US1156351A - Supporting and glazing construction for skylights and like structures. - Google Patents

Description

T. DUFFY.- SUPPORTING AND GLAZING CONSTRUGTEON FOR SKYLIGHTS AND UKE STRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, I908.

Patented 0017.12, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEETI mam mi-reap era FATE THOMAS I. DUFFY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NEATHERPROOF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

flygfijfigg i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 12,

Application ma Novemher so, 1908. Serial No. $65,320.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS I. DUFFY, a

citizen of the'United States, and a'resident' of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supporting and" Glazing Construction for Skylights and Like Structures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings, and to the let-' ters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this Specification.

This invention relates to improvements in skylight and other generally similar constructions composed in part of sheets or panes of'glass and in part of metal frame work which supports the glass and arranged to provide weather-proof joints between the- The load adjacent margins of the glass.

supporting and glazing members are commercially known as skylight or weather proof glazing bars, and. it is these bars to which my invention more specincally relates.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple, durable and efficient dev1cc of this character, arranged il'or carrying a maximum load with a .min-

imum weight of material.

A further ObJSCl', of the invention is to provide an improved means tor providing a weather-proof joint between the upper surfaceof the glass and,the glazing bars car'- ried by the load supporting member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing strip which may be employed in this and other constructions for forming the joint between the glass and the glazing bars.

As shown in the drawings :Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a sky,

light construction showing'one form of the supporting and glazing structure, an two adjacent panes of glass'supported thereom Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of a sky light construction embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sect1on, illustrat1ng means for supporting overl lapping panes or sheets of glass of an inclined skylight structure l is a detail section on line of Fig. 3. Fig. 5' is a section illustrating a sealing strip en 1 ployed in the construction. Fig. 6 is a simi-' lar view of the sealing strip showing its improved structure may be used for a great:

variety of other work, such as vertical window work and the like. The glass supporting or glazing bariof, my construction may be used either vertically in window work as a mullion, or may be run horizontally if desired, and may be-placed in the latter manner in skylights if found necessary.

When used in skylight construction the main load carrying memberof my improved supporting and glazing structure consists of a fiat bar IO'arrangededgewise and which is adapted to be supported at its ends at the ridge and caves of the skylight structure on suitable supports (not shown). 11, 11 designate the panes of glass that are supported at their margins on and carried by the load carrying member. The said panes of glass are supported on the load carrying member 10 through the medium of" folded sheet metal strips, designated as a whole by 12, 12, arranged one on each side of the load carrying members. Under some circumstances the load-carrying member may be provided with other means than the-folded metal strips for the purpose of engagingand supporting the'panes of glass; for example, the load-carrying member may take the formof a T-bar, the flanges or which engage and support the glass. Each of said folded strips comprise a web portion 13, 13 'v'vhich 109 erally extending trough-shaped flange 15 105 arranged parallel with the load carrying member and constituting a trough or gutter through which water of condensation collecting below the glass is drained ofl'. Cushioning strips 16 are placed between the glass carrying ledges or flanges 14 and the edges of the glass and afford cushions between the glass and the relatively ri 'd ledges, and also serve as supporting sur aces which conform to any irregularlty'inthe glass and present a uniform surface for engagement of all parts of the glass with the supporting surface. Thesaid cushioning strips may be made of felt, rubber, cork, leather or lead. When made of relatively substantial mate- 15 rial they may be provided with ribbed supporting surfaces, as shown to adapt them to uneven surfaces of the glass.

The means shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, for providing awater-proof joint at the upper side of the glass in order to prevent water and snow from finding their way around the inner or adjacent margins of the glass are made asfollows:

The load carrying member 10 extends 2 above the-level" of the panes of glass between adjacent pines and on each side of said load carrying member is arranged a glazing bar I ,17 which is disposed, in a plane generally.

oblique to the plane of the vertical load 0 carrying member. The upper marginal part 18 of each glazing bar 11 is arranged vertically and 'is engaged with a downwardly facing shoulder 21 formed on the lower side ofa rib, or bcad 19 on the upper edge of said load carrying member, there beluga longitudinal shoulder on each side 1 of said member. Said shoulders are preferably slightly under-cut, as shown in Figs. 1

and 4; The intermediate portion'20 is dis- 40 posed'at an oblique'angle to the plane of the oad carrying member. The lower side of each glazing *bar is referably .curved, as shown at 25, and its ower, edge is engaged with and is pressed upon a sealing strip 22 which lies on the upper face of the glass.

ends, beneath said glazing bars, with'brackets 24 carried by the load carrying member, The said brackets 24 are each made of a metal bar which extends through an opening in and is fixed to, the load carrying member and the ends of the bar are bent-downwardly at oblique angles to the plane of the load carrying member. The oblique ends, of the brackets are'provided'with screw-threaded apertures to receive the screws 23. The

screwsthreadcdengageme it at their innerheads of said screws are slitted to receive a screw-driver or like implement to insert the same in place. '(lushioning or resilient washers 26 are interposed between the heads of the screws and the outer faces of the oblique web portions of the glazing bars. The pressure exertedby the screws 23 has the efiect of closely pressing the upper edges of the glazing bars against the shoulders of the load carrying member, and, by reason of the slight undercut arrangement of said shoul ders, the possibilit of 'water passing around the upper edges of said bar-is eliminated.

'The sealing strips 22 herein'shown, and

constituting one feature of my invention, are

of peculiar construction to provide a good weather-proof joint between the glazing bars and the glass. Said strips areznade of any suitable material having a substantial body, as lead, cork, rubber, leather and the like. The cross-sectional shapeof the strip is such that when pressure is transmitted thereto through the medium of the glaring bars, the strips change their cross-section to embrace the lower ed f of'the' glazing bars and.conform closely to the upper sides of the glass faces. To this end said sealing strips are provided at their u per edges with grooves 28 (Fig. 5) which t the lower edges of the glazmgbars. The lower sides of said strips 7 are grooved or arched, givin each strip two laterally separated, parallel lips, 29 for contact with the glass. By reason of the construction described, and of the soft material of which the strips are made, when pressure is applied to said strips, (as when the screws 23 are tightened) the strips are mashed or distorted so as to close the grooved upper sides thereof closely about the lower edges of the glazing bars 17,

lower sides 0 the stri s are spread apart while the paigllel, separated lips 29 at the ner indicated in Fig. 6. In this in nner,the

and mash do n upon t. e glass inthe mane extent of bearing between'the sea 'ng strips and glazing bars and the lower sides of said strips and the glass is increased and the strips are caused to follow any irregularities in the upper surface of the glass. The effectiveness of the sealed joints between the strips and glass on one hand and the glazing bars onthe other hand are increased. This latter feature of construction is especially important when the skylight or other structure is built up of what is known as wire glass, inasmuch as the surface of the glassxs rough and uneven, This form of sealing strip may be employed in connection with.

glazing bars of other constructions where it is desired to provide a, weather-proof joint between the edge of a pane or sheet of glass and its supporting member orstructure.

in Figs. 3 and 7 l h'ave shown an arrdngemcnt whereby the panes oi" sheets of glass 11 of inclined skylight or like structure are sup ported to overlap at their edges, the lower edge of one paneofglass overlapping the upper edge of the next lower pane. connection with such an arrangement, 1 have shown. a special form of the foldedstrip 12 which thus supports the glass panes in overlapped relation. In this form of the folded strip the upper margin oithe web 18 thereof is bent laterally to form glass carrying ledges 14 14 etc, arranged in planes parallel. to the planes of the glass sheets or panes which they support and oblique tct the pitch planeyof the skylight or other structure. .The ledges 14 1& etc., at eaclr side of'each load carrying member 10 are formed integral parts of a single folded strip which is coextensive in length with the supporting member. The said ledges l4, l4, etc. are separated a short distance at their adjoining ends by cutting away a portion of the metal before the ledges are folded. Each paneof glass extends at its lower: margin a distance beyond its carrying flange or ledge in overlapping relation to the upper margin of the next lower sheet or pane, which latter margin extends to the upper end of its carrying ledge. Between the overlapping margins of the sheets or panes of glass are arranged sealing strips ail-which su ort the lower mar inal arts oi the panes and ali'ord a weather-proof joint between overlappin panes. Said seal- 1n strips may be ma e of any suitable re atively soft material and are provided on their upper and lower surfaces with parallcl longitudinal ribs which serve toclosely adapt the strips to the uneven surface of the glass. In a complete skylight structure such strip extends from one glazing bar to the next adjacent one.

an advantage of the folded strips described is that l am able to make such strips continuous with the supporting or load carrying member 10, while providing means for supporting the glass panes in overlapping relation. The structure, as a whole, is thus greatly strengthened; it being apparent that the webs of the continuous strips, bolted or ri eted as they are to the load carrying members, reinforce said load carrying men) her and permit the parts to be made of smaller dimensions while providing a rela tively great load carrying capacity.

The glazing bars 17 are made of a length equal to that of the marginal parts of the glass panes which they cover. l lach glazing baiterminates short of the upper end of its associated pane, as herein shown, and extends beyond the lower end of said pane for overlapping engagement with the gla'zing bar associated with the next lower pane,

as shown in Fig. 3; In orderto adapt the glazing bars 1'? to the diilerential planes oi the glass panes and the general pitch plane of the skylight structure, the upper vertical load carryin marginal portions 18 of the glazing. bars are sheared or cut at an angle to bring the shoulder engaging edges thereof parallel to the shoulders beneath the enlargements or ribs 19 of the load carrying members and at an oblique angle with respect to the lower edges of said glazing bars and the planes of the glass panes. The upper ends of said vertical marginal portions of the glazing bars are, therefore, widest and they taper toward their lower ends as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The ad acent ends of the vertical portions 18 of the glazing bars fit in overlapping relation to each other In case the glass panes be arranged in abutting relation and do not overlap, as herein shown, the glazing bars may be made of uniform width throughout their length. In such construction the pitch of the panes will correspond to the pitch plane of the skylight or like structure. 1

In Fig. 9 I have shown a construction wherein the glazing bars at the opposite sides of the load carrying members 10, instead of being made of two parts, consist of a single cap portion, designated as a whole by l5. The said glazing cap consists of oblique-web,portions l6, 46 having their lower edges l7 curved to engage with the sealing strips 22, and are connected at their central portions by integral, downwardly opening channels l8 which fit over the plane upper edges of the load carrying members 10. In this construction, the glazing caps are attached to the load carrying members bv short rods l9 which extend through and have a tight or driving fit at theircentral' portions in openings in the load carrying members. Said rods are bent upwardly'and outwardly in diverging relation from the load carrying members and extend through openings in the webs 46 of the caps 45. The outer ends of said rods are screw-threaded to receive nuts 50, between which and the webs of the caps are interposed cushioning springs 51. The cushioning springs 51, shown in Fig. l), are volute springs, the inner turns of which are extended at the outer ends of the springs in the form of a cone for engagement with the nuts 50 or washers 52 between said nuts and springs. The said springs are compressible in the lines of their axes. An advantage of this form of spring is that in case it should break or lose its resiliency by the action of heat or otherwise the nut or washer will be brought against a solid abutmpntwhen the spring is fully compressed. In practice, the range of movement of the spring as a cushioning member, when the nut is turned downwardly thereon, is slight so that in case of loss of resiliency or breaking of the spring but weasel ing strip being provided on one side with strip for the purpose set forth provided on' one side with a groove to receivea glazing bar and at its other side with two laterally separated longitudinal glass engaging lips.

9. In a skylight and like structure where- .in the upper courses of the glass panes are arranged in overlapping relation to the lower courses, a load-carrying member comprising a Hat bar arranged on edge and a glass-supporting member attached to the side of said bar, said member being formed from a blank of sheet metal having portions of its upper edge bent laterally away from saidbar in steps to form a plurality of integral glass supporting ledges, the' lower edge of said member being bentout to form a continuous gutter.

10. In a skylight and like structure, a glass-supporting member formed from a blank of sheet metal, said member being adapted for attachmentto a load-carrying member and being provided at its upper mar-gill with a plurality of laterally extending integral ledges arranged in steps, said ledges being formed cutting transversely into the upper edge of the blank at intervals, the strips of metal between cuts being folded at an angle to the body of the blank.

11. In a skylight and like structure, a "glass supporting member formed from a blank of sheet metal, said member being adapted for attachment "to a load carrying member and being provided at its upper margin with a plurality of laterally extending integral ledges, arranged in successively lower planes, said ledges being formed by cutting the blank transversely at predetermined intervals to form cuts of different lengths, and the strips of metal between the cuts being shearedand folded to form'ledges longitudinally parallel to the required pitch 12. In a skylight and like structure, a

main or load-carrying member comprising glass-supporting portions and a web projecting between the edges of adjacent panes of glass supported on said portions, obliquely disposed sheet metal glazing members ensaid panes, and fastening devices for said glazing members, said devices including the portions passing transversely through openings obliquely to the plane of said web and gaging said glazing members.

13. In a skylight and like structure, a

main or load-carrying member comprising glass-supporting portions and a web pro-- JBCtIDg between the edges of adjacent panes of glass supported on, said portions, glazing members engaging said panes, a piece projecting transversely through said web, and bolts or screws carried bysaid 14-. In a sk light and-like structure, a main or load-carrying member comprising glasssupporting portions and a web projecting between the edges of adjacent panes of glass supported on said portions, glazing inembers engaging said panes and having ,outer surfaces oblique to the'planes ofsaid outer faces thereof.

15. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying member comprising a glass-supporting portion and a Web extending beyond the edge of a pane of glass sup ported on said portion, substantially at right angles to the plane of said pane, aglazing member engaging said pane, and a fastening device for said glazing member carried by the projecting portion of said web outside of the outer surface of said pane and projecting obliquely to the plane thereof.

16. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying member comprising a glass supporting portion and a web extending beyond the edge of a pane of glass supported on said portion, substantially at .65 in said web and portions extending piecd'gand engaging said glazmg members.

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and projecting obliquely to the plane thereof, said fastening device including means for exerting a yielding pressure upon said glazing member. a I

17. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying member comprising a glass-supporting portion and a web extending beyond the edge of a pane of glass supported on said portion, substantially at right angles to the plane of said pane, a

glazing member engaging said pane, and a fastening device for said glazing member comprising a portion passing transversely through an opening in said web outside of the outer surface of said pane and a portion capable of being easily upset to 18. A sealing strip for use in skylight and like structures formed'of comparatively soft impresslble materialandhaving a plurality of longitudinally arranged laterally separated glass-engaging ribs of V-shaped section upon at least one side thereof.

19. A sealing strip for use in skylight and like structures having a plurality of longitudinally arranged, laterally separated, low, glass engaging ribs,formed of soft impressible material; the side wall. oi he ribs converging to form ribs having sharp edges, conform to irregularities in the surface of the glass.-

20. in a skylight and like structure, in combination, tn 0 overlapping panes of strip havlng a plurality of ribs glass, and means for sealing the joint be 20 tween said panes comprising a sealing strip of soft impressible metal inserted between the overlapping portions of said panes, said formed upon each of its glass-engaging surfaces, walls of said ribs converging to farm ribs having sharp edges, capable of being easily upset to conform to irregularities in the surface of the glass.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I my invention. 1 affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of November ALI). 1908.

THOMAS I. DUFFY.

Witnesses:

' W. L. HALL,

G. R. WILKINS.

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