GB2349899A

GB2349899A - Curved frame building structure

Info

Publication number: GB2349899A
Application number: GB9906067A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justin Neil John Llewelyn
Original assignee: Building Product Design Ltd
Current assignee: Building Product Design Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-16
Filing date: 1999-03-16
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9906067D0

Abstract

A barrel vault roof has a panel 21 curved convexly upwards between curved bars 1. Curved side edges of the panel 21 are trapped within hollow sections 7,8 of the bars. The ends of the panel 21 are mounted on building walls 18, Fig 3 and force applying fixings 25, Fig 4 act on these ends to hold the panel 21 in position. Retention elements, such as studs 27 are provided on the edges of the panel 21 to prevent the edge from being pulled out of the hollow section 7,8 of the bar. The retention elements 27 may also be clips or adhesive strips. The panel 21 may be a glazing panel of transparent or translucent material.

Description

2349899 CURVED FRAME BUILDING STRUCTURES - This invention relates to the

retention of curved in-fill panels within curved-frame building structures.

So-called barrel vault roof-lights in buildings have glazing panels fixed in curved disposition between curved side frame members.

The panels can be fixed by bolts at spaced intervals through the side frame members to clamp the side edges of the glazing panels. With this arrangement installation is slow and difficult and leaves unsightly bolt heads exposed along the frame members.

It is also known to fix the panels in position by clamping the panels within the frame members by applying forces at bottom ends of the frame members with set screw fixings. This permits quick and easy installation and is generally satisfactory. However, there is a perceived safety risk in that high impact loads applied from above could in some circumstances cause the panel to be pushed out of the side frame members and fall down.

An object of the present invention is to provide means to eliminate or at least appreciably reduce the above mentioned safety risk without unduly detracting from ease and simplicity of installation.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a curved frame building structure having at least one in-fill panel fixed in curved disposition between curved side frame members, side edges of the panel being trapped within the side frame members by force-applying fixings acting at ends of the side frame members, characterised by the provision of retention elements on the side edges of the panel which cooperate with the side frame members to resist separation of the panel therefrom.

With this arrangement, the panel can be installed quickly and easily, in so far as the force-applying fixings are used to achieve secure fixing relative to the side frame members, and the risk of detachment under impact loads can be avoided or at least minimised by the retention elements.

Most preferably the retention elements comprise stops or abutments fixed to the panel edges and which cooperate with the frame members to permit free movement longitudinally relative to the members whilst restricting movement transversely away from the members. The abutments may be moved into cooperation with the frame members by sliding longitudinally In particular, the members may be hollow sections with side slots, the abutments being located within the hollow sections with the panel extending through the slots. Conveniently a square or rectangular enclosed hollow section may be used. Other sections of other shapes or open channels or the like may also be used.

The abutments preferably comprise projecting elements, such as rivets or studs at spaced intervals along the panel side edges.

The invention is not restricted to stops or abutments and other kinds of retention elements may be used alternatively or additionally. In particular it is possible to use retention elements of an adhesive or wedging or barb or catch nature which permit pushing of the panel side edges into position but then act to restrain subsequent detachment.

By way of example, thick adhesive strips may be applied along the panel side edges, or one way clips may be pushed onto the panel side edges configured to bite into the panel when loaded.

The panel may be of a glazing panel of transparent or translucent material, particularly a thermoplastics material. This may be used alone or in combination with one or more other superimposed panels of the same or different kind e.g. to give double or triple glazing. In the case of multiple glazing, all panels may be fixed using force-applying fixings and retention elements as described above. Alternatively not all panels need be fixed in this way. In particular, in the case of double glazing only the outer or upper panel may have the force-applying fixings and the retention elements of the invention.

Instead of or additionally to using one or more transparent or translucent panels, it is possible to use one or more opaque panels.

There may be a single panel, or single co I mbination of superimposed panels. Alternatively, there may be multiple side-by-side individual panels or sets of panels, between respective pairs of side frame members.

The end edges of the panels may be provided with end mountings and the curved frame building structure may be supported via such mountings on walls or other upright building elements with the (or each) panel disposed convexly upwards. The building structure may have at opposite sides appropriate upright side or eaves structures.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic external perspective view of one form of a building structure according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 11; Figures 3 & 4 are diagrammatic cross-sectional views on the lines 111-111 and W-W of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, these show a double glazed barrel vault rooflight for a building having a number of parallel equally spaced apart glazing bars 1 which are upwardly convexly curved generally in a cylindrical manner.

Each bar 1 is a rectangular metal hollow section structure divided by internal webs 2, 3 into two compartments 4, 5, one above the other. The two compartments 4, 5 are each divided into side-by-side sub-compartments 7, 8, 9, 10 each having a central longitudinally extending slot 11, 12, 13, 14.

-5 The bars 1 run between two horizontal bottom end mounting structures 15. Each such structure 15 (see Figures 3, 4) is an elongate metal member shaped to provide a channel part 16 and an integral inwardly extending horizontal base plate 17 for attachment to a kerb upstand 6.

The base plates 17 are mounted on top of upstanding spaced apart structures 18 such as walls, abutments or sides of a supported horizontal rectangular frame.

The ends of the mounting structures 15 are joined by supported transverse members 19 and the flat arcuate ends 20 of the roof light have end panels or other structures fixed therein in any suitable manner.

Between each pair of adjacent curved glazing bars 1 there are fixed upper and lower curved glazing panels 21, 22.

The upper panel 21 has opposite end edges 23 which fit within the channel parts 16 of the opposite mounting structures 15. These end edges 23 are provided with capping strips 24. At the ends of the glazing bars there are set screws 25 through the channel parts 16 which bear against the glazing bars 1.

The side edges 26 of the upper panel 21 fit within the slots 11, 12 of the adjacent glazing bars 1. These edges 26 have rivets 27 at regularly spaced apart positions, say every 20Omm, and these project downwardly from the panel 21 as shown.

The side edges 26 of the panel 21 are a close fit within the slots 11, 12 whereby the rivets 27 prevent movement of the side edges 26 out of the slots 11, 12. The side edges 26 and rivets 27 are introduced into the glazing bars 1 between individual sections of the glazing bar assembly 1.

The bottom panel 22 rests at its bottom end edges on steps 28 defined between the channel parts 16 and the shelves 17 of the mounting structures 15. The side edges 29 of the bottom panel 22 are a tight fit within the lower slots 13, 14 of the glazing bars 1. In the case of this panel 22 there are no retaining rivets.

Once in position as described the glazing bar 1 can be tensioned by means of the set screws 25. As the screws 25 are tightened downward forces are applied to the bottom end edges 23 of the glazing bar and the panel 21 is gripped tightly between the glazing bars 1.

The rivets 27 do not assist fixing of the top panel 21 in its arcuate position between the glazing bars 1. In normal use the rivets 27 are located freely in the central region of the respective sub-compartments 7, 8. The rivets 27 provide a safety feature whereby any large impact load applied to the top surface of the top panel 21 cannot readily detach the side edges 26 from the glazing bars 1. This is prevented by the stop action of the rivets 27.

Thus, safety can be assured without detracting from ease and simplicity of installation.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to -7be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, if desired the bottom section of the glazing bar may be provided with a tensioning device, e.g. like the set screws 25 and the capping strips 24 of the top panel 21. Also, the bottom panel 22 may be provided with safety rivets in its side edges, like the rivets 27, if required.

Claims

-8CLAIMS

1 A curved frame building structure having at least one in-fill panel fixed in curved disposition between curved side frame members, side edges of the panel being trapped within the side frame members by force-applying fixings acting at ends of the side frame members, characterised by the provision of retention elements on the side edges of the panel which cooperate with the side frame members to resist separation of the panel therefrom.

2. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein the retention elements comprise abutments fixed to the panel edges and which cooperate with the frame members to permit free movement longitudinally relative to the members whilst restricting movement transversely away from the members.

3. A building structure according to claim 2 wherein the side frame members are hollow sections with side slots, the abutments being located within the hollow sections with the panel extending through the slots. 1

4. A building structure according to claim 3 wherein the hollow sections are square or rectangular enclosed sections.

5. A building structure according to any one of claims 2-4 wherein the abutments comprise projecting elements at spaced intervals along the panel side edges.

6. A building structure according to claim 5 wherein the projecting elements comprise rivets or studs.

7. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein the retention elements are such as to permit pushing of the panel side edges into position and then to restrain subsequent detachment.

8. A building structure according to claim 7 wherein the retention elements are of an adhesive nature.

9. A building structure according to claim 8 wherein the retention elements comprise adhesive strips applied along the panel side edges.

10. A building structure according to claim 7 wherein the retention elements comprise one way clips pushed onto the panel side edges configured to bite into the panel when loaded.

11. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a glazing panel of transparent or translucent material.

12. A building structure according to claim 11 wherein the panel is used in combination with one or more superimposed further panels.

13. A building structure according to claim 12 wherein said further panels - are also fixed using said force-applying fixings and retention elements.

14. A building structure according to claim 12 wherein only the said panel fixed using force-applying fixings and retention elements is outermost or uppermost and is the only panel so fixed.

15. A building structure according to any one of claims 1 to 14 having multiple side-by-side individual panels or sets of panels between respective side frame members.

16. A building structure according to claim 15 wherein the end edges of the panels are provided with end mountings for support of said building structure on upright building elements with the panels disposed convexly upwards.

17. A building structure according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.