US2724465A - Panel and curtain wall construction - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1955 w. w. KRAUSS ET AL PANEL AND CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR5. WOLFGANG w. KRAU5s ROBERT F. BELOW.

Nov. 22, 1955 2,724,465

W. W. KRAUSS ET AL PANEL AND CURIAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 4, 1950 INVENTRS. W0 LF-GANG W. KRAUSS AROBERT F. BELOW.

NO 1955 w. w. KRAUSS ET AL 2,724,465

PANEL AND CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTRS. WOLFGANG W. KRAU5S ANDB\OBERT F. BELOW.

(47 7" RIVEYS.

Nov. 22, 1955 w. w. KRAUSS ET AL 2,7

PANEL AND CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 4, 1950 7 SheetsSheet 6 INVENTRS. WOLFGANG W. KF?AUSS AND ROBERT F. BELO W. BY

Nov. 22, 1955 w. w. KRAUSS E AL PANEL AND CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 4, 1950 United States Patent Ofifi Patented Nov. 22, 1955 2,724,465 PANEL AND CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION Woltgang W. Krauss, Chagrin Falls, and Robert F. Below,

Brecksvifle, Oho, assignors to Republc Steel Corporation, Cleveland, -hio, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 4, 1950, Serial No. 142,448

14 Claims. (Cl. 189-e34) The present invention is concerned generally with the art of constructing buildings and is more particularly concrete in which case metal wall facing sheets are provided and serve as sides of pouring fdrms. In both cases, however, theresulting walls re metal faced and the steel sheeting normally used bears across substantially its full back face upon the plastic fill. There is, therefore, always a problem of protecting the metal faces or these walls frorh Corrosion. Prevention of Water vapor pent:tration of the walls has seemed arather obvious solution to the problem but in practice has proved difficult and unreliable. In the first place, a perfect seal against Water vapor penetratin fis virtually unobtainable in a commercial scale consttuction. Fur thermore, even if such aseal were obtained, and the cost were not too great, itwould not be expected to last permanently, or even long enough to be -worthwhile because of the tendency for buildings tosttle and portions ofthe wall to crack.

We have discovered how the foregoing difiiculties may be overcome and the problems elirninated inan easy, econbmical manner and it is in thiS discovery that this invention resides. Rather than attempting to vapor seal the plastic fill portion of a wall, in accordance with our invention means are provided for ventilating the outer surface of the said fill. This ventilation is efiected by means of passatgeways defined between shet metal curtain panels and the fill and preferably extending vertically of the walls with open upper and lower ends for the free and constant Circulation of air therethrough.

A further understanding of the preserit invention and the objects and advantages thereof will be gained by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of several forms ofthe invention, reference being had to the drawingsccompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewota building having a wall structure embodying the.ptesent invenfion; H

Fig. 2 is an enlargd perspective view of a portion of the wall illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the relationship or a curtain wall panel assembly to its snpporting structure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a wall structure embodying this invention and resembling that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.- 3a is a single-fine, diagrammaticview of the joint structure shown at the bottom of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a fragrnentary, horizontal sectional view showing two diflerent portions of one ofth wall structures of Fig. 1 complete with a curtain panel assembly; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another wall structure embodying this invention in a diterent form;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a portion of the wall of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the wall of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a longer corner portion of the wall of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective portion of the Fig. 8 corner portion;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the wall structure 01: Fig. 5, showing an insulated curtain wall panel, where the inside face of the panel is used as interior finish;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing plaster applied on metal lath, which .is wired to clips, fastened to steel face of panel;

Fig. 12 is, again, a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing still another type of construction in whichplywood member is scured to the inside of the wall structure; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, horizontal sctional view talen on line 1313 ofFig. l2;

Fig. 14 is still another view like Fig. 10, illustrating another type of interior dry wall member secured to the supporting wall structure;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a wall structure embodying this invention in another form;

Fig. 15a is a single-fine, diagrammatic view of the upper horizontallyextending joint structure shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the wall structure of Fig. 15;

Fig. 16a is a single-lime, diagrammatic view of the vertically-extending joint structure shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective vievv of a buildingwall structure embodying still another form of this invention;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the Fig. 17 structure showing a horizontal joint therein;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the Fig. 17 structure showing another horizontal joint;

Fig. 20 is a fragmehtary, horizontal sectional view of the Fig. 17 structure showing a vertical joint therein; and,

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a pan element of the Fig. 17 structure.

Multistoried buildings of the types to which the units of the present invention are applicable to advantage Comprise the usual columns C and structural steel spandrel Ibeam B encased in concrete and extending between columns C, and concrete fioors P as illuStrated in Figs. 1 and 5. Sheet metal window frames F (Fig. 1) of any desired dimensions or types may be employed with units U of*this invention, the upper and lower edges of frames F preferably being formed for interlocking engagement With opposed portions cf units U for easy and quick installation and good weather sealing eff ect.- Likewise, column facing panels L of plain or corrugated surface are provided to face columns C and engage vrtically adjacent units U. Wherewindow frames F are smaller than the spaces between the supporting columns (Fig. 5) panel L are correspondingly wider to fill the horizontal space between said frames and are suitably,formed exteriorly to relieve the illusion of space between the windows and to make theexterior of the building more attractive.

Very broadly and generally speaking, a building wall unit U of this invention comprises-a sheet metal curtain panel, a moisture-permeable, '-ht-insulating bod disview of the upper posed adjacent to the inner surface of the panel and defining therewith a plurality of vertically extending open ended passageways for ventilating air fiow, and means for excluding snow and rain from the passageways inc'1uding a sheetmetl cover piece which extends over theopen upper ends of the passageways and and overlaps the adjacent upper portions of the curtain panel. Thus, either the panel or the heat insulating body, or both, may be corrugated or channeled or otherwise provided with undulating surface portions to define the necessary passageways. The important thing is that the contact between the two parts is limited so far as practicable so that amaximum of evaporation can occur along the outer surface portions of the 'insulating body and the inside surface of the met al panel thereby kept substantially free of moisture at all times. v

In the form of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the support -means comprises a plurality of spaced apart, upright channels bolted to structural angles A, which in turn are boited to the outer edge portion of spandre] beams B. Rails 12 arranged end to end andextendingthe widthof thebuilding connect the upper portions of uprights 10. Uprights 10 are embedded in a relatively short wall 14 of the building, which extends from corner to corner of the building. Wall 14 may be of concrete.or the .like, but ,preferably is of lighter material andin ariy event must be .substantially heat insulating. In the Fig. 5 construction, the support means takes substantially the same form, comprising a pair of structural angles A attached to spandrel beams B .at the top and bottom. Flanged sheet metal channels constituting curtain panel portions are interlocked With each other and directly bolted or welded, as desired, to angles A by means of clips Z, as indicated in Fig. 6. Angles A, as

shown in Fig. 5 are continuons but may suitably'be in the form of a number of spaced short sections.

The concrete or other aggregate used for the wall body in the various embodiments of the invention is, of course, moisture permeable and will permit water vapor to escape from the interior of thebuilding.

In the Fig. 3 construction, moisture-permeable body 16, which may be of heavy paper or the like, is disposed against the outer face of wall structure 14 to which it is suitably attached as the said structure is poured and formed, means being provided to reenforce body 16 until such time as the plastic fill has(hardened in the event that it is'cohcrete or the like. Pane] units U, which in this instance comprise channeled sheet metal parts 20, are disposed with their channels running vertically so that passages 22 are defined between the panels and body 16 opposing the inner surfaces thereof. Panels U are, further more, relatively short and narrow for case in handling as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and have end portions 24 which are flanged to bear substantially weather-tightly against each other and'have registered apertures so that tl 1e opposjng flanges par; b e bolted together as ,illustrated. Elongated sheet metal sections 26 serve as flashing for the units and extnd over the tops of panels U, bearing against the upper outsidesurtaces of thepanels but spaced upwardly from the ends of the panels, thus leaving the passages 22 open at their upper ends. Flashing 26 is an integral part of'each panel and has an inner flanged edge portion for positioning engagement with structure inside wall 16. At the lower end of panel U of Fig. 3, another type of flashing is shown. This jlatter.flashing element 28 is formed t o define a;hook near its upper (inner) end so that the element may 'be hng .on the upwardly directerl fiange of .the lower rail 12. Otherwise the two flashing types are ,generall similar in design and construction. An anchor 29 conjprisihg an elongated sheet metal angle iS welded .to .the nder side of flashing 28 and .depends therefrom t0 secre a window frame F therebelow.

In theintegration of the Fig. 1 assembly, after columns beams B .and fi0qrs,.P have .been .constructed with the chaume} irons 310 ernhcdded in the ,concrete beam sections,

rails 12 are suitably bolted in place connecting the tops of the uprights. Liquid-permeable body 16 is applied to the inner side of sheets 20 and molding frames (net shown) are then erected inside the uprights to define With body 16 a wall structure mold, and plastic fill, preferably of light weight and of substantial fire resistance, such as the vermiculite type, is poured into said space. The order of this assembly is indicated in Fig. 1, Where the final step of removing the molding frames has been carried out on the lowermost level.

Panel unit U of Figs. 5 to 14, inclusive, comprises corrugated metal sheets 'having inwardly directed flanges 36 at their edges and defining a pluralit y of relatively broad, shallow V-sections as viewed in plan. Approximately inch clearance is allowed between horizontally adjacent sheets but the weather is excluded from between the units by virtue of the manner of their attachment to the supporting structure subsequently to be described. Sheets 35 define With a backing body to be described, a plurality of vertically extending, substantiafly V-shaped passageways. Flashing 38., uniike that described above, comprises tvvo ,elements, the'lower one 40 generally con- E0rming to the foregoing description -inthat it bears at its outer arid'lower edge upon the upper adjacent edge portion et the sheet 35 it 'is .to .protect and defines with the said sheet and insulatirrg body 42 behind sheet 35 a horizon-v tally extending passageway 43, .communicating with vertical passageways 37. The inner edge 44 of the member 40 is vertically disposed for bolted engagement With a conneeting piece 45 which is welded to supporting structure as Show11in Fig. ,6. Parts 44 and 45 are dimpled in their apertured portions so that the contact between the parts is limited to the immediate vicinity of the con'necting bolts and heat conductivity is reduced to a minimum through .these elements of the assembly. The upper flashing member 47 has a lower and outer flanged edge 48 disposed between thelower end of thesheet 35 next above member 40 and has an inner flanged edge aperturd 'to receive a boit 49 whereby the said member is securely fastened to a secondconnecting member 50, which is an integral part of the supporting structure.

Body 42 backing the panel in each case is suitably of insulating material of any Wellknown type and is .preferably precast in a light weight slab form and installed in the panel at the factdry. Body 42 is in turn backed by supporting structure 53 shown in the trade as a Ferrobord assembly and -made .up of a plurality of interlocking, flanged metal sections, the adjacent members of this supporting structure being fassembled -rigidly together. Metal plates 56 are provided to cover the joints between vertically adjacent panel units and are screwed to the panels as shown at 57 in Fig. 6. Vertical joints between sheets 35 and structure 53 comprise metal sections 59 having outer flange portions to which fianges 36 are Welded (Fig.

7) and connectors 60 .bolted t0 bodies 59 and extending inwardly.from the joint for welded interlocking engage ment With the adjacent Fer'robord mernbers. Cemeht 62 or the like is provided to augment the heat insulating effects of the joint construction, and particularly parts 44 and 45 described.bove.

In the Fig. 10 construction, the interior metal surface of the wall ispainted, while in Fig. 11 a vermiculite plaster body 65 is provided to cover this surface, a flanged bracket 66 being -provided just above the floor level to assist in supporting body,65 and an undercut con1iecting member 67 being provided between structure 53 and a window trame F to hold the said body at its upper end. The upper portion of this undercut member in turn may serve to support a similar plaster body.on.the next level.

In Fig. 12, a porcelain enamel sheet 70 is provided to cover plywood 72 disposedagainst the inner surface of the Ferrobord and again a flanged bracket 73 is provided near the floor line to support the assembly. In this case, how ver, 9nue ng.member 74 has a flang d pq posed apart from-the -Ferrobord structure 53 to bear upon the upper portion of sheet 70 to retain the upper part of the cover assembly in place, ascreW 75 being provided to secure member 74 to the said structure. The abutting edges of the plywood elements are undercut and the space therebetween is filled With cernent 77 so that these parts are firmly joind together, as indicated in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 14 the Ferrobord cover comprises two layers of sheet rock 79 retained in position by means of a flanged bracket 80 and an upper connectr element 81 of the same general form as that described in Fig. 12.

In constructing assembly shown in Fig. 5, structural angles A are connected to the tops and bottoms of the spandrel beams B in horizontal and vertical alignment and the lower angles are apertured at spaced points along thcir vertically extending portions. The panel assembly is then hung on the upper angles by clips Z and bolted to the lower angles and the lower edges of panels L are. interlocked With panels U, the top panels L being held in place While Z-clips are fixed in place. In this type of assembly it will usually be found prefrahle to make up beforehand the Ferrobord panel with the insulatingbody 42 and the flashing elemehts, connector parts and facing sheet 35 for installation as a single unit at the built site. Typical corner sections for assembly in this manner are illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 corresponds generally to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Panel unit W comprises corrugated'metal sheets 85 similar to sheet 35, but having overlapped flanged vertical edges and being held in assembled relation to exclude the weather from Within the panel structure as illustrated in Fig. 16.

Sheets 85 define With backing 86 to be described a plurality of vertically extending, generally V-shaped passage- Ways 37 for air circulation behind the outer surface of the wall structure. Flashing for the assembly comprises an elongated horizontlly disposed sheetmetal strip 88 which has a downWardly and outwardly sloping lower flange and an inwardly and upwardly sloping intermediate portion disposed above the upper open ends et passageways 87. A part of thelower end of this flashing strip overlaps the upper portion of sheets :85, While the upper end thereof is secured in the horizontal joint between panels W, as indicated inFig. 15a. A fiashing element comprising an elongated sheet metal member 90is disposed just above member 88 and is spaced just below the lower edge of sheet 85 next above so that the lower open ends of passageways 87 will be open to permit airflow therethrough and drainage of moisture therefrom. This upper fiashing member has an inner portion in the vertical joint between panels W et the structure and at its inner end is secured by means of a screw 92 to a retaining member 93 welded to a Ferrobord panel 101. The retaining means for strip 88 comprises an angle 98 welded to said strip and screwed to a Z-shaped elongated metal strip 96 which has an outer portion extending over the top of the sheet 85 and spaced thereabove andoverlapping the outer sides of sheet 85 and holding it in a clamped relation With body 86. A screw 97 is provided to fasten together the opposed upwardly eXtending inner portion of strip 96 and a metal strip 98 of generally Z-shape in transverse cross-section which is shop welded to Ferrobord 101.

Typically, body 86 is suitably of insulating materal of any well known type like body 42, and also is backed by supporting structure 101 comprising interlocking flanged metal bodies, i. e. Ferrobord units assembled and secured together. Spaces between vertically adjacent units W are closed at the inner ends by sheet metal channels 103, the sides of which engage the intermediate portionsof members 93 and 98.

Vertical joints between units ofthe structure are made up of inner sheet metal members- 105 welded or otherwise securedto interlockingFerrobord units and having a portion disposed between adjacentunits W. Anotber smaller strip 106 is ttached bymeans of screws 107t0 member 105, but is spaced"therefrofir. Completingthe irons in position.

construction in these vertical joints are inner and outerelongated sheet metal strips 110 and 111 which are screwed together but, are, however, also spaced apart for purposes of insulation. Sheet 85 is -suitably welded or otherwise secured to outer element 111 while the adjacent vertical edge of another sheet 85 .is similarly secured to strip 106. A separate metal spring weather strip 113 is disposed in the outer portion of the vertical joint between strips 106 and 111 in wcather-sealing engagement With the adjacent flange of a sheet 85 and said latter strips. Suitable heat insulating material 115 may be poured into and molded in the vertical joint, as shown in Fig. 16, to minimize heat transfer thrOugh the joint and its elements. Likewise, the horizontal joints may be insulated 'against heat transfer by means ofheat insulating material 116 disposed therein, as illustrated in Fig. 15.

This unit W is assembled as part of a Wall of a building and secured in place by angle irons 118 anchored detachably t0 a spandrel beam 119 by means of L-shaped bolts 120 the threaded ends of which extend vcrtically from the beams to receive nuts 121 to engage and hold the angle The lower angle iron is bolted to a panelof structure 101 While a clip 122 welded to said panel is hung on the upwardly disposed flange of the upper angle iron.

The elements of the structure illustrated in Fig. 17 bear certain basic similarities to those of the structures shown in the foregoing figures and possess the same general advantages and consequently constitute other forms of the same invention. In the Fig. 17 structure metal pans having top flange portions are supported above by screws extending through said flange portions and below by pivoted brackets 143 welded to the pans and secured to suitable supporting structure tube described. Bodies 145 of insulating material, like bodies 42 and 86, are adjacent tothe inner surfaces of pans 140. Vertical joints between pans 140 are made Watertight but nevertheless are open for circulation of air between the pans throughout the full height of said pans. Channel strips 149 extend the full height of the pans to receive the vertical edges of adjacent pans as shown in Fig. 20. These strips are integiallyformed with or welded to a backing member 150 of sheetmetalsecured by screws 152 to clip elements 160 and 186 to be described. Ferrobord structurc 155 is provided as supporting means for bodies 145 and pans 147, and said structure 155 and pans 140 are supported by anchored angle irons 118 of the spandrel beams of the building, as described above in connection with the discussion of the Fig. 15 structure. Thus, a pair of elongated sheet metal Z-clps and 161 are disposed at the lower end of an assembly including an in sulating body 145, a pan 140 and a Ferrobord panel 155,

clip 160 having a portion engaging the outer surface of said body and clip 161 having a portion bearing against the lower inside surface portion of said panel. Opposed,-

-culation behind it. The Ferrobord panel and clip 167 aresecured to angle 118 by nut and bolt means shown at 165. Another sheet metal Z-clip 167 is held in place by means and depends from lower angle 118 to engage and support at its lower end in a horizontal joint between panel units another pair of elongated sheet metal clips 168 and 169 held together by nut and bolt means 170. Clip 168 has an outer end engaging the upper end of pan 147 of the panel next below and is spaced above the end of the passageway between said pan and body145 adjacent thereto. The inner or remote end of clip 169 bears against the .npper inside surface .of the Ferrobord panelxextbclow. before, insulating material 172 may be provided in the horizontal and ventical joints .of the structure .to saugtnent the heat-insulating effect of bodies 145.

.At the glower joint of this Fig. 17 form of this invention as shoWn in ;Fig. 19 flashing members 181 and 182 are provided, 181 having .an longated central portion so.

that the inner end of the member can be disposed .between:panel units while the .outer end extends above and bears onzouter upper end portion of a pan 140 next belw. To hold .these members in place a pair of Z-clips 184 and 185.are aprovided and.anchored at their inner ends on the lower :Linside portion and :the upper inside portion, re spectively, of two adjacent Ferrobord ,elements 155. Clip 184 is joined by nut and bolt means to the inner end of meh1ber 1 82, .While clip 185 :is.simlarly joined toanother Z.clip 186 :bering on :the upper end of a body 145 and on thebinner endtofmember 181, to :hold said member in position against .a .channel-shaped retaining block 188. A,vertical joint in this Fig. 17 structure comprises, .as

shown in Fig. 20, a;pair of .elongated sheet metal clips 19.0 and .193 having portions bearing on the .inner and outer sedges, respectively, .of adjacent bodies .145, and having portions disposed partially across the.opening :betweenzsaid bodies. A Z-clip 193 .bears against the outer surface .of one .of said bodies and has a portion opposed to.theufe end ofclip 190 and attached thereto in spaced relation :by nu't and bolt means 195. Still another clip 19.6:0f generally Z-shape, completes the assembly together withlnut:and bolt 1197 :meanssecuring one end of saidclip to theopposedfiee end-cf clip 191 in spaced relation.

.Having thus described the .present invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to* understand and practice the.same, westate that What we desire .to secure by.Letters Patent isdefined in what is clairned.

What.is clairnedis:

1. A:curtain wall unit comprising a sheet metal panel having inner and outer surfaces, a body adjacent to and abutting the said inner surface and at least apart of :the panel belng .deformed t0 define with the outer r surface of :the body a vrtically extending passageway open at the ends thereto to permit free circulation of air saIOng-at deast a portion of the body, and means fof.excludingrain .from the passageway including ahori zontl sheet:metal cover piece extending over the UPP6r endzof :the passageway and overlapping and engaging thetadjacent upper portions of the cnrtain panel.

2. .A *curtain wallunitcnmprising a sheet metal curtain panel chaving inner and outer surfaces, a wall body having-inner and .outer surfaces disposed adjacent the said panel and the .outer surface of the wall body abutting the:inner:surfaceof the panel, the innersurface of the panel and the outer surfaceof the body being relatively deformed to form avertically-extending, open-ended passageway, and flashingmeans fixed in position relative' to tl1e panel and including a substantially horizontally-xtending sheet metal member over the upper end of :thepassageway and overlapping adjacent upper portions of saidpanel, saidflashing member engaging-said adjacentuppenpanel portions and .cooperang with the panel to .define .ports .at the ends of said panel com municating with said passageway.

3. :A curtain wall unit comprising a sheet metal panel having inner and outer surfaces, a wall body having inner and .outer surfaces disposed adjacent the said panel and the :panel including vertically extendingcorrugations,the innerextremitiesof the corrugations abutting the*outerssurfaceof the wall body to form a vertical]y=extending, open-ended passageway, and flashing means fixed in position relative to the panel, said flashing means :comprising a substantially horizonlly-extending sheet metal member over the ;upper end of the passageway and zoverlapping adjacent upper 'pQrtions of said panel,- said flashing member engaging said adjacent pper portions and cooperating with the panel t0 define ports ;at the ends of said panel communicating with said passageway, the flas hing extendihg inward to a position adjacent the :body wall and above the ends of the passages defined by the corru gations in the panel.

4. A curtain wall section comprising a plurality of sheet metal panels having inner and enter surfaces, a wall body of :m0istule permeable aggregate having inner and enter surfaces and portions thereof disposed adjacent the said panels and the panels having verticaflly cxtending corrugations and the inner extremities of the corrugaions abutting the wall body to form With the portions of the wall body vertically-extending, openend ed ;passageways, vertical joint means for securing adjacent panels together comprising a vertically-disposed metal tnember extending between vertical edges of said panels and secnred rigi dly to the panels and cooperating therewith to exclude rain frorn said passageways, and

flashing means fixed in position relative to the panels and including a snbstantially horizontally-extending sheet metal member over the -upper ends of the passageways and overlapping ,adjacentupper portions of said panel, the member extending inward to a position adjacent the body wall and. above the ends of the passages defined by the corrugations in the panel.

-5.. A building wall section comprising a plurality of sheet metal cnrtain panels having inner and enter surfaces, a wall body comprising portions disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of said panels, at least a portion :of each panel being deformed and abut ting the outer surface .of the portion of the wall body to :define with the wall body vertically-extend ing, open-ended passageways, vertical joint means for securi ng adjacent panels:togther comprising a vertically disposed -rnetalmember extending between vertical edges of adjacent said panelsand secured rigidly to the panels, said members cooperating with the panels to exclude rain from said :passageways and having a portion disposed between adjacent heat insulating bodies, means between said.bodies ,to secure in place said member including an.elernent bolted tosaid member and having a;portion projecting from between said bodies and retained in place back .of the bodies, and flashing means fixed imposition relative to the panels and including a substantially,.horizontally-extending sheet metal member extending over the upper ends of the passageways and overlapping adjacent upper portions.of said panels, said fiashing member engaging said adjacent upper panel portions and cooperating with the panel to define ports at the :ends ;of said panels communicating with said passageways.

6. A building wall section comprising a plurality of sheet .metal;curtain panels having inner and outer surfaces, a wall body .comprising portions having inner and .outer surfaces disposed adjacent the panels, the panels -including :verticallyextending corrugations, and the,,inner extremities -of the corrugations abutting the portions of the wall body to form verticallyextending, open-ended Passageways, vertical joint means for secnring adjacent .panels together comprising a verticallydisposed metal strip having longitudinally-extending spaced ribs ;.on opposite sides .of vertical edges of adjacent :panels and .secured rigidly to said panels and also havingifianges bearing on and screwed to the bodies, and -flashing meansnfixed in position relative to the panel and including asubstantially =,horizontallyextending sheet -metal member over the.upper ends of the passagewaysfland .overlapping adjacent upper portions of said panels, the member extending inward to a position adjacent the body wall,and above -the ends of the passages defined by the corrugaons in the panel.

7. A curt ain wall unit-for buildingconstruction comprising a curtain panelhaving inner and outer sides and an.upper..end, the panel be ing,gcnerally corrugated to formvertically extending deformations at the inner side of the panel, a body of moisture-permeable material having an outer side and an inner side, the body being disposed adjacent the inner side of the panel, the outer side of the body and the deformations in the inner side of the panel forming a plurality of vertically extending passageways, the panel and the body mutually support ing each other, and flashing means fixed at the upper end of the panel and cemprising a sheet metal member overlapping the panel portion and forming therewith a horizontally extending passageway joining the vertically extending passageways.

8. A curtain wall unit comprising a sheet metal panel having inner and outer surfaces and a wall body of moisture permeable aggregate having inner and outer surfaces disposed adjacent the said panel and the outer surface of the wall body abutting the inner surface of the panel, the panel extending on the surface of the body and the panel including corrugations vertically across the panel to form passageways with the body open at the ends thereof for permitting natural circulation of air through the passages and along the outer surface of said body, and means at opposite extremities of the said panel and wall body for holding the panel and body in compressive engagement.

9. A curtain wall unit comprising a sheet metal panel having inner and outer surfaces, the panel including vertically extending corrugations having inner and outer extremities, a wall body of moisture permeable aggregate having inner and outer surfaces disposed adjacent the said panel, and the outer surface of the wall body abutting the inner surface of the said panel, the said corrugations cooperating with the outer surface of the body to form passageways open at the ends thereof for permitting natural circulation of air through the passages and along the outer surface of the body, and means at opposite extremities of the said panel and wall body en* gaged with the outer surface of the said panel and the outer surface of said body for holding the panel and body in compressive engagement and means for securing the said panel and body to a building frame structure and to adjoining curtain panels.

10. A curtain unit comprising a body of aggregate material having inner and outer sides and lateral and vertical extremities, an outer panel of sheet metal dis posed over the outer side of the body, an inner panel of sheet metal disposed over the inner side of the body, each panel including portions spaced from the body and portions engaging the surface of the body and conneclors 10 extending between the panels at some of the extremities of the body for holding the body and the panels in relatively fixed engagement.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10, portions of the outer panel spaced from the body forming passages between the extremities of the body, the ends of the passages being open to permit. substantially free circulation of air along at least a part of the outer surface of the body.

12. A curtain wall unit comprising a body having inner and outer sides and lateral and vertical extremitics, an outer panel of sheet metal engaged with the outer side of the body, an inner panel of sheet metal engaged with the inner side of the body, the said panels being corrugated to form passages With the sides of the body and the cormgations and the passages extending between opposite extremities of the body, means engaging the said panels and the said body at opposing extremities thereof for holding the said panels and body in fixed relationship.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 12, the passages formed With the body by the corrugations in the outer panel extending between opposite extremities of the body and the ends of the passages being open to permit substantially free circulation of air along at least a portion of the outer surface of the body.

14. A curtain wall unit comprising a body having inner and outer sides and lateral and Vertical extremities, an outer panel of sheet metal engaged With the outer side of the body, an inner panel of sheet metal engaged with the inner side of the body, said outer panel being corrugated to form passages With the sides of the body and the corrugations and the passages extending between opposite extremities of the body, menus engaging the said panels and the said body at opposite extremities thereof for holding the said panels and body in relatively fixed relation, and means for securing the said panels and body to a building frame structure and to adjoining curtain wall units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lethly Oct. 10, 1939 Auten Apr. 20, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES

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