WO1988009415A1

WO1988009415A1 - Building system

Info

Publication number: WO1988009415A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000148
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Graham Hitchins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-25
Filing date: 1988-05-20
Publication date: 1988-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-11-25

Abstract

A system for attaching external cladding to a wall or frame of a building in such a way that the cladding is capable of limited movement, in three directions, with respect to the wall or frame thus enabling stresses set up during adverse conditions to be combatted. The system comprises a first component (3) attached to the building framework and having means (4, 5) allowing adjustment of a second component (6) attached at one end thereto. The other end of the second component (6) has further adjustment means (7) interfitting with and sandwiched between minor portions (13, 14) of oppositely facing matable members (11, 12) which are resiliently held together by resilient means (19) associated with an elongated bore (20) allowing further adjustment. Between major portions of the matable members (11, 12) is placed a resilient sealing strip (24), the inner sealant. To the outward facing faces of these members are placed further resilient sealing strips (25, 26), the outer sealants, upon which the external cladding is held in abutting relationship, by means (27) anchored to the matable members (11, 12).

Description

BUILDING SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to building systems and more particularly to a building system for the attachment of curtain walling or cladding to a building frame and at the corners thereof. BACKGROUND ART

Traditional methods of building construction are such that labour costs are not able to be reduced to any significant degree and, moreover, the inherently expensive traditional building materials are only too prone to deterioration in general, damage by solar, wind, water, seismic activity etc. and, in addition, they usually require constant and often costly maintenance.

Presently, these traditional building methods and materials - particularly in the case of so-called "high rise" buildings - have given way to steel-framed structures externally clad with what are termed "curtain walls"; that is to say, walls which are non-load-bearing.

The expansion and contraction coefficients of such as aluminum/glass curtains walls are not the same as those of the steel or concrete frame of a building. This state of affairs presents problems occasioned by these varying expansion and contraction coefficients during hot or cold climatic changes over a period of time. Furthermore, the known systems do not allow for respective movement of adjacent components during seismic activity or flood situations.

Additionally, structures using pillar and beam construction methods - whether constructed of steel beams or concrete - require large tolerances. Thus there is a need for the provision of factory-produced exterior waterproofing panels for a building, which can be made to extremely small tolerances and which can be readily affixed to such structures without extra cost.

Numerous proposals have been made in the past for the overcoming of the shortcomings of prior art systems, and some relevant documents are listed hereunder:-

British Patent No. 1,296,782 to SAMSON WINDOW

CORP.

British Patent No. 1,528,234 to SAFAMA S.A. British Patent No. 1,562,552 to JOSEF GARTNER &

CO.

U.S. Patent No. 4,184,301 to H.H. ROBERTSON CO. U.S. Patent No. 4,307,551 to PPG IND. INC. U.S. Patent No. 4,532,746 to YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.

. U.S. Patent No. 4,565,040 to YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K. W. German Patent No. 2,601,022 to JOSEF GARTNER & CO.

However, not one of these prior art documents reveals any system which makes allowance for expansion/contraction in variable temperature/environmental conditions, as in the present invention. Moreover, neither does the prior art provide a system which includes a permanent joint with an inner sealant. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages by the provision of a system for the attachment of curtain walls or cladding to a building frame, particularly of a high-rise or multi-storey building, in which the curtain walling or cladding is able to move, to a limited extent at least, with respect to the said building frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system for the attachment of curtain walling or cladding, particularly at the corners of a building, in which the curtain walling or cladding is adapted to allow for unintended variations in the structure to which it is going to be attached.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a system for the attachment of curtain walling or cladding to a building frame, said system comprising a right-angled bracket attachable to a frame of a building to be clad, said bracket having, in each limb thereof, an elongated slot, said slots being elongated normal to each other; a flat plate provided, on each side thereof, with at least two parallel lands adjacent one end of said plate and disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the plate, said plate further being provided with an elongated slot disposed with its longitudinal axis normal to said lands and with a circular aperture adjacent the other end of said plate, said plate being able to be bolted to said bracket via said circular aperture and a said bracket slot; a pair of matable members respective portions of which are each provided with at least four grooves, the said grooved portions being adapted to be disposed one either side of said flat plate and bolted thereto, via the elongated slot thereof and registering bores provided in said grooved portions respectively, so that said lands are receivable in at least some of said grooves; and a resilient sealing strip located between mating surfaces of said pair of matable members, to the outer faces of which is attachable said curtain walling or cladding, there being a further resilient sealing strip recessed in each said outer face to sealingly abut the said curtain walling or cladding: the arrangement being such that the curtain walling or cladding is able to be adjusted, or to move, at least to a limited extent, with respect to the building frame to which it is attached. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the reader may gain a better understanding of the present invention, hereinafter will be described a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view showing various components of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a ridged plate; Figure 3 is an angled bracket;

Figure 4 shows how four members are joined into a cruciform configuration;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing various components of the invention at a corner of a building; and

Figure 6 is a front view of a serrated-faced member. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Firstly referring to Figure 1, the frame of a building to be clad may be constructed from rolled steel joints (known as RSJ) as indicated at 1. To a RSJ 1 there may be attached, via a threaded or welded steel stud 2 , a right-angled bracket 3 having therethrough elongated slots 4 and 5. As will be seen from Figure 3 in particular, slots 4 and 5 are elongated normal to each other; thus bracket 3 is able to move with respect to RSJ 1 as indicated by double-arrow "A" .

When bracket 3 has been positioned and bolted down to RSJ 1, the projecting portion of 3 has attached to it a plate 6 provided with parallel ridges or lands 7 on either side. Bracket 3 and plate 6 are bolted together via the elongated slot 5 in the said bracket and a hole 8 in plate 6. Ideally, as bracket 3 is of steel and plate 6 is of aluminum, to prevent electrostatic failure hole 8 is fitted with an insulating bush 10 together with an insulating washer 9 at each end of the bush.

Thus plate 6 can accommodate vertical movement at the junction with bracket 3 as indicated by double-arrow "B" ; that is to say, towards and from the beholder. This provision of vertical movement, in conjunction with the horizontal movement at slot 4, allows the exterior panels to be so fixed that individual panels can be positioned accurately with even compression of any sealing strip at all points in between adjacent panels and in the cruciform as shown in Figure 4.

The ridged end of plate 6 is "sandwiched" between a pair of matable members 11 and 12. Portions 13 and 14, respectively, of members 11 and 12 are each provided with four grooves, as those referenced 15. It will be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2 that the ridged end of plate 6 is able to be slid between the spaced-apart portions

13 and 14, ridges 7 co-operating with grooves 15, in four positions of plate 6 with respect to members 11 and 12.

Thus, these members are able to be moved with respect to the now-secured ridged plate 6 as indicated by double-arrow "C". Although plate 6 is shown in Figure 1 sandwiched in a particular position between members 11 and 12, it will be appreciated that the ridges 7 could be accommodated in other ones of the slots 15 by relative movement between plate 6 and the members 11 and 12 as indicated by double-arrow "C", thus allowing for variation and adjustment of the position of the exterior panel. As plate 6 is a sliding fit in slots 15, expansion or contraction of the exterior panels due to weather or other extraneous forces can be accommodated, and any strains due to these forces can be relieved.

Portions 13 and 14 are clamped to the ridged end of plate 6 by means of such as a bolt 16 adapted to extend through bores 17, 18 in portions 13 and 14 respectively; these two portions are urged towards each other by a compression spring 19. To permit the adjustment of plate 6 between portions 13 and 14, ridged plate 6 is provided with an elongated slot 20.

The major portions of the matable members 11 and 12 are as will be clear from perusal of Figure 1. The matable part of member 11 includes a tongue 21 while the co-acting matable part of member 12 includes a bifurcated configuration 22, 23. Between tongue 21 and member 12 is a resilient sealing strip 24, ideally of expanded polyethylene or other suitable sealing materials. Similar sealants, 25 and 26, are recessed in members 11 and 12, as illustrated.

The exterior cladding, or curtain walling, is preferably rivetted, as at 27, to the matable members.

The curtain walling or exterior cladding may well take the form of panels comprised of, say, a core of an insulating material 28 - perhaps of a suitable foamed plastic - having a fibreglass mesh, or "glass cloth", reinforcement 29 and an outer, weatherproof surface coating

30 which may well be a cemetitous layer.

Between the curtain walling, or exterior cladding, and the members 11, 12 there is advantageously a run of fire-proof board 31, while at the other side of the members 11 and 12 there may be rivetted panels of such as

"gibraltar board", as referenced 32.

Members 11 and 12 are provided with flanges 33,

34, the edges of which are pressed together as shown in Figure 1, to further weatherproof the construction.

As well as being adjustable in all three dimensions ("A", "B" and "C" directions), the arrangement allows for forced movement in the event of such as seismic activity or rupture by water flow. In Figure 5, a corner of a building is represented, referenced 35 - to which corner the curtain walling or cladding is to be affixed, as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The corner fitting has four main components referenced 36, 37, 38 and 39. Component 36 is preferably an aluminum, plastic or similar extrusion and extends from top to bottom of a panel, or cladding member to be affixed to wall 35. Component 36 has a serrated-face 40 and a slot or channel 41.

Component 37 also is an aluminum, plastic or similar extrusion and is wedge-shaped; however component .37 does not extend from top to bottom but is in the form of, say, two-inch lengths as shown in Figure 6.

Component 37 also has serrations 42 which co-act with serrations 40 on component 36. Components 37 are spaced apart on the building's frame or walls and affixed thereto by screws, as that referenced 43, which pass through holes , as 44 .

The reason for the co-acting serrated faces 40 and 42 will now be understood - by virtue of these serrations the two components may be positioned relative to each other so as to enable component 36 to be moved away from wall or frame 35. Thus, unevenness of surface may be compensated for.

The third component 38 is an aluminum, plastic or similar extrusion and again extends from top to bottom, as does component 36. When erecting the curtain walling or cladding on site, a tongue 45 is engaged in a co-acting groove 46 of the previously affixed extrusions 36 and 37, and extrusion 38 affixed to wall 35 by screws 47.

The fourth main component 39 is an aluminum, plastic or similar extrusion also extending from top to bottom and has attached to it the last cladding panel, all the rest of the periphery to the building having been clad. Component 39 "snap-fits" onto component 38 by pressing in the direction indicated by arrow "A", to operate the locking lands 48 and 49 in conventional manner.

Components 38 and 39 incorporate strips of sealant 50, 51 and 52 which are so disposed as to meet their equivalents when panels come together.

The cladding or curtain walling panels which are to be affixed to the extruded components may, at corners, be either mitred, or overlapped, but it is essential that such as glass cloth and exterior sealant strips fully encompass the outside of the construction; this arrangement has been made clear with reference to Figures 1 to 4. As will be appreciated, the above arrangement of components may well be adapted to use on internal corners, window and door reveals and the like.

The building system as hereinbefore described has numerous advantages over and above prior art constructions; the inventive system is easy to instal and reduces building costs by up to, perhaps, 75%. The inventive building system replaces the usual heavy concrete panel cladding with lightweight plastic/cementitious skin weatherproof cladding, but nevertheless permits attachment of conventional metal panels where required or desired; complete watertightness is assured due to the presence of the flexible sealant strips between all joints.

When two, three or four walls come together - as is to be seen in Figure 4 - the sealant strips are present between joints of all the walls at the meeting or convergent point. Unlike conventional curtain walling - which must have such as glazing bars for attachment of glass - the inventive system does away with this need.

Furthermore, the insulation of the building is much enhanced, thereby reducing energy costs, for example the costs of heating and/or air-conditioning.

Because of the manner in which the cladding or curtain walling is attached to the building frame in the inventive building system, a more efficient use of available space may be made. That is to say, extra usable, or extra lettable or leasable floor space is gained.

This invention also allows new exterior panels of many materials to be affixed to existing structures with automatic waterproofing of all joints in the new exterior covering.

From the abovegoing, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set out in the following Claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for the attachment of curtain walling or cladding to a building frame, said system comprising a right-angled bracket (3) attachable to a frame of a building to be clad, said bracket (3) having, in each limb thereof, an elongated slot (4, 5), said slots being elongated normal to each other; a flat plate (6) provided, on each side thereof, with at least two parallel lands (7) adjacent one end of said plate (6) and disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the plate (6), said plate (6) further being provided with an elongated slot (20) disposed with its longitudinal axis normal to said lands (7) and with a circular aperture (8) adjacent the other end of said plate (6), said plate (6) being able to be bolted to said bracket (3) via said circular aperture (8) and a said bracket slot (5); a pair of matable members (11, 12) respective portions (13, 14) of which are each provided with at least four grooves (15) , the said grooved portions (13, 14) being adapted to be disposed one either side of said flat plate (6) and bolted thereto, via the elongated slot (20) thereof and registering bores (17, 18) provided in said grooved portions (13, 14) respectively, so that said lands (7) are receivable in at least some of said grooves (15) ; and a resilient sealing strip (24) located between mating surfaces of said pair of matable members (11, 12), to the outer faces of which is attachable said curtain walling or cladding, there being a further resilient sealing strip (25, 26) recessed in each said outer face to sealingly abut the said curtain walling or cladding: the arrangement being such that the curtain walling or cladding is able to be adjusted, or to move, at least to a limited extent, with respect to the building frame to which it is attached.

2. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said right-angled bracket (3) is of steel, said flat plate (6) is of aluminum, and said circular aperture (8) is provided with an insulating bush (10) together with an insulating washer (9) at each end thereof.

3. The system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said grooved portions (13, 14) are secured at either side of said plate (6) by means of a bolt (16) adapted to extend through the elongated slot (20) of the said plate (6) and through said registering bores (17, 18), a compression spring (19) surrounding the shank of said bolt (16) between a said matable member and a nut, whereby said grooved portions (13, 14) are urged towards each other.

4. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the inner faces of said matable members (11, 12) have attached thereto panels 32 of such as "gibraltar board" .

5. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one said mating surface of said pair of matable members (11, 12) includes a tongue (21), the other mating surface having a co-operating bifurcated configuration (22, 23) between flanges of which the said tongue (21) is receivable, said resilient sealing strip (24) being disposed between the free end of said tongue (21) and that portion of matable member (12) located between the said flanges.

6. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said outer face of each said matable member (11, 12), adjacent the mating surface thereof, is provided with an outwardly - directed flange (33, 34) which together are adapted to sealingly extend into the gap between adjoining curtain walling or cladding panels.

7. The system as claimed in Claim 1, further including means for attaching said curtain walling or cladding to a corner or a building, said means comprising four co-acting components, a first component (36) the length of which is such as to extend from top to bottom of a curtain walling or cladding panel to be attached to a wall (35) , said first component (36) having a serrated-faced wedge-shaped portion (40) and a channel (41) extending over its length; a wedge-shaped second component (37) having, an /09415

outwardly-directed inclined face, thereof, a plurality of serrations (42) adapted to co-operate with those (40) on said first component (36), said first and second components (36, 37) being able to be positioned relative to each other so as to enable said first component (36) to be moved towards, or away from, said wall (10) to thereby compensate for surface unevenness; a third component (38), the length of which is such as to extend from top to bottom of a said panel, and having a substantially L-shaped cross-section so as to overlie two sides of a corner of said wall (35), said third component (38) being provided with a longitudinally-extending tongue (45) adapted to be engaged in a co-acting, longitudinally-extending groove (46) of said first component (36) so that said first, second and third components (36, 37, 38) are aligned in side-by-side array against the said wall (35); and a fourth component (39), the length of which is such as to extend from top to bottom of a said panel, said fourth component (39) being adapted to be affixed to, so as to overlie, that portion of said L-shaped third component (38) which is remote from said tongue (45).

8. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said second component (37) does not extend from top to bottom of a said panel but is constituted by a plurality of discrete elements, said elements being spaced apart on said wall (10) in vertical array and affixed thereto by screws which extend through said channel (41), through a hole (44) in each discrete element and into said wall (10).

9. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said four co-acting components (36, 37, 38, 39) are aluminum, plastic or similar extrusions.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said fourth component (39) is affixed to said third component (38) via longitudinally-extending locking lands (48, 49) adapted to "snap fit" into co-operating grooves provided in said third component (38).

11. The system as claimed in Claim 7, wherein there is provided, between mating surfaces of said third and fourth components (38, 39), a resilient sealing strip (51); and wherein there is provided a further resilient sealing strip (50, 52) recessed in respective outer faces of the said third and fourth components (38, 39) to sealingly abut the said curtain walling or cladding.