GB2147342A - Double glazed panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A double glazed panel of transparent plastics material comprises a flange 12 along one side and parallel flanges 11 forming a channel 16 along the opposite side. The panels may be assembled into construction units e.g. greenhouse walls by interfitting flange 12 and channel 16 of adjacent panels. Flanges 18 on the remaining sides may be mounted in channel shaped frame members. Ventilation apertures 44 are provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Glazing systems This invention is concerned with improvements relating to glazing systems.

It is desirable in many building constructions that the glazing system utilised affords as high a degree of insulation as possible, commensurate with the costs of construction.

For example, for building constructions such as dwellings and offices, more and more prevalent is the use of sealed double glazed units as a system of glazing which provides a high insulation factor.

However, such a conventional system is expensive and there exists a large number of building constructions in which the cost of such cannot be met, but where nontheless the desirability of reducing the passage of heat through the conventionally-used glazing systems is desirable.

For example, in factories, a conventional glazing system utilised is known as "patent glacing" in which glazing panels are, basically, mounted in overlapping relationship. A similar system is utilised in the glazing of certain types of greenhouse. In both of these, there would be considerable advantage in utilising a glazing system which reduced heat losses without the incurrence of the expense of conventionally used double glazing systems.

It is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide a glazing system which is relatively inexpensive in its construction and assembly, and which may be used to glaze a building construction to afford reduced heat losses without the incurrence of undue expense.

According to this invention, there is provided a generally rectangular glazing panel, at least one central portion of which comprises spaced wall portions, and which comprises flanges on at least two of said sides by which the panel may be assembled in a building construction.

In this manner, the central portion of the panel may be effective to provide an effect similar to that achieved by a conventional double glazing system, reducing the rate of transfer of heat through the panel compared with a conventional, single panel glazing system.

The central portion may define an area which at least to a majority extent is enclosed, although desirably ventilation means is provided in respect of said central portion.

Preferably the area of the central portion is greater than 50% of the area of the panel as a whole, and preferably part of said central portion is defined by spaced, parallel wall portions of the panel.

The flange may be similar, and may be adapted for installation between spaced construction members such as extrusions of Hshaped cross-sections. Preferably however the flanges are such as to enable adjacent panels to be interfitted, whereby a number of such panels may be assembled together between spaced construction members. Thus, the flanges on each panel may be complementary, one male and one female, enabling each flange either to be inserted into, or receive, a flange on an adjacent panel.

Alternatively, two forms of panel may be used, each comprising flanges of one type, e.g. both being male or both being female.

The panels may be installed with said flanges extending horizontally or vertically.

Preferably on the other sides of the panel, additional flanges are provided which enable the panel to be inserted between spaced construction members such as extrusions of Hshape in cross-section. Preferably, such additional flanges are resilient, and may be compressed to enable a firm fit within such construction members to be achieved relatively simply.

Preferably the panels are produced from clear or semi-clear plastics material, such as an acrylic material, and are preferably produced by a forming operation carried out on one or two sheets. Thus the panel may be afforded by a thermo-forming, folding operation carried out on a single sheet, or by a thermo-forming operation carried out on two sheets which are secured together by (for example) heat or ultrasonic welding or adhesive.

Alternatively, the panels may be made from other materials and it is envisaged that they may be made from a polyvinyl chloride, a polycarbonate or polymethyl acrylate material.

This invention also provides a glazing system comprising a plurality of glazing panels of the kind set out above, and method of glazing a building construction involving assembling together a number of such glazing panels, such as between spaced, parallel construction elements which afford inwardly-directed flange-receiving channels such as extrusions of H-shape in cross-section.

There will now be given a detailed description to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a glazing panel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, which both in itself, and in its use as a part of a glazing system, are illustrative of certain aspects of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:~ Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the glazing panel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation viewed in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the panel, partly in section; Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing a number of glazing panels assembled together; and Figures 5a and 5b are respectively plan and elevational views of part of a ventilation means of the panel.

The glazing panel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is formed by a thermo-forming operation from clear plastics material, conveniently an acrylic material. It will of course be appreciated that the panel may alternatively be produced by other means, from other suitable materials.

The panel comprises two generally parallel, mutually facing wall portiions 6 and 8, the central portions of which being formed with concavities so that the wall portions define a central area 10 which occupies at least 50% of the area of the panel as a whole. Along one side of the central area 10 are parallel flanges 11, having a longitudinally abutting section 14 and a longitudinally spaced section defining an elongate channel 16 (see Fig. 3).

On the other side of the central area 10 there is provided an elongate flange 12, which in cross section is generally complementary to that of the channel 16.

On the other two sides of the area 10 are flanges 18, defined by parallel wall portions 1 8a and 1 8b, together with a compressible sealing material 1 8c therebetween.

Thus as will be seen from the drawings, the flanges 10 and 12 extend the full longitudinal length of the panel, while the flanges 18 terminate short of that edge on which the flange 12 is provided.

Extending from the central area 10 on the side thereof on which the channel 16 is provided is a ventilation aperture provided by a generally circular wall portion 44 (see Figs.

3 and 4), which is utilised in conjunction with a generally circular closure member 46. The closure member 46 provides a circular aperture 48, across which a rib 50, similar in cross-section to the flange 12, extends the remainder of the aperture 48 being closed by mesh 52. On either side of the rib 50 on opposite ends thereof, there are provided short protrusions 54.

The use of a number of glazing panels similar to the glazing panel which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, in carrying out a glazing operation, will now be described.

Utilising a lower horizontal construction member which affords an upwardly facing channel of a size suitable to receive the flanges 18, and an upright element which affords a vertical lip similar in cross-section to the flange 12, a first glazing panel is mounted in position with the lower flange 18 extending into the horizontal construction member, and the channel 16 being interfitted over the lip of the upright construction member.

A second glazing panel is then mounted in the lower construction member, the channel 16 of which being fitted over the flange 12 of the first glazing panel. This is repeated, as is shown in Fig. 4, until the glazing is completed, which may then conveniently be enclosed by terminal construction members, also conveniently of H-shape in cross-section.

In this manner, a glazing operation is carried out, the majority of which is in effect double-glazing, albeit the central areas 10 of the glazing panels are not air-sealed. However, any moisture which ingresses into the central area 10 may ventilate through the ventilation apertures 44, whilst the ingress of dirt and insects into the central area 10 is prevented by the provision of the mesh 52.

It is possible that the material from which the glazing panels are formed may be hygroscopic and, since the panels may be used in a moisture laden environment such as may exist in a greenhouse or around a swimming pool, the ventilation apertures 44 also serves to enhance the ventilation of the material from which the panels are formed.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description and/or in the accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1. A generally rectangular glazing panel.

at least one central portion of which comprises spaced wall portions, and which comprises flanges on at least two sides thereof by which the panel may be assembled in a building construction.

2. A glazing panel according to Claim 1 wherein the central portion defines an area which at least to a majority extent is enclosed.

3. A glazing panel according to Claim 2 wherein said area is provided with ventilation means.

4. A glazing panel according to one of Claims 2 and 3 wherein the area of the central portion is greater than 50% of the area of the panel as a whole.

5. A glazing panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the central portion is defined by spaced, parallel wall portions of the panel.

6. A glazing panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the flanges are adapted for installation between spaced construction members such as extrustions of Hshape in cross-section.

7. A glazing panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the flanges are such as to enable adjacent panels to be interfitted, whereby a number of such panels may be assembled together between spaced construction members.

8. A glazing panel according to any one of the preceding clai;ns wherein the flanges on at least one side thereof are capable of limited resilient deformation.

9. A method of glazing a building con struction involving assembling together a number of glazing panels according to any one of the preceding claims between spaced, parallel construction elements which afford inwardly-directed flange-receiving channels.

10. The invention substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.