Laminated glazing

Abstract

A laminated glazing for a vehicle windshield is described, comprising a first sheet of glazing material joined to a second sheet of glazing material by at least one sheet of adhesive interlayer material. The first and second sheets of glazing material each have a first major surface and a second major surface, respectively, with the second major surface of the first sheet of glazing material facing the first major surface of the second sheet of glazing material. The second sheet of glazing material has at least a first hole therein, the first hole adjacent the periphery of the laminated glazing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to laminated glazing for use in automobiles, and more particularly for use as a windshield for automobiles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional laminated glazing for automotive windshields consists of two plies of soda-lime silicate glass bonded together with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) sheet. Typically, each glass sheet is 2.1 mm thick, and the PVB sheet is typically 0.76 mm thick.

[0003] As is well known in this field, laminated windshields for automobiles offer improved safety advantages to the driver of a vehicle. However, automakers are also working on the safety of vehicles in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian.

[0004] In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the pedestrian may hit the vehicle's windshield, potentially causing further injuries to the pedestrian.

[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 322161 describes a laminated side window for a vehicle comprising at least a first glass plate and a second glass plate joined to each other via a thermoplastic interlayer, wherein the first glass plate, the second glass plate and the thermoplastic interlayer each have holes, and the holes in the first glass plate, the second glass plate and the thermoplastic interlayer are overlapped such that a lead-through for securing a clamping element extends throughout the entire side window.

[0006] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 178482 describes a composite glass plate with through-mounting holes. The composite glass plate comprises a first glass plate and a second glass plate bonded to each other via a thermoplastic interlayer, and at least one passage extending throughout the composite glass plate, the edges of which are provided with integrally formed polymer elements having through-holes that penetrate the passage.

[0007] European Patent Application Publication No. 0555991 describes a glass laminate assembly comprising two glass sheets having an intermediate layer of cured resin formed by a cast-in-place process. An opening for a mounting device is formed in at least one of the glass sheets, and an elastic adhesive seal is formed between the faces of the glass sheets surrounding the opening.

[0008] European Patent Application Publication No. 0825076 describes a windshield comprising an outer glass sheet and an inner glass sheet separated by a layer of polyvinyl butyral. The inner glass sheet and the intermediate layer have through holes for receiving an ultrasonic transducer placed on the inner surface of the outer glass sheet. [Overview of the project]

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle windshield that is positioned to reduce the risk of pedestrians suffering serious injuries in the event of a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.

[0010] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a laminated glazing for a vehicle windshield, comprising a first sheet of glazing material bonded to a second sheet of glazing material by at least one sheet of adhesive intermediate layer material, wherein each of the first and second sheets of glazing material has a first main surface and a second main surface, the second main surface of the first sheet of glazing material facing the first main surface of the second sheet of glazing material, and further comprising at least a first hole therein, the first hole in the second sheet of glazing material being adjacent to the periphery of the laminated glazing.

[0011] Preferably, the laminated glazing is a vehicle windshield.

[0012] Preferably, the first holes in the second sheet of glazing material are not aligned with the holes in the first sheet of glazing material.

[0013] Preferably, the first sheet of glazing material does not have holes in it.

[0014] Preferably, when the laminated glazing is installed as a windshield inside a vehicle, the periphery is the lower periphery.

[0015] Preferably, the first hole in the second sheet of glazing material extends between the second main surface of the second sheet of glazing material and the first main surface of the second sheet of glazing material.

[0016] Preferably, the first hole in the second sheet of glazing material has a depth of 5% to 100% of the thickness of the second sheet of glazing material, more preferably A% to B% of the thickness of the second sheet of glazing material, where A is 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30, and B is 95, 90, 80, 05, 75, 70, 65, 60, 55, 50, or 49.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of glazing material extends between the first main surface and the second main surface of the second sheet of glazing material, and as a result, the first hole becomes a first through hole, the first through hole has a first opening in the first main surface of the second sheet of glazing material, and a second opening in the second main surface of the second sheet of glazing material, the first opening being on the opposite side of at least one sheet portion of the adhesive intermediate layer material.

[0018] In such embodiments, it is preferable that the second main surface of the first sheet of glazing material is not directly contactable through the first through-hole. Preferably, at least one sheet of adhesive intermediate material covers the first opening of the first through-hole, and more preferably, at least one sheet of adhesive intermediate material covers the entire first opening of the first through-hole.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is one of a plurality of holes in the second sheet of the glazing material, and the area of the first hole in the second major surface of the second sheet of the glazing material is 0.01 cm

[0021] ~200 cm 2 , preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~100 cm 2 , more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~10 cm 2 , even more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~5 cm 2 , even more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~0.5 cm 2 .

[0020] Preferably, one or more other holes among the plurality of holes in the second sheet of the glazing material have an area of 0.01 cm 2 ~200 cm 2 , preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~100 cm 2 , more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~10 cm 2 , even more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~5 cm 2 , even more preferably 0.01 cm 2 ~0.5 cm 2 .

[0021] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is one of a plurality of holes in the second major surface of the second sheet of the glazing material, and two or more of the holes have the same area.

[0022] Preferably, all of the holes among the plurality of holes in the second sheet of the glazing material have the same area.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced from a certain hole by a first interval, and the first interval is from 0.5 cm to 50 cm, more preferably from 0.5 cm to 40 cm, more preferably from 0.5 cm to 30 cm, more preferably from 0.5 cm to 20 cm, and more preferably from 0.5 cm to 10 cm.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced from the periphery of the laminated glazing.

[0025] Preferably, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced from the periphery of the laminated glazing by 1 cm to 20 cm, more preferably by 1 cm to 15 cm, more preferably by 1 cm to 10 cm, more preferably by 1 cm to 9 cm, or 1 cm to 8 cm, or 1 cm to 7 cm, or 1 cm to 6 cm, or 1 cm to 5 cm.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced from the periphery of the laminated glazing configured to be the lower edge of the laminated glazing when installed on the vehicle.

[0027] Preferably, the first hole is one of a plurality of holes in the second sheet of the glazing material spaced from the periphery of the laminated glazing configured to be the lower edge of the laminated glazing when installed on the vehicle.

[0028] Preferably, the holes in the plurality of holes in the second sheet of the glazing material spaced from the periphery of the laminated glazing configured to be the lower edge of the laminated glazing when installed on the vehicle are arranged in a row, and preferably, the row is parallel to the periphery of the laminated glazing configured to be the lower edge of the laminated glazing when installed on the vehicle.

[0029] When the first hole in the second sheet of glazing material is one of a plurality of holes in the second sheet of glazing material, it is preferable that each hole has an area within ±20% of the same area.

[0030] When a first hole in a second sheet of glazing material is one region of a plurality of holes in the second sheet of glazing material, it is preferable that each hole has the same area.

[0031] In some embodiments, the first sheet of glazing material has a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm to 3 mm.

[0032] In some embodiments, the second sheet of glazing material has a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm to 3 mm.

[0033] In some embodiments, the second sheet of glazing material is thinner than the first sheet of glazing material.

[0034] In some embodiments, the first main surface of the first sheet of glazing material is convex, and the second main surface of the second sheet of glazing material is convex.

[0035] Laminated glazing also has other desirable characteristics.

[0036] Preferably, the laminated glazing is curved in at least one direction. Preferably, the radius of curvature in at least one direction is 500 mm to 20,000 mm, and more preferably 1,000 mm to 8,000 mm.

[0037] Preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material comprises an ethylene copolymer such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB), acoustic modified PVB, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), an ethylene and methacrylic acid (EMA) copolymer, or Uvekol (liquid curable resin).

[0038] Preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material is a sheet of polyvinyl butyral (PVB), EVA, PVC, EMA, polyurethane, sound-absorbing modified PVB, or Uvekol (liquid curable resin).

[0039] Preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate material does not have holes aligned with the first holes in the second sheet of the glazing material, and more preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate material does not have holes therein.

[0040] Preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material has a thickness of 0.3 mm to 2.3 mm, more preferably 0.3 mm to 1.6 mm, and most preferably 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0041] Preferably, the first and / or second sheets of glazing material have a thickness between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0042] Preferably, the first and / or second sheets of glazing material have a thickness of 1.4 mm to 2.8 mm, and more preferably 1.6 mm to 2.3 mm.

[0043] Preferably, the first and / or second sheets of glazing material are sheets of soda-lime silicate glass. Soda-lime silicate glass is often called soda-lime silica glass, or simply sheet-like "soda-lime" glass.

[0044] Preferably, the first and / or second sheets of glazing material are sheets of soda-lime silicate glass, particularly sheets of float glass.

[0045] Preferably, the second sheet of glazing material is a sheet of alkali aluminosilicate glass.

[0046] Preferably, the second sheet of glazing material comprises at least about 6 wt% (weight percent) of aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

[0047] Preferably, the second sheet of glazing material is chemically strengthened, i.e., chemically strengthened glass. When the second sheet of glazing material is chemically strengthened, preferably the second sheet of glazing material has a thickness of less than 1.2 mm, more preferably 0.3 mm to 1 mm, and even more preferably 0.4 mm to 0.9 mm.

[0048] The present invention will be described with reference to the following diagram. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0049] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the laminated glazing according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the laminated glazing according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the view from inside a vehicle having a windshield according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0050] Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the curved laminated glazing according to the present invention.

[0051] The laminated glazing 1 has a first sheet 3 of soda lime silicate glass having a composition such as clear float glass, and iron oxide is usually added as a colorant to provide some form of sunlight control to the laminated glazing. The first sheet 3 has a thickness of 2.3 mm, but the thickness may be in the range of 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm or 1.6 mm to 2.3 mm.

[0052] The typical composition (by weight) of soda lime silicate glass is SiO2 69-74%, Al2O3 0-3%, Na2O 10-16%, K2O 0-5%, MgO 0-6%, CaO 5-14%, SO3 0-2%, and Fe2O3 0.005-2%. The glass composition may also contain other additives, such as refining aids, which are usually present in amounts up to 2%. Soda lime silica glass compositions may contain other colorants such as Co3O4, NiO, and Se to give the glass a desired color when viewed through transmitted light. The transmitted color of the glass can be measured based on recognized standards such as BS EN410.

[0053] The laminated glazing 1 also has a second sheet 7 of soda lime silicate glass having a thickness of 1.6 mm, although the second sheet may have a thickness in the range of 1.4 mm to 2.5 mm, and preferably may not be as thick as the first sheet 3.

[0054] The first sheet 3 is bonded to the second sheet 7 by an adhesive interlayer 5. The adhesive interlayer 5 is a PVB sheet with a thickness of 0.76 mm. The adhesive interlayer 5 may have a thickness of 0.3 mm to 1.8 mm.

[0055] Other suitable adhesive interlayers include PVC, EVA, EMA, and polyurethane.

[0056] Laminated glazing 1 is curved in one or more directions. The radius of curvature of one of these directions is between 1000 mm and 8000 mm.

[0057] When laminated glazing curves in two directions, ideally, each curvature direction is orthogonal to the others. Ideally, the radius of curvature in one or both directions of curvature is between 1000 mm and 8000 mm.

[0058] The first sheet 3 has a first convex surface 9 and a second concave surface 11 on the opposite side. The second sheet 7 has a first convex surface 13 and a second concave surface 15 on the opposite side. The concave surface 11 of the first sheet 3 is in contact with the adhesive intermediate layer 5, and the convex surface 13 of the second sheet 7 is in contact with the adhesive intermediate layer 5. Using conventional nomenclature, the convex surface 9 of the first sheet 3 is "surface 1" (or S1) of the laminated glazing 1, the concave surface 11 of the first sheet 3 is "surface 2" (or S2) of the laminated glazing 1, the convex surface 13 of the second sheet 7 is "surface 3" (or S3) of the laminated glazing 1, and the concave surface 15 of the second sheet 7 is "surface 4" (or S4) of the laminated glazing 1.

[0059] The second sheet 7 has an array of holes 17. As can be seen from Figure 1, in this example, each hole in the array of holes 17 extends through the thickness of the second sheet 7, and each hole has an opening in the first surface 13 and an opening in the second surface 15, respectively. The PVB sheet 5 does not have holes on the opposite side of the openings of the holes in the first surface 13, and as a result, the PVB sheet 5 covers the openings of the holes in the first surface 13.

[0060] In this example, neither the first sheet 3 nor the PVB sheet 5 has any holes within it, and as a result, there are no holes aligned with any of the holes in the hole array 17 within either the first sheet 3 or the PVB sheet 5.

[0061] Figure 2 is a plan view of the laminated glazing 1 in the direction of arrow 10 in Figure 1.

[0062] In Figure 2, the periphery of the laminated glazing is typical of a vehicle windshield. The laminated glazing has a lower periphery 19, and inside the lower periphery 19 there are six holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f, which form an array of holes 17.

[0063] Each of the holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17e, and 17f is circular with a diameter of approximately 0.5 cm.

[0064] Holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f are arranged at equal intervals, so that the distance between hole 17a and 17b is the same as the distance between hole 17b and 17c, and so on.

[0065] Holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f are arranged in a row parallel to the lower edge 19.

[0066] Holes may be present in the lamination glazing region where an obscuring band exists on the concave surface 15 of the second sheet 7.

[0067] By providing holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f, when an impact is applied to the first convex surface 9 of the first sheet 3, the second sheet 7 may become more susceptible to damage, and the rigidity of the laminated glazing 1 decreases. When the laminated glazing 1 is installed in a vehicle as a windshield, if a pedestrian is involved in a collision with the vehicle, the reduced rigidity of the windshield at the time of impact with the first convex surface 9 reduces the severity of the pedestrian's injuries.

[0068] In this example, the lower perimeter 19 is straight, but the lower perimeter may be curved, and the array of holes may be arranged in a straight line or arranged to follow the curvature of the curved lower perimeter.

[0069] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3.

[0070] Figure 3 shows an inside view of a vehicle having the windshield 100 according to the present invention.

[0071] The windshield 100 is substantially the same as the laminated glazing 1 described above. The vehicle windshield has a lower edge extending between point E and point F. The vehicle windshield has an upper edge extending between point D and point G.

[0072] The surface 4 (the inward-facing surface) of the windshield 100 has multiple holes. There is a first array of holes 174 having 20 circles (only one of which is labeled 175). Each hole 175 has dimensions between 1 cm × 1 cm and 3 × 3 cm. Preferably, all holes 175 have the same size and / or area. The holes 175 are arranged in a row extending parallel to the lower periphery E-F, i.e., the diameters of the holes 175 are aligned with and parallel to the lower periphery E-F.

[0073] In this embodiment, the surface 4 of the windshield 100 also has a second array of holes 172 extending along the left peripheral edge D-E of the windshield 100 and a third array of holes 176 extending along the right peripheral edge F-G. The second array of holes 172 has seven circular holes (only one of which is labeled 173) arranged in a row parallel to the left peripheral edge D-E. The third array of holes 176 also has seven circular holes (only one of which is labeled 177) arranged in a row parallel to the right peripheral edge F-G.

[0074] Each of the holes in the second and third arrays has the same size and / or the same area.

[0075] Instead of a circular hole, a hole of a different shape, such as a substantially square one, may be used.

[0076] Referring to Figure 2, holes 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f are made using a conventional diamond-tipped drill before assembling the laminated glazing. The holes are drilled before the glass sheet is strengthened, as drilling with a conventional diamond-tipped drill could cause damage to the glass sheet. In this example, each hole 17a, 17b, 17c, 17c, 17e, and 17f is drilled to the same depth, which can be 5% to 100% of the thickness of the second sheet 7. The holes may have different depths.

[0077] In embodiments where holes are drilled through the entire thickness of the second sheet of glazing material, the holes are called through-holes, and the PVB sheet 5 does not have holes in it, and in particular the PVB sheet 5 does not have holes that are at least partially aligned with the through-holes, thus preventing the PVB sheet 5 from directly contacting the second surface 11 through the through-holes.

[0078] It has been found that having holes on the inner surface of the laminated glazing, preferably holes that penetrate the entire thickness of the inner glass sheet, makes it easier for the inner glass sheet to break when a pedestrian collides with the outer surface of the laminated windshield. The holes are positioned so as not to obstruct the vehicle driver's view and do not degrade the performance of the windshield in stone chip impact tests.

Claims

1. A laminated glazing for a vehicle windshield, comprising a first sheet of glazing material bonded to a second sheet of glazing material by at least one sheet of adhesive intermediate layer material, wherein each of the first and second sheets of glazing material has a first main surface and a second main surface, the second main surface of the first sheet of glazing material facing the first main surface of the second sheet of glazing material, and further comprising a plurality of holes therein, including at least a first hole, the plurality of holes in the second sheet of glazing material adjacent to the periphery of the laminated glazing, and when the laminated glazing is installed as a windshield in a vehicle, the periphery is the lower periphery, the first sheet of glazing material has no holes therein, and the second sheet of glazing material is positioned on the interior side of the vehicle. Here, the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material extends between the first main surface and the second main surface of the second sheet of the glazing material, and as a result, the first hole becomes a first through hole, the first through hole has a first opening in the first main surface of the second sheet of the glazing material, and a second opening in the second main surface of the second sheet of the glazing material, the first opening is on the opposite side of at least one sheet portion of the adhesive intermediate layer material. Laminated glazing for vehicle windshields.

2. The area of the first hole in the second main surface of the second sheet of the glazing material is 0.01 cm ２ to 200 cm ２ , preferably 0.01 cm ２ to 100 cm ２ , more preferably 0.01 cm ２ to 10 cm ２ , even more preferably 0.01 cm ２ to 5 cm ２ , even more preferably 0.01 cm ２ to 0.5 cm ２ and is the laminated glazing according to claim 1.

3. One or more of the multiple holes in the second sheet of the glazing material are 0.01 cm apart. ２ ~200cm ２ It has an area of ​​preferably 0.01 cm². ２ ~100cm ２ , more preferably 0.01 cm ２ ~10cm ２ More preferably 0.01 cm ２ ~5cm ２ More preferably 0.01 cm ２ ~0.5cm ２ A laminated glazing according to claim 1 or 2, having the area of ​​the above.

4. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced a first distance from another hole, the first distance being 0.5 cm to 50 cm, more preferably 0.5 cm to 40 cm, more preferably 0.5 cm to 30 cm, more preferably 0.5 cm to 20 cm, and more preferably 0.5 cm to 10 cm.

5. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced apart from the periphery of the laminated glazing.

6. The laminated glazing according to claim 5, wherein the first hole in the second sheet of the glazing material is spaced 1 cm to 20 cm, more preferably 1 cm to 15 cm, more preferably 1 cm to 10 cm, more preferably 1 cm to 9 cm, or 1 cm to 8 cm, or 1 cm to 7 cm, or 1 cm to 6 cm, or 1 cm to 5 cm away from the periphery of the laminated glazing.

7. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first sheet of the glazing material has a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm to 3 mm.

8. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second sheet of the glazing material has a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm to 3 mm, or the second sheet of the glazing material is chemically strengthened and has a thickness of less than 1.2 mm.

9. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second sheet of the glazing material is thinner than the first sheet of the glazing material.

10. A laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, having a thickness between 3 mm and 10 mm.

11. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second main surface of the first sheet of the glazing material is not directly in contact with the first through hole, preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material covers the first opening of the first through hole, and more preferably, at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material covers the entire first opening of the first through hole.

12. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first holes in the second sheet of the glazing material do not align with the holes in at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material.

13. The laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one sheet of the adhesive intermediate layer material does not have holes therein.

14. A vehicle windshield comprising laminated glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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