Insulating glass

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulating glazing unit (1) comprising: - at least two glass sheets (3, 5) separated from each other by a space (E) in which the vacuum has been created, - a sealing joint (7) arranged at the periphery of these two glass sheets (3, 5) and connecting them in a sealed manner, - a hollow (2) formed on the internal face of one of the two glass sheets (3, 5), overlapping the joint (7) so as to open on the one hand onto the edge of the glazing unit, and on the other hand onto said space (E), - a filling material filling the hollow (2). (Fig. 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Insulating glazing

[0001] The present patent application relates to an insulating glazing unit comprising at least two sheets of glass separated from each other by a thin space in which the vacuum has been created.

[0002] As is known per se, the insulating properties of glazing, particularly with respect to heat, can be obtained by using multi-layer complexes, typically comprising at least two sheets of glass connected to each other in a sealed manner, and separated by a space of small thickness in which the vacuum has been created.

[0003] Various methods of manufacturing such glazing are found in the prior art.

[0004] A known method consists of placing spacer pads and a peripheral sealing joint on one of the glass sheets, placing the second glass sheet on these pads and on this joint, heating the assembly so as to obtain a sealed complex, then evacuating the gases which are located between the two glass sheets through an orifice formed in one of them.

[0005] This orifice is then plugged with molten metal or sintered glass, possibly supplemented by a protective layer of metal or polymer resin.

[0006] Although care is taken to place this orifice near the edge of the glazing, it remains visible, which detracts from the aesthetics of the assembly and presents a high risk of damage which can lead to rupture of the vacuum.

[0007] Another method for overcoming this drawback, disclosed by European patent application EPI794404, consists of placing a glass cannula across the joint connecting the two sheets of glass together, and opening onto the edge of the complex thus produced.

[0008] This cannula provides an orifice for pumping the gases located in the space between the two sheets of glass.

[0009] Once this pumping is carried out, the glass cannula is twisted or broken, and filled with a sealing material.

[0010] This cannula is practically invisible on the finished product, because it is located on the periphery of the glazing, and is generally covered by the rubber sealing gaskets and / or by the wooden, metal or PVC frame which surrounds the glazing.

[0011] Although presenting an aesthetic improvement compared to the previous method, the method according to EPI794404 is relatively complex to implement, because it requires the use of an additional part - the glass cannula - and to position and fix it precisely on one of the two sheets of glass.

[0012] The present invention aims to improve the products and methods of the prior art, and more precisely to provide insulating glazing of the aforementioned type which is entirely satisfactory from an aesthetic point of view, while being simpler and more economical to manufacture.

[0013] These objectives are achieved in particular with insulating glazing comprising: - at least two sheets of glass separated from each other by a space in which the vacuum has been created, - a sealing joint placed on the periphery of these two sheets of glass and connecting them in a watertight manner, - a hollow formed on the internal face of one of the two sheets of glass, overlapping the joint so as to open on the one hand onto the edge of the glazing, and on the other hand onto said space, - a filling material filling the hollow.

[0014] By hollow is meant a groove or groove formed by removal of material in the glass sheet concerned.

[0015] Such hollowing can typically be achieved by abrasion prior to assembling the two sheets of glass.

[0016] This hollow formed on one of the two sheets of glass constitutes a very simple means of establishing communication between the fluid in the space located between the two sheets of glass and the exterior of the complex.

[0017] This hollowing makes it possible to pump the gases which are in the space situated between these two sheets in order to obtain the desired vacuum.

[0018] According to other optional characteristics of the insulating glazing according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

[0019] - said hollow has a wedge shape. This wedge shape, that is to say, the section tapers from the edge of the glazing towards the space between the two sheets of glass, allowing easy and complete filling of this hollow using a filling material;

[0020] - said filling material is identical to the material of the joint: this identity of This material has the advantage of simplicity of implementation, as well as excellent compatibility and durability of the hollow plug with the seal.

[0021] - said filling material is different from the joint material: this difference allows the use of a material that can have different characteristics. For example, one can use a material that has a higher viscosity allowing the filling material to flow less.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing insulating glazing in accordance with the above, comprising the steps of: - providing a first sheet of glass,

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[0032] - place a sealing joint on the periphery of one side of this sheet, - take a second sheet of glass, - make a hollow on this second sheet of glass, opening onto an edge of this sheet of glass and extending towards the inside of this sheet of glass, the length of this hollow being provided so as to ensure a passage between the space located between the two sheets of glass and the outside once the assembly of the two sheets of glass has been carried out, - seal the two sheets of glass using the sealing gasket, - extract by pumping through the hollow the gases located between the two sheets of glass, - fill the said hollow with a filling material. Thanks to this process, the gases in the space between the two sheets of glass can be extracted by simple pumping through the hollow, without the need for additional parts such as a cannula or the like. According to other optional characteristics of this process, taken alone or in combination: - the joint is softened to assemble the two sheets of glass: this step can be carried out, for example, with a sintered glass joint in a furnace whose temperature can rise to around 400°C; - the second sheet of glass is placed above the first sheet of glass when assembling the two sheets: this arrangement prevents the softened seal from spilling into the hollow; - the second sheet of glass is placed below the first sheet of glass when filling the hollow with the filling material: this arrangement prevents the filling material from spilling into the space between the two sheets of glass; - the gases located between the two sheets of glass are extracted by sealing a suction mouth around the outlet of the hollow: this technique makes it possible to very simply establish communication between the fluid in the hollow, and therefore the space located between the two sheets of glass, and the pumping means. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: [Fig.l]: a top view of a glazing according to the invention, before filling the hollow, [Fig.2]: a sectional view of this glazing, taken along line II - II of [Fig.l], [Fig.3]: views respectively in section (3a) and along the direction of arrow F of Figures 1 and 2 (3b) of zone C of the hollow,

[0033] [Fig.4]: a view similar to that of figure 3a, with in addition a pump suction coupled with hollowing,

[0034] [Fig.5]: a view similar to that of figure 3b, with the trace of the coupling zone of the suction pump with the hollow,

[0035] [Fig.6]: views 6a and 6b similar respectively to those of figures 3a and 3b, after turning the glazing and filling the hollow,

[0036] [Fig.7]: a view similar to that of figure 3a, with a variant of the profile of the digging,

[0037] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference signs throughout the figures.

[0038] The terms “upper”, “above” and “lower”, “below” are understood in relation to the vertical of the place of manufacture of the glazing according to the invention: this vertical is indicated by the arrow Z in the attached figures, oriented “upwards”, that is to say in the direction opposite to that of the gravity field.

[0039] Figures 1 and 2 show the glazing 1 according to the invention before filling the hollow 2.

[0040] More precisely, as can be seen in these figures, this glazing 1 comprises a first sheet of glass 3 placed above a second sheet of glass 5, these two sheets of glass 3, 5 being connected to each other in a sealed manner by a peripheral sealing joint 7.

[0041] Spacing pillars 9 are interposed between these two sheets of glass 3, 5 so as to provide a space E in which a vacuum can be created.

[0042] The materials forming the seal 7 and the spacing pillars 9 may be identical, and comprise for example sintered glass, as taught by French patent application FR2710681.

[0043] Of course, these materials can also be different.

[0044] The seal 7 may also be formed, in part or in full, in a material which hardens under ultraviolet light, as taught by EPI794404.

[0045] The seal 7 may also be formed from a material comprising a low melting temperature metal, such as tin.

[0046] The thickness of the two sheets of glass 3, 5 is typically of the order of 4 mm.

[0047] The space E located between these two sheets of glass 3, 5 is typically between 0.2 and 0.4 mm.

[0048] The thickness of the seal 7 is typically of the order of a centimeter.

[0049] The diameter of the spacing pillars 9 is typically of the order of 0.4 mm, and their density can be between 600 and 1500 pillars per square meter.

[0050] Optionally, a reactive material 11 is provided, in the form of a pellet or granule, in the space E located between the two glass sheets 3, 5, intended to adsorb or react chemically with the remainder of gas molecules present in this space E after the suction operation which will be described below.

[0051] Also optionally, it may be provided that at least one of the two glass sheets 3, 5 is covered with a low-emissivity film 13, arranged on the side of the space E separating the two sheets 3, 5.

[0052] The upper glass sheet 3 comprises, in the zone C of one of its edges, for example near the middle of this edge, the hollow 2, that is to say a groove or groove made by removing material.

[0053] Such a hollow 2 can be produced for example by abrasion, prior to the assembly of the two glass sheets 3, 5.

[0054] As can be seen in [Fig.2], and even more particularly in [Fig.3], this hollow 2 preferably has a wedge shape, that is to say a substantially triangular section in the cutting plane of [Fig.2].

[0055] In other words, and as is clearly visible in Figure 3a, the section of this hollow 2 narrows from the edge of the glazing 1 towards the space E located between the two sheets of glass 3, 5, in the manner of a funnel.

[0056] In its part which opens onto the edge of the glazing 1, this hollow 2 may have a substantially trapezoidal section, as can be seen in figure 3b, but this remains purely indicative, and any other type of curved or polygonal section could be suitable.

[0057] As can be seen in Figure 3a, the hollow 2 establishes a passage between the space E separating the two sheets of glass 3, 5 and the exterior of the glazing 1, this passage opening onto the edge of this glazing 1.

[0058] For this purpose, the hollow 2 has a length, that is to say a dimension measured in the direction of the arrow F in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is greater than the width of the peripheral seal 7 once the assembly of the two glass sheets 3, 5 has been carried out.

[0059] This length can typically be of the order of a centimeter.

[0060] The width of the hollow 2, that is to say its dimension measured in the direction of the peripheral seal 7, may be of the order of several centimeters.

[0061] To obtain this glazing 1, the following steps can be implemented.

[0062] We begin by making the hollow 2 by localized abrasion of the glass sheet superior 3.

[0063] Furthermore, the peripheral seal 7 and the spacing pillars 9 are arranged, as well as the reactive material pellet 11, on the lower glass sheet 5.

[0064] The upper glass sheet 3 is then positioned on the lower glass sheet 5, so that the hollow 2 comes opposite the peripheral seal 7.

[0065] Then, in the case where the joint 7 and the spacing pillars 9 are for example made in sintered glass, the assembly is placed inside an oven, typically set to a temperature of around 400°C.

[0066] Under the effect of heat, the material of the peripheral seal softens, allowing the assembly of the two sheets of glass 3, 5.

[0067] Under the effect of this heat also, the gas molecules adsorbed on the walls of the spacer pillars 9 and the glass sheets 3, 5 are desorbed.

[0068] Inside the furnace, the operation of suctioning the gases located in the space E separating the two glass sheets 3, 5 is then carried out so as to obtain a vacuum, that is to say typically a gas pressure of less than 0.1 Pa.

[0069] To do this, the mouth 13 of a suction pump 15 is pressed tightly against the zone C of the edge of the glazing 1 where the hollow 2 is located, as can be seen in [Fig.4].

[0070] The seal can advantageously be obtained with a seal 17 of circular or elliptical shape, for example, sized to be able to encompass the opening section of the hollow 2 when the suction pump 15 is in place.

[0071] In [Fig. 5] we can see the respective traces 19, 20 of the outline of the suction mouth of the pump and of the sealing joint 17 of this pump 15 when it is placed on the zone C of the edge of the glazing 1 where the hollow 2 opens.

[0072] Under the effect of the suction of the pump 15, the gases located between the two sheets of glass 3, 5 are evacuated (arrows F1 and F2), and a depression is created which makes it possible to press the two sheets of glass 3, 5 against each other, and thus to contribute to the good holding of the assembly.

[0073] As can be seen in [Fig.6], once the vacuum has been obtained between the two sheets of glass 3, 5, the hollow 2 is filled using a filling material 21, which may be identical to or different from that of the peripheral seal.

[0074] This material 21, which is introduced into the hollow 2 in viscous form, can harden by cooling.

[0075] It is therefore understood that before introducing this filling material 21, the hollow 2 is not filled with any material, so as to allow the aforementioned suction operation.

[0076] It may be advantageous, depending on the viscosity of the filling material 21, to carry out the filling operation by turning the glazing 1 over, so that the glass sheet 3 comprising the hollow is found underneath, as can be seen in [Fig.6].

[0077] With such a configuration, it can be ensured that the filling material 21 of the hollow 2 does not spill into the space E located between the two sheets of glass 3, 5.

[0078] Note that this risk of effusion can also be reduced by working on the profile of the hollow 2, and by providing for example beads 23, 25 to block the flow of the filling material, as can be seen in [Fig.7].

[0079] According to a possible variant of the method according to the invention, and taking into account the fact that the position of the hollow 2 is precisely known, it is also possible to plug the hollow 2 with a surplus of the material of the peripheral seal 7, provided in the zone C of the hollow 2.

[0080] As will have been understood in light of the above, the hollow 2 of the glazing 1 according to the invention makes it possible to establish in a very simple manner a passage between the space E situated between the two sheets of glass 3, 5 and the exterior of the glazing 1, in order to carry out the operation of extracting the gases situated in this space.

[0081] No additional parts - such as a cannula as was the case in a prior art method - are necessary.

[0082] The production of such a hollow 2, typically by abrasion of an edge of a glass sheet, is extremely simple and does not risk leading to breakage of the glass, unlike perforation as in certain methods of the prior art.

[0083] The wedge shape of the hollow 2 facilitates its filling with the filling material 21, like a funnel being stuffed.

[0084] The positioning of the recess 2 on the edge of the glazing 1 makes it invisible once the glazing is covered with a rubber seal and a wooden, PVC or metal frame.

[0085] The invention therefore provides the means for producing vacuum-insulated glazing in an aesthetic and economical manner.

[0086] Naturally, the invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Insulating glazing (1) comprising: - at least two sheets of glass (3, 5) separated from each other by a space (E) in which the vacuum has been created, - a sealing joint (7) arranged at the periphery of these two sheets of glass (3, 5) and connecting them in a sealed manner, - a hollow (2) formed on the internal face of one of the two sheets of glass (3, 5), overlapping the joint (7) so as to open on the one hand onto the edge of the glazing, and on the other hand onto said space (E), - a filling material (21) filling the hollow (2).

2. Insulating glazing (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hollow (2) has a wedge shape.

3. Insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein said filling material (21) is identical to the material of the seal (7).

4. A method of manufacturing an insulating glazing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising the steps of: - providing a first glass sheet (5), - depositing a sealing joint (7) on the periphery of one face of this sheet (5), - providing a second glass sheet (3), - making a recess (2) on this second glass sheet (3), opening onto an edge of this glass sheet (3) and extending towards the inside of this glass sheet (3), the length of said recess (2) being provided so as to ensure a passage between the space (E) located between the two glass sheets (3, 5) and the outside once the assembly of the two glass sheets (3, 5) has been carried out, - assembling the two glass sheets (3, 5) in a sealed manner by means of the sealing joint (7), - extracting by pumping via the recess (2) the gases located between the two sheets of glass (3, 5),- plug said hollow (2) with a filling material (21).,

5. Method according to claim 4, in which the joint (7) is softened to assemble the two sheets of glass (3, 5).

6. Method according to claim 5, in which the second glass sheet (3) is placed above the first glass sheet (5) when assembling the two sheets (3, 5).

7. Method according to one of claims 5 or 6, in which the second glass sheet (3) is placed below the first glass sheet (5) when filling the hollow (2) by means of the filling material (21).

8. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, in which the gases located between the two sheets of glass (3, 5) are extracted by sealingly placing a suction mouth (13) around the outlet of the hollow (2).

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