Clamping glass unit and its peripheral seal having a shape that restricts the circumferential sliding of the glass unit to ensure that it does not become detached from its mounting structure.

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly of a laminated glass unit (1) and a peripheral seal (11), the laminated glass unit (1) comprising a transparent structural block (2), the peripheral seal (11) having a first spacer portion (12) between the outer surface of the structural block (2) and a window glass retainer (21), and a second spacer portion (13) between the inner surface of the structural block (2) and a mounting structure (22), at least one contact surface between the first spacer portion (12) and the window glass retainer (21) and / or between the second spacer portion (13) and the mounting structure (22) approaching the structural block (2) from its edge toward its center portion; and the use of such an assembly in clamping glass units in the aerospace or railway fields.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to the field of glass units of the type clamped in a frame, which are predominantly found in the aerospace and railway industries. Two main techniques are used in aerospace glass units: clamp-on mounting and bolt-on mounting.

[0002] Clamp-on installations pose a risk of glass units detaching from the aircraft structure during equipment (aircraft) pressurization and in the event of breakage of one or two layers of structural glass (single or double "failure protection"), which could lead to cabin depressurization associated with leaks between seals and the aircraft structure.

[0003] Currently, in most aircraft structures, the contact area between the window glass limiter and the window seal lies in the same shape plane (α = 0), that is, parallel to the plane of the main surface of the glass unit that contacts the external atmosphere. At the bottom, the contact area between the seal of the glass unit and the aircraft structure has a positive or even zero angle β, that is, in the latter case, the contact area is parallel to the main surface of the glass unit that contacts the internal volume of the aircraft.

[0004] The present invention therefore aims to limit the circumferential sliding of a glass unit clamped in its mounting structure (such as an aircraft fuselage) to ensure that the glass unit does not detach from the structure. This objective is achieved by the present invention, which relates to an assembly of a laminated glass unit and its peripheral seal, the laminated glass unit comprising a transparent structural block including at least one sheet and optionally an outer transparent protective sheet, wherein the structural block is overhanging relative to the protective sheet, the peripheral seal having a first spacer portion between the overhanging portion of the main surface of the structural block closest to the protective sheet and a window glass retainer for clamping the laminated glass unit to attach it to its mounting structure, the peripheral seal having a second spacer portion between the overhanging portion of the main surface of the structural block furthest from the protective sheet and the mounting structure, characterized in that at least one contact surface between the first spacer portion and the window glass retainer and / or between the second spacer portion and the mounting structure approaches the structural block from its edge toward its center.

[0005] In this application, any reference to the overhanging portion of a structural block refers to the protrusion of the structural block relative to the protective sheet (if present). In the absence of a protective sheet, such a statement must be considered simply to refer to the edges of the structural block used to clamp the glass unit.

[0006] According to the invention, the clamping surface of the glass unit narrows from the edge of the glass unit toward its central portion. This arrangement is used in cases where deformation of the glass unit may be caused by the breakage of one or all of the structural sheets (also called structural layers) to limit or even eliminate slippage of the periphery of the glass unit on its mounting structure, thereby eliminating any risk of the glass unit becoming detached from the structure.

[0007] Preferably, at least one contact surface between the first spacer portion and the window glass limiter and / or between the second spacer portion and the mounting structure forms an angle of -1° to -40° with the main surface of the nearest structural block. This angle is defined such that, based on the seat width, even when the seal is compressed, the external dimension of the seal (its thickness near the edge of the glass unit) is greater than the internal dimension of the seal on the glass unit side (i.e., its total thickness near the center portion of the glass unit, including the thickness of the structural block).

[0008] These negative angles can be obtained, for example, on the one hand, through the imprinting shape of the injection mold used to form the peripheral seal, or the shape of the extrusion, co-extrusion, or lamination die head, and on the other hand, through the machining of the window glass limiter and mounting structure.

[0009] Preferably, at least one contact surface between the first spacer portion and the window glass limiter and / or between the second spacer portion and the mounting structure is planar or has at least one radius or a curve.

[0010] Preferably, the structural block comprises two sheets bonded together by an adhesive interlayer; these two sheets are referred to as structural sheets (optionally structural layers) and provide mechanical strength and durability to the glass unit.

[0011] Preferably, the structural block is bonded to the protective sheet via an adhesive interlayer.

[0012] Preferably, each sheet and protective sheet of the structural block is independently composed of mineral glass, such as soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, or borosilicate glass (optionally hardened, heat-tempered, or chemically strengthened), or of transparent polymeric materials, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyurethane (PU). When one of these sheets constituting the free surface of the laminated glass unit, i.e., the protective sheet in contact with the outside atmosphere, or the structural sheet in contact with the internal volume of an aircraft or train, is made of a polymeric material such as PC, its free surface advantageously has a polysiloxane, hydrophilic, or hydrophobic scratch-resistant coating or varnish.

[0013] Preferably, the adhesive intermediate layer is composed independently of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer.

[0014] Typically, the laminated glass unit according to the invention comprises a heating conductive layer connected to a current source via busbars arranged on two opposite sides of the glass unit. This can be an anti-icing layer on the main surface of a sheet (especially a protective sheet) that is in contact with the outside atmosphere when in the installation position, or an anti-fog layer on the main surface of a sheet (especially a structural sheet) that is in contact with the internal volume of an aircraft or rail vehicle when in the installation position. The anti-icing or anti-fog layer is composed of tin-doped indium oxide (or indium tin oxide, abbreviated as ITO), a metal such as silver, or an equivalent.

[0015] Preferably, the peripheral seal is made of an elastomeric polymer material, especially injectable or extruded, such as silicone, polyurethane (PU), or polysulfide elastomer.

[0016] Preferably, a metal profile is inserted into the peripheral seal to cover the area that coincides with the peripheral strip of the free surface of the protective sheet, the edge face of the protective sheet, the edge face of the adhesive intermediate layer that bonds the protective sheet to the structural block, and the overhang of the main surface of the structural block closest to the protective sheet. This metal profile, commonly referred to as a "Z-shaped" profile, forms a sealing barrier; it functions to prevent any moisture from entering the laminated glass unit.

[0017] Preferably, the reinforcing wedge is inserted into the second spacer portion between the protruding part of the main surface of the structural block furthest from the protective sheet and the mounting structure (aircraft fuselage, train body, etc.). This wedge can be made of a composite solid material or composed of hollow metal profiles.

[0018] The present invention also relates to the use of an assembly of the laminated glass unit and its peripheral seals as described above in a clamping glass unit in the aerospace or railway field.

[0019] The invention will be better understood in the following description with accompanying drawings, wherein...

[0020] [ Figure 1 [ ] is a cross-sectional view of a glass unit in the prior art.

[0021] [ Figure 2 Schematic depiction in cross-section Figure 1 The glass unit.

[0022] [ Figure 3 [Illustration] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] [ Figure 4[Illustrated cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention]

[0024] [ Figure 5 [Illustrated cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention]

[0025] exist Figure 1 In the process, the aviation glass unit 1 consists of a structural block 2 and an outer protective sheet 7, which is made of chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass with a thickness between 0.5 and 5 mm.

[0026] The structural block 2 protrudes out relative to the protective sheet 7, and is bonded to the protective sheet 7 by means of a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer 6 with a thickness between 0.2 and 10 mm.

[0027] Structural block 2 consists of a sheet 3 of soda-lime-silica float glass with a thickness between 1 and 30 mm and a sheet 5 of polycarbonate (PC) with a thickness between 1 and 30 mm, which are bonded together by a TPU layer 4 with a thickness between 0.2 and 4 mm. Alternatively, when sheet 5 is made of mineral glass, adhesive layer 4 is made of PVB.

[0028] The rounded edges of the structural sheets 3 and 5 are protected by covering them with an elastomer strip 8, commonly known as a shock absorber, which suppresses / absorbs impact.

[0029] The complex edges of the laminated glass unit 1 are covered by a peripheral seal 11, which is mainly composed of elastomeric polymer materials such as silicone, polyurethane, and polysulfides.

[0030] The Z-shaped metal profile 14 is integrated into the peripheral seal 11 in the area of ​​the peripheral strip on the free surface of the protective sheet 7, the area of ​​the edge surface of the protective sheet 7, the area of ​​the edge surface of the PVB layer 6, and the area of ​​the peripheral strip of the structural sheet 3 protruding from the protective sheet 7. The Z-shaped profile 14 prevents moisture from entering the laminated structure 1.

[0031] In addition, the lower part of the maximum thickness of the peripheral seal 11 accommodates a reinforcing wedge 15 composed of a hollow aluminum profile.

[0032] The laminated glass unit 1 is attached to the aircraft fuselage 22 by clamping it between the fuselage 22 and the window glass retainer 21, which is attached to the fuselage 22, particularly by bolts. Clamping is achieved by inserting a peripheral seal 11, specifically two prominent parts of the peripheral seal 11: a first spacer portion 12 between the overhanging portion of the main surface of the structural block 2 closest to the protective sheet 7 and the window glass retainer 21; and a second spacer portion 13 between the overhanging portion of the main surface of the structural block 2 furthest from the protective sheet 7 and the fuselage 22. The contact surface between the first spacer portion 12 and the window glass retainer 21 is parallel to the main surface of the laminated glass unit 1, thus forming a zero-degree angle with it. The contact surface of the second spacer portion 13 with the fuselage 22 is substantially planar, forming an open angle with the main surface of the laminated glass unit 1, which is conventionally defined as positive. In the event of deformation of the laminated glass unit 1—for example, due to equipment pressurization under normal operating conditions or, for example, due to breakage of one or even both of the two structural sheets 3 and 5—this open-angle configuration of the two clamping surfaces facilitates circumferential sliding of the laminated glass unit 1 relative to the fuselage 22 and relative to the window glass limiter 21. The glass unit may then detach from the fuselage, in which case there is a risk of cabin depressurization.

[0033] Figure 2 The illustration schematically depicts a configuration where the two clamping surfaces are planar and define two zero-degree angles relative to the laminated glass unit 1. This configuration is similar to... Figure 1 The configuration facilitates undesirable circumferential sliding of the laminated glass unit 1 within its mounting structure.

[0034] exist Figure 3 In the middle, one of the two clamping surfaces, namely the contact surface between the peripheral seal 11 and the window glass limiter 21, is planar and approaches the structural block 2 from the edge towards the center. This contact surface forms a negative angle relative to the structural block, as conventionally defined. The other clamping surface, namely the contact surface between the peripheral seal 11 and the body 22, is planar and parallel to the structural block 2.

[0035] On the contrary, Figure 4 In the middle, the contact surface between the peripheral seal 11 and the body 22 is flat and forms a negative angle with respect to the structural unit 2 as defined above, while the contact surface between the peripheral seal 11 and the window glass limiter 21 is flat and parallel to the structural block 2.

[0036] exist Figure 5 In the middle, these two clamping surfaces define a negative angle relative to structural block 2. Figure 3 , 4According to the three embodiments of the invention, one or both of the clamping surfaces approach the structural block 2 from the edge towards the center portion, that is, forming a negative angle relative to the structural block 2, so that the external dimension (total thickness) of the peripheral seal 11 near the edge of the structural block 2 is greater than its internal dimension (total thickness, including the thickness of the structural block 2) near the center portion of the structural block 2. The technical aspect of the invention makes it possible to reduce circumferential sliding of the structural block 2 in its mounting structure 22 when the structural block 2 deforms, thereby preventing the structural unit 2 from detaching from the structure 22 and from the window glass retainer 21.

Claims

1. An assembly of a laminated glass unit (1) and its peripheral seal (11), the laminated glass unit (1) comprising a transparent structural block (2) including at least one sheet (3, 5) and an optional outer transparent protective sheet (7), wherein the structural block (2) protrudes relative to the protective sheet (7), the peripheral seal (11) having a first spacer portion (12) between the protruding portion of the main surface of the structural block (2) closest to the protective sheet (7) and a window glass retainer (21) for clamping the laminated glass unit (1) to attach it to its mounting structure, the peripheral seal (11) having a second spacer portion (13) between the protruding portion of the main surface of the structural block (2) furthest from the protective sheet (7) and the mounting structure (22), characterized in that At least one contact surface between the first spacer portion (12) and the window glass limiter (21) and / or between the second spacer portion (13) and the mounting structure (22) approaches the structure block (2) from its edge toward its center portion.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that... At least one contact surface between the first spacer portion (12) and the window glass limiter (21) and / or between the second spacer portion (13) and the mounting structure (22) forms an angle of -1 to -0° with the main surface of the nearest structural block (2).

3. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... At least one contact surface between the first spacer portion (12) and the window glass limiter (21) and / or between the second spacer portion (13) and the mounting structure (22) is planar or has at least one radius or a curve.

4. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... The structural block (2) comprises two sheets (3, 5) bonded together by an adhesive interlayer (4).

5. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... The structural block (2) is bonded to the protective sheet (7) through an adhesive intermediate layer (6).

6. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... Each sheet (3, 5) and protective sheet (7) of the structural unit (2) is independently composed of optional hardened, heat-tempered or chemically strengthened mineral glass, such as soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass or borosilicate glass, or of transparent polymer material, such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyurethane (PU).

7. The assembly according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that... The adhesive intermediate layers (4, 6) are independently composed of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer.

8. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... The peripheral seal (11) is made of an elastomeric polymer material, especially injectable or extruded, such as silicone, polyurethane (PU), or polysulfide elastomer.

9. The assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... The metal profile (14) is inserted into the peripheral seal (11) to cover the area that coincides with the peripheral strip of the free surface of the protective sheet (7), the area of ​​the edge surface of the protective sheet (7), the area of ​​the edge surface of the adhesive intermediate layer (6) that bonds the protective sheet (7) to the structural block (2), and the area of ​​the overhang of the main surface of the structural block (2) closest to the protective sheet (7).

10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that... Insert the reinforcing wedge (15) into the second spacer section (13) between the overhanging portion of the main surface of the structural block (2) furthest from the protective sheet (7) and the mounting structure (22) of the peripheral seal (11).

11. The use of an assembly of a laminated glass unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and its peripheral seal (11) in a clamping glass unit in the aerospace or railway field.

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