GB2243854A

GB2243854A - Curtain wall

Info

Publication number: GB2243854A
Application number: GB9105402A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yukimasa Ishida; Koichi Asai; Kichio Murakami; Kazumi Yoshikawa; Takashi Uchida; Tomoo Seki; Masato Nakamura; Tadao Uchida; Chuji Hagiwara; Katsuo Oguni; Hideo Sato; Akihisa Odaka; Toyoji Tanaka; Nobuo Tsubouchi; Yuichi Kobayashi; Yutaka Mochizuki; Tamotsu Narusawa; Masataka Iitsuka
Original assignee: Takenaka Corp; Shin Nikkei Co Ltd
Current assignee: Takenaka Corp; Shin Nikkei Co Ltd
Priority date: 1990-05-10
Filing date: 1991-03-14
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-14
Also published as: JP2815973B2; JPH0416645A; GB2243854B; GB9105402D0

Abstract

A plurality of outer wall plates (12) are supported on a plurality of support frames (10) through hooks (69, 76) and shape stools (73, 81). Respective left-and-right hand ends at the upper portion of one of the support frames (10) are supported by supporting bolts (28) and a load on the support frame (10) is absorbed with the supporting bolts (28) on the side of a main framework (14) of a building. In addition, mounting bolts (34) are accommodated in long vertically-shaped cuts (37) of respective angle members (36). Thus, the support frame (10) can be rotated about the mounting bolts (34) by moving the mounting bolts (34) along the cuts (37). A sealing material (91) between adjacent outer wall plates (12) and a sealing material (68) between adjacent support frames (10) serves as a secure seal between the inside and outside spaces of the main framework (14). Temporary holding bolts for positioning the panels are disclosed figs 10-12 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

OUTER WALL FOR BUILDING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1) Field of the Invention: This invention relates to an outer or curtain wall for a building structure used as a non-load bearing wall on the outside of.the main framework of a structure and provided to enclose the inner space into a compartment.

2) Description of the Related Art: As curtain walls, products have generally been used in which stone plates have been placed into precast concrete plates. However, the precast concrete plates are very heavy. In addition, since dies used for fabrication must be changed upon fabrication of different shapes of precast concrete plates, this approach cannot flexibly cope with a multi-type production situation. Also, when an external force such as an earthquake, a strong wind, etc. is exerted on the type of a curtain wall in which supporting brackets are mounted on the main framework of a building and a thinwalled outer wall member is fixed directly to the brackets, the curtain wall is easily susceptible to destruction and has difficulties in ensuring watertightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide a curtain wall which is light in weight and easy to fabricate, and which is capable of reliably bearing an external force such as an earthquake, a strong wind, etc.

According to the present invention, an outer wall plate is held on a support frame made of a steel skeleton by a holding means. The support frame is supported on the main framework of a structure through a supporting means. The supporting means enables the support frame to move relative to the main framework of the structure in a vertical plane upon the exertion of a predetermined load on the supporting means. A sealing means serves as a seal between the outer periphery of each of the support frames and the outer periphery of each of the other support frames adjacent thereto and also serves as a seal between the outer periphery of each of the outer wall plates and that of each of the other outer wall plates adjacent thereto.

The support frames, plate materials and outer wall plates, which comprise most of the curtain wall, can be reduced in weight in the present invention. In addition, the support frames may be connected in a frame manner after steel skeleton members or the like are cut to predetermined dimensions. Therefore, the support frames are easy to fabricate. Due to the supporting strength o the frames, the outer wall plates can be adapted in this approach; for example, stone plates may be cut in relatively thin slices. Therefore, no difficulties caused by great weight are encountered upon fabrication of the outer wall plates.

The support frames and the plate materials may be made of steel materials.

Further, the support frames each transmit an external force in the lateral direction such as a wind force to the main framework of the structure. The support frames of the present invention are reliably supported on the main framework. The supporting means enables any one of the support frames to move relative to the main framework of the structure to thereby absorb an external force in the horizontal direction such as an earthquake, etc. The supporting means supports a vertical load at two points corresponding to leftand-right positions adjacent to the two sides of the upper end of the support frame, relative to the main framework of the structure. Each of the two points is supported on the main framework of the structure in such a way as to enable the outer wall plate to rotate slightly with respect to the other of the two points.

As a consequence, the supporting means absorbs the horizontal load while the support frame is being swung slightly about either one of the two points. In addition, the support frame may be provided in such a manner that it is horizontally movable relative to the main framework of the structure. Even in this case, displacement in the horizontal direction can be absorbed.

The supporting means for supporting one of the support frames on the main framework of the structure may be constructed in such a manner that an arm projected laterally in the form of a cantilever beam from the main framework of the structure is inserted into the inside of the support frame, and the load of the support frame is supported by a portion of the arm inserted therein. Thus, since the means for supporting the load of the support frame is located inside the support frame, the thickness or depth of the curtain wall in the directions perpendicular to the face of the building can be reduced and the accommodation space can be enlarged.

A bar-like member made of precast concrete may be mounted on the outer periphery of each support frame, and the holding means for the outer wall plate may be attached to the bar-like member. In this case, the bar-like member can be cut to the required dimensions from prefabricated material having uniformly shaped cross-section. Therefore, the bar-like member can easily be fabricated and its manufacturing cost can'be reduced as compared with the case where holding members are fabricated by extruded profiles such as profiles made of aluminum.In this case, the bar-like member made of precast concrete can be formed such that when the support frame is shaped in the form of a rectangular frame, the bar-like member disposed on the outside of the frame as a longitudinal member of the support frame is different in shape from the bar-like member disposed on the outside of the frame as a lateral member thereof.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first'embodiment of a curtain wall according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view, as seen from the outside of a building, showing the curtain wall according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional-view taken along line III - III of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IV - IV of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line V - V of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VI - VI of FIG. 2; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a curtain wall showing a second embodiment; FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view depicting the second embodiment and equivalent to FIG.

4 illustrative of the first embodiment; FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view showing the second embodiment and equivalent to FIG. 5 illustrative of the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view depicting a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI - XI of FIG. 10 illustrative of the third embodiment; and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a holder employed in the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 through 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an outer curtain wall according to the present embodiment is so constructed that a plurality of outer wall plates 12 are supported on each of a plurality of support frames 10, which are i turn mounted on H-type steel 14 as a portion of the framework of a building.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support frame 10 is comprised of various structural members assembled in the form of a framework in the following manner. Namely, a pair of longitudinal members 16 are arranged in parallel to each other and a lateral member 18 is mounted on both ends at the upper side of the paired longitudinal members 16 so as to be arranged horizontally, whereas another lateral member 19 is mounted on both ends at the lower side thereof so as to be arranged horizontally. A plurality of lateral members 22 (three lateral members in the present embodiment) are mounted between the paired longitudinal members 16 so as to be arranged in parallel with the lateral members 18, 19. The longitudinal members 16 and the lateral members 18, 19 are made of steel materials having a rectangular crosssection as seen at right angles to the longitudinal direction.The lateral members 22 are each shaped in the form of a rectangular cross-section with each reverse side thereof being partly cut (see FIG. 4).

The longitudinal members 16 have dimension in the direction of depth, i.e., from the outer surface of the wall to the face of the building framework (in the direction indicated by the arrow A), deeper than those of the lateral members 18, 19. However, the longitudinal members 16 and the lateral members 18, 19 are welded together such that their outward facing surfaces are flush, that is, in the same plane with the inward facing surface of the outer wall plates. As shown in FIG. 2, the corners of the support frame 10 may be reinforced as needed by mounting diagonally-connected turnbuckle tension bars 24 on the corners thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the weight, which acts on the support frame 10, is supported by arms 26 fixed to the wide flange shapes 14 having H shape section. These arms 26 have bases thereof welded to the wide flange shapes 14. In addition, the arms 26 are of steel with lengthwise-grooved channel steel formed along the direction indicated by the arrow A, and have the groove open faces facing downward. As shown in FIG. 4, the arms 26 have tip portions thereof welded to nuts 27, which are in turn maintained in meshing engagement with support bolts 28 with the center of the axis of the nuts and bolts being held vertical. The respective arms 26 are provided in correspondence with positions adjacent to both ends of the lateral member 18. The arms 26 serve in such a manner that the weight which acts on the support frame 10 is supported by the wide flange shapes 14.The height above ground of the mounting points at the left-and-right hand sides of the support frame 10 can be adjusted by controlling the amount of meshing engagement between each of the support bolts 28 and each nut 27.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the tip portions of the arms 26 are associated with the lower surface of the lateral member 18. This means that the tip portions thereof protrude into the inside of the support frame 10. As described above, the depth dimension (i.e., in the direction indicated by the arrow A) of the means for supporting the support frame 10 is extremely small, by virtue of the fact that each means for supporting the support frame 10 is situated partially inside the support frame 10.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the longitudinal members 16 have upper ends thereof to which vertically-formed plates 32 are welded. An area of each plate 32 represented by the obliquely hatched line in FIG. 1 shows the portion where each plate 32 is to be welded to each of the longitudinal members 16.

The respective vertically-formed plates 32 have long openings 33 formed vertically in the lengthwise direction thereof. Mounting bolts 34 penetrate the plates 32 in the direction from the outside of the building to the inside thereof. The mounting bolts 34 are inserted into long vertically-formed cuts 37 of angle steel 36 fixed to the arms 26, and have free insertion ends which penetrate washers 38. Thereafter, they are maintained in meshing engagement with nuts 39.

Further, the angle steel 36 have circular holes 41 formed therein adjacent to the cuts 37 and are welded to nuts 42. Pusher bolts 43 are maintained in meshing engagement with the nuts 42, respectively, from the in side of the building. The free ends of each of the pusher bolts 43 are brought into contact with each of the plates 32 respectively.

Thus, as shown in FIG 5, the position, in the direction of the depth of the outer wall structure (in the direction indicated by the arrow A), of the support frame 10 is determined by controlling the amount of the meshing engagement between each mounting bolt 34 and each nut 39 and the amount of meshing engagement between each pusher bolt 43 and each nut 42. The weight of the support frame 10, which acts in the direction of the depth of the building, is transmitted to the wide flange shapes 14 through the mounting bolts 34, the pusher bolts 43 and the angle members 36.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, one pair of the combinations of the mounting bolts 34 and the pusher bolts 43 employed in each end of each support frame 10 is attached to the same angle steel 36 as one of the pairs employed on the adjacent support frame 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the support frame 10 is swingably provided about each of the mounting bolts 34 (in the direction indicated by the arrow B). More specifically, when the support frame 10 is subjected to an external force such as an earthquake so as to undergo a load in a vertical direction, the support frame 10 is swingably moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B about each mounting bolt 34 for the lateral member 18. When the support frame 10 is swung about a support point of either one of the mounting bolts 34 provided on both sides of the lateral member 19, the other of the mounting bolts 34 is moved upwardly and downwardly within one of the cuts 37 of the angle members 36.In order to facilitate the upward and downward movement of the support frame 10, each of washers 45 is inserted into each mounting bolt 34 in association with the surface of each plate 32, which makes contact with the surface of the washer 45. Low friction materials such as fluoroplastics are adhered to the surface of the washer 45 which makes contact with the surface of each plate 32. The washer 45 is preferably welded to the head of each mounting bolt 34.

Each of horizontally-formed plates 47 is welded to the upper ends of the longitudinal members 16. Each of positioning bolts 48 is provided in an upright position extending from the plate 47, and formed with a circular hole 49 adjacent to the bolt 48 for suspension of the frame 10.

Each of the horizontally-formed plates 51 is welded to one of the lower ends of the longitudinal members 16. The horizontally-formed plate 51 has a grooved shape (a U-shaped cross section) in which both bent protrusions thereof face inward, in the direction of the depth of the outer wall structure. In addition, the horizontally-formed plate 51 is formed with a positioning hole 52 into which a positioning bolt 48 used for a horizontally-formed plate 47 penetrates.

Each portion indicated by the obliquely hatched line in FIG. 1 shows an area of the horizontally-formed plate 47, which is welded to each of the longitudinal members 16.

Thus, the lower ends of each support frame 10 are positioned at the upper ends of other support frame 10 disposed at a lower level, by inserting the positioning hole 52 of the horizontally-formed plate 51 attached to each of the lower ends of the support frame 10 into the positioning bolt 48 of the horizontally-formed plate 47 fixed to each of the upper ends of the support frame 10 provided at the lower level. As a consequence, the support frames 10 are rigidly positioned with respect to the depth direction of the outer wall structure (in the direction indicated by the arrow A) and also in the transverse or sideways direction thereof at right angles to the depth direction thereof, i.e. - horizontally in the plane of the surface of the wall.However, the positioning hole 52 and its associated positioning bolt 48 are combined together in such a manner that when the support frame 10 is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow B, the positioning bolt 48 is pulled out of its associated positioning hole 52 by a predetermined amount, thereby enabling the support frame to tilt slightly.

A plurality of metallic plates 56 are fixed securely to the surface of the support frame 10 on the side facing the building. The metallic plates 56 have outer peripheries thereof welded to the longitudinal member 16, the lateral members 18, 19, and serve to close the inward facing side of the support frame 10.

A horizontally-formed portion of each of the angle steels 61 is welded on the top face of the lateral member 18, and each of shape steels 62 is mounted on a vertically-formed portion thereof. The shape steel 62 is comprised of a mold material fabricated by extrusion molding, by way of example. The shape steels 62 are horizontally formed in the lengthwise direction and have vertical and rectangular cross-sections which are the same shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the shape steel 62 is constructed such that the head of a mounting bolt 65 is inserted into an inverted U-shape portion 62A defining therein an opening directed to the inside of the building.A leg of the mounting bolt 65 penetrates a circular hole 61A (see FIG. 1) formed in the angle member 61 and is maintained in meshing engagement with a nut 66 fixed to the angle member 61, thereby fixing the shape steel 62 to the angle member 61.

A vertically-formed portion 62B, which extends downward from the inverted U-shaped portion 62A, covers the front of the longitudinal member 18, and a sealing material 67 is interposed between adjacent metallic plates 56 at the lower end of the portion 62B.

Further, the inverted U-shaped portion 62A has at its upper portion an inverted U-shaped portion 62C which is open upwardly, and the inverted U-shaped portion 62C accommodates the base of a rubber gasket 68 therein. The tip portion of the gasket 68 is made in a thin loop-type shape and is flexibly deformable.

As shown in FIG. 4, a shape steel 62 identical to the shape steel 62 mentioned above is securely fixed to the front of the lateral member 19 in an upside-down position with respect to the former, so as to be symmetrical with the latter 62. Similarly, another gasket 68 is mounted in an upside-down state. Thus, a pair of the gaskets 68 tightly seals the support frames 10 positioned above and below each other so as to prevent water from leaking. The shape steel 62 is formed with a small arm 62D which extends to the outside of the building from between the inverted U-shaped portion 62A and the vertically-formed portion 62B. The shape steel 62 also fixes a hook 69 forming a holding means together with the shape steel 62 to a bolt 71. The hook 69 has a tip portion thereof in the form of an inverted Ushaped frame.The tip portion thereof is accommodated in one of the holding grooves 12A formed in the outer peripheral portions of the outer wall plates 12 so as to support both ends of the outer wall plate 12 at the upper and lower portions thereof.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the shape steels 73 is also securely fixed to the outside of the longitudinal member 16 of the support frame 10 through each of the angle members 74. The shape steel 73 has an inverted U-shaped portion 73A, a horizontally-formed portion 73B, an inverted U-shaped portion 73C and a small arm 73D in the same manner as the shape steel 62. Each of the rubber gaskets 75 is accommodated in the associated inverted U-shaped portion 73C of the shape steel 73. Each rubber gasket 75 is elastically bonded to an adjacent rubber gasket 75 so as to prevent water from leaking. Each of the hooks 76 is fixed to the small arm 73D by a bolt 77, and the tip portion of the hook 76 is contained in each of the holding grooves 12A so as to securely hold both sides of the outer wall plates 12, thereby positioning the respective outer wall plates 12 in the horizontal direction.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of the inverted U-shaped portion 73C extends as indicated by the imaginary (dotted and dashed) line so as to be brought into contact with the outside of one of the two ends of the shape steel 62. Corner sealing materials are interposed between both ends of the shape steels 62 to thereby act as a seal between the two left-and-right ends of the shape steels 62 and the two upper-and-lower ends of the shape steels 73, respec tively. Incidentally, both ends of the rubber gasket pieces 68 are interconnected to the ends of the rubber gasket pieces 75, and they can be disposed around the outer peripheries of the outer wall plates 12 as endless (rectangular) shapes.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, a shape steel 81 mounted on the lateral member 22 has an inverted Ushaped portion 81A for accommodating a bolt 83 used for attachment to the lateral member 22, and also has vertically-formed portions 81B, 81C formed in upper and lower portions of the portion 81A and in both ends thereof. A sealing member 84 acts as a seals between the portion 81B and an end of the metallic plate 56 and between the portion 81C and the end thereof. A small arm 81D, which extends from the upper end of the inverted U-shaped portion 81A in the horizontal direction, is formed with a rectangular portion 81E, which in turn accommodates the head of a bolt 85 therein.

The rectangular portion 81E is formed in such a manner that the bolt 85 can be slid in the direction of the length of the shape steel 81 (in the direction normal to the sheet in FIG. 6) within the rectangular portion 81E. A leg of the bolt 85, which extends upwardly from the rectangular portion 81E, penetrates a hook 86 and is thereafter brought into meshing engagement with a nut 87. The hook 86 is formed with an insertion part 86A at the tip portion thereof located at the outside of the building, and the insertion part 86A is inserted into holding grooves 12A. Thus, the hook 86 serves to support the weight of the outer wall plates 12 at the lower end of each of the outer wall plates 12 and to position the upper end thereof.

Notably, it is simply necessary to bring the nut 86 into meshing engagement with the leg of the bolt 85 after the hook 86 is placed on and inserted into the uprightly-provided bolt 85 upon mounting the hook 86 on the shape steel 81. Therefore, the assembly of the hook 86 on the shape steel 81 is extremely easy.

Incidentally, a shock-absorbing rubber cushion is interposed between each of the hooks 69, 76, 86 and the holding groove 12A. A sealing material 91 and a seal back-up material 92 are inserted between the ends of adjacent outer wall plates 12 by filling. Further, a fire-resistance covering material and a thermal insulating material are provided on the reverse side of the metallic plate 56.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, drainage spaces 93 compartmentalized by the shape steels 62, 73 are defined between the sealing material 91 and each of the rubber gaskets 68, 75. The drainage spacings 93 communicate with each other in each of the upper and lower directions and the horizontal directions along the peripheral ends of each outer wall plate 12. Therefore, the sealing material 91 serves as a first sealing means, and each of the rubber gaskets 68, 75 serve as a second sealing means. The arrangement of the two sealing means permits a double seal to prevent the passage of rainwater into a space defined between the adjacent ends of each outer wall plate 12. Even when the sealing material 91 is broken and the rainwater penetrates into individual drainage spaces 93, the rainwater passes through these drainage spaces 93 and is then discharged to the outside.Therefore, the rainwater does not penetrate into the inside of the building.

Further, the drainage spaces 93 are kept in a semivacuum state by an air pressure differential since the interval between the tip portions of each of the hooks 69 and 76 provided outside the building is narrow, and the intervals between adjacent small arms 62D and between adjacent small arms 73D are wide. As a consequence, the flow of the rainwater, which has broken the sealing material 91 and penetrated the drainage spaces 93, is abruptly reduced. Accordingly, there is little possibility of rainwater passing through the two rubber gaskets 68, 75 so as to penetrate to the interior of the building.

According to the arrangement of the present embodiment constructed as described above, the metallic plates 56 are welded to their corresponding surfaces of the support frames 10 at the outside of the building after the support frames 10 have been fabricated. Fur ther, the shape steels 62, 73 and 81 are fixed to the longitudinal members 16 and the rubber gaskets 68, 75, respectively. Furthermore, the outer wall plates 12 are supported by the support frames 10 through the hooks 69, 76, 86, respectively.

Each of the positioning holes 52 of the horizontally-formed plates 51 disposed at the lower ends of the support frame 10 is inserted into the positioning bolt 48, and the upper ends of the longitudinal members 16 are mounted on their associated support bolts 28. Each of the mounting bolts 34 is fixed while positioning it, to the nut 39 of the angle member 36 after it has penetrated the vertically-formed plate 32.

In the curtain wall according to the present invention, as described above, each of the support frames 10 is formed by a thin-walled steel plate. Since each of the outer wall plates 12 is also relatively thinwalled, the weight of the present curtain wall is on the order of one-third of the weight of the conventional curtain wall of the precast concrete type, and the assembly of the components into the curtain wall is easy.

Load due to wind pressure or the like, which is applied to the building from the outside thereof, is transmitted from each of the outer wall plates 12 to each of the support frames 10 through the hooks 69, 76, 86. Since the vertically-formed plate 32 of each support frame 10 is supported by the angle member 36 as shown in FIG. 5, the lateral load applied to the support frame 10 is transmitted to the wide flange shapes 14 through each arm 26 so as to be reliably supported by the wide flange shapes 14.

When a lateral load-such as an earthquake acts on the curtain wall, the support frame 10 tilts in the direction indicated by the arrow B by swinging on either one of the mounting bolts 34, so that the load is absorbed.

As has already been described, the sealing material 91 and the rubber gaskets 68, 75 form a twostage seal, and the drainage spacing 93 can assuredly prevent the rainwater from penetrating into the inside of the building from between adjacent outer wall plates 12.

Incidentally, when a lateral load such as an earthquake acts on the curtain wall, the load may also be absorbed by movement of the support frame 10 relative to the main framework of the structure in the horizontal direction without entailing any swinging movement. For this purpose, the cuts 37 formed in the angle member 36 may be formed horizontally, in the lengthwise direction. Similarly, the positioning hole 52 formed in the horizontally-formed plate 51 may also be shaped in the form of a long hole.

Then, FIGS. 7 through FIG. 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, shape steels 101, 102 made of precast concrete are used as an alternative to the shape steels 62, 73 employed in the above-described embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9, one of the shape steels 101 provided outside the longitudinal member 16 has a substantially rectangular cross-section as seen from the horizontal direction. The shape steel 101 is formed with a cut lOlA on a surface thereof located on the side opposite to the longitudinal member 16. A bolt 105 extends out in the horizontal direction from a core member 104 embedded in the shape steel 101. The bolt 105 is inserted into through-holes 106, 107 formed in the longitudinal member 16. Further, the head of a positioning bolt 108, which is maintained in meshing engagement with the longitudinal member 16, is brought into contact with the shape steel 101.

Thus, the interval between the longitudinal member 16 and the shape steel 101 is adjusted by controlling the amount of meshing engagement between the positioning bolt 108 and the longitudinal member 16.

The shape steel 101 is securely fixed to the longitudinal member 16 by causing a nut 109 to threadedly engage with the free end of the bolt 105.

The positioning between the shape steel 101 and the longitudinal member 16 is reliably performed by welding an angle member 111 fixed in advance to one of the corners of the shape steel 101 to an angle member 112 fixed to the longitudinal member 16 after the nut 109 has threadedly engaged the bolt 105 and has been fixed to the longitudinal member 16. A sealing material 113 is interjected between the shape steel 101 and the longitudinal member 16 so as to fill the space and prevent the rainwater from penetrating.

Rubber gaskets 75 and hooks 115 are provided on the side of the shape steel 101 opposite to the longitudinal member 16 with the cuts lOlA of the shape steel 101 interposed therebetween. Each of the hooks 115 is fixed by a bolt 117 through a block 116 embedded in the shape steel 101 in advance, and performs the positioning of each outer wall plate 12 in the horizontal direction through each rubber cushion 118 inserted between a side face of the outer wall plate 12 and the hook 115. Incidentally, holding grooves 12A are not formed in the side faces of the outer wall plates 12 in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shape steel 102 has a cut 102A formed at an intermediate point thereof and a hook 121 at the tip portion thereof in the same manner as the shape steel 101. However, the tip portion of each hook 121 is bent downward and inserted into the holding groove 12A of one of the outer wall plates 12. Each of the tip portions of the hooks 121 supports the two upper-and-lower ends of the respective lower level and upper level outer wall plates 12 in the same manner as the above-described embodiment. The shape steel 102 is mounted on the lateral member 18 of the support frame 10 in the same manner as the shape steel 101.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shape steel 102 has an Lshape with a protrusion extending sideways (upward in FIG. 8) on the side near the main structural framework of the building and shape steel 102B has an L-shape with a protrusion extending sideways on the side away from the main structural framework thereof in such a manner that the respective protrusions approach each other and the drainage spaces 93 (formed inside the shape steel 102 and the shape steel 102B attached to the lower end of the support frame 10 adjacent thereto) are bent. Thus, the drainage spaces 93 assuredly prevent the rainwater from penetrating into the main structural framework of the building.Similarly, the shape steel 102B is also mounted on the lateral member 19 of the support frame 10, and provided with a hook 121, which is inserted into the holding groove 12A of one of the outer wall plates 12, so as to support the two upper-and-lower ends of the outer wall plates 12.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 7, cuts 102C, which communicate with the cuts 102A, are formed in both ends of the shape steel 102 in the lengthwise direction (in the horizontal direction) thereof, and are in communication with the cuts 101A of the shape steels 101.

The fabrication of the shape steels 101, 102 constructed as described above is extremely easy as compared with the shape steels 62, 73 employed in the previous embodiment because the shape steels 101, 102 having the same cross-sectional shapes are formed in continuous lengths and they can be cut to the length required.

Next, FIGS. 10 through FIG. 12 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

The present embodiment shows holders 132 for accurately positioning a plurality of outer wall plates 12. As shown in FIG. 12, one of the holders 132 has male thread 134 formed in the base thereof, and an end portion 132A thereof is bent at right angles. The end portion 135A of a bar-like member 135 fixed to an intermediate point of the holder 132 is bent at right angles and arranged in parallel with the bar-like member 132A. An interval between the end portions 132A and 135A is equivalent to the dimension of the outer wall plate 12 interposing it therebetween in the thickness direction thereof as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

A bar 138 is temporarily provided on the outside of the building in the horizontal direction. A bracket 141 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section covers the bar 138, and a fixing bolt 142, which extends through the bracket 141, is pressed against the bar 138, thereby fixing the bracket 141 to the bar 138.

When the fixing bolt 142 is loosened, the bracket 141 can be moved slidably in the lengthwise direction of the bar 138. The male thread 134 of each of the holders 132 penetrates a vertically-formed portion of the angle member 143 fixed to the bracket 141. Nuts 144, 145 threadedly engage the male threads 134 on both sides of the angle member 143. The positions for mounting the nuts 144, 145 on the male threads 134 are so determined that one of the outer wall plates 12 is put into proper relative position toward the depth direction (direction indicated by the arrow A) of the wall structure in a state in which the outer wall plate 12 is interposed between the end portions 132A and 135A.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the tip portions of the plurality of holders 132 are inserted from between adjacent outer wall plates 12 and rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow C about their axes, thereby grasping and holding both sides of the outer wall plates 12. As a consequence, the proper positioning of each outer wall plate 12 in the depth direction of the wall structure is made. Each of the outer wall plates 12 is supported on and fixed to the main framework of the building by making use of the mounting structures shown in the above-described respective embodiments. After the outer wall plates are mounted, each of the holders 132 is removed from between adjacent outer wall plates 12 by, for example, turning each holder 132 in the direction indicated by the arrow C and removing the bracket 141 from the bar 138. The spacing between adjacent outer wall plates 12 is filled with a sealing material so as to seal and close the same.

It is therefore possible to accurately and easily fine-adjust the positions of the number of outer wall plates 12 in the depth direction of the building, in the present embodiment.

Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An outer wall for a building structure of a type wherein a plurality of thin outer wall plates (12) are mounted on the main framework (14) of a structure in such a manner that they can be moved relative to said main framework and the inside and the outside of said structure are separated and sealed, said outer wall comprising:: a plurality of steel-skeleton support frames (10); supporting means (26, 28, 34, 36, 37) for supporting said plurality of steel-skeleton support frames (10) on said main framework (14) and for enabling the same to move relative to said main framework in a vertical plane upon the exertion of a predetermined load thereon; holding means (62, 69, 73, 76) mounted on said plurality of steel-skeleton support frames (10) for holding said plurality of thin outer wall plates (12) on the fronts of said plurality of steel-skeleton support frames (10); first sealing means for serving as a seal between adjacent ends of said plurality of thin outer wall plates (12); and second sealing means (68, 75) for serving as a seal between respective outer peripheries of said plurality of steel-skeleton support frames (10) and the respective outer peripheries of other support frames (10) adjacent thereto.

2. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said supporting means are so constructed and arranged that each of a plurality of arms (26) extending horizontally from said main framework is respectively inserted into the inside of each of said plurality of support frames (10) so as to be used as load supporting portions.

3. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein bar-like members made of precast concrete are provided on the outer peripheries of each of said plurality of steel-skeleton support frames and said holding means are mounted on said bar-like members.

4. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said holding means are each constructed in such a way that a mounting bolt (85) is held upright in a small arm (81D) mounted on one of said plurality of support frames (10) and a mounting hole, which is formed in a hook 86 mounted in each of said plurality of thin outer wall plates (12), vertically fits on said mounting bolt (85) so as to cause a nut (87) to threadedly engage with said mounting bolt, thereby supporting each of said plurality of thin outer wall plates on its associated support frame.

5. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said first sealing means (91) and said second sealing means (68, 75) define closed spaces (93) together with said holding means (62, 69, 73, 76).

6. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of support frames (10) is comprised of a steel plate having a bent cross-section.

7. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said supporting means is constructed in such a way that mounting bolts (34) extending horizontally from one of said plurality of support frames (10) are accommodated in long vertically-shaped cuts (37) defined on the side of said main framework so that each said support frame (10) can be moved relative to said main framework (14) in the vertical plane.

8. An outer wall according to Claim 7, wherein said long vertically-formed cuts (37) are formed in angle members (36), respectively, fixed to said main framework.

9. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein one of each of said supporting means (26, 28, 34, 36, 37) is provided at each of two points, at positions adjacent to the two horizontally-extending upper ends of each said support frame (10).

10. An outer wall according to Claim 9, wherein said supporting means (26, 28, 34, 36, 37) support each said support frame on said main framework (14) in such a way that said support frame can be rotated about one of the two end points of a horizontally-extending portion of said support frame.

11. An outer wall according to Claim 10, wherein said supporting means (26, 28, 34, 36, 37) enables each said support frame (10) to rotate about said mounting bolts (34).

12. An outer wall according to Claim 11, wherein each said mounting bolts (34) can be moved within each said long vertically-shaped cut (37), respectively, formed on the side of said main framework (14).

13. An outer wall according to Claim 12, wherein each said long vertically-shaped cut (37) is formed in each said angle member (36), respectively, fixed to said main framework (14).

14. An outer wall according to Claim 13, wherein each said angle member (36) is formed with a pair of said long vertically-shaped cuts (37), in association with a plurality of respective adjacent ends of said respective paired support frames arranged side-by-side in the horizontal direction.

15. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said supporting means (26, 28, 34, 36, 37) includes supporting bolts (28) projecting upward from said main framework (14), for receiving a load transmitted from said support frame (10) so as to transmit the same to said main framework (14), said support frame (10) being placed on said supporting bolts (28).

16. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein a pusher bolt (43) is provided on said main framework for adjusting the position of each support frame (10) in the direction of the depth of the structure of said outer wall, so as to threadedly and horizontally engage with a corresponding frame.

17. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein positioning bolts (48) are provided so as to position lower ends of each said support frame (10) in the horizontal direction and to enable the same to move in the vertical direction.

18. An outer wall according to Claim 17, wherein said positioning bolts (48) are provided vertically above each of a plurality of lower level support frames (10) and inserted into the lower ends of each of a plurality of upper level steel skeleton support frames (10) provided at a-level above said lower level support frames.

19. An outer wall according to Claim 18, wherein said positioning bolts (48) are provided in association with said two horizontally-extending ends, respectively, of each said support frame (10).

20. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein said holding means (62, 69, 73, 76) are so constructed that the bent end portions of hooks (69, 76) respectively, is inserted into grooves (12A) formed on respective sides of the outer peripheries of each of said thin outer wall plates (12) so as to hold each said outer wall plate (12).

21. An outer wall according to Claim 1, wherein plate materials (56) are fixed to each of said plurality of support frames (10) so as to close the insides thereof.

22. An outer wall for a building structure, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.