Special-shaped hollow glass filled with argon

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of electrochromic insulated glass manufacturing technology, and particularly to a special shaped insulated glass argon-filling process. The filling steps are as follows: First, the insulated glass is placed with its long side as the bottom, with the bottom horizontal. An air needle is installed on the sealing structure corresponding to the bottom of the inner cavity of the insulated glass, and an exhaust hole is installed on the sealing structure corresponding to the highest point of the inner cavity of the insulated glass. Second, an argon concentration detection module is used to monitor the argon concentration inside the insulated glass in real time. Third, the air needle is connected to a gas source to start filling, with a filling pressure of 2-5 bar. Fourth, when the argon concentration detection module detects that the argon concentration near the exhaust hole in the inner cavity of the insulated glass has reached the standard, the filling ends, the gas source is quickly shut off, and the exhaust hole is sealed. This invention uses an opening in the sealing structure at the top of the insulated glass, avoiding the spacer strip, as an exhaust hole. The exhaust hole allows air to escape naturally, maintaining the balance of air pressure inside and outside the cavity of the insulated glass, allowing air to escape naturally and orderly, and improving the filling efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrochromic insulating glass production technology, and in particular to an argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass. Background Technology

[0002] Filling insulated glass units with argon gas effectively reduces the convective heat transfer efficiency within the glass cavity, thereby lowering the heat transfer coefficient and improving the thermal insulation performance. Simultaneously, sufficient argon filling effectively protects the offline low-e coating, slowing its oxidation process and extending the lifespan of the low-e insulated glass. Argon also plays a positive role in the sound insulation, noise reduction, and UV protection properties of insulated glass units. Therefore, filling the insulated glass cavity with argon gas has become an effective way to improve the performance of insulated glass units.

[0003] According to the national standard GB / T11944-2012, the argon concentration for filling insulated glass must reach 85%. Currently, there are many technical solutions for argon filling in the industry. For conventional products, a gas curtain-type online fully automatic argon filling process or semi-automatic argon filling equipment is typically used.

[0004] The commonly used argon-filling method in the industry generally involves standing the insulated glass unit upright, injecting gas through a hole at the bottom edge, and allowing natural venting through a hole at the top side. Practice has shown that this method has the following drawbacks: If the gas injection pressure is high while the venting pressure is low, venting is slow, leading to pressure imbalance and ultimately causing the insulated glass unit to bulge outwards. Effective venting only begins after the pressure inside the cavity has increased to a certain level, causing deformation of the insulated glass unit. If the gas injection pressure is low, the argon gas mixes with air inside the cavity of the insulated glass unit before the mixture is vented, resulting in low filling efficiency, long filling time, and significant argon gas waste.

[0005] If the gas injection pressure can be kept neither too high nor too low, but within a suitable range to balance with the exhaust pressure, then the required argon concentration can be achieved with a single rapid inflation. Theoretically, this suitable gas injection pressure range is related to the exhaust flow rate and the dimensions of the inner cavity. Since the exhaust flow rate varies with the gas injection pressure, it is difficult to obtain through calculation. However, it can be determined through testing before mass production of insulating glass units. For small-batch production of unconventional, irregularly shaped insulating glass units, this significantly impacts production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a special argon filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass to solve the problem that when producing small batches of special irregular-shaped insulating glass, it is impossible to quickly obtain a suitable gas injection pressure, so that the argon concentration in the cavity of the insulating glass cannot reach the required level through a single rapid filling.

[0007] This invention provides a special argon-filling process for irregularly shaped insulating glass, the filling steps of which are as follows:

[0008] The first step is to place the insulating glass unit with its long side as the bottom, with the bottom horizontal. Install an air needle on the sealing structure corresponding to the bottom of the inner cavity of the insulating glass unit, and install an exhaust hole on the sealing structure corresponding to the highest point of the inner cavity of the insulating glass unit.

[0009] The second step is to set up an argon concentration detection module to monitor the argon concentration inside the insulating glass in real time.

[0010] The third step is to connect the air needle to the air source and start inflating it at a pressure of 2-5 bar.

[0011] Fourth step: When the argon concentration detection module detects that the argon concentration in the cavity of the insulating glass near the exhaust port has reached the standard, the inflation ends, the gas source is quickly shut off, and the exhaust port is quickly sealed.

[0012] Optionally, in the second step above, the insulating glass is placed vertically.

[0013] Optionally, in the second step above, if the height of the insulated glass exceeds 1600mm in the vertical position or if the bottom edge has large and small fins, then the insulated glass is placed at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane.

[0014] Optionally, in the first step of the above-mentioned special irregular-shaped insulating glass argon filling process, the sealing structure includes a spacer strip, and a first sealant and a second sealant disposed between the spacer strip and the inner walls of the two side glass panels. The gas needle and the exhaust hole are disposed on the first sealant before the second sealant is applied.

[0015] Optionally, in the first step of the above-mentioned special irregular-shaped insulating glass argon filling process, one of the aforementioned gas needles is set at each end of the bottom length direction of the insulating glass.

[0016] Optionally, the air needle is parallel to the bottom surface of the inner cavity of the insulating glass and located at the center between the two glass panes.

[0017] Optionally, after the first sealant is sealed after inflation, the second sealant is applied within 45 minutes.

[0018] Optionally, a 15-25mm long slit can be made in the first sealant as the vent hole.

[0019] Optionally, the first sealant is butyl rubber.

[0020] The technical solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0021] 1. An opening is made in the top of the insulating glass unit, avoiding the spacer, as a vent. The vent allows for natural air release, maintaining a balance of air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass cavity. Only when the air pressure is balanced can the air be released naturally and orderly. This design reduces the filling time, saves costs, and simplifies the operation. Argon gas injection into special-shaped insulating glass products can be completed without auxiliary equipment. This design eliminates the need for openings in the spacer, preventing molecular sieve powder from being filled into the cavity and avoiding uncertainties in the sealing process after opening the spacer.

[0022] 2. When placed at a small tilt angle or vertically, for large-format insulated glass units, the air inside the cavity is compressed during argon injection, and the pressure of the compressed air above on the argon below is downward. Therefore, the argon pressure injected into the cavity needs to be increased, which easily creates turbulence and reduces air expulsion efficiency. When placed at a large tilt angle, the downward pressure of the compressed air above acts mostly on the glass surface, and a small component of the downward pressure acts on the argon below. Therefore, the injected argon easily rushes directly to the top of the insulated glass, and the air is more likely to mix in the lower part. The closer the insulated glass is to a horizontal state, the easier it is to mix in the air, resulting in reduced inflation efficiency. Keeping the insulated glass at an appropriate angle of 15 to 45 degrees allows the argon to gradually accumulate from the bottom, making it easier to expel air without requiring greater pressure.

[0023] 3. The vent does not draw air out; instead, it slowly injects inert gas to exhaust air, maintaining a balance of air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass. Only when the air pressure is balanced can the air be discharged naturally and orderly. If the exhaust is slow, the internal air pressure will be higher than the external air pressure, which can easily cause the glass cavity to bulge outward. At the same time, the argon gas and air inside will be more likely to mix, reducing the effective filling efficiency. If the exhaust is too fast, the filling pressure will be low, and the air pressure inside the cavity will be low. This will negate the advantage of the argon gas's heavy weight, making it easy for the argon gas and air to be discharged together, which will also reduce the effective filling efficiency.

[0024] 4. The vent is not enlarged by inserting a tube. Instead, a gap is made directly in the elastic first layer of sealant as the vent. The vent will expand or contract according to the change of air pressure difference between the inside and outside of the insulating glass. Therefore, the vent flow can be adjusted without fine-tuning the inflation pressure, so that the internal and external air pressures remain in balance during inflation.

[0025] 5. Unlike the traditional method of filling the spacer with air by making holes, this method avoids the molecular sieve powder inside the spacer being blown into the cavity of the insulating glass, and also avoids the uncertainty of the sealing process after the spacer is made open.

[0026] 6. Employing a multi-hole low-pressure injection system, the air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass is more balanced, preventing air mixing and allowing for more efficient air removal. This enables rapid and stable injection of argon gas, achieving an argon content of over 85%.

[0027] 7. This method can use a small-diameter gas needle to inject argon gas, which reduces damage to the butyl rubber on the side of the spacer strip and makes it easier to fully seal the needle hole.

[0028] 8. By applying the principle of open exhaust, the air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass is the same, the air exhaust efficiency is high, and the insulating glass will not bulge outward due to argon filling. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a special irregular-shaped hollow glass structure with triangular sides in the embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a special irregular-shaped hollow glass structure with irregular edges in the embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a special irregular-shaped hollow glass structure with irregular edges in the embodiment;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a special irregular-shaped hollow glass structure with rounded edges in the embodiment;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the insulated glass structure with large and small fins in the embodiment;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure in the embodiment.

[0036] In the diagram: 1. Air needle; 2. Exhaust hole; 3. Spacer strip; 4. First sealant; 5. Second sealant. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the description of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] Unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use. They are only for the convenience of description and simplification, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0040] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used merely to distinguish elements with similar attributes, not to indicate or imply relative importance or a specific order.

[0041] The terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, which includes not only the listed elements but also other elements not expressly listed. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figures 1 to 4 This invention provides a special argon-filling process for irregularly shaped insulating glass, specifically for irregular shapes with triangular or rounded edges, and those with large or small burrs (see...). Figure 5 The insulating glass is filled with argon gas to ensure that the argon concentration in the inner cavity of the insulating glass is ≥85%.

[0042] The main steps for argon filling are as follows: First, place the insulating glass unit with its long side as the bottom, ensuring the bottom is horizontal. Install a gas needle 1 on the sealing structure corresponding to the bottom of the insulating glass cavity, and install an exhaust port 2 on the sealing structure corresponding to the highest point of the insulating glass cavity. Second, set up an argon concentration detection module to monitor the argon concentration inside the insulating glass unit in real time. Third, connect the gas needle 1 to the gas source to start filling, with a filling pressure of 2-5 bar. Fourth, when the argon concentration detection module detects that the argon concentration near the exhaust port 2 in the insulating glass cavity has reached the standard, stop filling, quickly shut off the gas source, and quickly seal the exhaust port 2.

[0043] Compared with existing technologies that involve drilling holes in the spacer strip for gas filling and then evacuating through the vent, the argon-filling process for special-shaped insulating glass proposed in this invention has the following advantages: The top of the insulating glass unit has a hole in the sealing structure, bypassing the spacer strip, serving as a vent. This vent allows for natural gas release, maintaining a balance of air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass cavity. Only when the air pressure is balanced can the air be naturally and orderly discharged. This invention reduces filling time, saves costs, and simplifies operation, allowing for argon injection into special-shaped insulating glass products without the need for auxiliary equipment. Furthermore, this invention eliminates the need for drilling holes in the spacer strip, preventing molecular sieve powder from being filled into the cavity and avoiding uncertainties in the sealing process after drilling holes in the spacer strip.

[0044] The vent does not draw air out; instead, it slowly injects inert gas to exhaust air, maintaining a balance of air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass. Only when the air pressure is balanced can the air be discharged naturally and orderly. If the exhaust is slow, the internal air pressure will be higher than the external air pressure, which can easily cause the glass cavity to bulge outward. At the same time, the argon gas and air inside will be more likely to mix, reducing the effective filling efficiency. If the exhaust is too fast, the filling pressure will be low, and the air pressure inside the cavity will be low. This will negate the advantage of the argon gas's heavy weight, making it easy for the argon gas and air to be discharged together, which will also reduce the effective filling efficiency.

[0045] Specifically, please refer to Figure 6 The aforementioned sealing structure includes a spacer strip 3, a first sealant 4, and a second sealant 5. The spacer strip 3 is located in the middle between two parallel glass panes. The spacer strip 3 is hollow and filled with molecular sieves. The spacer strip 3 is filled with the first sealant 4 and the second sealant 5 between its opposite sides and the glass panes. The first sealant 4 is made of butyl rubber, which is located inside the second sealant 5. The vent 2 is a 15-25mm long gap created on the first sealant 4 at the top of the insulating glass unit. Please refer to the reference... Figure 1 and Figure 6 An air needle 1 is installed at each end of the bottom length direction of the insulating glass. The air needle 1 is inserted at both ends of the first sealant 4 at the bottom of the insulating glass. The air needle 1 is located in the center between the two glass panes and is parallel to the bottom surface of the inner cavity of the insulating glass. The air needle 1 and the vent hole 2 are installed before the second sealant 5 is applied.

[0046] In the above-mentioned special irregular-shaped insulating glass argon filling process, argon should be filled within 1 hour after the glass is assembled; after the filling is completed and the first sealant is applied, the second sealant should be applied within 45 minutes.

[0047] In the above-mentioned argon filling process, all types of insulated glass can be filled vertically. However, to improve filling efficiency, for insulated glass with burrs on the bottom edge or special shapes that cannot be laid flat, the insulated glass is placed at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane for filling, preferably 30 degrees. This eliminates the need for special bottom support devices, simplifying the process and making operation easier. To further improve filling efficiency, if the height of the insulated glass in the vertical state exceeds 1600mm or if the bottom edge has large and small burrs, the insulated glass is placed at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane for filling, preferably 30 degrees. Specifically, for triangular, quadrilateral, or polygonal glass, the longer side is the base, and the pointed corner is upward. If the bottom edge has large and small burrs, it can be placed at an angle of 30 degrees.

[0048] When placed at a small tilt angle or vertically, for large-format insulated glass units, the air inside the cavity is compressed during argon injection, and the pressure of the compressed air above on the argon below is downward. Therefore, the argon pressure injected into the cavity needs to be increased, which easily creates turbulence and reduces air expulsion efficiency. When placed at a large tilt angle, the downward pressure of the compressed air above acts mostly on the glass surface, with a small component of the downward pressure acting on the argon below. Therefore, the injected argon tends to rush directly to the top of the insulated glass, and air is more likely to mix in the lower part. The closer the insulated glass is to a horizontal position, the more likely this mixing occurs, leading to reduced inflation efficiency. Maintaining a proper 30-degree tilt angle for the insulated glass allows argon to accumulate gradually from the bottom, making it easier to expel air without requiring greater pressure.

[0049] The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulated glass provided in this embodiment can fill triangular irregular-shaped insulated glass with large and small burrs, as well as polygonal, irregular-sided, and curved special insulated glass with argon filling rate ≥85%. The specific filling process is as follows:

[0050] 1. After the insulating glass units are positioned and assembled, before applying the second layer of sealant, argon gas purging should be performed (Note: Argon gas purging should be arranged within 1 hour after assembly to avoid excessive moisture absorption of the molecular sieve inside the spacer).

[0051] 2. Insulating glass should be placed on a special bracket, either vertically or at a 30-degree angle if the above conditions are met (the height of the insulating glass in the vertical state exceeds 1600mm or the bottom edge has large and small fins). The bottom edge should be properly padded for protection.

[0052] 3. Insert two air needles 1 into the gap between the spacer and the glass (5mm above the corner) at the two corners of the bottom edge of the insulating glass. The air needles 1 are parallel to the bottom edge of the insulating glass and are positioned opposite each other.

[0053] 4. Slightly open the butyl rubber at the top corner to make a 15-25mm gap as an exhaust hole 2, preferably 20mm, and send the detection head of the argon concentration detection module into the cavity through the gap. The detection head is located at the top of the cavity and is connected to the main unit of the argon concentration detection module through a thin data cable.

[0054] 5. Open the gas cylinder connected to the gas needle 1, release the pressure, and control the inflation pressure at 2-5 bar (low pressure inflation, minimize the mixing of argon and air in the cavity, and take advantage of the high density and weight of argon to expel the air from the exhaust hole 2 at the top of the glass from bottom to top).

[0055] 6. The data transmitted to the argon concentration detection module host through the detection head is used to detect the argon concentration at the top of the cavity near the exhaust port 2 in real time. If the argon concentration reaches 85%, the gas cylinder is immediately shut off, the gas filling is stopped, the first sealant 4 at the top corner of the glass is quickly sealed, the bottom corner gas needle 1 is pulled out, and the needle hole is sealed.

[0056] 7. After inflation is complete, carefully check the sealing quality of the inflation and deflation points, and make any necessary repairs or repairs.

[0057] 8. After the insulating glass is filled and sealed, the second sealant 5 should be applied within 45 minutes.

[0058] The above-mentioned argon purging process has the following advantages:

[0059] 1. Solved the problem of insufficient argon gas filling in irregularly shaped and unconventional insulating glass;

[0060] 2. By applying the principle of open exhaust, the air pressure inside and outside the cavity is the same, the air exhaust efficiency is high, and the insulating glass will not bulge outward due to argon filling.

[0061] 3. The internal and external air pressures are balanced, exhaust is fast, and it is not easy to cause excessive mixing of argon and air, thus saving argon and reducing consumption;

[0062] 4. It reduces the argon filling time and greatly improves the argon filling efficiency;

[0063] 5. Unlike the traditional method of filling the spacer with air by making holes, this method avoids the molecular sieve powder inside the spacer being blown into the cavity of the insulating glass, and also avoids the uncertainty of the sealing process after the spacer is made open.

[0064] 6. Employing a multi-hole low-pressure injection system, the air pressure inside and outside the insulating glass is more balanced, preventing air mixing and allowing for more efficient air removal. This enables rapid and stable injection of argon gas, achieving an argon content of over 85%.

[0065] 7. This method can use a small-diameter gas needle to inject argon gas, which reduces damage to the butyl rubber on the side of the spacer strip and makes it easier to fully seal the needle hole;

[0066] 8. Neither the air needle nor the exhaust hole damaged the spacer bar, nor did they cause gas impact on the molecular sieve. They would not blow the molecular sieve into the cavity, nor would they affect the amount of molecular sieve filling the spacer bar.

[0067] 9. Butyl rubber, as the first sealant, makes local sealing easier. After inflation, apply appropriate amount of butyl rubber, and then pressurize to reassemble the sheet, forming a complete seal at the edges.

[0068] 10. This argon filling process has certain requirements on the amount of butyl rubber coating on the side of the spacer, which improves the gas sealing durability of the insulating glass. For traditional non-standard insulating glass with irregular configurations that are prone to argon leakage and fogging, this process improves the argon retention rate and extends the service life of the insulating glass.

[0069] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A special argon-filling process for irregularly shaped insulating glass, characterized in that, The inflation steps are as follows: The first step is to place the insulated glass with its long side as the bottom, with the bottom horizontal. An air needle is set on the sealing structure corresponding to the bottom of the inner cavity of the insulated glass, and a gap is set on the elastic sealing structure corresponding to the highest point of the inner cavity of the insulated glass as an exhaust hole. The second step is to set up an argon concentration detection module to detect the argon concentration inside the insulating glass in real time. If the insulating glass meets the requirement that its height in the vertical state exceeds 1600mm or that its bottom edge has large and small fins, then the insulating glass is placed at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees relative to the vertical plane. The third step is to connect the air needle to the air source and start inflating it at a pressure of 2-5 bar. Fourth step: When the argon concentration detection module detects that the argon concentration in the cavity of the insulating glass near the exhaust port has reached the standard, the inflation ends, the gas source is quickly shut off, and the exhaust port is quickly sealed.

2. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the second step, the insulated glass is placed vertically.

3. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the first step, the sealing structure includes a spacer strip, and a first sealant and a second sealant disposed between the spacer strip and the inner walls of the two side glass panels. The air needle and the vent hole are disposed on the first sealant before the second sealant is applied.

4. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the first step, one of the aforementioned air needles is installed at each end of the bottom length direction of the insulating glass.

5. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air needle is parallel to the bottom surface of the inner cavity of the insulating glass and is located in the center between the two panes of glass.

6. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 3, characterized in that, After inflation is complete and the first sealant is applied, the second sealant should be applied within 45 minutes.

7. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 3, characterized in that, A 15-25mm long slit is made in the first layer of sealant as the vent hole.

8. The argon-filling process for special irregular-shaped insulating glass according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first sealant is butyl rubber.

Images