A facade finishing system

Abstract: In a facade finishing system comprising facade elements with fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding glazing portions, folding glazing portions, and/or bay windows made mainly as frame structures of hollow profiles, facade elements for closing facade openings of random size comprise a common main frame structure having vertical and horizontal main frame members (1-4) made from uniform profiles, while transom members (50-90) for subdivision of the facade element are selected among different hollow profiles adapted for connection with fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding or folding glazing portions, and bay windows, but all of these having cross-sections in which engaging means (116) of connecting members for attachment of the hollow profile to a vertical main frame profile, are made with fixed positioning in a uniform modular system.

Description: The invention relates to a facade finishing system comprising facade elements for closing facade openings of random size and being provided with fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding glazing portions, folding glazing portions and/or bay windows, said facade elements being made mainly as frame structures of hollow profiles comprising a common main frame structure of vertical and horizontal main frame members made from uniform profiles and being subdivided by horizontal transom members adapted for connection with said fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding or folding glazing portions and bay windows. For use in facade renovations of existing multistorey buildings, weather protective facade finishing systems are known e.g. from GB-A-961 136, GB-A-2 220 694, WO 87/06291 and EP-A-0 474 582. The latter publication discloses a balcony finishing system of the kind defined above, by which extensive possibilities are obtained for mounting various addition units through a special design of the hollow profiles which are normally aluminium profiles, with a double groove and by use of profile types which are, moreover, extensively standardized. The object of the invention is to provide a facade finishing system suitable for facade renovation of existing buildings as well as for new constructions, comprising facade elements which, according to requirements, may be adapted for closing facade openings of varying size between vertical and horizontal structural members, while at the same time the mounting is simple and the possibility is opened for use of horizontal transom members of varying profile shapes adapted to the panelling and glazing portions desired for installation in the facade opening. To accomplish this, a facade finishing system according to the invention is characterized in that said horizontal transom members are made as hollow profiles of different cross-sectional shape, but all having a mainly wedge-shaped central portion defining a closed cavity and having an inwards facing rear wall with a profiled cross-section, said central portion being provided with integrated engaging means for connecting members for attachment of the transom profile to a vertical main frame profile, said engaging means being arranged with fixed positions in a uniform geometrical configuration in said cavity regardless of the actual cross-sectional shape of the transom member. By this design, the vertical main frame members may be connected in a simple way with various types of transom members which may be of different width dimensions,and it is made possible to provide a number of different facade designs with panelling portions, different types of glazing portions and bay windows without requirement of any special addition units. Thereby , the facade design is simplified and the construction costs reduced. At the same time a considerable degree of architectural freedom and an attractive appearance are obtained, since the transom members may at the external side have a relatively small thickness, such that in the finished facade construction they will only appear as narrow strips, The arrangement of the engaging means for the connection members with fixed positions in a uniform geometrical configuration is to be understood in the way that hypothetical connecting lines between the engaging means in a cross-sectional plane of the hollow profiles of transom members will form the same geometrical figure for all the various types of transom members regardless of their cross-sectional profile. For obtaining a secure attachment of the transom members and thereby the possibility of a relatively large span of these, the engaging means may, in a preferred embodiment, be positioned in the corners of an isosceles triangular configuration with two of said engaging means positioned at upper and lower edges of said rear wall and the third engaging means in a sleeve positioned essentially in the plane of symmetry of said triangular configuration and in connection with a wall section of said wedge-shaped portion. Further advantages and details of the invention will appear from the dependent claims. In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating one embodiment of a facade element in a finishing system in accordance with the invention, fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the joint of the two main frame members at right angles to each other, figs. 3 and 4 a corner L-piece which may be used in an alternative design of the joint, figs. 5-9 different types of transom members, fig. 10 an embodiment of the joint between a transom member and a vertical main frame member, and fig. 11 illustrates a bay windows design. Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a facade element including a fixed main frame comprising horizontal main frame members 1 and 2 and vertical main frame members 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown, the facade element has, by means of two transom members 5 and 6, been divided into three portions comprising a lower panelling portion 7, an upper panelling portion 8, and between these a 4-leaf sliding glazing portion 9. The main frame and transom members are designed as hollow profiles, which preferably are made of aluminium, although also plastic profiles may be used. As illustrated in fig. 2, all of the main frame members 1-4 are made with the same profile cross-section, comprising a central cavity portion having an upper wall 10 facing a panelling or glazing portion in the facade element, a lower wall 11 facing the structural system, an outer side wall 12, and an inner side wall 13. In the embodiment shown, the profile has been made with an outwardly downward-inclining upper wall, whereby the cavity portion becomes slightly wedge-shaped. At the underside of the lower wall 11, projecting ribs 14, 15 are formed which end in edge flanges 16, 17, which at the horizontal main frame members form abutment for arrangement against and attachment to parts of the supporting construction. Between the ribs 14, 15 ducts 19, 20 are hereby formed which in the vertical main frame members may be used for water-draining. At the upper side of the upper wall 10, two grooves 21 have been designed, the upward-facing openings of which are narrowed by inward-projecting edge portions 22. The grooves 21 perform the function of accommodating glazing beads or similar holding means for a panelling or glazing portion connected with the main frame profile. At the outer wall 12 and the inner wall 13, the main frame profile is provided with outward-projecting and inward-projecting, respectively, nose portions 23 and 24 having turned-in edge parts 25 forming grooves or ducts 26, 27 for use in connecting the main frame member with the transom member, as will be explained in the following. In the embodiment in fig. 2, in which the main frame member profile is sketched in, the main frame members 2 and 3 at right angles to each other are connected by a mitre, special fittings 28 and 29 with inclined bores being secured in the main frame members, of which one is a threaded bore for accommodating a bolt connection 30 at right angles to the mitre. As an alternative, the main frame members may be assembled without applying mitring, by means of a corner L-piece 31 as illustrated in figs 3 and 4. The corner L-piece 31 comprises two engaging sections 33, 34 at angles to each other, these sections having a cross-section corresponding to the profile cross-section of the main frame members. In each of the engaging sections, two screw holes 35 have been designed for non-illustrated, e.g. self-cutting, screws, which are screwed into screw grooves 36, which in connection with the extrusion of the main frame profiles are formed in the cavity portion of these. As illustrated in fig. 4, the corner L-piece 31 may be designed with projecting buttons 37 and 38 on the abutment end faces facing the respective main frame members, which buttons at the joining are positioned within the turned-in edge parts 25 of the nose portions 23 and 24 of the main frame members. In the designs illustrated in figs. 5-9 of different transom members for use in the finishing system in accordance with the invention, a classification has been applied to the figure references for the members which are common to the different designs, by which the first figure in the reference number indicates the number of the figure, while the second figure identifies the member in question. It is common to the transom members designed as hollow profiles that they are provided with a mainly wedge-shaped central portion 51, 61 etc. limited by an outwardly downward-inclining upper wall 52, 62 etc. and an outwardly upward-inclining lower wall 53, 63 etc. as well as a, in the embodiments shown, corrugated rear wall 54, 64 etc. At the outward-facing, pointed end of the wedge-shaped central portion, a drip 55, 65 etc. has been designed in all the designs of the transom member, which drip may also be used for suspension of non-illustrated fitting members, particularly flower cribs. In all the embodiments shown, the engaging means essential to the invention, which for attaching the transom members to the vertical main frame profiles are made with fixed placing in a uniform modular system, are positioned in a triangular configuration having two engaging means 56, 66 etc. and 57, 67 etc. placed at the upper edge end the lower edge of the corrugated rear wall 54, 64 etc. while the third member of contact is designed as a groove 58, 68 etc. which is placed essentially in the plane of symmetry of the two engaging means 56, 57 etc. and is connected with a wall section in the wedge-shaped central portion 51, 61 etc. of the profile. As illustrated in the figures, grooves have been formed in the upper wall 52, 62 etc. and/or the lower wall 53, 63 etc. of the wedge-shaped central portion 51, 61 etc. of the transom members, for accommodating edge parts of fixed glazing portions or panelling portions and/or folding or sliding glazing portions, as it will appear from the following. The transom member 50 in figure 5, which may have a relatively small breadth, is thus, both in the upper wall 52 and in the lower wall 53, provided with grooves 101 for accommodating an outer glazing bead 102 for a fixed glazing portion 103, which in this case is illustrated as a two-layer insulating pane. As illustrated, the groove 101 may be designed as a double groove, which offers the possibility of alternative clipping-in of the glazing bead 102 for supporting a single-layer pane. For accommodating an inner glazing strip 104, a groove 105 has been designed at the outer sides of the parts of the rear wall 54 which project over the central portion 51 of the profile member. Between the glazing strip 104 and the upward-projecting part of the rear wall 54, a duct for condensed water is formed. Moreover, in the embodiment in figure 5, the sleeve 58 is connected with a front wall of the profile member at the drip 55. The transom members 60 and 70, respectively, illustrated in figures 6 and 7 serve as top and bottom horizontal main frame members, respectively, for a four-leaf sliding pane window of the type which is also illustrated in figure 1. Grooves 106 for the individual leaf of the sliding pane window are defined by downward-projecting ribs 107 from the lower wall 63 in the transom member 60 in figure 6 and upward-projecting ribs 108 from the upper wall 72 in the transom member 70 in figure 7. At the opposite walls of the transom members 60 and 70, i.e. the upper wall 62 in figure 6 and the lower wall 63 in figure 7, grooves 101 have been formed, as in the embodiment in figure 5, for accommodating an outer glazing bead 102 for a fixed glazing portion or a panelling portion 103. In the embodiment in figure 6, the groove 68 has been designed in connection with the lower wall 63, while the sleeve 78 in the embodiment in figure 7, as in the embodiment in figure 5, is connected with the front wall of the wedge-shaped central portion 71 of the profile situated at the drip 75. Likewise, the embodiments in figures 8 and 9 are designed for use as the upper and lower horizontal main frame members, respectively, for a folding glazing portion 109, which at the upper edge and the lower edge is connected with motion guide means in the form of slide blocks 110 possibly in connection with a roll 111. For accommodating these motion guide means, grooves 112 and 113, respectively, have been designed at the lower wall 83 of the transom member 80 in figure 8 and at the upper wall 92 of the transom member 90 in figure 9, for accommodating the motion guide means of the folding glazing portion. As in figure 5, also in this case, grooves 101 have been designed at the opposite walls of the central portion of the transom member, i.e. the upper wall 82 in figure 8 and the lower wall 93 in figure 9, for accommodating an outer glazing bead 102 for a fixed glazing portion or panelling portion 103. Also in the embodiments in figures 8 and 9, the sleeve 88 and 98, respectively, is connected with the front wall of the central portion 81 and 91, respectively, situated at the drip 85 and 95, respectively. In all the embodiments, the engaging means 56-58, 66-68 etc. fixed in a uniform modular system are designed for accommodating screws which are screwed in through the nose portions 23 and 24 of the main frame profile along the axes 114 and 115 indicated by dotting in figure 10 for screwing down in the engaging means serving as threaded sleeves, which engaging means at the profile cross-section for the transom member drawn in the joint in figure 10, which differs from the designs in figures 5-9, is marked 116. In order to be able to adjust the length of the transom members by straight cutting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an adapting end piece 118 is inserted at the joint between the main frame profile and the end wall 117 of the transom member, which adapting end piece at its side facing the transom member is made with a profile cross-section fitting the present transom member, while the side facing the main frame profile is adjusted to the inclination of the main frame profile. It has been proved that by this assembling method, a highly solid attachment can be obtained, which permits a relatively large span of the transom members. The designs of the transom members illustrated in figures 5-10 should only be considered representative illustrations of the possibilities of variation. Figure 11 thus illustrates how a bay window portion 119 may be designed by means of transom members 120 with increased breadths compared to the designs in figures 5-10. For an improved view, the part of the facade element which is situated below the bay window may, in this embodiment, be a fixed glazing portion 21.

Claims: A facade finishing system comprising facade elements for closing facade openings of random size and being provided with fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding glazing portions, folding glazing portions and/or bay windows, said facade elements being made mainly as frame structures of hollow profiles comprising a common main frame structure of vertical and horizontal main frame members (1-4) made from uniform profiles and being subdivided by horizontal transom members (5, 6) adapted for connection with said fixed glazing portions, panelling portions, sliding or folding glazing portions and bay windows, characterized in that said horizontal transom members are made as hollow profiles of different cross-sectional shape, but all having a mainly wedge-shaped central portion (51, 61, 71, 81, 91) defining a closed cavity and having an inwards facing rear wall (54, 64, 74, 84, 94) with a profiled cross-section, said central portion being provided with integrated engaging means (56-58, 66-68, 76-78, 86-88, 96-98) for connecting members for attachment of the transom profile to a vertical main frame profile, said engaging means being arranged with fixed positions in a uniform geometrical configuration in said cavity regardless of the actual cross-sectional shape of the transom member. A facade finishing system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said rear wall (54, 64, 74, 84, 94) has a corrugated cross-section. A facade finishing system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an outwardly facing pointed end of said central portion (51, 61, 71, 81, 91) is provided with a drip nose (55, 65, 75, 85, 95). A facade finishing system in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that said drip nose (55, 65, 75, 85, 95) is designed for suspension of accessories, particularly flower cribs. A facade finishing system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said engaging means (56-58, 66-68, 76-78, 86-88, 96-98) are designed for accommodating screws. A facade finishing system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said engaging means (56-58, 66-68, 76-78, 86-88, 96-98) are placed in the corners of an isosceles triangular configuration with two of said engaging means (56, 57; 66, 67; 76, 77; 86, 87; 96, 97) positioned at upper and lower edges of said rear wall (54, 64, 74, 84, 94) and the third engaging means (58, 68, 78, 88, 98) in a sleeve positioned essentially in the plane of symmetry of said triangular configuration and in connection with a wall section of said wedge-shaped portion. A facade finishing system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising end adapting pieces (118) for arrangement in the ends of transom members cut to length (50, 60, 70, 80, 90) and fitting into the profiles cross-section of the wedge-shaped portion thereof. A facade finishing system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that grooves (101, 108, 112, 113) for accommodating edge parts of fixed glazing portions or panelling portions and/or folding or sliding glazing portions are provided in the upper side and/or the lower side of said wedge-shaped portion (51, 61, 71, 81, 91). A facade finishing system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that main frame members at right angles to each other are mitred and connected by means of a bolt connection (30) essentially perpendicular to the mitre between fittings (28, 29) secured in the respective main frame members. A facade finishing system in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that main frame members at right angles to each other are assembled by means of a corner L-piece (31) having engaging sections at an angle to each other, with a cross-section which is formfitted to the profile cross section of the main frame members.

Inventors: BREGENHOJ TORBEN, BYSTRUP ERIK, PEDERSEN HANS OVE, THOMSEN MORTEN WERNER, BREGENHOJ, TORBEN, BYSTRUP, ERIK, PEDERSEN, HANS OVE, THOMSEN, MORTEN WERNER
Applicants: VELUX IND AS, VELUX INDUSTRI A/S
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E06B3, E06B1, E04B2