Abstract: Vertical and/or horizontal frame members for use in a curtain wall construction including a framework and one or more glazing panels include a pair of elongated, spaced apart, metal elements structurally interconnected with a heat insulating element. One of the elements is formed with a pocket having an opening in a wall portion facing the other metal element and the other metal element includes a tongue extending into the pocket through the opening. The heat insulating element of resinous plastic material structurally interconnects the tongue and pocket of the metal elements into a composite frame member and provides a heat insulating thermal barrier therebetween.

Abstract: A new and improved system for improving the heat insulating characteristics of an existing wall structure includes apparatus for providing an additional panel in spaced relation with a first or existing panel of an existing wall structure having a surround for supporting the edges of the panel. A sash including the additional panel is mounted in spaced apart relation with the first panel and includes peripheral elongated frame elements, each having a body with a transverse cross-section that is proportioned to extend generally normal to a face of the sash panel and providing a greatest resistance to longitudinal bending forces applied to the element acting in a direction generally normal to the face. Means is provided for structurally interconnecting the sash panel with the elongated elements of the sash frame and the sash is pivotally mounted in the surround outwardly of the first glazing panel.

Abstract: A safety door entrance includes a door mounted for swinging movement on hinges connected to a door jamb and a finger protector for continuously bridging a gap formed between the door heel and adjacent jamb as the door swings open and closed. The protector prevents a person's fingers, toes or other objects from accidentally being inserted in the gap and subject to damage when the door swings closed.

Abstract: A safety flush bolt entrance door system includes a pair of doors mounted in an entrance frame for outward opening with each door pivotally supported for individual opening and closing movement. A normally active door is provided with a locking mechanism adapted to engage an opposite, normally inactive, door for securing the doors together. One or more flush bolt mechanism(s) is mounted on the normally inactive door for locking the door with the door frame whenever the locking mechanism on the active door is engaged with the inactive door. A control mechanism is mounted on the inactive door and interconnected with the flush bolt mechanism(s) so that whenever the active door is unlocked, the flush bolt mechanism(s) is releasable in response to an opening force applied against the inactive door.

Abstract: A new and improved method and apparatus for replacing old windows in an existing building with new windows and surrounding trim comprises the use of elongated, especially designed trim elements which are cut to length and assembled onto the replacement window frame to trim the periphery thereof. The replacement window frame with the peripheral trim elements bodily attached thereto is then mounted in the opening in the building wall structure to replace an old deteriorated window previously removed therefrom. The novel method of assembly and installation guarantees a good fit between the trim elements and the window frame, and permits the critical seal between the trim elements and the window frame to be formed at a convenient location during the assembly of the trim elements onto the window rather than requiring a trim seal to be effected after the window is installed in the building.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrator comprises an elongated, linear collector for receiving concentrated solar energy, mounted to extend longitudinally in an East-West direction and spaced above a supporting surface. An array of separate, elongated solar energy reflectors are provided for reflecting received solar energy upwardly and focusing the same along the collector. The reflectors are mounted in parallel, elongated rows, parallel of the collector and at a level below the same. The reflectors are aligned coaxially in end to end relation in rows and are formed into modular columns transverse or normal to the collector. Each reflector is mounted in a support for individual pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis parallel of the collector and a novel drive system is provided for interconnecting the supports and pivoting the same in unison to substantially continuously reflect the received solar energy in a focused manner on the collector as the angle of elevation of the sun's rays is changed during the day.

Abstract: A panic device actuator for a door includes apparatus for unlatching a door mounted in a door frame and which includes one or more elements movable for retracting one or more door latches normally engaged with the door frame for positively locking the door. The panic actuator includes a relatively large panel having an enlarged outer face responsive to pressure applied at any area thereon for unlocking the door without a key. A mounting system is provided for supporting the panel on the door for controlled movement in a horizontal direction in continuous parallelism with the face of the door in a direction normal to the door face. A linkage is provided for interconnecting the panel and the door latching element(s) for moving the same to unlock the door latches in response to pressure movement of the panel on the door.

Abstract: A system for improving the heat insulating characteristics of existing wall structures, which wall structures include panels and panel edge supporting frames with pockets in a jamb face thereof receiving an edge of the panels. The system includes an elongated stop element having a base adapted to be secured to the jamb face and extended into the pocket after the existing panel has been removed therefrom. The stop element includes a flange extending outwardly of the jamb face to form a supportive side wall of a new glazing pocket adapted to receive an edge portion of a new insulating type panel. An elongated flange element is adapted to be secured on the existing frame in spaced alignment with the flange of the new stop element to form an opposite side wall for the new glazing pocket for securing the new insulating panel in place.

Abstract: An entrance door system including an automatic astragal along an edge of a door and an operator on the door provided for controlling one or more latch assemblies normally engaged to latch an edge of the door with a member of a door frame in which the door is mounted. The latch assembly is mounted on the door to normally latch the door with the door frame when the door is closed and the latch is releasable to an unlatched condition so that the door may be opened. The elongated astragal is mounted in parallel along the edge of the door and is guided for parallel movement between a retracted and an extended position. The door operator is effective for moving the astragal between retracted and extended positions and the astragal is interconnected for moving the latch assembly to release the latching engagement when the astragal is moved to the retracted position so that the door may be opened.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting a single glazed wall structure into a double glazed wall structure. The apparatus comprises a spacer element supportable from the wall structure frame on one side of the existing glazing panel and the element includes a stop surface parallel and facing an edge portion of a second glazing panel to be installed parallel of the first glazing panel. A seal is provided around an edge portion of the second glazing panel in position adjacent the spacing element thereby forming a dead air space between the first and second glazing panels to provide a double glazed wall structure having much improved heat insulating characteristics in comparison to the pre-existing single glazed wall structure.In accordance with the method of the invention, a spacer element is positioned on one side of the existing glazing panel around the frame and a second glazing panel is then installed in spaced parallel relation with the existing panel adjacent the spacer element.

Abstract: A window safety system for a window having a frame with a head, a sill, and side jambs defining a sash receiving opening, and a sash member mounted in said opening for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between closed, opened and reversed positions relative to said frame, said safety system including a releasable latch assembly spaced intermediately of said pivot axis and one of said jambs for selectively interconnecting said frame and said sash for limiting the initial opening movement of said sash out of said closed position to a ventilating position, said latch assembly being key releasable for permitting further free swinging opening movement of said sash member toward a fully reversed and latched position for window washing.

Abstract: A sloped curtain wall structure for buildings comprises an elongated, horizontal sill including a bottom wall and at least one upstanding side wall forming a gutter designed for mounting on a supporting base structure such as a vertical wall segment or a foundation wall. An elongated baffle is interconnected with the horizontal sill and is interlocked with side walls to substantially enclose the sill above the gutter and a plurality of rafters are connected through openings in the baffle by extruded anchors to the sill and supporting structure and slope upwardly to support glazing panels mounted in the frame work. Each rafter includes a gutter and a glazing pocket aligned with the glazing pocket in the baffle for receiving and supporting the edges of a glazing panel.

Abstract: A solar energy collecting panel includes a pair of elongated spaced apart tubular fluid headers formed of heat conductive material and a plurality of elongated hollow tubular panel elements or risers formed of heat conductive material extended between the headers. The panel elements have an outer wall adapted to face and absorb solar radiation and transfer the heat directly into fluid passing through the tubular passages of the risers which are arranged in edge to edge, side by side relation with opposite ends of the risers connected in direct fluid communication with a fluid passage in the headers through openings in a wall section thereof.

Abstract: There is provided an improved wall construction including a vertical mullion and a horizontal member. The horizontal member is provided with longitudinally extending screw splines. The members may be assembled in the known shear block method, or in a known screw spline system, or further in accordance with the present invention the members may be assembled in accordance with an improved shear pin system. The shear pin system employs a shear pin which joins the horizontal member to the vertical mullions. The vertical mullion is prepared for the attachment of a horizontal member by forming holes to receive the head of a shear pin, and the horizontal member is prepared by the insertion of the shear pins into screw splines formed in the horizontal member. The horizontal member is then installed on the vertical by installing the head of the shear pin into the hole previously drilled in the vertical mullion, and then tapping the horizontal downward until the shear pins bottom in the holes.

Abstract: A mechanical accumulator for holding and supplying a volume of hydraulic fluid under pressure comprising a variable volume fluid pressure chamber including a piston and a cylinder member, a plurality of coil springs acting on one of said members for biasing the same towards the other of said members to minimize the volume of said chamber and pressurize the fluid therein, a fluid conduit for directing pressurized fluid into and out of said chamber and switch means externally of said chamber and actuated by one of said members in response to the volume changes of said chamber for controlling the operation of a fluid device using fluid from the chamber.

Abstract: There is provided an improved wall construction including a vertical mullion and a horizontal member. The horizontal member is provided with longitudinally extending screw splines. The members may be assembled in the known shear block method, or in a known screw spline system, or further in accordance with the present invention the members may be assembled in accordance with an improved shear pin system. The shear pin system employs a shear pin which joins the horizontal members to the vertical mullions. The vertical mullion is prepared for the attachment of a horizontal member by forming holes to receive the head of a shear pin, and the horizontal member is prepared by the insertion of the shear pins into screw splines formed in the horizontal member. The horizontal member is then installed on the vertical by installing the head of the shear pin into the hole previously drilled in the vertical mullion, and then tapping the horizontal downward until the shear pins bottom in the holes.

Abstract: An automatic astragal assembly for inclusion or attachment to a door edge comprising an elongated astragal housing mounted on said door and having an outwardly opening longitudinal recess therein, an elongated astragal slidably mounted in said recess, means supporting said astragal in said recess for upward and inward relative movement in said housing in response to lifting of said astragal from lifting means mounted on an inside surface of said door, said lifting means including a lift slide mounted on said housing for reciprocal vertical movement and having an L-shaped slot defined therein with an interconnecting horizontal and vertical section and a dead lock pin engaged in said slot and secured to said astragal for elevating the same upon lifting movement of said slide, said vertical section of said slot and said dead lock pin engaging to prevent elevation of said astragal from pressure exerted against an outer edge of said astragal tending to force said astragal horizontally into said recess.

Abstract: There is provided an improved wall construction including a vertical mullion and a horizontal member. The horizontal member is provided with longitudinally extending screw splines. The members may be assembled in the known shear block method, or in a known screw spline system, or further in accordance with the present invention the members may be assembled in accordance with an improved shear pin system. The shear pin system employs a shear pin which joins the horizontal members to the vertical mullions. The vertical mullion is prepared for the attachment of a horizontal member by forming holes to receive the head of a shear pin, and the horizontal member is prepared by the insertion of the shear pins into screw splines formed in the horizontal member. The horizontal member is then installed on the vertical by installing the head of the shear pin into the hole previously drilled in the vertical mullion, and then tapping the horizontal downward until the shear pins bottom in the holes.