Abstract:
A device for fastening facade plates, includes a threaded bar which extends from a holding element. The holding element is provided with an annular space at the first end thereof, which is located near the threaded bar. The annular space encompasses a wall that is made of an elastic material. A channel extends from the annular space to a second end which is located at a distance from the threaded bar while a valve, by means of which the channel can be sealed, is provided at the second end.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is based on International Application No. PCT/EP2003/013654 filed Dec. 3, 2003, and claims priority from, European Application Numbers 102 56 637.2 and 103 00 854.3, filed Dec. 3, 2002 and Jan. 10, 2003, respectively, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a device and a method of fastening Façade plates. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates in particular to the area of restoration of buildings on which façade plates are installed. Façade plates are usually fastened with metal anchors on a supporting wall of a building. The metal anchors divert a vertical load of the façade plates into the supporting wall. Furthermore, the metal anchors hold the façade plates installed at a distance to the supporting wall in the horizontal direction. 
   During the course of time, thermally induced tension and aggressive exhaust gases in the air may cause the metal anchors to break out. This may cause the façade plates to become disconnected and to fall from the building. This presents a significant danger to passers-by. Facades with damaged façade anchors must be immediately renovated or restored. 
   As defined by the state of technology, it is required that the building either be covered with new façade plates or the old façade plates must be removed and the façade redone with new anchors. Both renovation measures are extremely costly and time-consuming. 
   In addition to this, it is also known that for the securing of loose façade plates must be provided a reach-through hole bored through the façade plate and this must be secured to the supporting wall with a screw. Although this prevents the façade plates from falling off, the façade plates are not held in the horizontal direction. In particular, during a storm, such façade plates become loose and wobble. This may cause the façade plate to break or fall off. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the invention is to remove the disadvantages of the state of technology. In particular, a device or a method is to be specified with which an enduring renovation of façades is possible with simple and inexpensive means. 
   This object is solved by the features of claims  1  and  12 . Useful embodiments result from the features of claims  2  to  8  and  10  to  13 . 
   The suggested device makes it simple to renovate façades. When façade plates must be re-mounted, they do not need to be removed. They can be re-mounted right where they are. With this, the suggested device ensures both a vertical load diversion and a horizontal fixation of the façade plates. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An example will now be used to describe the invention in more detail based on the drawing. The figures are listed below: 
       FIG. 1  a first cross-section view through a device, 
       FIG. 2  a cross-section view in accordance with intersecting line C-C in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  a cross-section view in accordance with intersecting line B-B in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 4  a cross-section view in accordance with intersecting line A-A in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 5  a second cross-section view of the device, wherein a annular space is filled in and 
       FIG. 6  a cross-section view in accordance with intersecting line C-C in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the figures,  1  designates a supporting wall of a building and  2  designates a façade plate held at a distance. An anchor as provided by the invention to fasten façade plate  2  has a holding element  3  which is usefully made of plastic and from which a threaded bar  4  extends into a hole bored in the supporting wall. A first end E 1  of the holding element  3  is located in the vicinity of the threaded bar  4 . The second end which is at a distance from the threaded bar  4  is designated E 2 . A channel  7  extends from an annular space  6  created in the holding element  3  to the second end E 2 . An opening of the channel  7  provided on the second end E 2  is closed with a flap valve  8 . A flange  9  is located on the first end E 1  of the holding element  3 . A silicon tube  10  surrounds the holding element. The silicon tube  10  is fastened with a tube binder  11  on the flange  9 . The outer circumference of the holding element  3  is tapered conically in the direction of the threaded bar  4 . It rests by the silicone tube  10  positively on one of the reach-through bored holes  12  which reaches through the façade plate  2 . An O-ring which is designated as  18  is provided in the vicinity of the second end E 2  of the holding element  3  between the holding element  3  and the silicone tube  10 . 
   The threaded bar  4  engages in a mesh sleeve which is fixated in the bored hole  5  with composite mortar  14 . 
   The cross-section view shown in  FIG. 2  illustrates clearly again the formation of the annular space  6  surrounded by the silicone tube  10 . The cross-section view in  FIG. 3  shows the conical section of the holding element  3  which rests by the silicon tube  10  positively on the wall of the also conically formed reach-through bored hole  12 .  FIG. 4  shows a cross-section view or a view of the top of the second end E 2  of the anchor located in the reach-through bored hole  12 . An undercut structure  15  provided on the second end E 2  is made in one-piece with the holding element  3 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the anchor in accordance with  FIG. 1 , wherein here the channel  7  and the annular space  6  are filled with a viscoplastic hardenable resin  16 . Due to the elasticity of the silicon tube  10  and an injection of the viscoplastic hardenable mass, for example two-component epoxy resin, a bulge forms in the area of the annular space  6 , which bulge keeps the holding element  3  from shifting in the horizontal direction. The O-ring  18  reliably prevents an undesired escape of the two-component epoxy resin between the holding element  3  and the silicon tube  10 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a cross-section view in accordance with intersecting line C-C. Here again the annular space  6  filled with the viscoplastic mass  16  is clearly shown. 
   To anchor the façade plate  2 , it has been shown to be useful that the following working method be performed: 
   First, a through bored hole is made through the façade plate  2  with a drill and with the same drill the bored hole  5  is made immediately afterwards. Then the through bored hole is conically widened so that the cone tapers towards the supporting wall  1 . Then composite mortar  14  or synthetic resin is injected into the bored hole  5  and a mesh sleeve  13  or a lattice dowel is inserted. Then the anchor with the threaded bar  4  is inserted into the mesh sleeve  13  until the holding element  3  or the silicon tube  10  surrounding the holding element rests flat positively on the conic, through bored hole  12 . After the composite mortar  14  has hardened, the holding element  3  is turned clockwise to create a weak twisting of the holding element  3  with the façade plate  2 . Naturally such a twisting can only be created when the façade plate  2  is still held at a distance with the old anchors (not shown here) against the supporting wall  1 . Twisting of the holding element  3  by turning it clockwise can also be omitted if the O-ring  18  is provided. 
   After the holding element  3  has been twisted with the façade plate  2 , a specified amount of two-component epoxy resin is pressed into the annular space  6  with the flap valve  8 . This causes the elastic wall formed from the silicon tube  10  surrounding the annular space to bulge out. When the O-ring  18  is provided, a reliable sealing effect is always achieved even with a slightly tilted utilisation of the holding element  3  in the through bored hole  12 . An escape of the two-component epoxy resin into the area of the second end E 2  is reliably avoided. After hardening of the viscoplastic hardenable mass  16 , the holding element  3  is positioned essentially unshiftably in the through bored hole  12 . It is held elastically in the through bored hole  12  by the elastic properties of the silicon tube  10 . The suggested anchor holds the façade plate  2  in horizontal direction. At the same time, a vertical load diversion via the supporting wall  1  is also achieved. 
   Finally, a remaining opening of the through bored hole  12  is filled, for example, with a filler mass  17  containing a binding agent. The binding agent can be cement or a synthetic material. The undercut structure  15  is used for a close bond of the holding element  3  with the filler mass  17 . Due to the undercut structure  15 , the hardened filler mass  17  cannot detach itself from the holding element  3 . 
   In an embodiment, it can also be that an axial recess or a blind hole is provided on the second end E 2 . Such a blind hole is used to fasten a cover to cover the opening formed by the through bored hole  12 . Such a cover which can be made of refined steel, for instance, is preferably used for façade plates  2  which are made of glass. 
   The suggested anchor is particularly advantageous because this can also be used to compensate for thermally-created recesses of the façade plates  2 . The compensation is achieved by the elastic properties of the silicon tube  10  surrounding the holding element  3 . Undesired bending of the façade plates  2  can thus be reliably avoided. 
   REFERENCE LISTING 
   
       
         1  Supporting wall 
         2  Façade plate 
         3  Holding element 
         4  Threaded bar 
         5  Bored hole 
         6  Annular space 
         7  Channel 
         8  Flap valve 
         9  Flange 
         10  Silicon tube 
         11  Tube binder 
         12  Through bored hole 
         13  Mesh sleeve 
         14  Composite mortar 
         15  Undercut structure 
         16  Viscoplastic hardenable mass 
         17  Filler mass 
         18  O-ring 
       E 1  First end 
       E 2  Second end