Curtain wall

Abstract

A curtain wall includes one or more vertically-extending mullions and one or more transoms, each extending horizontally between two mullions and having ends inserted in grooves of these two mullions. The curtain wall also includes at least an inwardly openable panel installed between two mullions, wherein a local adaptation of the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel comprises at least the removal of a laterally directed wall of the inner chamber of each of the two mullions along a height of the openable panel, and wherein the openable panel is installed in the local adaptation of the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel such that, when the openable panel is closed, the openable panel is not distinguishable from a fixedly fitted panel, neither from the inside nor from the outside of the curtain wall.

Claims

1. A curtain wall comprising one or more mullions and one or more transoms, wherein the one or more mullions extend vertically, wherein the one or more mullions are composed of at least an inner profile and an outer profile connected by means of one or more plastic profiles, wherein the inner profile, the outer profile and the one or more plastic profiles cannot be disassembled from one another, wherein the one or more mullions are provided on two opposite sides with a groove with an access opening, wherein the one or more transoms extend horizontally between two mullions and their ends are inserted in the grooves of these two mullions, wherein the curtain wall includes at least an inwardly openable panel, wherein the openable panel is installed between two mullions, wherein the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel comprise one or more inner chambers in their inner profile, wherein the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel are locally adapted for the installation of the openable panel, wherein the local adaptation of the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel comprises at least the removal of a laterally directed wall of the inner chamber of each of the two mullions along a height of the openable panel, and wherein the openable panel is installed in the local adaptation of the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel such that, when the openable panel is closed, the openable panel is not distinguishable from a fixedly fitted panel, neither from an inside nor from an outside of the curtain wall.

2. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein head pieces are fitted on the ends of the transoms, wherein the head pieces are inserted in the grooves of the mullions, wherein the head pieces have a geometry that is complementary with a cross section of the grooves such that a watertight and/or airtight connection is formed between the transoms and the mullions.

3. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein two of the transoms adjacent to an openable panel are fixed to the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel by means of screws.

4. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the curtain wall furthermore comprises at least one fixedly fitted panel.

5. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the fixedly fitted panel is a fixedly fitted window and comprises glazing.

6. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the inner profile of the mullions consists essentially of steel or aluminum.

7. The curtain wall according to claim 3, wherein lateral edges of the fixedly fitted panels are at least inserted in the grooves of the mullions.

8. The curtain wall according to claim 3, wherein the openable panel is an openable window and comprises an openable frame, wherein glazing is fixedly fitted in or on the openable frame.

9. The curtain wall according to claim 3, wherein an outer side of the openable panel is situated in the same or virtually the same plane as an outer side of the fixedly fitted panel.

10. The curtain wall according to claim 8, wherein the glazing of the openable window is situated in the same or virtually the same plane as a glazing of the fixedly fitted panel.

11. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the transom is also composed of at least an inner profile and an outer profile connected by means of one or more plastic profiles.

12. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly openable panel comprises at least one of: a tilt window with a handle; a tilt window without a handle, suitable to be operated by means of an actuator; a turn window; a tilt/turn window; a parallel inwardly opening window.

13. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transoms comprises an actuator for automatically opening the respective openable panel.

14. The curtain wall according to claim 1, wherein the transoms comprise an exterior part and an interior part, wherein the exterior part extends horizontally between two mullions, wherein head pieces are fitted on the ends of the exterior part, wherein the ends of the exterior part and the head pieces are inserted in the grooves of these two mullions, wherein the interior part is connected to the exterior part on the inside of the curtain wall, wherein the actuator is located in the interior part of the transom directly above the openable panel.

15. A method for the installation of an openable panel in a curtain wall, wherein the curtain wall comprises one or more mullions and one or more transoms, wherein the one or more mullions extend vertically, wherein the one or more mullions are composed of at least an inner profile and an outer profile connected by means of one or more plastic profiles, wherein the inner profile, the outer profile and the one or more plastic profiles cannot be disassembled from one another, wherein the one or more mullions are provided on two opposite sides with a groove with an access opening, wherein the one or more transoms extend horizontally between two mullions and their ends are inserted in the grooves of these two mullions, the method comprising the steps of: creating a local adaptation in two adjacent mullions, wherein the two adjacent mullions comprise one or more inner chambers in their inner profile, wherein the local adaptation comprises at least the removal of a laterally directed wall of the inner chamber of each of the two mullions along a height of the openable panel; installing the openable panel between the two adjacent mullions, wherein the openable panel is installed in the local adaptation of the two mullions adjacent to the openable panel such that, when the openable panel is closed, the openable panel is not distinguishable from a fixedly fitted panel, neither from an inside nor from an outside of the curtain wall.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) In order to show the features of the invention in more detail, some preferred embodiments are described below by way of example and without being limiting in nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a curtain wall which illustrates some features of the invention, but does not form part thereof;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show, on a larger scale, a cross section according to the cutting lines II-II and III-III, respectively, shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 show head pieces in perspective which, according to the invention, can be fitted on the ends of the transoms;

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate, in a cross section according to line VI-VI shown in FIG. 1, how the transom with the head pieces can be fitted in the undercut groove;

(6) FIGS. 8 and 9 show, in a view similar to that of FIG. 2, for an embodiment according to the invention; and

(7) FIG. 10 shows, on a larger scale, a cross section, according to the line X-X shown in FIG. 1, of a curtain wall with the features of the invention.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a curtain wall 1 under construction. The curtain wall 1 comprises mullions 2 and transoms 3. Panels 4, such as glazing, are situated with their edges 5 in the mullions 2 and in the transoms 3. The mullions 2 extend vertically and the transoms 3 extend horizontally. In the example, this relates to profiles 2-3 which are delivered prefabricated to the construction site. The complete curtain wall 1, including panels 4, can be installed from inside.

(9) FIG. 2 shows that the mullions 2 are provided, on two opposite sides 6, with an undercut groove 7 with an access opening 8. The groove 7 forms a rebate into which the lateral edge 5 of the aforementioned panels 4 can be fitted. The transoms 3 extend horizontally between the two mullions 2. The illustrated mullions 2 comprise several part-profiles 2A-2B-2C fastened to each other, and not disassemblable from each other, including a part-profile 2B that forms a thermal break.

(10) FIG. 3 shows that the ends of the transoms 3 are secured in the aforementioned grooves 7 of the mullions 2. To this end, head pieces 9 are fitted over the ends of the transoms 3.

(11) The aforementioned undercut groove 7 has an elongate cross section which is provided with a rounded section at one or more of the transverse ends 10, and, in this case, is free from roundings with a radius smaller than 2 millimetres at the transverse ends 10. FIGS. 2 and 3 clearly show that the long axis 11 of the aforementioned elongate cross section is oriented transversely, or even perpendicularly, to the aforementioned panels 4.

(12) As is shown in FIG. 2, the aforementioned panels 4 are fixed along the inside 12 of the curtain wall 1 by means of glazing beads 13 which are fastened to the aforementioned mullion 2, for example, as in this case, by means of attachment aids 14 to which the respective glazing beads 13 can be secured by means of mechanical locking means 15, more particularly attached or fixed, e.g., but not only, click-fitted or snap-fitted, preferably but not only as explained in more detail in WO 2017/201587. In the example, the attachment aids 14 are adhesively bonded to the mullion 2 at the location of the transverse end 10 of the undercut groove 7 which is located on the inside 12 of the curtain wall 1. In the example, the attachment aids 14 are provided with a surface with ribs 16 for this purpose, the tops of which come into contact with the surface of the respective transverse end 10, whereas there is space for receiving glue or some other cured fastening means between two adjacent ribs. The transverse ends 10 of the undercut groove 7 as such are free from irregularities, such as ribs.

(13) It should be noted that the attachment aids 14 may be made as long or almost as long as the glazing beads 13 for which they are intended. Preferably, however, a glazing bead 13 is secured by means of several attachment aids 14 situated a distance apart, one above the other, for example three per glazing bead 13. Such an embodiment is an example of the second independent aspect mentioned in the introduction. For example, the attachment aids 14 may extend in each case over a distance of 2 to 20 cm, for example about 5 cm, in the mullion 2, with a distance between two adjacent attachment aids 14 of 10 to 50 cm, for example 20 to 30 centimetres.

(14) FIG. 3 clearly shows that the aforementioned head pieces 9 have a geometry that is complementary to the cross section of the undercut groove 7 and, in the example, comes into contact with both transverse ends 10 thereof. As mentioned above, owing to said contact, a watertight and/or airtight connection is formed between the transom 3 and the mullion 2. Preferably, the contact between head piece 9 and undercut groove 7, such as here, is formed along the complete perimeter of the walls of the undercut groove 7.

(15) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a perspective view of the head pieces 9 used in FIG. 3. Said head pieces 9 comprise several openings 17 via which a sealing fastening means may be applied or injected. The fastening means is intended to provide a barrier to moisture which is situated on the transom 3 and which would otherwise find its way between the transom 3 and the head piece 9.

(16) FIG. 6 shows that the transom 3 with the head piece 9 fitted thereon may initially be presented from the upper side and/or at an angle between two mullions 2, namely with the head piece 9 in the undercut groove 7. Then the transom 3 and the head piece 9 are turned, at the location of a recess 18 in the mullion 2, into the final position, shown in FIG. 7, for example in a manner similar to that described in more detail in WO 2017/201589. During this turning motion W, compression, preferably of the material of the head piece 9, may occur at the contact points between the respective head piece 9 and the undercut groove 7, so that the sealing effect at the connecting or fastening point between transom 3 and mullion 2 can be increased.

(17) FIGS. 6 and 7 clearly show that the undercut groove 7 has an access opening 8, which has a width B1 in the horizontal direction H that is smaller than width B2 of the transoms 3 measured in the horizontal direction H and at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the transom 3. In a non-horizontal direction, for example in the vertical direction V, at right angles to the longitudinal direction, the transom 3 has a dimension A which is smaller than the width B1 of the access opening 8 of the undercut groove 7, so that the ends of the transoms 3, in a rotated state, for example the state in FIG. 6, pass through the access opening 8. Preferably, the transom 3, and/or the mullion 2, furthermore comprises means for locking the rotation of the transom 3 in the final position, for example that shown in FIG. 7. Although not shown here, it may be configured similarly to that explained in more detail in WO 2017/201589.

(18) It is clear that the fitting of mullions 2 and transoms 3, and the installation of the panels 4, can be carried out completely without screws, and from the inside 12 of the building, while still achieving an airtight and/or watertight connection of mullions 2 and transoms 3. In this way, a field effect for water drainage, as mentioned in the introduction, is obtained.

(19) FIGS. 6 and 7 furthermore also show that the transoms 3 comprise several part-profiles 3A-3B-3C which are fastened to each other and are not disassemblable from one another, including a part-profile 3B which forms a thermal break. Preferably, the transoms 3 are prefabricated, or, in other words, they are delivered to the construction site in the assembled state.

(20) It is also clear from the example that the undercut grooves 7 on the opposite edges 6 of the mullions 2 preferably have a different depth. Such an embodiment allows the panels 4, such as panels 4 for glazing, to be arranged in the curtain wall 1 by means of a so-called shuffle technique, wherein one edge of the panel 4 is arranged in the deepest undercut groove 7, the panel is rotated in the plane of the glazing and is then pushed into the shallower undercut groove 7. The glazing is preferably fixed in its final position at least by means of the aforementioned glazing beads 13.

(21) FIGS. 6 and 7 clearly show that the transoms 3 may be configured with at least a first leg 19 which projects upwards and which is situated on the inside of the transom 3, and preferably with a second leg 20 which projects downwards and which is situated on the outside of the transom 3. The one or more legs 19-20 provide additional bending strength of the profile. The first leg 19 preferably has a height H1 of 20 millimetres or more, so that there is only a risk of the water on the transom 3 moving inwards at a hydrodynamic pressure difference of 200 Pa.

(22) FIG. 8 shows a curtain wall 1 with the features of the invention. Hatching serves to indicate that a wall of an inner chamber of the mullions can be removed. In this case, three inner chambers are provided. This makes it possible to locally remove the wall of an inner chamber on either side of the mullion while retaining the necessary structural integrity of the profile. FIG. 9 in turn shows that an openable frame may be installed at the location of the local adaptation. FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the respective transoms.

(23) Furthermore, the following should be noted in connection with the invention and the figures:

(24) At most of the conventional curtain wall systems, top hung windows opening to the outside can be integrated as well as all kinds of standard operable window systems. Both solutions are either functionally not what the building user would like to have, neither aesthetically what the architect is looking for.

(25) The present invention allows for a curtain wall system, in particular of the continuous type, with inward opening windows, non-visible neither from the inside, neither from the outside of the building.

(26) If the opening window is conceived as a tilt window with a fully invisible integrated chain actuator, the window does not even have a handle anymore and from the inside the window is almost not distinguishable—except a possible small gap along the perimeter between mullion/transom and vent—anymore from a fixed glazing.

(27) The curtain wall of the invention and the installation thereof is extremely simple.

(28) In the innovative solution, illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the transom existing of 2 profiles can be installed as follows: Installation of exterior part (Te) of the transom, exactly the same way as for any other transom, as illustrated in FIG. 6 Installation of the interior part of the transom (Ti) by a horizontal move where both transom parts are connected to each other by a water tight continuous tongue and groove joint connection Fixing of the lateral screws in the upper and lower transom and the mullions left and right Injection of the end pieces (FIGS. 4 and 5) as for the other transoms The glazed operable part is—with the use of a moveable installation table—moved just to the grid of mullions and transoms and the two scissor hinges (not shown) are connected to the operable part The chain actuator is connected The window is closed and installation is finished

(29) The obtained curtain wall allows for a perfect ventilation. No extra profiles are viewable, no handles are needed.

(30) An extremely elegant window in a curtain wall is obtained, that in the same time allows for a top class solution from the ventilation point of view otherwise.

(31) According to a preferred embodiment: 1. Click-fit bottom transom (as in FIG. 6). 2. Click-fit top transom. 3. Fit “inner” cavity of the transom by means of a horizontal movement (small slot at the front of the profile fits in the “nose” of the outer part) both at the top and bottom. 4. Fit screws into the bottom transom, both in the inner and outer cavity, by means of which this is fixedly screwed in between the mullions. 5. Fit screws in the top transom. 6. Inject the yellow end pieces in the bottom and top transom. 7. The glazed wing is fitted horizontally against the façade—by means of a fitting table—and at the bottom the 2 hinge linkages are attached to the wing. 8. The wing is almost closed and the chain of the electric motor is attached to the wing at the top. 9. Wing is closed and fitting is terminated.

(32) The fitting of the façade therefore takes place in an identical manner to that of the base façade of WO'588.

(33) Some further explanation: 1. See drawing of FIG. 8, the inner part of the mullion of the façade is different to that of the normal mullion. 2. Transom consists of an inner part Ti and an outer part Te. 3. The tube section on the inside is conceived so that milling away a zone (see hatched part near the mullion on the left in the drawing) creates both a chamber analogous to a classic window consisting of an outer frame and a wing frame, but in this case, the outer chamber is formed by the part of the mullion which is retained. A wing frame and an outer frame are thus created, not by adding “something”, but by milling away a part of the mullion. This has several advantages: a. The mullion is only milled away across the height where necessary or=across the height of the wing (=openable panel), which is de facto always in the viewing zone. This implies that the mullion remains intact and thus retains its full rigidity in the parapet zone which is usually subjected to considerable loads. In this way, bending of the mullion is reduced as much as possible. b. Can be applied both on the left and on the right. c. More economical since no separate outer frame is required to suspend the wing from. d. Much more elegant. 4. The openable unit is sealed in an airtight and watertight manner by means of 3 rubbers (see drawing B)—as is actually the case with every standard window concept. a. R1: is the normal standard rubber of our façade which in this case serves as a stop rubber. b. R2: the central seal which is preferably vulcanised in the corners in order to ensure a perfect seal. This central seal is fitted in a groove which extends vertically in the mullion, horizontally in the inner cavity Ti of the horizontal transom. c. R3: the inner rubber which serves as an acoustic seal. 5. The glazing (see drawing C) is adhesively bonded with structural silicone “SS or SG”—meaning structural silicone or structural glazing—along the entire periphery of the wing profile.

(34) It should furthermore be noted that where an inside 12 of a curtain wall 1 is mentioned above, this is understood to refer to that portion of the curtain wall 1, namely of the transoms 3 and the mullions 2, which is directed to the inside of the building. This inside 12 does not necessarily only start at the most inwardly directed surface of the curtain wall 1 but starts behind the glazing surface.

(35) The present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments, but such curtain walls may be produced without departing from the scope of the present invention.