Interior blinds for thermal optimization of facade glazing

Abstract

The invention relates to the fixing of an inner pane (20) behind an outer glazing (10) between reveals to create a largely closed, but easily openable cavity. The invention is characterized by an inner pane (20) which sits on the bottom and has a U-profile (19) on its upper end edge, which is vertically displaceable and slidably fitted over the upper edge of the inner pane (20). On the side of the U-profile (19) facing the outside, a hook profile (18) open at the bottom is arranged. Within the cavity, a stationary hook profile (17) is arranged, which has a hook (17) open at the top on the side facing the inside. By lowering the U-profile (19) on the upper front edge of the inner pane (20), the hook profiles (17, 18) are interlocked, which fixes the inner pane (20) in its vertical position and secures it against tipping.This also ensures accessibility to the cavity by lifting the U-profile (19) and removing the inner pane (20).

Description

[0001] The state of the art is to install an inner cover pane in a frame and then to place this frame, including the pane, in front of a window or fixed glazing and a blind from the inside. However, these frames must be manufactured to fit precisely and require special fastening and holding devices to prevent the frame from falling out of the facade. Typically, the frames are anchored in the reveals and the resulting gaps between the frame and reveal are closed with silicone, making the enclosed cavity inaccessible, for example for maintenance work on a blind that is installed in the cavity. The surrounding frames also narrow the field of vision through the facade and deprive the facade mullions of their sleek aesthetic.

[0002] Another common practice is to install blinds in insulating glass. The disadvantage of this technique is that the blinds are impossible to maintain, as they are installed in the hermetically sealed cavity of the insulating glass. In the event of repairs, the building facade must be opened to remove the insulating glass panes and replace them with new ones with integrated blinds. The advantage of insulating glass, however, is that it is condensation-free.

[0003] The objective of the innovation is to create a cavity that allows for the installation of a blind and makes it easily accessible for maintenance and repair. This accessibility without sealing the joint leads to air exchange through leaky connections in the inner pane, as the trapped air expands when heated. When the pane cools, warm, humid interior air inevitably penetrates due to the contraction of the air, so that in winter, more and more moisture accumulates in the cavity on the cold outer pane. The expanded objective of the innovation is therefore to develop technical and structural measures to reduce or even prevent condensation, despite easy accessibility to the cavity and without sealing the joint.

[0004] The aim of the innovation is also to dispense with a surrounding, conspicuous glass frame in order to disturb the originally designed aesthetics of the glass facade as little as possible when viewed from the inside through a second glass frame, or to avoid this.

[0005] The object is achieved according to claim 1 in that the cavity can be opened by means of the heavy disc located towards the interior, which is firmly seated at the bottom and can be removed at the top by means of an easily removable anchorage.

[0006] The idea is to hold the inner pane in a vertical position via a U-profile placed over the upper edge by hooking it, e.g., to the headboard of a blind. If the blind needs repair, the U-profile can be easily lifted and removed from a hook rail without having to lift the inner pane. The hook closure secures the inner pane, which sits at the bottom, against tipping or unlocks it at the top, making it easy to remove. At the same time, the resulting cavity is protected at the top and bottom against the flow of indoor air. This creates a static, heat-insulating air cushion, as desired.

[0007] As an additional thermal insulation measure and to protect against condensation, an additional pane of glass can be installed on the inside of the exterior glazing. This pane is firmly connected to the outer pane via spacers, similar to insulating glazing, to ensure water vapor diffusion. Because this second pane, facing the interior, is warmer than the outer pane, the risk of condensation on it is reduced. The cross-sectional drawing shows further details. Fig. 1.

[0008] Shown is a post-and-beam construction 12 with a single or insulating glass pane 10. This is held by a retaining profile 11 that is attached to the transom 12 from the outside. As an additional insulation measure, an additional pane 14 was attached to the inside of the outer glazing 10 via spacers 13, so that the enclosed cavity 15 remains free of condensation, provided a desiccant is incorporated into the spacer 13.

[0009] To prevent condensation from forming on the outer pane 10 in the joint 25 between the post-and-beam construction 12 and the second pane 14, this joint is closed, for example, with silicone.

[0010] Independent of the exterior glazing 10 or another pane 14, a blind head profile 26 is attached to the transom 12 or a load-bearing structure. This is attached, for example, to a U- or H-profile 16 screwed to the substrate. This blind head profile 26 houses the mechanical components for the up / down movement of the blind 27, such as motors, winding shafts, etc.

[0011] The special feature of the blind head profile 26 is a hook profile 17, into which a second hook profile 18 hooks from above. The hooking profile part 18 is firmly connected to a downwardly open U-profile 19, in which the inner pane 20 is held.

[0012] The innovation isn't limited to a hook profile open at the top, which is firmly connected to a blind head profile. Independently of a blind, a hook profile or even individual hook profiles can be suspended from the ceiling or a transom and serve to hold the inner pane.

[0013] If, for maintenance reasons, it is necessary to remove the inner pane 20 to gain access to the blind, only the U-profile 19 is lifted and released from the locking mechanism in the retaining profile 17. The pane can then be tilted out of the facade plane and set aside, thus securing access to the blind 27. The tilted position 40 is in Fig. 1 is shown in dashed lines. The U-profile 19 has been placed on the front edge.

[0014] The core idea of ​​the accessibility of the blind behind the inner pane 20 lies in the easy removal of the same and in the fixing of the inner pane - according to Fig. 1 - e.g., on the blind head profile 26 of the blind 27 using the interlocking hook profiles, without the need for screw connections and without having to lift the heavy, large inner pane to free it from the hooking. The U-profile, as an attachment to the upper edge of the inner pane, also serves as a cover 22 to cover the upper gap 28 between the blind head profile 26 and the first blind slat. It is a multifunctional profile.

[0015] The inner pane, which protrudes at the bottom, has a U-profile 29 made of a soft plastic, such as EPDM or silicone, on its lower edge, thus preventing convective air exchange. Likewise, the upper hook on the blind head profile 26 prevents convective air exchange. This creates a largely insulating air cushion.

[0016] The easy accessibility of the cavity is based on the innovative idea of ​​loosely placing an upper U-profile 19 on the inner pane 20 without creating a permanent connection to the inner pane. The U-profile 19 slides over the front edge of the inner pane. The advantage of the sliding bearing is that the pane does not have to be lifted to free itself from the interlocking connection. Only the U-profile itself is lifted to remove the heavy pane. This greatly simplifies assembly, as the pane, with its considerable weight, initially remains upright at the bottom before being removed from the facade plane in a second step. The sliding bearing allows the construction to adapt to construction tolerances - a major advantage when measuring and manufacturing the building elements, particularly when renovating high-rise facades.There are only standard sizes for the inner panes! The tolerances are accommodated during construction by the sliding bearings of the U-profiles.

[0017] Due to the sliding fit of the U-profile 19 on the upper edge of the inner pane 20, the blind head profile 26 and its anchoring to the ceiling are not subjected to the weight of the inner pane! The pane is only secured against tilting by the hooking. The anchoring of the blind head profile can easily absorb the horizontal load that can occur as a result of a horizontal impact load on a pane.

[0018] Another inventive idea is the concealed hooking on the head rail of the blind itself, in which the blind head profile has a receiving hook that is advantageously part of the profile contour. The hooking is not visible. This results in a clean aesthetic from the inside with a shadow gap at the top.

[0019] At the bottom, the disc 20 is secured in position by its own weight. To protect the edge, the disc sits in a rubber U-profile 37, which, thanks to the disc's weight, creates frictional resistance against the floor, thus eliminating the need for any additional mounting or screwing.

[0020] In a further development of the inventive concept, a rubber-like U-profile 37, e.g., made of EPDM or silicone, is also attached to the vertical edges of the inner pane. Here, too, the advantage of the U-shaped, easily movable plug-in connection applies: The seal can be pushed up to a reveal wall, ensuring a largely airtight seal even in the vertical joints.

[0021] The principle of the invention, which involves providing the U-profiles with a movable seat—whether at the upper edge of the glazing bead for structural support of the pane installation or at the lateral vertical seal—has the significant advantage that the panes can expand when heated without being subjected to mechanical restraint. This is facilitated by the lateral, U-shaped edge protection seals being provided with an easily removable adhesive at their contact point with the frame / reveal, which holds the U-shaped profile seals to the window frame or reveal, ensuring that the joint remains reliably sealed even under thermal shock.

[0022] This is especially true for plastic glass, which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. Depending on the nature of the reveal, the bonding effect can be achieved by adhesion or by using an adhesive, such as a double-sided adhesive film. The U-profile can also be coated with an adhesive on the contact edge, which only adheres after the pane has been installed by removing a protective film.

[0023] In particular, the tightness at floor level and at the vertical edges has the following building physics significance: When the sun shines, the cavity heats up, the humidity is absorbed by the air and, as a result of the air expansion, is expelled from the cavity through leaks, preferably above the inner pane. When the cavity cools down after sunset, the dehumidified air remains trapped in the cavity below. A cold air pool forms. If the structure were open at the bottom, the cooling air would constantly flow inwards and warmer interior air would be drawn in from above, which in turn introduces more moisture into the cavity and produces condensate. This controlled type of ventilation, sealing and construction can prevent this undesirable siphon effect.Here too, it should be noted that, regardless of the construction tolerances, standard formats of the inner pane 20 can be used thanks to the sliding seal 37 without risking the tightness or a cracking joint.

[0024] The inventive concept comprises a combined solution of static securing of the pane by means of a hook closure and the associated possibility of creating a sealing system through the U-shaped edge profiles and avoiding or preventing the formation of condensate through controlled ventilation.

[0025] The use of plastic glass, e.g., PMMA, PC, or PS, is particularly advantageous for the inner pane 20, as plastic is a poorer heat conductor than glass and retains heat better. It also reduces the weight of the inner pane. To protect against scratches, the plastic pane should be laminated with a layer of glass on both sides.

[0026] However, the glass lamination on plastic panes has the disadvantage that if the panes bend or bulge, the glass layers have micro-fractures that can lead to the panes becoming blind.

[0027] The innovative design prevents this by relaxing the cavity between the inner pane 20 and the outer glazing 10 or 14. This prevents any internal pressure buildup that could lead to the panes bulging.

[0028] An improvement in thermal insulation is primarily achieved by the heat-insulating pane 14, which is installed in the manner of an insulating glass unit. An insulating glass unit can also be installed instead of a single pane.

[0029] The innovation distinguishes between a hermetically sealed cavity on the outside and a second, relaxed cavity on the inside, which primarily serves to protect the installation of a blind. The principle is that the insulating effect increases from the inside out, preventing the humidity of the interior air from condensing on the glass.

Claims

[1] Fixing an inner pane (20) behind an outer glazing (10) between reveals to create a largely closed, but easily openable cavity on the interior side of the facade, characterized by , that - the inner pane (20) is seated at the bottom and has a U-profile (19) on its upper front edge, which is vertically adjustable and slidably fitted over the inner pane (20), whereby - on the side of the U-profile (19) facing the outside, a downwardly open hook profile (18) is arranged and that - a hook profile (17) is arranged in a fixed position within the cavity, - which has a hook (17) on the side facing the interior, which is open at the top, so that - by lowering the U-profile (19) on the upper front edge of the inner pane (20), an interlocking of the hook profiles (17, 18) can be achieved, by means of which the inner pane (20) can be fixed in its vertical position and secured against tilting, and that - accessibility of the cavity is ensured by lifting the U-profile (19) and removing the inner pane (20). [2] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized by that the hook profile (17) within the cavity is an integral part of a blind head profile (26) and is arranged on the side of the blind head profile oriented towards the interior, and that a hook profile (18) hooks into the hook profile (17) from above, which is connected to an inner pane (20), and that an upper joint between the blind head profile and the inner pane is closed via the hook profile. [3] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized bythat a U-profile (37), preferably made of rubber or a rubber-like material, is placed over at least the lower front edge of the inner pane as an edge protection profile, in which the inner pane (20) is mounted, so that the inner pane is fixed to the floor by friction and the lower joint is closed against air flow. [4] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized by that profiles with a U-shaped contour are placed over the lateral, vertical front edges of the inner pane (20), said profiles preferably being made of rubber or rubber-like material as edge protection and, when installed, being displaceable or slidable on the reveals in such a way that the joints between the inner pane (20) and the reveal can be closed by pressing the U-profiles onto the reveal. [5] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 4 characterized bythat at least the vertical, overlaid profiles are provided with an adhesive effect to the reveals on their contact surfaces with the reveal, so that the joints remain closed in the event of thermal dimensional changes of the panes and the dimensional changes are smoothly absorbed in the U-shaped overlaid profiles of the pane edges. [6] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized bythat the inner pane (20) forms a cavity which communicates with the interior air and that a heat-insulating or insulating glass pane (14) is placed in front of the facade glazing (10) from the inside by means of a hermetically sealed edge seal (13), wherein the joint (25) between the frame construction of the facade (12) and the edge seal (13) is sealed in such a way that the air in the cavity between the inner pane (20) and the heat-insulating or insulating glass pane (14) has no contact with the facade glazing, so that interior air humidity penetrating into the cavity cannot condense on the inside of the outer pane. [7] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized by that the glass structure in the façade cross-section is selected so that the external glazing has the lowest thermal transmittance coefficient. [8] Fixing of an inner pane (20) according to claim 1 characterized bythat the inner pane is sealed in the lower window area against the flow of interior air and that communication openings for the flow of interior air are provided in the upper window area, preferably above the upper front edge of the inner pane, so that a static air layer is formed in the lower part of the cavity.

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