[0001] The present invention concerns a fire-resistant casing/panel structure comprising
a panel, outer and inner posts made of aluminium, connected to one another by means
insulating bridges to enclose the panel, and local anchors made of a material with
a higher failure temperature than aluminium, divided over the length of the posts
and fixed to one of the posts so as to retain the panel in relation to said post when
fixed.
[0002] Such structures are used to prevent fire from spreading from one room to another
room or a floor situated on top of it through holes formed in an outer wall or inner
wall as the casing/panel structure collapses. The panels are made for example of fire-resistant
glass, or provided with a material on their edges forming foam in case of fire, so
that the danger of openings being formed is mainly due to aluminium posts collapsing
or the connection between the posts collapsing, which is usually made of insulating
plastic. In case of fire, the temperature may rise to over 900°C, and aluminium is
not resistant to such temperatures.
[0003] Thus, the anchors are meant to retain the panel in case of fire in relation to one
of the posts, after the post has collapsed or has become detached because the connection
between the posts has broken down.
[0004] Such a casing/panel structure is known from European patent No. 0.704.596. However,
the anchors are always designed to hold the inner posts and the outer posts together
in case of fire.
[0005] In one embodiment of this known structure, only one sort of anchors is used which
are anchored in the inner post, and they retain the outer post, and indirectly also
the panel in case the outer post collapses. The panel is not retained when the inner
post collapses.
[0006] In another embodiment according to said patent application, two types of anchors
are used placed opposite to one another in pairs. A plate-shaped anchor is anchored
to an inner post, and a profiled anchor is anchored on the outer post. In both cases,
this anchoring is carried out by means of a screw fixing the outer post to an inner
post. No glazing beads are used in this embodiment to retain the glass panel on the
inside. The profiled anchor can be either or not screwed to the outer post.
[0007] In the first embodiment, the panel is only retained on the outside by the anchors
in case of fire, but not when the inner post or the connection between the posts collapses,
whereas in the second embodiment, the inner posts and outer posts have to be fixed
together by means of screws, and the mounting of the anchors is relatively complex.
[0008] The present invention aims a casing/panel structure which has been improved in relation
to the above-mentioned structure in many regards, and which allows for a relatively
simple mounting, and which retains the panel when the outer post collapses as well
as when the inner post or the connection between the posts collapses, and which can
be used when the posts are not connected by screws.
[0009] To this aim, the invention consists of a casing/panel structure according to the
first paragraph, whereby it contains a number of anchors fixed to an inner post, for
example by means of screws, and which have a leg which is situated between one part
of an outer post and the panel with one end, and a number of anchors fixed to an outer
post, for example by means of screws, and situated with one leg between the panel
and a mounting post made of aluminium fixed on the inner post, whereby the latter
anchors comprise two anchor parts which can be coupled to one another, one anchor
part of which is fixed to the outer post, and the other anchor part of which comprises
the above-mentioned leg.
[0010] In this manner, the panel can be easily mounted in the casing/panel structure. Before
the panel is provided, the first-mentioned anchors are fixed on the inner post, for
example by means of screws, and a clamping part of the last-mentioned anchors is fixed
on the outer post, for example by means of screws.
[0011] After the panel has been mounted, each fixed anchor part is coupled to the other
anchor part of the last-mentioned anchors, and the mounting post is fixed on the inner
post.
[0012] The above-mentioned anchors are preferably spring clamps.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the above-mentioned anchors in two parts can
be adjusted for several panel thicknesses.
[0014] Thus, identical anchors can be used for different panel thicknesses.
[0015] Preferably, the anchors which are fixed on an inner post do not get into contact
with an outer post, whereas the anchors which are fixed on an outer post do not get
into contact with an inner post.
[0016] Thus, the anchors do not form heat bridges between the inner and outer posts.
[0017] In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred
embodiment of a casing/panel structure according to the invention is described as
an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
figure 1 schematically represents a casing/panel structure according to the invention;
figure 2 represents a section according to line II-II in figure 1 to a larger scale;
figure 3 represents the anchor from the section according to figure 2 in perspective;
figure 4 represents a section according to line IV-IV in figure 1 to a larger scale;
figure 5 represents the anchor from the section according to figure 4 in perspective;
figure 6 schematically represents the anchor in two possible positions.
[0018] Figure 1 represents a casing/panel structure which, for clarity's sake, comprises
only one panel 1 which is held in a casing 2.
[0019] It is clear that the casing 2 can be part of a front or roof construction comprising
several panels 1 which are each held between four composite posts which, as represented
in figures 2 and 4, mainly comprise an aluminium inner post 3 and an aluminium outer
post 4 which are connected to one another by means of insulating bridges formed of
two strips 5 made of thermally insulating plastic.
[0020] On the outside, the inner post 3 forms two chambers 6 filled with a fire-resistant
material 7, whereas the outer post 4 also forms two chambers 6 on the outside filled
with fire-resistant material 7. In the chamber, formed between the inner post 3 and
the outer post 4 and between the strips 5, is also provided fire-resistant material
7.
[0021] The panel 1, in the given example, is a fire-resistant glass consisting of at least
two layers with a foil in between which swells under the influence of the heat.
[0022] The panel 1 enclosed between the composite posts 3-5 is held with its edges between
a part 4' forming an edge of an outer post 4 and an assembly lath 8 which is snapped
in on the inside of the inner post 3.
[0023] Between the panel 1 and the edge 4', the assembly lath 8 respectively, are provided
seals 9, for example made of rubber.
[0024] In order to retain the panel 1 in case of fire, the casing/panel structure contains
two types of local anchors, actually consisting of spring clamps 10 and 11, and which
are divided over the length of the posts.
[0025] As is represented in figures 2 and 3, a clamp 10 is predominantly L-shaped. A leg
12 is provided with an opening 13 on its far end through which a screw 14 is provided
with which said leg is screwed to an inner post 3. The leg 12 extends up to the other
side of the panel 1, whereas the other leg 15 extends along the edge 4' up to opposite
the panel 1, where its far end is clamped against the outside of the panel 1 in a
springy manner with an edge 15'.
[0026] This clamp 10 may for example be formed of rustproof spring steel and have a thickness
of 0.5 mm.
[0027] As the screws 14 are situated under the assembly lath 8, this assembly lath is provided
with recesses 16 to let the fixed legs of clamps 10 through.
[0028] The clamps 11 consist of two parts of spring steel, namely a base 17 and a feed part
18, which can be pushed over one another and coupled to one another, as is represented
in figures 4 to 6.
[0029] The base 17 and the feed part 18 are made of rustproof spring steel, and have a thickness
of for example 0.5 and 0.4 mm respectively.
[0030] The base 17 is provided with an opening 19 on one far end through which extends a
screw 20 with which this base 17 is screwed to an outer post 4.
[0031] Two strips of this base 17, extending crosswise, have been pushed through so as to
form two springy beards 21 which are situated near the far ends of this base 17 respectively.
[0032] The feed part 18 is predominantly L-shaped. One of its legs mainly consists of a
flat ring 22 which can be pushed over the base 17 and which is provided with two longitudinal,
crosswise directed openings 23 in which fits a springy beard 21. The other leg 24
is provided with a folded edge 24' on its far end.
[0033] The feed part 18 is pushed over the base 17 until either of the two beards 21 snaps
into either of the openings 23. Together with the openings 23, the beards 21 thus
form blocking means to block the feed part 18 in relation to the base 17 in the slide-out
direction. As there are two beards 21 and two openings 23, the feed part 18 can thus
be snapped-in in four positions in relation to the base 17 and be thus blocked. This
makes it possible to adjust the clamp 11 to different thicknesses of the panel 1,
as is represented in figure 6.
[0034] Before a panel 1 is provided in the casing 2, the clamps 10 are screwed to the inner
posts 3 of said casing 2 by means of the screws 14. Also the bases 17 of the clamps
11 are fixed to the outer posts 4 by means of the screws 20.
[0035] The panel 1 is put in place, against the seals 9 provided on the edges 4' of the
outer posts 4, and thus also against the edges 15' of the clamps 10, and fixed in
the usual manner by means of keys.
[0036] Next, the feed parts 18 of the clamps 11 are pushed over the bases 17 which have
already been provided until their edge 24' connects in a springy manner to the inside
of the panel 1, while either of the two beards 21, depending on the thickness of the
panel 1, simultaneously snaps into either of the openings 23. After the bases 17 and
the feed parts 18 have thus been blocked in relation to one another, the assembly
laths 8, whose section depends on the thickness of the panel 1, are snapped on the
inner posts 3.
[0037] One leg 15 of the clamps 10 is thus situated between the edges 4' and the panel 1,
whereas another leg 24 of the clamps 11 is situated between the panel 1 and the assembly
laths 8.
[0038] The clamps 10 and 11 are shaped such that, when fixed, they only make contact with
the post 3 or 4 upon which they are fixed, and not with the other post, so that the
clamps 10 and 11 do not form thermal bridges.
[0039] If there are flames on the outside, the outer posts 4 can melt away or become detached
as the strips 5 collapse. The panel 1 is still retained on the inner posts 3 by the
clamps 10 which, as they are made of a material having a higher failure temperature
than aluminium, resist the fire longer.
[0040] In case of fire on the inside, the inner posts 3 can melt away or become detached
as the strips 5 collapse. However, the panel 1 is still retained on the outer posts
4 by the clamps 11 which, as they are made of spring steel, i.e. a material having
a higher failure temperature than aluminium, resist the fire longer.
[0041] Due to the fire, the panel 1 will swell in both cases. As the clamps 10 and 11 are
springy, they can absorb said swelling. When there is a foil in the panel, this swelling
may amount to 2 cm.
[0042] In any case, the panel 1 is retained and prevented from falling out of the casing
2, thus preventing the fire to spread.
[0043] The above-mentioned casing 2 does not necessarily need to be fixed. It may be a leaf,
for example a window casement in a front construction.
[0044] The number of beards 21 and/or openings 23 must not necessarily be two. The beards
21 must not be provided on the base 17. They may be provided on the feed part 18,
while the openings 23 are then provided in the base 17.
[0045] Moreover, the feed parts 18 must not necessarily be blocked on the bases 17 by means
of beards 21 or openings 23 as represented in the figures. Other forms of beards 21
or openings 23 are possible, and even other locks.
[0046] The invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiment represented
in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a casing/panel structure can be
made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions while still remaining within the scope
of the invention.
1. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure comprising a panel (1), outer and inner posts
(3,4) made of aluminium, connected to one another by means of insulating bridges (5)
to enclose the panel (1), and local anchors (10,11) made of a material with a higher
failure temperature than aluminium, divided over the length of the posts (3,4) and
fixed to one of the posts (3,4) so as to retain the panel (1) in relation to said
post (3,4) when fixed, characterised in that it contains a number of anchors (10) fixed to an inner post (3), and which have a
leg (15) which is situated between one part (4') of an outer post (4) and the panel
(1) with one end, and a number of anchors (11) fixed to an outer post (4), and situated
with one leg (24) between the panel (1) and a mounting post (8) made of aluminium
fixed on the inner post, whereby the latter anchors (11) comprise two anchor parts
(17,18) which can be coupled to one another, one anchor part (17) of which is fixed
to the outer post (4), and the other anchor part (18) of which comprises the above-mentioned
leg (24).
2. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the above-mentioned anchors are springy clamps (10,111).
3. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to claim 2, characterised in that the anchors (10,11) are made of spring steel, for example of rustproof spring steel.
4. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the above-mentioned anchors (10,11) in two parts can be adjusted for several panel
(1) thicknesses.
5. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the anchors in two parts comprise a base (17) and a feed part (18), and in that the coupling means are also blocking means (21,23) for blocking the base (17) and
the feed part (18) in the slide-out direction in relation to one another.
6. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to claim 5, characterised in that the blocking means (21,23) comprise at least one beard (21) provided on an anchor
part (17), for example on the base (17), and co-operating with openings (23) in the
other anchor part (18), provided for example on the feed part (18).
7. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to claims 4 and 6, characterised in that the blocking means have several beards (21) and several matching openings (23), so
that the feed part (18) can be blocked in several positions in relation to the base
(17).
8. Fire-resistant casing/panel structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the anchors (10,11) fixed on an inner or outer post (3,4) do not make contact with
the other post (4,3).