IE52683B1

IE52683B1 - Hollow section for the construction of double or multiple insulation-or glazing units

Info

Publication number: IE52683B1
Application number: IE1233/82A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Cardinale Raffaele
Priority date: 1981-05-27
Filing date: 1982-05-24
Publication date: 1988-01-20
Also published as: IE821233L; DE3219798A1; CH649810A5; IT1148935B; GB2099058A; FR2506827B1; GB2099058B; FR2506827A1; IT8248507A0

Abstract

A hollow section (10) for double- or multiple-insulation- or glazing- units (S) filled with an hygroscopic material and provided with perforations (20) is produced by an extrusion process, the perforations being subsequently made by a cutter W in the third wall (12), which at least in one region in close proximity to one of the side walls (11) has a wall thickness which is less than the wall thickness of the adjoining side walls. The reduced wall thickness may be provided across the full width of the third wall (12) or at one or both sides (Figs. 3 and 4).

Description

The invention relates to a hollow section for the construction of double- or multiple insulation-or glazing units. Such sections are fitted in the marginal region of the glazing unit and determine the size of the hollow space between the individual panes. The hollow section is provided with perforations and filled with a hygroscopic material. The perforations in the section are directed towards the hollow space between the panes and the hygroscopic material in the interior of the sections ensures that the air which is trapped in this hollow space is kept dry.

Hollow sections for this' purpose are usually in the form of aluminium sections which are extruded and must be perforated in the course of a subsequent process stage.

The cheapest way of forming such perforations is by stamping or cutting holes or slits and in either case due care must be taken to prevent deformation of the section during this operation.

In the past this problem has been solved, for example, by first inserting a mandrel into the hollow space and then stamping or punching the perforations. This is a relatively awkward method. German Patentschrift 22 46 154. discloses a hollow section of this kind in which one wall is provided with a longitudinal groove which locally weakens the wall thickness and permits perforation without counter52683 - 3 support. The groove is arranged in the middle of one wall of the hollow section. This arrangement makes it necessary for the thickness of the wall which is to be perforated to be increased by comparison with the remaining walls in order to allow a groove to be provided therein and in order to enable this wall to accept the active deformation forces without suffering permanent deformation.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a hollow section of the kind specified with maximum economy of material and in which deformation risk during perforation is minimised.

According to the invention there is provided a hollow section for the construction of double- or multiple insulationor glazing units, comprising two parallel side wall parts which are mutually connected by a third wall provided with perforations, and the wall thickness of this third wall, at least in a region thereof which is near to one of the two side wall parts is less than the wall thickness of the latter, and the perforations in the third wall are formed in said lesser wall thickness region thereof. Preferably the wall thickness of the third wall is less than that of the adjacent side wall part across the whole width of said third wall because this achieves maximum material economy.

By way of example some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings in which; Figure 1 is a section through a double insulation unit including a hollow section constructed in accordance with the invention, - 4 Figure 2 is a cross section on a larger scale of a hollow section in the perforation-forming stage, arid Figures 3 and 4 show variations of the hollow section.

The insulation unit shown in Figure 1 comprises a hollow section 10 and two sealing strips D retained in lateral grooves thereof.

Besides the actual sealing function the sealing strips also fulfill the function of thermal- and/or sound insulation The remaining gap between the edges of glass panes S and the hollow section 10 is filled by an adhesive sealing compound V. The hollow section 10 is filled with a hygroscopic substance (not shown) which serves to keep dry the space enclosed between the panes S. To this end the hollow section is provided with two rows of perforations 20.

The hollow section 10 is shown separately and on a larger scale in Figure 2. It comprises a pair of mutually parallel side wall parts 11 which are mutually connected by a third wall 12. The third wall 12 has a lesser wall thickness relative to the two side wall parts 11. The last mentioned wall parts have continuations in wall regions 13. Between the wall parts 11 and 13, at each side there is an inwardly directed wall-groove or recess 14 which is wider on the inside than the distance between the junctions thereof with the wall regions 11,13. This provides the required support and hold in the longitudinal groove for the elastic sealing strip D which latter has a matching cross - 5 sectional configuration.

The hollow section is completed by an outwardly domed wall part 15. The wall thickness of wall 12, referred to as the third wall and shown at the top in Figure 2 is substantially less than that of the immediately adjoining sidewall parts 11. This enables perforations to be formed by stamping, punching or cutting in this thinner wall. If such perforations are stamped or cut near the side-wall regions 11 there is no risk of permanent deformation of the section.

The forces which are generated during the stamping or cutting of the row of perforations are directed at right angles to the surface of wall 12. However, since the perforations are formed near the vertical side wall parts 11, the operative forces generated during stamping or cutting are transmitted by these wall parts to the supporting elements (not shown in Figure 2.) Consequently the thin wall 12 is subjected only to a small bending moment, which will be all the smaller the closer the perforations are applied relative to the insides of the sidewall parts 11 and therefore approach zero value. The cutting die shown in the upper part of Figure 2 cuts the perforations into the thin wall 12 and presses the material slightly inwards. The pressure required for this operation is low and the perforation-cuts are formed virtually adjoining wall part 11. - 6 The top part of Figure 2 shows a rotating cutting die roll W with two rows of spike- or punch-like cutting tools W.|, W^. In the perforation-forming process the shid roll rotates continuously and the section is advanced there5 beneath, for example by means of feed and guide rolls, not shown, supporting it laterally and from beneath. The cutting roll forms two parallel rows of perforations 20 which are relatively offset in the longitudinal direction as represented in Figure 1.

It is obvious that maximum material economy is obtained if the wall thickness of the third wall is substantially less than that of the adjoining side wall parts across the whole width of said third wall. However, instead of providing this reduced wall thickness across the whole width thereof the said third wall need be provided with a reduced wall thickness only in one region thereof next to one side wall part, as shown in Figure 3. The third wall shown at 12' has a reduced wall thickness only in the region next to the left hand side wall part 111. In this case local wall thickness in this region can be reduced to the absolute minimum needed for the production process. .Naturally a single row of perforations 201 only may be applied as indicated in Figure 3.

Figure 4 illustrates a further variant of design for the third wall 12. In this case the thickness of this - 7 wall 12 is reduced in both marginal regions next to side wall parts 1111 so that once again two parallel rows of perforations 20 may be applied.

It should be clear that where two rows of perforations 5 are provided the individual perforation holes in each row may be relatively spaced apart in the longitudinal direction by twice the distance of spacing observed in a single row of perforations. This means that in this case the section is weakened to a lesser degree.

Whilst that wall grooves or recesses 14 are primarily designed to enable a sealing strip D to be positively engaged with the section 10, these grooves 14, as well as : the outwardly domed wall 15, also have the effect of providing improved elasticity to the section and enabling it to withstand stronger deformations without suffering permanent deformation.

It should be understood that the invention is applicable not only to double and multiple glazing units as described but also to double and multiple insulation units in which opaque panels are used instead of the panes S.

Claims

1. A hollow section for the construction of double or multiple insulation- or glazing units, comprising two parallel side wall parts which are mutually connected by a third wall provided with perforations, and the wall thickness 5 of this third wall, at least in a region thereof which is near to one of the two side wall parts is less than the wall thickness of the latter, and the perforations in the third wall are formed in said lesser wall thickness region thereof.

2. A hollow section according to claim 1, in 10 which the wall thickness of the third wall is less than that of the adjacent side wall part only in the region adjoining one of said side wall parts.

3. A hollow section according to claim 1, in which the wall thickness of the third wall is less in the 15 region thereof adjoining both side wall parts relative to the latter.

4. A hollow section according to claim 1, in which the wall thickness of the third wall is less than that of the adjoining side wall parts across the full width 20 thereof.

5. A hollow section according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein a row of perforations is formed in both regions adjoining the side wall parts of the section.

6. A hollow section according to claim 5, in 25 which the rows of perforations are relatively offset. - 9

7. A hollow section according to claim 1, in which the two side walls adjoining the third wall each comprise two wall parts with an intervening inwardly directed groove. 5

8. A hollow section according to claim 7, in which the groove is wider on the inside than the distance between the side wall parts.

9. A hollow section according to claim 1, in which the hollow section includes an outwardly domed wall.

10. 10. A hollow section substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A hollow section substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 3 of the 15 accompanying drawing.

12. A hollow section substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.