IES20090383A2

IES20090383A2 - Curtain wall glazing assembly

Info

Publication number: IES20090383A2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Fred Trenaman
Original assignee: Thermal Profiles & Accessories
Priority date: 2009-05-19
Filing date: 2009-05-19
Publication date: 2010-03-03

Abstract

The present invention is concerned with a curtain wall glazing assembly which utilises a modular approach having preformed outer frames mounted around the glazing panels in order to occlude the pressure plates and fasteners holding the glazing panels in place, and to provide a weather seal to the exterior of the glazing assembly.

Description

Curtain wall glazing assembly Field of the invention This invention relates to a curtain wall glazing assembly which is more cost effective to produce that known equivalents, anti achieves a perceived aesthetic inodulai appearance as an option to the conventional pressure plate and cap arrangement.

Background of the invention A curtain walling system is one in which the outer non-load bearing facade of a building is constructed of an array of glazing panels supported on a back bone of mullion and transoms, which are generally formed from aluminium extrusions. The traditional approach to fitting a curtain walling system involves securing the array of mullions and transoms to the exposed face of a building, and then securing aluminium inner frame members to the mullions and transoms. The inner frame members then define an array of rectangular openings, each of which will be filled by a glazing panel. Rubber gaskets are generally mounted to the inner frame members, and a glazing panel is then positioned to seal the opening defined by the inner frame members. It is then necessary to apply a rectangular outer frame around each glazing panel and connect it to the inner frame members, in order to clamp the glazing panel in position. This outer frame is generally formed from four glazing beads which are snap fitted from the external face onto the inner frame members, with the edges of adjacent glazing beads being mitred in order to provide a snug fit with one another. While this method of construction is perfectly acceptable, it does require significant on-site construction.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a curtain wall glazing assembly comprising at least one glazing panel; an array of mullions and transoms on which the glazing panel is mounted; one or more pressure plates securing the glazing panel against the array; and a substantially rectangular preformed frame circumscribing the glazing panel and at least partially overlying the one or more pressure plates.

Preferably, the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates.

Preferably, the frame comprises a plurality of frame members each comprising a main body, a lip projecting outwardly of the body io He substantially parallel with the glazing panel, and a skirt projecting outwardly of the body to lie substantially perpendicular to the glazing panel.

Preferably, the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates via fasteners which clamp the lip against the pressure plate.

Preferably, the skirt is positioned and dimensioned to conceal a lateral edge of the pressure plate when the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates.

Preferably, the frame comprises a gasket mounted to each frame member in a position overlying the lip.

Preferably, the frame comprises a rectangular array of the frame members, wherein the ends of adjacent frame members are crimped lo one another.

Preferably, the ends of adjacent frame members are mitred to one another.

Preferably, the glazing assembly comprises one or more gaskets positioned between the array and an inner face of the glazing panel.

Preferably, the glazing assembly comprises one or more gaskets positioned between each pressure plate and an outer face of the glazing panel.

As used herein, the term “curtain walling” is intended to mean any form of walling or facade, for example formed from glazing panels or solid panels, or a combination of both, which may be secured to, or form, the facade of a building using a curtain walling system.

Brief description of the drawings figure I illustrates a perspective view of a curtain wall glazing assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the glazing assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a front elevation of the glazing assembly of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 illustrates a sectioned view of the glazing assembly along the line A-A of Figure 3.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring now to the accompanying drawings there is illustrates a curtain wall glazing assembly, generally indicated as 10, which creates a new visually consistent modular appearance to the facade thereby achieving a perceived aesthetic modular appearance which has both aesthetic benefits and cost benefits to the curtain wall facade.

The glazing assembly 10 comprises a conventional array of mullions 12 and transoms 14 to which a number of glazing panels 16 are secured. The glazing panels 16 may be of any suitable form, for example double or triple glazing, and could alternatively be in the form of a solid panel (not shown) of metal or timber or the like, depending on the design requirements for the facade.

The panels 16 are secured against the mullions 12and transoms 14 using pressure plates 18 which are screwed into the mullions 12 and transoms 14 in order to clamp the glazing panels 16 in position. A pressure plate 18 is provided between each pair of opposed edges of adjacent glazing panels 16, and spans the gap therebetween in order to provide a continuous seal between adjacent glazing panels 16. In order to ensure a complete seal between the pressure plate 18 and the panel 16, and to effect a robust grip on the glazing panel 16, front and rear gaskets 22, 24 are provided respectively between the mullions 12 and transoms 14 and the glazing panel 16, and between the glazing panel 16 and the pressure plates 18. The front and rear gaskets 22,24 may be of any suitable form, for example EPDM type gaskets.

The curtain wall glazing assembly 10 further comprises a plurality of frames 26 each of which are substantially rectangular or square in shape, depending on the shape of the corresponding glazing panels 16, and are dimensioned to substantially circumscribe the respective glazing panel 16 on top of which the frame 26 is positioned. In the embodiment illustrated the frame 26 comprises four frame members 28, whose ends are mitred in order to aiiow inc frame members 28 to buit against one another in a rectangular array. The abutting ends of adjacent frame members 28 are secured to one another off site, for example by crimping or any other suitable means such as adhesive or the like. Thus the frame 26 is provided as a preformed rectangular part which is simply seated in place around the perimeter of the respective glazing panels 16 and then secured in position as described in detail below.

Each frame member 28 comprises a hollow main body 30 which is box section in form, a lip 32 extending from one side of the body 30 such as to lie, in use, substantially parallel to the glazing panel 16, and a skirt 34 extending from an other side of the body 30, to lie, in use, substantially perpendicular to the glazing panel 16, as illustrated in Figure 4. The frames 26 are dimensioned such that when positioned about the respective glazing panel 16, each of the frame members 28 overlies approximately half of the width of the respective pressure plate 18, again as clearly visible from Figure 4. The lip 32 sits flush against the outer face of the pressure plate 18, while the skirt 34 projects towards the glazing panel 16 and over the lateral edge of the pressure plate 18, in order to obscure the side of the pressure plate 18 when the frame 26 is fixed in position. The frame 26 is then mounted to the pressure plate 18 via a number of fasteners 36 such as screws or the like, which clamp the frame member 28 to the pressure plate 18 via the lip 32. It can also be seen that adjacent and opposed frames 26 will overlie the opposed halves of the pressure plate 18, in order to substantially occlude same. The lips 32 are dimensioned to leave a narrow channel between the lips 32 of the opposed frames 26, in order to allow the location of the fasteners 36.

Thus a single fastener 36 will clamp the lip 32 of an opposed pair of the frame members 28. By providing a plurality of fasteners 36 at spaced intervals along the length of each frame member 28, the frame 26 can be quickly and securely mounted around the glazing panel 16. Each frame member 28 is also preferably provided with a sealing gasket 38 on the main body 30, which gasket 38 is oriented to lie substantially parallel with and overlying the lip of said frame member 28. In addition, the sealing gasket 36 extends outwardly by a sufficient distance such that the gaskets 38 of opposed frame members 28, as illustrated in Figure 4, slightly overlap in order to provide complete occlusion of the fasteners 36 and lhe channel between the lips 32 of the opposed frame members 28. Thus the sealing gaskets 38 provide both a weather-sealing function and an aesthetic benefit by providing a clean appearance between adjacent frames 26.

Thus the provision of the lip 32 and sealing gasket 38 on each frame member 26 completely occludes the outer face of the pressure plate 18 from view, as the skirt 34 occludes the lateral edge of the pressure plate 18, with only a portion of the front gasket 22 being visible. This both improves the weather-sealing of the glazing assembly 10 in addition to the aesthetic appearance of the assembly 10.

In addition, as the frames 26 are preformed off site, as opposed to being fitted as individual frame members 28 around the glazing panels 16, the time and effort taken to mount the frames 26 is significantly reduced, thereby reducing the cost of installing the curtain wall glazing assembly 10 of the invention.

Claims

1. A curtain wall glazing assembly comprising at least one glazing panel; an array of mullions and transoms on which the glazing panel is mounted; one or more pressure plates securing the glazing panel against the array; and a substantially rectangular preformed frame circumscribing the glazing panel and at least partially overlying the one or more pressure plates.

2. A curtain wall glazing assembly according to claim 1 in which the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates.

3. A curtain wall glazing assembly according to claim 1 or 2 in which the frame comprises a plurality of frame members each comprising a main body, a lip projecting outwardly of the body to lie substantially parallel with the glazing panel, and a skirt projecting outwardly of the body to lie substantially perpendicular to the glazing panel.

4. A curtain wall glazing assembly according to claim 3 in which the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates via fasteners which clamp the frame against the pressure plate at the lip.

5. A curtain wall glazing assembly according to claim 3 or 4 in which the skirt is positioned and dimensioned to conceal a lateral edge of the pressure plate when the frame is mounted to the one or more pressure plates.