System provided with panels, and method

• US 8,893,446 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2009
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Remko Mark B.V.
• Original Assignee: Remko Mark B.V.
• Inventors: Mathijssen, Markus Johannes Hendrikus, Volmeyer, Ronald Theodoor Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): IHEZIE, JOSHUA K
• Application Number:
  US13/001,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20110268898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 522/041, 522/08, 522/12, 522/13, 522/35, 526/565, 526/566
• US Class Current: 52/213
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/18 composed of several parts with respect to the cross-section of the frame itself
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/325 comprising insulation between two metal section members
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/36 Frames uniquely adapted for windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/366 Mullions or transoms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/524 Mullions; Transoms
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/26309 using glue
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/26312 Snap connections
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2003/26389 Holding sealing strips or forming sealing abutments
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/12 of metal
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/2634 without separate insulating elements, e.g. the heat transmission being reduced by a smaller cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6617 one of the panes being larger than another
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/68 Window bars bay windows E06B1/363; joints for frame members crossing each other E06B3/9628
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/14 Measures for draining-off condensed water or water leaking-in frame members for draining off condensation water, throats at the bottom of a sash
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system provided with panels, for instance glass sheets, and with elements (1, 2) which extend along edges of the panels, comprising: —at least a first element (1) which extends along a first edge of at least one panel (P), wherein the first element (1) is manufactured from metal, and is of solid design; —at least a second element (2) which extends along a second edge of the at least one panel (P), and —a connection (3, 4) between said first and second element (1, 2) which connection comprises at least a solid metal, preferably steel connecting element (3), wherein said connection is also provided with a thermally insulating part (4), wherein the thermally insulating part (4) is preferably substantially located in a space located opposite an end face of the panel (P).

Claims

1. A system provided with panels and with elements which extend along edges of the panels, the system comprising:

at least two neighbouring panels, each panel being a thermal insulation panel that is provided with two parallel glass sheets, wherein opposite end faces of the neighbouring panels define a space between the opposite end faces;

a first element extending along two longitudinal outer edges of the two neighbouring panels, for covering these longitudinal outer edges, wherein the first element is an elongated beam manufactured from metal, is of solid design and has a thickness of at least 2 mm;

second elements extending along second edges of the two neighbouring panels, the second panel edges being parallel to the first edges, and being located at the same panel end faces arranged opposite each other as the first edges, and

a connection between said first element and second elements, the connection comprising;

a solid metal connecting element, wherein the solid connecting element is a solid elongated steel supporting beam having a thickness of more than 2 mm, which extends at right angles with respect to the panels, and the entire connecting element is solid; and

a thermally insulating part that physically separates the first element from the solid metal connecting element such that the first element does not touch the solid metal connecting element,

wherein a said first element extends along two longitudinal edges of two panel parts arranged side by side, for covering these longitudinal edges, and has a maximum width of 4 cm, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal edges.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the said first element has a maximum width of 3 cm, measured in a transverse direction with respect to said longitudinal edges.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first element, second element and insulating part are designed for absorbing said forces, after assembly, to a lesser extent than the solid metal connecting element.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said solid first element is at least dimensioned for substantially absorbing forces in a direction parallel to a panel surface of a said panel, for the purpose of preventing the system from bending under the influence of such forces.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first element is of slim design, with a width, measured in a transverse direction with respect to a respective panel edge, which is smaller than approximately 5 cm.

6. The system according to claim 1, provided with at least one draining element which is arranged between a said thermally insulating part and a said first element for the purpose of draining water from an inner space defined by the system to a surrounding.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the draining element is provided with a passage for the purpose of allowing water to pass, and is preferably provided with one or more sealing flaps for linking up with other system parts.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the solid connecting element is made of steel and does not have recesses or passages.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a connection between the connecting element and the insulating part is located completely between the panels in the space between the opposite end faces of the panels.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element has a thickness in the range of approximately 2-15 mm.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first element has a thickness in the range of approximately 2-15 mm.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first element has a substantially rectangular cross section.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is made of steel.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer side of the panels is the ‘

weather’

side of the panels which face away from a respective building.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first element and the connection element are made of different materials.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal center plane of the solid elongated steel supporting beams extends in parallel with the opposite end faces of the two panels.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the solid steel supporting beam has a rectangular cross-section.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least 50 volume percent of the thermally insulating part is located between the panels in the space between the opposite end faces of the panels.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermally insulating part forms a closed thermal separation between the first and second elements.

20. A method for assembling a panel profile system according to claim 1, comprising performing in a suitable order, at least:

providing at least a said first element, a second element and a connecting element;

directly or indirectly connecting to the first element a said connecting element;

providing at least one panel;

providing along a first longitudinal edge of the panel the first element; and

providing along a second longitudinal edge of the panel the second element wherein the second element is connected to the connecting element.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein different first elements are welded to each other for forming a frame, which, after assembly, extends along different panel edges.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one or more glue connections are used for connecting different parts of the system to each other.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein at least one or more watertight clamping connections are utilized for connecting different parts of the system to each other.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein at least one or more dovetail connections are used for coupling different parts of the system to each other.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein a said first element and a said connecting element are first connected to each other by means of a number of distancing means, wherein later, one or more said second elements are provided on the connecting element.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein one or more insulating parts are provided between a said first element and a said connecting element.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the distancing means are perforated metal strips.