Collapsible element for façade systems
AssigneeArconic Technologies LLC
InventorIon-Horatiu Barbulescu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A façade system includes a mullion having exterior and interior portions and defining a glazing pocket between the exterior and interior portions, a thermal break arranged within the glazing pocket and extending between the exterior and interior portions, the thermal break dividing the glazing pocket into a shallow pocket and a deep pocket larger than the shallow pocket, and a collapsible element arranged within the deep pocket and extending between the thermal break and a lateral side of a panel introduced into the deep pocket. The collapsible element is movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The collapsible element divides the deep pocket into two or more thermal chambers when in the expanded state to reduce heat transfer by convection through the glazing pocket.
Claims20
A façade system, comprising:
- a mullion having exterior and interior portions and defining a glazing pocket between the exterior and interior portions;
- a thermal break arranged within the glazing pocket and extending between the exterior and interior portions, the thermal break dividing the glazing pocket into a shallow pocket and a deep pocket larger than the shallow pocket;
- and
- a collapsible element arranged within the deep pocket and extending between the thermal break and a lateral side of a panel introduced into the deep pocket, the collapsible element being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state and including:
- a first portion engageable with the thermal break;
- a second portion opposite the first portion and engageable with the lateral side of the panel;
- and
- opposing first and second side walls extending between the first and second portions and being foldable as the collapsible element transitions between the expanded and collapsed states, and
- wherein an interior surface of the first and second side walls is engageable with the first and second portions, respectively, when the collapsible element is moved to the collapsed state and an expanded state, and
- wherein the collapsible element divides the deep pocket into three thermal chambers when in the expanded state to reduce heat transfer by convection through the glazing pocket.
A method of assembling a façade system, comprising:
- coupling a first panel to a mullion, the mullion including:
- an exterior portion and an interior portion;
- a glazing pocket defined between the exterior and interior portions;
- and
- a thermal break arranged within the glazing pocket and extending between the exterior and interior portions and thereby dividing the glazing pocket into a shallow pocket and a deep pocket larger than the shallow pocket, wherein the first panel is received within the shallow pocket;
- advancing a second panel into the deep pocket and toward the thermal break, wherein a collapsible element is arranged in the deep pocket and includes:
- a first portion engageable with the thermal break;
- a second portion opposite the first portion and engageable with a lateral side of the second panel;
- and
- opposing first and second side walls extending between the first and second portions and being foldable as the second panel advances into the deep pocket;
- transitioning the collapsible element between a collapsed state and an expanded state as the second panel is received within the deep pocket, wherein an interior surface of the first and second side walls is engageable with the first and second portions, respectively, when the collapsible element is moved to the collapsed state;
- and
- dividing the deep pocket into three thermal chambers with the collapsible element in the expanded state.
A façade system, comprising:
- a mullion having exterior and interior portions and defining a glazing pocket between the exterior and interior portions;
- a thermal break arranged within the glazing pocket and extending between the exterior and interior portions, the thermal break dividing the glazing pocket into a shallow pocket and a deep pocket larger than the shallow pocket;
- and
- a collapsible element arranged within the deep pocket and extending between the thermal break and a lateral side of a panel introduced into the deep pocket, the collapsible element being movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state and including:
- a first portion engageable with the thermal break;
- a second portion opposite the first portion engageable with the lateral side of the panel;
- and
- opposing first and second side walls extending between the first and second portions that fold outward as the collapsible element transitions from the expanded state to the collapsed state,
- wherein collapsible element divides the deep pocket into three or more thermal chambers when the collapsible element is in the expanded state to reduce heat transfer by convection through the glazing pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.