Panel particularly for providing explosion-resistant curtain walls

Abstract

A panel for providing explosion-resistant curtain walls comprising at least one glass pane suitable to form a glazing unit, and associated with a supporting frame constituted by at least two uprights connected, at their upper and lower ends, by at least two cross-members. The panel comprises an interconnection device for strengthening and interconnecting the uprights and the cross-members, a guiding device for strengthening and guiding in position two contiguous uprights of two panels arranged one above the other, and a limiting device for limiting mutual rotation of two contiguous uprights of two panels arranged side by side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of two panels according to the invention, respectively before and after their application to the load-bearing structure of a building;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of a panel according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the first strengthening and interconnection means of the panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the second strengthening and guiding means of the panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the second means of FIG. 5 in a different operating condition;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of a panel according to the invention and of a footing which can be associated below said panel;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are two sectional views, taken along two different and mutually parallel transverse planes, of a detail of two contiguous panels;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a detail of two contiguous panels in the inactive condition;

FIG. 11 is a view, similar to FIG. 10, of a detail of two contiguous panels in a mutual rotational condition.

Claims

1. A panel, for providing explosion-resistant curtain walls, comprising: at least one glass pane, suitable to form a glazing unit, and connected with a supporting frame, said frame being constituted by at least two uprights which are connected, at upper and lower ends thereof, by at least two cross-members; first interconnection means for strengthening and interconnecting the uprights and the cross-members; second guiding means connected to said uprights for strengthening and mutually guiding in position respective contiguous ones of the uprights of two panels arranged one above the other; and third limiting means for limiting mutual rotation of two contiguous ones of the uprights of two panels arranged side by side.

2. The panel of claim 1, comprising first seats that are formed axially in and with respect to said uprights and said cross-members and have a rectangular plan shape, said first interconnection means comprising at least one block, which is shaped like a parallelepiped and has a plan shape which is substantially complementary to a shape of one of said first seats formed axially in said cross-members, said at least one block being arrangeable, during use, partially inside one of said first seats of said cross-members.

3. The panel of claim 2, comprising first screws, said at least one block being rigidly couplable to a respective one of said cross-members by way of said first screws which pass through third holes formed in a first lateral wall of an adjacent upright and are rotatably associated with fourth complementarily threaded holes formed in an upper surface of said block.

4. The panel of claim 3, comprising: second screws which ensure fixing of said at least one block, and therefore of a respective cross-member rigidly coupled thereto, to said upright; and fifth threaded holes that are formed at first holes provided in said uprights on a front surface of said at least one block which, in use, is directed toward the outside of said first seat of the respective cross-member, said fifth holes being suitable for fixing said second screws.

5. The panel of claim 2, wherein said second guiding means are connected with said uprights, two panels arranged one above the other being associated therewith, said second guiding means comprising a male element, that is connectable with the lower end of said uprights and is constituted by a plug which has a T-shaped plan configuration, that forms a first head which has a rectangular plan shape and has a rectangular transverse cross-section and dimensions which allow insertion thereof partially within said first seat of said uprights.

6. The panel of claim 5, comprising third screws which are inserted in second holes formed proximate to the lower end of a respective upright and are fixable in appropriately provided sixth complementarily threaded holes formed in said first head, said first head being fixed rigidly, in use, to a respective upright by way of said third screws.

7. The panel of claim 6, comprising a first stem having a rectangular plan shape and beveled edges and protruding from said first head of said male element on an opposite side with respect to the respective upright.

8. The panel of claim 7, wherein said first stem protrudes, in use, axially and externally with respect to an upright with which said male element is associated.

9. The panel of claim 8, wherein said second guiding means comprise a female element, which is connectable with the upper end of said uprights at said first seat thereof and is constituted by a plug which has a U-shaped plan configuration, so as to form a first base, which has a rectangular plan shape, a rectangular transverse cross-section and such dimensions so that the plug can be accommodated, in use, in said first seat provided in an upright.

10. The panel of claim 9, comprising fourth screws that are insertable in said second holes formed in an upright proximate to said upper end thereof and are fixable in appropriately provided complementarily threaded seventh holes which are formed in said first base and are axially aligned with said second holes, said first base being fixable to the respective upright by way of said fourth screws.

11. The panel of claim 9, comprising two first arms that protrude at right angles from said base on an opposite side with respect to said upright and are shaped like a parallelepiped with beveled edges, the two first arms being arranged at a mutual distance such as to allow accommodation therebetween, with selected play, of said first stem of said male element.

12. The panel of claim 11, wherein the said first side wall is shorter than said uprights, so as to form first openings proximate to said upper and lower ends thereof, said first arms of said female element being arranged, in use, at said first opening of the respective upright.

13. The panel of claim 12, arranged above another panel with the first stems of the male elements associated with the uprights of the panel arranged above being arranged, respectively, in an interspace provided between the two first arms of the female elements of the panel that is arranged below.

14. The panel of claim 13, wherein said male and female elements are suitable to allow the contiguous panels to perform axial movements and/or rotations.

15. The panel of claim 11, comprising a supporting footing provided with a third seat which has a substantially rectangular plan shape, said first stem of said male element associated with an upright being insertable in said third seat that is shaped complementarily thereto and is formed at a footing, said third seat having such dimensions as to allow said first stem to be inserted axially therein and perform a selected rotation with respect to a plane of arrangement thereof without escaping from said third seat.

16. The panel of claim 11, comprising second seats formed in said uprights, proximate to one lateral end thereof, said second seats extending axially along an entire length of said uprights and having a T-shaped transverse cross-section, so as to form a first access port and two first abutments which extend over said second seats along their entire length, said third limiting means being constituted by springs which prevent separation of various panels that are mutually laterally adjacent during an explosion, whereby to ensure continuity of the curtain wall in a horizontal direction.

17. The panel of claim 16, wherein said springs are constituted by a lamina which is shaped by any of extrusion or folding so as to assume a U-shaped plan configuration with a second flat base thereof, having dimensions such as to allow accommodation in use within two of said second mutually facing seats of two mutually mated uprights.

18. The panel of claim 17, comprising first pins which are fixable in eighth holes formed in said second side wall, said second base of said springs being arranged, in use, within one of said second seats adjacent to said second side wall of an upright and fixed thereto by way of said first pins.

19. The panel of claim 18, comprising two second arms that protrude from said second base, are substantially flat and mutually parallel, and are connected to said second base by way of an inclined portion which facilitates elastic flexing thereof in a direction of a mutual approach.

20. The panel of claim 19, wherein said two second arms have a length that is shorter than a sum of a distance formed by a space between two of said second mutually facing seats of two mutually mated uprights.

21. The panel of claim 20, wherein said two second arms have free ends, which are arranged halfway along a depth of a respective said second seat, are folded toward an outside region of said spring and toward said second base, forming, respectively, two inclined hooks which are arranged, in use, within said second seat of an adjacent upright.

22. The panel of claim 21, wherein said hooks are arranged so as to engage, in use, respectively said first abutments formed in said second seats so as to prevent escape thereof from the second seats through said first access port.

23. The panel of claim 1, comprising fixing means for allowing fixing thereof to a load-bearing structure of a building, said fixing means comprising: a support which is shaped like a parallelepiped and has formed axially thereto; two fourth seats, which have a T-shaped transverse cross-section, so as to form a second access port, said fourth seats having two second longitudinal abutments, which extend over said fourth seats along an entire length thereof; second openings that are provided in axial alignment with said second access port, on an opposite side thereof, and extending over said support; and second pins that are insertable in the second openings and are fixable to said load-bearing structure.

24. The panel of claim 23, comprising: at least one bracket that is connectable slidingly with each of said fourth seats and has a T-shaped plan configuration so as to form a second head, which is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and is slidingly connectable with said fourth seat; and a ninth internally threaded hole that is formed axially with respect to said second heads.

25. The panel of claim 24, comprising a second stem that protrudes from said second head at right angles, is substantially plate-shaped, and is insertable within said first seat of one of said uprights through a third opening formed therein proximate to said upper end thereof.

26. The panel of claim 25, comprising: fifth screws which are connectable with tenth holes formed in said first side walls and are fixable in complementary threaded eleventh holes formed in said second stem, said second stem being fixable to a respective one of said uprights by way of said fifth screws; and adjustment means for adjusting axial position of said brackets with respect to said support.

27. The panel of claim 26, comprising a perforated plate which is arranged so as to abut against an upper transverse edge of said fourth seats in order to prevent downward escape of said second heads, said adjustment means being constituted by sixth screws, a threaded stem of which cooperates with said complementarily threaded ninth holes which are connected axially with said second heads with interposition of said perforated plate.