ASSEMBLING SHEETS OF GLASS TO METAL STRUCTURES

Abstract: This invention provides for the mechanical attachment of at least a strip (3) of glass or the like to the metal structure (1) (by using staples, for example, or other means of attachment) in such a way that the strip (3) of glass faces the area (14) where the sheet (4) of glass is fixed. The sheet (4) of glass, double or single glazed, is fixed to said strip (3) by an elastic means (5) for example silicon seals ideal for use in the normal fixing of glass to glass. Preferably, the metal structure comprises a jutting ledge (9) that acts as a support for the vertical forces acting on the sheet (4) of glass.

Description: ASSEMBLING SHEETS OF GLASS TO METAL STRUCTURES The invention concerns a process for the assembly of sheets of glass to metal structures, the means capable of assembling the aforementioned, and the assembly thus obtained. In recent years the construction business has seen a considerable 5. increase in the use of glass; one only has to think of the great public buildings, towers etc. with entire sides made of reflective glass. Along with this architectural evolution unfortunately problems arise in the assembly between the metal structures or frames and the sheets of glass. 10. At the present time it is difficult to have a safe fixing i.e. a good weatherproof adhesion which also resists for years to atmospheric agents and to the progressive pollution of the air. A good adhesion of the glass to the metal can only be guaranteed when the metal surfaces have undergone special treatments compatible 15, with the seal and are therefore subject to precise and severe controls. All this in the building practice results in considerably increased costs and working time, without necessarily achieving absolute safety due to the fact that the aluminium or other metal used, can be different for many reasons to the analyzed sample. 20. DE-A-2 308 457 teaches how to join a peripheral bead or section bar containing glass fibres, glass particles or the like to the sheet of glass, by means of glues or cement (therefore rigid adhesives). This bead is blocked in such a way to form a substantially rigid unit with the sheet of glass. However this kind of joint cannot be used in the structural glazings subject to thermal and mechanical stresses. It is furthermore difficult to handle the sheets of glass 5. which have such a bead. Finally the fixing of the bead to iron or concrete structures is difficult, as it should allow differentiated thermal expansions between the sheet and its support. In the structural surfaces, i.e. when the frame is hidden inside, a rigid sealing of a sheet of glass must in fact be excluded due to 10. the lack of the necessary expansion between the sheet of glass and metal structure. Furthermore the fixing of the glass bead to the external sheet of glass, which must be the first operation to be carried out, brings considerable difficulties both in the carrying out and in the subsequent handling of the sheet. This solution is 15. not therefore suitable for use in structural glass surfaces. Therefore the aim of this invention is to provide a safe, simple and economic means of fastening sheets of glass to metal structures. The aforementioned aim has been achieved by mechanically fixing to the metal structure at least one strip of glass or the like (for 20. example by using staples or other means of attachment) which faces outwards, positioning a sheet of double or single glazed glass so that at least a localized zone of it is facing, but at a distance from said strip of glass or the like, then inserting an elastic means between said facing surfaces, for example a silicon seal of 25. the type already used in the manufacture of insulating double-glazed glass. Preferably at least two parallel strips are provided for each sheet; of glass, preferably four strips, applied along all the periphery of the sheet. Preferably, the metal structure comprises a jutting horizontal ledge 5. that acts as a support for the vertical forces acting on the sheet of glass. The fixing of the strip of glass to the metal structure has to be such that it allows differentiated expansion and contraction due to mechanical stresses or temperature variations. 10. This invention foresees the insertion not only of a strip of glass, but also of any compound based on silica, fibreglass, ceramic, vitrified varnish etc. which has physical and/or chemical characteristics which are similar to those of glass. For this reason the strip has been described as made of "glass or the like". 15. The means capable of accomplishing the coupling of the metal structure to the strip of glass can be a series of staples made fast to the metal structure (for example, by means of lamination, soldering, or screw bolting). Said means can also be simply made up of a lower U-shaped housing 20. capable of receiving an edge of the strip. It is also possible to add an upper U-shaped housing to said lower U-shaped housing into which the strip is inserted. To allow the relative expansion between the strip of glass or the like and the metal structure, the dimensions of said strip are slightly smaller than those of the seat where the strip is received. The. empty spaces can be filled with a seal or the like (nylon 5. strips, adhesive tapes or plasters). Examples of the use of the invention are illustrated in the enclosed schematic drawings, In which: - Fig. 1 shows the cross-section of a structure which holds a sheet of single-glazed glass; 10. - Fig. 2 shows the cross-section of a structure which holds a sheet of double-glazed glass; - Fig. 3 shows the cross-section of a further variant; - Figs. 4 and 5 show variants of the housing for the strip of glass. In figure 1 a portion of section bar 1 is shown forming part of a 15. metal structure capable of holding a sheet of glass covering an entire surface i.e. a structural surface. The part of section bar 1 along its wall 6 facing the sheet of glass 3 is foreseen with two opposite housings 2 and 8, which form together a C-shaped internal seat 7 the rear side of which is the wall 6 itself. The housings 2 20. and 8 hold a strip 3 of glass or the like which fits loosely in the seat 7, which in turn is filled with lining, nylon strips, adhesive tapes, plasters, or seals (10). A sheet of glass 4 is placed parallel and at a distance to the strip 3 by an elastic seal 5 as explained. The sheet of glass 4 and the strip 3 have areas of facing 25. surfaces, respectively 14 and 13 joined by the elastic seal (5). The weight of the sheet " of glass 4 is supported by a jutting ledge 9. In some cases this ledge can be superfluous. Clearly, both or one. or the other of the two housings 2 and 8 can be carried out by other blocking means, for instance staples or the like. The described device is a device capable of effecting the coupling of metallic structures to sheets 4 of glass of whatever type and 5. size. The insertion of the strip 3 and its engagement to the section bar 1 can come about, for example, as shown with a dotted line in figure 1 by driving from underneath a strip 3 into the housing 8 (see position 3 1 ); then the strip can be rotated so as to stand 10. vertically, and is let to fall into the housing 2 where it is held permanently. It is also possible- to insert the strip 3 of glass or the like in a longitudinal way into the cavity provided in the four perimetrical section bars which form the window, before the formation of the frame itself. ' The strip- of glass 3 is thus 15. mechanically fixed to the section bar. The strip of glass 3 can now be made fast, using an elastic means 10, for example silicon seal or the like or else by using nylon strips, adhesive tapes and plasters. In any case the strip 3 is then fixed to the sheet 4 with an elastic means 5. 20. In figure 2 a device similar to figure 1 is shown wherein the section bar 1 is joined to a strip 3 of glass or the like, (as previously explained), then a plate of double-glazing 4' - in which the two sheets of glass 4'a and 4'b that make up the insulating double-glazing 4' - is coupled to the strip 3 as previously 25. explained, i.e. using the same elastic seal 5. The resulting assembly can warp and spring when subjected to thermal and mechanical stresses, without stressing any component, thanks to the loose fitting and to the presence of the lining or of the sealing 10 between the strip of glass 3 and its seat 7 formed 5. between the housings 2 and 8. In the example illustrated, apart from the seal 5, filling material 12 can be seen between the areas of facing surfaces 14 and 13 of the sheet 4 and of the strip 3. In figure 3 a section bar 21 is shown provided, towards the outside, with a housing 20 capable of receiving and retaining the strip of 10. glass 3. The sheet of glass 4' will be placed in such a way that at least one 14' of its edges will be facing, but at a distance from, the strip 3. Then a filling material 22 will be inserted in the area where the sheet of glass is facing the housing 20, then the elastic fixing means 5, for example silicon seal will be applied. 15. Obviously the amount of elastic means 5 and the surface which sticks to it Is calculated on the basis of the size of the glass, its thickness and the wind pressure, etc. Finally in figures 4 and 5 two different housings are shown, respectively 17 and 27, which can be foreseen in a metal section bar 20. 21 in order to receive a strip of glass which has a considerable thickness.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A process for attaching a sheet of glass (4, 4') (single or double-glazed) to a metal structure (1, 21), characterized by mechanically fixing at least one strip of glass (3) or the like to the metal structure (1) in such a way that it faces outwards 5. positioning a sheet of glass (4) in front of said strip (3) so that' at least a localized zone (14, 14') is facing, but at a distance from said strip (3), then inserting an elastic fixing means (5) for example a silicon seal, between said facing surfaces (13, 14), capable of sticking to both the facing surfaces. 10. 2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that there are at least two strips (3) of glass or the like for each sheet of glass (4, 4'), preferably four, placed along the periphery of the sheet. 3. A process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 15. the fastening of the strip (3) of glass or the like to the metal structure (1, 21) occurs before the .formation of the structure itself, that is when the section bars are not yet assembled. 4. A process according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the sheet of glass (4) rests on a ledge (9) 20. jutting out from the metal structure (1, 21). 5. Means capable of ensuring the fastening of sheets of glass (4, 4') to a metal structure (1, 21) characterized in that said structure (1, 21) comprises mechanical retaining means (2, 8) for a strip (3) of glass, or the like, said means facing the zones (14, 14' ) that will come into contact with an elastic means (5) that sticks both to the sheet of glass (4) and to the strips (3) of glass, or the like, held by said retaining means (2, 8, 20). 5. 6. Means according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means are made up of at least one lower housing (2, 20) capable of receiving the strip (3). 7. Means according to claim 6, characterized in that apart from the U-shaped lower housing (2) a U-shaped upper housing (8) is 10. provided, the strip (3) of glass or the like being loosely fitted within said housings. 8. An assembly of sheets of glass to metal structures, characterized in that between these two parts there is at least one more strip (3) of glass, or the like, which is mechanically retained 15. on one side to the metal structure (1, 21) and on the other attached by means of an elastic fixing means to the sheet of glass (4, 4'). 9- An assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that in order to allow the insertion of the strip (3) of glass or the like in the metal structure (1) said structure has at least a U shaped 20. housing (2, 8) having such a size to also allow the insertion of the strip (3). 10. An assembly according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the empty spaces (7, 8, 2) between a strip of glass or similar (3) and metal structure (1, 21) are filled with seals or other elastic 25. means (10, 12, 22), nylon tapes, bandages etc.

Inventors: AZZIMONTI GIOVANNI, AZZIMONTI, GIOVANNI
Applicants: AZZIMONTI PAOLINO SPA, AZZIMONTI PAOLINO S.P.A.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E04B2, E06B3