Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
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Adjustable facade shell with a carrier frame for a building
The invention relates to an adjustable facade shell and to
an assembly element and a carrier frame for such a facade
shell.
It is known to provide a facade shell of the kind under
consideration in single shell or double shell construction.
A single shell construction may be considered for
functional buildings, for which it is a question of
providing protection from wind and weather, whereby by
means of an adjustment of the panels the intensity of the
ventilation can be set. Double-shell adjustable facades are
used for more demanding buildings which are intended for
occupation by people, e.g. in high-rise buildings, when
despite extreme demands through wind and weather--there is
required a purposive natural ventilation and temperature
increase of the rooms behind of facade, and when
overheating of the interior space of the facade is to be
2o prevented. An adjustable facade shell of the kind under
consideration is described in WO 96/06258 in a single-shell
construction. Such a facade shell forms with an outer wall
of a building, e.g. with a windowed face at a side wall or
on a roof of the building, a so-called double shell,
whereby the adjustable facade shell is located on the
outside of the inner shell formed e.g, by the windowed
face.
For supporting the outer shell directly on the building, or
on a carrier construction formed with vertical posts and
horizontal bars and applied to the building, it is known to
support the pivot devices for the panels on a carrier
having vertical and horizontal outer carrier parts which
are mounted individually on the carrier construction or on
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1 I
1
2
the building and which in the mounted position form a
carrier frame which becomes stable only by means of the
fastening of the carrier parts, e.g. to the carrier
construction. In a comparable manner there is effected the
attachment of an inner shell e.g. formed by means of a
fixed glazing or a windowed face, which is held by means of
holder frame parts which are attached to inner carrier
parts which are mounted on the building. Through this both
a great manufacturing outlay and also a great installation
outlay are inevitable for the above-described attachment
parts, which leads to high manufacturing costs.
The object of the invention is, with an adjustable facade
shell or an assembly element or a carrier frame for a
facade shell, to reduce the outlay for manufacture and/or
installation.
This object is achieved by means of the features of claim
1, 10 or 11. Advantageous developments of the invention are
2o indicated in the subclaims.
With the facade shell according to claim 1, the inner shell
is connected with the outer shell by means of the carrier
frame and is thereby supported. Through this a number of
advantages can be attained. On the one hand, a common
carrier frame is provided for the outer shell and the inner
shell, whereby the number of carrier parts can be reduced
or halved. Further, the width of the construction and the
manufacturing outlay can be significantly reduced, whereby
it is to be taken into account that with the reduced number
of carrier parts the number of the necessary attachment
elements also falls. In corresponding manner, the outlay
for installation and the installation time is also reduced.
Further, the common carrier frame for the outer shell and
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the inner shell leads to a simple, compact and stable
construction whereby positional changes between the outer
shell and the inner shell, which could result from
expansion of material or cracks in the structure of the
building due to settlement, are significantly reduced
because the inner shell, the carrier frame and the outer
shell form a structural unit.
It is of particular advantage if the carrier parts are
to formed in one piece with the holder frame parts or
integrally formed on the carrier parts. The above-described
advantages apply also for such a configuration. Moreover,
the carrier parts and the holder frame parts can be
manufactured at the same time in combination, whereby the
number of the carrier parts is reduced or halved. From this
there follows also a significantly reduced outlay in terms
of installation, because only half the number of carrier
parts must be installed with associated attachment
elements. Further, here also a stable construction is
attained because the carrier parts and the holder frame
parts form a unit carrying the inner shell. Within the
scope of the invention it is also possible to attach the
holder frame parts to the carrier parts by means of bolts.
With the development according to claim 3, there is
provided between the ends of the carrier parts towards one
another in each case an attachment device so that a self-
supporting carrier frame is provided which can be stably
assembled without the means of the carrier construction or
of the building, to which the carrier frame can be attached
indirectly or directly, in particular can be pre-fabricated
at the construction site or in the workshop where the
carrier frame is manufactured. Here, the adjustment device
can likewise be pre-installed so that after this pre-
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installation only the installation of the panels and the
wall of the inner shell is needed. This applies in
particular for the case in which the panels and the inner
shell are glass parts. It is however also possible to pre-
y fabricate the carrier frames with the panels and at least
one wall part of the inner shell, as a complete assembly
element.
When a common carrier frame is available for the outer and
1o inner shell, which correspondingly extends from the outer
shell to the inner shell, particular stabilising features
can be attained.
Within the scope of the invention it is possible to
15 integrate carrier frames in accordance with the invention
v in a post/bar construction, whereby the continuous posts
and/or bars form the carrier frame parts of a number of
carrier frames arranged next to one another and/or above
one another, there being arranged at the opening edges of
2o the posts and bars holder frame parts for associated wall
parts of the inner shell.
Below, the invention and further advantages which can be
achieved thereby will be described in more detail with
25 reference to preferred embodiments and to the drawings.
There is shown:
Fig. 1 a facade shell in accordance with the invention in
the region of a facade of post/bar construction for a
3o building, in vertical section, the pivotable panels forming
the facade shell being in their opened position;
Fig. 2 a facade shell in accordance with the invention in
the region of a facade of post/bar construction for a
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building, in vertical section, the pivotable panels forming
the facade shell being in their closed position;
Fig. 3 the facade shell with panels in their opened
5 position;
Fig. 4 the partial section IV-IV of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 the overlap region between two panels of the facade
1o shell arranged one over another, in an illustration to an
enlarged scale;
Fig. 6 the partial section VI-VI of Fig. 2;
Fig. 7 the overlap region of Fig. 5 in the horizontal end
region of two panels seen from the inside:
Fig. 8 the overlap region of Fig. 7 seen from the outside;
2o Fig. 9 the overlap region in an illustration for comparison
with Figs. 7 and 8;
Fig. 10 the facade shell in accordance with the invention
according to Fig. 2, with panels in each case consisting of
one pane;
Fig. 11 a facade shell according to Fig. 2 or 10, with the
panels in the opened position, in a modified configuration
as a double shell;
Fig. 12 the detail indicated by X in Fig. 11, in an
illustration to an enlarged scale;
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Fig. 13 a carrier support of the facade shell in the region
of an inner shell;
Fig. 14 a carrier support and an inner shell according to
Fig. 13, in a modified configuration;
Fig. 15 a carrier support and an inner shell according to
Fig. 13, in a further modified configuration;
to Fig. 16 a carrier support an inner shell according to Fig.
15, in a modified configuration.
The facade shell 1 comprises a plurality of panels 2, which
are preferably of glass, e.g. louver glass, and which are
arranged one behind another in rows arranged one above
another, whereby in accordance with Fig. 1 five rows are
present and in accordance with Fig. 2 two rows are present,
which with associated holders 3, pivot guides 4 and a
common drive 5 are mounted in a wall opening on carrier
supports of a carrier construction (Fig. 1) or are
integrated into a carrier frame 6 which in accordance with
Fig. 2 constitutes a pre-fabricated assembly element 7
which is built into an external wall construction, which is
built up with the structure of a post/bar facade. The
vertical posts 8 and horizontal bars 9, arranged in a grid-
like manner surround in each case an installation opening
11, into which the assembly element 7 can be placed from
the outside and mounted on, or in which the carrier
arrangement can be installed. There may be a plurality of
such installation openings 11 next to one another and/or
above one another, in which a carrier arrangement or an
assembly element 7 is installed.
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The carrier frame 6 of the assembly element 7 consists of
two lateral carrier frame parts 6a, 6b, a lower horizontal
carrier frame part 6c and an upper horizontal carrier frame
part 6d which are fixedly connected to one another in the
corner regions, preferably by means of corner angle 6e
(Fig. 6). In the outer region, the carrier frame 6 has a
continuous mounting flange 13, e.g. made of a profile,
which bears against the outer edge of the installation
opening 11, whereby the horizontal and vertical mounting
1o flange parts are bolted against both posts 8, present to
both sides, and if applicable also to horizontal bars 9, by
means of tensioning strips 14 set against them from the
outside.
The panels 2 are, also with components mounted thereon
which are still to be described, in substance identical to
one another and in accordance with Fig. 1 consist each of a
glass panel and in accordance with Fig. 2 of a double-
skinned insulation unit 15 of glass, the inner pane of
which is designated by 16, the outer pane by 17, a spacing
frame glued and arranged therebetween by 18, and adhesive
bonding material filling the spacing 19 between the panes
16, 17 outside of the spacing frame 18 is designated by 21.
At the upper edge of each panel 2 the panes 16, 17 are
flush with one another at one height. At the lower edge,
the outer pane 17 projects downwardly beyond the inner pane
16, whereby the outer pane 17 overlaps the insulation unit
15 below. As a consequence, in each case the upper
insulation unit 15 is, with respect to the insulation unit
15 below, arranged outwardly offset by the amount of the
thickness of the outer pane 17 together with the thickness
of a seal 22 against driving rain, which is still to be
described. Thereby there is present between the lower edge
15a of the upper insulation unit 15 and the upper edge 15b
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of the lower insulation unit 15 a vertical spacing a of
e.g. about 15 mm.
In Fig. 1 an inner shell having a window, of the two-
shelled building facade, is illustrated by la, which window
can be opened and closed as chosen, the panels 2 forming
the outer shell 16.
At the outer periphery of the bonding material 21 there is
1o at least at the lower and/or upper edge, preferably all
around, a profile strip 23, U-shaped or C-shaped in cross-
section, which bounds an outwardly open groove 24 and is at
least partially sunk in and embedded in the bonding
material 21. In the corner regions the profile strip 23 may
be, e.g. mitre cut and if applicable may be fixedly
connected to a carrier frame, or there may be arranged at
each side an individual profile strip 23 which abut against
one another in the corner region. The groove 24 is
preferably undercut, in particular on both sides. With the
2o present configuration there are provided at the free edge
of the side walls 24a, 24b webs 24c which project towards
one another, by means of which the undercut is formed. For
improvement of stability it is of advantage to so arrange
the profile strip 23 that it at least in part also covers
over the inner pane 16, whereby due to the considerably
greater rigidity of the inner pane 16 in comparison with
the lesser rigidity of the bonding material 21 the
fastening of the profile strip 23 is stabilised and forces
acting on the profile strip 23 can be transferred to a
larger extent via the inner pane 16 to the insulation unit
15. With the present configuration a flat profile limb 24d
extends from the free edge of the side wall 24a towards the
inner pane 16, at right angles to the panes 16, 17, which
profile limb abuts on the outer edge of the inner pane 16
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and covers this over at least partially e.g. to the half or
entirely. With the present exemplary embodiment, the inner
pane 16 is formed by means of a so-called laminated pane in
the sense of a double pane. For further stabilisation,
there may be arranged at the inner side of the profile limb
24d a small web 24e which penetrates into the bonding
material 21 and thus by means of additional embedding
stabilises the connection with the bonding material 21.
to The groove 24 may serve, in advantageous manner, for the
positioning and holding of a sealing profile and/or
retaining elements for the panes 16, 17, in particular for
the outer pane 17. In order to have a plurality of
attachment possibilities or locations available it is
advantageous to arrange a profile strip 23 which has two
grooves arranged one next to another. With the present
configuration, the floor wall 24f of the profile strip 23
is extended towards the outward side and it adjoins to a
possible obliquely arranged additional side wall 24g,
2o whereby the second groove 25 is formed. This is preferably
likewise undercut at one or both sides, which in the
present case is attained by means of a web 24h at the free
edge of the side wall 24g projecting inwardly.
The profile strip 23 is, with regard to wall insulation
units 15, identically formed, whereby however in the region
of the gap 26 between two insulation units 15 arranged one
above another a horizontal offset between the associated
profile strips 23 occurs because of the overlapping.
The holders 3, identical to one another, for the panels 2
include each at least two pivot mountings or holder arms 27
arranged in the lateral end regions of the panel 2 and
engaging under the panel 2, on which pivot mountings there
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are arranged two pairs of holder webs 28a, 28b, angled or
claw-shaped and engaging over and behind the upper and
lower edge of the panel 2, of which at least one, here the
holder web 28a engaging over, is releasably connected with
5 the holder arm 27. The holder ends of the holder webs 28a,
28b engage behind the inner pane 16 at a spacing b whereby
they engage into a receiving hole 29 in the bonding
material 21 inwardly of the profile strip 23, which bonding
material may be e.g. machined out. When a profile limb 24d
l0 is present, the receiving hole 29 extends also through
this, whereby it may also here be machined out. For holder
webs 28a, 28b of flat cross-sectional shape, as
illustrated, it is advantageous to correspondingly
configure the receiving holes 29, e.g. in the form of
elongate holes. Due to the spacing b and the bonding
material 21 present between the respective holder web 28a,
28b and the inner pane 16 the bonding material is protected
from the direct engagement of the holder web and held in an
elastically damped manner, whereby the bonding material 21
located between the inner pane 16 and the receiving hole 29
acts as damping element.
Preferably a damped mounting is also provided in the
vertical, i.e. with respect to the transversely arranged
holder web limbs 28c, 28d. With the present configuration
this is achieved in that the depth c of the receiving holes
29 is smaller than the associated length of the holder webs
28a, 28b, so that their ends facing one another meet
against the base of the receiving hole 29, at least
3o downwardly, and thereby the insulation unit 15 is likewise
held in a damped manner, as "between tips" and the upper
edges of the inner panes 16 have a spacing d from the
holder web limbs 28c, 28d. With panels 2 of greater
horizontal lengths there may be arranged more than two
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holder arms 27, in each case having a horizontal spacing
from one another.
The panels 2 are, with the pivoting device 4, selectively
pivotable between the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2
and the opened position illustrated in Fig. 3, and fixable
in the respective pivoted position. For each panel 2, the
pivot device 4 includes a pivot guide consisting of a first
j oint 32 which is arranged between the upper or inner end
to of the holding arm 27 and a slider 33, which slider is
approximately vertically displaceably mounted in an
approximately vertical guide 34 on a vertical carrier
profile 35 and can be driven by means of a drive which is
not illustrated in detail. Further, the holder arm 27 is
mounted pivotally in the pivot plane in a second joint 36
which connects the holder arm 27 pivotally with a support
arm 37 which at its other end is mounted pivotally in the
pivot plane on the carrier profile 35 in a third joint 38.
The pivot guide for the lower panel 2 is also
correspondingly constituted, whereby the first joint 32 is
arranged deeper on the associated slider 33 than is the
first joint 32 of the upper panel, corresponding to the
difference in height. When more than two panels 2 are
arranged above one another the pivot guide corresponds,
whereby the slider 33 should be longer. In the other end
region of the panels 2, the pivot guide is correspondingly
constituted, whereby for each slider 33 a second guide 34
on a second carrier support is present, whereby the carrier
supports 35 are preferably arranged uniformly or
3o symmetrically in the region of the available opening width.
The pivot device 4 is so configured that upon pivoting out
into the opened position the panels 2 are located in front
of the outer side of the carrier frame 6. Since with this
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configuration the panels 2 do not move into the inner space
surrounded by the carrier frame 6, the inner and outer
shells can lie closer to one another and the facade shell
can therefore have only a slight structural depth.
When the panels 2 are formed by means of insulation units
it is advantageous to provide a holder 3a also for the
outer pane 17, in order to secure the outer pane 17 from
falling if it should come loose from its bonding with the
10 inner pane. With the present configuration there are
provided in each case at least two additional holder webs
38a, 38b which engage under or over and behind the lower
edge and/or upper edge of the outer pane 17, which webs are
in each case arranged in the lateral end regions of the
15 outer pane and engage into a groove of the profile strip
23, here the second groove 25, and are fixed preferably by
means of latching by means of a latching nose 39a, 39b
latching behind the web 24h. As can be seen best from Fig.
5, the holder webs 38a, 38b are in each case arranged in an
2o angle shape on holder limbs 38c which engage below or over
the outer pane 17, whereby in the case of the holder web
38a engaging below they are formed U-shaped with an
upwardly extending holder shaft 38d at the free end of
which there is arranged a foot piece 38e with a latch nose
39b standing out therefrom. In the case of the holder webs
38b engaging below in each case the latching nose 39a
stands transversely out from the holder limb 38c. As in
particular Figs. 3, 6 and 7 show, the holder mountings 40a,
40b so far described are arranged in the lateral end
3o regions of the panels 2 whereby they are preferably offset
horizontally in the plane of the panels 2 so that when
taking into consideration the size of the gap in the region
of overlap between the outer panes 17 it is not necessary
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to account for the double thickness of the holder mountings
40a, 40b and the gap can be kept small.
For additional or sole securing or attachment of the holder
mountings 40a, 40b in the groove 25 there may be provided
in each case a bolt S which transversely passes through the
holder web 38c or the foot piece 38e and is screwed into at
least the profile strip 23, preferably of metal, or also
into the bonding material 21. Such a bolt S is indicated in
1o Fig. 5 in each case by means of a middle line and a small
schematic of a bolt head.
Furthermore, it is advantageous to dimension the limbs or
sections of the holder mountings 40a, 40b so long that
there is present between them and the outer pane 17, here
at least between~the holder webs 38a, 38b, the holder- limbs
38c and the holder shafts 38d, and the associated outer
pane 17 a vertical or horizontal spacing which frees the
outer pane 17 from pressure loading. Only then if the outer
pane 17 frees itself from its adhesive attachment and falls
into the claw-shaped holder webs 38a does physical contact
between these parts arise. In the normal condition there
need be no contact between the holder mountings 40a, 40b
and the outer pane 17, since here only safety parts are
involved.
For a facade shell 1 of the kind under consideration, the
panels 2 of which should, in the closed position, close off
the space found behind the thus formed shell so far as
3o possible in a sealed manner, various sealing zones are of
significance. A first sealing zone is arranged in each case
in the gap region between two panels 2 arranged one over
another. A second sealing zone is present in the lateral
edge region of the panels 2, whereby depending upon the
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constitution of the sealing different sealing
configurations may be realised in the first or in the
second zone. In the region of the gap 26, the sealing may
be effected e.g. by means of a single sealing profile which
extends in the longitudinal direction of the pane edges and
is attached to the edge of one of the two panes, or there
may also be provided two sealing profiles of which each is
secured to the edge of the associated pane and which carry
out their sealing function by mutually pressing on one
to another.
With the above-described configuration of the panels 2 with
a groove 24 which extends at least at the upper and/or
lower edge 15a, 15b of the panel 2 concerned, it has proven
that they are excellently suited for holding a sealing
profile in that profile sections arranged on the sealing
profile are placed in the groove 24 and attached e.g. by
means of gluing, clamping or form-fitting latching. The
latter two attachment features are not unavoidably
2o necessary if the sealing profile is held in some other
manner in its working position, e.g. in that it is arranged
around the periphery and due to its surrounding is arranged
in a form-fitting manner in the groove 24, likewise formed
as a surrounding ring groove.
For the above-mentioned reasons there is thus needed for
the sealing of the gap 26 only one sealing profile 41 which
with the present configuration is formed with a flat cross-
section, but which could also have a different cross-
3o sectional shape, e.g. a round cross-sectional shape. At the
bearing side 42 of the sealing profile 41 an attachment
strip 43 is formed on, which strip engages into the groove
24 and can be latched therein, preferably with a mushroom-
head-like cross-sectional shape. As sealing profile 41 as
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so far described may by itself, or with a corresponding
sealing profile 41 arranged on the opposing edge of the
other panel, bring about a satisfactory sealing of the gap
26 when the respective cross-sectional dimensions are
5 sufficiently large that the individual sealing profile 41
and the opposing edge co-operate in a sealing manner or two
sealing profiles 41 co-operate with one another in a
sealing manner. The sealing can also be brought about by
means of a sealing lip 44 which assumes the sealing
to function in the sense described above. Since in the case of
a building pressure effects or suction effects are to be
expected, depending on wind direction, it is advantageous
to form the sealing in the gap 26 with two sealing strips
which in the through direction of the gap are arranged one
15 after another and of which one sealing lip 44 having an
outwardly directed counter sealing surface 46 and the other'
sealing lip 44 having an inwardly directed counter sealing
surface 47 co-operate. By these means the sealing is
improved because the first mentioned sealing lip 44, in the
2o case of pressure effects, bears against the counter sealing
surface 46 and brings about a good sealing, whereas the
second sealing lip 44 brings about this sealing in the case
of a suction effect.
It is further advantageous to arrange the sealing lip 44 on
the base profile 41a which carries it at a spacing a from a
side surface, here from the first counter sealing surface
46, which approximately corresponds to the offset v by
which the upper and the lower insulation units 15 are in
3o each case offset transversely with respect to the panes.
This leads to the advantage that with an arrangement of two
identical sealing profiles 41 on the upper and lower edge
in the gap 26, the one sealing lip 44 with the side surface
of the oppositely lying base profile 41a can function as a
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pressure sealing and the other sealing lip 44 with the
oppositely lying base profile 41a and its inwardly directed
side surface, here the counter sealing surface 47, can
function as a suction sealing. By reason of the identity
and the reverse arrangement of the sealing profiles 41
there can thus be achieved in a simple and economical
manner an excellent sealing having two sealing functions.
Furthermore, it is advantageous to form the sealing profile
l0 41 so that it runs around the associated panel 2 and is
thus ring-like. By these means the attachment of the
sealing profile 41 is on the one hand stabilised due to its
surrounding the panel and is also fixed in the peripheral
direction so that no further measures are needed for
securing the sealing profile 41. This applies also for such
a configuration as. is considered here in which the base
profile 41a, preferably formed in the shape of a flat or
quadrilateral tube, is connected at one side or here only
at its one end with the attachment strip 43, whilst the
2o remaining section of the base profile 41a bears against the
surrounding surface of the associated panel 2. Due to the
ring shape this bearing is reliably ensured.
With the present configuration a small gap is present, as
shown in Fig. 5, between the two base profiles 41a lying
opposite one another in the gap 26.
For sealing the vertical edge regions of the panels 2 a
vertical sealing strip 48 (Figs. 4 to 6) is in each case
3o arranged in the two lateral end regions of the facade shell
1, the end surface of which sealing strip facing outwardly
is formed in a saw-tooth shape, following the inner surface
of the panels 2 arranged one above another and the
respective offset, whereby its outwardly directed
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projection, predetermined by means of the saw-tooth shape,
decreases with increasing height. In order to improve the
sealing it is advantageous to associate with the sealing
strip 48 a sealing ribbon 49 which runs upright and which
runs between the sealing strip and the panels 2 and
improves the sealing. With the present configuration, this
sealing ribbon 49 is formed of vertical sections of a
sealing profile, which is preferably the sealing profile
41, whereby the sections bear on the inner side on the thin
to side periphery of the insulation pane unit 15. In this
case, the base profile 41a of the sealing profile 41 is
formed in an angled shaped with a sealing limb 41b,
preferably in the form of a flat tube, bearing against the
narrow side peripheral surface, and a sealing limb 41c,
which is preferably likewise tube-shaped, in particularly
flat tube-shaped, and engaging behind the inner side of the
panel 2 and bearing upon the inner side, and preferably
formed with its own hollow space. Due to the ring-shape of
the sealing profile 41 there are provided vertical and
horizontal sections of the sealing limb 41c on the lateral
and horizontal edges of the respective panel 2.
The sealing strip 48 is arranged in the region of the
vertical sections of the sealing limbs 41c arranged one
above another, whereby these co operate with the sealing
side surfaces 48a of the sealing strip and the section of
the sealing limb 41b having the sealing step surface 48b in
each case arranged therebetween. Insofar as the associated
sealing lip 44 is present this fits into the vertical chain
of the sealing ribbon sections, whereby in this case the
sealing strip 48 has a sealing shape surface 48c, here an
oblique surface, adapted in each case to the shape of the
sealing lip 44. On the opposite side of the facade shell 1
there is formed and arranged in a corresponding mirror-
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
1$
image manner a second sealing strip 48 with such a sealing
ribbon 49.
As Fig. 2 in particular shows the upper edge of the
uppermost panel or insulation unit 15 and the lower edge of
the lowermost panel 2 or insulation unit 15 are sealed in
each case by means of a horizontally extending sealing
strip 50a, 50b, which co-operate with the sealing limb 41b
or 41c and against which the panel with these sealing
1o profile sections presses.
Consequently the space located behind the facade shell 1 is
sealed by means of two lateral, substantially vertical
sealing strands 51 and in the region of each gap 26 by
means of at least one, here two horizontal sealing strands
92.
In order to protect the gap from driving rain there is
provided in the overlap region between the outer panes 17 a
2o horizontal, preferably tube-shaped sealing profile 53 as a
driving rain seal, which preferably is arranged and
attached, e.g. by gluing, at the upper edge of the inner
outer pane 17. With the present configuration, this sealing
profile 53 has a base body 53a bearing with a broad side on
the outer pane 17 and a base body limb 53b which engages
over the outer pane 17. The thickness of the sealing
profile 53 is greater than the thickness of the holder webs
38a, 38b, or their sections passing through the sealing
profile 53, so that the horizontal spacing at this location
3o between the outer panes 17 and the holder webs 38a, 38b can
be maintained. In the regions in which the holder webs 38a,
38b are located the sealing profile 53 is cut out with
appropriate shape and size. This applies also to the limbs
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41b, 41c of the sealing profile 41 with regard to the
holder webs 28a, 28b.
As can be seen in particular from Fig. 6, the sealing
strips 48 are in each case located in the region of an
inner wall 12a of a box profile 12 forming the associated
vertical carrier frame part 6a, whereby the outer wall 12b
of the box profile 12 projects outwardly beyond the inner
wall 12a, so that the facade shell 1 is arranged between
to the outer walls 12b of the lateral carrier part 6a. Thereby
a free space 54 is present between the side edges of the
panels 2 and the outer wall 12b into which the vertical
section of the sealing profile 41 projects with the
associated section of the sealing lip 44.
At the lateral edges of the panels 2, here of the
insulation units 15, there is attached in each case a
further sealing profile 55 which co-operates in a sealing
manner with the inner surface 12c of the outer wall 12b
2o which extends so far outwardly that at least in the closed
position the sealing profile 55 is in contact with the
inner surface 12c. The sealing profile 55 is held with an
attachment strip 55a in a holder profile 56 which is
attached or preferably latches with a support limb 56a
bearing on the outer surface of the associated outer pane
17 and a holder limb 56b engaging over the edge of the
outer pane 17 and engaging into the second groove 25 in an
angled shape.
3o As Fig. 4 shows, there are located at an end spacing from
the lateral carrier parts 6a of the assembly element 7 two
carrier profiles 35 on which in each case a slider 33 is
guided vertical displaceably, which carrier is connected in
a jointed manner with the holder arms 27.
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
With the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 3 there is
arranged in each horizontally extending row only one panel
2 or insulation unit 15, whereby laterally next to the
5 outer walls 12b there adjoins an outer shell e.g. of
insulating glass 57. In the carrier frame of the invention
it is possible to arrange a plurality of panels 2 or
insulation units 15 next to one another in a horizontal row
and to bring them together in one movement unit, whereby
to all panels 2 or insulation units 15 of the unit can be
pivoted out and in simultaneously. The lateral abutments of
such panels 2 or insulation units 15 lying next to one
another can be sealed by means of sealing means such as
seals or a silicone filler sealing. With such a
15 configuration the vertical sealing strand 51 with sealing
strips 48 is likewise needed only in the lateral .:end
regions. Thereby it is advantageous to arrange at least
one, here both, sealing profiles 41 around all panels 2 or
insulation units 15 of the movement unit 15. With such a
20 configuration the sealing profiles in each case thus
surround a row of the panels 2 or insulation units 15. This
is also possible with a prefabricated assembly frame 7 of
the kind considered here, when this is longer than one
panel 2 or insulation unit 15 so that a plurality of panels
2 or insulation units can in each case be arranged in a row
and form one movement unit, whereby the panels 2 or
insulation units 15 of the or each row are surrounded by
one sealing profile 41.
The horizontal length of the movement unit may extend over
a plurality of posts 8. With the presence of a carrier
frame 6 in accordance with Figs. 2 and 4, the movement unit
can extend horizontally likewise beyond the horizontal
length of the carrier frame 6 or over a plurality of
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
21
carrier frames 6 arranged horizontally next to one another.
In this case, the lateral carrier parts 6a, 6b are to be so
narrow at their outer edges that the panels 2 or the
movement units can extend laterally beyond the carrier
parts 6a, 6b. In the carrier frame of the invention a drive
5 can be associated with the holders 3 in each case of one
carrier frame as a common drive, or it is also possible to
associate a common drive 5 with a plurality of carrier
frames 6 arranged horizontally next to one another.
to
The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 10, in which the
same or similar parts are provided with the same reference
signs, differs from the exemplary embodiments according to
Figs. 2 to 6 in that the panels 2 are formed not by means
double panes but by means of a single plate, in particular
of glass, e.g. louver glass. Here, the panels 2 may be
engaged below or above with angle-shaped holder webs for
the purpose of holding them in place, as can be seen from
Fig. 10 of WO 96/06258 and as is described in the
2o introduction. With such simple panels 2 a sealing profile,
corresponding to the sealing profile 41 according to Figs.
5 and 6, may be arranged in a surrounding manner with a
profile limb 41b bearing against the narrow side of the
respective panel 2 and a profile limb 41c bearing on the
edge of the inner side and, in contrast to the exemplary
embodiment according to Figs. 5 and 6, can be attached in a
different manner, e.g. by gluing, whereby the attachment
web 24 can be omitted. As with the exemplary embodiment
according to Figs. 6 to 8, also with the exemplary
3o embodiment according to Fig. 10 there can be provided a
saw-tooth-shape sealing strip 48 in the lateral end regions
of the carrier frame 6, preferably in or on the lateral
carrier parts 6a, 6b, which co-operates in a sealing manner
with a sealing profile of the vertical sections of the
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
22
sealing profiles 41 present on the panels 2 arranged one
above another, as Fig. 6 shows and is described in the
related part of the description. As with the above-
described exemplary embodiments of the carrier frame 6, the
carrier parts 6a, 6d here also have an inwardly outstanding
attachment web 6f at their inner edges, which attachment
web e.g. may be of angle-shape with a limb directed towards
the carrier frame middle and which serves for attachment
with the post 8 and bars 9 by means of non-illustrated
to attachment elements which engage over and behind, in
particular in a form-fitting manner, the attachment web 6f.
The width g of the carrier parts or of the carrier frame
extending transversely to the carrier frame plane
corresponds approximately to the width h of the post 8 and
bar 9.
The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 12, in which the
same or similar parts are likewise provided with the same
reference signs, differs from the exemplary embodiments
2o according to Figs. 2 to 10 in several respects.
On the one hand, the inner shell la is connected with the
inner edges of the carrier parts 6a to 6d and attached
thereon, preferably attached exclusively thereon.
Further, there is integrated into the carrier frame 6 a
light or sun protector 61 between the outer shell lb and
the inner shell la, which in the case of the present
exemplary embodiment is formed by means of a curtain 61a
3o which can be lowered and raised, which is formed of panels
61b arranged above one another and pivotable around a
horizontal axis or by a foil or a cloth and can be lowered
or raised by means of a non-illustrated motorised or
manually driven adjustment mechanism which is accessible
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
23
from the interior, as is per se known for jalousies. The
light or sun protector 61 is attached on the upper carrier
frame part 6d by means of an upper carrier beam 61c. For
the purpose of increasing the vertical size of the opening
the carrier beam 61c is preferably arranged at least partly
in the upper carrier frame part 6d at least partly sunk
into a recess 6g.
Further, the carrier parts 6a, 6d are thermally separated
1o in a composite web construction in the form of an inner and
outer shell 6x, 6y, as will be described further below.
The inner shell la can be provided with different
constructions. It may be formed e.g. by means of a light
weight wall, in particular in double shelled and thermally
insulated construction, by means fixed glazing, -in
particular with insulation units (Figs. 14 to 16), of a
plurality of plates or by means of a window without or with
a pivotable pane, whereby such a wall, generally designated
2o by lc, may correspond to the horizontal and vertical
dimensions of the carrier frame 6 or may be sub-divided
into vertical wall strips lcl, lc2 which in each case may
extend from a lateral carrier frame part 6a or 6b to a
carrier support 35 or may extend from one to the
neighbouring carrier support 35. The wall lc or the wall
parts lcl, lc2 are in each case attached by means of holder
frame parts 62 extending on their peripheral edges
horizontally and vertically in a strip-like manner, which
parts are in each case attached to the associated carrier
frame part 6a to 6d of the carrier frame 6, preferably are
formed thereon in one piece.
It is advantageous, for technical manufacturing reasons and
for reasons of costs, to form the carrier parts 6a to 6d by
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
24
means of profile rods. Taking into consideration that the
holder frame parts 62 should preferably be formed on in one
piece and/or taking into consideration the thermally
separated bonding manner, there can be attained by these
means a simple and rational and also economical fabrication
or prefabrication of the carrier parts 6a to 6d and the
holder frame part 62.
Fig. 12 shows an upper carrier frame part 6d and the
1o attachment of a wall lc or of a wall part lcl to the
carrier frame part 6d in vertical cross-section. The
carrier parts 6a to 6d may, with regard to their width
directed transversely to the carrier frame plane, be formed
in one piece as Fig. 12 shows, or in different pieces and
e.g, be assembled of a plurality of profiles which are
attached to one another, e.g. inserted into one another in
a form-fitting manner, as e.g. Fig. 6 shows in the middle
region of the here lateral carrier frame part 6a, with
which e.g. a thermally separated profile is not involved.
2o The configuration according to Fig. 12 shows in contrast a
composite construction of the carrier frame part 6d with
thermal separation. The carrier frame part 6d or the
associated profile rod consists of the inner shell 6x and
the outer shell 6y which in a manner known per se are
connected by means of webs 6z of reduced thermal
conductivity, e.g. of plastics. This composite structure
can also be realised likewise in a manner known per se in
the prefabrication of the profiles, so that these must then
be cut off to adapt their length. The middle of the thermal
separation is indicated for the overall carrier frame 6,
including the inner shell la, by means of a dividing line
TL. If the carrier frame 6 is formed with an assembly
flange 13 it is advantageous to include the assembly flange
13 in the thermal separation, as is illustrated, whereby
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
its inwardly arranged shell part 13a is connected in one
piece with the outer shell 6x of the carrier frame part 6d.
Preferably the associated holder frame part, here the upper
5 horizontal holder frame part 62, is also included in the
thermal separation, and thus divided up by means of two
profile sections 62x, 62y, of which the first is part of
the inner shell 6x and the latter is part of the outer
shell 6y. With the present configuration, the profile
to sections 62x, 62y have a spacing from one another. The
inner profile section 62x serves for bearing and holding
the wall lc, while the outer profile section 62y serves for
the attachment of a clamping strip 63 which bears on the
inner side of the wall part edge and is connected with the
15 outer profile section 62y by means of a bolt 64, whereby
there is preferably arranged on the outside of the :bolt a
support web 65 between the profile section 6x and the
clamping strip 63, which in the case of the present
exemplary embodiment is a separate web. For the engagement
2o there is preferably provided a so-called bolt channel 66,
here extending longitudinally of the upper carrier part 6d
or holder frame part 62, in the form of a groove in the
profile section 62x. Between the wall lc and the profile
section 62y on the one hand and the clamping strip 63 on
25 the other hand there are preferably arranged sealing
profiles 67, 68 which in each case are in particular held
with a mushroom-head-like attachment strip in an undercut
groove in the facing end surface of the profile section 62y
and of the clamping strip 63. The clamping strip 63 forms a
separate counter-piece of the holder frame part 62 or 62y
when a thermal separated profile is involved. For reason of
the engagement over and behind the wall lc with the bolt 64
and the clamping part 63, the wall lc is to be smaller by
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
26
the amount h than the carrier frame 6 or the associated
carrier parts 6a to 6d.
A thermal separation of the clamping strip 63 is provided
by its spacing. Additionally, the shafts of the bolts 64
may be of thermally insulating material such as plastics.
The lower carrier part 6c, arranged below, and the holder
frame part 62 arranged below are correspondingly formed in
1o a mirror-image manner. This applies also for the two
vertical carrier parts 6a, 6b and the holder frame part 62
extending on them. Therefore, for reasons of
simplification, a corresponding description for the other
carrier parts 6a to 6c and the respectively associated
holder frame part 62 is not needed.
With the configuration according to Fig. 12, the wall lc is
formed at least in the upper region by means of a window
having a window frame, a window leaf and a pane preferably
2o formed as an insulation unit. There are illustrated only
the upper window frame transom 69 and the upper leaf
transom 71, and also the pane 72. The window frame is held
on the holder frame part 62 by means of an e.g. tapered
assembly flange 73. Also the window frame and the window
leaf are of thermally separated profiles in a composite
construction, as is clearly shown in the drawing. The
relevant inner and outer shells are designated with 69x,
69y, 71x, 71y and 73x, 73y.
3o The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 13 shows an
attachment detail in the case of one or more carrier
support 35, which extend from the lower to the upper
carrier 6c, 6d and are fastened thereon, when the carrier
supports 35 (in the present exemplary embodiment, two of
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
27
them) is or are involved in the attachment of at least one
or two neighbouring wall parts lcl, 1c2. With this
configuration there are formed on both sides of the carrier
support 35, likewise formed by means of a profile rod, in
5. each case a vertical holder frame part 62 which with the
present exemplary embodiment stand out laterally from the
carrier support 35 and can be attached to the wall parts
lcl, 1c2, e.g. by means of a vertical clamping strip 63
which engages over one or both wall parts lcl, 1c2, which
1o clamping strip is bolted (not shown) against the carrier
support 35 or connected by means of a draw connection. With
the illustrated configuration, the right hand wall part lcl
is formed by a window, whereby the carrier support 35 forms
a vertical transom of a window frame, with the vertical
15 holder frame part 62 and/or with a holder frame web 35a
outstanding inwardly between the wall parts lcl, lc2 and
preferably tapered, on which vertical transom the vertical
leaf transom 71 of an associated window leaf finds a stop.
The left hand wall part lc2 is a plate 72 of fixed glazing
2o in the form of an insulation unit, which bears on the
holder frame part 62 present at this side of the carrier
support 35, e.g. arranged or formed in a mirror-image
manner, and at its inner side is supported by means of a
clamping strip 63 in the form of glass retaining strip 74,
25 which e.g. is attached, e.g. latched, in a form fitting
manner on the holder frame web 35a. The holder frame web
35a is preferably thermally separated from the base body of
the carrier support 35 in the usual and already described
composite construction with connecting webs 6z, c.f. the
3o thermal separation line TL. In this case two holder frame
web parts are present which are indicated as parts of the
inner and outer shells as 35ax and 35ay.
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
28
With the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 14 there
are present two wall parts lcl, lc2 each formed by means of
a fixed glazing, and which are supported on two vertical
holder frame parts 62 projecting inwardly at their end
faces, which may be formed in an angle-shape with limbs
directed towards one another, whereby they form an undercut
vertical attachment groove 75, in which the head of a
tensioning bolt 64 sits, by means of which a clamping strip
63 is bolted against the edges of the wall parts lcl, lc2
to facing one another by means of a nut 64a. Also with this
exemplary embodiment, sealing profiles 67, 68 may be
arranged between the wall parts lcl, lc2 and the holder
frame parts 62 and also the clamping strip 63 which can
engage with fastening strips into undercut fastening
grooves (not shown) in the bearing surfaces of the holder
frame part 62 and the clamping strip 63. With tla~is
configuration at least the bolt shaft may be of a thermally
insulating material, e.g. plastics, by which means a
thermal separation is achieved in addition to the spacing
of the clamping strip 63.
A similar configuration is provided with the exemplary
embodiment according to Figs. 15 and 16, whereby however
between the holder frame part 62 of the carrier support 35
there is provided a vertical fastening web 35b having a
bolt channel 66 for a bolt 64 which is bolted together with
a clamping strip 63 engaging over both edges of the wall
parts lcl, 1c2. With this exemplary embodiment, the left
hand wall part lc2 is formed as fixed glazing, whereas the
3o right hand wall part lcl is formed as a window the vertical
window frame transom 69 of which is held between the
associated holder frame part 62 and the clamping strip 63.
A corresponding configuration is illustrated in Fig. 16 in
a mirror-image manner. 63a designates a covering strip 63a
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
29
for the clamping strip 63 which is releasably latchable
into the clamping strip with fork-like limbs engaging over
the clamping strip.
With the exemplary embodiments according to Figs. 15 and 16
the carrier support 35 present in each case forms a
vertical guide 76 for the curtain 61a of the light or sun
protector 61, which with these two exemplary embodiments
has pivotable slats 61b, which are connected with one
to another by means of vertical ribbons 61c and are pivotable.
With the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 15, the
guide 76 is formed by means of vertical guide groove 77,
whereby the horizontal length of the curtain 61a is so
large that the curtain 61 enters into the guide groove 77
with play for movement. For a curtain 61a present on the
other side of the carrier support 35 there is provided a
correspondingly formed guide groove 77, whereby the carrier
support 35 attains a waisted cross-sectional shape. This
configuration and arrangement leads to a further advantage.
2o Because of the entry of the curtain into the preferably
quadrilateral guide groove 77, a vertical gap between the
curtain 61a and the carrier support 35 is avoided, through
which light could get to the interior, and there is thus
attained by overlapping a complete shading of the interior
space by means of an overlapping between the curtain 61a
and the carrier support 35. The horizontal width of the
guide groove 77 is, when pivotable slats 61b are present,
to be sufficiently large that the slats can engage therein
in their horizontal position, with play for movement. A
3o corresponding configuration with a vertical guide groove 77
is also provided at the inner sides of the lateral carrier
parts 6a, 6b.
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
With the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 16 there is
likewise arranged a preferably undercut guide groove 78 at
both sides of the carrier support 35, whereby on the
curtain 61a, in particular at its lower end, on both sides
5 a respective guide bolt 79 projects horizontally, in the
plane of the curtain, which bolt engages into the
associated guide groove 78 and is guided therein. The guide
bolt 79 may have a mushroom-shaped head with which it
engages behind the undercut guide groove 78, whereby an
to undesired emergence of the guide bolt 79 out of the guide
groove 78, e.g. in the case of a bending of the curtain 61a
under wind pressure, is prevented. In order to avoid wear
of the guide bolts 79 upon vertical displacement, there may
be arranged in the guide webs 81 forming the undercutting
15 of the respective guide groove 78, vertical receiving
grooves 82 in which guide strips of guide-aiding material,
e.g. of soft material such as plastics or rubber, are
arranged which protect the guide bolt 79 or a shaft from
wear and furthermore make possible a displacement with
20 little noise. In order to prevent the guide strips 83
coming out of the receiving groove 82, these may have an
undercut form behind which the guide strips 83 engage.
Within the scope of the invention it is possible to form
25 the carrier frame 6 at the site of installation in that the
carrier parts 6a to 6d are attached at the soffit walls of
an installation opening, e.g. at the building wall itself
or at a carrier construction having vertical posts 8 and
horizontal bars 9.. Then, the carrier supports 35, the
3o adjustment or pivoting devices 4 and the slat pieces 2
forming the outer shell lb can be mounted. Further,
inwardly, the inner shell la can be mounted on the carrier
parts 6a to 6d or the carrier frame 6. With this
arrangement there is needed no corner attachment of the
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
31
carrier parts between one another, since the carrier
arrangement (carrier construction, building) provides the
carrier frame 6 with the stability.
It is of particular advantage to so configure the carrier
frame 6 that it is per se stable, so that with its
associated holder elements for the panels 2 and the wall
parts lc it can be prefabricated at its place of
manufacture (workshop) or at the construction site and the
1o unit prefabricated to this extent can be mounted on the
building. In particular when the panels 2 and the wall
parts lc are of glass these can be mounted later. With the
present exemplary embodiment the configuration of the
carrier frame 6 which is itself stable is ensured by means
of a fastening of the carrier parts 6a to 6d at their ends
towards one another. This is achieved by means of the
corner angle 6e, with which the carrier parts 6a to 6d are
connected, e.g. by means of bolts 6s (Fig. 6). It is
particularly advantageous to so form the carrier parts 6a
2o to 6d that the limbs of the corner angle 6e are held in a
form fitting manner on the carrier parts 6a to 6d. In
particular in the case of carrier parts formed of profile
rods this can be achieved in particular by means of inner
profile grooves 6h to the dimensions of which the limbs of
the corner angle 6e are adapted and thus sit therein in a
form-fitting manner.
With a variant of the invention, the holder frame parts 62
for the inner shell la are likewise formed on in one piece
on the carrier parts 6a to 6d. Here, however there are
involved carrier parts 6a to 6d which in transverse plane
of the carrier frame do not extend up to the inner shell la
but are narrower, and which in each case can be attached as
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
32
individual parts to the carrier construction or to the
building itself. With this configuration, the carrier parts
6a to 6d and the holder frame parts 62 can be manufactured
and prefabricated at the same time, in particular as
profile rods. At the construction site there is then needed
no particular installation of the holder frame part 62, but
only of the carrier parts 6a to 6d. For this reason, both
the manufacture and also the installation is substantially
simplified, whereby the manufacturing costs can be
to significantly reduced. Carrier frame parts 6a to 6d and
holder frame parts 62 combined in the above-described
manner can be installed e.g. with a manner of construction
in accordance with Fig. 1,, in which a carrier frame 6 which
is stable in itself and prefabricatable is not provided.
Within the scope of the invention it is however possible to
form the above-described narrow carrier parts 6a to 6d,
which do not extend from the inner shell la up to the outer
shell ld, with or without the formed on holder frame parts
62 as a carrier frame 6 which is in itself stable. The
self-stability can be attained by means of fastening
devices 10 with which these narrow carrier parts are
connected with one another in their end regions towards one
another, e.g. by means of corner angles 6g, as have been
described for the narrow carrier frame according to Figs. 2
to 10, which only supports or carries the outer shell lb.
With a carrier frame as described above, narrow and stable
in itself, supporting or carrying only the inner shell la,
3o various advantages relating to the inner shell la can be
attained.
It is further possible within the scope of the invention to
provide the facade shell 1 in accordance with the invention
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
33
in the region of the entire building facade or only in one
or more partial regions of the building facade. The latter
is shown e.g. in Figs. 1 to 4 and 10 and 11, in which the
facade shell in accordance with the invention is provided
only in part region of the building facade, namely in the
region of a carrier frame 6 the horizontal and vertical
external dimensions of which, taking into consideration a
tolerance for installation, are adapted to the horizontal
and vertical dimensions of the installation opening 11 in
1o the post/bar construction or in a building. Thereby, the
vertical dimension may correspond approximately to the
storey height or storey internal height of the building.
The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1, in which the
same or similar parts are provided with the same reference
signs, differs from the exemplary embodiment according to
Fig. 11 in principle only in that the likewise present
horizontal and vertical carrier parts 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are
not connected by means of an attachment device 10 to a
2o frame or carrier which is itself stable, but the carrier
parts 6a to 6d can be attached to the concrete or the wall
of the building or to a post/bar construction and thus
obtain stability directly via these building parts. For the
one or more carrier supports 35 there is needed in contrast
an attachment of their lower and upper ends to the lower
and upper horizontal carrier parts 6c, 6d in each case by
means of an attachment device 10. Further, also in
accordance with Fig. l, the carrier parts 6a to 6d and the
carrier supports 35 are formed in one piece with the formed
on holder frame parts 62 of the inner shell la.
Furthermore, the inner shell la is connected by means of
the carrier parts 6a to 6d with the outer shell 16 and
thereby supported. Further, a light or sun protector 61 is
also provided with the configuration of Fig. 1.
CA 02360081 2001-07-24
39
Within the scope of the invention it is possible to arrange
at the upper and lower edge of a wall part lc of the inner
shell la, or between two wall parts arranged one above
another (in Fig. 1 a window and window glazing) horizontal
auxiliary bars 9a which may be smaller in their cross-
sectional size. The holder frame parts 62 may be formed on
both on the upper and lower carrier parts 6c, 6d or the
normal bars 9, or on the auxiliary bars 9a.
With the above-described configurations, the carrier parts
6a to 6d may also be formed by means of the post/bar
construction (8, 9).
