GB2338003A

GB2338003A - Glazing system; tolerance adjustment

Info

Publication number: GB2338003A
Application number: GB9907101A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Bryant; Robin Coles; Keith Martin
Original assignee: WINDOW GLASS CO
Current assignee: WINDOW GLASS CO
Priority date: 1998-05-08
Filing date: 1999-03-26
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-26
Also published as: GB9809801D0; GB9907101D0; GB2338003B

Abstract

The position of an elongate element 15, e.g. a fixing bolt, in a cylindrical bore 7, e.g. in a glazing sheet 1, is adjusted using an adjustment washer 13a, 13b, comprising a sleeve portion 21 adapted to be closely received in the cylindrical bore 7, but permitting rotation therein, the washer having an eccentric slot 17 adapted to permit side to side play of element 15 in the direction X - X, but to inhibit vertical play in direction Y - Y, whereby rotation of the washer in the bore allows tolerance adjustment in the plane of the sheet 1.

Description

2338003 GLAZING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a glazing system for assembling glass sheets into a glass screen or wall, and in particular to the arrangement by which glass sheets are connected to their supporting structures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, it has become popular when constructing new buildings to form exterior walls, or roofing, from sheets of toughened glass, as shown in Figure 1. Glazed curtain walls such as this are usually formed by clamping a series of toughened glass panels to the outside of steel supports, thus forming an external glass curtain.

Figure 2 shows a typical arrangement for holding the toughened glass plates together. Glass panels la to id are held together by a support bracket 3. The support bracket 3 has a central boss 4 into which are fixed a plurality of rods 5. One rod 5, is provided for each of the glass panels being held. Each rod 5 passes through a hole (hidden from view), located t the corner of each glass panel la to ld. The glass panels la to id are secured to the rods 5 using washers 8 and bolts 7. The boss 4 of the sUpport bracket 3 is provided with a base 9 which is bolted to a supporting structure such as a metal frame or wall.

During assembly of glass wall curtains, the support brackets are firstly fixed to the supporting frames. The glass panels are then fitted, often at a later date, to the support brackets. Due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, a support bracket having four rods 5 will rarely align correctly with all four of the glass panels which it supports.

To overcome this problem, prior art systems, such is as those shown in Figure 2, have adjusting means such as a turnbuckle or thread and socket arrangement (not shown) which allow the rods 5 to be adjusted in length.

Although such adjusting means facilitate alignment of the rods 5 with the holes in the glass, the assembly procedure is made complicated because the glass panels have to be held in place while the position of each rod is adjusted. This procedure is both complicated and time consuming.

The present invention seeks to overcome this disadvantage, by providing a glazing assembly that has a degree of play built in to accommodate manufacturing and assembly tolerances, and hence is easy to assemble.

The present invention also seeks to provide an assembly in which the provision of play is not evident in the finished assembly and in which the appearance and sealing properties of the connections to the glazing panels are unaffected by providing play.

The present invention also seeks to provide a glazing assembly that has a constituent set of components which can be assembled in various ways to achieve any type of fitting.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there -is provided an assembly comprising an adjustment washer, for adjusting the position of an elongate element in a cylindrical bore, the adjustment washer comprising:

a sleeve portion which is adapted to be closely received in the cylindrical bore, yet allows the adjustment washer to rotate in the bore; and a slot formed through the adjustment washer in an axial direction of the sleeve portion, the slot being adapted to receive the elongate element with some side to-side play in a first direction and to more closely receive the elongate element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said first direction, so that rotation of the adjustment washer in the bore adjusts the position of the elongate element relative to the bore.

Preferably the slot is offset from a centreline of the sleeve portion.

Preferably, the assembly comprises a pair of adjustment washers as described above, one washer being provided at each end of the cylindrical bore. Preferably, at least one of the free ends of the sleeve portions of the adjustment washers are provided with cooperating formations, so that when the adjustment washers are inserted in the bore from opposite ends of the bore, the cooperating formations interlock. Preferably, there is a fixed relationship between the alignment of the slots in the adjustment washers and the position of the cooperating formations, so that when the cooperating formations of two adjustment washers interlock, the slots in the adjustment washers are aligned.

Preferably a spacer is provided which comprises a sleeve portion having cooperating formations at both free ends, which formations can cooperate with similar formations on one or more further spacers and/or with one or more adjustment washers.

Preferably, a free end of each sleeve portion is extended to form a cooperating formation. Most preferably, half of the circumference of the free end of each sleeve portion is extended to form a cooperating formation.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises clamping means, which is tightened to clamp the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore. Preferably, the elongate member forms part of the clamping means and may for example comprise a bolt. The clamping means may comprise the said bolt and a nut which is tightened onto the bolt to clamp the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore. In an alternative arrangement, the clamping means comprises the said bolt and a joint member or hub of a support structure, the bolt being screwed into the joint member or hub to clamp the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore.

Preferably the adjustment washer further comprises a flange portion connected to, and extending radially outwardly from, the sleeve portion, the flange portion being adapted to be clamped by the clamping means, thereby to fix the position of the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises a washer having an elongate opening which is sized to fit over the flange portion of the adjustment washer with some side-to-side play in one direction and to more closely receive the flange portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said one d irection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly for securing a plate-shaped member to another plate-shaped member-or to a structure, the assembly comprising:

a cylindrical joint member having a first bore which extends axially through the joint member and a second bore which extends radially through the joint member and is connected to the first bore; support arm which is received in the bore; and fixing which is fixed into the first bore to secure the support arm into the joint member.

Preferably, the fixing comprises a screw or bolt.

Preferably a plurality of second bores extend radially through the joint member and are interconnected. Preferably, a plurality of support arms are provided, each support art being received in a respective bore, such that the ends of the support arms overlap and are joined together by the fixing when it is fixed into the first bore.

Preferably, the assembly further comprises one or more of the features of the first aspect of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steel framed building clad in sheets- of toughened glass; Figure 2 shows a prior art arrangement for supporting the toughened glass sheets of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the connection between a glass sheet and a fixing arrangement; Figure 4 is a front view of an adjustment washer of the fixing arrangement of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of the adjustment washer of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a rear view of the adjustment washer of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a cross-section through the adjustment washer of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 8 is an exploded view of further components for use in fixing a glass sheet; Figure 9 is an enlarged front view of a fibre washer used in the assembly of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a cross-section on the line X-X of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a cross-section on the line XI-XI of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a front view of a spacer used in the assembly of Figure 8; Figure 13 is a side view of the spacer of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a view on the other side of the spacer of Figure 12; Figure 15 is a cross-section through the spacer of Figure 12; Figure 16 is a listing of the various individual components which make up an assembly for securing glass sheets; is Figure 17 shows how the components of Figures 16 are used to assemble a corner clamp; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As certain parts of the invention are similar to the prior art arrangement shown in Figure 2, reference is made to Figure 2 for a brief outline of the arrangement for connecting a glass sheet 1 to a building, in accordance with the present invention.

A support bracket 3 is provided for supporting four glass sheets 1. The support bracket 3 is secured by a base 9 to a frame structure (also not shown). In addition, the support bracket 3 has a central hub 4 which supports a number of rods 5, one for each sheet of glass 1 being supported.

Unlike in the prior art arrangement, the rods 5 are not adjustable in length or connected in an adjustable manner to the hub 4. Instead, the rods 5 are fixed to the hub 4 and adjustment of the separation of the hub 4 from the base 9 is provided by means of a threaded bar 13 (ORB/120 in Figure 16) which is fitted within an opening in the base 9 and is held in position by means of a pair of pins (not shown). These pins provide a safety locking arrangement with a degree of redundancy, because if one pin fails, the other will hold the threaded bar 13 and hence the glass sheets 1 to the structure.

The end of the bar 13 opposite to the pinned end is threaded and is screwed into a cooperating threaded opening in the hub 4. The distance between the hub 4 and the base 9 can be adjusted within a range of plus or minus 12.5 mm simply by adjusting how far the bar 13 is screwed into the threaded opening in the hub 4.

Adjustment of the separation of the glass sheets 1 is provided by the fixing arrangement illustrated in Figure 3. The glass sheet 1 has a circular hole 7 into which first and second adjustment washers 13a, 13b are fitted. The adjustment washers 13a, 13b each comprise a plastic sleeve portion 21 integrally formed with a flange portion 19 which extends radially outwardly from the sleeve portion 21. In use, the adjustment washers 13a and 13b are fitted into opposite ends of the hole 7 in the glass sheet 1, and are secured to the end of the rod 5 by means of a fixing comprises a screw or bolt is.

Each adjustment washer is provided with an elongated hole or slot 17, which is offset from a centreline C of the adjustment washer. The slot 17 is shaped to receive the bolt 15 with some side-to-side play in a first direction X-X and to closely receive the bolt 15 in a second direction YY which is perpendicular to the said first direction. As a result of this construction, depending on the rotational position of the adjustment washers 13a and 13b, the side-to-side play can be provided in any required direction, so that a displacement of the bolt 15 relative to the centre of the hole 7 in-the glass sheet of up to 5.5mm can be accommodated, irrespective of the direction of relative displacement.

Referring to Figures 4 to 7, each flange portion 19 has a larger diameter than the hole 7 provided in the glass sheet 1, thereby preventing the sleeve 13a from passing through the hole 7. By contrast, the sleeve portion 21 of the adjustment washer 13a has a smaller diameter, such that it is closely received in the hole 7 in the glass sheet 1, yet is free to rotate within the hole 7.

Referring specifically to Figures 5 and 7, a free end 20 of the sleeve portion 21 is extended over half its circumference, to form a projection 25. The projection 25 of each sleeve portion 21 is at a fixed orientation relative to the slot 17 in the adjustment washer and forms an interlocking cooperating formation which enables the adjustment washer 13a to be correctly aligned with its counterpart 13b.

It is to be understood that the adjustment washer 13b is identical with the adjustment washer 13a, shown in Figures 4 to 7 but is opposite handed. In other words its projection 25 is rotated 1800 relative to its slot 17, compared to the adjustment washer 13a Thus, when the projection 25 of the adjustment washer 13a is aligned with the opposite handed projection 25 of adjustment washer 13b, the slots 17 of each adjustment washer will be aligned correctly.

Figure 8 shows in more detail how the adjustment washer 13a, 13b may be provided with further components to reduce the stress placed on the glass sheet 1. As above, adjustment washers 13a and 13b are inserted in the whole 7 from either side of the glass sheet 1. Three millimetre thick noncompressible fibre washers 27a and 27b are located over each adjustment washer 13a and 13b. The washers 27a and 27b are shown in detail in Figures 9 and 11. The diameter of the hole 29 in each washer 27a and 27b is slightly greater than the diameter of the flange 19 on each adjustment washer 13a, 13b, thereby enabling each washer to sit over a respective adjustment washer. Each hole 29 is elongated and is eccentrically positioned in the washer, so that in use, the washer may be rotated about a respective adjustment washer until the outer circumference of the washer is made concentric with the circumference of the fixing bolt 1. Preferably, the washers 27a and 27b are made from Novatec Premium or is 11Chieftanll advanced carbon fibre material which provides maximum grip, durability and weatherresistance.

Penny washers, 31 and 33 are located over the washers 27a and 27b, and have the same outside diameters. However, penny washers 31 and 33 each have a hole 35 which is centrally positioned, and has a diameter which is only slightly larger than that of the fixing bolts 15. Such an arrangement ensures that pressure is evenly distributed around the circumference of the flange portions 19 of the adjustment washers and through the flange portions 19 to the surface of the glass.

Referring to Figures 12 to 15, spacers 37 are provided to deal with varying thicknesses of glazing sheets. Each spacer 37 is substantially identical to the above described adjustment washer, but instead of having a flange portion 19, interlocking cooperating formations in the form of projections 38 are provided at both free ends. The projections are adapted to interlock with opposite handed formations on further spacers 37 or on adjustment washers 13a, 13b.

In order to accommodate different thicknesses of glass sheet 1, spacers 37 of different lengths may be provided or a number of spacers may be used together, the interlocking cooperating formations on each spacer and adjustment washer ensuring that the respective slots are all aligned.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a glazing assembly for securing a glazing panel 1 to another glazing panel 1 and/or to a structure. The assembly is made up from a number of standardised austenitic stainless steel component parts, the component parts being connected in use to form a variety of different connecting arrangements. These components and connecting arrangements can be used to form, for example glass is walls, slopes, angles, radiused and faceted screens, barrier rails, balustrades and double glazed unit walls.

Referring specifically to Figure 17, the means of attachment of the various structural elements is illustrated in detail. More specifically, a knuckle 39 is connected to two cylindrical joint members 40a, 40b by means of rods Sa, 5b.

The cylindrical joint member 40a is provided with an axial bore 42 and a radial through bore 44. An end of the rod Sa is inserted into the radial bore 44 and a fixing screw 45a is screwed into a thread in the axial bore 42 to secure the rod Sa in position in the cylindrical joint member 40a. The opposite end of the rod Sa is provided with a cutaway portion 46 which has a fixing opening 48. The second rod 5b is also provided with a similar end fitting.

To connect the two rods Sa, 5b together, the knuckle 39 is provided with a pair of radial openings (not visible in Figure 17) and a smaller axial opening which is adapted to receive a further screw 45c. To assembly the unit together, the rods Sa, 5b are pushed into respective radial openings, such that the rod 5b overlaps the rod Sa in the region of their cutaway portions 46. The screw 45c is then screwed through the axial bore in the knuckle 39, through the fixing openings 48 provided in the rods Sa, 5b and thereby secures the rods 5a, 5b into-the knuckle 39.

As previous described, each sheet of glass 1 is secured to the fixing structure by means of a series of adjustment washers 13a, 13b, fibre washers 27a, 27b and penny washers 31 and 33. These elements are assembled as illustrated in Figure 17 and are clamped together by means of the bolt 15 which is screwed into a thread formed in the cylindrical joint member 40. As the bolt is is tightened, the penny washers 31, 33 apply a is clamping force on the flanges 19 of the adjustment washers 13a, 13b and thereby lock the slots 17 in a particular rotational disposition relative to the cylindrical opening 7 in the glass sheet 1. It will be appreciated that if the bolt is does not pass centrally through the opening 7 due to manufacturing tolerances or assembly errors, it can still be accommodated by appropriate rotational alignment of the slot 17 formed in the adjustment washers 13a, 13b.

In the illustrated embodiment the radial openings in the knuckle 39 are arranged at right angles to one another, so that the sheets of glass 1 are joined at 900 to one another. However, the position of the radial bores may be varied, so that the glass sheets 1 could be joined together to form a 1350 corner, for example.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising an adjustment washer, for adjusting the position of an elongate element in a cylindrical bore, the adjustment washer comprising: a sleeve portion which is adapted to be closely received in the cylindrical bore, yet allows the adjustment washer to rotate in the bore; and a slot formed through the adjustment washer in an axial direction of the sleeve portion, the slot being adapted to receive the elongate element with some sideto-side play in a first direction and to more closely receive the elongate element in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said first direction, so that rotation of the adjustment washer in the bore adjusts the position of the bolt relative to the bore.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the slot is offset from a centreline of the sleeve portion.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a pair of adjustment washers are provided, one washer being provided at each end of the cylindrical bore.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the free ends of the sleeve portions of the or each adjustment washer is provided with a cooperating formation.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which there is a fixed relationship between the alignment of the slots and the adjustment washers and the position of the cooperating formations, so that when the cooperating formations of two adjustment washers interlock, the slots in the adjustment washers are aligned.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which a free end of the or each sleeve portion is extended to form a cooperating formation.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which half of the circumference of the free end of the or each sleeve portion is extended to form a cooperating formation.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising clamping means which is tightened to clamp the or each adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which the elongate member forms part of the clamping means.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the clamping means comprises a bolt.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a nut, the bolt being tightened into the nut to clamp the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a joint member which connects the bolt to a supporting structure, the bolt being tightened into a thread in the joint member to clamp the adjustment washer relative to the cylindrical bore.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the adjustment washer further comprises a flange portion connected to, and extending radially outwardly from the sleeve portion, the flange portion having an outside diameter which is larger than the inside diameter of the cylind-rical opening.

14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a washer having an elongate opening which is sized to fit over the flange portion of the adjustment washer with some side-to-side play in one direction and to more closely receive the flange portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the said one direction.

is

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for fixing a glazing panel to a structure, the cylindrical opening being formed in the glazing panel and the elongate element comprising a fixing member which fixes the glazing panel to the support structure.

16. An assembly for securing a plateshaped member to another plate-shaped member or to a structure, the assembly comprising:

17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16, in which the fixing comprises a screw or bolt.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which a plurality of second bores extend radially through the joint member and are interconnected.

19. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising a plurality of support arms, each support arm being received in a respective bore, such that the ends of the support arms overlap -and are joined together by the fixing when it is fixed into the first bore.

20. An assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.