GB2292955A

GB2292955A - Curtain walling

Info

Publication number: GB2292955A
Application number: GB9418047A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Joseph Kenny
Original assignee: DON REYNOLDS Ltd
Current assignee: DON REYNOLDS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-07
Filing date: 1994-09-07
Publication date: 1996-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-07
Also published as: GB2292955B; GB9418047D0; BE1006822A7

Abstract

A curtain walling 1 comprises a plurality of mullion posts 2 for fixing to a support structure and a plurality of transom rails 3 for mounting to the mullion post 2. The mullions 2 and transoms 3 have a similar profile and each comprises a rear box section 16 with an outer carrier wall 17 from which a central nose portion 24 extends. A seal retaining channel 26 is provided on both sides of the nose portion 24 and each channel 26 is connected to the carrier wall 17 by a side extension wall 27. The seal retaining channels 26 of the mullion are cut-away to define slots 10 for receiving a projecting nose portion 29a and seal retaining channel portions 29 of the mullion. A jointing pin is retained in a groove 25 in the nose 24 of the transoms 3 and is a force fit in a hole 15 in the nose 24 of the mullion 2 to mount the transoms 3 to the mullion 2. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Curtain Wallina" The invention relates to curtain walling.

According to the invention, there is provided a curtain walling comprising: a plurality of mullion posts for fixing to a support structure, and a plurality of transom rails for mounting to the mullion posts, the mullions and transoms having substantially similar profiles, each profile comprising:: a rear section; a weather side central nose portion narrower than the rear section and extending outwardly; a seal retaining channel on both sides of the nose portion, each seal retaining channel being stepped back from an outer edge of the nose portion; the rear section of the transom being cut away leaving a longitudinally extending projection comprising longitudinally extending nose portion and seal retaining channels, the seal retaining channel of the mullion being cut-away to define a slot for jointing the mullion with the projecting portion of an adjacent transom, the mullion having a transverse hole receiving a jointing pin which extends into the nose of the adjacent transom for jointing the transom to the mullion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin is a force fit in the hole in the nose of the mullion.

In one embodiment of the invention the rear section is a box section including an outer carrier wall from which the nose portion extends.

Preferably each seal retaining channel is connected to the carrier wall by a side extension wall which defined together with the carrier wall and the rear of the seal retaining channel a channel for air separation and water run-off.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a seating rib extends inwardly from each side extension wall to define water run-off channels along both side walls of the mullion.

In one embodiment of the invention the nose portion includes a threaded portion to receive a fixing screw.

Preferably a pressure plate is screwed to the nose portion to mount a panel in position. A face cap may snapfittingly engage over the pressure plate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the curtain walling includes a snap-in internal glazing beaded sash.

In another embodiment of the invention, the curtain walling includes a snap-in external glazing beaded sash.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of portion of a curtain walling according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the joint between a mullion and adjacent transoms; Fig. 3 is a plan, partially cross-sectional, view of the mullion in use; Fig. 4 is a plan, partially cross-sectional, view of the transom in use; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another configuration of curtain walling according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a plan, partially cross-sectional, view of a transom part of the curtain walling of Fig. 5 in use; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further configuration of curtain walling according to the invention; and Fig. 8 is a plan, partially cross-sectional, view of a transom part of the curtain walling of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, there is illustrated a curtain walling according to the invention portion of which is illustrated in Fig.

1 and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

The curtain walling 1 comprises a plurality of mullion posts 2 for fixing to a support structure and a plurality of transom rails 3 for mounting to the mullion post 2.

The transoms 3 and mullions 2 support panels which in this case are double glazing panels 5.

Each mullion profile 2 comprises a rear box section 16 having an outer carrier wall 17 from which a central weather side nose portion 24 extends. The nose portion 24 is narrower than the rear box section 16 and extends outwardly to typically at least the depth of the box section 16. A seal retaining channel 26 is provided on both sides of the nose portion 24, each channel 26 being stepped back from an outer edge of the nose portion 24.

Each channel 26 is connected to the carrier wall 17 by a side extension wall 27. The seal retaining channels 26 of the mullion 2 are cut-away to define a slot 10 at a joint to adjacent transoms 3 as will be apparent from Fig 2.

Each transom profile 3 is similar to that of the mullion 2 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals.

In this case the rear box section 16 of each transom 3 is cut-away at 11 leaving a longitudinally extending projection 29 comprising a longitudinally extending nose portion 29a and longitudinally extending seal retaining channels 29b which project into and interengage with the slots 10 in the adjacent mullion 2 for jointing the transoms 3 to the mullion 2.

The mullion 2 also includes a seating rib 50 on each side extending inwardly from the side extension walls 27 for the length of the mullion 2 to define water run-off channels along both side walls of the mullion 2. In use, the transoms 3 (as illustrated in Fig 3) extend beyond the depth of the ribs 50 to promote any condensate, water or the like to travel a desired path inside the mullion 2.

The mullion 2 has a transverse hole 15 for receiving a jointing pin 20 and each of the transoms 3 has an elongate groove 25 in the nose portion for receiving the pin 20.

The pin 20 is movable transversely from the groove 25 into the hole 15 and vice-versa. For mounting the transoms 3 to the mullions 2, the pin 20 is first mounted in the groove 25 of an adjacent transom 3 so that it does not project from the transoms 3. The projections 29 of the transoms 3 are then interengaged with the slots 10 in the mullions 2. When the transoms 3 which carry the glazing are in position, the pin 20 is moved transversely from the groove 25 in the transoms 3 to force fit into the hole 15, effectively fixing the transoms 3 to the adjacent mullion 2. This procedure is followed at each joint between the mullions 2 and the transom 3.

For ease of fitting and manoeuvrability, it will be noted that the pin 20 is of substantially cylindrical shape and the hole 15 and grooves 25 are of complementary shape to that of the pin.

It will be noted that the glazing flanges and the back of the drainage chamber in the transom 3 totally overlaps into the drainage chamber in the mullion 2 so that any water leakage in the area of the transom 3 has no pathway except into the mullion 2 where it runs-off in a controlled manner to a low level mullion drainage port.

Because there is a continuous carrier wall 17 simple connections and joints may be made in individual mullion lengths - either vertically or at a desired angle - using a simple internal jointing sleeve. Thus, the assembly is both versatile and easily erected on site from pre-cut lengths of mullions and transoms.

It will also be noted that the extension walls 27 define a channel for water and/or air run-off in both the transoms 3 and mullions 2.

The central nose 35 of the mullion 2 has a threaded front portion 36 for receiving a fixing screw 37. A pressure plate 40 having elongate recesses 41 receiving glazing gaskets 42 is used on operation of the screw 37 to screw the assembly together to the mullion 2 which in turn is supported on the main structure of the building. A gasket 43 is provided between the screw 37 and the threaded front portion 36 of the nose 35 of the mullion 2. A facing cap 46 snap-fittingly engages the pressure plate 40 after the screws 37 have been tightened into position. The facing caps 46 may of course be of any desired size, shape or configuration to achieve a required aesthetic effect.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated another curtain walling system according to the invention, and indicated generally by the reference numeral 60. In this case, the curtain walling 60 is configured to present a particular aesthetic effect having shadow lines at the joints between the various sections of the curtain walling 60. The mullions 2 and transoms 3 are as described above except that in this case they are used for mounting further sections including external glazing beaded sash 61.

Referring to Fig 7, there is illustrated portion of another curtain walling similar to the curtain walling 60 described above with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. In this case, the curtain walling includes an internal glazing beaded sash 65 to facilitate ease of window repair.

Many modifications on the invention will be readily apparent and accordingly, the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A curtain walling comprising: a plurality of mullion posts for fixing to a support structure, and a plurality of transom rails for mounting to the mullion posts, the mullions and transoms having substantially similar profiles, and each profile comprising: a rear section; a weather side central nose portion narrower than the rear section and extending outwardly; a seal retaining channel on both sides of the nose portion, each seal retaining channel being stepped back from an outer edge of the nose portion;; the rear section of the transom being cut away leaving a longitudinally extending projection comprising longitudinally extending nose portion and seal retaining channels, the seal retaining channel of the mullion being cut-away to define a slot for jointing the mullion with the projecting portion of an adjacent transom, the mullion having a transverse hole receiving a jointing pin which extends into the nose of the adjacent transom for jointing the transom to the mullion.

2. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pin is a force fit in the hole in the nose of the mullion.

3. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the rear section is a box section including an outer carrier wall from which the nose portion extends.

4. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 3 wherein each seal retaining channel is connected to the carrier wall by a side extension wall which defines, together with the carrier wall and the rear of the seal retaining channel, a channel for air separation and water run-off.

5. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 4 wherein a seating rib extends inwardly from each side extension wall to define water run-off channels along both side walls of the mullion.

6. A curtain walling as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nose portion includes a threaded portion to receive a fixing screw.

7. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 6 wherein a pressure plate is screwed to the nose portion to mount a panel in position.

8. A curtain walling as claimed in claim 7 wherein a face cap snap fittingly engages the pressure plate.

9. A curtain walling as claimed in any preceding claim including a snap-in internal glazing beaded sash.

10. A curtain walling as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 including a snap-in external glazing beaded sash.

11. A curtain walling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.