GB2164974A - Curtain walling - Google Patents

Abstract

A curtain walling system has wall panels 2 mounted on a building by means of a mounting rail 3, so that the panels form a weather proof envelope for the exterior of the building. Each panel is assembled in a frame (5 Fig. 3) provided with a single booking means 11 which engages on a hook member 24 on the rail 3 to mount the panel on the building, each panel being secured by attachment to an adjacent panel or other part of the system. The rail 3 may run horizontally round the building, with the top faces 6 of the panels having the hooking means 11. Separate clamping means (27 Figs 2 and 4) are used to secure adjacent panels at their side faces. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Curtain walling This invention relates to curtain walling systems of the kind comprising wall panels mounted on a building by mounting means attached to the building.

The invention is concerned in particularwith curtain walling systems ofthe kind setforth which form a weatherproof envelopeforthe exterior of a building, and in which the wall panels are of glass or insulating material.

In one known system ofthekindsetforth,the mounting means comprises a framework of mullions and transoms which are attached to the exterior of the building. The wall panels, which comprises sheets of glass insulation arethen inserted in the framework and secured to it. In this system the whole assembly process takes place on the building site, and from the exterior of the building, so that is needs scaffolding.

The disadvantage of this system is that it is time- comsuming and expensive to install. In another known system the wall panels include frames, which are assembled at a factory. In this case the mounting means comprise mullions fixed to the building, to which the pre-assembled panels are bolted. This system requires less work on site, but the mounting means are relatively complex, and again the system is installed from the exterior of the building. Further systems are also known for mounting cladding or decorative wall panels on buildings, in which the panels are provided with two or more hooks which cooperate with hooks provided on the mounting means. Again, these systems are relatively complex and time-consuming to install.

According to our invention, in a curtain walling system of the kind setforth each wall panel is assembled in a frame provided with a single hooking means, and the mounting means comprises a rail attached to the building, the rail including a hook member with which the hooking means on the panel engagesto mountthe panel on the building, each panel then being secured by attachmentto an adjacent panel or other part of the system.

Our invention, by using pre-assembled panels and a single hooking engagement, makes the curtain walling much simpler and quickerto install on site.

Preferably, the rail is attached to the building so that it runs horizontally. The top faces of the panels are provided with hooking means. Adjacent panels are attached attheir side faces, preferably by separate clamping means.

The rail conveniently is continuous, and runs round the building to provide the mounting meansfdra line of panels. It is preferably attached by means of angle brackets fixed to the edge of a floor, suchthatthe brackets have horizontal portions extending outwardly fromithe building > The rail may include a pair of spacedwebs adapted to fit over the horizontal portions ofthe brackets, and a flange on which the hook member is provided, and in its position of use the spaced webs are substantially horizontal, and the flange depends downwardlyfrom the webs. The hook member preferably extends inwardly. The hooking means on the panels then extends outwardly, so that the panels can be hooked on from inside the building.

The rail may include one or more stop members with which the panels engage to define their position.

The clamping means maycompriseaT-section member and a clamping plate, with the cross member ofthe T-section engaging the outerfaces of adjacent panels, and the otherarm extending inwardly between the side faces of the panels, and being secured to the clamping plate, preferably by bolting. Alternatively,theT-section member may be replaced by a flat member extending between the panels, to which a further clamping plate is secured. In a preferred arrangement,theclamping means comprises a pairof plates between which the inner edges ofthe side faces of adjacent panels are adapted to be held. With all these arrangements, the whole system can be assembled from the inside ofthe building, so that it is much less expensive to install than known systems.

The construction ofthe rail and the hooking engagement also enables the system to be fully draining, to ensure that no water can be trapped in the system.

An embodiment of our invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa vertical section through a curtain walling system showing the mounting means; Figure2is a horizontal section showing the attachment of adjacent panels; Figure3isa generalfrontviewofa panel; and Figure 4 is similarto Figure 2, but shows a modification.

Figure 1 shows the edge of a floor 1 of a building on which wall panels 2 of a curtain walling system are mounted by mounting means in the form of a rail 3, attached to the building. The upper portion of one panel 2 is shown, togetherwith the lower portion of the panel 2' immediately above it.

As can be seen best in Figure 3 each panel 2 comprises one or more rectangular sheets 4 of glass or insulation material mounted in a frame 5 of extruded aluminium channel members 6,7,8,9 which form respectivelythe upper, lower and side faces of the panel 2. Theframe 5 also includes thermal breaks 1 forth insulation purposes. The upper face member 6 includes a hook 11 extending outwardly from the outer edge, and a channel 12, extending inwardlyfrom the inner edge, which houses a sealing gasket 13. Similarly, the lowerface member7 has a flange 14 depending downwardly from the outer edge, and a channel 15, extending inwardly from the inner edge, for sealing gasket 16. The gaskets 13, 16 also act as thermal breaks between the rail 3 and the panels 2.The member 7 also includes a drain hole 17.

The rail 3 is attached to the building by angle brackets 18,19. The bracket 18 is fixed to the floor 1 by any suitable means, and the bracket 19 is bolted to the bracket 18, so that the bracket 19 has a portion 20 extending horizontally away from the building. The rail 3 extends continuously along the building, and has upper and lower spacedwebs webs 21, 22 adapted to fit overthe bracket portion 20, and a flange 23 extending from one end of the webs, a hook member 24 being provided on the flange 23. In use, the flange 23 extends downwardlyfrom the webs, and the hook member 24faces inwardly, for engagement by the hooks 11 ofthe panels 2.Atthe inner end ofthe rail 3, remote from the flange 23, the lowerweb 22 is provided with a stop member 25 with which the sealing gaskets 13 on the upperfaces 6 ofthe panels are engageable. The upper web 21 is provided with an upstanding flange 26, with which the sealing gaskets 16 on the lowerfaces 7 ofthe panels are engageable.

The side faces 8,9 of adjacent panels are connected by clamping-means 27. As best seen in Figure 2, this comprises a T-section member 28 and a clamping plate 29. The cross member 30 ofthe T-section engagesthe outerfaces oftheside members 8,9, through sealing gaskets 31,32, while the other arm 33 oftheT-section extends inwardly between the panels.

The clamping plate 29 engagesthe innerfaces of the members 8,9 through sealing gaskets 34,35 and is fixed to the arm 33 by bolts (notshown).

The assembly ofthe curtain walling system willow be described. The panels 2 are pre-assembled in their frames 5 atthe factory, and the sealing gaskets 13,16 areincluded.Thetwo parts 28,29 ofthe clamp member 27 are also assembled,-together with the gaskets 31,32. On the site, suitable numbers of brackets 18, 19 are attached to the floors ofthe building, and suitable lengths ofthe rail 3 are fitted onto the brackets. It will be noted that this operation can be performed from insidethe building. The panels 2 can then be put on, also from inside the building. For each panel,the hook 11 is engaged on the hook member 24, and the panel is swung inwardly until the gasket 13 engagesthestop member 25, and the gasket 16 engages with the flange 26 ofthe rail 3 on the floor below.Theflange 14 overlaps the rail on thefloor below. The panels can slide horizontally on the rail 3, which enables the clamping means 27 to be attached to secure the panels together. Thusthe clamping means 27 is located on a side face of one panel and the adjacent panel is moved into engagement with the clamping means, the bpltsthen being tightened to secure the panels together. Again,the-attachment of the clamp members 17 can be performed from inside the building.

Modified clamping means (not shown) may be used. In the modification theT-section member28 is replaced by a flat member (similarto arm 33) extending between the panels, and a further clamping plate, which engages the outer faces of the members 8,9, and which issecured to the member by any suitable means.

Figure 4 shows a modification in which the side members 8,9 are altered to enable a simplified form of clamping means 27 to be used. Corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. In Figure 4the innerfaces ofthe side members 8,9 are modified, each being formed with an outwardly-extending L-shaped flange 36,37 respectively. The clamping means 27 comprises a pair of plates 38,39, of which one (38) has a flatsurface 40 engaging the faces 41 oftheflanges36,37,-whileThe other 39 hasan angled surface 42which engages the free ends 43 ot the flanges 36,37. The two plates 38,39 are clamped together by a nutand bolt assembly 44.

The outer faces of the side members 9 are also modified.The member 9 is formed with an integral front plate 45, and is adapted to mount a sealing gasket46. In the position of use shown the front plate 45 overlapsthe side member 8 of an adjacent panel, engaging its outerface through a seal 47, while the gasket 46 engages a tongue 48 formed on the side member 8. Figure 4 also shows a modified arrangementfor holding the innerfaces ofthe sheets4. Thus the side edges of the members 8,9 are provided with small L-shaped flanges 49 to locate extruded members 50,51 of square or rectangularsection respectively.The members 50,51 engage the innerfacesofthe sheets 4, and enable the panelsto accommodate sheets of different thicknesses, as weli as enabling the sheets to be replaced with the panels in place on the building.

The assembly ofthe system is similarto that described in relation to Figures 1 and 2, the only difference being the necessity of ensuring that the front plate 45 and gasket 46 engage adjacent panels correctly.

The systems therefore have the advantagesthatfew components are needed, and thatthe panels can be pre-assembled atthe factory, so that installation on site is quick. Further, as the system can be assembled from inside the building, no scaffolding is needed, which means that the system is notexpensiveto install. It is also easy to exchange panels once the system has been installed.

Itwill be noted thatthe systems are fully drained, that is, no water can betrapped in the panels or by the rail, and presenta neat external appearance.

Claims (16)

1. A curtain walling system ofthe kindsetforth, in which each wall panel is assembled in a frame provided with a single hooking means, and the mounting means includes a rail attached to the building,the rail including a hook memberwith which the hooking means on each panel engages, to mount the panel on the building, each panel then being secured by attachment to an adjacent panel or other part of the system.

2. A curtain walling system as claimed in claim 1, in which the rail is attached to the building so that it runs horizontally.

3. Acurtain walling system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the rail is continuous and runs round the building to provide the mounting means for a line of panels.

4. A curtain walling system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the rail is attached by means of angle brackets fixed to the edge of a floor, such that the brackets have horizontal portions extending,out- wardlyfrom the edge ofthe building.

5. Acurtain walling system as claimed in claim 4 in which the rail includes a pair of spacectwebs adapted to fit over the horizontal portionsofthe brackets, and a flange on whichthe hook memberis provided, such that in use the spaceclwebs are substantially horizontal andthe flange depends downwardlyfrom the webs.

6. Acurtainwallingsystem asclaimedinany preceding claim, in whichthe hook member extends inwardly.

7. A curtain walling system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the rail has one or more stop members with which the panels engage to define their position.

8. A curtain walling system as claimed in any of claims 2to 7, in which the upper faces ofthe panels are provided with the hooking means.

9. A curtain walling system as claimed in claim 6 and claim 8, in which the hooking means on the panels extends outwardly.

10. A curtain walling system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each panel is attached at its sidefacesto an adjacent panel or part, by clamping means.

11. A curtain walling system as claimed in claim lû, in which the clamping means comprises a T-section member and a clamping plate, with the cross member of the T-section engaging the outer faces of adjacent panels, and the other arm extending inwardly between the side faces ofthe panels and being secured tethe Bs tke clamping plate, which engages the innerfaces of the panels.

112. A curtain walling system as claimed in claim 10, in which the clamping means comprises a flat member extending between the side faces of adjacent panels, to the inner and outer ends of which are secured clamping plates engaging the inner and outer faces of adjacent panels.

13. A curtain walling system as claimed in claim 10, in which the clamping means comprises a pair of plates between which inner edges of the side faces of adjacent panels are adapted to be held.

14 A curtain walling system as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, in which the parts ofthe clamping means are secured by at least one bolt.

15. A curtain walling system ofthe kind set forth substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe accompany- ing drawings.

16. A curtain walling system ofthe kind set forth substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 ofthe accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 4.