Inserts for hollow structural members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201383-A1
Application number	US-201615061050-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Aug 22, 2012
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pre-formed insert with stable dimensions for mechanical insertion into a hollow member and that reduces the Nusselt number and convection across the hollow member. The insert may be formed of a low heat conducting material like PVC and have extensions and internal voids that impede convection in the hollow and conduction through the insert. The inserts may be used in heads and sills of aluminum windows, doors and frames. In one embodiment, an insert is received in an open hollow and may cooperate with an insert in a frame hollow to decrease convection at the head end of a sliding window or door. An insert may be placed within the hollow of a window or door beside a roller assembly.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A structure for a building envelope dividing an exterior environment from an interior environment, comprising:
a composite member having a pair of metal extrusions having a first thermal conductivity, the pair of extrusions connected by a thermal break formed from a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the metal extrusions, a first of the pair of extrusions being an exterior extrusion and a second of the pair being an interior extrusion, the composite member having a portion with an open, C-shaped cross-sectional shape, the hollow of the C-shaped cross-sectional shape communicating with a space exterior to the composite member, the hollow supporting heat transfer by convection between the pair of metal extrusions; an insert formed independently of the composite member having stable free-standing dimensions, the insert capable of insertion into the hollow and extending at least partially across the hollow when inserted therein, the insert being made from a material with a thermal conductivity less than the thermal conductivity of the metal extrusions and having a cross-sectional shape which at least partially subdivides the hollow into a plurality of sub-areas, the insert having a cross-sectional shape with a first wall having a first orientation extending at least partially across the open C-shape, the first wall having a first end and a second end, the insert having a second wall projecting from the first wall at an angle relative to the first wall intermediate the first end and the second end, the second wall projecting into the hollow, the second wall having a free end distal to the first wall, the insert capable of reducing the Nusselt number of the member when inserted into the hollow relative to the Nusselt number of the member without the insert present in the hollow.

2 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second wall includes a plurality of second walls spaced apart from one another and extending from the first wall.

3 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second wall extends from the first wall and has a component of extension in a direction toward the thermal break.

4 . The structure of claim 3 , further comprising a third wall extending from the first wall and having a component of extension opposite to the direction of extension of the second wall.

5 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second wall extends from the first wall and has a component of extension in a direction away from the thermal break.

6 . The structure of claim 5 , further comprising a third wall extending from the first wall and having a component of extension opposite to the direction of extension of the second wall.

7 . The structure of claim 6 , wherein the second wall includes a plurality of spaced second walls and the third wall includes a plurality of spaced third walls.

8 . The structure of claim 1 , further comprising an end wall extending from the first wall at either the first end or the second end thereof, at least one of the pair of extrusions having an upstanding bead on the portion having a C-shape, the bead extending into the hollow and wherein the end wall has a recess therein capable of receiving the upstanding bead, the end wall being resilient and capable of assuming a first bent shape permitting the end wall to be pushed over the bead when the insert is pushed into the hollow and receiving the bead in the recess and having a second, relaxed shape wherein the end wall is generally parallel to a portion of the at least one extrusion proximate the bead, locking the insert in place within the hollow.

9 . The structure of claim 8 , wherein the end wall has a lead-in portion at a free end thereof extending at an angle from the end wall, the lead-in slipping over the bead when the insert is pressed into the hollow.

10 . The structure of claim 8 , wherein each of the pair of extrusions has an upstanding bead extending therefrom towards the hollow, the insert being retained in the hollow by interaction with the pair of beads.

11 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first wall is disposed perpendicular to the second wall.

12 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the composite member receiving the insert is at least one of a head or a sill of a door.

13 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the composite member receiving the insert is at least one of a head or a sill of a window.

14 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the insert is composed of at least one of PVC and polyurethane.

15 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the second wall engages the composite member to support the insert in the member.

16 . The structure of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the second wall or the third wall is composed of a deformable, low durometer material.

17 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a sliding access device having
a frame with a head having the composite member with the C-shaped open hollow as a first hollow; a panel capable of sliding relative to the frame and having a head with a second composite member with a second C-shaped open hollow, the first hollow and the second hollow facing each other; the insert being received in the frame bridging the first open hollow and being a first insert; a second insert being received in the panel bridging the second open hollow.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the first insert has a cross-sectional shape with a U shape, and the second insert has a cross-sectional shape with a U shape, the U shape of the first insert and the U shape of the second insert interdigitating, producing a tortured constricted path for air passing through the first and second hollows, such that the panel can be lifted into the frame and the first insert and the second insert reduce the heat transfer through the conjoined first and second hollows when the panel is installed in the frame.

19 . The structure of claim 18 , wherein the C-shaped open hollow has a pair of retainer beads extending from the interior of the C-shape and retaining opposing edges of the first insert, and the second C-shaped hollow has a pair of retainer ledges extending from the interior of the C-shape, the second insert having a pair of resilient arms with retainer tips that engage the retainer ledges when in a relaxed state.

20 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a sliding access device with a frame having a sill, the sill having the composite member with the C-shaped open hollow and further comprising;
a track disposed within the hollow of the composite member of the sill; a panel capable of sliding relative to the frame and having a second C-shaped open hollow along a bottom portion of the panel, the first hollow and the second hollow facing each other; a roller assembly disposed in the second hollow for supporting the panel slidably within the frame, the roller assembly engaging and rolling on the track; the insert received within the hollow of the sill, the insert having a support member for the track extending from the first wall in a direction away from the thermal break of the composite member of the sill intermediate the first end and the second end of the first wall; a second insert inserted into the second hollow positioned proximate to and supporting the roller assembly, the first insert and the second insert decreasing the Nusselt number of the sliding access device relative to the Nusselt number of the sliding access device without the first and second inserts.

21 . The structure of claim 20 ,

Assignees

• Alcoa Inc

Inventors

• Lenox Ronald M
• Kumar Sneh

Classifications

• E05D15/0621

  Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides (E05D15/0604, E05D15/08 - E05D15/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• E05D15/165

  Details, e.g. sliding or rolling guides (E05D15/18 - E05D15/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• E06B3/34

  with only one kind of movement (E06B3/48 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E06B1/70

  Sills; Thresholds · CPC title

• E06B1/36

  Frames uniquely adapted for windows · CPC title