GB2170253A - Weather seal arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A sealing arrangement for use between fixed 5 and movable 3 window frames uses inner 8 and outer 9 seals with an interspace between them. The outer seal, e.g. of "fin-pile", is less efficient, with respect to air-flow, than the inner one, e.g. of resilient rubber or plastics material, and hence the air pressure in the interspace 10 between the seals tends to equalise with that of the outside atmosphere so that water will drain from the interspace to the outside rather than being sucked inwardly into the interior. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to weatherseals for doors or windows This invention relates to weather-seals for doors or windows.

It is known in the glazing industry to use a double weather-seal system between fixed and movable door or window frames to prevent ingress of draughts or moisture from the outside atmosphere to the interior of a building. Such a system is shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which the inner and outer seals between the fixed and movable frames are designated A and B respectively.

In this drawing (according to the prior art) A and B represent seals of identical characteristics i.e. they offer the same resistance to fluid flow under a given pressure drop.

However the system shown in Fig. 1 has the shortcoming that with such identical seals at A and B, the interspace C between the seals can be at a pressure appreciably below that of the outside atmosphere, due to pressure changes within the building. This, in turn, leads to water from the outside tending to be retained in the interspace rather than draining away.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known construction.

The invention consists in a combination of a fixed door-or window-frame and an opening or removable frame, in which inner and outer weather-seals are provided between fixed and opening or removable frames, characterised in that the outer seal has a lower air-flow resistance than the inner seal, whereby air pressure in the interspace between the seals, in a closed position, tends to equalise with the external atmospheric pressure.

Preferably, the inner seal is of a "compressible strip" type e.g. a tube or cylinder of plastics or rubber which is resiliently deformed when the window is closed. This cylinder may be hollow of foam-filled.

Preferably the outer seal is of a "fin-pile" type which is well known in the art e.g. that known as the Schlegel (R.T.M.) fin pile seal.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, Fig.

2, which shows a section through a seal arrangement according to the invention.

In this drawing, two sheets of glazing material (1, 2) are set into a movable frame 3 of aluminium which incorporates a thermallybroken section 4. A fixed frame 5 is set into a wooden frame 6 and abuts onto an outer wooden sill, 7.

The sealing arrangement between the movable frame 3 and the fixed frame 5 is by means of inner seal 8 and outer seal 9. In accordance with the invention the inner seal is of the higher efficiency (e.g. compressible tube) type whereas the outer seal is of the less efficient (e.g. fin-pile) type so that air flow, under a given pressure drop, is faster through seal 9 than it is through seal 8. Thus the air pressure in the interspace 10, between the seals, tends to equalise with the air pressure of the outside atmosphere and any water penetrating into space 10 tends to drain easily to the exterior and run onto sill 7 rather than being drawn into the interior of the room from the interspace 10.

For example, with a standard aluminium window fitted with fin-pile seals at both inner and outer positions the window is weather tight only to a pressure of about 300-400 Pa using the standard B.S.I. weather test. Replacing the inner fin-pile seal by a compressible-tube seal or a Schlegal Q-lon seal the weather tightness was raised to a pressure of 900-1100 Pa.

1. A combination of a fixed door-or window-frame and an opening or removable frame, in which inner and outer weather-seals are provided between fixed and opening or removable frames, characterised in that the outer seal has a lower air-flow resistance than the inner seal, whereby air pressure in the interspace between the seals, in a closed position, tends to equalise with the external atmospheric pressure.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner seal is in the form of a compressible strip of rubber or plastics material.

3. A combination as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the outer seal is of the "fin-pile" type.

4. A combination of a fixed door or window frame and an opening or removable frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to weatherseals for doors or windows This invention relates to weather-seals for doors or windows. It is known in the glazing industry to use a double weather-seal system between fixed and movable door or window frames to prevent ingress of draughts or moisture from the outside atmosphere to the interior of a building. Such a system is shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which the inner and outer seals between the fixed and movable frames are designated A and B respectively. In this drawing (according to the prior art) A and B represent seals of identical characteristics i.e. they offer the same resistance to fluid flow under a given pressure drop. However the system shown in Fig. 1 has the shortcoming that with such identical seals at A and B, the interspace C between the seals can be at a pressure appreciably below that of the outside atmosphere, due to pressure changes within the building. This, in turn, leads to water from the outside tending to be retained in the interspace rather than draining away. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known construction. The invention consists in a combination of a fixed door-or window-frame and an opening or removable frame, in which inner and outer weather-seals are provided between fixed and opening or removable frames, characterised in that the outer seal has a lower air-flow resistance than the inner seal, whereby air pressure in the interspace between the seals, in a closed position, tends to equalise with the external atmospheric pressure. Preferably, the inner seal is of a "compressible strip" type e.g. a tube or cylinder of plastics or rubber which is resiliently deformed when the window is closed. This cylinder may be hollow of foam-filled. Preferably the outer seal is of a "fin-pile" type which is well known in the art e.g. that known as the Schlegel (R.T.M.) fin pile seal. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 2, which shows a section through a seal arrangement according to the invention. In this drawing, two sheets of glazing material (1, 2) are set into a movable frame 3 of aluminium which incorporates a thermallybroken section 4. A fixed frame 5 is set into a wooden frame 6 and abuts onto an outer wooden sill, 7. The sealing arrangement between the movable frame 3 and the fixed frame 5 is by means of inner seal 8 and outer seal 9. In accordance with the invention the inner seal is of the higher efficiency (e.g. compressible tube) type whereas the outer seal is of the less efficient (e.g. fin-pile) type so that air flow, under a given pressure drop, is faster through seal 9 than it is through seal 8. Thus the air pressure in the interspace 10, between the seals, tends to equalise with the air pressure of the outside atmosphere and any water penetrating into space 10 tends to drain easily to the exterior and run onto sill 7 rather than being drawn into the interior of the room from the interspace 10. For example, with a standard aluminium window fitted with fin-pile seals at both inner and outer positions the window is weather tight only to a pressure of about 300-400 Pa using the standard B.S.I. weather test. Replacing the inner fin-pile seal by a compressible-tube seal or a Schlegal Q-lon seal the weather tightness was raised to a pressure of 900-1100 Pa. CLAIMS

1. A combination of a fixed door-or window-frame and an opening or removable frame, in which inner and outer weather-seals are provided between fixed and opening or removable frames, characterised in that the outer seal has a lower air-flow resistance than the inner seal, whereby air pressure in the interspace between the seals, in a closed position, tends to equalise with the external atmospheric pressure.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner seal is in the form of a compressible strip of rubber or plastics material.

3. A combination as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the outer seal is of the "fin-pile" type.

4. A combination of a fixed door or window frame and an opening or removable frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2.