Depressurized Glass Panel Columns for Impact Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

In depressurized multilayer glass panels, external forces such as impacts can cause glass plates to deform and potentially damage, while measures to reduce deformation, like increasing column contact area, also increase heat transfer rates, compromising thermal insulation.

Innovation Solution

The depressurized multilayer glass panel incorporates columns with contact surfaces and non-contact portions. The non-contact portions are designed to engage with deformed glass plates, distributing stress and enhancing impact resistance without increasing heat transfer rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the contact area between columns and glass plates is increased to suppress deformation, then the strength against external force is improved, but the heat transfer rate is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength against external forceVSAvoidheat transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The column is designed with different regions having different functions: the contact surface provides localized support strength where needed, while the non-contact portion (side surface) minimizes heat transfer pathways. This local differentiation allows the column to simultaneously provide mechanical support without compromising thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The column structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: a contact surface region for mechanical support and a non-contact portion region for thermal insulation. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its specific function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If the diameter of columns is reduced to lower heat transfer rate, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the strength against external force is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer rateVSAvoidstrength against external force

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The column concentrates its mechanical support function at the contact surface with the glass plate, while the majority of its volume (non-contact portion) is optimized for thermal insulation. This local quality differentiation allows small-diameter columns to provide sufficient support strength while maintaining low heat transfer rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The contact surface of the column is designed with a curved surface (spherical or hemispherical shape) rather than a flat surface. This curvature increases the contact area with the glass plate, improving strength and impact resistance while keeping the overall column diameter small to maintain thermal insulation performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Strength

If the columns are designed as cylinders with sharp corners to maximize contact area, then the support strength is improved, but the stress concentration on deformed glass plate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport strengthVSAvoidstress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface of the column is designed as a curved surface (spherical or hemispherical) instead of a sharp corner or flat surface. This curvature distributes the contact stress over a larger area of the deformed glass plate, preventing stress concentration and reducing the risk of glass plate damage while maintaining support strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively reduces the contact area between glass plates and columns, minimizing heat transfer while enhancing the panel's impact strength and suppressing damage from external forces.

Implementation Method 1

the non-contact portion is configured such that when the facing first glass plate or second glass plate is deformed by being subjected to a first external force, at least a part of the non-contact portion is contactable with the deformed first glass plate or second glass plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress distribution:

Implementation Method 2

each column including contact surfaces in contact with respective facing surfaces of the first glass plate and the second glass plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectContact force:

Data Source

PatentUS12291921B2Depressurized multilayered glass panel

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 NIPPON SHEET GLASS CO LTD

AI summary

A depressurized multilayer glass panel 10 includes: a first glass plate 11; a second glass plate 12; a sealing portion forming an air gap portion 13 sealed in a depressurized state between the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12; and a plurality of columns 16 disposed between the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12, each column 16 including contact surfaces 21 in contact with facing surfaces 17, 18 of the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12, and non-contact portion 23 provided around the contact surface 21 and spaced apart from the facing surfaces 17, 18 of the first glass plate 11 and the second glass plate 12, wherein the non-contact portion 23 is configured such that when the facing first glass plate 11 or second glass plate 12 is deformed by being subjected to a first external force, at least a part of the non-contact portion 23 is contactable with the deformed first glass plate 11 or second glass plate 12.