SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING POSSIBLE SHIFTING OF PANELS IN STRUCTURAL FACADES

Abstract: A structural facade which comprises at least one sensor, preferably for each panel of the facade, for signalling possible shifts of the panel with respect to the bearing structure.

Description: The present application refers to the field of structural facades or continuous facades, such as are widely used in building at the moment. Such facades comprise a facing of panels on a bearing structure, generally panes of glass on view, positioned adjacent to each other (DE-U-8 716 220). For aesthetic rasons the panes are usually required to be adjacent without the bearing means between them being visible. This entails the panes of glass (monolithic panes, or double-glazed insulating panes), used in accordance with present day constructive solutions, being fixed to the metal bearing structure by means of sealants, for example elastic silicone sealants. One drawback of this type of glazing is that not enough is known about the behaviour of these sealants in the long term or in abnormal conditions, which might be produced by the diffusion of certain gases or chemical products in the atmosphere; in addition, not enough is known about the behaviour of these connections when material other than glass is involved, for exaple a reflective coating (couche) on the glass itself or anodizing or painting on a metal surface to which the silicone adheres. In order to increase the degree of safety of these façades, mechanical retaining systems are sometimes used which, however, are not well received by architects because they are often visible on the façade; or it is necessary to cut niches into the thickness of the glass to render these mechanical systems less visible, which weakens the panel of glass itself and increases its cost. The aim of this invention is to increase the safety of continuous façades or, in other words, to avoid unexpected falls of glass panels from structural façades. To achieves this aim it has been observed that, under particularly critical conditions, that is when adhesion is not reliable because of the sealant, the reflective coating or suchlike, a panel will shift slightly well before actually breaking away completely from the supporting or bearing structure. These slight shifts are generally more notable in correspondence with the upper edge of the panel since the panel itself usually rests with its lower edge on a base of the section of the structure. Therefore, in this invention, it has been decided to take note of any slight shifts of the panel, especially at its upper edge, and to use such shifts to signal that the panel itself is in a dangerous state. The object of the present invention is a structural façade system as in claim 1. Further useful characteristics are described in the following claims. The system foresees the application of a sensor, capable of detecting any shifts, for each panel or for panels specially chosen for sampling. In particular, the sensor will be located on a section of the bearing structure and the corresponding panel will be made integral with an arm collaborating with the sensor. The sensors will be connected electrically or in other ways to a display device, where, floor example, a luminous display corresponds to each panel in a precise position, so that a complete picture of the façade may be had at any moment. In particular, a device will be located on each floor of the building, to which the sensors relating to the panels on that floor could be connected. The new system allows constant, complete monitoring of the facade, so that it is possible to act in time on the unsafe panels, thus increasing the degree of safety. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: fig. 1 is a vertical broken section across a double-glazed panel mounted on a bearing structure of the structural facade and comprising the sensor according to the invention; fig. 2 is a section along 2-2 in fig. 1; fig. 3 is a section, similar to fig. 1, of another type of panel mounting; fig. 4 is a section, similar to fig. 1, of a third type of mounting; fig. 5 is a section, similar to fig. 1, of a fourth type of mounting. With reference first to figs. 1 and 2, the overall system according to the invention is shown with 10 and comprises a panel 12, made integral with a bearing structure 14 of the panels by means of a sealant 16 of a type already known. In this case the panel 12 consists of a glass chamber comprising two glass panes 12′ and 12″, joined by a sealant 13 and separated by a spacer 13′. The sealant 16 (as can be the case of 13) is usually a silicone sealant. The structure 14 comprises a box section. Inside this, on one wall, screwed to or placed in a prepared niche, a sensor 18 is located of any known type, for example inductive, capacitive, either mechanical or optical. On one face of the section 14 a window 20 may be made, closable with a small block or cover, for placing the sensor. An arm 22 bent in the shape of an L collaborates with the sensor 18, its end 22′ being opposite the sensor and normally spaced from it. The arm 22 is integral (by means of any known system; a sealant for example) with the panel 12, for example to the pane 12′, and extends through a slot 23 made in the box part of the structure. Preferably, as seen in fig. 2, two or more sensors can be provided for each panel. Each sensor 18 is connected to a signalling panel (not shown) by means of connections (not shown) within the reach of any technician in the field. Preferably the sensor or sensors are applied in correspondence with the upper edge of each panel, as shown in the drawings. However, it is possible to have sensors applied also to the lower edge or the sides of the panel. The sensor will be appropriately calibrated so as not to give false signals in windy conditions. In normal or windy conditions, then, there will be no signals on the display. When the connection consisting of the sealant 16 (or the reflective coating, or the anodized or painted coating) begins to yield, the panel 12 will first undergo a very slight oscillation outwards, more evident on its upper edge (the dotted line in fig. 1) and the arm 22 will operate the sensor which will switch on the corresponding light on the display panel; in this way there will be a clear alarm signal together with the indication of the position of the unsafe panel. It should be noted that the signalling of the shift of the panel takes place when such a shift is not yet dangerous, and, in addition, the arm 22 can collaborate in holding back the panel. The arm 22 is made from rigid metallic material or preferably from antifire material. In figs. 2 to 5, various types of panel mountings are shown. In the various figures, similar elements bear the same reference numbers. With reference to fig. 3, the panel is supported on section 34 of the structure by means of an already known double glazing system; that is, the sealant 16 is placed between the pane 12″ and an auxiliary glass pane 32, the latter being held mechanically in a seat formed by an arm 33 of the section 34. The mounting of the sensor is like that described with reference to fig. 1. In fig. 4, the section 44 of the structure has a part 46, extending upwards and therefore outwards for a length 46′ and which receives the glass panel. In this case the sensor is applied to the length 46′ of the section, without any need to open the box part of the section. In this case also the sensor can be screwed or received into a niche provided for this purpose, or fixed in any way within the reach of a technician in the field. In the solution shown in fig. 5, the sensor is applied inside the box section 54, while the arm 22 is outside of the same, except for the bent part 22′, which penetrates it through the slot 53 made in the upper part of the section and extending for a length, so as to allow the length 22 to be moved at least horizontally on the plane of the sheet containing the drawing.

Claims: A structural façade system comprising facing panels (12) integral with a bearing structure (14) by means of a sealant (16), characterized in that it comprises, in correspondence with at least some panels, a sensor element (18) and a sensor operating element (22), one of the said elements being integral to the panel and the other to the structure, and the sensor/s being connected to a display or signalling device. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors and the operating elements are applied in correspondence with the upper edge of the panel. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is applied to the structure and the said operating element is an arm made integral with the panel and free to slide with respect to the sensor. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the structure comprises a box section, the sensor is applied inside the box part and the arm passes through a slot made in the wall of the structure. A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the structure has a box part and a length (46) extending from the box part, characterized in that the sensor is applied onto the length outside the box part. A system according to claim 4, characterized in that a window (20), closeable with a plate, is made in the box section, for inserting and positioning the sensor (18) and the arm (22). A system according to claim 3, characterized in that the arm is of rigid, preferably antifire material. A system as in claim 3, characterized in that said arm (22) has an end (22′) opposite to the sensor and normally spaced from it but capable to cooperate in holding back the panel in case of a shift of said panel.

Inventors: AZZIMONTI, GIOVANNI
Applicants: AZZIMONTI PAOLINO S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: G01B5, E06B3