GB2160910A

GB2160910A - Building frame with panel infill

Info

Publication number: GB2160910A
Application number: GB08510800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Robert Wallis; Ronald Howarth; Thomas Millar Paul
Original assignee: WARD BROTHERS
Current assignee: WARD BROTHERS
Priority date: 1984-04-28
Filing date: 1985-04-29
Publication date: 1986-01-02
Also published as: GB8510800D0

Abstract

A building construction comprising a plurality of frame members 10 which define an opening and an infill 12-14 and 12a-14a mounted on and extending in a transverse direction away from, the frame members to close said opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Building construction and method of constructing a building This invention relates to a building construction and to a method of constructing a building.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide a building construction comprising a plurality of frame members which define an opening and an infill mounted on, and extending in a transverse direction away from, the frame members to close said opening.

Each frame member may provide a shoulder and a groove, parallel to and spaced from the shoulder, with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, there being a resiliently deformable mounting strip, having a foot engaged in the groove, and having an intermediate part projecting through said open mouth and a limb which is deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

The frame members may comprise, for example, part of a wall or a roof of a building.

At least one of the frame members may comprise a composite structure comprising first and second parts.

Where the opening is rectangular at least the two longer sides may be defined by frame members which comprise a composite structure.

The first part may provide a major portion of the bending strength of the composite structure and the second part may have means to retain the infill in the opening.

By "bending strength" we mean the ability of the frame member to resist a bending moment.

Each composite structure may be pre-assembled.

By "pre-assembled" we mean that the first and second parts are assembled together before placement of the frame member in the building construction preferably the first and second parts are assembled together in a factory before delivery to a construction site.

In one version the first part and second parts may be provided with inter-engaged formations which maintain the parts assembled together.

The first and second parts may be assembled together by relative sliding movement of the parts in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the parts to inter-engage said formations.

The first part may be of generally boxsection but with a longitudinally extending opening in one side thereof bounded by inwardly directed flanges, and the second part may comprise an abutment part engaged with said one side of the first part and a pair of ribs projecting from said abutment part engaged within said flanges of the first part and having end parts which engage over the ends of the flanges of the first part, the flanges and ribs providing said inter-engaged formations.

The first part may have said should provided thereon and the second part providing said groove.

Preferably the second part provides two oppositely facing grooves and the first part is provided with two oppositely facing shoulders so that the composite structure defines parts of two separate openings.

The abutment part may comprise a base part of a generally channel-shaped second part, each limb of the channel being formed to provide secondary channels which provide said grooves and said ribs projecting from the surface of the abutment part which is opposite that from which the limbs of the channel extend.

In a modification of the first version the second part may have said shoulder provided thereon and provide said groove.

Preferably the second part provides two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves so that the composite structure defines parts of two separate openings.

The abutment part may comprise a flanged end wall of a generally box-shape second part.

the opposite end wall being formed to provide said groove and said ribs projecting from the surface of the abutment part which is opposite to the box-shaped part.

In another, preferred, version the first and second parts may be connected together when pre-assembled by connecting means provided separately from the first and second parts.

The connecting means may comprise fastener means, or adhesive means, or fusion joining means such as welding, brasing or soldering.

The second part may have said shoulder provided thereon and provide said groove.

The second part may have a flanged end wall which comprises an abutment part engaged with a side of the first part, and said connecting means being arranged to connect the flanges of the abutment part to said side.

Preferably the second part comprises two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves and the composite structure defines part of two separate openings.

The or each shoulder may be provided by one of the flanges of the abutment part.

The abutment part may comprise a flanged end wall of a generally box-shaped second part, the opposite end wall being formed to provide said groove or grooves.

The first part may comprise a single generally channel-section member.

Alternatively, the first part may be of box section and be fabricated from two generally channel shape members which may be con nected together by a connecting means provided separately therefrom, for example fastener means, or adhesive means, or fusion joining means such as welding, brasing or soldering.

The or each generally channel shape member may comprise a pair of spaced parallel flange portions and a web extending between and interconnecting said flange portions, the web comprising a planar central part which extends normal to the flange portions and is flanked by at least one inclined part so that the plane of the central part intersects at least one flange.

The or each flange portion may be of generally L-shape in cross-section, one leg of the L being shorter than the other and constituting a lip on said flange portion.

The or each lip may extend inwardly on the same side of the flange portion to the central part and the lip may extend normal to its flange part.

The central part may be flanked by two inclined parts and said inclined parts may extend on the same side of the central part and diverge away from each other.

The inclined parts may each be connected to their associated flange portion by an end part which lies parallel to said central part.

The members may be connected together with said lips in abutting relationship.

In either version a further frame member, not of composite structure, may extend transversely to said at least one frame member of composite structure.

The further frame member may provide a shoulder and a groove parallel to and spaced from the shoulder with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, there being a resiliently deformable mounting strip, having a foot engaged in the groove, and having an intermediate part projecting through said open mouth and a limb which is deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

The further frame member may be connected to, so as to be supported on, the second part of said at least one frame member.

In each version the open mouth of the groove may be narrower than the width of at least part of the groove within the mouth, and the intermediate part of the mounting strip being of narrower width that at least part of the foot thereby to restrain passage of the foot through the mouth of the groove.

Where the frame members are arranged in a rectangular array of two spaced, vertically extending, members and two spaced, horizontally extending, members to define a rectangular opening, the vertically extending frame members may comprise a composite structure comprising first and second parts and the horizontally extending frame members may comprise a single member and may have said shoulder provided thereon and provide said groove.

Preferably the member provides two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves so that the member defines part of two separate openings.

The horizontally extending member may be of box configuration having one end wall which is flanged and the opposite end wall being formed to provide said grooves.

The or each shoulder may be provided by the flanged end wall.

The side walls of the horizontally extending member may have at least a portion which is inclined inwardly so as to have a smaller separation at the end provided with said grooves than at the opposite end. Said opposite ends may be connected to said flanged end wall by parallel side wall portions.

The horizontally extending member may have the flanged end wall connected to a flange of the flanged end wall of the second part of the vertically extending frame members.

Each groove may have a base and a pair of spaced parallel side walls, one of the side o walls having an inwardly directed flange extending parallel to, and spaced from, the base to provide said open mouth between the end of said flange and the opposed face of the other side wall.

The composite structure of each frame member enables the frame member to withstand, in use, applied loads whilst permitting the second part to be made of a material and of a design which is not constrained by such load configuration since the first part provides the majority of the necessary bending strength. Of course, if desired, the proportion of bending strength supplied by the first part may lie anywhere in the range from above 50% to 100% of the total bending strength required but typically may lie in the range 90% to 100%. The first part provides 100% of the ending strength when the second part is discontinuous, i.e. comprises a plurality of longitudinal adjacent components.

The, in use, applied load includes, besides the obvious static loads imposed by the weight of the infill, dynamic loads due to wind load and reverse wind load and particularly where the frame member form part of a roof, temporary loads such as that imposed by snow or maintenance operative as well as load arising from differential thermal expansion.

Thus the first part, the shape of which is relatively simple and is not required to provide for retention of the infill, except by means of an attached shoulder in certain applications, can be made, for example, by rolling either hot or, preferably, cold and is conveniently made of steel to give good strength. The second part, the shape of which is relatively complex, to provide for retention of the infill can be made by a technique which is suitable for complex shapes, for example by extrusion, and be made of a material suitable for such technique without requiring high strength, for example aluminium or an aluminium alloy.If desired either or both of the first and second parts may be made of other material to that described above, for example they may be made of the same or different materials selected from steel, aluminium, aluminium alloy, synthetic plastics material or a composite material such as plastics coated metal, e.g. plastics coated steel, or aluminium coated steel.

The frame members may comprise vertical or horizontal members of a wall but usually will provide both the vertical and horizontal members of the wall. The frame members may comprise members extending parallel to the rafters and purl ins of a roof.

The frame members may be used in single or multi-storey buildings and for internal partitions as well as external walls.

The frame members may be connected to a main structural framework of the building which may comprise columns and beams. In this case the main structural framework has transmitted to it loads carried by the frame members.

Alternatively the frame members may comprise an integral part of the main structural framework of the building which may comprise, in addition to the frame members, other frame work to provide necessary strength.

The use of a composite member, besides permitting the second part to be designed without strength considerations as described above, also permit design of a range of second parts having different infill mounting and maintaining means to accommodate different infills, for example infills which are other than coplanar, for example infills at 90 to each other or at some intermediate angle such as 60 as well as different thickness of infill so that infills comprising single glazed windows, double glazed windows, thermally insulated walls or roof panels and the like can be mounted using the same structural member that a second part of a configuration corresponding to that of the infill concerned.

The infill may provide vision and/or nonvision areas and can include all the usual components of a building including, for example, wall and roof panels which may or may not be insulated, louvres, doors, sun blinds, solar glaze control means, windows and roof lights.

If desired more than one first part may be used adjacent each other, for example to provide a corner of a building where two first parts each having a second part assembled therewith are positioned so as to be mutually juxtaposed at 90 .

The second parts may be provided with a recess between opposed infill engaging portions and the recess may be close by a trim strip or may accommodate ancillary components such as functional components, for example a solar screen mounting means or a venetian blind mounting means.

The should may be removably mounted on its associated parts to permit of infill removal or fitment from the interior of the building.

The infill may be located relative to the frame member by at least one setting or location block interposed between the frame member and the edge of the infill. A setting or location block may comprise an elongate strip extending along the whole length of the frame member or one or a plurality of discrete blocks of a length less than that of the frame member.

A sealing strip, which is preferably resiliently deformable, is preferably provided between the shoulder and the infill.

The distance between the surface of the infill engaged by the mounting strip and the adjacent side of the open mouth may be greater than 4mm. and preferably lies in the range 4mm. to 1 2mm. but may be about or greater than 6mm. or about or greater than 8mm.

The foot may be asymmetrical having a surface at the side of the foot different from the infill which is coplanar, or substantially coplanar, to the adjacent surface of the intermediate portion and at the side adjacent the infill having a portion to project outwardly of the adjacent side of the intermediate portion towards the infill.

The mounting strip may have a second limb on the opposite side of the intermediate portion to said first limb which engages the frame on the opposite side of the open mouth of the infill.

The first limb may be of greater length than the second limb.

Although the use of the site applied resilient deformable mounting strip as described above is preferred for infill retention, if desired, some other form of site applied infill retention may be provided.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a method of constructing a building which includes the step of fixing a plurality of frame members in position to define an opening therebetween, mounting an infill on, and to extend in a transverse direction away from, the frame members to close said opening to provide a wall or roof of the building wherein at least one frame member prior to erection comprises a pre-assembled composite structure comprising first and second parts.

The method may include the step of connecting, on site, a further frame member, not of composite structure, to extend transversely to said at least one frame member of composite structure.

The method may include the step of con necting the further frame member to the second part of said at least one frame member so as to be supported thereby.

Alternatively the method may include the step of connecting, on site, a further frame member, comprising a pre-assembled composite structure comprising first and second parts, to extent transversely to said at least one frame member.

The further frame member may provide a shoulder and a groove, parallel to and spaced from the shoulder with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, and the method including the step of engaging a foot of a resilient deformable mounting strip in the groove with an intermediate part of the mounting strip projecting through said open mouth and a limb being deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

According to another aspect of the invention, we provide a building construction comprising a plurality of frame members which define an opening and an infill mounted on the frame members to close the opening, wherein the infill is mountable on and dismountable from the frame members from the interior of the building.

The frame members may be provided with removable shoulders facing outwardly of the building which engage an inwardly facing part of the infill and which are secured to the frame member after positioning of the infill from the interior of the building when mounting the infill and are removed from the frame member before removing the infill when dismounting the infill.

In either of the further aspects, the building may have the features set out above according to the first aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a building construction embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a section to a reduced scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section, to an enlarged scale compared with Fig. 1, through a corner of the building described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-section similar to that of Fig. 3 but to a reduced scale compared with Fig. 3, through a modification of the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic fragmentary perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, vertical and horizontal frame members of a wall of a building structure are indicated generally at 10 and define the sides of openings 11, 11 a. A first infill 12 which, in the present example, comprises a double glazing unit, closes a lowermost opening 11, a second infill 13 comprising a glazed unit closes the middle opening 11, and a third infill comprising an insulated panel closes an uppermost opening 11. The infills 12-14 extend in a transverse direction T away from each associated frame member 10. Similar infills 1 2a, 1 3a, 1 4a close a second series of openings 11 a.If desired, different types of infill may be provided to those described above, for example, besides the three types mentioned above, infills may comprise any other desired component of the building including for example, louvres, doors, sun blinds, solar glaze control means, single glazed windows, uninsulated wall panels, insulated or uninsulated roof panels or roof lights. Such different types of infill may be disposed as desired in the building, and the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings is in no way limited.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each frame member 10 is a composite structure comprising a first part comprising an elongate steel box section member 15 having an elongate opening 16 formed in one side thereof and bounded by inwardly directed flanges 17.

The flanges 17 may be spaced laterally away from the edge of the opening instead of being laterally aligned therewith as shown.

Assembled with the first part 15 is a second part 18 made as an extrusion in aluminium.

The second part 18 is of generally channel shape, the base 19 of the channel provided an abutment part which abuts the face of the first part 18 having the opening 16 formed therein, and having a pair of spaced parallel ribs 20 projecting therefrom which engage within the flanges 17 and have turned-over end portions 21 which engage over the ends of the flanges 17.

The first and second parts 15, 18 are assembled by executing relative sliding movement between the parts in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes. Assembly is performed before the frame members are erected in a building and is preferably performed in a factory before they are delivered to the construction site.

The vertical frame members 10 are supported on a foundation 1 and are secured thereto by means of an angle section cleat 2 located within the box section of the vertical member 10 which is secured to the foundation 1 and to the vertical frame member 10 by suitable fasteners (not shown). At it upper end, the vertical frame member 10 is con nected by a cleat 3 to a sigma section beam 4. Each cleat 3 being made of a pair of Z section elements to engage opposite sides of the frame member 10 and beam 4 and con nected thereto by suitable fasteners or by welding.

The beams 4 are supported on the Section roof beams 5 themselves supported by col umns (not shown). The beams 4 carry insu lated roof deck panels 6 of conventional type.

Four horizontal frame members 10 are con nected between adjacent vertical frame mem bers 10. Each such connection comprises a nylon block 7 of an external configuration corresponding to that of the internal configu ration of the box section first 15 of the horizontal frame member connected thereto and is bolted or otherwise secured to the associated vertical frame member 10 with an interposed compression gasket 8. The horizon tal frame member 10 is connected to the nylon block 7 by means of a fastener engaged through the adjacent end walls 8a and 8b of the frame member and nylon block 7 respec tively.

Although in the drawings, only a single composite structure to provide a vertical frame member for one side of six openings 11 is shown, there are of course spaced parallel composite structures which provide the oppo site vertical side frame members of the open ings 11 as well as, on their opposite sides, further vertical frame members to define fur ther openings (not shown). The number of vertical columns provided with any one wall of the building depending upon the size of build ing required and the size of infill used.

The building may be of any other shape than plan view, including square or rectangu lar and may have, if desired, projecting wings, alternatively the building may be of other than orthogonal configuration, for example may have walls inclined at 60D in the case of an hexagonal, in plan view, building this flexibil ity of layout being permitted as described hereinafter.

In the above described example the upright composite structures providing the vertical frame members 10 have been described as being connected to beams 4, carried on roof beams 5, supported by the vertical columns.

The vertical columns and roof beams 5 pro vide a main structural load bearing of the framework of the building to which loads imposed upon the frame members 10, as hereinafter described, are transmitted, and such loads being transmitted by the main structural load bearing frame to a foundation of the building. Alternatively, if desired, the composite structures may be of such configu ration and strength as to provide an integral part of the load bearing structural steel frame work of the building in which case loads imposed by other components are, at least in part, transmitted by the composite structure to the foundations of the building.

Each generally channel shape second part 18 has limbs 22 which each provide a second channel comprising a base part 23 and spaced limbs 24 and 25. The limbs 24, which comprise an extension of the base part 19, have an inwardly directed flange 26. The space between the ends of flange 26 and the adjacent side wall 25 constitutes an open mouth 27 of a groove 28 which provides an an anchor portion of the frame member, the groove 28 within the mouth 27 being of greater width, as indicated at W1, than the width W2 of the mouth 27. The mouth 27 faces away from the frame member 10 in a direction parallel to the transverse direction T in which the associated intill 12 and 14 extends.

Secured to the outwardly facing surfaces 30 of the box-section first part 15 are elongate angle section members 31 which are secured to the member 15 by welding, or by screwing, of one limb 32 to the member 15. The other limbs 33 of the members 31 provide two oppositely directed shoulders on each frame member 10 and each is received within a slot 34 of a sealing strip 35 of suitable resilient elastomeric material which is provided with a sealing rib 36 for engagement with one surface 37 of the associated infill 13.

The angle section members 31 are positioned on their associated frame member in accordance with the thickness of the infill concerned. For example, the member 31 is closer to the side assembled to the second part 18 when the infill is relatively thin such as the double glazed infills 12, 12a shown in Figs. 1 and 3 than when the infill is relatively thick such as the insulated wall panel 14 shown in Fig. 1. The members 31 may be secured to the associated frame members as an on-site or, preferably, off-site in a factory.

The infills for which the frame members 10 provide a bottom frame or cill are preferably supported on a setting block, such as the setting block 38 shown in Fig. 1 whilst, of course, no setting block is provided between a top frame member and an infill therebelow. If desired, location blocks (not shown) may be provided between the vertical frame members and adjacent side edges of associated infills.

The setting and location blocks are preferably made of resilient material which comprise discrete blocks of limited length compared with the length of the associated frame members. However, if desired, the setting and/or location blocks may provide continuous strips of appropriate material extending throughout or substantially throughout the length of the frame member.

The infills 12-14 are maintained in position by mounting strips 40. Each mounting strip 40 comprises an anchor or foot part 41 which is received within a respective one of the two grooves 28. The foot part 41 is connected by an intermediate part 42, of thinner crosssection than the cross-section of the part 41 and which projects through the open mouth 27, to a first limb 43. The limb 43 is resiliently deformed as a result of engagement with a second surface 44 of an associated infill 12-14, 12a-14a and thus serves to urge the infill resiliently against the sealing strip 33. Each mounting strip 40 has a second limb 45 on the opposite side of the intermediate part 42 to the limb 43 which engages a surface part 46 of the associated frame member on the opposite side of the open mouth 27 to the shoulder 33.The reaction between the limb 45 and the surface 46 helps to prevent rotation of the mounting strip as a result of force applied thereto by movement of its associated infill away from its associated shoulder, for example as a result of reverse wind load.

The mounting strip 40 is made of a suitable elastomeric such as PVC, polyethylene or neoprene.

By virtue of the hereinbefore described configuration of the foot and intermediate portion in cooperation with the shape of recess and reduced width mouth, the foot prevents rotation of the mounting strip under such load and thus ensures that the mounting strip is held in position. It will be noted that the foot is coplanar with the intermediate portion on the side distant from the shoulder 33 since on this side there is no force to be resisted by the foot, whilst on the opposite side of the intermediate portion the foot projects significantly outwardly of the intermediate portion in the direction towards the shoulder 33 to provide a rigid shoulder 41 and having a large area for abutment with the inner surface 26a of the flange 26 to ensure a positive engagement therewith and hence positive resistance to rotation and removal of the foot through the open mouth 27.

Furthermore, the distance D1 between the surface 44 of the associated infill 12-14, 12a-14a and the adjacent side 27a of the open mouth is relatively large and the limb 43 is of corresponding length to accommodate for example bowing movement of the infill. In the present example, the distance is 8mm and may for example lie in the range 4mm to 12mm and typically is about 6mm or about 8mm as in the present example. Thus, the mounting strip remains in engagement with the associated infill throughout its length to bias the infill towards the shoulder 31, even though, for example, the central part of an infill has bowed outwardly since the length of the limb 43 is such as to still apply a resilient bias to the end part of the infill even when the central part is thus bowed.

A steel clip-on trim strip 47 is clipped to shoulders 48 provided on the limbs 22 to trim the assembly and close a recess 49 in the second part 18. Alternatively, the recess 49 may be closed by providing a skirt on the mounting strip 40 or, if desired, by providing a single mounting strip comprising two strips each similar to the strip 40 but interconnected by an integral common skirt portion which extends over the mouth of the recess 49.

Further alternatively, if desired, the recess 49 may be used to accommodate anciliary components such as functional components of the building construction, for example venetian blinds or solar screen mounting means.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view through a corner of the building described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. It will be seen that at the corner the walls of the building meet at a right angle and adjacent each corner is provided two composite structures to provide two frame members 10. Each frame member 10 is as described hereinbefore except that one of the frame members is of greater width than the other to permit the frame members to be connected together at spaced postions along their length by means of a bolted connection indicated at 50. In other respects, the frame members are as described hereinbefore and it will be see that a corner section of insulated infill is provided as indicated at 51 to provide the corner of the building.

If it is desired for walls to meet at other than right angles, this may be achieved by linking two composite structures together with an intermediate member so that they are inclined at an appropriate angle and providing a corner component similar to the component 51 but with limbs inclined at an appropriate angle. Alternatively, a single frame member may be provided at each corner but with the second part thereof arranged to accommodate infills which are mutually inclined. This is particularly conveniently achieved where the first and second parts are of a modified construction described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 5 in connection with a pair of adjacent infills which extend in coplanar fashion.

Referring now to Fig. 5 in which the same reference numerals are used that have been used in the preceding Figures but with the addition of a prime sign. It will be seen that the first part 15' is of identical construction to the first part 15 described hereinbefore. The second part 18' has an abutment part 19' which is similar to the corresponding part 19 in the embodiment described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and has ribs 20' engaged within the flanges 17' of first part 15' and turned-over end portions 21'. However, the remainder of the second part 18' instead of being of generally channel configuration is of box configuration and the end wall 100' of the box opposite the part providing the part 19' is of relatively greater extent and is formed to provide a pair of grooves 28' identical to the grooves 28 described herein before.

In this embodiment, the first part 15' is not provided with components corresponding to the components 21 to provide shoulders, since the projecting flanges 51 serve to provide shoulders 52 for an infill. The distance between the shoulders 52 and the grooves 28' may be as desired by adjustment of dimensions of the second part but, to limit the overall width of the second part, in this em bodiment it is convenient to provide relatively thick infills such as insulated wall panels with a reduced thickness edge part as indicated at 53 which is conveniently the same thickness as, for example, the thickness of a double glazed infill. When it is desired to mount a thinner infill, using the embodiment described in Fig. 5, a spacer is conveniently disposed between the shoulder 52 and the infill.

Because of the spacing of the grooves 28' no recess corresponding to the recess 49 is provided and hence no trim strip correspond ing to the trim strip 45 is necessary. If desired, the mounting strips 40' may be of a configuration shown in dotted outline in Fig.

5 so as to trim the second part 18'.

If desired, in a modification, not shown, components corresponding to the components 21 may be provided on the second part when removable shoulders are desired.

Where it is desired to mount infills which are not coplanar, a modified form of second part may be provided having portions to re ceive mutually inclined infills in which case the grooves 28' would be mutually inclined accordingly.

If desired an opening may be defined on one side only, or more usually, on two oppo site sides only, by frame members of compo site structure, the other two opposite sides in the case of a rectangular opening being de fined by further frame members of non-com posite structure. For example, the further frame members may be essentially similar to the second parts 18' of the composite frame members and be connected to the flanges 51 so as to be supported thereby, there being, of course, a corresponding reduction in the distance between the flanges corresponding to the flanges 51 and the grooves corresponding to the grooves 28 to allow for the thickness of the flanges 51. Moreover, the ribs 20' are omitted from the further frame members.

Such an arrangement will be provided where the length to be spanned by an infill is such that the loads imposed on the frame member can be accommodated by a noncomposite structural member made, for example, as an extrusion in aluminium, or aluminium base alloy. Such an arrangement facilitates erection of the building since it 'reduces the number of relatively heavy preassembled composite frame members it is necessary to transport to site and to handle on site.

Referring now to Fig. 6 in which the same reference numerals are used as have been used in the preceding Figures but with the addition of a double prime sign. It will be seen that the first part 15" is of elongate box configuration being fabricated from two generally channel-section members 115", 116".

Each member 115", 116" is made by cold rolling in steel and comprises a pair of spaced parallel flanged portions 118" interconnected by a web 119" having a planar central part 120" flanked by two inclined diverging parts 121 which are connected to their associated flange portions 118" by end parts 117" which lie parallel to the central part 120".

The flange portions 118" are of L-shape in cross-section, one limb 122" of the L-section being shorter than the other and constituting an inturned lip at the free end of each flange portion 118". The lip portions 122" are disposed in side-by-side abutting relationship and are welded together.

Alternatively, the first part may be of generally channel-section as shown at 15"' in Fig.

7, the first part 15"' having a web 119"' of the same configuration as one of the channelsection members 115", 116" described with with reference to Fig. 6, except that the flange portions 118"' are longer. Other parts are identified by the same reference numerals as have been used in the preceding Figures but with the addition of a treble prime sign.

In either case the second part 18" has an abutment part 19" which is provided by a flanged end wall of a generally box configuration elongate member and the end wall 100" of the box opposite the part providing the abutment portion 1 9" is of relatively greater extent and is formed to provide a pair of grooves 28" identical to the grooves 28 described hereinbefore. In this embodiment the flanges 51" of the flanged end wall 19" is screwed by self-driiling/tapping screws to one side 101" of the first member 15". In this embodiment, like the embodiment described with reference to Fig. 5, the first part 15" is not provided with components corresponding to the components 21 to provide shoulders, since the projecting flanges 51" serve as shoulders 52" for an infill.The distance between the shoulders 52" and the grooves 28" may be as desired by adjustment of the dimensions of the second part and, if desired, as described in relation to the embodiment of Fig. 5, relative thick infills, such as insulated wall panels, may be provided with a reduced thickness edge part. Likewise, when it is desired to mount a thinner infill, a spacer is conveniently disposed between the shoulder 52" and the infill.

As described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 5, the positioning of the recesses 28" is such that no recess corresponding to the recess 49 is provided and again no trim strip corresponding to the trim strip 45 is necessary, and again the mounting strips 40" may be of a configuration similar to that shown in dotted outline in Fig. 5 so as to trim the second part 18".

The frame members may be of the same configuration, both for the vertical sides of the openings and the horizontal, but, as shown in Fig. 6, in the present example the horizontally extending frame members are of different configuration to the vertically extending frame members described hereinbefore. The horizontally extending frame members are indicated generally at 218" and comprise a member, essentially similar to the second part 18", being made as an extrusion in aluminium or an aluminium base alloy.More particularly, each comprises a flanged end wall 219" of a generally box-section member but in this case the box-section comprises a first part immediately adjacent the end wall 219" in which the opposed side walls are parallel, as indicated at 201", and a second part spaced from the wall 219" by the parts 201" where the side walls are inclined slightly inwardly as indicated at 202" and which have an end wall 200" which is of the same configuration as the end wall 100" of the vertically extending second part and provides opposed grooves 28" identical to those of the vertically extending second part in which are engaged mounting strips 40" similar to the strips 40 but provided with water drainage slots 240". The spacing between the parallel portions 201" of the sides is, of course, greater than the spacing of the side walls of the vertically extending second parts.The box-section is provided with a longitudinally extending central strut member 203". The flanges 252" are received in notches provided in the flanges 52" and are of the first part 15".

The above described configuration is especially suitable for a double glazed infill but the box-section may be of the other shape. For example, it may be of the same shape as the box-section part of the second part 18".

The flanges 252" are received in notches provided in the flanges 52" and are connected by self-drilling and tapping screws to the first part 15". It will be seen there is no horizontal member corresponding to the first part 15".

Of course, if desired, the horizontally extending second parts may be provided with first parts pre-assembled thereto as described in connection with the first embodiment. Selection of whether to use a composite or noncomposite further structual member for a frame member depends, as mentioned above in connection with Fig. 5, on the loads to be imposed on the frame member concerned in any given application. In some cases the longitudinally extending frame members will be of composite structure and the vertically extending frame member of non-composite structure. Also it is envisaged that in some applications one frame member may be of composite structure, the remainder of the frame members being of non-composite structure.

In the embodiments described hereinbefore, the first part 15, 15', 15" is conveniently made by cold rolling in steel and the second part 18, 18', 18" by extrusion in aluminium or aluminium base alloy.

The first part may be of other shape than that described above and, for example, may be of simple square or rectangular box-section and be made by hot rolling or cold forming in steel. In a further alternative the first part may be made of other material, for example, timber or concrete.

The second part may likewise be made in other than aluminium or aluminium base alloy and by other than extrusion. However, since the first parts are of a shape which is relatively simple and since they do not require to provide for retention of the inserts, except by means of the attached component 31 in the embodiment described with reference to Figs.

1 to 4, they may be made by a relatively simple technique such as the above mentioned hot or cold rolling and hence of a material which can be selected to give a desired strength without regard to the suitability of the material for complex shape formation. Conversely, the second part are of a shape which is relatively complex having regard to the retention of an insert and hence require to be made by a technique which is suitable for the manufacture of such complex shape, such as by extrusion as mentioned hereinbefore and in materials which are selected primarily by virtue of their suitability for forming complex shapes.

If desired either or both of the first and second parts may be made of other materials than those described. For example they may be made of the same or different materials selected from, for example, steel, aluminium, alluminium alloy, synthetic plastics material or a composite material such as plastics coated metal, e.g. plastics coated steel, or aluminium coated steel or any other suitable material.

Such a construction as described hereinbefore enables the first part to provide a majority of the necessary bending strength of the composite structure. Of course, if desired, the proportion of bending strength provided by the first part may lie anywhere in the range from above 50% to 100% but in the example illustrated 95% is provided by the first part; typically the proportion provided by the first part may lie in the range 90% to 100%. The first part providing 100% of the bending strength when the second part is discontinuous, i.e. comprises a plurality, e.g. three, separate longitudinally adjacent components.

The in-use applied load imposed on the frame members includes, besides the obvious static loads imposed by the weight of the infill, dynamic loads due to wind load and reverse wind load and, particularly where the frame members form part of a roof, temporary loads such as that imposed by snow or maintenance operative as well as loads arising from differential thermal expansion.

The use of a composite structure for at least one of the frame members, besides providing the above described advantages relating to strength, also permits the design of a range of second parts having different configurations to accommodate different panel thicknesses to cover all situations and using it with a single size of first part or with a range of first parts depending upon the load to be carried. In addition, as indicated previously, the first and second parts may be provided to enable the mounting of infills which are other than coplanar.

Moreover, panels of greater length of sides than has been provided hitherto may be provided since previous panels side length has been limited by the maximum feasible length of frame member. The frame member described herein can be made economically longer than hitherto. For example, building panel side length has typically not exceeded about 3m to 4m but with the arrangement described herein a panel side length of 6m to 8m may be provided. The greater bowing resulting from such side length is associated by the length of the limb 43 extending over the distance D, as described above.

In the embodiments described hereinbefore all the shoulders, grooves etc., have been described as being continuous, but if desired, discontinuities may be provided therein consistent with providing adequate strength thereto and support for components engaged therein.

In the building construction described hereinbefore only the external walls are constructed of the hereinbefore described frame members and infills, but if desired, internal walls and partitions as well as the roof of the building construction may be alternatively or in addition constructed from frame members as described hereinbefore utilising infills appropriate for the application.

Although in the above described examples the infills have been described as being retained in position by a resilient mounting strips 40, 40', 40" if desired some other form of retaining means for the panels may be provided which may be engaged in grooves identical to the grooves 28, 28', 28" or connected to the second part by some other formation.

Besides the previously described advantages arising from the use of composite structures for the frame members, further advantages are that tooling costs for the first part are minimised because the first parts are of relatively simple configuration and also only a small range of configurations is required consistent with overall strength requirements.

Also tooling costs are held down for the second part since they are made of relatively easily formable material and are of limited size.

The relative cheapness and strength of steel is combined with a very light second part which is conveniently made of aluminium which has lowered tooling costs as mentioned above and a good shape versatility. This results in the overall costs of the composite structures being less than that which would be incurred by making the component wholly of material which is capable of being formed to a relatively complex shape of the second part, for example aluminium and to provide the necessary strength.

Furthermore, shapes are possible for the second part that cannot economically be made in steel thereby allowing variations for different infills, different mounting means and corners at angles of other than 90t as mentioned before, as well as permitting of curved configuration.

Where the shoulder for the infills is provided by means of members, such as the member 31, then where these members are attached, for example, by bolting to the first part or in a modification where they are removably connected, in the modified version of the building described with reference to Fig. 5 to the second part, then infill removal or fitment may be achieved from inside the building.

If desired two, or more, first parts may be connected together where greater strength is required than would be achieved by using a single first part.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A building construction comprising a plurality of frame members which define an opening and an infill mounted on and extending in a transverse direction away from, the frame members to close said opening.

2. A building construction according to Claim 1 wherein each frame member provides a shoulder and a groove, parallel to and spaced from the shoulder, with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, there being a resiliently deformable mounting strip, having a foot engaged in the groove, and having an intermediate part projecting through said open mouth and a limb which is deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

3. A building construction according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the frame members comprise part of a wall or of a roof of a building.

4. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the frame members comprises a composite structure comprising first and second parts.

5. A building construction according to Claim 4 wherein the opening is rectangular and at least the two longer sides of the opening are defined by frame members which comprise a composite structure.

6. A building construction according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the first part provides a major portion of the bending strength of the composite structure and the second part has means to retain the infill in the opening.

7. A building construction according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein each composite structure is pre-assembled.

8. A building construction according to any one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein the first part and second parts are provided with interengaged formations which maintain the parts assembled together.

9. A building construction according to Claim 8 wherein the first and second parts are assembled together by relative sliding movement of the parts in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the parts to inter-engage said formations.

10. A building construction according to any one of Claims 4 to 9 wherein the first part is of generally box-section but with a longitudinally extending opening in one side thereof bounded by inwardly directed flanges, and the second part comprises an abutment part engaged with said one side of the first part and a pair of ribs projecting from said abutment part engaged within said flanges of the first part and having end parts which engage over the ends of the flanges of the first part, the flanges and ribs providing said inter-engaged formations.

11. A building construction according to Claim 10 wherein the first part has said shoulder provided thereon and the second part provides said groove.

12. A building construction according to Claim 11 wherein the second part provides two oppositely facing grooves and the first part is provided with two oppositely facing shoulders so that the composite structure defines parts of two separate openings.

13. A building construction according to Claim 12 wherein the abutment part comprises a base part of a generally channelshaped second part, each limb of the channel being formed to provide secondary channels which provide said grooves and said ribs projecting from the surface of the abutment part which is opposite that from which the limbs of the channel extend.

14. A building construction according to Claim 10 wherein the second part has said shoulder provided thereon and provides said groove.

15. A building construction according to Claim 14 wherein the second part provides two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves so that the composite structure defines parts of two separate openings.

16. A building construction according to Claim 15 wherein the abutment part comprises a flanged end wall of a generally boxshape second part, the opposite end wall being formed to provide said grooves and said ribs projecting from the surface of the abutment part which is opposite to the box-shaped part.

17. A building construction according to Claims 7 wherein the first and second parts are connected together when pre-assembled by connecting means provided separately from the first and second parts.

18. A building construction according to Claim 17 wherein the connecting means comprises fastener means, or adhesive means, or fusion joining means such as welding, brasing or soldering.

1 9. A building construction according to Claim 17 or Claim 18 wherein the second part has said shoulder provided thereon and provide said groove.

20. A building construction according to any one of Claims 17 to 19 wherein the second part has a flanged end wall which comprises an abutment part engaged with a side of the first part, and said connecting means being arranged to connect the flanges of the abutment part to said side.

21. A building construction according to Claim 20 wherein the second part comprises two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves and the composite structure defines part of two separate openings.

22. A building construction according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 wherein the or each shoulder is provided by one of the flanges of the abutment part.

23. A building construction according to any one of Claims 20 to 22 wherein the abutment part comprises a flanged end wall of a generally box-shaped second part, the opposite end wall being formed to provide said groove or grooves.

24. A building construction according to any one of Claims 17 to 23 wherein the first part comprises a single generally channel shape member.

25. A building construction according to any one of Claims 17 to 23 wherein the first part is of box section and is fabricated from two generally channel shape members which are connected together by a connecting means provided separately therefrom.

26. A building construction according to Claim 24 or Claim 25 wherein the or each generally channel shape member comprises a pair of spaced parallel flange portions and a web extending between and interconnecting said flange portions, the web comprising a planar central part which extends normal to the flange portions and is flanked by at least one inclined part so that the plane of the central part intersects at least one flange.

27. A building construction according to Claim 26 wherein the or each flange portion is of generally L-shape in cross-section, one leg of the L being shorter than the other and constituting a lip on said flange portion.

28. A building construction according to Claim 27 wherein the or each lip extends inwardly on the same side of the flange portion to the central part and the lip extends normal to its flange part.

29. A building construction according to any one of Claims 26 to 28 wherein the central part is flanked by two inclined parts and said inclined parts extends on the same side of the central part and diverge away from each other.

30. A building construction according to Claim 29 wherein the inclined parts are each connected to their associated flange portion by an end part which lies parallel to said central part.

31. A building construction according to Claim 25 or any one of Claims 26 to 30 when dependant on Claim 25 wherein the members are connected together with said lips in abutting relationship.

32. A building construction according to any one of Claims 4 to 31 wherein a further frame member, not of composite structure, extends transversely to said at least one frame member of composite structure.

33. A building construction according to Claim 32 wherein the further frame member provides a shoulder and a groove parallel to and spaced from the shoulder with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, there being a resiliently deformable mounting strip, having a foot engaged in the groove, and having an intermediate part projecting through said open mouth and a limb which is deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

34. A building construction according to Claim 32 or Claim 33 wherein the further frame member is connected to, so as to be supported on, the second part of said at least one frame member.

35. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 34 wherein the open mouth of the groove is narrower than the width of at least part of the groove within the mouth, and the intermediate part of the mounting strip is of narrower width than at least part of the foot thereby to restrain passage of the foot through the mouth of the groove.

36. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame members are arranged in a rectangular array of two spaced, vertically extending, members and two spaced, horizontally extending, members to define a rectangular opening, the vertically extending frame members comprising a composite structure comprising first and second parts and the horizontally extending frame members comprises a single member and has said shoulder provided thereon and provide said groove.

37. A building construction according to Claim 36 wherein each member provides two oppositely facing shoulders and grooves so that the member defines part of two separate openings.

38. A building construction according to Claim 37 wherein the horizontally extending member is of box configuration having one end wall which is flanged and the opposite end wall being formed to provide said grooves.

39. A building construction according to any one of Claims 36 to 38 wherein the or each shoulder is provided by the flanged end wall.

40. A building construction according to any one of Claims 36 to 39 wherein the side walls of the horizontally extending member may have at least a portion which is inclined inwardly so as to have a smaller operation at the end provided with said grooves than at the opposite end.

41. A building construction according to Claim 40 wherein said opposite ends are connected to said flanged end wall by parallel side wall portions.

42. A building construction according to any one of Claims 38 to 41 when dependant on Claim 20 wherein the horizontally extending member has the flanged end wall thereof connected to a flange of the flanged end wall of the second part of the vertically extending frame members.

43. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 42 wherein each groove has a base and a pair of spaced parallel side walls, one of the side walls having an inwardly directed flange extending parallel to, and spaced from, the base to provide said open mouth between the end of said flange and the opposed face of the other side wall.

44. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame members comprise vertical or horizontal members of a wall.

45. A building construction according to any one of Claims 1 to 43 wherein the frame members comprise members extending parallel to the rafters and purlins of a roof.

46. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame members are connected to a main structural framework of the building which may comprise columns and beams.

47. A building construction according to any one of Claims 1 to 45 wherein the frame members comprise an integral part of the main structural framework of the building which may comprise, in addition to the frame members, other frame work to provide necessary strength.

48. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein more than one first parts are used adjacent each other to provide a corner of a building.

49. A building construction according to Claim 4 or any one of Claims 5 to 48 when dependent on claim 4 wherein the second parts are provided with a recess between opposed infill engaging portions and the recess is closed by a trim shape or may accommodate ancillary components.

50. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shoulder is removably mounted on its associated parts to permit of infill removal or fitment from the interior of the building.

51. A building construction according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the infill is located relative to the frame member by at least one setting or location block interposed between the frame member and the edge of the infill.

52. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 51 wherein a sealing strip is provided between the shoulder and the infill

53. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 52 wherein the distance between the surface of the infill engaged by the mounting strip and the adjacent side of the open mouth may be greater than 4mm.

54. A building construction according to Claim 53 wherein said distance lies in the range 4mm. to 12mum

55. A building construction according to Claim 54 wherein said distance is not less than 6mm.

56. A building construction according to Claim 55 wherein said distance is not less than 8mm.

57. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 56 wherein the foot be is asymmetrical, having a surface at the side of the foot distant from the infill which is complanar, or substantially complanar, with the adjacent surface of the intermediate portion and at the side adjacent the infill having a portion which projects outwardly of the adjacent side of the intermediate portion towards the infill.

58. A building construction according to any one of Claims 2 to 57 wherein the mounting strip has a second limb on the opposite side of the intermediate portion to said first limb which engages the frame on the opposite side of the open mouth of the infill.

59. A building construction according to Claim 58 wherein the first limb may be of greater length than the second limb.

60. A building construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6, or Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.

61. A method of constructing a building which includes the step of fixing a plurality of frame members in position to define an opening therebetween, mounting an infill on, and to extend in a transverse direction away from, the frame members to close said opening to provide a wall or roof of the building wherein at least one frame member prior to erection comprises a pre-assembled composite structure comprising first and second parts.

62. A method according to Claim 61 wherein the method includes the step of connecting, on site, a further frame member, not of composite structure, to extend transversely to said at least one frame member of composite structure.

63. A method according to Claim 62 wherein the method includes the step of connecting the further frame member to the second part of said at least one frame member so as to be supported thereby.

64. A method according to Claim 61 wherein the method includes the step of connecting, on site, a further frame member, comprising a pre-assembled composite structure comprising first and second parts, to extend transversely to said at least one frame member.

65. A method according to any one of Claims 61 to 64 wherein the frame members provide a shoulder and a groove, parallel to and spaced from the shoulder with an open mouth facing in a direction parallel to said transverse direction, the infill being positioned between the shoulder and the groove, and the method including the step of engaging a foot of a resiliently deformable mounting strip in the groove with an intermediate part of the mounting strip projecting through said open mouth and a limb being deformed by engagement with the face of the infill to urge the infill towards the shoulder.

66. A building construction comprising a plurality of frame members which define an opening and an infill mounted on the frame members to close the opening, wherein the infill is mountable on and dismountable from the frame members from the interior of the building.

67. A building construction according to Claim 66 wherein the frame members are provided with removable shoulders facing outwardly of the building which engage an inwardly facing part of the infill and which are secured to the frame member after positioning of the infill from the interior of the building when mounting the infill and are removed from the frame member before removing the infill when dismounting the infill.

r68 The invention according to any one of Claims 61 to 67 wherein the building construction is as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 60.

69. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.