Patent Publication Number: US-11047131-B2

Title: Curtain wall and set and construction method for such a curtain wall

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a curtain wall and a set and construction method for such a curtain wall. 
     A curtain wall is a structure of mullion profiles and transom profiles in which panels, usually glass panels, but possibly also closed panels, can be placed to form a non-load-bearing outer wall. 
     A disadvantage of the known curtain walls is that the mullion profiles and transom profiles are designed to be built from the outside to form a structure of profiles. Also, the panels must then be installed from the outside. This is complex, especially when construction must be done at certain heights and requires scaffolding or suspended working platforms and it is dangerous for the persons who perform this work and for those who might pass under it. 
     An installation of the panels from the inside would be much easier and safer because there are floors at regular intervals. 
     Also, the known systems of mullion profiles and transom profiles require a large number of components and a large number of actions to assemble them. 
     2. Related Art 
     From U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,210 a curtain wall structure is already known with transom profiles mounted between the mullion profiles and whose assembly of the mullion profiles and the transom profiles can be performed from within. 
     With this known structure, the transoms are snapped into place in the mullions, which, as a disadvantage, can cause the transoms to come back loose, with all the disastrous consequences thereof. 
     Another important disadvantage of this known structure is that it does not solve the problem of tolerances. 
     In the case of a curtain wall, two types of tolerances can be distinguished, on the one hand, the manufacturing tolerances due to the limitations associated with accuracy in production, and, on the other hand, the construction tolerances due to the installation in situ. 
     In addition, the transom profiles must be mounted at their ends between the mullion profiles in order to allow for the thermal dilatations of the transom profiles on the one hand, and the differential settlements of a building, which are inevitable and inherent to a concrete or steel structure, on the other hand. 
     However, this engenders to the connection between the mullions and the transoms not being watertight, which can result in leaks, which is obviously inadmissible for a facade. 
     The curtain wall structure does not provide a seal between the mullions and the transoms, because of the specific assembly method by rotating the transoms, this method does not provide enough space for a seal to be applied at that place. 
     Moreover, a seal using an elastic kit would not offer a durable solution at that place, given the metal to metal connection and the inevitable thermal expansion and shrinkage of the metal transoms. 
     Additionally, this structure does not allow for tolerances, such as are inevitable in the production and assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the aforementioned and other disadvantages and relates thus to a curtain wall comprising mullion profiles, transom profiles and one or more panels, wherein the mullion profiles extend vertically, wherein the transom profiles are each attached to two mullion profiles and extend horizontally, wherein the mullion profiles are provided on each side with a groove to receive the side edge of a panel, wherein the grooves have an access opening, wherein the access opening has a first fixed dimension or width in the horizontal direction, wherein the transom profiles in the horizontal direction and at right angles to the profile direction of the transom profiles, have a second dimension, wherein the second dimension is larger than the first dimension, wherein the transom profiles in a non-horizontal direction at right angles to the profile direction have a third dimension, wherein the third dimension is smaller than the first dimension, so that the ends of the transom profiles, in a rotated state of the transom profiles in which the direction of the third dimension is horizontal, pass through the access opening and wherein the transom profiles are provided with an undercut groove which runs in the profile direction and with a rod inserted in the undercut groove, wherein the mullion profiles are provided with a second groove for receiving an end of said rod projecting out from the undercut groove, thereby blocking a rotational movement of the transom profiles. Here, the mullion profiles are made of a single piece or of multiple connected non-detachable sub-profiles, creating a fixed size for the width of the aforementioned access opening. 
     Such a curtain wall is easy to build from the inside without requiring many actions, because the aforementioned features allow the transom profiles to be placed in a groove around their longitudinal axis, and then simply get their desired orientation by rotation and allow them to be fixed in the grooves. 
     An advantage of a curtain wall according to the invention is that during the construction of the curtain wall, the transom profiles can be secured by a simple shift of a rod or slat preventing the detachment from between the mullion profiles by a rotation of the transom profiles in the opposite direction than during the installation. 
     In a preferred embodiment, one or more walls of the grooves are provided with a recess in which a section of the transom profiles are located, wherein the transom profiles are vertically supported by a bottom edge of said recess. 
     This is an easy way to get the transom profiles fixed to the mullion profiles without further attachments. In addition, such a suspension allows the transom profiles to have some play in their profile direction, which is desirable to accommodate stress in the curtain wall. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the transom profiles are Z-profiles with a first vertical leg directing upward and located on the inside of the transom profile and a second vertical leg directing downward and located on the outside of the transom profile and a horizontal intermediate section between the first and second leg. 
     Due to the vertical legs, sufficient rigidity is obtained, while the horizontal intermediate section allows sufficient space for installing a panel above the transom profile. 
     Preferably, the aforementioned undercut groove, including the rod for blocking the rotation of the transoms, is mounted on the inside of the second leg. 
     This makes it easy to shift the rod from the inside when building the curtain wall, in other words from a floor against which the curtain wall is constructed. 
     Preferably, the mullion profiles and the transom profiles are composite profiles, each of which is composed of two or more sub-profiles, the sub-profiles not necessarily being made of the same material. 
     This results in good thermal insulation, for example by working with an aluminium outer and inner sub-profile, connected by insulating plastic profiles. 
     Preferably, said grooves on the different sides of the mullion profiles have a different depth. 
     This also allows the panels to be placed from the inside by shuffling a panel into the deepest groove, then shifting it into the desired orientation and then shuffling it towards the shallow groove. 
     Preferably the panels are glass panels. 
     In a still another preferred embodiment, a barrier for water is provided at the fixing points of the transom profiles on the mullion profiles, wherein the barrier is adapted to divert this water to a said transom profile, wherein the transom profiles are adapted to drain this water to the exterior of the curtain wall. 
     Here, the exterior of the curtain wall is the side exposed to atmospheric influences. 
     The advantage is that the mullion profiles do not need to be equipped with water drainage openings, but that any infiltration water in the curtain wall can be evacuated for each facade plane separately, as opposed to traditional curtain walls, where infiltration water is collected and drained across multiple facade planes. 
     This also results in a vertical and horizontal sealing of the mullion profiles for each panel, so that any possible water leak can be assigned with certainty to a problem with respect to the placement of that particular panel or the mullion profiles or transom profiles around that particular panel and finding and solving a problem is thus much easier. 
     While in the traditional curtain walls water is led from the transom profiles to the mullion profiles and drained from there, the curtain wall according to the invention is designed to guide water from each panel separately from the mullion profiles to the transom profiles and to drain the water therefrom. 
     Preferably, the grooves are rectangular in shape in horizontal cross-section, their access opening not taken into account. This makes it easier to fit the shape of the groove to the shape of a waterproofing barrier to ensure good waterproofing and to easily install such barriers along with the transom profiles. 
     Preferably, the transom profiles are designed to drain said water to the outside of the curtain wall because the transom profiles, or a different profile attached to the transom profiles, such as for example glazing beads, are equipped with water drainage openings on the outside, wherein these drainage openings are located at a distance from the mullion profiles. Preferably this distance is between 10 and 300 mm. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the transom profiles are designed in such a way that the section of the transom profiles to which said water is diverted, is positioned horizontally or slanting to the outside, wherein the transom profiles comprise a sub-profile made in one piece; the sub-profile being part of said section to which said water is diverted and wherein the sub-profile is provided with an upright edge on the inside of said section. 
     The section is made of a single piece of aluminium and is therefore waterproof. Thanks to the upright edge, inward leakage is prevented, even if a small amount of water should come onto the transom profiles, as long as this amount does not rise above the edge. 
     In a still another preferred embodiment, the barriers are formed by pre-assembled flexible plastic or rubber sealing pieces, wherein the sealing pieces are placed on ends of the transom profiles prior to the installation and wherein the shapes of the mullion profiles and the sealing pieces are adapted to each other to achieve a watertight connection between the transom profiles and the mullion profiles at the locations of the aforementioned attachment points. 
     Such sealing pieces are a practical way of obtaining such a barrier, are durable over time and can accommodate any possible small movement of the curtain wall. 
     The pre-assembled sealing pieces are thereby slid close-fittingly over the ends of the transom profiles, each sealing piece fit sealingly in an aforementioned undercut groove of two opposing mullions and thus forming a seal between the ends of the transom profiles and the corresponding mullion profiles. 
     In this manner, the play between the mullion profiles and the ends of the transom profiles can be sealed watertight. Indeed, such play must be inherently present to accommodate the inevitable shrinkage and expansion of the transom profiles. 
     Due to the pre-assembled fitting sealing pieces, the connection between the mullion profiles and the transom profiles is automatically achieved when mounting the transom profiles between the mullions without requiring any additional actions. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the sealing pieces are provided with a deformable hollow chamber to facilitate the placement of the transom profiles onto which such sealing pieces are mounted. 
     Thanks to this deformable chamber, the sealing pieces can be deformed during the installation, facilitating the installation given the small space available in the grooves of the mullion profiles to allow rotation of the sealing profiles in these grooves when mounting the transoms between the mullions, and the fact that the sealing pieces must be able to fill the width of these grooves after assembly to ensure the necessary sealing. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, a sealing piece is provided at each of the two ends of the transom profiles, wherein at least one, and preferably exactly one, of the sealing pieces of a transom profile is slidable on the transom profile in the profile direction of this transom profile, preferably over a distance of at least 1 and up to 12 mm, in order to accommodate small movements. 
     Under the influence of the wind and over time, small deformities can occur in the curtain wall. In order to ensure that these do not lead to high stress, which could lead to a breakage, said slideability is desirable. 
     Consequently, unavoidable differences in length of the transom profiles can be accommodated without compromising the waterproofness of the sealing pieces between the mullions and the transoms. 
     Preferably, the sealing pieces comprise a flat end wall that is perpendicular to the profile direction of the transom profiles, wherein the end wall is completely closed is in the profile direction of the transom profiles and the end wall is resting against a mullion profile, so that the ends of the transom profiles are fully encased in the sealing pieces. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the sealing pieces comprise a flat end wall that is perpendicular to the profile direction of the transom profiles, wherein the end wall is completely closed in the profile direction of the transom profiles and the end wall is resting against a mullion profile, more specifically the bottom of a groove of a mullion profile. 
     This prevents any possible infiltration water from flowing past the sealing pieces and seeping downwards. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the mullion profiles and the transom profiles define rectangular openings, wherein one or more panels are positioned in said openings thus closing these openings, wherein the one or more panels are secured by means of first glazing beads attached to the aforementioned mullion profile by means of first attachment aids, wherein the first attachment aids and the mullion profiles are configured to secure the first attachment aids, preferably by snapping them into place, to a said mullion profile, wherein the first attachment aids and the first glazing beads are adapted to secure the first glazing beads to the first attachment aids. 
     In this way, first glazing beads can be easily attached simply by snapping them into place. This allows the panels to be fitted from the inside. 
     This also allows greater freedom in the design of the mullion profiles, because the placement possibility for first glazing beads is already provided. The first attachment aids can already be installed prior to a panel, while a glazing bead can only be installed later, thus limiting the connection possibilities of a glazing bead directly to a mullion profile. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the first attachment aids are made of plastic and the first glazing beads are made of aluminium. 
     Thanks to plastic first attachment aids, costs can be saved on the relatively expensive aluminium. 
     In a further preferred embodiment, the first attachment aids and the aforementioned mullion profiles are designed to snap the first attachment aids into a said mullion profile in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel in question, wherein the first attachment aids and the first glazing beads are adapted to snap the first glazing beads into the first attachment aids in a direction parallel to the plane of the respective panel. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the first attachment aids are profiles extending over only a portion of the length of the first glazing beads. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the first glazing beads are each secured to a mullion profile by a minimum of two first attachment aids that are placed some distance apart. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the one or more of the aforementioned mullion profiles and the first glazing beads are designed in such a way that the first glazing beads rest, with their side facing away from the respective panel, against the mullion profile. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the one or more panels are secured by means of second glazing beads, that are attached to an aforementioned transom profile by means of the second attachment aids, wherein the second attachment aids and one or more of said transom profiles are adapted to attach the second attachment aids to the transom profile, wherein the second attachment aids and the second glazing beads are adapted to snap the second glazing beads into the second attachment aids. 
     The advantages mentioned with reference to the first glazing beads and the mullion profiles are therefore also applicable to the transom profiles and the second glazing beads. 
     The invention also relates to a set for the construction of a curtain wall, wherein the set comprises two or more mullion profiles and two or more transom profiles, wherein the mullion profiles have an outer side, an inner side and two sides, wherein the mullion profiles are provided on each side with a groove in order to receive the side edge of a panel, wherein the grooves have an access opening, wherein the access opening has a horizontal first dimension, wherein the transom profiles have a horizontal second dimension perpendicular to the profile direction of the transom profiles, wherein the second dimension is larger than the first dimension, wherein the transom profiles have a third maximum dimension in a non-horizontal direction at right angles to the profile direction, wherein the third dimension is smaller than the first dimension and wherein the transom profiles ( 14 ) are provided with an undercut groove ( 30 ) that extends in the profile direction and a rod ( 32 ) inserted in the undercut groove ( 30 ) and wherein the mullion profiles ( 5 ) are provided with a second groove ( 13 ) for receiving an end of said rod ( 32 ) projecting out from the undercut groove ( 30 ), thereby blocking any rotational movement of the transom profiles ( 14 ). 
     Such a set can easily be assembled into a curtain wall, with similar advantages as described above. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the set also includes a tool with a head and a lever attached to the head, wherein the shape of the head is complementary to the shape of the transom profile so that the head can be closely fitted onto the transom profile. 
     Here, the lever is attached to the head in such a way that when the head is fit onto the transom profile, the lever is a lever in a direction at right angles to the profile direction of the transom profile so that, thanks to the lever, a rotational force can be applied to the transom profile. 
     The invention further relates to a construction method for a curtain wall, in which mullion profiles are placed vertically, in which then between a pair of adjacent mullion profiles a transom profile is placed horizontally with one side of the transom profile projecting upwards, wherein this transom profile is placed by sequencing the next steps: 
     Step A) the transom profile is held in the vertical plane defined by the mullion profiles in a non-horizontal orientation and rotated relative to the desired end orientation of the transom profile on an axis parallel to the profile direction of the transom profile; 
     Step B) the transom profile is brought to a horizontal orientation in the vertical plane defined by the mullion profiles; 
     Step C) the transom profile is rotated to the desired end orientation on said axis while the transom profile remains in a horizontal orientation; 
     Step D) blocking the rotation of the transom profile around said axis by shifting a rod ( 32 ) in the undercut groove ( 30 ) of the transom profile ( 14 ) into a second groove ( 13 ) of a mullion profile ( 5 ). 
     The final orientation of the transom profile, that is to say, which side should be on top, is imposed externally on the invention and follows from the curtain wall design. 
     In a preferred variant, in step C, the transom profile is snapped into recesses, provided into the mullion profiles for this purpose. 
     In a preferred variant, in step C, a tool is used with a head and a lever attached to the head, wherein the shape of the head is complementary to the shape of the transom profile, wherein the head is fitted onto the transom profile and wherein via the lever a rotational force can be applied to the transom profile. 
     Above, references to orientations such as horizontal, vertical, inside, outside, side, etc. are considered as orientations in the assembled state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a preferred configuration according to the present invention is described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  schematically represents an outer view of a curtain wall according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  schematically represent a cross-sectional view of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  taken along line II-II, in which parts are omitted for clarity&#39;s sake in both figures; 
         FIG. 4  schematically represents a cross-section of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  along line IV-IV; 
         FIG. 5  schematically represents a cross-section of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  along line V-V; 
         FIG. 6  schematically represents a part of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  and shows a step in the manufacturing procedure of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  schematically represents the result of the step of  FIG. 6  in a view according to F 7 ; 
         FIG. 8  schematically represents a part of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  and shows a step in the manufacturing process of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  schematically show parts of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  in perspective; 
         FIG. 11  schematically shows a next step in the manufacturing process of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1  in perspective; 
         FIG. 12  schematically represents in cross-section analogous to  FIG. 5  a next step in the manufacturing process of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  schematically represent in side view, and top view respectively, a next step in the manufacturing procedure of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIGS. 15 and 16 , schematically represent in side view, and top view respectively, a next step in the manufacturing procedure of the curtain wall of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The curtain wall  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5  consists of a structure of vertical mullions  2  between which horizontal transoms  3  are attached. In the openings formed by the mullions  2  and the transoms  3 , panels are placed, in this example, but not necessarily, glass panels  4 , which are seated with their edges in the mullions  2  and the transoms  3 . 
     The mullions  2  are formed by mullion profiles  5  with a width B 1  of 56 mm. The mullion profiles  5  are shown separately in a cross-sectional view in  FIG. 6 . 
     The vertical mullion profiles  5  consist of four sub-profiles, namely an aluminium tubular sub-profile  6  on the inside, an aluminium sub-profile  7  on the outside and two plastic insulation profiles  8 . These four sub-profiles  6 ,  7 ,  8  are assembled into a monolithic entity by means of rolling, i.e. mechanical deformation of lips on the aluminium sub-profiles  6 ,  7  to clamp the plastic profiles  8 . 
     The mullion profiles  5  have a lateral undercut groove on both sides, namely a deep lateral groove  9  on one side, in  FIGS. 2 and 3  on the right side, and a shallow groove  10  on the other side. The deep lateral groove  9  has a depth D 1  of 28 mm, and the shallow lateral groove  9  has a depth D 2  of 14 mm. 
     Both grooves  9  and  10  serve as a rabbet  11  for the side edges of the panels  4 . The access opening  12  of the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  has a horizontal dimension, which is 54 mm wide. The maximum horizontal dimension A 2  of the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  is approximately 76 mm. 
     The sub-profiles  6 ,  7  and  8  of the mullion profiles  5  are inseparably connected to each other, which means that they cannot be uncoupled from each other without causing irreversible damage. This means that the grooves  9  and  10  cannot be opened without damage and thus that the width A 1  of the access opening  12  is a fixed size. At the bottom 9′ and 10′ of the two lateral grooves  9 ,  10  a narrow second groove  13  is provided. 
     The transoms  3  are mainly formed by transom profiles  14  onto which an aluminium glazing beads  15  are attached to the outside of the curtain wall  1 . The transom profiles  14  are shown separately in a cross-sectional view in  FIG. 8 . 
     The transom profiles  14  are Z-shaped profiles, having a first vertical leg  16  on the inside, a second vertical leg  17  on the outside and a section  18  between both legs  16 ,  17 . 
     The transom profiles  14  have a total height H 1  of 56 mm and a horizontal dimension A 3  of 64 mm. 
     It is important to note that in a slanting direction, deviating approximately 60° from the horizontal direction, the transom profiles  14  have a much smaller dimension A 4  of about 34 mm as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The transom profiles  14  consist of three sub-profiles, namely an aluminium inner sub-profile  19 , a portion of which forms the first leg  16 , an aluminium outer sub-profile  20 , a portion of which forms the second leg  17  and a plastic insulation profile  22 . These three sub-profiles  19 ,  20 ,  22  are firmly attached to each other by means of rolling, i.e. mechanical deformation of lips on the aluminium sub-profiles  19 ,  20  in order to clamp the plastic profiles  22 . 
     The inner and outer section profiles  19 ,  20  are each provided with an internal chamber  23 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the glazing beads  15  are provided with clipping parts  21  or other fastenings in order to attach them to the transom profiles  14 , for example against the vertical leg  17  on the outside of the curtain wall  1 . 
     As is particularly apparent from  FIG. 5 , the glazing beads  15  are provided with water drainage openings  24  at a small distance from the mullion profiles  5 . Such drainage openings  24  may additionally also be provided in one or more other locations in the glazing beads  15 . This depends on the length of the transoms  3 . 
     The transom profiles  14  are attached to the mullion profiles  5  because parts of the transom profiles  14 , and more specifically the first and second legs  16 ,  17 , rest in the recesses  25  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11  in the walls  26  of the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  of the mullion profiles  5  and are vertically supported by the bottom edge  27  of these recesses  25 . How this is achieved will be explained later. 
     At the ends of the transom profiles  14 , sealing pieces  28 ,  29  are provided that are made of rubber with a Shore hardness of 75. These sealing pieces  28 ,  29  fit exactly into the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  of the mullion profiles  5  and seal these grooves  9 ,  10  off in the vertical direction to prevent possible infiltration water coming into grooves  9  and  10  and constitute as such a vertical barrier, so that the water cannot possibly pass through to an underlying module—the so-called waterfall principle or cascade drain, but possible infiltrated water is individually drained from each panel (or facade plane) separately. 
     The transom profiles  14  are preferably equipped to drain this water to the outside of the curtain wall  1 , with the upper side of the transom profile  14  slanting downwards to the outside of the curtain wall  1 , for example. 
     The raised leg  16  on the inside of the curtain wall prevents water from infiltrating to the inside. 
     Details of these sealing pieces  28 ,  29  and the manner in which they are attached to the transom profiles  14  will be addressed later. These sealing pieces  28  and  29  are shown in  FIGS. 3, 9 and 10  and are preferably manufactured in a single piece by injection moulding or the like. 
     In order to secure the attachment of the transom profiles  14  to the mullion profiles  5 , the transom profiles  14  on the inside of the second leg  17  are provided with an undercut groove  30 . At one or both ends of this undercut groove  30  is a rod, in this example an aluminium slat  32  mounted in the groove  30  so that it can be slid in the groove. When mounted, the slat  32  extends beyond the undercut groove  30  with a protruding end, said end is fitted in a second groove  13  of the mullion profiles  5  and acts as a lock. 
     Due to the fact that the groove  30  and the slat  32  are located on the inside of the outer vertical leg  17  of a transom profile  14 , the transom profile  14 , in its end position, can be locked from the inside during the construction of the curtain wall  1  by sliding slat  32  from a groove  30  into a groove  13  of a mullion profile  5 . 
     The side edges  33  of the glass panels  4  are secured in the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  of the mullion profiles  5  by being fitted between the outer profile  7  of the mullion profiles  5  and the vertical glazing beads  34  on the inside of curtain wall  1 . In this setup, rubber gaskets are placed between the outer profile  7  and the glass panels  4 , and between the vertical glazing beads  34  and the glass panels. 
     Glazing beads are profiles made out of a rigid material and which serve with the aid of a gasket to accommodate the play between the thickness of the panels  4  and the width A 1  of the rabbet  11  or rather: to accommodate the differences in thickness between thicker or thinner panels. These glazing beads have a width that has to be adjusted to the thickness of the panels that are to be installed. 
     The vertical glazing beads  34  are attached to the mullion profiles  5  by means of first attachment aids  36 , used in two variants, namely a first variant  36 A for use in the deep lateral groove  9  and a second variant  36 B for use in the shallow lateral groove  10 . 
     These first attachment aids  36  are PVC profiles with a profile length of approximately 3 cm. At a distance of approximately 60 cm, they are snapped onto the mullion profiles  5  and the vertical glazing beads  34  are in turn snapped onto the first attachment aids  36 . 
     The glazing beads  15  protrude to a certain height above the section  18  of the transom profiles  14  and together with the upwardly directed leg  16  of the transom profiles  14 , they form a rabbet  37  for the lower edge  39  of an upper glass panel  4 . 
     The lower edge  39  of the glass panels  4  is supported by glass supports  40  that are attached to the first leg  16  of the transom profiles  14 , near the mullion profiles  5 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The lower edge  39  of the glass panels  4  is fitted between the glazing beads  15  on the outside of the curtain wall  1  and a horizontal glazing bead  42  on the inside. There are rubber gaskets  35  inserted between the glazing beads  15  and the glass panels  4  and between the horizontal glazing beads  42  and the glass panels  4 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The horizontal glazing beads  42  are attached to the transom profile  14  by means of second attachment aids on the inside of the curtain wall  1  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     These second attachment aids  43  are PVC profiles with a profile length of approximately 3 cm. They are attached to the transom profiles  14  at intervals of about 60 cm and the horizontal glazing beads  42  are snapped onto the second attachment aids  43 . 
     The upper edge  44  of the glass panels  4  is fitted between the glazing beads  15  on the outside of the curtain wall  1  and another horizontal glazing bead  45  on the inside which is provided with a rubber gasket  35  and which is snapped directly onto the transom profile  14 . 
     It is noted that in some figures parts have been omitted to make other parts more visible. This is especially true of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , where in  FIG. 2  mainly the sealing pieces  28 ,  29  and the ends of the transom profiles  14  are omitted, and in  FIG. 3 , mainly the glass panels  4 , the vertical glazing beads  34  and the first attachment aids  36  for the vertical glazing beads  34  are omitted. 
     The manufacture and construction of the curtain wall  1  as described above is as follows. 
     First, the mullion profiles  5  and transom profiles  14  are prepared. At the positions where the transom profiles  14  are to be connected to the mullion profiles, the mullion profiles are provided with recesses  25 , especially in the walls  26  defining the access opening  12  of the lateral grooves  9 ,  10 . This is shown by means of shading in  FIG. 6 , which indicates where material of the mullion profiles  5  is removed, for example by milling. The obtained result is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The transom profiles  14  are also prepared. At their ends, a part of the transom profile  14  is milled for a length of about 11 mm. Shading indicates this part in  FIG. 8 . 
     These steps are normally, but not necessarily, automated and performed in a specialized workshop before the profiles  5 , 14  are transported to the location where the curtain wall  1  is to be built. 
     Next, the required glass supports  40  and second attachment aids  43  are provided in a groove routed for this purpose in the first leg  16 . 
     Subsequently, sealing pieces  28 ,  29  are slid on the ends. These are shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and exist in two variants, i.e. a first variant  28  as shown in  FIG. 9 , to be placed on the end of a transom profile intended to be fitted into the shallow lateral groove  10  of the mullion profiles  5  and a second variant  29 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , to be placed on the end of a transom profile  14  intended to be fitted in the deep lateral groove  9  of the mullion profiles  5 . 
     The pre-assembled sealing pieces  28 ,  29  attached to the transoms both have an upper surface  46  formed from planes slanting to a lowest point  47  away from the bottom 9′ or 10′, respectively of the grooves  9  and  10  in which the sealing pieces  28 ,  29  are fitted. Also, both sealing pieces  28 ,  29  have a recess  48  for receiving the ends of the transom profiles  14  with two ridges  49  with corresponding positions and formats relative to the chambers  23  in the transom profiles  14 . 
     These recesses  48  do not fully extend through the sealing pieces  28 ,  29 . The walls  51  perpendicular to the transom profiles  14 , i.e. the rear walls in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , are completely closed. The sealing pieces  28 ,  29  sealingly fit with these walls  51  against the bottom 9′ and 10′ of a groove  9  or  10  in which they have been mounted. 
     In top view, the sealing pieces  28 ,  29  are sized to fit precisely in the lateral grooves  9 ,  10 . 
     Both sealing pieces  28 ,  29  are also provided with air chambers  50 , wherein at the position of the air chambers  50 , the outer wall is relatively thin so that the air chambers  50  are deformable. 
     The sealing pieces  28  according to the first variant are fixed permanently onto the transom profiles  14 , for example by means of glue. The sealing pieces  29  of the second variant are slid onto the transom profiles  14  and are not secured further onto the transom profiles  14 . 
     Then a previously mentioned aluminium slat  32  is fitted into the undercut groove  30  of the second leg  17  at both ends of the transom profiles  14 . 
     Next, the mullion profiles  5  are mounted in their desired position. 
     Hereafter, the transom profiles  14 , in an orientation in which they are rotated about 60° on their longitudinal axis and in which they are not horizontal, are held in the plane defined by the mullion profiles  14 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The transom profiles  14  are now brought to a horizontal orientation, as indicated by arrow P, with the ends being inserted into the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  of the mullion profiles  5 . Due to the direction of rotation of the transom profiles  14 , rotated around their profile direction, these ends easily fit in the access openings  12  of these lateral grooves  9 ,  10 . 
     Then the transom profiles  14  are moved downwardly until they are in their desired position, i.e. at the recesses  25  in the mullion profiles  5 . Then the transom profiles  14  are rotated as indicated by arrow Q. The situation as shown in  FIG. 12  is now reached. 
     The transom profiles  14  need to be rotated even further, starting from the situation as shown in  FIG. 12 . Because this requires relatively much force, preferably a tool  52  is used. This is a tool  52  with a head  53  with a partially complementary shape to the transom profile  14  and a lever  54  attached to the head  53 . The lever  54  of the tool  52  is moved in the direction of arrow Q until the transom profile  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , is positioned in its end orientation in the recesses  25 . 
     The sealing pieces  28 ,  29 , more specifically their air chambers  50 , deform considerably during this operation, but resume their original shape when the transom profile  14  is in its final orientation. The sealing pieces  28 ,  29  hereby completely close the lateral grooves  9 ,  10  in the vertical direction. 
     Next, the glazing beads  15  are attached with the gaskets  35  to the sub-profile  20  of the transom profiles  14  on the outside of the curtain wall. This can easily be done from the inside of the curtain wall using the clips  21 . 
     The glass supports  40  are pushed into their desired place, i.e. about 20 mm from the mullion profiles  5 , and second attachment aids  43  are shifted until they are spread out over the length of the transom profiles  14 , and the first attachment aids  36  for the vertical glazing beads  34  are snapped into their place as shown schematically in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . 
     The glazing beads are already provided with rubber gaskets  35  and neoprene blocks  55  are glued onto the glass supports  46 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The slats  32  in the undercut grooves are pushed outwardly until they slide with an end into the second groove  13 . They are then fixed in that position, for example with a little glue or by a screw. The transom profiles  14  can now no longer separate from the mullion profiles  5 . 
     The construction can now be provided with glass panels  4 . 
     First, a wooden block  56  with a recess  57  for the first leg  16  is temporarily placed over the first leg  16 . On top of this a glass panel  4  is placed in a slanted orientation. This is illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . The side edge  33  of the glass panel  4  that fits in the deep lateral groove  9  is now shuffled into this lateral groove  9  as indicated by arrow R. 
     Next, the other side edge  33  is shuffled along the opposite mullion section  5  as indicated by arrow S. To this end, the depth D 1  of the groove  9  must be sufficient to shuffle the glass panel  4  sufficiently deep into this groove  9  with a pivotal movement of the glass panel  4  towards the shallow groove  10  and to then shuffle the glass panel  4  to the right, so that the glass panel  4  fits with both side edges  33  about 10 mm into a groove  9  or  10 . 
     Then the glass panel  4  is centered so that it fits approximately 10 mm into both lateral grooves  9 ,  10  and then it is lowered onto the neoprene blocks  55 . The wooden block  56  can now be removed. 
     Next, the horizontal and vertical glazing beads  34 ,  42 , and their gaskets  35  can be applied. The glazing beads  34 ,  42 ,  45  can simply be snapped into place along the inside of the curtain wall  1 . At the upper horizontal glazing bead  45 , this is done directly onto the transom profile  14 . The lower horizontal glazing bead  42  is snapped onto the second attachment aids  43  and through this onto the transom profile  14 . The vertical glazing beads  34  are snapped onto the first attachment aids  36  and through this onto the mullion profile  4 . 
     Now the final curtain wall  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , is built. 
     It is noted that, outside of the parts where the glass supports  40  are attached and located just next to the mullion profiles  5 , the transom profiles  14  have no bearing function for the glass panels  4 . 
     If water reaches the horizontal gaskets  35  on the outside, this water is diverted to the outside through the drainage openings  24  into the glazing beads  15  as shown in  FIG. 5 . If water gets to the vertical gaskets  35  into the lateral grooves  9 ,  10 , it is diverted via the upper surfaces  46  of the sealing pieces  28  and  29  to the transom profiles  14  and from there it is drained to the outside via the drain openings  24  in the glazing beads  15 . 
     If wind or other causes engender slight deformations of the curtain wall  1 , the transom profiles  14  can slide a few millimetres into the sealing pieces  29  according to the second variant, which causes less stress to the curtain wall  1 . Movements and deformation can also be absorbed by rubber sealing pieces  28  and  29  without jeopardizing the waterproofness of the curtain wall  1 . 
     Although the construction method described above is done from the inside, it is also possible from the outside, although an installation from the inside usually has advantages. 
     The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a curtain wall according to the invention can be realized in all kinds of variants, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.