Patent Description:
Lateral cab and body side windows for high capacity means of transportation, for instance, buses, trains, and metro are designed for services in a wide range of environmental and operational conditions. Generally, such windows use a glazing, either a single pane laminated safety glass unit (LGU) or a double pane insulated glazing unit (IGU) connected to the main structural vehicle body by a metallic frame.

<CIT> relates to a window mounting structure between a window frame and a window in the field of rail vehicles. The window mounting structure includes a window mounting member, the window frame, a vehicle body and a mounting recess there between. At least a portion of the window mounting member is arranged within the mounting recess. The window mounting member or form mount has a first locating recess for insertion of the window such that the window is mounted to the window frame. The window mounting member has a clamping recess and it includes a filler member in the clamping recess to allow the window mount to clamp the window on the vehicle body.

<CIT> describes a vehicle body that has a window opening defined by a peripheral pinchweld flange including at spaced locations therealong, a plurality of circular openings or slots. The window opening is closed by a modular rear quarter window assembly of the type having a glass window panel <NUM> which has a molded frame <NUM> formed around its peripheral edge. A rigid push pin of metal fits snugly, but movably, within a corresponding passage of the molded frame.

<CIT> describes a known window construction provided with two glass panes in a sash frame. <CIT> mentions a glass window for a vehicle which has a plastic guard window being replaceable.

The metallic frame of the glazing is replaced increasingly by an extruded circumferential structural gasket that has structural properties in order to withstand defined static and dynamic loads caused by the operating conditions like, for instance, aerodynamic pressures, inertial forces due to acceleration or impacts/crashes, human loads and different combination of the mentioned actions in the spatial directions.

The structural gasket presents significant advantages towards traditional solutions based on metallic frames coupling glazing and body structure. The main advantages of the structured gasket made of polymeric material are, for instance, the elimination of heavy and expensive parts like the metallic frame itself.

The main problem of the structural gasket is related to the need of structural consistency of the gasket in transferring of comparable mechanical stress and loads from the glazing to the vehicle body structure and vice versa.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a window assembly avoiding the above mentioned problem, particularly, avoiding heavy and stiff structural gaskets in case of increased operational loads on windows.

This object is solved by the window assembly of the invention as mentioned in claim <NUM>. Accordingly, the window assembly or window of the invention used, for instance, in a vehicle or building or, for instance, in a train or a car, particularly a side window for a high-speed passenger-train or a metro-train, comprises a glazing with one or more panes made of glass, plastic, and/or ceramic material, a window opening provided in a body of, for instance, a vehicle or building, a frame like gasket provided between the glazing and the body and holding the glazing on the body within the window opening and at least one insert for reinforcing the gasket.

The remarkable advantage of the invention is that, by using the reinforcing insert or inserts, the usual gaskets could be used even in the case of higher operational loads and stresses on the window.

Further, since otherwise gaskets with increased stiffness would be required to withstand increased loads, the thicker and stiffer profiles of the gasket would not fit properly the curvature of the edge corners of the window. The heavy profiles of gasket could require often that these curved segments of the profiles have to be manufactured separately by injection and/or compression moulding processes resulting in a more complex and expansive gasket and window solution. Also these problems are avoided by the invention since the inserts enable to use small and sufficiently elastic profiles even in the case of higher operational loads.

Further remarkable advantages of the window assembly of the present invention due to the inserts are lower weight than with standard solution, easier assembly and maintenance of the system glazing/gasket on the vehicle's body, better fitting on the subcomponents with improvement of the water tightness of the system and less design constraint due to a lighter profile of the gasket that is more elastic and, therefore, can fit better the curvature of the glazing, improved overall mechanical strength and fatigue performances.

The window assembly of the invention provides a gasket holding the glazing on the body by receiving an opening edge face, faces or edge of the body of the vehicle or building and an glazing edge face, faces or edge of the glazing whereby at least one insert extends in the gasket to ensure a strong reinforcement of the gasket and, thus, also a reinforced mounting of the glazing on the body.

The gasket of the invention has a gasket recess for accommodating and holding the glazing edge face or edge of the glazing to ensure the mounting of the glazing on the body together with the required water tightness of the window assembly.

The window assembly of the invention provides an even gasket bottom of the gasket, wherein a flanged head of each of the inserts extending between the glazing edge face of the glazing and the gasket bottom of the gasket to ensure the mounting of the insert(s) on the gasket.

The window assembly of the invention may have several inserts, pins or screws arranged along a perimeter or circumference of the gasket for improving the mechanical resistivity of the window assembly against increased mechanical loads effecting on the window assembly.

The inserts or structural elements of the invention can be inserted with constant or variable step along the whole perimeter or alternatively on a specific zone of the glazing and/or the body of a vehicle or building, in order to be able to adapt the window assembly to the mechanical load acting on the window, particularly in the case of an uneven distribution of the mechanical loads acting on the window.

The window assembly of the invention can comprise a circumferential body recess of the body of, for instance, a car or train, which is provided between parallel walls of the body, and an engaging portion of the gasket that extends between the walls within the body recess. The insert or the inserts then extend within the engaging portion of the gasket to provide an increased force for mounting the glazing on the body.

Preferably, in the invention, an equalising layer or tape that can be adhesive is arranged between the glazing edge face and the flanged head of the insert to avoid any movement of the insert(s), for instance, in case of vibrations.

The window assembly of the invention can have a lining layer, a lining tape or washer which is arranged between the flanged head of the insert(s) and the gasket bottom of the gasket recess to ensure a stable seat of the inserts on the gasket for reinforcing the gasket.

Preferably, the window assembly of the invention provides an insert extending in a corresponding bore or hole of the gasket which is provided between the gasket bottom of the gasket recess and the engaging portion of the gasket to ensure a stable seat of the insert in the gasket for reinforcing thereof.

The insert can have a tapered end portion extending in or fitting in a cavity or hollow space of the engaging portion of the gasket, whereby the cavity can be tapered correspondingly to the tapered end portion of the insert to provide a secured seat of the insert in the engaging portion of the gasket.

Preferably, the circumferential gasket of the window assembly of the invention comprises an inner wall portion or inner web, an outer wall portion or outer web, and a middle portion, wherein the inner wall portion extends from an inner surface of the inner pane of the glazing to an inner body surface of the body, the outer wall portion of the gasket extends from an outer surface of the outer pane of the glazing to an outer body surface of the body and wherein the middle portion extends between the gasket bottom of the gasket and the opening edge face of the body and between the outer and inner wall portions of the gasket. This gasket provides a secure watertight seat of the glazing on the body.

The window assembly of the invention can provide a bore or hole in the lining layer and a corresponding bore or hole in the middle portion from the gasket bottom of the gasket recess to the engaging portion of the gasket between the walls of the body, whereby the respective insert extends in the bore of the lining layer and in the corresponding bore of the middle portion of the gasket to ensure a secure seat of the insert in the gasket and, accordingly, a corresponding reinforcement of the gasket.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the dependent claims <NUM> to <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments and advantages of the invention could also be derived from the following description of exemplified and preferred embodiments in connection with the drawings:.

<FIG> shows a schematic section part-view of a window assembly <NUM> according to a preferred and exemplified embodiment of the invention wherein the window assembly <NUM> is shown in the assembled state with a glazing <NUM> mounted in a gasket <NUM> that extends on an opening edge face <NUM> or edge of a body <NUM>, for instance, of a vehicle defining a window opening <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The window assembly <NUM> could be used, for instance, as a side window of a high-speed passenger train.

The glazing <NUM> of the window assembly <NUM> comprises two glass panes <NUM>, <NUM> arranged parallel and a circumferential glazing edge face <NUM> or edge. The glazing <NUM> is arranged within the window opening <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The glazing <NUM> of the window assembly <NUM> may be an insulating glazing comprising, for instance, two usually transparent glass panes, an outer glass pane <NUM> and an inner glass pane <NUM>. Accordingly, the glazing <NUM> is a double pane insulated glazing unit (IGU) coupled to and mounted on the main structural body <NUM> by the gasket <NUM>. The outer and inner glass panes <NUM> and <NUM> are separated by a dehydrated gas gap <NUM> enclosing, for instance, air or a special inert gas. The glass panes <NUM> and <NUM> can be made of monolithic tempered glass or laminated safety glass. A circumferential spacer <NUM> is arranged and glued in between the inner and outer glass panes <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, a circumferential sealant <NUM> is arranged between the outer and inner glass panes <NUM> and <NUM>. The sealant <NUM> is flush to the outer and inner glass panes <NUM> and <NUM> at the glazing edge face <NUM> of the glazing <NUM>. The outer glass pane <NUM> or the glazing <NUM> has an outer surface <NUM> directed to an outside of the corresponding vehicle or building. The inner glass pane <NUM> or the glazing <NUM> has an inner surface <NUM> directed to an inside of the corresponding vehicle or building.

The opening edge face <NUM> of the body <NUM> is profiled and comprises a circumferential body recess <NUM> or holding fixture. The body recess <NUM> is defined by an outer wall <NUM> and an inner wall <NUM> extending in parallel wherein the outer wall <NUM> or the body <NUM> has an outer body surface <NUM> directed to an environment of the vehicle or building and the inner wall <NUM> of the body <NUM> has an inner body surface <NUM> directed to an inside of the vehicle or building. The walls <NUM> and <NUM> are flush to the opening edge face <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The window assembly <NUM> provides at least one insert <NUM> or several structural elements or inserts <NUM> in the form of preferably rotational symmetrical pins or screws for reinforcing the gasket <NUM>, wherein the respective insert <NUM> extends substantially in the gasket <NUM>. Each insert <NUM> comprises a flanged head <NUM>, a cylindrical portion <NUM>, and a tapered end portion <NUM> wherein the cylindrical portion <NUM> extends between the flanged head <NUM> and the tapered end portion <NUM>. The cylindrical portion <NUM> of the insert <NUM> or screw can be threaded to withstand increased loading conditions. If the cylindrical portion <NUM> is threaded, the insert <NUM> can have a bushing fixed to a lining layer <NUM>. The insert <NUM> or inserts are made of composite materials, polymeric or plastic materials and/or preferably metallic materials, for instance, aluminum or stainless steel.

Further, the window assembly <NUM> of <FIG> comprises a circumferential frame like structural gasket <NUM> provided between the glazing <NUM> and the opening edge face <NUM> or edge of the body <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> couples the glazing <NUM> to the body <NUM> and it holds the glazing <NUM> within the window opening <NUM> on the body <NUM> by holding the opening edge face <NUM> or edge of the body <NUM> and the glazing edge face <NUM> or edge of the glazing <NUM>.

The structural gasket <NUM> is a separate element made by extrusion or compression molding using polymeric material. The structural gasket <NUM> is duly fitted to the glazing <NUM> and to the body <NUM>. The structural gasket <NUM> can be symmetrical or unsymmetrical in section.

The other function of the perimetral structural gasket <NUM> is to guarantee water tigtheness of the window assembly <NUM> in the operational conditions and last but not least it provides the usual mandatory requirement of fire/smoke opacity and toxicity compliance, for instance, according to EN <NUM>.

The circumferential frame like structural gasket <NUM> of the window assembly <NUM> comprises a circumferential gasket recess <NUM> for accommodating and holding the corresponding circumferential glazing edge face <NUM> or edge of the glazing <NUM> wherein the glazing edge face <NUM> extends within the gasket recess <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The gasket recess <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> provides a circumferential gasket bottom <NUM> that is opposed to the glazing edge face <NUM> or faces of the glazing <NUM>.

The gasket <NUM> is made of a polymeric extruded or compression moulded material and it comprises structural elastic properties in order to withstand defined static and dynamic loads on the window assembly <NUM> or window caused by the operating conditions like, for instance, aerodynamic uniformly distributed pressures up to 3kPa, inertial forces due to acceleration or impacts/crashes up to <NUM>, human loads and different combination of the mentioned actions in the spatial directions.

Further, the gasket <NUM> of the window assembly <NUM> according to the invention of <FIG> comprises a circumferential inner wall portion <NUM> or inner web, a circumferential outer wall portion <NUM> or outer web, and a middle portion <NUM>. The inner wall portion <NUM> extends from an inner surface <NUM> of the inner pane <NUM> of the insulating glazing <NUM> to the inner body surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> and presses against these surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The outer wall portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> extends from the outer surface <NUM> of the outer pane <NUM> of the insulating glazing <NUM> to the outer body surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> and it presses against these surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The middle portion <NUM> extends between the gasket bottom <NUM> of the gasket recess <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> and the opening edge face <NUM> of the body <NUM> and between the inner and outer wall portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>.

The gasket <NUM> comprises an engaging portion <NUM> that extends between the walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the body <NUM> within the body recess <NUM> of the body <NUM> wherein the engaging portion <NUM> presses against inside surfaces of the walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The engaging portion <NUM> may comprise one or more tapered cavities <NUM>, three tapered cavities <NUM> are shown in the embodiment of <FIG>, surrounded by corresponding cavity walls <NUM>.

Further, the gasket <NUM> has a number of bores <NUM> corresponding to the number of inserts <NUM> or pins. Each of the bores <NUM> is provided through the middle portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> between the gasket bottom <NUM> of the gasket recess <NUM> and the engaging potion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. Accordingly, the inserts <NUM> or pins extend through the middle portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM> within the bores <NUM>. The inserts <NUM> extending within the engaging portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The tapered end portion <NUM> of the respective insert <NUM> extends in a correspondingly tapered circumferential cavity <NUM> or hollow space in the middle of the engaging portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The tapered end portion <NUM> or insert <NUM> may press against the cavity walls <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>.

An equalising layer <NUM> or tape is arranged between the glazing edge face <NUM> of the glazing <NUM> and the flanged head <NUM> of each of the inserts <NUM> or pins. The equalising layer <NUM> equalises a thickness of the flanged head <NUM> of the corresponding insert <NUM>. The equalising layer <NUM> may be adhesive. Further, a lining layer <NUM>, lining tape or washer is arranged between the flanged head <NUM> of each of the inserts <NUM> or pins and the gasket bottom <NUM> of the gasket recess <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The lining layer <NUM> may be polymeric and/or metallic. The lining layer <NUM> has through bores <NUM> or holes corresponding to the bores <NUM> of the middle portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. Each of the inserts <NUM> extending through the corresponding bores <NUM> and <NUM> into the engaging portion <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Window assembly (<NUM>) for a vehicle or building, particularly a side window for a high-speed passenger-train, comprising
a glazing (<NUM>) having one or more panes (<NUM>, <NUM>) made of glass, plastic, and/or ceramic material, a window opening (<NUM>) provided in a body (<NUM>) of the vehicle or building,
a frame like gasket (<NUM>) provided between the glazing (<NUM>) and the body (<NUM>) and holding the glazing (<NUM>) on the body (<NUM>) within the window opening (<NUM>),
at least one insert (<NUM>) or pin for reinforcing the gasket (<NUM>), wherein the gasket (<NUM>) comprises a gasket recess (<NUM>) for accommodating and holding a glazing edge face (<NUM>) or edge of the glazing (<NUM>),
wherein the gasket recess (<NUM>) of the gasket (<NUM>) provides a circumferential gasket bottom (<NUM>), characterized in that
the at least one insert or pin comprises a flanged head (<NUM>) extending between the glazing edge face (<NUM>) or edge and the gasket bottom (<NUM>) of the gasket recess (<NUM>).