Connection device for mounting facade elements of a modular facade

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting device for mounting upper facade elements over lower facade elements of a unitized facade. The invention also relates to a facade element with such a connecting device.

[0002] Larger facade areas with uniform or varied designs are often constructed as so-called unitized facades. These facades consist of modular elements that are completely prefabricated in the factory and assembled on site. The individual prefabricated facade elements can be easily installed from bottom to top on the construction site and connected to each other using suitable connectors.

[0003] From EP 1 816 275 A2, a panel for forming an explosion-proof curtain wall is known. The panel comprises a supporting frame for receiving a glass pane with two uprights connected at their upper and lower ends by two transverse elements. The uprights have fastening means for guiding the relative positions of adjacent uprights of two panels arranged one above the other. Specifically, a male element is provided at the lower end of one upright and a female element at the upper end of the other upright, the male element being capable of engaging with the female element.

[0004] CN 207 110 159 U discloses a suspension device comprising several pairs of L-shaped connecting elements by which superimposed bodies can be connected. One of the two connecting elements is arranged at an upper end of a lower body and another at an upper end of an upper body. Specifically, a first leg of each L-shaped connecting element is attached to the body, and the second leg projects rearward. The connection between the L-shaped connecting elements is achieved via these rearward-projecting second legs. The second leg can also be used to attach the device to a bracket. CN 207 110 159 U thus discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Furthermore, various connecting devices for facade elements are known from DE 199 02 890 A2, DE 10 2020 101 708 A1, WO 2007 / 031240 A1 and JP H04-336 146 A as well as from WO 2007 / 031240 A1 and EP 3 854 955 A1.

[0006] The object of the invention is to create a connecting device for assembling superimposed facade elements of a unitized facade and a facade element with such a connecting device, which enable quick and precise assembly.

[0007] This problem is solved by a connecting device with the features of claim 1 and by a facade element with the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] The connection device according to the invention for mounting upper facade elements over lower facade elements of a unitized facade comprises first connecting elements with a positive locking element, attachable to the lower corners of the lower and upper facade elements, and second connecting elements, attachable to the upper corners of the lower and upper facade elements. These second connecting elements have a corresponding counter-element for positive engagement with the positive locking element on a first connecting element of the upper facade element, which is mounted over the lower facade element. Using the first and second connecting elements arranged at the corners of the facade elements, with their corresponding positive locking elements and counter-elements, upper facade elements can be easily and precisely positioned, aligned, and mounted onto lower facade elements.This allows even large facade areas to be manufactured quickly and precisely from prefabricated facade elements. The positive-locking connection between the two connecting elements enables precise horizontal alignment of the facade elements and a sliding connection vertically, thus allowing for height adjustment. The upper facade elements can simply be placed onto the lower facade elements and connected to them precisely and accurately.

[0009] The second set of connecting elements also features rearward-projecting brackets for attaching the facade element to a supporting structure. The bracket can advantageously be hook-shaped, allowing the facade element to be suspended from the supporting structure.

[0010] According to the invention, the first and second connecting elements have a first leg that can be attached to a crossbeam of the facade elements and a second leg that can be attached to a support of the facade elements.

[0011] In a practical embodiment, the positive locking element can be designed as a rectangular recess or receptacle on the outside of the first connecting element, and the mating element as an upwardly projecting rectangular tab for precise engagement with the rectangular recess or receptacle. Of course, the positive locking element can also be designed conversely as a tab and the mating element as a corresponding recess or receptacle.

[0012] The second connecting elements are expediently provided with openings for a crane hook or other lifting devices. This allows an upper facade element, which can be mounted above a lower facade element, to be lifted and lowered to thread the counter-elements into the interlocking elements.

[0013] The first and second legs of the two connecting elements can be positively connected and welded together by means of laterally projecting projections on one leg and corresponding recesses on the other leg. Alternatively, the connecting elements can be manufactured from a single piece or bent into shape.

[0014] The first connecting elements, which can be attached to the lower corners of the facade elements, are preferably angled and have a horizontal first leg for attachment to a lower cross member of a facade element, as well as a second leg angled relative to the first leg for attachment to a support of a facade element. These first connecting elements serve to stiffen the corners of the facade elements and simultaneously to transfer the load of the infill. In a further advantageous embodiment, an engagement element for a positive-locking connection with an extension piece can be arranged on the second leg of the first connecting element. This allows even higher element loads to be optimally transferred.

[0015] The second connecting elements, which can be attached to the upper corners of the facade elements, can have a horizontal first leg for attachment to an upper crossbeam of a facade element and a second leg angled relative to the first leg for attachment to a support of a facade element. To improve load transfer, a recess for a positive-locking connection with an extension piece can be provided on the second leg of the second connecting element.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous design, the first and second connecting elements can be attached to a facade element using dowel pins and screws. The dowel pins allow for particularly efficient load transfer to the supporting structure.

[0017] The invention also relates to a facade element with a connection device described above.

[0018] In a particularly advantageous design, the first and second connecting elements can be attached to the facade element using dowel pins and screws. The dowel pins allow for particularly efficient load transfer to the supporting structure.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 Several facade elements to form a unitized facade in a perspective view; Figure 2 first and second connecting elements of a connecting device; Figure 3 the in Figure 2 shown connecting elements with an extension part and Figure 4 a first connecting element with pin- and bolt-shaped fastening elements.

[0020] In Figure 1Two lower facade elements 1a arranged side by side and two upper facade elements 1b arranged above them are shown to form a unitized facade. A unitized facade is typically formed by several facade elements 1a and 1b arranged side by side and one above the other. During assembly of the unitized facade, the lower facade elements 1a are first attached to a supporting structure. Subsequently, further facade elements 1b are placed on top of the lower facade elements 1a and connected to the facade elements 1a below. This allows for the simple assembly of large-area facades. In the embodiment shown, the facade elements 1a and 1b are designed as a wood-metal construction with a wooden frame formed by columns 2 and crossbeams 3, and metal profiles (not shown) attached to this frame for fastening glass panes, panels, or other facade components.The frame formed from the vertical supports 2 and the horizontal crossbeams 3 can also be made of metal, plastic or another suitable material.

[0021] For the assembly and connection of superimposed facade elements 1a and 1b, 4 of the facade elements 1a and 1b are to be attached at the two lower corners in Figure 2The first connecting elements 5, shown individually, are provided with a positive locking element 6 and, at the two upper corners 7 of the facade elements 1a and 1b, with a counter element 9 corresponding to the positive locking element 6 for positive engagement with the positive locking element 6 on the first connecting element 5 of a further facade element 1 arranged above the facade element 1. The counter elements 9 of the second connecting elements 8 arranged at the upper corners 7 of a facade element 1 are designed such that they engage precisely into the positive locking elements 6 of the first connecting elements 5 on the underside of the upper facade element 1, ensuring a predetermined horizontal distance between two facade elements 1 arranged one above the other.In the illustrated embodiment, the positive locking elements 6 are designed as rectangular recesses or receptacles on the outer surface of the first connecting elements 5, and the counter-elements 9 are designed as upwardly projecting rectangular tabs for precise engagement in the rectangular recesses. Of course, the positive locking elements 6 can also be designed as tabs and the counter-elements 9 as recesses or receptacles. The interlocking connecting elements 5 and 8 thus allow not only vertical loads but also horizontal loads in the longitudinal direction of the crossbeams 3 and perpendicular to them to be absorbed. The positive locking engagement of the positive locking elements 6 and counter-elements 9 also enables precise positioning of the superimposed facade elements 1.

[0022] Out of Figure 2It is evident that the first connecting elements 5, which can be attached to the lower corners 4 of the facade elements 1, are angled. They have a horizontal first leg 10 for attachment to a lower crossbeam 3 of the facade elements 1 and an upwardly projecting second leg 11, angled here at 90° relative to the first leg 10, for attachment to a support 2 of the facade elements 1. At the lower end of the upwardly projecting second leg 11, the positive locking elements 6 are arranged on its outer side. At the upper end of the second leg 9, T-shaped engagement elements 12 are provided for positive locking with a support 2 of the facade elements 1. Figure 3The extension piece 13 shown is provided. The extension piece 13 has a T-shaped recess 14 at one end that fits the engagement element 12 and a T-shaped engagement element 15 at the other end. The load transfer can be increased if required via the extension piece 13, which can be connected to the second leg 9 of the first connecting element 5 and also attached to the supports 2.

[0023] The second connecting elements 8, which can be attached to the upper corners 7 of the facade elements 1, are also angled and have a horizontal first leg 16 for attachment to an upper crossbeam 3 of the facade elements 1, and a downwardly projecting second leg 17, angled here at 90° relative to the first leg 16, for attachment to a support 2 of the facade elements 1. At the upper end of the second leg 17, the upwardly projecting counter element 9 is provided for positive engagement with the positive locking element 6 of the first connecting element 5 on a facade element 1 arranged above it. An opening 18 for attaching a crane hook is provided in the upwardly projecting, tab-shaped counter element 9. A rearwardly projecting, hook-shaped bracket 19 for attaching the facade element 1 to a supporting structure is also provided on the first leg 16 of the second connecting element 8.A facade element 1 can be lifted for assembly via the upwardly projecting counter elements 9 of the second connecting elements 8 attached to the upper corners 7 of the facade elements 1, which are provided with openings 18 for crane hooks, threaded into the counter elements 9 of a facade element 1 arranged below with the positive locking elements 6 of the first connecting elements 5 arranged at the lower corners 4 and suspended on a supporting structure via the rearwardly projecting hook-shaped retaining elements 19.

[0024] On the underside of the downwardly projecting second leg 17 of the second connecting element 8, there is a T-shaped recess 20 for a positive-locking connection with a Figure 3The extension piece 13 shown is provided. The extension piece 13 has a T-shaped engagement element 12 at one end that fits the T-shaped recess 20. The load transfer can also be increased here, if necessary, via the extension piece 13, which can also be attached to the support 2.

[0025] In Figure 4It can be seen that the lower angled first connecting element 5 is inserted into corresponding recesses 21 and 22 on the outer sides of the supports 2 and crossbeam 3 and fastened by pin- or bolt-shaped fasteners. The two legs 10 and 11 of the angled connecting element 5, made of a flat material such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, are connected to each other in a tongue-and-groove joint by laterally projecting projections 23 on one leg 10 and corresponding recesses 24 on the other leg 11, and are welded together. In the embodiment shown, the two legs 10 and 11 of the angled connecting element 5 are fastened to the support 2 and the crossbeam 3 by means of dowel pins 25 and screws 26. The dowel pins 25 have an external thread 28 that fits into threaded bores 27 in the two legs 10 and 11 and a pin 30 that fits into bores 29 of the supports 2 and crossbeams 3.The loads can be transferred to the supporting structure via the dowel pins 25. The second connecting elements 8 are fastened in the same manner. Reference symbol list

[0026] 1a Lower facade element 1b Upper facade element 2 Support 3 Crossbeam 4 Lower corner 5 First connecting piece 6 Positive locking element 7 Upper corner 8 Second connecting piece 9 Counter element 10 First leg of the first connecting element 11 Second leg of the first connecting element 12 Engagement element 13 Extension piece 14 Recess 15 Engagement element 16 First leg of the second connecting element 17 Second leg of the second connecting element 18 Opening 19 Hook element 20 Recess 21 Recess 22 Recess 23 Projection 24 Recess 25 Dowel pin 26 Screws 27 Threaded hole 28 External thread 29 Hole 30 Tenon

Claims

1. Connecting device for mounting upper façade elements (1b) over lower façade elements (1a) of an element façade, wherein the connecting device comprises first connecting elements (5), which can be fastened to the lower corners (4) of the lower and upper façade elements (1a, 1b) and have a positive-locking element (6), and second connecting elements (8), which can be fastened to the upper corners (7) of the lower and upper façade elements (1a, 1b) and have a counter element (9) corresponding to the positive-locking element (6) for positive engagement in the positive-locking element (6) on a first connecting element (5) of the upper façade element (1b) which can be mounted above the lower façade element (1a), and wherein rearwardly projecting holders (19) for fastening the façade elements (1a, 1b) to a supporting structure are arranged on the second connecting elements (8), characterised in that the first and second connecting elements (5, 8) have a first leg (10, 16) which can be fastened to a cross-member (3) of the façade element (1) and a second leg (11, 17) which can be fastened to supports (2) of the façade element (1).

2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterised in that the positive-locking element (6) is designed as a rectangular recess or receptacle on the outside of the first connecting element (5) and the counter element (9) is designed as an upwardly projecting rectangular tab for precise engagement in the rectangular recess or receptacle.

3. Connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that openings (18) for a crane hook or other attachment devices are provided on the second connecting elements (8).

4. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first legs (10, 16) and the second legs (11, 17) of the first and second connecting elements (5, 8) are positively connected and welded to one another by laterally protruding projections (23) on one leg (10, 16) and corresponding recesses (24) on the other leg (11, 17).

5. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting device further comprises an extension piece (13) and an engagement element (12) for positive connection with the extension piece (13) is arranged on the second leg (11) of the first connecting element (5).

6. Connecting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting device further comprises an extension piece (13) and a recess (20) for positive connection to the extension piece (13) is arranged on the second leg (17) of the second connecting element (8).

7. Façade element (1) with a connecting device for mounting façade elements (1) arranged one above the other, characterised in that the connecting device is designed according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Façade element (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the first and second connecting elements (5, 8) are connected to the façade element (1) via fitting bolts (25) and screws (26).