L-Profile Mullion for Consistent Facade Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mullion and transom constructions for facades and skylights result in a wide visible width when a sash is added, leading to optical impairment and increased material consumption.
Innovation Solution
The mullion and transom construction incorporates posts with grooves and/or hollow chambers, featuring a stepped design that integrates a stop for a pivotable wing, eliminating the need for an additional frame and allowing for visual consistency by maintaining a narrow visible width, with sealing and thermal insulation stops provided integrally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a clamping frame is mounted within the mullion-transom construction to hold a sash frame, then the sash can be provided in the facade, but the visible width increases and visual quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The post is designed with an L-shaped cross-section where the vertical leg serves as the structural post and the horizontal leg serves as the sash frame. This merging of the post and frame functions into a single integrated component eliminates the need for separate frame structures, thereby maintaining a narrow visible width while still providing sash capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The post with L-shaped cross-section performs multiple functions: it serves as both the structural support element and the sash frame. The horizontal leg of the L-shape provides the frame structure for mounting sash frames, while the vertical leg provides structural support, making the post a multi-functional universal component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a clamping frame is mounted within the mullion-transom construction, then the sash can be held, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the post and frame into a single L-shaped component, the number of separate parts is reduced. This eliminates the need for additional frame materials and reduces overall material consumption while maintaining the sash holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional post eliminates the need for separate frame structures, reducing material consumption. The same post structure serves both structural and framing purposes, optimizing material efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a frame is arranged on the inside of the mullion, then the sash can be mounted, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The L-shaped post integrates the frame structure directly into the post itself, eliminating the need for separate frame components and their associated mounting hardware. This simplification reduces assembly complexity while maintaining sash mounting capability.
4Shape
If additional posts are provided with rectangular contours and grooves, then visual consistency is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The post cross-sectional shape is changed to an L-profile, which provides both the structural post function and the frame function in one element. This parameter change in geometry enables visual consistency and functional integration while being manufacturable through standard extrusion or fabrication processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mullion-transom construction, particularly for facades or skylights, comprises several vertical mullions connected to each other by transoms, wherein an insulating glass unit (6) is fixed to an outer surface of at least one mullion (20) via an edge seal (5), wherein the at least one mullion (20) has at least one groove (26) and/or a cavity to which fittings (41) are attached, and a stop (27) for a pivotable sash is integrally formed with the mullion (20). This allows the mullions in a mullion-transom construction to have the same visible width, regardless of whether they surround a fixed panel or a sash.