Pane holder in all-glass facades

The invention relates to a board fastening system for suspending glazing units in a supporting structure at full glass facades.

Full-glass façade constructions of this kind are previously known from EP-A-2 130 438. In this case, the individual glazing units are composed of insulating glass units, which in depth each consist of two or more single-panes arranged at a mutual distance. The inner panels are mutually fixed by means of spacer elements and are suspended in the supporting structure of the façade. The fastening elements used in this known construction consist of angle-bent profile pieces, which with their angled-bent ends are engaged in the cross-section between two adjacent inner discs in the disc unit and with their other ends are fastened in the supporting framework. The angle-bent parts of the fastening elements take up a significant part of the total weight of the glazing unit. The weight of the outer sheets, on the other hand, is occupied only by an adhesive joint between the outer sheet and the fastening elements, as well as by any spacer elements arranged between adjacent insulating glass sheets.

Because the relatively heavy full-glass facades in practical use are exposed to high mechanical loads, for example due to vibrations or thermal expansion, as well as to UV radiation, it becomes inevitable in the long run that the respective outer panels due to the high shear forces acting on the adhesive joints detaches from the fasteners between the single discs. Since full-glass facades usually also sit vertically on buildings, so that the weight of each single panel makes a full contribution to the load, facade constructions of this kind are associated with a considerable risk of accidents.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the problems concerned and to provide an accident-proof panel fastening system, in which all panels, including the outer panel, are fastened mechanically to the supporting structure of the façade by means of fastening elements, without this mounting interfering with the overall glass facade.

This object is achieved in that the invention has the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

In the invention, at least one of the circumferential edges of the outer plate in each glazing unit is in stepwise cross-section retracted to form grips for the fastening elements. The step-shaped ledge thus formed can then be used for rearward engagement of the fastening elements and for mechanically securing the outer discs mechanically. The outer discs will then no longer be fixed only by the adhesion force in the adhesive joints between the individual discs and the spacer elements, but the per se required adhesive joint will be supplemented with a mechanical fixation, so that in practice it is impossible for the outer discs to come loose and fall down from the frame structure, thereby effectively eliminating this risk of accident.

Preferably, each glazing unit consists of a multilayer laminated glass sheet,

462 291 ² wherein the step-shaped retraction comprises one or more of the layers of the laminated glass sheet located closest to the outside of the façade. As is known, laminated glass sheets are characterized by high strength due to the fact that the individual layers in a laminated glass package are glued to each other over the entire surface, in contrast to what is known in known insulating glass units, where the gluing is limited to the connections with spacers or similar fasteners.

Alternatively, each glazing unit may consist of some commercially available single-layer board, the step-shaped retraction comprising a part of the cross-section located closest to the outside of the façade.

In an embodiment of the invention, each glazing unit consists of an insulating glass unit with at least two spaced apart single sheets, the outer sheet consisting of a laminated glass sheet provided with the stepped retraction or a single sheet. In this way, the invention can be used with insulated all-glass facades.

If the full glass façade has only two glazing units arranged next to each other, it is sufficient to arrange only the step-shaped indentations on two parallel edges of the glazing units. If, on the other hand, an individual glazing unit on all four sides is surrounded by other glazing units, the step-shaped indentations are suitably arranged on all four edges of the glazing unit.

Preferably, the distance between two adjacent edges of the outer panels provided with the stepped indentations in two adjacent glazing units is greater than the distance between the indentation-free edges located closest to the inside of the outer panels.

The fastening elements preferably consist of a single- or multi-part profile piece with an outer bend for engagement from the outside in the step-shaped retraction on the respective outer plate and a central body portion for fastening in the support structure.

Preferably, the body portion runs at a substantially right angle to the longitudinal plane of the glazing units, while the outer deflection runs substantially parallel to the plate plane. Preferably, the bent-out parts of the fastening element have a cross-section which is lower than the height of the associated stepped recesses in the outer plate. Then the remaining gap can be covered in a suitable way from the outside of the facade. In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening elements consist of a two-legged profile bridge in cross section, the free leg ends of which are made with the bends. The profile bridge is screwed into the support structure. The fastening elements can be designed in such a way that they consistently, in one piece, follow the entire edge length of a glazing unit. However, they can also consist of several parts, which are arranged at intervals along the edge of each glazing unit.

The fastening elements are preferably resiliently designed, so that all thermal expansion can be taken up without problems in the gap between adjacent glazing units. The fasteners may consist of metal, but preferably a low material is used

462 291 thermal conductivity, especially if the full glass façade is to be heat-insulating.

Preferably, the bent-out parts of the fasteners receiving the gaps in the step-shaped indentations are filled again by means of a cover strip or a sealing compound or the like. This can be done without difficulty in the construction according to the invention in that after the placement of the fastening elements there is sufficient space left at the indentations to cover or fill in the gap formed by the indentations from the outside.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. Fig. 1 shows a front view of a portion of a full-glass facade with several glazing units, Fig. 2 the cross-section II-II in Fig. 1 through an extruded standing rule of metal and multi-part fasteners, Fig. 3 the same cross-section as Fig. 2, but with a modified rule-bearing construction Fig. 4 shows the same cross-section as Fig. 2, with fastening profiles running along the length of the disc edges, Fig. 5 has the same cross-section as Fig. 4, but with the gap between two glazing units filled in by means of a rubber profile, Fig. 6 shows the same cross-section as Fig. 5, but with a modified fastener consisting of short pieces, Fig. 7 the same cross-section as Fig. 6, but with a fastening element running along the edge of the glazing unit, Fig. 8 a cross-section through a facade construction, in which the glazing units consist of a single, multi-layer laminated glass sheet, and Fig. 9 a cross-section as in Fig. 8, but with a single-pane glass of a commercially available type instead of a laminated-glass sheet.

The full glass facade portion shown in Fig. 1 consists of individual glazing units 1, 2, 3, which are arranged in the same plane next to and above each other and on the back are attached to a facade support structure 4. The latter consists in its main parts of profile bars 5 and auxiliary profiles 6, 7. 8. Instead of the profile rule 5 made of metal, optional other elements can be used for the supporting structure, for example steel frames 9 or a wooden frame 10, as shown schematically in Fig. 3.

Each glazing unit has circumferential edges 11 and an outer plate 12, 13, which according to the invention is made with a stepped recessed cross-section in at least one of its circumferential edges 11. The indentations are indicated in the embodiments shown by 14 and 15. The individual glazing units have at least two at a distance fri ... the outer panels 12, 13 arranged single panels 16, 17, which constitute the inner panels located closest to the supporting structure of the façade and together with the outer panels form an insulating glass unit. The outer plates 12, 13 and the inner plates 16, 17 are glued together in a known manner via spacer elements 18.

However, a full glass facade construction according to the invention does not necessarily have to consist of insulating glass units, but the inner sheets 16, 17 can be omitted, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this case the outer sheets 12, 13 consist of a preferably multilayer laminated glass sheet ( as is known to withstand high mechanical stresses. It is also possible to use a single instead of a laminated glass sheet

462 291 ⁴ board of a commercially available type (Fig. 9), provided that it has sufficient pour strength and other material properties, which allow the outer edges to be machined to form the stepped notches 14, 15 without risk of cracking in the disc at a later mechanical load on the outer edges of pre-assembled condition. The recesses 14, 15 must be located on the outer side of the outer discs, so that at the inner side protrusions 19, 20 remain, which can be gripped from the outside of fastening elements 21, and which can withstand mechanical load. The indentations are arranged in the parallel, vertical edges 11 of each glazing unit when a central glazing unit is to be able to be connected to further glazing units at the sides. If, on the other hand, a single glazing unit is surrounded by adjacent glazing units, as shown in Fig. 1, indentations are arranged in all four edges. The indentations are arranged in such a way that the distance between the two adjacent projections 19, 20 on the glazing units becomes so much smaller than the distance between the retracted cross-sectional edge portions 14, 15 that in the formed gap 22 there is still sufficient space for insertion and passage of the fastening elements 21.

The fastening elements 21 each consist of separate profile rails 23, each of which has a bulge 24, which has a lower cross section than the height of the retraction 14, 15 and grips behind the projections 19, 20 of the outer discs 12, 13. The bulges 24 are located at the outer end of a middle body on the profile rail 23. The body goes perpendicular to the plane of the glazing units and abuts against the outer edges. The fastening elements 21 are provided at their inner ends with profile strips 26, 27, which delimit a groove 25 substantially parallel to the disc plane for insertion and fastening of the auxiliary profile 6, 7. The profile rails 23 can consist of continuous rails running around the disc edges (Figs. 2, 3). , 4, 5, 7), or consist of several short pieces arranged at a distance from each other along the edges of the glazing unit (Figs. 6, 8, 9). The short pieces are represented by dashed lines in the cross-sections shown in the figures. The profile rails 23 can either be made in one piece with the U-profiles 26, 27 (Figs. 4, 5), or in which separate profile lengths are screwed or welded in or otherwise connected to the U-profiles (Figs. 2, 3, 8, 9). ).

Instead of the embodiment described above, the fastening elements 21 can be designed in the manner shown in Figs. 6, 7. The fastening elements 28 shown in these figures each consist of a profile bridge in cross section with two equally long, resilient legs 29, which at their free outer ends are provided with bends 30, which correspond to the bends 24 in the previously described embodiments. At its base, the profile bridge 28 is provided with a hole, through which a screw 31 screwed directly into the support structure 4 is inserted. The profile bridges can also either extend continuously along the edges of the glazing units (Fig. 7) or be made as short pieces (Fig. 6). Depending on the purpose of use, metal or a material with low thermal conductivity is selected as the material for the fastening elements 21 and 28, respectively.

462 291 eg plastic.

During assembly, the individual glazing units are first assembled, ie the outer boards 12, 13 and the inner boards 16, 17 are cut and glued together via the spacer elements 18. Thereafter, the fasteners 21 are placed on the edge portion of each of the glazing units in such a way that their web portions 23 come at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the sheets, while the bends 24 closely abut behind the projections 19, 20 on the inner inner layers of the lamella glass sheets 12 '. 13 'on the outer plates 12, 13. In the example according to Fig. 9, the inner laminated glass plate layers 12', 13 'correspond to the inner cross-sectional portions 12, 13 of the single plate.

The fastening elements 21 are fixed by gluing the U-leg 26, 27 closest to the disc 16 and 17 on the fastening element at 32 to the respective inner disc 16, 17. In this way, the outer disc 12, 13 and the inner disc 16, 17 in each glazing unit enclosed between the bulge 24, 30 and the profile strip 26, 27, and also glued, which gives a completely stable cohesion of each glazing unit.

In the modified embodiment according to Figs. 6 and 7 with profile bridges 28 as fastening elements, the assembly takes place in a similar manner. First, two individual glazing units are placed next to each other with a certain hatch, after which the profile bridge 28 is inserted in such a way that the bends 30 engage behind the projections 19, 20. Finally, the glazing units are fixed to the support structure 4 by means of the screw 31 and the adhesive joint 32. The U-profiles 16 and 17, respectively, arranged on the inside of the inner plates 16, 17 correspond substantially to the profile parts of the fastening element 21 corresponding to the legs 26, 27 in the example according to Figs. 2 to 5. These profile parts are also fastened to the inner plates by means of an adhesive layer. 32 or the like, and thereby provides an additional stabilization of the cohesion of the complete facade construction.

Finally, the gaps 22 formed between adjacent glazing units are filled again, for example by means of a cover strip 33 (Fig. 2). After installation, all other residues, based on visible cracks, are again filled with silicone compound. Because the gaps 22 can be filled in from the outside, so that the bulges of the fastening elements become invisible, the construction according to the invention has an appealing external appearance. Instead of silicone compound, of course, any other suitable material can be used to fill in the gaps. A cover strip 33 '(Fig. 5) of rubber or the like can also be considered. The glazing units according to Figs. 8 and 9 are mounted in a corresponding manner in that the only difference is that in this case the inner plates 16, 17 normally present in insulating glass units with the spacer elements 18 are omitted.