GB1600358A

GB1600358A - Frame members for example for curtain walling

Info

Publication number: GB1600358A
Application number: GB1228477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Alcan Aluminum Ltd; SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd
Current assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan Inc; SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd
Priority date: 1978-04-13
Filing date: 1978-04-13
Publication date: 1981-10-14

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FRAME MEMBERS FOR EXAMPLE FOR CURTAIN WALLING (71) We, ALCAN ALUMINIUM (UK) LIMITED formally known as ALCAN BOOTH INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a British Company, of Alcan House, 30 Berkeley Square, London W1X 6DP, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to frame members, for example for curtain walling incorporating a thermal barrier to check the flow of heat between the inside and outside of the frame.

According to this invention there is provided a composite frame member comprising an inner lengthwise-extending structural element having an external outwardlyfacing channel, a heat-insulating element seated in said channel and having sides thereof disposed against the side walls of the channel, said side walls having serrations gripping the heat-insulating element to retain the latter in the channel, and an outer lengthwise-extending element secured to the inner element by screws tapped into an outwardly facing channel in the heatinsulating element so as locally to expand the heat-insulating element into tight engagement with the said side walls of the channel, said outer element having one or more lengthwise extending locating ribs directed into engagement with laterally facing surfaces of the heat insulating element so as to locate the outer element against lateral movement relative to the inner element, the inner and outer elements having at one side at least of said channel means for clamping an edge of a glass panel between them.

In one preferred arrangement the channel in the inner element is formed between two outwardly projecting flanges, and the heatinsulating element has wing portions extending round the sides of the flanges remote from the channel, the outer element having two locating ribs, which ribs flank said wing portions.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respective crosssectional views of first and second frame members intended for curtain walling and embodying the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, a frame- is illustrated which is composed principally of inner and outer extruded aluminium elements 1G, 11 and an extruded heatinsulating plastics channel-section element 12 which provides a thermal barrier.

The inner element 10 is a structural element and has at its outer side two lengthwise extending flanges 13 forming side walls of a channel in which the plastics element 12 is disposed. The sides of the two flanges nearer each other are provided with buttress-type serrations to retain the element 12 in the channel, and the cooperating sides of the element 12 may be plain or similarly serrated. At opposite sides of the channel the inner element has undercut grooves in which are disposed respective sealing strips 15.

The outer element 11 has a rib 16 projecting into the channel in the plastics element 12 and has at opposite sides of the rib undercut grooves in which sealing strips 15 are disposed. At its outer side the outer element 11 has lengthwise-extending projections 17 enabling a cover 18 to be snapped into position on the element 11.

In assembling the frame member adjacent edges of two glass panels 20 (which may be singlepor multiple glazed panels) are clamped between the pairs of sealing strips 15, the outer member being secured to the inner member 10 by self tapping screws 19 which are screwed into the plastics element 12 through the rib 16 at intervals along the length of the frame member. The screws expand the element 12 locally and join it securely in position in the channel in member 10. The cover 18 is then placed in position. The plastics element forms a thermal barrier preventing all direct and indirect metal to metal contact between the outer and inner elements. In Figure 1, only the tip of the rib 16 can be seen because the screws have a diameter greater than the thickness of the rib 16 and the insertion of the screw cuts the rib away locally, so that the rib is effectively divided into short lengths by the screws.

Referring now to Figure 2, a preferred construction is illustrated in which corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals as in Figure 1. In the construction of Figure 2 the heat-insulating element 12 fits between the flanges 13 of the inner element and as before has an outwardly facing channel to receive fixing screws 19 to jam the element 12 in engagement with flanges 13 locally, but has wing portions 12a extending laterally and then inwardly to cover the side faces of flanges 13 remote from the channel. The outer element has two inwardly projecting ribs 16a, 16b which respectively flank the wing portions 12a to locate the elements against relative lateral movement. The ribs 16a, 16b are thus in close contact with the wing portions 12a.

This construction is advantageous over the construction of Figure 1 in that the twin stiffening ribs 16a, 16b of the outer member are uninterrupted. Ribs 16a, 16b also facilitate assembly by helping to locate the inner and outer members relative to each other.

In addition to its uses for curtain walling, the framing can be used for greenhouses, roof glazing and indeed anywhere a frame for glazing is required.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A composite frame member comprising an inner lengthwise-extending structural element having an external outwardlyfacing channel, a heat-insulating element seated in said channel and having sides thereof disposed against the side walls of the channel, said side walls having serrations gripping the heat-insulating element to retain the latter in the channel, and an outer lengthwise-extending element secured to the inner element by screws tapped into an outwardly facing channel in the heatinsulating element so as locally to expand the heat-insulating element into tight engagement with the said side walls of the channel, said outer element having one or more lengthwise extending locating ribs directed into engagement with laterally facing surfaces of the heat insulating element so as to locate the outer element against lateral movement relative to the inner element, the inner and outer elements having at one side at least of said channel means for clamping an edge of a glass panel between them.

2. A frame member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer element has a single lengthwise-extending rib projecting into the channel in the heat-insulating element.

3. A frame member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the screws extend through the rib and have a diameter which is greater than the thickness of the rib.

4. A frame member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel in the inner element is formed between two outwardly projecting flanges, and the heat-insulating element has wing portions extending round the sides of the flanges remote from the channel, the outer element having two locating ribs, which ribs flank said wing portions.

5. A frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

12 through the rib 16 at intervals along the length of the frame member. The screws expand the element 12 locally and join it securely in position in the channel in member 10. The cover 18 is then placed in position. The plastics element forms a thermal barrier preventing all direct and indirect metal to metal contact between the outer and inner elements. In Figure 1, only the tip of the rib 16 can be seen because the screws have a diameter greater than the thickness of the rib 16 and the insertion of the screw cuts the rib away locally, so that the rib is effectively divided into short lengths by the screws.

Referring now to Figure 2, a preferred construction is illustrated in which corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals as in Figure 1. In the construction of Figure 2 the heat-insulating element 12 fits between the flanges 13 of the inner element and as before has an outwardly facing channel to receive fixing screws 19 to jam the element 12 in engagement with flanges 13 locally, but has wing portions 12a extending laterally and then inwardly to cover the side faces of flanges 13 remote from the channel. The outer element has two inwardly projecting ribs 16a, 16b which respectively flank the wing portions 12a to locate the elements against relative lateral movement. The ribs 16a, 16b are thus in close contact with the wing portions 12a.

This construction is advantageous over the construction of Figure 1 in that the twin stiffening ribs 16a, 16b of the outer member are uninterrupted. Ribs 16a, 16b also facilitate assembly by helping to locate the inner and outer members relative to each other.

In addition to its uses for curtain walling, the framing can be used for greenhouses, roof glazing and indeed anywhere a frame for glazing is required.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A composite frame member comprising an inner lengthwise-extending structural element having an external outwardlyfacing channel, a heat-insulating element seated in said channel and having sides thereof disposed against the side walls of the channel, said side walls having serrations gripping the heat-insulating element to retain the latter in the channel, and an outer lengthwise-extending element secured to the inner element by screws tapped into an outwardly facing channel in the heatinsulating element so as locally to expand the heat-insulating element into tight engagement with the said side walls of the channel, said outer element having one or more lengthwise extending locating ribs directed into engagement with laterally facing surfaces of the heat insulating element so as to locate the outer element against lateral movement relative to the inner element, the inner and outer elements having at one side at least of said channel means for clamping an edge of a glass panel between them.
2. A frame member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer element has a single lengthwise-extending rib projecting into the channel in the heat-insulating element.
3. A frame member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the screws extend through the rib and have a diameter which is greater than the thickness of the rib.
4. A frame member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the channel in the inner element is formed between two outwardly projecting flanges, and the heat-insulating element has wing portions extending round the sides of the flanges remote from the channel, the outer element having two locating ribs, which ribs flank said wing portions.
5. A frame member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.