Decorative insulating glazing unit with improved acoustics

Abstract

The present invention relates to a glazing unit comprising two sheets of glass assembled together by a joining means, characterized in that the two sheets of glass have a different moment of inertia and / or mass, this difference in the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass being obtained by decoupling means comprising at least one decorative element bonded to one of the sheets of glass.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Decorative insulating glazing with improved acoustics Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a decorative insulating glazing with improved acoustics. State of the art

[0002] It is well known that insulating glass units, also called double glazing, are used in building applications. These double-glazed units consist of two panes of glass separated by a layer of still air, known as an "air gap." These panes are joined with a gasket or profile called a spacer, which ensures the presence of the air gap and its airtightness.

[0003] The sound insulation behavior of a DGU, characterized by the STL, follows the double-sheet insulation theory.

[0004] At low frequencies, around 160-350 Hz, the sound transmission loss (STL) decreases. This phenomenon, classically called the "mass / spring / mass effect," is caused by low-frequency coupling between the two panes of glass and the air cavity. The "mass / spring / mass frequency" (fmsm) is defined as follows:

[0005]

[0006] Where: pO is the density of air [kg / m3] cO is the speed of sound in the cavity [m / s] d is the air space between the lenses [m] • ms1,2 is the mass per unit area of ​​panes 1 and 2 [kg / m²] 2 ].

[0007] At high frequencies, between 3-4 kHz, the sound transmission loss (STL) also decreases. This phenomenon, classically called the coincident frequency fc, corresponds to the frequency at which the phase velocity in the glass sheet matches the phase velocity in the surrounding acoustic field. It is given by

[0008] Or : - pp is the density of glass [kg / m3] - E is the Young's modulus of the glass [Pa] - h is the thickness of the glass [m]

[0009] Improving acoustics in the low-frequency range around the mass-spring-mass frequency could improve the acoustic index RA,tr and Rw. Currently, proposed solutions for improving the acoustic performance of IGUs are based on increasing the IGU cavity or the thickness (mass) of the glass panes.

[0010] The current trend is towards lightweight solutions for environmental reasons. These solutions involve reducing the size of the glass panes or the width of the air gap, which leads to a change in the thermal performance of the glazing. Description of the invention

[0011] One aim of the invention is to provide an alternative solution to improve acoustic performance without reducing the size of the glass sheets or the width of the air gap.

[0012] This goal is achieved, at least partially, within the framework of the present invention by means of a glazing comprising two sheets of glass joined together by a joining means, characterized in that the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass differ, this differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass being obtained by decoupling means comprising at least one decorative element glued onto one of the sheets of glass.

[0013] According to one example, each sheet of glass includes at least one decorative element.

[0014] According to one example, the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass is obtained by a differentiation of mass and / or position and / or shape of at least one decorative element of one sheet of glass with at least one decorative element of the other sheet of glass.

[0015] According to one example, the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass is obtained a differentiation of position of at least one decorative element of one sheet of glass with the at least one decorative element of the other sheet of glass, the position of at least one decorative element of one sheet of glass and the position of at least one decorative element of the other sheet of glass being complementary to form a unique aesthetic element.

[0016] According to one example, the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass is obtained a differentiation of shape and position of at least one decorative element of one sheet of glass with the at least one decorative element of the other sheet of glass, the position of the at least one decorative element of one sheet of glass and the position of the at least one decorative element of the other sheet of glass being complementary to form a unique aesthetic element.

[0017] According to one example, the said decorative element includes at least one bar.

[0018] According to an example, said at least one bar is straight or curved.

[0019] According to one example, the said decorative element is an assembly of at least two bars.

[0020] According to one example, the said decorative element is made of optically transparent material, particularly in the visible spectrum.

[0021] For example, glazing comprises sheets of glass joined together by means of a joint such that the planes defined by these sheets of glass are substantially parallel to each other. In other words, the axes perpendicular to these planes, separated from each other, are also parallel to each other. Thus, the thickness of the glazing essentially comprises the thicknesses of the glass sheets, the thickness of the air gap, and the thickness of the jointing material.

[0022] According to one example, at least one of the glass sheets has a shape chosen from a polygonal, rectangular, or substantially square shape.

[0023] According to one example, the said decorative element can be glued to one third of the length of one of the sheets of glass, in particular rectangular in shape.

[0024] According to one example, the said decorative element can be glued to the middle of one of the sheets of glass, in particular rectangular in shape, according to the width and / or length of said sheet of glass.

[0025] As an example, the decorative element can be glued to one of the roughly square sheets of glass so that it is positioned in the center of the glass sheet. The center of the glass can correspond to the midpoint of the glass along its width and length.

[0026] For a rectangular geometry of glass sheets, we mean the longer of the two measurements of the rectangle, while the width represents the smaller of said measurements of the same rectangle.

[0027] When glass sheets have a shape other than rectangular or substantially square, the length is understood to be the longest dimension of said glass sheets.

[0028] According to one example, the sheets of glass have essentially the same shapes, viewed along their axes perpendicular to the planes defined by said sheets of glass.

[0029] Alternatively, the glass sheets have different shapes, viewed along their axes perpendicular to the planes defined by said glass sheets.

[0030] For example, at least two bars of said decorative element form a cross or a crossbar. The intersection of said bars forming said decorative element may be positioned: at one-third of the length of one of the glass panes; in the middle of the glazing along the width of one of the glass panes; and / or in the middle of the glazing along the length of one of the glass panes.

[0031] The positioning(s) of said decorative element, including one or more bars, cited in the aforementioned examples taken alone or in combination, makes it possible to effectively block the vibrations of the glass sheets and to absorb acoustic waves, without changing the dimensions of the glass sheets and the air gap. Description of the figures

[0032] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings on which:

[0033] - Figure 1 schematically illustrates double glazing;

[0034] - Figures 2 to 7 schematically illustrate double glazing with one or more decorative elements;

[0035] - Figure 8 illustrates a graph of sound performance;

[0036] Across all figures, similar elements bear identical references. Detailed description of the invention

[0037] With reference to Figure 1, a double glazing unit 1 is shown. Such a double glazing unit comprises at least two panes of glass 2, 3 spaced apart to form an air gap. The two panes of glass are separated by a joining means 4, such as a gasket or spacer, which ensures the airtightness of the air gap and the physical integrity of the glazing unit.

[0038] According to the invention, the double glazing includes decoupling means 50.

[0039] These decoupling devices (50) are designed to disturb and constrain at least one pane of glass when the glazing enters its mass / spring / mass frequency or its coincident frequency. Indeed, at these frequencies, known as the breathing frequency and the coincident frequency, the two panes of glass in the double glazing vibrate out of phase, reproducing a breathing motion.

[0040] Decoupling means 50 are used to break the breathing of the two sheets of glass.

[0041] The decoupling means 50 are used to modify the behavior of the glass sheet on which said decoupling means are arranged. This modification of behavior alters the vibrational behavior of said glass sheet. To this end, the decoupling means are arranged to provide additional mass and / or rigidity to the glass sheet. This mass and / or rigidity modifies the behavior of at least one glass sheet on which said decoupling means are arranged. These decoupling means 50 differ in the decorations 5 visible in Figure 2, which tend to be identical, so that the behavior of the two sheets remains the same.

[0042] For this purpose, the decoupling means 50 include at least one decorative element 51. This decorative element 51 includes at least one decorative bar glued to one of the two glass sheets. of the glazing as seen in Figure 3. The decorative element 51 thus comprises one or two bars arranged to form a cross or crossbars, or a number of upper bars. This bar or these bars may be straight or curved. This at least one decorative element is affixed to the sheet of glass.

[0043] The decorative element 51 is glued to a sheet of glass and is arranged so that there is no contact between the two sheets of glass. This lack of contact ensures that there is no physical coupling between the two sheets of glass.

[0044] In a first embodiment, the decoupling means 50 include a decorative element 51. This decorative element is arranged on a sheet of glass. This decorative element is arranged on the face of the sheet at the cavity or on the outer face.

[0045] In a second embodiment, the decoupling means 50 comprise at least two decorative elements 51. For this embodiment, several executions are possible.

[0046] In a first execution, the at least two decorative elements 51 are arranged on the same sheet of glass.

[0047] In a second embodiment, each glass sheet comprises at least one decorative element 51 as shown in Figure 4. In this second embodiment, the configurations of the decorative elements 51 on the glass sheets must be different. Configuration refers to the shape, mass, and / or positioning of the decorative elements. For example, each glass sheet may comprise one decorative element 51, with the two decorative elements being identical in shape and mass but in different positions. In another example, the decorative elements may be arranged in the same position and shape but with different masses.

[0048] This difference in configurations allows the vibrational behavior of the two glass sheets to be modified in different ways. Indeed, the vibrational behavior of glass sheets 2, 3 depends on their mass but also on their moment of inertia so that two glass sheets with the same mass have a different vibrational behavior if their moment of inertia is different.

[0049] The variation in mass can be obtained, with an identical shape, by using a different material or a different density: solid part and hollow part.

[0050] Of course, any variations that allow for changes in mass and / or rigidity are possible.

[0051] In these designs, aesthetics are taken into account in the configuration of decorative elements, given the very nature of building glazing. It is understood that the decorative element(s) are arranged to ensure aesthetic harmony with the glazing. Such harmony is achieved through a symmetrical and regular arrangement of decorative elements.

[0052] In an example of a single decorative element, it is understood that it must present a harmony, that is to say, be centered and / or extend, preferably, over the entire height of the glazing as seen in figure 3.

[0053] In an example with at least two decorative elements, each on a sheet of glass, we understand that the positioning of the decorative elements is such that it allows them to form a single decorative whole.

[0054] In the case of the first execution, the at least two decorative elements are arranged on the same sheet of glass to form said decorative ensemble.

[0055] In the second version, the at least two decorative elements 51 are arranged on different sheets of glass in such a way that, when viewed from a transverse direction, the two decorative elements are complementary and form a single unit, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. This single unit exhibits superior harmony. when at least two decorative elements are arranged within the cavity. Indeed, in this case, the effect of depth between the decorative elements is diminished.

[0056] For example, for decorative elements 51 in the form of muntins, the glazing 1 comprises one muntin arranged on a first sheet of glass and another muntin arranged on a second sheet of glass. The muntin arranged on the first sheet of glass extends over one half, top or bottom, of the glass sheet, while the muntin arranged on the second sheet of glass is arranged over the half, top or bottom, of the second glass sheet.

[0057] In another example, the decorative elements 51 are presented as straight bars. The glazing is then configured so that the first pane of glass includes at least one bar arranged vertically or horizontally. If the first pane includes several bars, they are all oriented in the same way. In this case, the bars of the second pane are arranged at a 90° angle to the bars of the first pane. Furthermore, the positions of the bars of the two panes of glass are such that they overlap to form a grid.

[0058] Figure 8 shows a graph representing sound transmission loss as a function of frequency. In both cases, the glazing consists of two 4mm panes of glass with a 16mm gap between them. In one case, the glazing is bare, while in the second case, it includes a decorative element.

[0059] In one variation, the decorative elements are fixed using acoustic adhesive. This acoustic adhesive dampens sound vibrations and thus improves the performance of the glazing. At low frequencies, around 160-350 Hz, and at high frequencies, between 3-4 kHz, the presence of decoupling devices provides a gain of between 3 and 5 dB.

[0060] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Glazing (1) comprising two sheets of glass (2, 3) joined together by a joining means (4), characterized in that the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass differ, this differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two sheets of glass being obtained by decoupling means (50) comprising at least one decorative element (51) glued onto one of the sheets of glass.

2. Glazing according to the preceding claim, wherein each sheet of glass comprises at least one decorative element.

3. Glazing according to the preceding claim, wherein the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two glass sheets is obtained by a differentiation of mass and / or position and / or shape of at least one decorative element of one glass sheet with at least one decorative element of the other glass sheet.

4. Glazing according to the preceding claim, wherein the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two glass sheets is obtained by a differentiation of position of at least one decorative element of one glass sheet with the at least one decorative element of the other glass sheet, the position of the at least one decorative element of one glass sheet and the position of the at least one decorative element of the other glass sheet being complementary to form a single aesthetic element.

5. Glazing according to claim 3, wherein the differentiation of the moment of inertia and / or the mass of the two glass sheets is achieved a differentiation of shape and position of at least one decorative element of one glass sheet with the at least one decorative element of the other glass sheet, the position of the at least one decorative element of one glass sheet and the position of the at least one decorative element of the other glass sheet being complementary to form a unique aesthetic element.

6. Glazing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said decorative element comprises at least one bar.

7. Glazing according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one bar is straight or curved.

8. Glazing according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein said decorative element is an assembly of at least two bars.

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