The invention relates to a blast-resistant window system for closing an opening in a wall delimiting an inner space, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
Such systems are principally known from the state of the art. A protective drape is known from US patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,449, which drape is made of an elastic woven fabric with a high resistance to tearing and which is mounted behind a window. The protective drape is dimensioned substantially larger with respect to its surface area than the cross section of the window. Any excess fabric of the drape is held in a collecting container at the bottom or on the floor of the windows in superimposed layers of fabric or woven textile. The respective ends of the protective drape are anchored in a fixed manner in the collecting container both above the window as well as at the base of the window. During the occurrence of an explosion-induced blast wave, the window pane is destroyed and the shards of the window pane fly in the direction of an interior space behind the window pane. These shards are intercepted by the protective drape, which will bulge towards the interior space as a result of the influence of the pressure for such a time until the fabric held in reserve in the collecting container is used up and the drape is tensioned at least for a short period in its bulging. The fabric of the protective drape offers a favorable protection against shards and can also be provided in an air-permeable configuration.
The drape is installed in a fixed way behind the window in order to effectively catch flying shards in the event of a blast. This leads to the disadvantage that the window can be accessed only with difficulty from the inside and thus the cleaning of the inside of the window or the opening of the window for airing the room is only possible with difficulty.
A sturdy window system is further known from the European patent application EP 1 035 295 A2. This window comprises a protective device especially in the form of wire cables built into the window frame. In order to prevent a breakthrough of the window pane in the event of a pressure effect caused by a blast, several wire cables are tensioned as close as possible behind the window. These wire cables are preferably provided with an elastic configuration or are held in a resilient manner and therefore allow a deformation or bulging of the window pane in the event of a pressure effect up to a certain degree. They support the window pane in the event of bulging and thus prevent its breakage. The wire cables are tensioned either directly behind the pane in the window frame, or in front of a soffit into which the window frame with the window pane is built. A disassembly or removal of the wire cables is principally not intended because their anchoring must be so stable that they will be able to withstand a blast-induced pressure effect.
When the wire cables are fixed mounted in or in front of the soffit, it is also not possible to open the window to the inside in this case. Moreover, the cleaning of the inner side of the window pane is then also only possible with difficulty, if at all, as a result of the transversally tensioned wire cables.
It is finally known from the state of the art (e.g. from utility model DE 84 17 098 U1) to provide a blast-resistant window system for closing an opening in a wall delimiting an interior space which provides a protective glass arrangement between a window arrangement and the interior space. The protective glass arrangement typically comprises a protective window pane which is preferably embedded in a protective-pane window frame, as well as a holding device for the protective window pane for holding the pane, optionally with the protective-pane window frame in the region of the opening in connection with the wall.
Openings are provided in the frame of the window arrangement situated on the side endangered by an attack, which openings join the space between the window arrangement and the protective glass with ambient environment situated on the side endangered by an attack. Although the pressure arising from an attack with explosives can destroy the window arrangement facing the side endangered by the attack, the maximum pressure is not exerted on the subsequent protective glass because a compression of the air within the space between the two glass units cannot arise to an extent which would endanger the protective window pane as a result of the openings. This window arrangement which is described in the state of the art and faces the side endangered by an attack does not completely seal the opening in the building in an air-tight manner in several variants of the same. As a result it is necessary to provide the protective window pane configuration in such a way that in the closed state it forms an air-tight sealing of the opening in the building. The utility model DE 84 17 098 U1 shows however that the openings arranged in the frame of the window arrangement facing the side endangered by an attack can be sealed by means which will open up outwardly in the case of an occurring pressure which is caused by an explosion for example.
Such a window system can be arranged in such a way that both units (i.e. the window arrangement and the protective window pane) are movably held in a pivoting or rotating fashion. In the closed state of the window arrangement facing the side endangered by an attack, a little fresh air can reach the interior space through the cross section of openings situated in the frame of the window arrangement, as are present in a permanent manner in another embodiment.
This known blast-resistant window system comes with the disadvantage however that for an effective airing of the room it is necessary to open both units, i.e. the window arrangement and the protective window pane. In the opened state of the window system there is no sufficient protection for persons situated in the interior space in the case of an explosion occurring close by.
Based on this state of the art it is the object of the present invention to further develop a known blast-resistant window system in such a way that the inside of a window arrangement in front of a protective glass arrangement is easily accessible, and further provides an airing function of the window whilst maintaining the protective function.
This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. In accordance with the same, the explosion-resistant window system in accordance with the invention is characterized in that a non-sealable permanent airing cross section is present between the protective glass arrangement and the wall.
The window arrangement facing the side endangered by a blast completely seals the opening of a wall, so that the same protects the interior space from air passage in its closed position, which means that the impermeability demanded under energetic and acoustic aspects is given. The protective glass arrangement facing the interior space is used exclusively for the protection against shards or other fragments which would reach the interior space as a result of the breakage of the window arrangement if the protective glass arrangement were not provided. The non-sealable permanent airing cross section between the protective glass arrangement and the wall prevents that maximum pressure acting on the window arrangement during an explosion is transferred to the protective glass arrangement, which is why the same is not destroyed.
The protective glass arrangement in accordance with the invention is especially also suitable for retrofitting existing window arrangements. A strongly improved protection against the blast effects can be achieved with relatively simple means by using typically conventional window arrangements.
The protective glass arrangement merely needs to fulfill the requirements placed on protection against flying shards, and can thus be understood as an “internal protective shield”.
The configuration of the holding frame for the protective glass allows moving away the protective window pane especially under normal circumstances, which can optionally occur in combination with the protective-glass window frame of the opening, so that the inside of the window arrangement or the inside of its window pane is easily accessible. It is especially possible and advisable to leave the window arrangement in an opened position and to leave the protective window pane in its protective position, so that sufficient fresh air is supplied to the interior space through the non-sealable permanent airing cross section and there is simultaneously a protection against attacks for persons situated in the interior space.
Terms such as “usually”, “normal conditions” or “normal state” shall be understood within the scope of the description in such a way that they designate a state or situation during which there is no blast-induced pressure effect in particular on the protective window pane especially and the holding device for the protective pane. Moreover, the term “swiveling” within the scope of the description shall be understood in such a way that it includes the meaning of the words “turning” or “tilting”.
A technically simple configuration of a holding device for the protective pane is possible by fixing the holding device for the protective pane on the wall and outside of the soffit. Special advantages are offered in this connection by the possibility that the protective window pane is larger than the clear cross section of the window opening and covers wall sections adjacent to the soffit with projecting boundary strips. In this case it is necessary that there must be a distance in the horizontal direction between the wall and the protective window pane in order to ensure the permanent airing function. If the available space on the wall in front of the soffit is not sufficiently large enough as a result of furniture or installed elements (e.g. sunscreen devices) for arranging the holding device for the protective window pane, a fixture within the soffit is mandatory.
The holding device for the protective pane comprises in an advantageous embodiment at least two bands and a locking device for releasable joining and arresting of the protective window pane with the wall.
The holding device for the protective pane is advantageously provided with a resilient configuration into the interior space in the case of a blast-induced pressure effect in a direction transversally to the cross-sectional surface of the opening. The resilient configuration of the holding device for the protective window pane comes with the advantage that the same need not be provided with such a strong and expensive configuration and be anchored in the wall than in the case of a non-resilient configuration.
It is advantageous when especially the movement of the protective window pane towards the interior space is subjected to a limitation of its path in the case of a blast-induced pressure effect.
It is finally advantageous when the holding device for the protective pane is configured in the form of a plurality of point-shaped connections which keep the protective window pane, and optionally in combination with the window frame, at a predetermined distance from the wall, so that (apart from the point-shaped connections) at least an air gap remains for airing purposes between the protective window pane or the window frame for the pane and the wall or to the soffit, especially during the normal state.
A minimum distance between outer window arrangement and internal protective glazing of a minimum of 10.0 cm, preferably at least 20.0 cm, allows in the case of an outside casement window that the same can be tilted or turned to an opened positioned when the internal protective glazing is closed. An air exchange can occur between the protective glazing and the wall or its soffit through the lateral airing cross sections or gaps.
Further advantageous embodiments of the holding device for the protective window pane and the window arrangement are the subject matter of the sub-claims.
Seven figures are appended to the description, wherein:
The invention is described in detail below in the form of different embodiments by reference to the mentioned figures. The same elements are designated with the same reference numerals in all figures.
The window arrangement 110 comprises a window pane 112 and a window holding device 114 in form of a window frame for holding the window pane 112 in the opening. The window arrangement 110 is configured as a casement window in which the window pane 112 is embedded in a casement 114-2, which on its part engages in a pivoting manner in a window frame 114-1 joined to the wall 200. The window pane 112 is arranged in the embodiment shown in
The said protective window pane arrangement 120 is arranged between the window arrangement 110 and the interior space IR in such a way that it covers the opening at least substantially. The protective window pane arrangement 120 is used to prevent shards or parts of the frame from flying into the interior space IR in the case of a blast-induced fragmentation of the window arrangement for example. It comprises a protective window pane 126, which is typically also a laminated window pane and which is preferably embedded in a window frame 122 for the protective pane. For the purpose of holding or arresting the protective window pane 126, optionally embedded in the window frame 122, the protective window pane arrangement 120 further comprises a holding device 124 for the protective window pane. Said holding device 124 consists of different elements described below which connect the protective window pane or the window frame in a point-like manner either directly or indirectly with the wall 200. An indirect connection would be given when the elements of the holding device 124 would be connected directly with only one frame 210, which on its part is directly connected with the wall 200.
The protective-pane holding device 124 is configured in accordance with the invention in such a way that it allows a lateral displacement (not shown in
Principally, the entire protective window pane arrangement 120 and its anchoring via the holding device 124 in the wall 200 or its soffit must be provided with such a stable configuration that it can withstand a blast-induced pressure wave at least when the pressure wave was considerably weakened previously by a destruction of the window arrangement 110. The holding device 124 comprises concretely for this purpose at least two bands 124-1 or two hinges for pivotably holding the protective window pane 126, optionally in combination with the window frame 122 and a locking device 124-2 . . . -5. The closing device is preferably attached to one side of the window frame opposite of the bands 124-1 and is used for releaseably arresting the protective window pane 126, optionally in combination with the window frame 122 relative to the wall 200. According to
In the case of the effect of a blast-induced pressure wave for example on the outside AS of the protective window pane 126 which is averted from the interior space IR, the spring element 124-4 offers the advantage that it is provided with a resilient configuration and therefore allows a movement of the window pane 126 in the direction of the pressure wave, which means in the direction of the interior space IR, as indicated in
As an alternative to the O-ring, the spring element 124-4 can also be arranged as a gas pressure damper or actually as a spring. It is advantageous when the movement of the protective window pane 126 and optionally in combination with the window frame 122 is limited in the case of a blast-induced pressure influence into the interior space IR by a suitable limiting device to a predetermined path length. Scissors or a wire cable loop (not shown in
In addition to the elasticity of the locking device, the bands 124-1 can be joined elastically with the wall 200 in such a way that in the case of a pressure burden on the protective window pane arrangement 120 the bands 124-1 can increase their distance to the wall 200 against the effect of an increasing force. An approximately parallel displacement of the protective window pane relative to the window arrangement 110 can be achieved in this manner at an approximately equal spring stiffness in the region of the locking device on the one hand and the bands 124-1 on the other hand. This also provides the possibility of achieving higher pressure equalization cross sections between the wall and the protective window pane.
As a result of the respectively shown vertical sectional view, the FIGS. 2 to 4 do not show the holding device 124 for joining the protective window pane 126 or its frame 122 with the wall 200; the holding device is situated outside of the plane of the drawing.
FIGS. 2 to 4 show however that all variants of the protective window pane arrangement preferably provide an air gap between the air wall 200 and the protective window pane arrangement 120. In order to realize this air gap, the holding device 124 should not be arranged circumferentially around the protective pane 126 or its window frame, but merely in the form of point-like connections as in the form of the band 124-1 or the stop 124-2. The air gap allows an exchange of air between the inside space IR and the outside of the wall or the window arrangement 110 at least when the casement window is opened.
Finally,
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102004057470.7-25 | Nov 2004 | DE | national |