Flashing construction for a curtain wall

Abstract

A flashing construction for a curtain wall utilizing The Equal Pressure Principle. Said flashing construction comprises a plurality of vertical mullions disposed parallel to each other and panels being mounted between said mullions. An enclosed vertical space is formed between the mullion and the panel; also, intake ports to the open air are provided on the mullion, whereby said vertical space is connected to the open air through said intake ports. As a result, the pressure in said vertical space is equalized to that of the open air.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flashing construction for a curtain wall having a plurality of vertical mullions disposed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance and panels being mounted between adjacent mullions, said flashing construction comprising: a vertical mullion .Iadd.having interior and exterior flanges, said mullion being .Iaddend.provided with a mounting groove at each side thereof for receiving .[.one.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.side portion .[.on.]. .Iadd.of .Iaddend.the panel;   .[.an enclosed vertical space formed between said mounting groove and the side portion of the panel, said vertical space being extended in the longitudinal direction of the mullion, and said vertical space being connected to the open air outside the mullion;.].   .[.an extra.]. bead .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for the mullion .[., said extra bead being.]. disposed .[.in said mounting groove at the outermost position therein,.]. .Iadd.between said interior and exterior flanges .Iaddend.so as to form a narrower mounting groove therebetween for receiving .[.another.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.side portion of the panel.Iadd., said bead means including an exterior bead.Iaddend.;   .Iadd.an enclosed vertical space formed between said exterior flange and said exterior bead, said vertical space being extended in the longitudinal direction of the mullion, and said vertical space being connected to the open air outside the mullion; and .Iaddend.   another enclosed vertical .[.spaced.]. .Iadd.space .Iaddend.formed between said narrower groove and the .[.other.]. side portion of the panel, said other vertical space being extended in the longitudinal direction of the mullion, and said .[.extra.]. .Iadd.means .Iaddend.being provided with intake ports, whereby said other vertical space is connected to the open air outside the mullion.   
     
     
       2. A flashing construction for a curtain wall having a plurality of vertical mullions disposed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance and panels being mounted between .[.adjacent.]. adjacent mullions, said flashing construction comprising: a vertical mullion provided with a mounting groove at each side thereof for receiving the side portion of the panel;   an enclosed vertical space being formed between said groove and the side portion of the panel, said vertical space being extended in the longitudinal direction of the mullion, and said vertical space being connected to the open air outside the mullion;   intake ports to the open air provided on the outer surface of the mullion, so as to connect said vertical space with the open air; and,   a cover plate for concealing said intake ports exposed to the open air, thereby preventing rain from blowing through said intake ports.   
     
     
       3. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 2 in which said cover plate is made in the form of an elongated channel having a groove thereof facing the outer surface of the mullion, and in which, between the inner surface of the cover plate and the outer surface of the mullion, is provided a passage for air, said passage for air being closed at its upper end and opened at its lower end. 
     
     
       4. A flashing construction as claimed in .[.claims 2 or 3.]. .Iadd.claim 2 .Iaddend.including a plurality of mullions being connected with each other along a vertical direction, and in which a plurality of said cover plates are spaced apart with small gaps from each other along a vertical direction, each of said gaps being offset from the places corresponding to the connecting points of the mullions, so as not to coordinate said gaps with said connecting points. 
     
     
       5. A flashing construction for a curtain wall having a plurality of vertical mullions disposed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance, a plurality of horizontal transoms perpendicularly .[.connecting.]. .Iadd.connected .Iaddend.between said adjacent mullions and disposed parallel to each other, and panels being mounted between said adjacent mullions and transoms, said flashing construction comprising: a vertical mullion .Iadd.having interior and exterior flanges, said mullion .Iaddend.being provided with a mounting groove at each side thereof;   .[.an extra.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.bead being disposed in said groove .[.at the outermost position therein, as well as a.]. .Iadd.inside said interior flange, and an extra bead being disposed .[.is.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.said groove .[.at the innermost position therein,.]. .Iadd.inside said exterior flange .Iaddend.so as to form a narrower mounting groove therebetween for receiving the said portion of the panel;   an enclosed vertical space with intake ports to the open air being formed amoung said extra bead, the mullion, the bead and the panel; .[.and comprising:.].   a horizontal transom being provided with mounting grooves at the upper and the lower sides thereof for receiving the end portions of the panel;   an enclosed horizontal space extending through the inside of said horizontal transom;   drain ports for rain water being downwardly provided in the horizontal transom so as to connect said horizontal space with the open air outside the transom; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   .[.whereby,.]. .Iadd.connection means for connecting .Iaddend.said vertical space in the vertical mullion and said horizontal space in the horizontal transom .[.are connected.].with each other at their respective ends.   
     
     
       6. A flashing construction as in claim 5 in which said vertical space is divided into a first and a second vertical spaces, the first vertical space being provided with intake ports, said first and second spaces being connected with each other through connecting ports.   
     
     
       7. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said drain ports for the rain water act as the intake ports for introducing open air into the horizontal space. 
     
     
       8. A flashing construction .[.is.]. .Iadd.as .Iaddend.claimed in claim 5 .[.and 6.]. in which said extra bead is provided with supplemental walls forming labyrinths thereupon, which prevents the rain from blowing through the intake ports. 
     
     
       9. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said horizontal transom is fitted inside the mounting groove which is provided at each side of the vertical mullion. 
     
     
       10. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 5 in which said panel is .Iadd.a .Iaddend.window sash. .Iadd.11. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 3 including a plurality of mullions being connected with each other along a vertical direction, and in which a plurality of said cover plates are spaced apart with small gaps from each other along a vertical direction, each of said gaps being offset from the places corresponding to the connecting points of the mullions, so as not to coordinate said gaps with said connecting points..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A flashing construction as claimed in claim 6 in which said extra bead is provided with supplemental walls forming labyrinths thereupon, which prevents the rain from blowing through the intake ports. .Iaddend.