Patent ID: 7134247

Claim:
A wall system, comprising: a plurality of panels supported vertically on a plurality of wall structural members, the panels each supporting a glass panel and comprising: an upper facing frame segment; a lower facing frame segment; and substantially vertical frame segments connecting the upper facing frame segment and lower facing frame segment to form the panel; wherein the panels are supported on the wall structural members such that the upper facing frame segment of at least one of the panels faces the lower facing frame segment of at least one panel located thereabove; an air/water seal disposed between the upper and lower facing frame segments; a pressure-equalization member disposed in the outer air space forward of the air/water seal, the pressure-equalization member connected to and extending between the upper facing frame segment of the lower panel and the lower facing frame segment of the upper panel such that the outer air space between the upper and lower panels is separated into a first outer air space and a second outer air space in fluid communication across the pressure-equalization member, the second outer air space remaining substantially liquid separated from the first outer air space by the pressure-equalization member; a water seal connected to the pressure-equalization member substantially preventing water intrusion from the first outer air space into the second outer air space; a rain screen member connected to the upper facing frame segment and extending upward into the first outer airspace; and opposing protrusions extending from the upper and lower facing frame segments and located rearward of the rain screen member; wherein the glass panel is supported by the upper facing frame segment, the lower facing frame segment, and the substantially vertical frame segments of each panel, and wherein the upper facing frame segment, the lower facing frame segment, and the vertical frame segments of each panel cooperatively define a continuous enclosed internal airloop about the glass panel in fluid communication with the first outer airspace via a vent opening in the lower facing frame segment and defined in the lower facing frame segment immediately forward of the pressure equalization member, and wherein the protrusions are located forward of the vent opening and rearward of the rain screen member in the first outer airspace.