IE86818B1

IE86818B1 - Two box-section beam

Info

Publication number: IE86818B1
Application number: IE20110174A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Rawlings David
Original assignee: Arch & Metal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-11
Filing date: 2011-04-11
Publication date: 2017-09-06
Also published as: IE20110174A1; GB2490011A; GB201205440D0; GB2490011B

Abstract

A beam comprises a first beam component 20 including a box section part 24 and a flange 32 projecting therefrom, a second beam component 22 including a box section part 38 and having a flange 44 projecting therefrom, the flanges 32, 44 extending adjacent and overlying one another, and fixing means 50 for securing the flanges 32, 44 of the beam components 20, 22 to one another to hold the box section parts 24, 38 thereof in a spaced relationship. <Figure 3>

Description

TWO BOX-SECTION BEAM This invention relates to a beam, and in particular to a beam suitable for use as, for example, a muiiion of a curtain wall system.

The use of curtain wall systems has become increasingly common to provide a weather tight outer wall to a building. Such a system comprises a series of vertical supports or muiiions interconnected with a series of horizontal supports or mulltons to form a plurality of square or rectangular voids. The voids are filled or closed using suitable infill panels.

IQ Commonly, the infill panels will take the form of glazed panels sealed to the muiiions by suitable gaskets. However, other forms of infill panel are also commonplace. In such a structure, the muiiions are typically of extruded aluminium form, although other materials are also used.

Curtain wails of increasingly large dimensions are required. As the curtain walls have to be able to withstand, for example, the horizontal side loads resulting from the pressure of wind incident thereon, the requirement to provide curtain wall systems of increased dimensions has resuited in the muiiions used therein also having to be of increased strength in order to avoid unacceptabiy high levels of deflection from occurring. Typically, in order to increase the strength of the muiiions, muiiions of increased dimensions have been used. Whilst providing a satisfactory solution, extrusion of muiiions of such large dimensions can be problematic or require specialist equipment. Rather than increase the dimensions of the muiiions, it is also known to provide strengthening sleeves within muiiions. 2S it is an object of the invention to provide a beam suitable for use in such applications and which Is of simple and convenient form.

According to the invention there is provided a beam comprising a first beam component including a box section part having a wall formed with a load application formation and an opposing wall with a fiange projecting therefrom, a second beam component including a box section part and having a flange projecting therefrom, the flanges extending adjacent and overlying one another, the flanges of the first and the second beam components being provided with apertures which align with one another, and threaded fastener means extending through the aligned apertures for securing the flanges of the beam components to one another to hold the box section parts thereof in a spaced relationship, the beam defining a loading direction extending from the wail of the first beam formed with the toad application formation and through the flanges, and being arranged such that the beam defines a neutral plane when a load is applied in the loading direction, wherein the flanges and threaded fastener means are positioned such that axes of the threaded fastener means lie ih the neutral plane of the beam. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the beam components can be extruded separately from one another, and so the beam can be manufactured relatively simply without requiring complex, specialist equipment. The provision of a pair of box section parts secured to one another in a spaced relationship results in the provision of a beam of enhanced strength.

Each threaded fastener means may, for example, take the form of a nut and bolt. In such an arrangement, at least one of the flanges is conveniently provided with features to resist rotation of the nut, thereby simplifying assembly.

The loadings experiences by the flanges, in use, are relatively low. The flanges are conveniently provided with grooved features upon the surfaces thereof which abut one another, in use, to resist relative lateral movement between the flanges.

The beam conveniently includes a pair of channels defined between the box section parts of the first and second beam components. Closure means to close the channels are conveniently provided. For example, the closure means may be adapted to be snap or press fitted thereto. The channels may be used to accommodate, tor example, cables or the like. In addition, or alternatively, the channels could be used to allow fittings to be secured to the beam.

The beam is particularly suitable for use as a muilion of a curtain wailing system. However, it may be used in other applications. Where used as a muilion, the first beam component is conveniently provided with formations adapted to receive sealing gaskets, and formations adapted to allow pressure plates or the like to be secured thereto.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a view illustrating a curtain wailing system: Figure 2 is a sectional view iilustratlng a beam in the form of a muilion in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 3 and 4 are views, to an enlarged scale, of components of the beam of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a view illustrating the manner in which the components illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are secured to one another.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated part of a curtain walling system, comprising a series of vertical and horizontal muliions 10 (not shown in Figure 1) secured to one another and defining therebetween a series of rectangular voids. Each void is filled by a respective infill panel 12. Some of the infill panels 12 take the form of glazed units.

Others are solid infill panels. Furthermore, some of the infill panels take the form of openabie vents, whilst others are fixed in a closed position. The infill panels 12 are secured to the muliions 10 by pressure plates secured to suitable formations 14 provided upon the muliions 10, and appropriate covers 16 are secured to the pressure plates. it will be appreciated that where the curtain walling structure is of large dimensions, then the forces to which it Is exposed due to environmental factors can be significant. For example, the pressure exerted by wind incident against the curtain wailing structure can be large, and it i& Important to ensure that the muliions 10 are able to withstand such loads without deflecting to an unacceptably large degree as unacceptably large deflection could result in, for example, damage to the associated infill panels 12, or in the infill panels 12 no longer being properly secured in position.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the muilion 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprises a first beam component 20 and a second beam component 22 which are secured to one another by a fixing means 50 to form the muilion 10. Each beam component 20, 22 is of extruded aluminium form. The first beam component 20 comprises a box section part 24 having opposing side walls 25 and opposing ends wails 26. At the points where the side and end wails 25, 26 intersect, the component 20 is provided, internally, with screw mounting formations 28 for use in supporting and securing the muilion 10 in position. One end wall 26 of the component 20 is formed with the aforementioned formation 14 to allow a pressure plate to be secured thereto, it is further formed with support formations 30 adapted to receive sealing gaskets (not shewn) to allow an adjacent infill panel 12 to be sealed thereto in a weather tight manner. The precise nature of these formations 14, 30 will depend, to some extent, upon the nature of the other components of the curtain wailing system and so although specific forms are illustrated it will be appreciated that formations of other shapes may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

The opposing end wall 26 is provided, on its outer surface, with an integral flange 32 which lies generally parallel to the side walls 25. One face of the flange 32 is provided with a series of elongate grooves 34. The other face of the flange 32 is provided with a lip 38.

The second beam component 22, like the first beam component 20, includes a box section part 38 including side walls 40 and end walls 42. One of the end walls 42 is provided with an integral flange 44 which, like that of the first beam component 20, includes elongate grooves 48 on one face, and a lip 48 on the opposite face thereof.

As best shown in Figure 4, the first and second beam components 20, 22 are arranged, in use, with the flanges 32,44 overlying one another, the grooved faces thereof abutting one another with the grooves 34, 48 meshing with one another, the box section parts 24, 38 thereof being spaced apart from one another. The flanges 32, 44 are formed with a series of apertures (not shown) which align with one another, and the flanges 32, 46 are secured to one another by the fixing means 50, each fixing means 50 taking the form of a threaded bolt 52 with which a respective nut 54 cooperates. As shown in Figure 5, the nut 54 is conveniently held against rotation by engagement With one of the lips 38, 48, depending upon the direction from which the bolt is inserted. it will be appreciated that the fixing means 50 are located upon a neutral plane or axis of the beam, thus little of the load experienced by the beam needs to be withstood by the fixing means 50. Consequently, relatively small diameter bolts 52 can be used, and they may be spaced apart from one another by a relatively large distance, if desired.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, channels 56 are defined between the box section parts 24, 38 of the assembled mullion 10. Conveniently, the channels 56 are closed by closure caps 58 which are conveniently snap or press fitted into position. The closure caps 58 are primarily provided for cosmetic purposes, and may be cotoured to match or contrast with other parts of the muilton 10. if desired, the channels 56 may house cables or the like, or they may serve as anchorage points to permit mounting brackets for other fittings to be secured in position, if desired. it will be appreciated that the individual beam components 20, 22 are of relatively small dimensions and so can be manufactured relatively easily by extrusion. Once assembled, ihemullion 10 may have a depth of, for example, approximately 400mm. it will be appreciated that although the description hereinbefore is of one example of muiitoh in accordance with the invention, a wide range of modifications and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. CLAIMS;

1. A beam comprising a first beam component including a box section part having a wail formed with a load application formation and an opposing wail with a flange projecting 5 therefrom, a second beam component including a box section part and having a flange projecting therefrom, the flanges extending adjacent and overlying one another, the flanges of the first and second beam components being provided with apertures which align with one another, and threaded fastener means extending through the aligned apertures for securing the flanges of the beam components to one another to hold the box 10 section parts thereof in a spaced relationship, the threaded fastener means having respective axes, the beam defining a loading direction extending from the wall of the first beam formed with the load application formation and through the flanges, and being arranged such that the beam defines a neutral plane when a load is applied, in use, in the loading direction, wherein the flanges and threaded fastener means are positioned such 15 that the axes of the threaded fastener means lie in the neutral plane of the beam.

2. A beam according to Claim 1, wherein the threaded fastener means comprises a nut and bolt. 20

3. A beam according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of the flanges is provided with features to resist rotation of the nut.

4. A beam according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the flanges are 25 provided with grooved features upon the surfaces thereof which abut one another, in use.

5. A beam according to any of the preceding claims and including a pair of channels defined between the box section parts of the First and second beam components. 30

6. A beam according to Claim 5, further comprising closure means to close the channels,

7. A beam according to Claim 6, wherein the closure means is adapted to be snap or press fitted into position.

8. A rnuilion for a curtain wailing system comprising a beam accofding io any ef the preceding claims.