Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
MULLION PORTION IN A UNIT TYPE CURTAIN WALL
This invention concerns a unit type curtain wall
assembly comprising a plurality of standardized curtain wall
units, with or without provisions for the temperature control
or air conditioning of rooms. More specifically the invention
deals with improved means in such a unit type curtain wall
assembly for sealing the gaps (mullion portion) between the
horizontally neighboring ones of the curtain wall units.
Prior art and the present invention will be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a horizontal section through the prior art
tongue-and-groove joint used for sealing a gap between horizon-
tally neighboring curtain wall units;
FIG. 2 is an elevation of a preferred form of a unit
type curtain wall assembly constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal section
through the unit type curtain wall assembly of FIG. 2, taken
along the line III-III therein and showing the means for
sealing the gap between every two horizontally adjoining curtain
wall units;
FIG. 4 is a still more enlarged, fragmentary horizon-
t~lly section through one of the sealing bands of FIG. 3
together with associated means, the view being explanatory of
the operating principles of the invention;
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FIG. 5 is a horizontal section throush an alternative
form of the sealing band in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 6 is also a horizontal section through another
alternative form of the sealing band in accordance with the
invention.
The standardized curtain wall units making up a unit
type curtain wall assembly are usually arranged in rows and
columns in a vertical plane. Each row of curtain wall units
must be joined to each other so as to be sealed against the
passage of water and air while being relatively displaceable,
within limits, in their own plane. A conventional expedient
to this end has essentially been a tongue-and-groove joint
(FIG. 1), with a tongue on a vertical side frame member of one
curtain wall unit engaged, via sealing strips affixed thereto,
in a groove in the opposed side frame member of the neighboring
curtain wall unit.
An objection to this prior art means is that the
horizontally adjoining curtain wall units are displaceable
towards each other only the distance between the bottom of the
groove and the opposed end of the tongue. It may be contemplated
to allow large relative displacement of the curtain wall units
by increasing the depth of the groove. This solution is
unsatisfactory, however, because then the dimension of each
side frame member of the curtain wall units must be correspond-
ingly increased in the depth direction of the groove. Such
wide ~rame members necessitate, of course, a corresponding
reduction in the horizontal dimension of the opening for a
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window bounded by the frame members of each curtain wall unit,
so that the exterior of the curtain wall and the daylighting
function are deteriorated. This problem attendant on the prior
art will be later discussed in some more detail.
The present invention overcomes the above problem of
the prior art and succeeds in sealing a gap (mullion portion)
between the side frame members of every two horizontally
adjoining curtain wall units in a unit type curtain wall
assembly, in such a way that the curtain wall units are dis-
placeable toward and away from each other to a greater extentthan heretofore, without the need for increasing the width of
the side frame members.
Stated in its simplest form, the invention suggests
the use of a sealing band of elastic material between the
opposed side frame members of every two horizontally adjoining
curtain wall units. The opposed side frame mernbers has a
preassigned gap (mullion portion) therebetween. The sealing
band is mounted in place by having its opposite lateral
marginal edge portions engaged in a pair of opposed mounting
~rooves of a predetermined depth defined in the opposed side
frame members. The width of the sealing band is less than
the distance between the bottoms of the pair of mounting
grooves.
Thus, upon displacement of the two horizontally
neighboring curtain wall units toward each other, the sealing
band will be bottomed in the pair of opposed mounting grooves.
Further the sealing band permits continued displacement of the
curtain wall units toward each other by virtue of its own
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elasticity. It will have been seen, then, that each mounting
groove need not be so deep as the groove of the conventional
tongue-and-groove joint to allow the relative displacement of
the curtain wall units to a given degree. The dimension of
each side frame member of the curtain wall units in the depth
direction of the mounting groove can therefore be reduced to a
required minimum to afford a correspondingly lar~e opening
for a window in each curtain wall unit, so that its exterior
and the daylighting function are maintained in a good condition.
In a preferred embodiment disclosed herein the
invention is applied to a unit type curtain wall assembly
having a built-in room temperature control system. This
particular application dictates the use of three sealing bands
between every two horizontally adjoining curtain wall units.
The combination of the three sealing bands, with two intervening
closed spaces, effectively prevents heat flow in either direc-
tion therethrough
The above and other features and advantages of this
invention and the manner of attaining them will become more
apparent, and the invention itself will best to understood,
from a study of the following description and appended claims,
with reference had to the attached drawings.
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In the prior art joint between the opposed side frame
mer~ers a and c of two horizontally adjoining curtain wall
units, a tongue b on the side frame member a is engaged in a
groove d in the other side frame member c. The tongue _ has
a pair of sealing strips e on its opposite sides for sliding
contact with the opposed vertical surfaces defining the ~roove
d, Normally a gap Ll exists between the opposed ends a' and
c' of the side frame members a and c, and the distal end b' of
the tongue b is spaced a distance L2 from the bottom d' of the
groove ~.
Upon displacement of the two curtain wall units
toward each other the tongue _ becomes received deeper in the
groove d. Thus, in order to allow the displacement of the
curtain wall units toward each other the full distance Ll
between their opposed side frame members a and c, the distance
L2 between the tongue end b' and groove bottom d' must be at
least equal to Ll. The deeper the groove d, the greater must
be the dimension of the side frame member c in the depth
direction of the groove, and the smaller must be the dimension
of the opening in the curtain wall unit in the same direction,
with respect to a given size of the curtain wall unit,
The present invention solves the above problem.
Described hereinbelow is a preferred embodiment of the invention
as applied to a unit type curtain wall assembly with a built-in
room temperature con-trol or air conditioning system.
With reference to FIG. 2 the exemplified unit type
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curtain wall assembly in acco;d~lc~ w th the invention com-
prises a plurality of standardized curtain wall units A arrayed
in rows and columns. Each curtain wall unit A has a pair of
vertical side frame members l, a horizontal top frame member
2, and a horizontal bottom frame member 3, which are combined
into a rectangulax shape. Each curtain wall unit A further
comprises a pair of intermediate frame members 4 extending
horizontally between the pair of side frame members 1. Thus
the rectangular opening for a window bounded by the side, top,
and bottom frame members l, 2 and 3 of each curtain wall unit
is divided by the intermediate frame members 4 into an upper
opening Bl and a lower opening B2. These openings are closed
by panels or panes Cl and C2 of double glazins or other suitable
heat insulating material, Another panel C3 of any desired
heat insulating material is fitted between the pair of inter-
mediate frame members 4,
Reference is now directed to FIG. 3 in order to
describe the in~ention in more specific aspects thereof, Shown
in this figure are the opposed side frame members 1 of any two
horizontally adjoining curtain wall units A in the unit type
curtain wall assembly of FIC-. 2, together with three sealin~
bands 5, 6 and 7 of elastic material closing the gap ( a mullion
portion~ but hereinafter represents merely as !'gap") G there-
between. The topmost sealing band 5 faces indoors, and the
lowermost sealing band 7 outdoors. The sealing band 5 will
therefore be hereinafter referred to as the indoor sealing
band, the sealing band 6 as the first outdoor sealing band,
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and the sealing band 7 as the secon~ outdoor sealing band.
Each side frame member 1 is hollow and substantially
rectangular in cross-sectional shape. It has a pair of side
walls 10 and 11, an exterior end wall 12, and an interior end
wall 13, defining in combination a first passageway 15 of
rectangular cross section for the flow of conditioning air.
The interior end wall 13 is thicker than the other
walls 10, 11 and 12 and has formed longitudinally therethrough
a second passageway 17 of circular cross section for the flow
of a heat transfer mediurn as in the form of hot or cold water.
The second passageway 17 is located closer to one side of the
interior end wall 13, away from the side frame member 1 of
the neighboring curtain wall unit A, to make room for a recess
18 also formed in the interior end wall 13. Thus, cross-
sectionally, the first passageway 15 occupies a major portion
of each side frame member 1, and the second passageway 17 lies
interiorly of the first passageway in side-by-side relation
to the recess 18.
As has been known, the conditioning air in the first
passageway 15 is expelled into the rooms through vents in the
pertinent horizontal frame members of the unit type curtain
wall assembly. The heat transfer fluid, on the other hand,
radiates the heat into the rooms or absorbs the heat of air
throu~h the frame members,
The recess 18 in the interior end wall 13 is defined
in part by a flange 23 projecting interiorly from the thin
portion 13'1 of the interior end wall and by another flange 24
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formed in coplanar relation to the indoor surface 13'a of the
interior end wall. These flanges 23 and 2~ are arranged to
I~av~ the recess 18 o~en to the aa~ G between the two opposed
_ _ _ ~ ,
side frame members 1.
Fixedly mounted in the recess 18 is an approximately
W-shaped mounting member or members ~1 which define in co~bina-
tion with the flange 24 a mounting groove 8 open to the gap G
between the opposed side frame members 1. The aforesaid indoor
¦ sealing band 5 has its opposite lateral marginal edge portions
¦ engaged in the pair of opposed mounting grooves 8 in the side
frame members 1, thus closing the gap G therebetween on its
¦ indoor side. A plurality of hollows 5a of triangular cross
¦ section extend longitudinally through the indoor sealing band
¦ 5. The arrangement of the hollows 5a is such that the indoor
¦ sealing band 5 takes the form of a truss. The width _l of
¦ the indoor sealing.band 5 is less than the distance h2 between
¦ the bottoms 8_ of the pair of opposed mounting grooves 8.
¦ The ex-terior end wall 12 of each side frame member 1
¦ has a mount 16 formed integral therewith on its exterior side.
¦ The mount 16 is of hollow construction, including a side wall
16a, an end wall 16b, and another side wall 16c. Between side
wall 16a and end wall 16b there is defined another mounting
groove 19 open to the gap G between the side frame members 1.
The noted first outdoor sealing band 6 has its
lateral marginal edge portions engaged in the pair of opposed
mounting grooves 19 in the side frame members 1, thus closing
the gap G on its outdoor side. The first outdoor sealing band
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6 is also in the form of a truss, having a plurality of
hollows 6a of triangular cross section formed longitudinally
therethrough in suitable relative arrangement. The width h3
of the first outdoor sealing band 6 is less than the distance
_~ between the bottoms l9a of the pair of opposed mounting
yrooves 19.
Also defined in the end wall 16_ of the mount 16 are
two mounting yrooves 20 and 21 which are both open exteriorly
of the unit type curtain wall assembly. The junction of the
end wall 16b and side wall 16C is thickened inwardly to provide
a screw hole 22. The exterior end wall 12 of the side frame
member 1 has a portion 12a leE-t exposed by the mount 16. This
exposed portion of the exterior end wall has a pair of parallel
spaced ridges 12c defining an undercut groove for a purpose yet
to he described.
A retainer strip 32 is secured as by countersunk
screws 33 to the end wall 16~D of the mount 16 of each side
frame member 1 via connectors 30 and 31 of thermal insulating
material. The retainer strip 32 has an L-shaped flange 34
directed interiorly therefrom and having formed therein two
mounting grooves 36 and 37 in opposed relation to the mounting
grooves 20 and 21 in the end wall 16_ of the mount 16. The
heat insulating connector 30 is of approximately square shaped
cross section, recessed along one corner for engagement with
the ~-shaped flange 3~. The o-ther heat insula-ting connector
31 -takes -the form of a thin strip having its opposite marginal
edge portions snugly fitted in the mounting groove 20 in the
mount 16 and in -the mountinq groove 36 in the L-shaped flange
34.
The retainer strip 32 coates with the L-shaped flange
34 to define a mounting groove 35 opposed to the other similar
mounting ~roove 35 associated with the neighboring side frame
member 1. The aforementioned second outdoor sealing band 7
has its lateral marginal edge portions engaged in the pair of
¦ opposed mounting grooves 35. Lying exteriorly of t.he first
outdoor sealing band 6, the second outdoor sealing band 7
coacts therewith to define a space 45 which is closed on each
¦ side by the two heat insulating connectors 30 and 31,
The second outdoor sealing band 7 also takes the
form of a truss, having a plurality of hollows 7a of triangular
¦ cross section extending longitudinally therethrough in suitable
¦ relative arrangement, The width h5 of this second outdoor
¦ sealing band-is..less than the distance h6 between the bottoms
¦ 35a of the pair of opposed mounting grooves 35.
¦ With the gap G between every two opposed side frame
¦ members 1 closed as above by the three sealing bands 5, 6 and
¦ 7 with the two intervening closed spaces, the conditioned
¦ indoor air is not to escape through the gap, Further the heat
energy that has transferred from the side frame members 1 -to
the closed gap G therebetween can be conserved therein. This
closed gap is further insula-ted from the outdoors by the
additional closed space 45 defined be-tween the first and second
outdoor sealing bands 6 and 7. Accordinyly the loss of the
heat energy through the gap is reduced to an absolute minimum.
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FIG. 3 is further illustrative of the way in which
each pane of double glazing C2 is peripherally supported by
each side frame member l. The supporting means include an
exterior sealing strip 39 engaged in an undercut groove 38 in
the retainer strip 32 and held against the exterior face of
the double glazing C2. An interior sealing strip 49, held
against the interior face of the double glazing C2, is engaged
in an undercut groove 50 in a spacer 48 which in turn is
engaged between the pair of ridges 12c on the exterior end
wall 12 of the side frame m~nber 1.
FIG. 4 is explanatory of the operating principles of
the sealing bands 5, 6 and 7, with the second outdoor sealing
band 7 taken as an example. As has been stated, each sealing
band has elasticity and so allows the two neighboring curtain
wall units to be displaced toward each other even after the
. sealing band has become bottomed in the pair of opposed mount-
ing grooves. Thus, in FIG, 4, the difference between the width
h5 of the representative sealing band 7 and the distance h6
between the bottoms 35a of the mounting grooves 35 can be made
less than the distance ~1 between the opposed ends 32' of the
two adjacent retainer grooves 32. To turn this statement
around is to say that the sum of the distances Sl and S2
between the ends of the sealing band 7 and the bottoms 35a of
the mounting grooves 35 can be less than the distance I,l.
Thus the depth of each mounting groove 35 can be far less
than that of the groove d in the prior art tongue~and-groove
joint of FIG. l.
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The foregoing will have made clear that the dimension
of each side frame member 1 in the depth direction of the
mounting grooves therein can be reduced to make -the width of
the respective side frame member 1 of the individual curtain
wall units minimum. The narrower side frame members make it
possible to correspondingly increase the width of the openings
Bl and B2 in each curtain wall unit A.
Depicted in FIG. 5 is an alternative form of sealing
band 5, 6, 7. The alternative sealing band is made thicker at
its lateral marginal edge portions 51 than at its central
portion 52. Each thicker edge portion 51 has one or more
hollows 53 extending longitudinally therethrough.
FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative form of sealing
band 5, 6, 7~ The second alternative sealing band has a
plurality of ridges 54 formed on both surfaces of each lateral
marginal edge portion 55, Further the sealing band has one or
more hollows 56 formed longitudinally through its relatively
thin central portion 57. A similar hollow or hollows could be
formed in the central portion 52 of the s~aling band of FIG. 5.
The alternative sealing bands of FIGS. 5 and 6 offer
the advantage of being more elastic, more readily absorbing
the relative displacement of the curtain wall units in their
own plane,
Although the invention has been described in detail
as applied to a unit type curtain wall assembly with a built-in
temperature control system, it is understood that the inven-tion
finds application to unit type curtain wall assemblies having
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no such temperature control system. Various modifications of
the illustrated embodiments may therefore be made within the
broader scope due to the invention,
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