Hollow chamber profile for a window or door and frame assembly comprising same

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a hollow chamber profile for a window or door made of a plastic, wherein the plastic forms the inner and outer walls of the hollow chamber profile, the inner and outer walls surrounding the hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile, and at least one insulating element being inserted into at least one of the hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a frame assembly for a window or door comprising at least one profile section of such a hollow chamber profile.

[0002] Hollow chamber profiles for windows or doors are primarily made of thermoplastic materials and are widely used in the production of plastic windows and doors. These profiles are predominantly manufactured by extrusion from rigid PVC (PVC-U). They typically feature multiple hollow chambers separated by internal webs. By arranging several hollow chambers in series along the direction of heat transfer through the profile—that is, from the interior wall to the exterior wall facing the outside—a high level of thermal insulation is achieved in such plastic windows and doors.

[0003] However, increasing the number of chambers arranged sequentially in the profile along the direction of heat transfer has reached its limits, meaning that only a marginal improvement in the thermal insulation achieved by a corresponding plastic window or door can be attained in this way. Furthermore, the material requirement for such a hollow chamber profile increases with the number of internal webs. Ultimately, the number of internal webs also limits the extrusion speed of such a hollow chamber profile, because the necessary heat dissipation from a hollow chamber profile with a correspondingly high number of internal webs increases the demands on cooling capacity and cooling time after extrusion.

[0004] From EP 0 828 052 A2, a hollow plastic profile with thermal insulation means, particularly for windows, doors, and frames, is known, comprising approximately parallel longitudinal side walls and approximately perpendicular transverse side walls, and an interior divided into chambers by supporting webs. A barrier film, arranged at a distance from and parallel to the longitudinal side wall, serves as thermal insulation means in the interior or in at least one chamber associated with a longitudinal side wall. A layer, which may be formed by a metal layer, particularly of gold and / or silver and / or bronze and / or platinum and / or chromium and / or aluminum, is applied to at least one of the surfaces of the barrier film.

[0005] From EP0764756 a composite profile with a V-shaped partition wall in the area of ​​the insulating webs is known.

[0006] This is where the present invention comes in, which aims to provide a hollow chamber profile for a window or door that at least partially overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the hollow chamber profile according to the invention is intended to provide improved thermal insulation properties for a window or door with moderate material usage and high possible extrusion speeds. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a frame assembly for a window or door that comprises at least one profile section of such a hollow chamber profile.

[0007] These and other problems are solved according to the invention by a hollow chamber profile with the features of claim 1 or by a frame assembly with the features of claim 9. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the present invention, it was surprisingly discovered that heat transfer through a hollow chamber profile can be significantly reduced by arranging an insulating element, designed as a plastic film provided with a metal layer on at least one side, in one of the hollow chambers of the profile. Such a plastic film with a metal layer exhibits high transmittance in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and high reflectivity and thus low emissivity in the infrared spectral range. Accordingly, such a film has the effect of lowering the emissivity in the wavelength range from 3 µm to 50 µm, particularly in the region of maximum thermal radiation at room temperature (approximately 10 µm). As a result, it acts as a good reflector for thermal radiation at room temperature and can be effectively used in hollow chamber profiles to improve thermal insulation.For this purpose, a metal layer, for example an aluminum, silver, gold, and / or copper layer, is applied to at least one side of a plastic film to generate high reflectivity in the infrared spectral range. The metal layer can have a thickness in the range of 5 nm to 200 µm, preferably in the range of 10 nm to 25 nm. The metal layers are preferably coated with a protective layer (especially with antioxidant properties), a decorative layer, a colored layer, a lacquer layer, a functional layer, or combinations of the aforementioned layers in one or more layers. This allows good thermal insulation of the hollow chamber profile to be achieved with a relatively small number of hollow chambers.Furthermore, if the number of hollow chambers is not too high, the material usage is moderate, and high extrusion speeds can be achieved during the extrusion of the hollow chamber profile due to the good cooling behavior of the extruded hollow chamber profile.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention comprises the provision of a hollow chamber profile for a window or a door made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the thermoplastic material forms the inner walls and the outer walls of the hollow chamber profile, wherein the inner walls and the outer walls surround the hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile, and wherein at least one insulating element is inserted into at least one of the hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile, wherein the at least one insulating element is designed as a plastic film provided on at least one side with a metal layer, which has at least one material weakening in the longitudinal direction of the hollow chamber profile, and wherein the hollow chamber profile is characterized according to the invention in that the plastic film is folded along the at least one material weakening in the longitudinal direction.Furthermore, the present invention relates to a frame assembly for a window or door, comprising at least one profile section of a hollow chamber profile according to the invention.

[0010] With regard to the hollow chamber profile according to the invention, it can be advantageous if the plastic film is provided with a metal layer on both sides. This further improves the thermal insulation properties of the hollow chamber profile. This metal layer can also have a thickness in the range of 5 nm to 200 µm, preferably in the range of 10 nm to 25 nm. The metal layers on both sides of the plastic film can be the same or different.

[0011] According to the invention, the plastic film has at least one material weakening in the longitudinal direction of the hollow chamber profile. The material weakening(s) is / are preferably designed as perforation(s). By selectively arranging the material weakening(s) on the plastic film during film production, the manufacture of insulation elements adapted to the hollow chamber cross-section of the insulating bodies is very simple. Particularly preferably, the plastic film has several material weakenings, especially perforations, in the longitudinal direction of the hollow chamber profile. These perforations of the plastic film in the longitudinal direction enable flexible joining of the plastic film to any cross-section of the hollow chamber into which the plastic film is to be inserted.

[0012] The hollow chamber profile can be manufactured using a known extrusion process. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), particularly rigid PVC (PVC-U) or post-chlorinated PVC, is preferred as the material for the hollow chamber profile. The material can also preferably be fiber-reinforced, especially glass fiber-reinforced. The material of the plastic film is selected so that it does not interfere with the welding of profile sections made from the hollow chamber profile. Therefore, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), particularly rigid PVC (PVC-U) or post-chlorinated PVC, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), as well as copolymers and blends of the aforementioned polymer materials are particularly suitable as plastic materials for the metallized plastic film.

[0013] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the plastic film has a material thickness of no more than 500 µm. Particularly preferred is a material thickness of the plastic film in the range of 100 µm to 450 µm, and especially in the range of 200 µm to 400 µm. Such a thickness of the plastic film offers sufficient stability with a significantly reduced material requirement compared to corresponding internal webs of the hollow chamber profile.

[0014] In equally preferred embodiments of the present invention, a plastic film metallized on at least one side is inserted into at least the main hollow chamber of the hollow chamber profile. The main hollow chamber of the hollow chamber profile, which is also commonly referred to as the reinforcement chamber of the hollow chamber profile, is in most cases the largest hollow chamber of the hollow chamber profile in cross-section. The main hollow chamber is generally located centrally in the cross-section of the hollow chamber profile. Therefore, the plastic film is easy to insert into the main hollow chamber and achieves a strong thermal insulation effect there. Preferably, such a plastic film metallized on at least one side is also arranged in other hollow chambers in addition to the main hollow chamber.

[0015] It can also be advantageous if the plastic film is connected, at least partially, to at least two opposing walls of the hollow chamber. The plastic film can simply rest against the walls of the hollow chamber or be welded to them. These can be either inner or outer walls of the hollow chamber profile according to the invention. The plastic film arranged in the main hollow chamber, preferably in the main hollow chamber, contributes little or nothing to the statics of the hollow chamber profile and the frame assembly formed from sections of the hollow chamber profile. Therefore, to ensure that the plastic film remains positionally stable in the respective hollow chamber, it is preferred if the insulating element rests against at least two opposing inner walls of the hollow chamber. It is sufficient if the insulating element rests against the inner walls of the hollow chamber profile only partially.

[0016] It can also be advantageous if the plastic of the hollow chamber profile is fiber-reinforced, particularly glass fiber-reinforced, at least in some areas of its cross-section. This contributes to the mechanical stability of the frame assembly formed from sections of the hollow chamber profile according to the invention. This is particularly important because the plastic film arranged in the hollow chamber contributes little or nothing to the static stability of the hollow chamber profile and the frame assembly formed from sections of the hollow chamber profile.

[0017] The hollow chamber profile according to the invention is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in particular rigid PVC (PVC-U) or glass fiber reinforced PVC, which may also contain post-chlorinated PVC (PVC-C). The hollow chamber profile according to the invention can particularly preferably be produced by extrusion or co-extrusion in a manner known per se. The plastic film is inserted into the desired hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile by insertion. The plastic film is preferably obtained by extruding the plastic core and subsequently coating the resulting film on one or both sides with the metal, in particular with aluminum, silver, gold, and / or copper. The material weakenings are preferably introduced into the plastic film before or after vapor deposition with the metal.

[0018] The hollow chamber profiles according to the invention are preferably used for manufacturing a frame assembly for a plastic window or door. A window or door frame can be obtained by welding mitered pieces of a hollow chamber profile according to the invention. The resulting window or door frame is intended for, or can be installed in, an opening in the wall of a building.

[0019] The hollow chamber profile according to the invention, as well as individual parts thereof, can also be manufactured row by row or layer by layer using a row-building or layer-building manufacturing process (e.g. 3D printing), but manufacturing by extrusion or coextrusion is preferred.

[0020] The present invention will now be explained in detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a frame assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a frame assembly according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a double-sided metallized plastic film, which in the embodiment of the Fig. 2 The frame assembly shown according to the invention was used.

[0021] In Figur 1 Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the frame assembly 1 according to the invention, which is designed as a window sash. The frame assembly 1 according to the invention is constructed from profile mullions of the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention. This is in the Fig. 1 The embodiment shown is an exemplary sash profile or sash frame profile for a plastic window. The hollow chamber profile 2 is made of a thermoplastic polymer material, preferably polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in particular rigid PVC (PVC-U) or glass fiber reinforced PVC, to which additives such as stabilizers, plasticizers, pigments, and the like are added. It is composed of a plurality of hollow chambers 3, 3', 3", 3‴, each of which is surrounded by inner walls 4, 4', 4" and partially also by outer walls 5, 5', 5", 5‴ of the hollow chamber profile 2. The hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention has a weather-side outer wall 5 and a room-side outer wall 5". The hollow chamber 3" arranged centrally in the hollow chamber profile 2 is the main hollow chamber 3", into which a reinforcing element, preferably a steel reinforcement, can typically be inserted.In the illustrated embodiment, the main hollow chamber 3" is surrounded by the inner walls 4 and 4' and by outer walls 5' and 5‴.

[0022] The upper outer wall 5' together with an outer overlap 6 forms a rebate area with a rebate base 7, which extends to a glazing bead groove 8 into which a glazing bead 9 is inserted, stabilizing the insulating glazing 10 received in the rebate area. On the room side, the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention extends beyond the main hollow chamber 3" in the illustration shown. Fig. 1 extended downwards. This profile section is referred to as stop 11. A further groove is arranged there, which serves to receive a stop seal with which a window sash formed from the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention rests against a frame when the window is closed.

[0023] An insulating element 12 is inserted into the main hollow chamber 3" of the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention. The insulating element 12 is in the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the plastic film 12 is formed as a plastic film 12 coated on both sides with a metal layer. The film has a thickness of 300 µm, with the metal layers on both sides of the plastic film 12 being made of aluminum and each having a thickness of 15 nm. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12 has three material weakenings in the longitudinal direction, forming perforations. Along these material weakenings, the double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is folded longitudinally, so that the plastic film 12 is essentially M-shaped. The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is folded into the appropriate shape, adapted to the cross-section of the main hollow chamber 3", and inserted into the main hollow chamber 3".

[0024] Another double-sided metallized plastic film 12' is arranged in the hollow chamber 3‴ adjacent to the outer wall 5". The plastic film 12' has only one perforation in the longitudinal direction, along which the plastic film 12' is folded lengthwise. This gives the plastic film 12' an essentially V-shaped form. The plastic film 12' has a thickness of 250 µm, with the metal layers on both sides of the plastic film 12' being aluminum layers, each 12 nm thick. The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12' is made of post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12' is folded into the appropriate shape and inserted into the hollow chamber 3‴.

[0025] Finally, the hollow chamber of the glazing bead 9 also contains a double-sided metallized plastic film 12", which has a perforation along which it is folded, so that the plastic film 12" is also essentially V-shaped. The plastic film 12" has a thickness of 200 µm, with the metal layers on both sides of the plastic film 12" also being made of aluminum and each having a thickness of 10 nm. The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12" is made of post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12" is folded into the appropriate shape and inserted into the hollow chamber of the glazing bead 9.

[0026] In the embodiment shown, the plastic films 12, 12', 12" are each in contact with two opposing walls of the respective hollow chamber.

[0027] In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 Another embodiment of the present invention is shown. To avoid repetition, only differences from the one described in [reference to relevant article] are discussed below. Fig. 1 The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is described. The explanations regarding Fig. 1 This also applies to the embodiments according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 Accordingly. Identical elements are indicated in the illustrations by identical reference symbols.

[0028] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of the frame assembly 1 according to the invention, which is also designed as a window sash, in a cross-sectional view. The frame assembly 1 according to the invention is constructed from profile mullions of the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the invention. This is the case in Figure 2. Fig. 1 The embodiment shown is again an example of a wing profile or wing frame profile for a plastic window.

[0029] The in Fig. 2 The frame assembly 1 shown according to the invention differs from the one shown in Fig. 1 This is due, firstly, to the fact that the number of hollow chambers of the hollow chamber profile 2 is smaller. For example, the main hollow chamber 3" of the hollow chamber profile 2 according to the in Fig. 2 The embodiment of the present invention shown is wider. In the illustrated embodiment, the main hollow chamber 3" is surrounded by the inner wall 4 and by the outer walls 5', 5" and 5'. Also according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, an insulating element 12 is inserted into the main hollow chamber 3". The insulating element 12 is in the Fig. 2 The illustrated embodiment is designed as a plastic film 12 coated on both sides with a metal layer and in Fig. 3The film is shown in a perspective view. It has a thickness of 280 µm, with the metal layers on both sides of the plastic film 12 being made of copper and each having a thickness of 14 nm. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12 has seven material weakenings in the longitudinal direction, formed as perforations 13. Along these perforations 13, the double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is folded longitudinally, so that the plastic film 12 essentially forms a sawtooth shape with four teeth. The shape of the plastic film 12 is adapted to the cross-section of the main hollow chamber 3". The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is folded into the appropriate shape and inserted into the main hollow chamber 3".

[0030] Another double-sided metallized plastic film 12' is arranged in the hollow chamber 3 of the outer overlap 6. The plastic film 12' has only one perforation in the longitudinal direction, along which it is folded. This gives the plastic film 12' an essentially V-shaped form. The plastic film 12' has a thickness of 240 µm, with the metal layers, again made of copper, having a thickness of 11 nm on each side. The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12' is made of post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12 is folded into the appropriate shape, adapted to the cross-section of the hollow chamber 3, and inserted into the hollow chamber 3.

[0031] Finally, the hollow chamber of the glazing bead 9 also contains a double-sided metallized plastic film 12', which has a perforation along which it is folded, so that the plastic film 12" is also essentially V-shaped. The plastic film 12" has a thickness of 220 µm, with the metal layers, also made of copper, having a thickness of 11 nm each on both sides of the plastic film 12". The plastic component of the double-sided metallized plastic film 12" is made of post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. The double-sided metallized plastic film 12" is folded into the appropriate shape and inserted into the hollow chamber of the glazing bead 9.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the plastic films 12, 12', 12" are each in contact with two opposing walls of the respective hollow chamber.

[0033] The present invention has been described by way of example with reference to the sash frame profiles of a window. It is understood that the present invention is also applicable to other hollow chamber profiles, in particular the frame profiles of a window, mullion and blind mullion profiles, as well as the frame, jamb or sash profiles of a door.

Claims

1. Hollow chamber profile (2) for a window or a door made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the thermoplastic material forms the inside walls (4, 4', 4", 4‴) and the outside walls (5, 5', 5", 5‴) of the hollow chamber profile (1), wherein the inside walls (4, 4', 4", 4‴) and the outside walls (5, 5', 5", 5‴) surround the hollow chambers (3, 3', 3", 3‴) of the hollow chamber profile (2), wherein at least one insulation element (12, 12', 12") is inserted into at least one of the hollow chambers (3, 3', 3", 3‴) of the hollow chamber profile (2), wherein the at least one insulation element (12, 12', 12") is configured as a plastics film (12, 12', 12") provided at least on one side with a metal layer, which film has at least one material weakening in the longitudinal direction of the hollow chamber profile (2), characterised in that the plastics film (12, 12', 12") is folded along the at least one material weakening, in the longitudinal direction.

2. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one insulation element (12, 12', 12") is configured as a plastics film (12, 12', 12") provided on both sides with a metal layer.

3. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the material weakening(s) of the plastics film (12, 12', 12") is / are configured as a perforation.

4. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the plastics film (12, 12', 12") has a material thickness of no more than 500 µm.

5. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claim 4, characterised in that the plastics film (12, 12', 12") has a material thickness in a range of 100 µm to 450 µm, in particular in a range of 200 µm to 400 µm.

6. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a plastics film (12) is inserted at least into the main hollow chamber (3") of the hollow chamber profile (2).

7. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the plastics film (12, 12', 12") rests, at least in portions, at least on two mutually opposing walls of the hollow chamber (3, 3', 3", 3‴).

8. Hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the thermoplastics material of the hollow chamber profile (2) is fibre-reinforced, in particular glass fibre-reinforced, at least in regions, in cross-section.

9. Frame assembly (1) for a window or a door, which comprises at least one profile portion of a hollow chamber profile (2) according to any of claims 1 to 8.

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