GB2313857A

GB2313857A - A method of attaching solar shading to curtain walling

Info

Publication number: GB2313857A
Application number: GB9612127A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Graham Gent
Original assignee: AVENUE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: AVENUE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 1996-06-08
Filing date: 1996-06-08
Publication date: 1997-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-08
Also published as: GB9612127D0; GB2313857B

Abstract

The method comprises the step of fixing brackets 30 to the glazing bars 11 of mullions 10. Each bracket comprises two parts 31 and 32. Each part has a substantially planar portion 33 which, when the bracket is fixed to the mullion, projects forwardly of the glazing bar and in use between two adjacent glazing units 28 , and a locating formation 34 at its rear edge. The locating formations are insertable into respective drainage channels through respective elongate openings with each of the substantially planar portions extending at an angle to the stem portion 15 of the glazing bar and are then being moveable behind respective first and second seal receiving formations 12 and 13 on the glazing bar by angularly displacing the two parts so as to bring the planar portions into contact or into close proximity with one another. The two parts of each bracket are then connected together. Solar shading is then connected to the brackets.

Description

A METHOD OF ATTACHING SOLAR SHADING TO CURTAIN WALLING This invention relates to a method of attaching solar shading to curtain walling and, more particularly, to a curtain walling mullion of the kind having an integral internal glazing bar extending longitudinally along a front face of the mullion, the glazing bar having first and second elongate formations on opposite sides of the glazing bar for receiving sealing elements, a central elongate stem portion projecting forwardly midway between the first and second formations, and a drainage channel on either side of the stem portion, each drainage channel extending behind a respective formation and being accessible through an elongate opening extending longitudinally of the glazing bar between the stem portion and a respective formation. Such a mullion will be referred to hereinafter as a mullion of the kind herein defined.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching solar shading to curtain walling mullions of the kind herein defined, comprising the steps of: (a) fixing brackets to the glazing bars of the mullions, each bracket comprising two parts, each part having a substantially planar portion which, when the bracket is fixed to the mullion, projects forwardly of the glazing bar and in use between two adjacent glazing units, and a locating formation at its rear edge, the locating formations being insertable into respective drainage channels through respective elongate openings with each of the substantially planar portions extending at an angle to the stem portion and then being movable behind respective first and second seal receiving formations on the glazing bar by angularly displacing the two parts so as to bring the planar portions into contact or into close proximity with one another, and then connecting the two parts of each bracket together, and (b) connecting solar shading to the brackets.

Preferably, the locating formations do not fill the drainage channels and so leave drainage passages so that condensation can pass along the length of the mullion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided solar shading attached to curtain walling mullions by a method according to the first aspect of the invention.

The solar shading may be of any convenient form, such as louvre constructions, roller blinds or awnings.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through a known curtain walling mullion and glazing assembly, Figure 2 is a horizontal section showing how a bracket for supporting solar shading can be attached to the mullion according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a horizontal section showing how each part of the bracket is engaged with a glazing bar of the mullion. and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the bracket attached to the mullion.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings the known curtain walling mullion and glazing assembly shown therein is of a type made by Schuco International KG and comprises a box section mullion 10 having an integral internal glazing bar 11 extending along the length of the front face of the mullion. The mullion 10 is extruded in aluminium and is typically 60 cms wide and 45 cms deep (including the depth of the glazing bar). However, the mullions are supplied in various depths ranging from 45 cms (as shown) to 180 cms. The mullions greater than 45 cms in depth have steel reinforcing inserts.

The glazing bar 11 has two C-shaped formations 12 and 13, one on each side of the glazing bar, which support elongate sealing elements 14, a central stem portion 15 projecting forwardly midway between the formations 12 and 13 and two drainage channels 16 and 17, one on either side of the stem portion 15. Each drainage channel 16, 17 extends behind a respective formation 12, 13 and is accessible through a respective slot 18, 19 extending longitudinally of the glazing bar 11 between the stem portion 15 and a respective formation 12, 13.

The stem portion 15 has a U-shaped formation 20 at its free end. The formation 20 defines a groove 21 which receives self-tapping screws 22 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The glazing assembly also comprises an external glazing bar 23 having two C-shaped formations 24 and 25 adjacent to each of two opposite edges of the glazing bar 23 and an elongate cap 26 which is snapfittable over the glazing bar 23. The formations 24 and 25 support two further elongate sealing elements 27.

Glazed units 28, which are typically double glazed panels, are held between the internal and external glazing bars 11 and 23 by the self-tapping screws 22 which pass through apertures in the glazing bar 23 and engage in the groove 21 of the glazing bar 11. The elongate cap 26 conceals the heads of the screws 23.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown therein a bracket 30 formed in two parts 31 and 32. Each part 31, 32 has a planar or substantially planar portion 33 of plate-like form and a formation 34 at one end of the planar portion 33.

Each formation 34 is shaped so that it can be inserted through a respective slot 18, 19 in the glazing bar 11 with the planar portion 33 extending at an angle to the stem portion 15 of the glazing bar 11 as shown at A in Figure 3 and can then be angularly displaced to gradually bring the formation 34 behind a respective formation 12, 13 (through positions B, C and D shown in Figure 3) until the planar portion 33 lies parallel or substantially parallel to the stem portion 15. The planar portions 33 are then in contact or in close proximity with one another and are connected together, such as by a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the two parts 31, 32. This locks the formations 34 in respective drainage channels 16, 17.

As shown, each formation 34 comprises a tongue 35 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the planar portion 33 and which engages behind a respective formation 12, 13 and a step 36 between the planar portion 33 and the tongue, the step being disposed in a respective slot 18, 19 when the bracket 30 is fixed to the glazing bar 11 of the mullion 10. The formation 34 also includes a bevelled face 37 between the planar portion 33 and the tongue 35 to ensure that the formation 34 does not fill the drainage channel 16, 17 and so leaves a drainage passage 38 for condensation to pass along the length of the mullion 10.

The U-shaped formation 20 at the end of the stem portion 15 is milled away locally to accommodate the bracket 30. However, it may be possible to shape the two parts 31 and 32 of the bracket 30 so that this is unnecessary.

The cap 26 may be locally notched as shown in Figure 4 to extend around the bracket 30 and a mastic seal may be applied between the cap 26 and the bracket 30 to prevent ingress of water.

Brackets 30 may be used to support any appropriate form of solar shading including, but not limited to, louvre constructions, roller blinds or awnings.

The brackets 30 can be fitted during construction of curtain walling of may be retro fitted to existing constructions.

Claims

1. A method of attaching solar shading to curtain walling mullions of the kind herein before defined, comprising the steps of: (a) fixing brackets to the glazing bars of the mullions, each bracket comprising two parts, each part having a substantially planar portion which, when the bracket is fixed to the mullion, projects forwardly of the glazing bar and in use between two adjacent glazing units, and a locating formation at its rear edge, the locating formations being insertable into respective drainage channels through respective elongate openings with each of the substantially planar portions extending at an angle to the stem portion of the glazing bar and then being movable behind respective first and second seal receiving formations on the glazing bar by angularly displacing the two parts so as to bring the planar portions into contact or into close proximity with one another, and then connecting the two parts of each bracket together, and (b) connecting solar shading to the brackets.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating formations do not fill the drainage channels and so leave drainage passages so that condensation can pass along the length of the mullion.

3. A method of attaching solar shading to curtain walling mullions of the kind herein before defined, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. Solar shading attached to curtain walling mullions by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Solar shading as claimed in claim 4, in the form of louvre constructions.

6. Solar shading as claimed in claim 4, in the form of roller blinds.

7. Solar shading as claimed in claim 4, in the form of awnings.