A METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SECURING GLASS FACADE ELEMENTS

Abstract: A method for securing glass facade elements comprised of sealed glazing units which include at least two parallel glass sheets (2, 3) separated by a spacer (4) which extends between the glass sheets and terminates short of the outer edges of the sheets, wherein a glue layer (7) is applied between the glass sheets but outwardly of the spacer, and wherein facade elements are secured to a frame structure (8), preferably a frame structure comprised of aluminium profiled sections. The invention is characterized in that when fitting the facade element (1) a clip (12) is placed between two neighbouring facade elements, the clip (12) being secured mechanically in the frame structure (8) and having two tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) which project outwardly and obliquely in opposite directions in towards the frame structure; in that when no load acts on the clip, the distance (A) between the free extremities of the tongues exceeds the distance (B) between two neighbouring facade elements (1); and in that when fitting the clip (12) in position, the tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) are deformed elastically and caused to approach one another, whereafter the clip is placed between two neighbouring facade elements and the load on the clip is removed, therewith securing the clip in the frame structure (8) with the tongues (13-16) penetrating the glue layer (7) between the glass sheets, but outwardly of the spacer (4). The invention also relates to an arrangement.

Description: A Method and Arrangement for Securing Glass Facade Elements ? The present invention relates to a .method and to an arrangement for 5 securing glass facade elements. The invention is concerned primarily with facade elements in the form of glass sheets or panes which are glued to a frame stoic ure. Such frame s__xιc_rtures may be constructed from alu_r___nium profiled sections. 10 In recent times, it has become more and more usual to provide buildi structures, such as office buildings, with a full-covering glass facade. The glass sheets are herewith glued to a rea__wardly-lying frame construction and the glue, or adhesive, used is load-carrying both with respect to positive and negative wind loads. Constructions 15 are found in which the glass sheets are supported solely by the adhesive, although there are also found constructions in which, for instance, the bottom edges of the glass .sheets rest on a frame part, so that the .static load will be ta en-up mechanically by the frame structure. 20 Glass facades of this kind are normally c_onstructed with the aid of .sealed double-glazing units. Sealed double-glazing insulating units constructed with a spacer between the glass sheets, so as to hold th sheets at a given distance apart. An adhesive, or glue, is applied 25 outside the spacer, but between the sheets. The purpose of the adhes is to hold the glass sheets glued together, and also to form a seal between the surroundings and the space between the sheets. The adhes used is normally a silicone glue. The glue is applied in the factory, under precise conditions, and consequently the glue joint will not 30 loosen on the insulation unit fitted to the facades. In the case of known facades of this kind, the known technique used involves gluing the glass sheets of the glazing units that lies closest to the frame structure directly onto said frame structure. 35 This is carried out on the building site, and consequently the glue joints obtained are liable to vary in quality, among other things du to the weather conditions that prevail at that particular time. It is obvious that a sealed glazing unit thus secured is liable to loosen and fall onto the ground below. It is also obvious that a falling sheet of glass can cause serious injury to people in the vicinity of the glass and also serious damage to property. However, with regard, to the aesthetic appearance of the facade, it is -Importa that no fastener devices are visible to the viewer, for instance extend in the joins between two adjacent glazing units and on the outside of said units. There is no doubt that a mechanical fastener arrangement would el__minate the risk of the unintentional release of a glazing unit, even if its glue bond with the frame structure shoul fail. The problem solved by means of the present invention is thus that of securing glazing units with the aid of mechanical means without the use of surface-mounted fastener devices. Ac_-_ordingly, the present invention relates to a method for securing glass facade elements which are cc∑rπprised of sealed glazing units wh include at least two parallel glass sheets which are separated mutua by a spacer that extends between the glass sheets slightly and ter¬ minates short of the outer edges thereof, where glue is applied between the glass sheets but outwardly of the spacer, said facade elements being fastened to a frame structure, preferably a frame structure cαπprised of aluπώiium profiled sections, and is charac- terized. in that when assembling the facade elements a clip is fitted between two πrutually adjacent elements and secured mec_hanically to the frame structure, said clip having two tongues which extend obli¬ quely in ϊ-Btually opposite directions towards the frame structure; in that when no load acts on the clip, the distance between the free ex- tremities of the tongues exceeds the distance between two mutually adjacent facade elements; and in that when fitting the clip, said clip is deformed elastically so as to bring the tongues closer to¬ gether, whereafter the clip is placed between two mutually adjacent facade elements, whereafter the clip is subjected to load and secured in the frame structure as the tongues penetrate the glue layer applie between the glass sheets but outwardly of the spacer. The invention also relates to an arrangement of the kind defined in Claim 6 and having the principal features set forth in said Claim. The invention will now be described in more detail, partly with reference to exemplifying errOoodiments of the invention illustrated i the accraπpanying drawings, in which Figure l is a section view of an inventive arrangement mounted between two mutually adjacent glass facade elements; Figure 2 illustrates a clip used in accordance with the inventi and - Figures 3a-3c illustrate fitting of the inventive arrangement. Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement for securing glass facade elemen ∞mprised of sealed glazing units that include at least two parallel glass sheets 2, 3. The glass sheets are held separated by a spacer 4 which extends between the glass sheets 2, 3 and terminates short of the outer edges 6 of the glass sheets. Glue 7 is applied between the glass sheets 2, 3 but outwardly of the spacer 4. Such sealed glazing units have long been known. The glue 7 is applied in the factory. With regard to building constructions that have glass facades, the facade elements 1 are secured to a frame structure 8, preferably a frame structure ∞rπprised of alu_r___nium profiled sections, this frame st___τ_cture in turn being secured to the building. Only a part of one such frame structure is illustrated in Figure 1. Hitherto, glass facade elements 1 have been glued to the frame struc ture 8. This is illustrated in the left-hand part of Figure 1, which shows the glass panes or sheets glued at 9 to a part 10 of the frame st_mcture 8. These glue joints are effected on the building site and as previously mentioned, the quality of the glue joints may vary fro one joint to the other and therewith, in some instances, result in t facade element 1 falling from the building. A so-called weather seal 17, i.e. a sealing cσrtpαund, such as silico is provided between two neighbouring facade elements. Shown to the right of Figure 1 is another e_ιύ_odiment which is. made possible by means of the present invention, namely an embodiment in which the facade element is not glued to the frame structure 8 at all, but simply rests on, e.g., a rubber strip 11 secured in said støicture. Naturally, only one of the two embod_Lments illustrated in Figure 1 are used in one and the same building. The inventive a__rangement includes a clip 12 which is intended to be fitted between two neiφbouring facade elements 1, said clip 12 being intended to be secured mechanically in the frame structure. Figure 2 .Illustrates one embodiunent of the clip. The clip 12 has two tongues which extend obliquely outwards in two mutually opposite directions. The clip shown in Figure 2 has four such tongues 13, 14; 15, 16. When no load acts on the clip the distance A between the outer extremities of the tongues 13, 16; 14, 15 exceeds the distance B between two neio^ibσuring facade elements 1. The clip 12 is elastically deformable, so that the tongues can be brought closer together and thereby enable the clip 12 to be placed between two neigh__oι__ring facade elements 1, as illustrated in Figure 3a. When the clip is subjected to load, the tongues 13-16 are able to penetrate the glue 7 between the glass panes or sheets 1, 2, see Figure 3b and 3c. Acco__l__ng to one preferred embodiment, the clip 12 has a generally U-shape with the tongues 13-16 ext_er_ding from the upper parts of the U and obliquely outwards and downwards, as illi-strated in Figure 2. It will be understood, however, that the clip may be given a different configuration without changing its function. According to one preferred embodiment, the clip is also provided with two __urther tongues 18, 19, which extend obliquely downwards and inwards from the upper parts of the U-form. When fitting the clip in position, these tongues 18, 19 are intended to coact with a tool 20 such as to squeeze the clip together and therewith shorten the distanc between the first mentioned tongues 13-16, as before mentioned, and therewith enable the clip to be inserted between two nei bouring facade elements 1. The tool 20 is illι___rt_rated in Figure 3 and ccβnπprises a pair of tongs having two rearwardly curved front parts 21, 22 on respective legs, these rearwardly curved, or bent, parts being intended for insertion behind the further tongues 18, 19. The clip is squeezed together, so that it can be inserted between two neighbouring facade elements, by moving the handles 23, 24 of the tongues towards one another. According to one preferred embodiment, the clip 12 is made from stainless spring-steel sheet. A suitable sheet thickness is 0.5 millimeter, for instance. One or more clips cure fastened on each side of a facade element. Preferably, a number of clips are fastened along each side. When fitting the facade elements 1 in position, a clip 12 is placed between two neighbouring facade elements 1 and fastened mechanically in the frame structure 8. When fitting the clip 12, the clip is deformed elastically with the aid of the tool 20, so that the tongue 13-16 will approach one another, whereafter the clip is placed in position between two neighbouring facade elements 1. The clip 12 is then released and secured in the frame stnic±ure as the tongues penetrate the glue layer 7 between the glass sheets 1, 2, but outwar of the spacer. When fitting the clip 12, the clip is placed initially a short dista from the frame structure 8, so that the clip 12 will be located at a distance C from an outwa__τ__ly-projecting part 25 of the frame structu 8, see Figure 3a. The outwa_rdly-projecting part 25 has an axially- extending screw channel 26 in vJhich a screw 27 is intended to be tightened. The screw 27 is intended to extend t_hrσugh a hole 28 in the clip. When the clip is positioned in the aforesaid manner and th load acting thereon is relieved, the first mentioned tongues 13-16 will lie against the glue layer 7, see Figure 3b. The clip is then screwed firmly to the frame structure 8 and is therewith displaced into caJ-ϊutment with the frame sτ_ructure while the tongues spring outwards and penetrate the glue layer, see. Figure 3c and Figure 1. Tongues 13, 16 which have penetrated the glue layer 7 are shown in full lines in Figure 1, these tongues not being in abutment with a glass sheet or pane 3. This embodiment of the tongues 13-16 is fully satisfactory when the facade elements are glued directly against the fraire structure 8 by means of a glue joint 9, as illustrated in the left-hand part of Figure 1. However, when the facade elements are no glued directly to the frame structure, but instead merely lie agains a rubber strip 11, the inventive arrangement can be used as the sole means of securing the facade elements to the frame structure. This i illustrated in Figure 1 with the aid of the tongues 13', 16' shown i broken lines. In this eπ_oodiment, the tongues have a length such tha when the clip is tightened fcy means of the screw 27, the tongues 13' , 16' will lie in al-utment with the glass sheets 3. In order to facilitate positioning of the clip at the aforesaid distance C from the σurwa____ly-projecting part 25, the tool 20 may be provided with a rod 29, shown in broken lines in Figure 3a, which extends through the hole 28 provided in the clip and projects from beneath the clip through a distance corresponding to the aforesaid distance C. The tool is therewith lowered until the forward end of the rod 29 comes into contact with the outwardly-projecting part 25, whereafter load is relieved from the clip by means of the tool and the tool withdrawn. Acx_o__ύi_ng to one embcx___Lment, the rod 29 may be screwed into a sleeve 30 so as to enable the extent to which the rod 29 projects from the tool to be adjusted in accordance with the position of the oι__twardly-projecting part 25 in relation to the facade elements. It will be evident that the present invention solves the problem mentioned in the introduction, in a simple and effective manner. Although the invention has been described with reference to various e___ooά_imeπt_s thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in this art that the construction of the a__rangement can be varied without changi its function. The present invention is therefore not restricted to the aforedes- cribed and .illustrated em__od_Lments thereof, since modifications can be made within the scope of the following Claims. 1

Claims: Claims 1. A method for securing glass facade elements which are comprised of sealed glazing units which include at least two parallel glass sheets (2, 3) separated ty a spacer (4) which extends between the glass sheets and teπrdnates short of the outer edges of said sheets, wherein a glue layer (7) is applied between the glass sheets but outwardly of the spacer, and wherein facade elements care secured to frame st__αιcture (8) , preferably a frame structure comprised of alumi ium profiled sections, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that when fitting the facade element (1) a clip (12) is inserted between two neighlαjuring facade elements, said clip (12) being secured mechanica in the frame structure (8) and having two tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) which project outwardly and obliquely in opposite directions in towards the frame st__.ucture; in that when no load acts on the clip, the distance (A) between the free extremities of the tongues exceeds the distance (B) between two neighbouring facade elements (1) ; and in that when fitting the clip (12) in position, the tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) are deformed elastically and caused to approach one another, whereafter the clip is placed between two neighbouring facade element and the load on the clip is removed, therewith securing the clip in the frame structure (8) with the tongues (13-16) penetrating said glue layer (7) between the glass sheets, but outwardly of the spacer (4) . 2. A method a<_x_o__τ__ing to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clip (12) has a generally U-shape with said tongues (13-16) exterxiing from the upper parts of the U-shape, and obliquely outwards and downwards. 3. A method according to Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clip (12) is provided with two further tongues (18, 19) which extend obliquely dcwπwards and inwards from the upper parts of the U-shape and which, when fitting the clip, are caused to coact with a tool for squeezing the clip (12) together so that said distanc (A) between the first mentioned tongues is decreased and therewith enable the clip to be inserted between two neighbouring facade elements, as before mentioned. 4. A method acxo__ύing to Claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that when fitting the clip (12) , the clip is placed __nitially at a distance (C) from the frame structure (8) , such that the first mentioned tongues (13-16) will lie against the glue layer (7) ; and in that the clip is then screwed in the frame structure, said clip being displaced into a-jutment with the frame st_ructure and the tongues (13-16) being caused to penetrate the glue layer (7) . 5. A method a _o__τ_Ling to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, char a c ¬ ter i z ed in that one or more clips (12) are fastened at each side of a facade element (1) . 6. An arrangement for securing glass facade elements comprised of sealed glazing units which include at least two parallel glass sheets (2, 3) separated by a spacer (4) which extends between the glass sheets and te___ru_nates short of the outer edges of said sheets, wherei a glue layer (7) is provided between the glass sheets but outwardly of the spacer, and wherein facade elements (1) are fastened to a frame structure (8) , preferably a frame structure comprised of alimiin- ium profiled sections, char acter i z ed in that the arrange ment includes a clip (12) which is intended to be fitted between two neighbouring facade elements (1) and fastened mechanically to the frame __t_ructure; in that the clip has two tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) which project outwardly in opposite directions obliquely in towards the frame structure (8) ; in that when no load acts on the clip, the distance (A) between the free outer extremities of the tongues (13, 16; 14, 15) exceeds the distance (B) between two neighbouring facade elements (1) ; and in that the clip (12) is elastically deformable so that the tongues are able to approach one another and therewith enable the clip to be inserted between two neightøuring facade elements and so that, when the load acting on the clip (12) is relieved, the clip (12) will spring-back so that the tongues (13-16) are able to penetra the glue layer (7) between the glass sheets, but outwardly of the spacer (4) . 7. An a__τangement acxoiπiing to Claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clip (12) is generally U-shaped, with the tongues (13-16) extending obliquely upwards and downwards from the upper parts of the U-shape. 8. An arrangement according to Claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clip (12) is provided with two further tongues (18, 19) which extend obliquely downwards and inwards from the upper parts of the U-shape, said tongues (18, 19) when fitting the clip being intende to coact with a tool which functions to squeeze the clip (12) togethe so that, as before mentioned, the distance (A) between the first mentioned tongues is decreased and therewith enables the clip to be inserted between two neighbouring facade elements. 9. An arrangement acco__ding to Claim 6, 7 or 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that one or more clips (12) are fitted on each side of a facade element. 10. An arrangement acco__cL__ng to Claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the clip (12) is made of stainless spring steel

Inventors: JANSSON NILS-GUNNAR, JANSSON, NILS-GUNNAR
Applicants: JANSSON NILS GUNNAR, JANSSON, NILS-GUNNAR
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E06B3
IPC codes: E06B3