GB2155981A - Panelled walls - Google Patents

Abstract

A panelled curtain walling system includes openable windows or ventilators 12 each of which has, at its upper edge, a frame section 14 formed with a rib part which pivots in a gutter 17 in a lower limb of the corresponding transom 4, and is sealed therein by a silicone rubber gasket 15. The inward disposition of the pivot is such that, when closed, said window or ventilator is visually indistinguishable from the glazed curtain walling panels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Panelled walls This invention relates to a system of panelled curtain walling that is usable in the construction of commercial and industrial buildings of almost any size ranging from small to very large. The invention seeks to provide panelled walls that can be either vertically or obliquely disposed, there being openable windows which, when closed, do not interfere visually with the overall aesthetic appearance of a finished building.

According to the invention, there is provided a pane#lled curtain walling system comprising a plurality of pre-fabricated units at least some of which are windowed and exhibit glazed panels, the panels being supported by mullions and transoms of such units, wherein at least some of the windowed units each comprise at least one top-hung ventilator and/or at least one top-hung window pivotally connected to a corresponding transom by a hinge located inwardly of the unit concerned so that the or each openable ventilator or window visually resembles the or each fixed and matchingly dimensioned glazed panel of the system to such an extent that, when closed, it is visually indistinguishable therefrom.

A panelled curtain walling system in accordance with the invention may incorporate the known principle of a rain screen comprising an inner air seal behind window glass or an infill panel together with the provision of an outer weathering seal with the cavities between the panes of glass pressure equalized and drained, the transoms also being drained by the provision of outlets at the mullions and the mullions themselves being drainingly downpiped at the sills.

A system in accordance with the invention is usuable not only to provide vertically disposed panelled curtain walls but also gently or steeply sloping panelled curtain walls to furnish roof-lights, atriums and shaped architechural features. Where a panelled curtain walling system in accordance with the invention employs top-hung ventilators which are indistinguishable from the fixed glazed panels of the system when in closed positions, such ventilators will still perform at least "severe rated" standards as regards their weatherproofing features even when the panelled walling concerned is steeply inclined to the vertical.

A system in accordance with the invention uses as small a number of components as possible thus facilitating easy and relatively inexpensive manufacture and making it relatively simple to install the system at a building site using operatives who need only limited, rather than specialized, building skills. The simplicity of the system enables it to be competently installed by such operatives under almost all site circumstances without compromising the finished result in any way.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a horizontal section illustrating details of a mullion of a system in accordance with the invention and its connection to two vertically disposed double-glazed window panels, Figure 2 is a vertical section through a transom of the same system as Fig. 1 showing the connection thereto of one non-openable double-glazed window panel and one openable window panel in the form of a vertilator, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view to a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2 and showing details of a junction between the mullion of Fig. 1 and the transom of Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and firstly to a mullion 1 which is illustrated therein, that mullion 1 is preferably, but not essentially, formed from a strong aluminium alloy and comprises a substantially square, or at least rectangular, cross-section structurally supporting portion 2 that is located inwardly from the exterior surface of the walling. The mullion 1 integrally comprises two front legs 3 and these front legs, at each location where there is to be a pressure sealed joint or junction with one of a number of transoms 4, are jointly formed with a rectangular notch 3A.

An aluminium bracket 5 of approximately recessed cruciform formation is provided at each joint or junction between one of the mullions 1 and one of the transoms 4 and is furnished, at its concave side, with an initially separate matchingly shaped heat-cured silicone rubber gasket 6. The base of each bracket 5 is formed with two relatively spaced holes 7 and the base of each gasket 6 is formed with two matchingly sized and shaped holes 7A.If, as is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, two extruded or otherwise formed lengths of aluminium or aluminium alloy transom 4 are to meet at a joint with one of the similarly produced mullions 1, then the upright base of each section is formed, close to the end thereof, with a corresponding hole 7B but, if the joint with the mullion 1 is to register with a point somewhere along a single length of mullion 4, then the holes 7B are drilled through the base of that mullion length so as to be at the same distance from one another as are the holes 7 and the holes 7A and, of course, so as to be of matching size.

When the joint or junction that has just been discussed is being made, the bracket 5 concerned is fitted with its gasket 6 and the bracket 5 is then slid or "shuffled" length wise along the mullion 1 between its legs 3 and behind inwardly directed ribs 8 of those legs 3, which ribs 8 have retrorse lips 9, until the bracket 5 is located in the notch 3A with four projections 10 thereof still located behind the ribs 8 immediately above and beneath the notch 3A (see Fig. 2).After checking that the gasket 6 is still properly fitted to the bracket 5, the single length, or two lengths, of transom 4 is/are introduced into the bracket 5, between the pairs of projections 10 that are covered by portions of the gasket 6, and screws 11, which are preferably hexagonheaded stainless steel screws, are entered through the holes 7B and 7A into the holes 7 in the thickened base of the bracket 5, the holes 7 being internally screw-threaded to match the threads of the bolts 11. Upon tightening the bolts 11, the bracket 5 clamps the length or lengths of transom 4 to the mullion 1, the joint or junction being pressure-sealed by virtue of the provision of the gasket 6.

The sizes of the window openings which are to receive both openable and permanently closed window panels dictate, of course, the required shapes and dimensions of the glazed panels that are to be located in those window openings and, naturally, the precise dimensions will vary from site to site.

In the example that is being described, prefabricated double-glazed window panels 12 are used so that said panels merely have to be installed at the building site without any traditional glazing work being necessary. Whilst double-glazed panels will usually best give a good degree of thermal insulation under United Kingdom conditions, it is nevertheless within the scope of the invention for the panels 12 to be single-glazed or to have more than two relatively spaced panes of glass.

Each double-glazed panel 12 that is illustrated conveniently has a width between its outside surfaces of 24 millimetres and the spaced panes of glass have their horizontally registering free edges surrounding by frame gaskets 13 of channel-shaped cross-section. These frame gaskets 13 are formed from heat-cured silicone rubber and are externally ribbed to form so-called "tyred" gaskets. Each channelshaped gasket 13 is surrounded by a channelshaped portion of a length of a profiled frame section 14 formed from aluminium alloy.

These lengths of frame section 14 may be mitred and drilled to receive "Pop" (Registered Trade Mark) rivets at the frame corners or, alternatively, may be shaped to receive moulded and ribbed silicone rubber corner gaskets.

An inner keyed groove in each profiled frame section 14 receives an anchoring portion of a flexible air seal gasket 15 whose cross-sectional shape can be seen in the drawings, said gasket 15 advantageously being formed from silicone rubber or an equivalent material that will remain resiliently flexible for an indefinite period. The air seal gaskets 15 are pressure sealed against ribs 16 of the transoms 4 and bear against the aforementioned ribs 8 of the mullion legs 3. It will be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawings that the upper rib 16 of each transom 4 is vertically disposed whereas the corresponding lower rib 16 is inclined towards the back of the transom 4 in an upward and rearward direction that is at substantially 20 to the true vertical.

Immediately in front of the lower rib 16 of the transom 4 (i.e. to the right thereof as seen in Fig. 2), said transom 4 is formed with a gutter 17 and a rib 18. The base of the gutter 17 is of curved cross-section and the curvature matches that of the bottom of a rib part of the immediately neighbouring frame section 14 and close to which rib part the aforementioned keyed groove is provided to hold the respective air seal gasket 15. Said rib part lodges in an angularly displaceable manner in the gutter 17 and forms a substantially horizontal hinge which is sealed against fluid penetration by the associated elastically flexible gasket 15 which gasket 15 also prevents said part of the frame section 14 from lifting out of the gutter 17.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows one of the panels 12 in both a closed position in full lines and a substantially fully opened position in broken lines in which latter position the general plane of the panel 12 is inclined at an angle of substantially 20 to the vertical. This double-glazed panel 12 affords an openable ventilator that is, accordingly, of limited vertical extent but it could, as an alternative, afford a top-hung window of considerably greater vertical extent. It will readily be apparent that the internal position of the hinge that has been described above is such that, when the ventilator or window is closed, that ventilator or window will be indistinguishable visually from non-openable windows and from other openable ventilators or windows that are in a closed condition. Conventional window furniture (not shown) may be employed inside the building to retain each openable ventilator or window in a closed condition or in an open condition whose open extent is variable.

So-called tyre gaskets 19 which are preferably moulded from subsequently heat-cured silicone rubber are engaged in retaining portions of each pair of opposed frame sections 14 and flexible lips thereof bear against one another to maintain the space between the opposed frame sections 14 in a closed although not fully sealed condition, the flexibility being such as to allow the lips concerned to deform resiliently, whilst maintaining the contact between them, when an openable ventilator or window is opened outwardly about its internal hinge.

In a modified version, which is not illustrated, the tyre gaskets 19 are omitted and the cross-sectional shape of each frame section 14 is changed to a small extent to allow the assembly to be completed by installing a snap-on cap which is formed from aluminium or aluminium alloy by extrusion. Weatherproof gaskets of strip formation are preferably provided behind these caps adjacent to their "snapped" engagements with the frame sections 14.

Fig. 2 of the drawings also illustrates, in an upper region thereof, the fixed arrangement of the lower edge of a non-openable glazed, or indeed opaque, panel. A bracket 20 is slid lengthwise along the interior of the appropriate transom 4 behind the upper and lower ribs 16 thereof and a number of clips 21 whose shapes can be seen in Fig. 2 engage ribs of the frame section 14 concerned and are secured to the bracket 20 by self-tapping screws, rivets or the like 22. The number of clips 21 required for any particular non-openable glazed or opaque panel will, of course, depend upon the dimensions of that panel.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the way in which the structurally supporting portion 2 of each mullion 1 is firmly but releaseably secured to a concrete or other building structure 23, such as a vertical upright. Anchor bolts or studs 24 have their screw-threaded shanks projecting from the structure 23 and rightangled fixing brackets 25 have the limbs thereof which contact the surface of the structure 23 formed with slots through which are entered the anchor bolts or studs 24 to receive nuts 26 and serrated locking plates or washers 27, the serrations of the locking plates or washers 27 engaging matching serrations on the outwardly facing surfaces of those limbs of the brackets 25 that abut against the building structure 23.The slots in the limbs of the brackets 25 and the serrations thereof which co-operate with those of the locking plates or washers 27 enable the positions of the brackets 25 to be adjusted to a small extent relative to those of the anchor bolts or studs 24.

It can be seen in Fig. 1 that the brackets 25 are secured to the structure 23 in opposed and normally vertically extending pairs with those limbs of the two brackets 25 of each pair that project perpendicularly outwardly away from the structure 23 being spaced apart from one another by a distance which equals the width of the supporting portion 2 of the mullion 1 with which they co-operate.

Said supporting portion 2, and the base ends of the front legs 3 of the same mullion 1, are lodged between the parallel and outwardly projecting limbs and are secured adjustably, to a small extent, between those limbs by forming both the bracket limbs and the walls of the mullion portion 2 that lie between them with horizontally aligned slots through which fastening bolts 28 are entered.

The outwardly facing surfaces of the two bracket limbs which have just been discussed are formed with further serrations and each bolt 28 also passes through further matchingly serrated locking plates or washers 27 located beneath its head and beneath a nut 29 mounted on its screw-threaded shank. It is greatly preferred, but is not absolutely essential, that the bolts 28 and nuts 29 should be formed from a non-magnetisable stainless steel.

With the construction that has been described, there is a rain screen line or plane which is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings by a line 30 which rain screen line or plane coincides with the outer surfaces of the outer limbs of the channel-shaped portions of the frame sections 14 when any openable ventilators or windows of which such frame sections 14 form parts are closed. There is also an air seal line or plane which, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, coincides with a plane containing the opposed ribs 8 carried by the front legs 3 of each mullion 1.Condensation inevitably takes place internally of the air seal line or plane that has just been mentioned and drainage to the exterior of the panelled curtain walling takes place from the transoms 4 in the mullions 1 either by way of a narrow gap 31 (Fig. 3) which is left between the neighbouring ends of two lengths of transom 4 where those ends coincide with one of the mullions 1 or, when the transom 4 is continuous, an equivalent hole is drilled through the lower limb of the transom 4 in register with the mullion 1, said hole advantageously having a diameter of 10 millimetres.Any water droplets 32 which fall through one of the narrow gaps 31 or the equivalent hole (not shown) pass through an opening 33 between the two lower projections 10 of the corresponding aluminium clamping bracket 5 and through a similar opening in the lower portion of the gasket 6 and thus into a drainage path 34 which extends vertically between the front legs 3 of the corresponding mullion 1 adjacent the root ends of those legs 3. Any droplets 32 falling from a higher level onto one of the clamping brackets 5 will find their way around the back of that bracket 5 and into the drainage path 34 that lies behind it.

The use of heat-cured silicone rubber gaskets, which is greatly preferred, gives an effective life expectancy of very great length and it is noted that the principal structural components (i.e. the mullions 1 and transoms 4) are substantially completely behind the rain screen line 30 and therefore adopt the internal ambient temperature of the finished building thereby reducing as far as possible differential movements caused by thermal expansion thus improving the structural integrity of the curtain wall.

A cavity which is indicated by the reference 35 in Fig. 2 of the drawings is not fully sealed but is pressure-equalised, this cavity 35 draining any condensation which may take place therein into the associated transom 4 which itself is vented to the drainage path 34 as described above. Each drainage path 34 leads downwardly to a window sill (not shown) from whence it is downpiped to conventional external disposal Interstitial condensation is greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated, due to the thermal separation of the various components on or about the dew line of the structure and the resistance to interior-to-exterior thermal loss of each part of the system is at least equal to that of the double-glazed, panels 12 or of opaque panels (not shown) in non-windowed areas of the curtain wall. In a vertical wall, the rain screen line or plane 30 is a short distance outwardly in front of the external surface of the outer pane of glass of each double-glazed panel 12.

Whilst the invention has so far been described only in relation to vertically disposed (when closed) windows and ventilators, it is noted that a system in accordance with the invention can be used to provide atriums, roof-lights and various shaped architechural features which are steeply inclined to the vertical without the advantageous and durable weather-sealing properties of the system being prejudiced to any significant extent, if at all.

Claims (13)

1. A panelled curtain walling system comprising a plurality of pre-fabricated units at least some of which are windowed and exhibit glazed panels, the panels being supported by mullions and transoms of such units, wherein at least some of the windowed units each comprise at least one top-hung ventilator and/or at least one top-hung window pivotally connected to a corresponding transom by a hinge located inwardly of the unit concerned so that the of each openable ventilator or window visually resembles the or each fixed and matchingly dimensioned glazed panel of the system to such an extent that, when closed, it is visually indistinguishable therefrom.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each hinge comprises a gutter formed in a lower limb of the corresponding transom and a matchingly shaped rib part lodged in said gutter in an angularly displaceable man ner, said rib part being rigid with a frame section at the upper edge of the correspond ing openable ventilator or window and being displaceably retained in said gutter by a flexi ble gasket disposed between said frame section and a rib of the lower limb of said transom.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each mullion has a supporting portion from which projects two legs, and wherein a junction between a transom and a mullion is produced by forming a notch in said legs, mounting a clamping bracket in said notch so as to engage behind facing internal ribs of said legs and entering bolts or like threaded fastenings through a base of the transom into matchingly threaded holes in a base of said clamping bracket and tightening said bolts or like fastenings to form a clamped joint.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clamping bracket is of recessed substantially cruciform shape and the recessed surface thereof is provided with a gasket to produce a pressure sealed joint between a transom and a mullion when using said clamping bracket and said gasket.

5. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein both said transoms and said mullions are extruded or otherwise formed from aluminium or aluminium alloy.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2 or in any one of claims 3 to 5 when read as appendant to claim 2, wherein said gutter and said rib of each hinge are so dimensioned and arranged that the corresponding openable ventilator or window can be angularly displaced from a closed position by a maximum of substantially 20".

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least the or each openable ventilator or window of the system comprises a double-glazed panel.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a closure is provided between the upper edge of a frame section correspond- ing to an openable window or ventilator and the lower edge of an adjacent overlying nonopenable window, said closure comprising opposed tyre gaskets formed with flexible and relatively contacting lips which lips are dimensioned and arranged to maintain their contact when said openable window or ventilator is opened.

9. A system as claimed in claim 3 r in any one of claims 4 to 8 when read as appendant to claim 3, wherein each mullion defines, between the legs thereof, a condensation drainage path, and wherein any condensation in said transoms reaches such drainage paths through openings in the lower limbs thereof which register with the junctions with said transoms, said openings communicating with the drainage paths through openings in lower portions of the clamping brackets.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each drainage path communicates, at its lower end, with a window sill from whence condensation is downpiped externally of a building of which the system forms part.

11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim and comprising gaskets formed from heat-cured silicone rubber.

12. A panelled curtain walling system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. Panelled curtain walling when constructed in accordance with a system as claimed in any preceding claim.