US2281071A - Window construction - Google Patents

Description

- theinterior of a building,

Patented Apr. 28, 1942 4 b 2,281,071 WINDOW CONSTRUCTION A Percy Knudsen, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company,

Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania l Application March 24,1939, Serial No. 263,927

4 Claims..

The present invention relates to window constructions and notably to window constructions of the double-or multiglazed type. One object of the invention is to provide a i simple and eilicient mechanism for adjusting a screen or shade construction disposed between the glass plates in a multiglazed window.

A second object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the foregoing type which, after installation, `does not give access vof air to the `interior of thewindow,` with which it is employed. b

'Ihese and other objects of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification and the appended claims.`

It has heretofore been recognized that conventional windows involving a single plate or pane of glass were relatively ineilcient barriers to the transmissionof heat to or from the interior `of` buildings in which they were installed. For ex-A ample, the outer surface of the glass, during cold weather, became chilled andin turn caused chilling of the atmosphere within the buildings in which the windows .i were employed. Conversely when the atmosphere without the buildings was warmer than the air within the buildings heat was transmitted from the .exterior to y the interior. i

`In order to `obviate this type of heat transfer it has been proposed to provide windows having aplurality of sheets or panesofglass `so spaced with respect to each other asto form insulative dead air spaces.` By use of this type of construction heat lossesby conduction and convection were substantially reduced.

Although multiglazed Windows involving two i or more spaced plates of `glass substantially reduce transmission of heat by conduction or convection, they donot constitute satisfactory barriers to radiant heat to which the glass is transparent.

screens or shades secured within the building `in which the windows are employed. By use of such screens the amount of light transmitted can` be regulated fairly satisfactory. However, 1 lthe screens act as collectors of dust and, moreover, in warm weather they become heated by radiant heat absorbed and, in turn, heat the indoor air. Of course vafter the heatonc'e gains access to except by refrigerating apparatus or other cooling devices. For this reason it is preferable to intercept it before it gains access to the interior. b The present invention involves as one feature,

vOne conventional method of excluding `this type of heat has;` involved `the provision of provision of a multiple glazed window structure embodying a system of adjustable louvers sealed in the dead air space betweenthe sheets of glass, and including a closed iiuid actuated system by means of which the louvers may be` adjusted `without admitting air to the space.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals refer to like `partsthroughout and in which the gure is a cross-sectional view taken transversely of the plane of a window unit embodying the invention.`

In the form ofthe invention shown, a building or room having walls Sis provided with a window embodying a suitable frame Ill, including a transverse sill portion Il connected to jamb portion l2. The remaining portions including the lintel,` since they are simj second lamb and the ilar, have not been shown. .b b

The cross-sectional contour ofthe frame sections is exemplied by thesill Il and comprises a rabbeted portion `I4` providinga `shoulder IB to prevent outward displacement of the marginal portions of an outer plate il of glass. Preferably the edges or margins of the glass are cushioned from contact with the frame by meansof a layer I8 of rubber, mastic or other suitable i sealing material.

The plate Il is maintained upon the rabbeted portion i4 by means of a spacer bar I9 resting upon a second stop`2| of the rabbet i4. The bar i! also includes `a `lip 22 which projects outwardly to engage the inner surface of the glass il, thus maintaining the latter in position.

Bar `I9 is further rabbeted along its inner edge as indicated at 23, to provide a `seat for a second sheet24 of glass, which Contact with the bar by means of a suitable layer 2G, of sealing material. If desired, the construction may further embody a third sheet 2l of glass, also resting upon the rabbeted portion 26 of the bar I9"and being maintained in spaced parallel relation with `respect to the sheet 24, byy means of a spacer vbar 28, of wood, rubber, or any other suitable material. Sheet"2l is insulated from direct contact with the seat portion it cannot be removed in the bar corresponding to the layer 26. tween the sheets il, 24 and 21 the atmosphere by the layers I The assembly of glass in place in the frame I0 which may be formed of the drawings, of Wood. the inner face of the The spaces beare sealed from 8, 26, and 29.

plates may be clamped by means of plate 3|, metal, or as` shown in This bar is secured to frame by screws (not is insulated from direct,

i9 by means of a `layer 29 of material y shown) or any other convenient fastening device, and is provided with an outwardly-projecting lip 32 adapted to engage the exposed iace oi the plate 21.

It will be noted that sheets or plates I1 and 24 are suiliciently spaced to accommodate a louver construction 33 embodying horizontal bars 34, which are so spaced that when they are closed their edges overlap. These bars, at their extremities, are provided with axially disposed pintles 36, having bearings in a vertically-disposed metallic bar, or plate 31, which is secured to the jamb section I2 by means of screws 38. Pintles 36 are, also, provided with pinions or gears 39 rigidly secured thereto and engaging corresponding teeth upon a vertically-disposed rack bar 4|. The rack or bar is guided and maintained in a vertical path by means of suitable bracket 42 secured to the jamb section |2 by means of screws 43.

At its lower extremity, it rests in a depression 44 in head 46 of an accordion-like bellows or diaphragm 41 termed a sylphon, which is formed of thin, nexible, brass or other suitable metal having pleats orY corrugations 48 designed to permit a substantial degree of axial extension of the construction. The bellows `extends into an opening 49 in bar 22 and at its lower extremity is provided with a closure or` bottom I which may rest upon the upper face of sill section Il and tightly seals the opening.

connection between bellows 46 and bars 34 for rotation of the latter upon extension of the bellows.` `If desired, the head 46 of the bellows may be guided in its vertical movementby means of a downwardly-extending tubular boss 52 secured thereto and mating with an upwardly-extending boss 53 upon the upper face of the closure 5|.

Fluid for actuatingthe bellows is admitted by Contact of the' `rack bar 4| provides an operative mechanical means of a conduit 54 extending through an opening in the closure 5| and being disposed in a groove or opening 56 in the bar 22. The inner,v

extremity of the tube extends through the bottom of a bushing 51 which is embedded :in an opening in the clamping bar or strip 3| and which is provided with a peripheral ange 58 resting upon the outer face of the strip and being secured thereto by means of screws 59. The bushing houses, and also closes, one end of a second pleated bellows 6| substantially Vcorresponding to the bellows 41 already described. The bellows is further closed by a head 62 to which is secured a socket 63 that receives a ball 64 of an actuating stem` 66. The stern is outwardly threaded through a bracket 6'1 approximately Aof U-shape, which is formed integrally with or otherwise secured to the flange 58. At its extremity the stem is provided with a suitablel knob or hand-wheel 68 by means of which it may be rotated to actuate the head 62 of the bellows 6I inwardly, `or outwardly, to` inate or deflate the latter.

Bellows 41 and 6| and the connecting tube 54 are filled with a suitable fluid medium, such as glycerol, glycol, or other non-freezing liquid. Accordingly, when it is desired to actuate the rack bar 4| upwardly or downwardly, it is merely necessary to rotate knob or hand-wheel 68, thus inflating or deating the bellows 6|. The latter operation in turn injects or withdraws fluid from the bellows 48, thus inflating or deatingI the latter. As the head 46 is actuated upwardly or downwardly by fluid` Within the bellows, rack bar 4| is correspondingly actuated, and in turn causes simultaneous rotation of the-gears 88. The louver bars 4l may thus be rotated to any desired position to control the radiation passing y through thewindow. When the bars are perfect- 1y horizontal in plane, light and radiant heat passes through almost without obstruction. However, when bars are tilted approximately to vertical position as indicated in dotted line in the drawing, substantially alllight and radiant heat is excluded.

It will be apparent that the bars 34 may be coated upon one face wtih a reflective material such as an aluminum paint and upon the opposite face wtih an absorptive material, e. g., a black paint. Therefore, when it is desired to exclude heat from entrance into the building in which the construction is employed, the reflective side may be faced outwardly, thus reiectingv the heat to the exterior and preventing its entrance into the building. If it is desired to prevent radiation losses from the building the bars may be faced the opposite direction, in order to reect heat inwardly.

It will be apparent that the construction as shown is relatively simple of design. It will also be apparent that the chambers or spaces between the glass plates inthe construction are substantially sealed from the external atmosphere, thus preventing the entrance of dust and moisture, which would tend to cloud or obscure the interior faces of the glass, and which in the case of dust might be deposited upon the louver bars 34. The pleated ltubes or bellows 41 and 6| together with the connecting tube 54 provide means for the control of the rack bar 4|, which means is operable without in any way giving access of air to the interior of the' construction.

The form of the invention hereindisclosed is to be regarded as exemplary. It will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit ofthe invention, or the scope of the following claims. I

What'I claim is:

1. A multiple glazed window construction` embodying a sash frame including jamb sections at the sides thereof and transverse sections connected thereto, inner and outer spaced sheets of glass disposed in the frame and vhaving their edges sealed in the frame to provide a sealed dead air chamber, horizontal louver bars having pintles at opposite ends .journaled at the' sides of the frame, pinion gears upon the pintles, a rack bar engaging the gears, one of said transverse sections having an opening formed therein contiguous to an extremity of said rack bar and means for reciprocating the bar, which means comprises an extensible diaphragm disposed to seal the opening formed in the transverse section and having an operative connection with the rack bar to reciprocate the latter and means for extending and retracting the diaphragm for reciprocatingly operating the rack bar.

2. A multiple glazed window construction embodying a sash frame including jamb sections at the sides thereof and transverse sections connected thereto, inner and outer spaced sheets of glass disposed in the frame and having their edges sealed in the frame to provide a sealed dead air chamber, horizontal louver bars having pintles at opposite ends journaled at the sides of the frame, pinion gears upon the pintles, a rack bar engaging the gears, one of said transverse sections having an opening formedtherein contiguous to an extremity of said rack bar and means for reciprocating the bar, whichmeans comprises an extensible` diaphragm disposed to seal the opening formed in the: transverse section. and

` `having an `operative connection with the rack bar to reciprocate the latter and means for extending and retracting the diaphragm for reciprocatingly operating the rack bar, said means for expanding and retracting the diaphragm including a second diaphragm connected through the `openingwith the iirst;` diaphragm, by a fluid atthe sides thereof and transverse sections interconnecting the jarnb sections. inner and outer spaced sheets of glass disposed in the frame and having their edges sealed in the frame toprovide a sealed chamber, `horizontal louver bars disposed in parallel relation in the chamber and being supported by means permitting individual rotation of the bars about individual vertically spaced longitudinal axis, and means interconnecting the bars for simultaneous rotation. one

of said sash frame sections being provided with an opening formed therein, an extensible diaphragm disposed to seal the opening `and having an operative connection `with said means `for simultaneously rotating the bars and means for extending and retracting the diaphragm for actuatingxthe latter? means, said means for extending and retracting the diaphragm including a second diaphragm connected through the opening with the first diaphragm by a uid sealed connection. whereby expansion or retraction of the latter diaphragm causes fluid pressure to be transmitted to the second diaphragm.

4. A multiple glazed window construction embodying a sash frame including jamb sections at the sides thereof and transverse sections connected thereto at the top and bottom, inner and outer spaced sheets of glass disposed in the frame and having their edges sealed inthe frame to provide a sealed dead air chamber, horizontal louver bars having pintles at opposite ends journaied in the `jamb sections at the sides of the frame, a vertically disposed, bar-like actuating member operatively interconnecting the louver bars for tilting movement in unison about their pintles, one of said transverse sections having an opening formed therein contiguous to an extremity of said actuating member, and means for reciprocating the latter member, which means comprise an extensible diaphragm disposed to seal the opening formed in the transverse section and having an operative connection with' the actuating member to reciprocate the latter and means for extending and retracting the diaphragm.

PERCY E. KNUDSEN.

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