EP0908580B1 - Apparatus for constructing a facade made of panels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for construction of a facade of plates arranged in horizontal rows one above the other and connected to horizontal profiles of fixing fixed to a support structure.

At present, to build such a facade, we fix first of all the horizontal fixing profiles against the structure support then the plates are mounted on these fixing profiles after the others, using fasteners that engage with the edges of the plates and the fixing profiles.

This procedure presents in particular the following disadvantages. On the one hand, it is necessary to fix the profiles horizontal fixing to the support structure according to spacings predetermined according to the height of the plates to be laid and on the other hand, installing the plates one after the other takes a lot of time.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

The installation device for the construction of a facade plates arranged in horizontal rows comprises, according to the invention, at least two substantially vertical arms located at a distance from one the other, a horizontal beam carried by the upper part of said arms and having a longitudinal projecting part as well as holding means connected to said arms between said beam and their lower end and respectively comprising a member of projecting support having at its end a hooking finger.

Thus, after the installation of a row of plates and fixing to the support structure of the fixing profile of the upper part of the plates in this row, the following operations can be carried out.

We install the device by hanging said fingers hooking behind a hooking edge of said profile fixing already installed, the lower part of said arms coming to bear against the outer face of a row of plates already laid and said horizontal beam located at a distance from said support structure. We mount the lower edge of the plates of the row of plates to be laid on the upper edge of said fixing profile already installed by means of fastening elements, these plates coming to bear inclined towards the front against said horizontal beam and in front of the support structure. We mounts a fixing profile to be placed on the upper edge of the plates the row to be laid thanks to fastening elements that straddle the lower edge of this fixing profile to be installed. We advance said fixing profile to be laid until they come against the structure support, thus causing the upper edge of said row plates of plates to be placed towards the support structure. Said profile is fixed fixing to be placed on the support structure. Then we deposit or remove the device by unhooking said fingers from the hooking edge of said fixing profile already installed.

According to a variant of the invention, the member for maintaining said holding means comprises an arm provided at its end with the finger aforementioned attachment, behind an edge extending upwards from said fixing profile and capable of passing between two plates horizontally adjacent.

According to another variant of the invention, the holding member said holding means comprises a rod provided at its end with the aforementioned attachment finger and provided with an operating means in rotation to rotate this finger between a position downward orientation to be able to engage behind a flange which extends upwards from said fixing profile, which extends towards the top opposite its bottom edge, and a horizontal position in which it can pass between two horizontal rows of plates.

According to the invention, said holding means are of preferably mounted sliding along said arms.

According to the invention, said arms are preferably mounted sliding along said horizontal beam.

According to the invention, the lower parts of said arms carry preferably projecting lateral support means.

According to the invention, said lateral support means are of preferably a shock absorbing material.

• la figure 1 représente une coupe verticale d'un premier dispositif selon la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en élévation, en perspective, du dispositif représenté sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente une coupe verticale d'un second dispositif selon la présente invention ;
• et la figure 4 représente une vue en élévation, en perspective, du dispositif représenté sur la figure 3.

The present invention will be better understood from the study of laying devices for the construction of a facade of plates, described by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the drawing in which:

• Figure 1 shows a vertical section of a first device according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows an elevational perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a vertical section of a second device according to the present invention;
• and FIG. 4 represents an elevation view, in perspective, of the device shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we see that the device pose shown, generally identified by the reference 1, comprises two substantially vertical parallel arms 2 and 3, which carry at their upper end, a horizontal beam 4. This beam 4 extends through passages 5 and 6 of arms 2 and 3 so that it can be adjusted the spacing between these arms along this beam 4.

The beam 4 has a longitudinal wing 7 of lateral support, projecting from one side of arms 2 and 3. Arms 2 and 3 carry screws pressure transverses 8 and 9 which can be operated from the side opposite the projecting wing 7 and which allow them to be fixed by pressure in passages 5 and 6 at specific places along the beam 4.

The lower ends of arms 2 and 3 are crossed by transverse support screws 10 and 11 whose ends which are located on the side of the longitudinal wing 7 carry buffers shock absorbers 12, for example made of rubber.

Between the support screws 10 and 11 and the beam 4, the arms 2 and 3 carry, rather in their lower part, small transverse plates 13 and 14 which have arms 15 and 16 which extend from the side of the wing 7 of beam 4 and at the ends of which hooks are formed 17 and 18 which extend downwards. These hooks 17 and 18 are arranged beyond the plane tangent to the support wing 7 of the beam 4 and to the buffers 12.

The device 1 which has just been described is particularly intended for the construction of a vertical facade 19 in the manner next.

The facade 19 includes a horizontal row 20 already laid vertical plates 21 arranged side by side and at low distance and whose upper edges are connected to a horizontal profile fixing 22 fixed against the vertical wall 23a of a wall 23, by through fasteners 24.

The fixing profile 22 is of I-shaped section. ends of the branches of one of its shaped sections 25 of U, open on the side, bear against the wall 23a of the wall 23, this profile 22 being fixed to the wall 23 by transverse screws 26 which extend across his soul 27.

The end of the upper branch of the other part 28 of U-shaped section of the fixing profile 22, open on the other side, is extended by an upper rim 29 which extends upwards.

The end of the lower branch of part 28 of the profile fixing 22 is extended by a lower flange 30 which extends towards the bottom and by an opposite rim 30a which extends upwards.

The fastening elements 24, which are preferably made in accordance with the teachings of European patent EP-A-325 642, are arranged on the one hand straddling the lower edge 30 of the profile fixing 22 and on the other hand astride the upper edge of the plates vertical 20.

To install a horizontal row 31 next of plates 32, identical at least in length to the plates 21, which will be placed above and at a short distance from the horizontal row 20 already asked, we can proceed as follows.

The laying device 1 is suspended from the fixing profile 22 already installed by hooking its hooks 17 and 18 on the upper edge 29 of this already installed profile.

In this hooked position, the projecting arms 15 and 16 of the plates 13 and 14 of the device 1 are slightly engaged, respectively, between two plates 20 already placed, the arms 2 and 3 having been previously positioned along the support beam 4 for this purpose. The buffers 12 of the screws 10 and 11 of the device 1 are in abutment against the outer face of the horizontal row 20 of plates 21 already laid. The arms 2 and 3 of the device 1 are slightly inclined so that that the longitudinal support wing 7 of the beam 4 is at a distance from the face 23a of wall 23, beyond the vertical plane determined by the exterior face of the horizontal row 20 of plates 21 already laid.

The device 1 being thus installed, it is mounted, one after the other the others, the plates 32 of the row of plates 31 to be laid from the next way.

We pass the plates 32 to be placed between the longitudinal wing support 7 of the beam 4 and the wall 23. The lower edges of these are fixed plates 32 using fastening elements 33, identical to the elements of attachment 24, part of which straddles the upper edge 29 of the fixing profile 22 already laid and straddling the lower edge of the 32 plates to install. This being done, the plates 32 to be placed are slightly inclined outwards and their upper part remains support against the longitudinal support wing 7 of the beam 4.

Then, we mount on the upper edge of the plates 32 to place a new fixing profile 34 to be installed, identical to the fixing profile 22, by means of fastening elements 35, identical to the fastening elements 24, the fastening profile 34 being spaced from the wall 23a of wall 23 and between the latter and the horizontal row 31 of plates 32 to be laid and the fastening elements 35 being on the one hand horse on the lower edge 36 of the fixing profile 34 to be installed and horse on the upper edge of the plates 32 to be laid.

Then we move together, rotating them around their lower edges connected to the fixing profile 27 already laid by the fastening elements 33, the fastening profile 34 to be installed and the part upper of the horizontal row 31 of plates 32 to be laid, in direction of the wall 23a of the wall 23, by moving them away from the support wing 7 of the horizontal support beam 4.

The fixing profile 34 to be laid being brought against the wall 23a of the wall 23, in a position corresponding to that of the profile of fixing 27 already installed, it can then be fixed against this wall by fixing screws not shown corresponding to the screws 26 fixing the fixing profile 27 already installed.

The new horizontal row 31 being thus posed, one can then unhook or remove the device 1 by lifting it slightly from so as to separate its hooks 17 and 18 from the upper edge 29 of the fixing profile 27 and moving it away from the horizontal row 20 already posed and of the horizontal row 31 that we have just posed.

The plates 32 of the new horizontal row 31 as well placed are taken between the fastening elements 33 connected to the fixing profile 27 already installed and the fixing elements 35 connected to the fixing profile 34 which has just been installed.

We can then start again the operations described above to lay a new horizontal row of plates above the horizontal row 31 or further along the fastening profile 22 already posed.

It follows from the above that the laying device 1 allows in particular to put in fixing position against the wall 23a of the wall 23 the upper fixing profile 34 to be installed and the upper part of the plates 32 of the horizontal row 31 to install, the profile 34 to install is immediately in its correct position apart from to the fixing profile 27 already installed.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, we see that the delivery device 37 shown differs from delivery device 1 described above by the fact that the small fixed plates 15 and 16 to hooks 17 and 18 are replaced by slides 38 and 39. These the latter are crossed by the parallel vertical arms 40 and 41 of this device and are adjustable along them.

Sliders 38 and 39 are likely to be blocked by pressure in adjustment positions along arms 40 and 41 thanks to eccentrics 42 maneuverable by handles 43.

The slides 38 and 39 carry, laterally on the arms 40 and 41, rotary transverse rods 44 and 45. The outer ends of these rods are provided with external handles 46 and 47. Their other ends carry radial hooks 52 and 53 which extend freely beyond the plane tangent to the longitudinal support wing 48 of the beam horizontal 49 carried by the arms 40 and 41 as described above and at the ends of damping buffers 50 and 51 fixed on the lower ends of arms 40 and 41.

To install the laying device 37 on the horizontal row 20 of plates 21 already installed from the previous example, we engage the hooks 53 in the U-shaped outer part 28 of the profile attachment already placed 22 and the rods 44 and 45 are pivoted thanks to their handles 46 and 47 so as to orient their hooks 52 and 53 towards the bottom, behind the hooking edge 30a of the fixing profile already asked 22.

The laying device 37 is then in a position equivalent to that of the laying device 1 described in the example previous with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The hooks are engaged rear of the rim 30a of the fixing profile 22 already installed, inside its U-shaped profile 28. The pads 50 and 51 bear against the face outside of the horizontal row 20 of plates 21 already laid. The support beam 49 is at a distance from wall 23.

We can then mount and install the plates 32 of the new horizontal row 31 to be laid and its upper profile 34 as described previously.

After which, to dismantle or remove the device 37, we do turn its rods 44 and 45 by operating its handles 46 and 47, until arrange its hooks 52 and 53 horizontally, disengaged from the rim attachment 30a of the fixing profile 22.

Then, the device 37 is removed from the rows 20 and 31 of plates laid by passing the free end of rods 44 and 45 and the hooks 52 and 53 above the hooking edge 31 of the profile attachment 22 and between the upper edge of the horizontal row 20 already laying of plates 21 and the lower edge of the horizontal row 31 of plates 32 which have just been laid, the rods 44 and 45 and the hooks 52 and 53 being sized for this purpose.

Unlike the laying device 1 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the device 37 described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 has the advantage of being able to be installed along a profile of attachment 22 already installed, at any point along its length, whatever either the length of the plates to be laid and the vertical spacing between these last and whatever the distance between its arms 40 and 41.

The present invention is not limited to the above examples described. Many variant embodiments are possible without departing from the described framework, which is determined by the content demands.

Claims (7)

1. Installation device for the construction of a facade (19) of plates (21) arranged in horizontal rows (20) one above the other and joined to horizontal fastening sections (22) fastened to a support structure (23); said fastening sections including, at a distance from each other, an upper flange (29) which extends upwardly in order to straddle fastening elements (33) of the lower edge of the plates and a lower flange (30) which extends downwardly in order to straddle fastening elements (24) of the upper edge of the plates;
      characterized in that it includes at least two substantially vertical arms (2, 3) situated at a distance from each other, a horizontal beam (4) held by the upper part of said arms and having a protruding longitudinal part (7) as well as holding means (14) joined to said arms between said beam and their lower end and including, respectively, a protruding holding part (14) with a catch (17) at its end,
      so that, after installing a row (20) of plates and fastening the upper part of the plates (21) of this row to the support structure of the fastening section (22):

   the device is installed by hooking said catches behind a hooking flange of said already installed fastening section, the lower part of said arms coming to rest against the exterior face of an already installed row of plates and said horizontal beam being situated at a distance from said support structure;

   the lower edge of the plates of the row of plates being installed is mounted on the upper flange of said already installed fastening section by fastening elements, these plates coming to rest against said horizontal beam at a forwardly inclined angle and in front of said support structure;

   a fastening section to be installed is mounted on the upper edge of the plates of the row being installed by means of fastening elements straddling over the lower flange of this fastening section being installed;

   said fastening section being installed is moved forward until it abuts against the support structure, thus bringing the upper edge of said plates of the row of plates being installed towards the support structure;

   said fastening section being installed is fastened onto the support structure;

   the device is then removed or taken off by unhooking said catches from the hooking flange of said already installed fastening section.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding part of said holding means includes an arm (16) equipped at its end with said catch (18) behind a flange (29) extending towards the top of said fastening section (22) and susceptible of passing between two horizontally adjacent plates.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding part of said holding means includes a rod (45) equipped at its end with said catch (53) and equipped with a rotating handling means making it possible to rotate this catch between a downwardly oriented position, in order to be able to engage behind a flange which extends towards the top (30a) of said fastening section (22), which extends upwardly opposite its lower flange, and a horizontal position in which it is able to pass between two horizontal rows of plates.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said holding means (39) are slidably mounted along said arms.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arms (40) are slidably mounted along said horizontal beam.
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower parts of said arms hold protruding lateral support means (12).
7. Device according to the preceding claim 6, characterized in that said lateral support means are made of a shock-absorbing material.

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