GB2296264A

GB2296264A - Fixing cladding on, e.g. a building facade

Info

Publication number: GB2296264A
Application number: GB9526114A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fritz Gartner
Original assignee: Gartner & Co J; Josef Gartner and Co
Current assignee: Gartner & Co J; Josef Gartner and Co
Priority date: 1994-12-21
Filing date: 1995-12-20
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-20
Also published as: GB2296264B; NL1001949A1; DE4445724C2; DE4445724A1; HK1003440A1; NL1001949C2; GB9526114D0

Description

2296264 Fastening arrangement for jaanels

The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fitting panels, in particular glass panels or boards, on an extension arm of a substructure, preferably for a 5 building facade, as is described in Claim 1.

DE 39 27 653 Al discloses a securing means for glass panels which provides mounting which is free of bending moments and can compensate for tolerances. In this arrangement, a glass panel is clamped in between two support plates by means of a retaining screw which passes through the glass panel and braces the support plates together. One of the support plates is connected, via a ball-and-socket joint, to securing means which is fastened on the substructure. Compensation for tolerances takes place between the substructure and the glass panel, in the region of the glass bore through which the retaining screw passes, the movements for tolerance compensation taking place as relative movements between the glass panel and the securing means. The formation of a flush glass surface over a sizeable glass panel area is not possible here. The glass panels are fitted on site such that the securing means, with one of the support plates, are first of all fastened at the correct location on the substructure and then the glass panel is positioned on the associated securing means and is clamped on the securing means by the second support plate being screwed on. Each glass panel is to be individually fitted in this manner, on site on the securing means provided for them.

EP 0 201 212 B1 discloses a securing means for glass panels which has a ball element which can rotate in a spherical manner in a sleeve element, the sleeve element being fastened in a bore of the panel. In this arrangement, the centre of rotation of the spherical movement is located essentially in the centre plane of the panel. The ball element is connected to a substructure. Here too, it is necessary f or the securing means to be fastened on the substructure first of all, in order that the glass panels can then be positioned on the securing means assigned to them and braced together with the lattef.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening arrangement of the generic type mentioned in the introduction, which reduces the onsite assembly work 5 and the costs which are involved with this.

This object is achieved by the features specified in Claim 1.

The configuration of the fastening arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to provide the panels with the fastening parts outside the building site, for example at the factory where a facade cladding is manufactured, with the result that all that remains to be done on the building site is to fit said pre-assembled units on the extension arms of the substructure by means of the fastening bolt. This on-site operation of fastening the panels takes place very quickly since it is no longer necessary to provide screw- connections in the region of the panel, these requiring that predetermined torques are maintained in order that the panel is not damaged, on the building site. This makes it possible, for example, for the time for fitting a facade cladding on a building to be reduced considerably, so that the overall construction time is also reduced.

It is advantageous if the fastening bolt engages through an opening in the rear section of the fastening part and engages into an opening in the extension arm and is arrested therein. This permits quick and problem-free assembly on the building site.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the fasten- -30 ing bolt, which can basically also be configured as a threaded bolt, is designed as an insert bolt which can be fastened on the extension arm by means of a securing pin which passes through said insert bolt and the extension arm through a bore. This reduces the assembly time yet further since, for each fastening arrangement, all that is required for fastening purposes is to insert and secure an insert bolt.

If the fastening part can be f ixed rigidly on the extension arm, then it is possible, via said fastening 9 part, to absorb forces in all three axial directions.

If the fastening part can be fixed on the extension arm in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said extension arm, while maintaining the capacity to pivot about the longitudinal axis or about an axis running essentially parallel thereto, then this provides a semifixed bearing, which makes it possible to absorb forces in two spatial directions, while there is capacity for movement in the third spatial direction. This makes it possible to compensate, for example, expansions of the panel in one direction.

It is advantageous,, in particular if the rear section of the fastening part has a single-plane pivot joint.

If the fastening part can be fixed on the extension arm in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said extension arm. while maintaining the capacity to pivot about the longitudinal axis or about an axis running essentially parallel thereto, and while maintaining the capacity to pivot about axes which run in a plane located essentially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis, and if said axes intersect the longitudinal axis, or the axis running parallel thereto, essentially at the same point as the longitudinal axis of the fastening part, then this provides a movable bearing, which permits movement in two or three spatial directions, as a result of which it is possible to allow for expansions in these two spatial directions.

It is advantageous, in particular, if the rear section of the fastening part has a double-plane pivot joint.

Furthermore,, it is advantageous if the front section can be connected to the panel-fastening means in a pivotable manner. This provides, in conjunction with the semi-fixed bearing or the movable bearing, a fastening arrangement which, in a particularly effective manner in each case, can absorb movements of the panel in the panel plane since said fastening arrangements are each designed as double- joint arrangements on account of the capacity to pivot at both ends of the fastening part.

It is particularly advantageous if the front section is designed as front pivot part and is part of a pivot bearing which, furthermore, has an abutment, connected to the panel-f astening means, and a bearing part which holds the pivot part and the abutment together. This provides a compact pivot bearing in the region of the panel-f astening means and of the f ront section of the fastening part.

Preferably, the front pivot part and the abutment, on the one hand, and the front pivot part and the bearing part, on the other hand, each have concentrically curved surfaces which are in contact with one another.

In a preferred embodiment, the front section and the rear section of the fastening part are formed by two separate parts which can be joined together firmly by means of a connection. As a result, the fastening part can be easily assembled on the panel, in particular when a pivot bearing is provided in the region of the f ront end of the fastening part.

In a further preferred embodiment, the extension arm, the fastening part and/or the panel-retaining means, or at least parts of these, consist of a material which does not conduct heat or conducts heat only to a slight extent. This ensures optimum heat insulation, while avoiding cold bridges.

The invention is explained in more detail herein- below with reference to exemplary embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the fasten ing arrangement, configured as a fixed bearing; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the f asten ing arrangement, configured as a semi-fixed bearing; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the fasten ing arrangement, configured as a movable bearing; and Figure 4 shows the mounting of a panel by means of the fastening arrangements according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a fastening arrangement, in the case of which there is provided an extension arm 1 which is an element of a substructure of a building facade. The extension arm 1 is fitted, at one end, on a post 11, for example a vertical post (see Figure 4), such that its longitudinal axis 10 runs essentially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal extent of the post 11. The extension arm 1 is provided, at its free end, with an axial bore 12 and has, in the vicinity of its free end, a transverse bore 14 which passes through the axial bore 12 and runs essentially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis 10.

The axial bore 12 is designed for receiving a fastening bolt 2 which is likewise provided, in the vicinity of its front end, with a transverse bore, which is adapted to the bore 14 in the extension arm 1. The fastening bolt 2 is provided. at one end, with a crosssectionally round front section 20 which is adapted to the axial bore 12 in the extension arm 1 and is designed so that the fastening bolt 2 can be inserted in an essentially correctly fitting manner into the axial bore 12 in the extension arm 1. At its other e nd, the fastening bolt 2 is provided with a head section 22, of which the diameter in greater than that of the front section 20. Extending between the head section 22 and the front section 20 is a central section 24, which is designed to be essentially square in cross-section, the edge length of the square cross-section corresponding essentially to the diameter of the front section 20.

A fastening part 3 comprises a rear section 32 and a front section 40. The longitudinal axis 30 of the fastening part 3 extends transversely, but not necessarily at right angles, with respect to the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 1. In its rear section 32, the fastening part 3 has a through-passage opening 31 which is adapted in cross-section to the cross-section of the central section 24 of the fastening bolt 2, with the result that said central section can be inserted in an essentially correctly fitting manner into the throughpassage opening 31.

At its front, free end, the rear section 32 is provided with an axial bore 37 which has an internal thread 371.

The front section of the fastening part 3 is designed as a pivot bearing 4. For this purpose, the rear pin 41, which is provided with an external thread 411, of a front pivot part 40 is screwed into the front axial bore 37, which is provided with the thread 37 1, of the rear section 32. At its free end, the front pivot part 40 is designed in the form of a sector of spherical shell, the latter having an end-side curved surface 45 and an annular, rear, curved surface 47.

A union nut 52 with an internal thread 53 is provided, in its rear region, with a rear axial bore 54, of which the internal diameter is smaller than that of the internal thread 53. The rear axial bore 54 opens conically towards the rear end side of the union nut 52. At the transition from the bore provided with the internal thread 53 to the rear axial bore 54, the union nut 52 is provided with a spherically curved surface 48, which comes to rest against the rear curved surface 47 of the pivot part 40. The union nut 52, which is designed as a bearing part, is pushed, from behind, over the rear region of the front pivot part 40 and, by means of its internal thread 53 is screwed onto the external thread 421 of an abutment 42. In the process, the rear region of the front pivot part 40 passes through the rear axial bore 54 of the union nut 52. At its rear side facing the front pivot part 40, the abutment 42 has a spherically curved surface 46, which comes to rest against the spherically curved surface 45 of the front pivot part 40. The front end surface of the abutment 42 terminates essentially with the front annular end surface of the union nut 52.

By virtue of the union nut 52 being screwed onto the abutment 42, the spherical-shell-like section of the front pivot part 40 is clamped in between the union nut 52 and the abutment 42. The spherically curved surfaces 45, 46, 47, 48 all have the same centre point of curvature. The dimensions of the spherically curved surfaces 45, 46, 47, 48 in the circumferential direction are such that the surfaces 45 and 47 of the front pivot part 40 are shorter, in the circumferential direction, than the surface 48 of the bearing part formed by the union nut 52 and the curved surface 46 of the abutment 42, with the result that the front pivot part 40 can be pivoted about the common centre point of the concentrically curved surfaces 45, 46, 47, 48, said surfaces being curved convexly and concavely.

A panel-fastening means 5, which passes through the panel 6 and consists preferably of stainless steel, is screwed, by means of the screw 50 which engages through the panel-fastening means 5, into an axial threaded bore 4211 of the abutment 42 and is thus fastened on the abutment 42. A plastic insert 34 is introduced between the panel-fastening means 5 and the panel 6. At the fronty free end, on the annular end surface enclosing the internal thread 53, the union nut 52 is provided with an annular groove 56 into which a sealing ring 58 is inserted. If the union nut 52 is screwed onto the abutment 42 to essentially the full extent, then the sealing ring 58 comes to test against the rear end side of the panel 6, as a result of-which the area located behind the panel 6 is sealed with respect to the opening, located in the panel 6, which receives the panel-fastening means 5. The panel 6 is thus braced against the front pivot part 40 via the panel-fastening means 5, the screw 50 and the abutment 42. on the one hand, and via the union nut 52 and the sealing ring 58, on the other hand.

The fastening part 3, which is thus connected to the panel 6 in a firm and sealing manner, is fastened on the extension arm 1 by the fastening bolt 2 being guided through the opening 31 in the rear section 32 of the fastening part 3, the central part 24 of the fastening bolt 2 passing into positively locking engagement with the opening 31. The front section 20 of the fastening bolt 2 is inserted into the axial bore 12 of the extension arm 1, the transverse bore in the fastening bolt 2 being aligned with the transverse bore 14 in the extension arm 1 and a securing pin 15 being inserted through the two transverse bores. The securing pin 15 may be formed by a spring pin or another type of common securing pin. In this manner, the fastening part 3 is secured on the extension arm 1, both in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 1.

By virtue of the square cross-section of the opening 31 of the fastening part 3 and of the central section 24 of the fastening bolt 2 and by virtue of the securing pin 15 which engages through the opening 14, the fastening part 3 is, moreover, prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 1.

The extension arm 1, the fastening bolt 2, the fastening part 3 and the panel-fastening means 5 thus form a fixed bearing for the panel.

Figure 2 shows a further configuration of a fastening device according to the invention. The con figuration of the pivot bearing 4 corresponds to that of Figure 1. In this embodiment, the rear section 321 of the fastening part 31 is provided with an opening 311 which passes transversely through the rear section 321 and is designed as a round bore. The central section 241 of the fastening bolt 21 has a cylindrical cross-section, of which the external diameter is adapted to the internal diameter of the bore 311. Although the fastening bolt 21 is secured in terms of rotation with respect to the extension arm 1 by means of the securing pin 15 which passes through the transverse bore 14 in the extension arm 1 and the transverse bore in the fastening bolt 21, the fastening part 31 can, in this embodiment of the fastening arrangement, be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 1.

The capacity of the fastening part 31 to rotate about the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 1 and the provision of the pivot bearing 4 in the f ront section of the fastening part 31 makes it possible for the panel 6 to move in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axle 10 of the extension arm 1, with the result that the embodiment represented in Figure 2 shows a semi-fixed bearing with a single-plane pivot joint 33. A third embodiment of the fastening arrangement according to the invention is represented in Figure 3, the pivot bearing 4 again corresponding to that in Figure 1. The rear section 32w of the fastening part 311 has a spherical circumference from which, at the front end 10 only, a pin section 3011, oriented towards the front pivot part 40, projects in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the fastening part 30. The external diameter of the pin section 3C is smaller than that of the ball section 301. The through-passage opening 3111, which 15 passes transversely through the fastening part 30, tapers in each case from the mouth of the through-passage opening 310 in the region of the ball surface to the centre plane of the fastening part 30, with the result that the diameter of the through-passage opening 31" is 20 smaller in the region of the centre plane of the fastening part 3 11 than in the region of the mouths of the through-passage opening 310. The diameter of the throughpassage opening 31 in the region of the centre plane of the fastening part 311 corresponds essentially to the 25 external diameter of the shank 20n of the fastening bolt 211.

On its front end surface 11", at which the axial bore 12" opens, the extension arm 1" is designed to be spherically concave, the radius of curvature corre sponding to the radius of curvature of the ball section 301. In addition, the head section 22" of the fastening bolt 2" is provided,. on the shank side, with a spherically concave annular surface 21" around the shank 2011, the radius of curvature of said annular surface likewise corresponding to that of the ball section 301.

In order to fasten the fastening part 3" on the extension arm 1", the fastening bolt 2" is inserted through the opening 311, of the fastening part 3" and into the axial bore 12" of the extension arm 1". By virtue of rotating the fastening bolt V' in the axial bore 12", the transverse bore 14 in the extension arm P' is brought into alignment with the corresponding transverse bore in the fastening bolt 2H, and a securing pin 15 is inserted through the transverse bore 14 in the extension arm 111 and through the fastening bolt 211, as a result of which the fastening bolt 211 is secured axially and in terms of rotation in the extension arm l". Since the spherical surfaces 2111 on the fastening bolt 2" and 111' on the extension arm 10 have the same centre point of curvature as the ball section 30' of the fastening part 31',. the fastening part 311 can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 10 of the extension arm 111 and about axes 16 which run in a plane 17 located essentially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis 10 and which intersect the longitudinal axis 10 at the same point as the longitudinal axis 30 of the fastening part P.

This thus provides a double-plane pivot joint 35, which, in conjunction with the pivot bearing 4, forms a movable bearing.

Figure 4 shows a panel 6 fastened on two vertical posts 11. The distance between the vertical posts may be somewhat smaller than the width of the panel 6. The post 1 1 may be f lush with the border of the glass or may project out beyond this, preferably centrally. The panel 6 is provided, in the region of its vertical longitudinal sides, with in each case f our through-passage holes which are spaced apart f rom the border of the panel and into which there is inserted in each case one panel-fastening means 5 for securing the panel 6. The eight fastening locations of the panel 6 which are shown in this example are made up respectively of a fixed bearing F (top left in Figure 4) and a semi-fixed bearing EF (bottom left in Figure 4) and six movable bearings L. This arrangement, on the one hand, ensures sufficient fixing of the panel 6 on the vertical posts 11 and, on the other hand, makes it possible for the panel 6 to move freely, for example as a result of heat expansion of the panel 6. If required, it is also possible for the panel 6 to be fastened on one vertical post 11 only. the post represented on the lef t in Figure 4, as long as the f ixed bearing and the semi-fixed bearing are provided on this post.

The assembly of the fastening arrangements shown in Figures 1 to 3 takes place. for the most parte outside the building mite where the panels, for example f acade panels of the building, are to be f itted, the panel 6 being provided with the respective fastening part 3, 31, 31' outside the building site and this prefabricated unit being delivered to the building site. There, fastening on the substructure takes place merely by inserting the respective fastening bolts 2, 21, 20, through the associated fastening parts 3, 31, 3 0, into the respective extension arms 1, 1" and by inserting securing pin 15. This fastening operation can be carried out very quickly, with the result that the time needed for assembling facade panels on site is reduced considerably.

By virtue of a panel 6 being fitted on the substructure via a fixed bearing, a semi-fixed bearing and a number of movable bearings, all the compensation movements take place without relative movements between the fastening arrangement and the panel. However, it this is necessary, use may also be made, for example, of panel-fastening means which permit translatory compensation between the panel and the fastening arrangement without there being a direct relative movement between the panel and those elements of the panel-fastening means which clamp said panel. The fastening arrangement accord- ing to the invention can thus absorb both translatory and rotational movements and is particularly suitable for use in a polygonal facade.

The panel 6 can be fastened both by the panelfastening means 5, which is represented in Figures 1 to 3, terminates in a flush manner and engages into a counterbore of the panel, and by a press-on plate attached on top. Instead of the method of fixing the rear section 32 of the fastening part 3 on the fastening bolt 2 by means of the respective square cross-section, this method being shown in Figure 1, it is also possible for another type of rotation-prevention means to be formed, for example with an internal toothing arrangement in the bore 31 and an external toothing arrangemet on a central section, which would then have a round cross-section, of the fastening bolt. It is also possible to provide a rotation-prevention means in this region by means of a securing pin, as is provided between the extension arm 1 and the fastening bolt 2.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

In the attached claims the -reference numerals have been included merely to assist in understanding the claims and are in no way limiting.

1

Claims

Claims

5.

0 9 9 9 p, in particular glass panels or boards, on an extension arm (1; 111) of a substructure, preferably for a building facade, having a fastening part (3; 31; 3u) which can be fitted, at a rear section (32; 321; 32"), on the exten sion arm (1; 10) by means of a fastening bolt (2; 21; 20) and which is in connection, by means of a front section (40), with a panel-fastening means (5) for securing a panel (6).

2. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 1, the fastening bolt (2; 21; 211) engaging through an opening (31; 311; 3111) in the rear section (32; 321; 320) of the fastening part (3; 31; 30) and engaging into an opening is in the extension arm (1; 111) and being arrested therein. 3. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 2, the fastening bolt (2; 21; 20) being designed as an insert bolt which can be fastened on the extension arm (1; 10) by means of a securing pin (15) which passes through said insert bolt and the extension arm (1; 10) through a bore (14).

4. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, it being possible for the fastening part (3) to be fixed rigidly on the extension arm (1).

Fastening arrangement according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, it being possible for the fastening part (31) to be fixed on the extension arm (1) in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (10) of said extension arm, while maintaining the capacity to pivot about the longitudinal axis (10) or about an axis running essentially parallel thereto.

6. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 5, the rear section (321) of the fastening part (31) having a single-plane pivot joint (33).

7. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, it being possible for the fastening part (3n) to be fixed on the extension arm (111) in the axial direction and in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (10) of said extension arm, while Fastenin arran ement for fittin anels maintaining the capacity to pivot about the longitudinal axis (10) or about an axis running essentially parallel thereto, and while maintaining the capacity to pivot about axes (16) which run in a plane (17) located essen- tially at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis (10) and which intersect the longitudinal axis (10), or the axis running parallel thereto, essentially at the same point as the longitudinal axis (30) of the fastening part (31').

8. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 7, the rear section (32") of the fastening part (Y') having a double-plane pivot joint (35).

9. Fastening arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 8, it being possible for the front section (40) to be connected to the panel-fastening means (5) in a pivotable manner.

10. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 9, the front section of the fastening part being designed as front pivot part (40) and being part of a pivot bearing (4) which, furthermore, forms an abutment (42), connected to the panel- fastening means (5), and a bearing part (52) which holds the pivot part (40) and the abutment (42) together.

11. Fastening arrangement according to Claim 10, the front pivot part (40) and the abutment (42), on the one hand, and the front pivot part (40) and the bearing part (52), on the other hand, each having concentrically curved surfaces (45, 46, 47, 48) which are in contact with one another.

12. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, the front section (40) and the rear section (32; 321; 32") of the fastening part (3; 31; 30) being formed by two separate parts which can be joined together firmly by means of a connection (41).

13. Fastening arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, the extension arm (1; V'), the fastening part (3; 31; Y') and/or the panelretaining means (5), or at least parts of these, consisting of a material which does not conduct heat or conducts heat only to a slight extent.

14. Fastening arrangement for fitting panels, in particular glass panels or boards, on an extension arm of a substructure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 4, or 2 and 4, or 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.