Device for the adjustable mechanical support of continuous glass facades for houses and multistorey buildings

Description

[0001] This invention concerns an adjustable mechanical device for continuous glass facades on houses and multistorey buildings, of the type consisting of a metal bracket equipped, at one end, with a terminal tab fitted, together with its covering seal, inside an appropriate recessing in the sheet of glass itself.

[0002] In recent years in the sector of modern building technology there has been a marked development in composite glass walls for continuous facades of houses and multistorey buildings, consisting of multiple glass panels supported by a facade frame joined to the load-bearing structure of the building.

[0003] The structural glass walls, as they are commonly called, have however aroused some doubts in the same designers as regards the constancy and duration over the years of the seal and the mechanical features of the sealers applied with this technology, which use silicone materials to bond and support the same glass walls.

[0004] It is known, in fact, that structural facades, in their original form, do not envisage either supports or particular securing of the glass walls to the facade frame, but only the bonding of the same with appopriate sealers in structural silicone. Moreover, some problems as regards the regulations and safety in the case of fire still remain to be solved for these types of structural bonding agents. At present, to deal with this problem, a device of the type disclosed in the document DE-U-87 16 220 has been produced which is capable of guaranteeing a safer and more long lasting support over time for the structural facade glass walls. This consist of a bracket, generally in metal, in the shape of a "U"; one arm is inserted inside a recessing made directly in the glass wall and the other arm is fixed to the riser of the aluminium structural framework. In a particular realization, the arm adjacent to the structural framework is "Z" shaped and is directly fixed to the same structural framework by means of a securing screw. The brackets are normally fitted in the workshop, and to achieve a correct positioning of the glass walls and thus the bracket in the sealing operation, during erection, an appropriate silicone seal is foreseen which will be subsequently buried inside the recessing made in the glass wall, between the latter and the arm of the bracket inserted in it. The problem which most commonly occurs with this kind of solution is given by the fact that the seal envisaged between the bracket arm and the recessing in the glass is unable to absorb all the tolerances, whether these are made in the workshop or during erection on the site. This may lead to the breaking of the glass and therefore is a significant drawback to the use of this accessory which may prevent its use in practice.

[0005] The aim of this invention is, therefore, that of eliminated this problem. The invention, as described in the claims, resolves the problem of providing a mechanical support which is capable of absorbing tolerances encountered in the workshop and during erection of the structural glass walls.

[0006] The invention consists of a bracket, of the type described above, which can be connected, directly or indirectly, to the structural framework by the interposition of securing devices with adjustment of its relative position with respect to the same structural framework.

[0007] The main advantage obtained with the present invention consists essentially in the fact that, during the erection of the structural glass wall, the distance of the same glass wall from the structural framework can be adjusted thus avoiding any danger of breaking. It is also possible to allow for self-adjustment of the glass wall, for example following settling after erection.

[0008] The invention is described in greater detail below with the aid of drawings which illustrate a form produced as a pure example and not limiting in any way.

Figure 1 shows a cross-section with some enlarged elements of the device subject of this invention.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the said device.

Figure 3 shows a detail of an alternative form of the said device.

[0009] In conformity with the present invention, the device for the adjustable mechanical support of continuous glass facades in houses and multistorey buildings is of the type consisting of a metal bracket 1 with a terminal tab 2 fitted, together with its covering seal 3, inside an appopriate recessing 4 in the sheet of glass 5 itself.

[0010] The bracket 1 can be connected to the structural framework 10 by the interposition of securing devices 30 with adjustement of its relative position with respect to the structural framework 10.

[0011] The bracket 1 has a lengthwise slot 6 and the said slidable fastener devices 30 consist of screw devices 7 which pass through the said bracket 1 in correspond with the lengthwise slot 6 and can be engaged with a first element of the support 8, which in turn can be firmly joined to the structural framework 10 either directly or indirectly, for example, by means of a relative metal frame 12 supporting the glass forming, together with the latter, the so-called curtain wall module.

[0012] The said slidable fastener devices 30 should preferably include a second element or guide 9 in a thermal insulating plastic material, for example nylon, placed between the bracket 1 and the supporting element 8. The guide 9 is equipped with a sliding recessing 9a allowing the bracket 1 to be moved towards and away from the structural framework 10, in the direction of the arrow f in figure 1.

[0013] In order words the slidable fastener devices 30 consist of, in orderly sequence, as seen in figure 1: the supporting element 8; the guide 9, arranged with one side in contact with element 8 and equipped on the opposite side with the sliding recessing 9a for the said bracket 1; the screw devices 7, consisting of a screw element 7, with a threaded pin 77, which can be screwed into the said element 8 and passing through the bracket 1, as well as the guide 9. The said screw element 7 is fitted with a spring washer 7b to guarantee the firm securing of the plate 1, after the fitting of a washer 7c.

[0014] The functionning of the device can be summarized in th following operations: once the structural facade has been assembled and before the screw element 7 is screwed tightly to the plate 1, the distance between the latter and the structural framework 10 is adjusted by sliding the plate 1, engaged freely with the shaft 77 of the screw element 7, along the recessing 9a of the guide 9; when the desired adjustment is obtained, tighten the screw element 7 against the plate 1 thus ensuring that the glass itself is securely locked in the desired position.

[0015] An effective variation of the invention is illustrated in fig.3. In this case, the screw element 7 includes a counterpart 13 designed to determine the maximum engagement of the shaft 77 in the supporting element 8, so that the tightening of the screw element 7 involves the holding in position of the plate 1 and the entire device, leaving however the plate 1 free to slide in the direction of the arrow f in figure 1.

[0016] In particular, the counterpart 13 is a cylindrical enlargement 13a of the shaft 77 and designed to counter the supporting element 8 after a certain engagement of the same shaft, thus permitting the screw element 7 to hold, but to leave the plate 1 free to slide, for example to follow settling automatically after the erection of the glass walls 5.

[0017] The invention thus conceived can be modified and varied in numerous ways, all falling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, all the parts can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. Device for the adjustable mechanical support of continuous glass facades of houses and multistorey buildings, of the type consisting of a metal bracket (1) equipped at one end with a terminal tab (2) lodged, together with its covering seal (3), inside appropriate recessing (4) in the sheet of glass (5) itself wherein said bracket (1) can be connected to the structural framework (10) by interposition of slidable fastener devices (30) of said bracket (1) with adjustment of its relative position with respect to the structural framework (10), capable of movement in either direction along an axis F substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the glass (5), said slidable fastner devices (30) directly limiting the maximum travel of the bracket (1) in each direction.

2. Device as in claim 1, wherein the said bracket (1) is equipped with a lengtwise slot (6) and the said adjustable slidable fastner devices (30) consisting of screw device (7) passing through the said bracket (1) in correspondance with lengthwise slot (6) and engaged in a supporting element (8) which can be joined to the structural framework (10), said screw devices (7) including a counterpart (13) designed to determine their maximum engagement in the said supporting element (8), in order to hold the said bracket (1), living it however free to slide towards or away from the said structural framework (10), even after the maximum tightening of the same screw devices (7).

3. Device as in claim 2, wherein the said slidable fastner devices (30) also consists of a guide (9) in a thermal insulating plastic material, placed between the said bracket (1) and recessing (9a) for sliding the latter towards or away from the structural framework (10) for a maximum distance determined by the lenght of the said lengthwise slot (6).

4. Device as in claim 1, wherein the said slidable fastner devices (30) consists of, in orderly sequence:

- a first supporting element (8) which can be firmly joined to the structural framework (10);

- a guide (9), the thermal insulating plastic material, with one side fixed against the supporting element (8) and the opposite side equipped with a sliding recessing (9a) for the same bracket (1);

- a screw devices (7) with a threaded pin (77), which can be screwed into the supporting element (8) and passing through both the guide (9) and the bracket (1), the latter having a lengthwise slot (6) designed to allow the sliding and therefore the adjustment of the position of the said bracket (1).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum verstellbaren mechanischen Stützen der fortlaufenden Glasfassaden für Häuser und vielstöckige Bauwerke, vom Typ bestehend aus einer Metallstütze (1), die auf einer Seite mit einem Endflügel (2) versehen ist, welcher, zusammen mit einer diese umfassenden Dichtung (3) in eine entsprechende und in die Glasscheibe (5) selbst eingearbeitete Vertiefung (4) eingesetzt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte Stütze (1) and der Rahmenstruktur (10) anbringbar ist, und zwar durch Zwischensetzen gleitbarer Befestigungsvorrichtungen (30) für die genannte Stütze (1) mit Regulierung der entsprechenden Position derselben im Verhältnis zu der Rahmenstruktur (10), welche in der Lage sind, sich vor- und rückwärts entlang einer Achse F und im wesentlichen rechtwinklig zu der von der Glasscheibe (5) belegten Ebene zu bewegen, wobei die gleitbaren Befestigungsvorrichtungen (30) direkt den maximalen Weg der Stützen (1) in jeder Richtung begrenzen.

2. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte Stütze (1) mit einem Längsschlitz (6) versehen ist, und dass die regulierbaren, gleitbaren Befestigungsvorrichtungen (30) aus einer Schraubvorrichtung (7) bestehen, die entsprechend zu dem Längsschlitz (6) durch die genannte Stütze (1) geht und in eine Halteelement (8) greift, das an der Rahmenstruktur (10) angebracht werden kann, wobei die genannte Schraubvorrichtung (7) ein ein Gegenstück (13) enthält, dazu bestimmt, das maximale Eingreifen beider in das genannte Halteelement (8) zu gewährleisten, so dass die genannte Stütze (1) fest gehalten wird, jedoch frei ist, zu der genannten Rahmenstrucktur (10) hin und von dieser fort zu gleiten, eben nach dem maximalen Spannen derselben Schraubvorrichtung (7).

3. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte gleitbare Befestigungsvorrichtung (30) ebenfalls aus einer Führung (9) aus wärmeisolierendem Kunststoffmaterial besteht, die zwischen der genannten Stütze (1) und der Halterung eingesetzt und mit einem Sitz (9a) versehen ist, in welchem die Stütze zu der Rahmenstruktur (10) hin und von dieser fort gleitet, und zwar um einen maximalen Abstand, der durch die Länge des genannten Längsschlitzes (6) bestimmt wird.

4. Vorrichtung nach Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte gleitbare Befestigungsvorrichtung (30) aus folgenden Teilen besteht:

- einem ersten Halteelement (8), welches fest an der Rahmenstruktur (10) angebracht werden kann;

- einer Führung (9) aus wärmeisolierendem Kunststoffmaterial, die mit der einen Seite an dem Halteelement (8) anliegend befestigt und auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite mit einem Gleitsitz (9a) für die Stütze (1) selbst versehen ist;

- einer Schraubvorrichtung (7) mit einem Gewindezapfen (77), der in das Halteelement (8) eingeschraubt werden kann und durch die Führung (9) wie auch die Stütze (1) geht, wobei letztere einen Längsschlitz (6) aufweist, dazu bestimmt, das Gleiten und damit die Regulierung der Position der genannten Stütze (1) zu erlauben.

Revendications

1. Un dispositif pour l'appui mécanique ajustable de façades continues en verre pour maisons et bâtiments à plusieurs étages, du type consistant en un bras métalique (1) équipé à une extrémité d'une clavette (2) introduite, avec sa garniture (3), à l'intérieur d'une niche appropriée (4) dans la plaque de verre (5); elle-même à l'intérieur dudit bras (1) peut être joint à la charpente structurale (10) par l'interposition des mécanismes de bloquage glissants (30) dudit bras (1) avec l'ajustement de sa position relative par rapport à la charpente structurale (10), capable de mouvements dans l'une ou l'autre direction le long d'un axe F en substance perpendiculaire au plan occupé par le verre (5), lesdits mécanismes de fermeture glissants (30) limitant directement le déplacement maximum du bras (1) dans chaque direction.

2. Un dispositif comme celui de la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit bras (1) est équipé d'une cannelure (6) longitudinale et lesdits mécanismes de blocage glissants (30) ajustables consistant en des mécanismes (7) à vis passant à travers ledit bras (1) en correspondance de la cannelure longitudinale (6) et introduits dans un élément de support (8) qui peut être joint à la charpente structurale (10), lesdits mécanismes à vis (7) comprenant une contrepartie destinée à déterminer leur introduction maximum dans ledit élément de support (8), de façon à tenir ledit bras (1), tout en le laissant libre de glisser vers ladite charpente structurale (10) ou dans le sens contraire, même après que lesdits mécanismes à vis (7) aient été serrés au maximum.

3. Un dispositif comme celui de la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdits mécanismes de blocage glissants (30) consistent aussi en une coulisse (9) en matière plastique qui est un isolent thermique, placée entre ledit bras (1) et le renfoncement (9a) pour que glisse ce dernier vers la charpente structurale (10), et dans le sens contraire, pour une distance maximum déterminée par la longueur de ladite cannelure longitudinale (6).

4. Un dispositif comme celui de la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits mécanismes de fermeture glissants (30) sont formés des éléments suivants, en ordre:

- un premier élément de support (8) qui peut être lié solidement à la charpente structurale;

- une coulisse (9), la matière plastique qui est un isolant thermique, avec un côté fixé contre l'élément de support (8) et le côté opposé équipé d'un renfoncement glissant (9a) pour le même bras (1);

- un dispositif à vis (7) avec une cheville enfilée (77), qui peut être vissée dans l'élément de support (8) et passant à travers la coulisse (9) et le bras (1), ce dernier ayant une cannelure longitudinale (6) destinée à permettre le glissement et donc l'ajustement de la position dudit bras (1).

Drawing