Packing material for vacuum heat insulation glass and lid for refrigerating case

Abstract

To provide a packing material for vacuum heat insulation glass that, even when a vacuum heat insulation glass is curved with a temperature difference, can prevent deterioration in heat insulation property due to generation of a gap between a lid constituted of a frame body supporting the glass and a refrigerating showcase body, and to provide a lid for a refrigerating case using the same.SOLUTION: A packing material for vacuum heat insulation glass includes: a foundation part whose cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction defines a polygon; and a deflection part having rigidity that is lower than that of the foundation part, whose cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction defines an arc-shape, and having a side end that is firmly fixed to the foundation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packing material for vacuum insulating glass and a door for a refrigerating case using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Among refrigerated cases for storing food and other items at low temperatures, those used as sales showcases in stores often use transparent glass plates fixed to a metal frame as opening and closing doors (hereinafter referred to as refrigerated case doors) so that the stored products can be viewed from the outside.

[0003] In such a refrigerating case door, the temperature inside the refrigerating case is likely to rise due to external light entering through the glass plate and heat from the outside air temperature transmitted through the glass plate. Therefore, it is preferable to use a glass plate with excellent heat insulating properties for the refrigerating case door.

[0004] In recent years, vacuum insulating glass has been used as the glass plate for such refrigerated case doors (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Vacuum insulating glass has excellent heat insulating properties even though it is thin, so that visibility from the outside is well maintained. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-236366 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-063536 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when thin vacuum insulating glass is used for a door of a refrigerated case, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the case is large, and the thin vacuum insulating glass supported by a frame around its periphery is likely to bend with its center protruding toward the outside. As a result, there is a problem that a gap is likely to occur between the door, which is made up of a frame supporting the vacuum insulating glass, and the refrigerated showcase body, reducing the insulation performance.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a gasket material for vacuum insulating glass that can prevent a decrease in insulation properties due to a gap occurring between a door made of a frame that supports the vacuum insulating glass and the refrigerated showcase body, even if the vacuum insulating glass is curved due to a temperature difference, and a door for a refrigerated case using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The packing material for vacuum insulating glass of the present invention has the following configuration. (1) The gasket material for vacuum insulating glass according to a first aspect of the present invention is characterized in having a base portion having a polygonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a flexible portion having a lower hardness than the base portion, an arc-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a side end fixed to the base portion.

[0009] (2) The second aspect of the present invention relates to a gasket material for vacuum insulating glass, which is characterized in that in the first aspect, a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base portion is rectangular, and a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible portion is arc-shaped.

[0010] (3) A third aspect of the present invention relates to a packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to the first or second aspect, characterized in that the base portion and the flexible portion are formed from a single piece of molded material.

[0011] (4) A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a packing material for vacuum insulating glass, and is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the ratio of the height of the base portion to the height of the packing material for vacuum insulating glass is in the range of 40% or more and 65% or less.

[0012] (5) The fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a packing material for vacuum insulating glass, which is characterized in that in the third aspect, the outermost portion in the width direction perpendicular to the height direction of the flexible portion is formed so as to be more inward than the end face along the height direction of the base portion.

[0013] (6) A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to a gasket material for vacuum insulating glass in any one of the first to fifth aspects, characterized in that the base portion is formed from a hard polyvinyl chloride resin and the flexible portion is formed from a soft polyvinyl chloride resin.

[0014] The door for a refrigerating case of the present invention has the following configuration. (7) A seventh aspect of the present invention provides a door for a refrigeration case comprising a gasket material for vacuum insulating glass of any one of the first to sixth aspects, a frame having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and vacuum insulating glass, wherein the gasket material for vacuum insulating glass is characterized in that the base portion is fixed to one of two opposing faces of the frame, and the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulating glass is held between the other of the two opposing faces of the frame and the flexible portion.

[0015] (8) An eighth aspect of the present invention provides a refrigeration case door according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that a buffer layer capable of coming into contact with an end face in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulating glass is formed on a depth inner surface connecting two opposing surfaces of the frame.

[0016] (9) A ninth aspect of the present invention relates to a door for a refrigerating case in the seventh or eighth aspect, characterized in that a sealing layer is formed on the other of the two opposing faces of the frame so as to face the flexible portion of the packing material for vacuum insulating glass. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a gasket material for vacuum insulating glass that can prevent a decrease in insulation properties due to a gap occurring between a door made of a frame that supports the vacuum insulating glass and the refrigerated showcase body, even if the vacuum insulating glass is curved due to a temperature difference, and a door for a refrigerated case using the same. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view showing a door for a refrigerated case using a packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a packing material for vacuum insulating glass and its surrounding area taken along surface D in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of vacuum insulating glass. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a deflected state of a deflection portion of a packing material for vacuum insulating glass. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, a packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to one embodiment of the present invention and a door for a refrigerator case using the same will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are specifically described to better understand the gist of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In addition, the drawings used in the following description may show essential parts enlarged for convenience in order to make the features of the present invention easier to understand, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as in reality.

[0020] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a door for a refrigerator case using a packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing the packing material for vacuum insulating glass and its surrounding area on surface D of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of vacuum insulating glass.

[0021] The refrigeration case door 10 of this embodiment has vacuum insulating glass 11, a frame 12 that supports the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulating glass 11, and the packing material of this embodiment (packing material for vacuum insulating glass) 21. When used as an opening and closing door for a refrigeration case, the refrigeration case door 10 of this embodiment is attached so that the side on which the packing material 21 is arranged faces the outside of the refrigeration case.

[0022] The vacuum insulating glass 11 is formed by providing pillars 32 intermittently between two float glass sheets 31a, 31b to form a gap, and bonding the peripheral portions of the float glass sheets 31a, 31b to each other with an adhesive layer 33. The gap between the float glass sheets 31a, 31b is a vacuum layer Q.

[0023] This type of vacuum insulating glass 11 is said to be able to provide the same or better insulation properties as double-insulating glass, which has gas sealed in the gaps between multiple glass panes, even though it is only about 1 / 4 the thickness.

[0024] Frame 12 is a frame-like member having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is formed integrally with opposing side portions 41, 42 and a depth portion 43 connecting one end of each of side portions 41, 42. Frame 12 holds the peripheral portion of vacuum insulating glass 11 by having the peripheral portion of vacuum insulating glass 11 enter inside frame 12 from an open end opposite depth portion 43. Frame 12 may be made of a lightweight, high-strength material such as metal, for example, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or hard plastic.

[0025] A base portion 22 of the packing material 21, which will be described later, is joined to one of the two opposing surfaces of the frame body 12, i.e., the inner surface 41a of the side surface portion 41. Moreover, a seal layer 13 is formed on the other of the two opposing surfaces of the frame body 12, i.e., the inner surface 42a of the side surface portion 42.

[0026] When the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulating glass 11 is sandwiched between the sealing layer 13 and a flexible portion 23 of the packing material 21 described later, the sealing layer 13 airtightly seals between the peripheral portion on one side of the vacuum insulating glass 11 and the frame 12. The sealing layer 13 may be made of a sheet material made of an elastic material such as soft resin or rubber.

[0027] A buffer layer 14 is formed on the inner surface 43a of the depth portion 43 of the frame 12. The buffer layer 14 abuts against the end face of the vacuum insulating glass 11 inserted inside the frame 12, or faces the end face with a gap provided. The buffer layer 14 prevents cracks or chips from occurring when the end face of the vacuum insulating glass 11 comes into direct contact with the hard frame 12. Such a buffer layer 14 may be made of a sheet material made of an elastic material such as soft resin or rubber, for example.

[0028] The packing material (packing material for vacuum insulating glass) 21 of this embodiment is a member extending along the longitudinal direction of the frame body 12 inside the frame body 12, and has a base portion 22 and a flexible portion 23 fixed to this base portion 22.

[0029] The base portion 22 is a member having a polygonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the base portion 22 is formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is rectangular. The bottom surface of the base portion 22 is joined to the inner surface 41a of the side portion 41 of the frame body 12, and the packing material 21 is fixed to the frame body 12. Note that the side surface of the base portion 22 that faces the inner surface 43a of the depth portion 43 of the frame body 12 may be either joined or not joined to the inner surface 43a of the depth portion 43.

[0030] Such base portion 22 may be made of a material, such as a hard resin, that is harder than the material of flexible portion 23. In this embodiment, hard polyvinyl chloride resin is used as the material of base portion 22.

[0031] The flexible portion 23 is a member having an arc-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the flexible portion 23 is formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is an arc-shaped cross section. The side ends of the flexible portion 23 are fixed to the upper surface of the base portion 22.

[0032] 2 is formed at a position that is inside end face 22m along the height direction H of base part 22. Note that such a formation position is maintained both when no stress is applied to flexible part 23 and when flexible part 23 is bent so as to crush the arc shape along the height direction H due to stress applied due to curvature of vacuum insulating glass 11.

[0033] Such flexible portion 23 may be made of a soft material, such as a soft resin, that has a lower hardness than the material of base portion 22. In this embodiment, flexible portion 23 is made of a soft polyvinyl chloride resin.

[0034] Furthermore, when the height of base portion 22 in the overlapping direction of base portion 22 and flexible portion 23, i.e., along height direction H, is Hs and the height of flexible portion 23 is Hm, base portion 22 and flexible portion 23 may be formed so that the ratio of Hs to Hs+Hm, i.e., the ratio of the height of base portion 22 to the height of packing material 21 for vacuum insulating glass, is in the range of 40% to 65%. Note that this ratio range only needs to be satisfied at least before packing material 21 is assembled into frame 12.

[0035] The base portion 22 and the flexible portion 23 constituting the packing material 21 of this embodiment may be formed as a single piece of molded material, and may be obtained, for example, by extrusion molding of different materials, such as a hard polyvinyl chloride resin (base portion 22) and a soft polyvinyl chloride resin (flexible portion 23).

[0036] According to the refrigeration case door 10 using the packing material 21 for vacuum insulating glass of this embodiment as described above, when using vacuum insulating glass 11 which is thinner than conventional double-insulating glass and which becomes more curved due to the difference in temperature between inside and outside, even if the stress applied to the packing material 21 becomes large, the shape of the packing material 21 can be maintained and a decrease in insulation properties such as leakage of cold air from the frame 12 can be prevented.

[0037] For example, even if the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerated case door 10 causes the central portion of the vacuum insulated glass 11 to bend and protrude, as shown in the schematic diagram of Figure 4, causing the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulated glass 11 to incline relative to the width direction W and applying stress to the gasket material 21, since the gasket material 21 is composed of a hard base portion 22 and a softer flexible portion 23, the base portion 22 maintains the shape of the gasket material 21 while the flexible portion 23 bends, thereby absorbing the curved deformation of the vacuum insulated glass 11.

[0038] This prevents gaps from occurring between the door, which is composed of the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulating glass 11 and the frame body 12, and the refrigerated showcase body, thereby maintaining insulation properties, and also prevents the entire packing material 21 from deforming and becoming unable to maintain its shape due to the hard base portion 22 of the packing material 21.

[0039] Furthermore, if the outermost portion of bending portion 23 in the width direction W is formed at a position inside end face 22m of base portion 22, bending portion 23 will not protrude significantly from frame 12 even if it is bent due to curvature of vacuum insulating glass 11. Therefore, even if the side where packing material 21 is arranged is attached to the outside of the refrigerating case, the protrusion of bending portion 23 will not be visible from the outside of the refrigerating case, and an excellent aesthetic effect can be obtained.

[0040] In the above-described embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the base portion 22 constituting the packing material 21 is rectangular, but it may be any polygonal shape, such as a rectangle, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, etc., and is not particularly limited as long as it supports the flexible portion and does not deform even when stress is applied due to the curvature of the vacuum insulating glass.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible portion 23 constituting the packing material 21 is an arc shape, but this is not limited thereto and any arc shape may be used. For example, a semicircular shape, an arc shape with a circumferential angle smaller than 180°, an arc shape with a circumferential angle larger than 180°, an elliptical arc shape, or the like may be appropriately selected depending on conditions such as the shape change after bending and strength.

[0042] Furthermore, if the cross-sectional shape of the flexible portion 23 is arc-shaped, the contact area with the abutting vacuum insulating glass 11 is larger than if the cross-sectional shape is triangular or the like, thereby preventing the vacuum insulating glass 11 from slipping.

[0043] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the packing material 21 is joined to the frame body 12, but the packing material 21 may be configured to abut against the frame body 12. In this case, the packing material 21 is fixed to the frame body 12 by fitting the vacuum insulating glass 11 into the packing material 21.

[0044] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10...Refrigerator case door 11…Vacuum insulated glass 12...Frame 13…Sealing layer 14...Buffer layer 21...Packing material (packing material for vacuum insulation glass) 22…Base 23...Flexure

Claims

1. A packing material for vacuum insulating glass, characterized in having a base portion having a polygonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a flexible portion having a lower hardness than the base portion, an arc-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a side end fixed to the base portion.

2. 2. A packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to claim 1, wherein a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base portion is rectangular, and a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible portion is arc-shaped.

3. 3. The packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to claim 1, wherein the base portion and the flexible portion are formed from a single piece of molded material.

4. 4. The packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to claim 3, wherein a ratio of a height of the base portion to a height of the packing material for vacuum insulating glass is in a range of 40% to 65%.

5. A gasket material for vacuum insulating glass as described in claim 3, characterized in that the outermost portion in the width direction perpendicular to the height direction of the flexible portion is formed so as to be more inward than the end face along the height direction of the base portion.

6. 3. The packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is made of a hard polyvinyl chloride resin, and the flexible portion is made of a soft polyvinyl chloride resin.

7. A door for a refrigerator case, comprising the packing material for vacuum insulating glass according to claim 1 or 2, a frame body having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and vacuum insulating glass, The gasket material for vacuum insulating glass is characterized in that the base portion is fixed to one of the two opposing surfaces of the frame body, and the peripheral portion of the vacuum insulating glass is held between the other of the two opposing surfaces of the frame body and the flexible portion.

8. 8. The door for a refrigeration case as described in claim 7, characterized in that a cushioning layer capable of abutting against an end face in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulating glass is formed on the inner depth surface connecting the two opposing surfaces of the frame.

9. The door for a refrigeration case as described in claim 7, characterized in that a sealing layer is formed on the other of the two opposing surfaces of the frame so as to face the flexible portion of the packing material for the vacuum insulating glass.

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