GB2384497A

GB2384497A - A panel support member

Info

Publication number: GB2384497A
Application number: GB0201475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Boardman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-23
Filing date: 2002-01-23
Publication date: 2003-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-23
Also published as: GB0201475D0; GB2384497B

Abstract

A wall, roof or ceiling structure comprises a framework of studs 4 and cross-bars (5, Fig 1) which supports panels 3, for example glazing panels. Fixing members 9 are provided, having a channel-shaped portion 10, which engages the leg 7, and lateral flanges 11, which engage the panels via a compressible sealing strip 12. The fixing members 9 are secured by pins 20 engaged through holes in the sides of the channel shaped portions 10 and the leg 7. The components are dimensioned so that the holes are off set slightly so that when the pins are inserted, the legs 7 are tensioned into the channels. Channel shaped elongate cover strips 21 are provided to cover the fixing members and are secured to the panels using an adhesive strip 22. Pressure pads 12 are provided between the fixing members and the panels.

Description

STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK AND INFILL PANELS The invention relates to a structure such as a wall, roof or ceiling, comprising a framework of relatively light construction and infill panels, e. g. glazed panels, supported by the framework. Walls made like this are sometimes called'curtain walling'.

It is known for curtain walling to comprise a metal framework made up of vertical studs and horizontal cross-bars each with a T-shaped cross-section and with glazed panels supported by the framework. The cross-arms of the T-shape are at the outside face of the wall and, to hold the glazed panels in place, generally U-shaped fixing members are provided overlying adjacent edges of the panels and fixed by screws to the ends of the central web of the T-shaped studs and cross-bars.

Patent application no. 0023542.4 published as GB2355475A discloses a wall comprising a framework and glazed panels supported by the framework, the framework comprising T-shaped members having portions at one side of the wall and corresponding elongate members at the other side of the wall, the elongate members comprising portions defining channels with flanges facing the wall and the T-shaped members having leg portions which extend through to the other side of the wall between adjacent panels and which enter the channels of the fixing members. The Tshaped members, the panels and the elongate members are secured together by bolts or pins extending transversely through aligned holes in the sides of the channels and the ends of the leg portions.

According to the invention, there is provided a structure comprising a framework and infill panels supported by the framework, the framework comprising elongate members having portions at one side of the structure and leg portions which extend through to the other side of the structure between adjacent panels, and the structure further comprising relatively short fixing members at said other side of the structure and engaged with the ends of said leg portions, and elongate cover strips extending over and each side of the ends of the leg portions of the elongate members and the fixing members.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings In which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a curtain wall, Figure 2 is a section on the line))-)) Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a modification.

Figures 1 and 2 show part of an external glazed conservatory wall having an outer face 1 and a parallel inner face 2. Although a glazed conservatory wall is shown, it will be appreciated that the same construction could be used for the roof of a conservatory, a false ceiling in a room or for a wall in a different type of room or building, the wall being an internal or external. The illustrated wall comprises sealed double glazed panels 3 supported by a framework of vertical studs 4 and horizontal cross-bars 5. The studs 4 and cross-bars 5 each have a T-shaped cross-section. The cross portion 6 of the Tshape faces outwards as does the outer face 1 of the wall The central leg portion 5 of the studs 4 and cross-bars 5 extend through the thickness of the wall between the panels to emerge at the inner face 2. Elongate sealing strips 8 are provided between

the underside of the cross portions 6 of the studs and cross-members and the outer faces of the glazing panels 3.

The panels 3 are fixed in place and pressed against the portions 6 via the sealing strips 8 by a plurality of fixing members 9. Each member 9 comprises a portion 10 which is channel-shaped in cross-section and two outwardly extending flanges 11 extending from the sides of the mouth of the channel. Each member 9 is relatively short compared to the length of the studs 4 and cross-bars 5. For example, each member 9 might be about 100mm In length while the studs and cross-bars might be supplied in 1500mm lengths and then cut or extended (by fixing lengths end to end) as necessary.

Only one fixing member 9 is shown in the drawings but several will be provided depending on the overall size of the wall and number of glazed panels 3. By way of example, there might be one, two, three, four or more spaced fixing members 9 at each side of a glazing panel (each fixing member 9 engages two adjacent glazing panels of course). Pressure strips 12 of compressible material are provided between the flanges 11 of the members and the glazing panels 3.

The channels of the fixing members 9 are positioned over the ends of the leg portions 7 of the studs 4 and cross-bars and pins 20 are engaged in aligned holes in the leg portions 7 and each side of the channels of the fixing members to fix the panels in place. The members may be dimensioned so that, initially, the holes are offset slightly so that, when the pin 20 is inserted, the leg 7 is pulled into the channel to maintain the compression of sealing and pressure strips 8 and 12.

Instead of pins 20, respective nuts and bolts may be used.

Also, instead of each pin 20 or bolt extending transversely through the leg 7 and sides of the fixing member, the base or bottom of the channel of the fixing member could be screwed to the end of leg 7 as shown in Figure 3.

An elongate channel-shaped cover strip 21 is fixed so as to extend over and each side of the fixing member 9 and end of leg 7 both for cosmetic purposes and to provide a thermal break between the inside and outside of the wall. This strip may also act to channel away any leakage of water between the panels and condensation forming on the leg 7 and member 9.

The water channelling function is especially relevant where the illustrated construction is used for a roof, the strips 21 at least those over the studs then being arranged at one end to lead to a gutter formed at the eaves of the conservatory (not shown).

The edge of each side wall of cover strip 21 is fixed to the adjacent panels 3 by a strip of adhesive sealing material 22 or possibly by a length of double-sided adhesive tape (not shown). It could also be fixed by being screwed or clipped to the fixing members 9. The ends of the side walls of cover strip 21 could then still be sealed to the adjacent panels by sealant or double-sided tape if required.

For each fixing member 9, there could be one, two or more pins or bolts engaged in holes in the leg 7 and sides of the fixing member 9. The pins could be wedge-shaped or the holes could be angled to increase the pressure on the panels.

The studs 4 and cross-bars 5 could be made of aluminium or steel. The fixing members could also be made of aluminium or steel. The cover strips 21 could be made of wood, MDF or plastics material. The sealing strips, pressure strips and

pressure pads 8,12 and 22 could be made of plastics material such as EPDM or the like, or even from rubber, wood or soft metal such as lead.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A structure comprising a framework and infill panels supported by the framework, the framework comprising elongate members having portions at one side of the structure and leg portions which extend through to the other side of the structure between adjacent panels, and the structure further comprising relatively short fixing members at said other side of the structure and engaged with the ends of said leg portions, and elongate cover strips extending over and each side of the ends of the leg portions of the elongate members and the fixing members.
2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein the infill panels are glazing panels and the fixing members are flanged channels engaged over the ends of said leg portions.
3. A structure according to Claim 2, including pins or bolts extending through holes in the sides of the channels and aligned holes in the leg portions.
4. A structure according to Claim 1,2 or 3, in which sealing means is present between the elongate members and the panels.
5. A structure according to Claim 1,2, 3 or 4, including pressure pad means between the fixing members and the panels.
6. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the cover strips are channel-shaped and the sides of the cover strips extend each side of said ends of said leg portions and said fixing members to said panels and said sides are fixed to said panels by adhesive means.

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7. A structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.