildings should typically be assumed. However, as discussed herein and as discussed in co-pending Patent Application 08/887, 879, the invention is tolerant of imperfect seals.
  • panel water seals 32 and 30 are closed cell foam sealing tapes such as Norton tapes available from Norton Performance Plastics, now Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, located in Wayne, New Jersey. However, alternative embodiments can use other types of seals or water flow restrictors.
  • the preferred panel air seals 33 and 31 are insertable-type gasket seals typically composed of EPDM material. However, alternative embodiments can use other types of seals or airflow restrictors.
  • frame water seal 24 and the frame air seal 25 are closed cell foam sealing tapes, such as Norton tapes similar to panel water seals 30 and 32.
  • alternative embodiments can use other types of seals or flow restrictors.
  • the lower frame segment 16 has a female joint groove 51 that engages a male joint spline 50 protruding from the upper frame segment 18.
  • the mating surfaces of the joint groove 51 and joint spline 50 provide the opposing sealing surfaces of the frame air seal 25.
  • the mating surfaces of water seal member 26 and a third or water seal protrusion 16c of the lower frame segment 16 provide the sealing surfaces for the frame water seal 24.
  • other joint elements and mating surfaces can be provided.
  • the gutter spaces 35 within the first section of the outer airloop 21 are used to channel any water (e.g., splashed over the rain screen member 27) to one or both mitered ends where the water can be channeled downward in the vertical frame segments of panel assembly 11b.
  • the gutter protrusion 18a also serves as an added surface on which water droplets are thrown into as entering air is forced to turn around the L-shaped protrusion 16b of lower frame segment 16, e.g., instead of being thrown against frame water seal 24 or rain seal holder 26.
  • the gutter protrusion 18a also serves to split the lower portion of the first segment 21 of the outer airloop into two drain channels or gutter spaces 35.
  • the creation of two drain channels 35 tends to reduce water splash/re-entrainment and to provide somewhat more outwardly contained paths for water to drain.
  • Alternative embodiments of the enhanced curtain wall system may delete the gutter protrusion 18a creating dual gutter spaces 35 or provide other drain paths.
  • one or more thermal breaks can be used in some or all panel frame segments (16, 18, 36, and 38) and at other locations.
  • a low thermal conductivity, plastic material is preferred for the thermal breaks, other substantially rigid materials with sufficient structural strength and limited thermal conductivity can be used for the thermal breaks such as 28 and 29.
  • the aluminum-plastic interfaces between the thermal breaks 28 & 29 and the frame segments 18 and 16 can be roughened or coated to further reduce thermal conductivity.
  • the thermal breaks 28 and 29 are preferably manufactured or shop assembled into the frame segments 18 and 16 using a pour-and-debridge process, but other manufacturing or assembly methods are also possible, including manual insertion.
  • a preferred process requires three major steps to install a panel, e.g., first placing the lower portion of the panel into an engaged spline 50/slot 51 position with the previously installed panel below (not shown for clarity in Figure 2 ), secondly fastening only the upper frame segment 18 to secure the panel (e.g., panel 11b) to two adjacent mullions 14 using fasteners 34, and then thirdly placing/engaging/clipping water seal/rain screen members 26 & 27 into place on the upper frame segment 18.
  • an adjoining panel e.g., panel 11a
  • Figure 3 shows a typical fragmentary cross-section of a vertical wall joint 13 between panels 11a and 11c taken along line 3-3 as shown in Fig. 1 .
  • the vertical wall joint 13 is formed when the left side panel 11a and the right side panel 11c are typically installed in the field (i.e., attached to the building or building's structural members).
  • the right frame member 36 is the right vertical segment of the panel frame segments of panel assembly 11a.
  • the right air space 37 is the right vertical segment of the inner airloop of the panel assembly 11a.
  • the left frame member 38 is the left vertical segment of the panel frame of the right panel assembly 11c.
  • the left air space 39 is the left vertical segment of the inner airloop of the panel assembly 11c.
  • the left vertical segment of the panel frame of the panel assembly 11a is typically identical to the left frame member 38 and the right vertical segment of the panel frame of the panel assembly 11c is typically identical to the right frame member 36.
  • alternative embodiments of the enhanced curtain wall system can use non-identical or other frame members.
  • the space inside the vertical joint 13 is typically symmetrically separated into left and right compartments or sections, namely, the first vertical joint space 40 and the second vertical joint space 41.
  • the first joint space 40 serves as the right vertical segment of the first section of the outer airloop of the panel vertical assembly 11a.
  • the second vertical joint space 41 serves as the right vertical segment of the second section of the outer airloop of the panel assembly 11a.
  • the vertical water seal 42 portion is attached to the vertical water seal member 43 and is placed to form a potentially continuous water seal (see Fig. 2 for another portion of water seal 24).
  • the vertical seal member 43 is a protrusion from mullion 14.
  • the glass facing element 15 of the panel 11a is sealed to the vertical frame segment 36 by vertical panel water seal 44 (sealing against the vertical panel frame segment 36) and vertical panel air seal 45 (sealing against a glazing stop GS attached to the vertical panel frame 36), nominally forming continuous air and water panel seals with the air and water panel seals 30-33 shown in Fig 2 .
  • the panel seals e.g., vertical panel water and air seals 44 & 45
  • glazing stops GS are typically factory installed, tending to decrease seal imperfections due to uncontrolled field conditions.
  • an auxiliary seal 46a is placed between the vertical panel frame 36 and the clipped-on glazing stop GS.
  • vertical thermal break 47 can be manufactured or assembled in the panel frame members 36 similar to the thermal breaks 28 & 29 shown in Figure 2 , e.g. by the pour-and-debridge process.
  • the mullion 14 can be assembled from two extrusions (14 and 43) separated by a thermal break 48.
  • the mullion 14 is essentially a single extrusion (having a shape similar to extrusions 14 and 43 shown) and incorporating a thermal break (similar to thermal break 43) manufactured by the pour-and-debridge process.
  • both sides of the panel-supporting flange 49 of the mullion 14 are within the outer airloop space 41 as shown. In this arrangement, the opening created by the fastener 34 will not produce air leakage since it does not penetrate into the building interior space. This lack of penetration improves the airtightness of the enhanced curtain wall, which also improves the thermal insulation and water leakage performance.
  • vertical air seal 46 The functions of vertical air seal 46 are similar to air seal 25 shown in Figure 2 . And similar to air seal 25, the vertical air seal 46 is spaced apart from vertical water seal 42.
  • a preferred embodiment can also achieve the following performance improvements:
  • the invention allows improved resistance to negative wind loads.
  • the primary structural resistance against a negative wind load was provided by one or more panel securing fasteners either in tension or in shear resulting in the possibility of fastener failure or loosening due to repeated cyclic loads over time and seal failure.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention provides a primary structural resistance to negative wind load by the structural engagement of leg 52 (see Figure 3 ) of vertical frame 36 with the vertical water seal support member 43 attached to mullion 14 separate from the two-screw fastener 34 attachment. Therefore, the negative wind or other outwardly directed load on panels 11a and 11c are directly transferred to the mullion 14 (through vertical water seal support member 43) without putting significant or excessive loads on the fastener 34.
  • a separate load bearing surface can be added to the vertical water seal support member 43 in addition to the vertical water seal 42.
  • a panel frame protrusion or portion of a panel frame segment hooks on the building interior side of a support structure protrusion or surface, e.g., a panel frame protrusion hooking to the interior surfaces provided for the vertical thermal barrier 48 shown in Figure 3 .
  • Many other hooked or panel retaining shapes and mating surfaces that allow fasteners or other attachment means to function primarily to support the weight of the panels are also possible in alternative embodiments.
  • the invention also allows improved water tightness of the horizontal and vertical joints 12 & 13.
  • the rain screen 27 and water seal members 26 and 43 are utilized to repel most of the exterior water prior to reaching water seals 42 and 24.
  • the small amount of incidental water splashed over rain screen member 27 will flow in the gutter spaces 35 (see Fig. 2 ) to the vertical joint and drain downward within the space 40. (See Fig. 3 .)
  • This drainage occurs within the pressure equalized outer airloop, therefore, there will be no significant water accumulation in the gutter spaces 35 and the drainage action is nearly instantaneous.
  • the horizontal water seal 24 (shown in Fig. 2 ) may be continuous with (e.g., married to) the vertical water seal 42 (shown in Fig. 3 ).
  • the second airloop is a dry loop and air seals 25 ( Fig. 2 ) and 46 ( Fig. 3 ) are therefore not typically exposed to water. Since the inner airloop spaces 19, 20 ( Fig. 2 ) and 37 ( Fig. 3 ) are pressure equalized spaces, the seals 30, 32 ( Fig. 2 ) and 44 Fig. 3 ) form an effective water seal despite being potentially imperfect because there is no differential air pressure to drive the water across even an imperfect seal.
  • the air seals e.g., 31 and 25 are spaced apart from the corresponding water seals around the panels, e.g., 30 and 24, the air and water seal functions are similarly separated and the curtain wall system can tolerate significant sealant line imperfections without causing significant water leakage problems.
  • many of the facing element air and water seals may be shop assembled which generally decreases the likelihood of seal imperfections and further improves air and water tightness.
  • the same design principles can be applied to other curtain wall systems, e.g., to the hidden frame airloop systems disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,598,671 .
  • air openings would be similarly sized and placed for the primary purpose of air entry and also for the purpose of water drainage.
  • protruding structural members such as an element similar to the vertical water seal member 43, can secure panels against negative wind load (or other building outward loads) essentially limiting loads on the structural attachment means to gravity resisting loads.
  • Structural flanges similar to flange 49 of mullion 14 can provide a panel securing structure that does not need to be sealed against air and/or water leakage.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Load-Bearing And Curtain Walls (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Wing Frames And Configurations (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Massaging Devices (AREA)
EP00930255A 2000-04-26 2000-04-26 Enhanced curtain wall system Expired - Lifetime EP1282749B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2000/011692 WO2001081686A1 (en) 2000-04-26 2000-04-26 Enhanced curtain wall system

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1282749A1 EP1282749A1 (en) 2003-02-12
EP1282749A4 EP1282749A4 (en) 2005-02-02
EP1282749B1 true EP1282749B1 (en) 2010-08-11

Family

ID=21741333

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00930255A Expired - Lifetime EP1282749B1 (en) 2000-04-26 2000-04-26 Enhanced curtain wall system

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1282749B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP2003531326A (zh)
CN (1) CN1244742C (zh)
AT (1) ATE477379T1 (zh)
AU (3) AU2000248109B2 (zh)
BR (1) BR0017237A (zh)
CA (1) CA2406235A1 (zh)
DE (1) DE60044825D1 (zh)
MX (1) MXPA02010590A (zh)
WO (2) WO2001081686A1 (zh)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101319526B (zh) * 2008-06-16 2010-06-02 江阴裕华铝业有限公司 建筑外金属环抱帷幕墙单元板片与单元板片之连接结构
US8590228B2 (en) * 2009-12-24 2013-11-26 Axer S.R.L. Casing for openings of buildings with enhanced thermal insulation capacity
US9316040B2 (en) * 2013-07-16 2016-04-19 Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated Field mulling system for windows and doors
US10017980B2 (en) * 2010-06-04 2018-07-10 Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated Window mull system
CN102877577B (zh) * 2011-07-14 2016-06-08 丁明朗 幕墙系统、幕墙盖建方法及其使用的面材单元与盖建方法
CN103216028B (zh) * 2012-01-20 2017-04-12 丁明朗 无洞式幕墙直料连接系统
WO2014130996A1 (en) * 2013-02-25 2014-08-28 Advanced Building Systems, Inc. Intermediate divider within an exterior wall unit
US8991121B1 (en) * 2013-05-23 2015-03-31 Baker Metal Products, Inc. Thermally improved curtain wall connection system
CN104790342A (zh) * 2014-01-20 2015-07-22 上海勘测设计研究院 用于堤防、大坝顶部的防浪墙结构及其建造方法
CN104473540B (zh) * 2014-12-20 2016-09-14 深圳市科源建设集团有限公司 玻璃幕墙的窗帘盒结构
BE1024266B1 (nl) 2016-05-24 2018-01-16 Claeys Stephanie Catharina R. Gordijngevel.
CA3124139C (en) * 2017-04-12 2023-09-12 Inovues, Inc System and method for retrofitting glazing systems of buildings
CN106917463A (zh) * 2017-05-04 2017-07-04 四川盛邦建设股份有限公司 幕墙结构及建筑物
US10227817B2 (en) * 2017-05-08 2019-03-12 Advanced Building Systems, Inc. Vented insulated glass unit
CN108589997A (zh) * 2018-06-14 2018-09-28 中国五冶集团有限公司 一种三段式密封的模块单元化幕墙结构
CN111042401B (zh) * 2019-12-31 2021-05-25 深圳粤源建设有限责任公司 一种玻璃幕墙用防水装置
CN112252545B (zh) * 2020-09-10 2021-12-28 淮北淮海建设工程有限责任公司 一种自锚式建筑幕墙及其外力荷载加固紧压结构

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1282749A4 (en) 2005-02-02
CN1244742C (zh) 2006-03-08
BR0017237A (pt) 2003-11-04
EP1282749A1 (en) 2003-02-12
WO2001081700A1 (en) 2001-11-01
AU2000248109B2 (en) 2006-07-20
DE60044825D1 (de) 2010-09-23
ATE477379T1 (de) 2010-08-15
MXPA02010590A (es) 2004-05-17
WO2001081686A1 (en) 2001-11-01
JP2003531326A (ja) 2003-10-21
AU4810900A (en) 2001-11-07
CN1452680A (zh) 2003-10-29
AU1078101A (en) 2001-11-07
CA2406235A1 (en) 2001-11-01

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