Display case door assembly with vacuum panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional insulated glass panels in temperature-controlled storage devices cannot implement an evacuated space due to the high pressure differential causing structural issues, such as bending or breaking, especially when using tempered glass which adds residual stress and uneven surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A display case door assembly with a transparent unit comprising two vacuum panes separated by a thin evacuated gap, maintained by spacers, made of non-tempered glass for flatness and low emissivity to reduce radiation heat transfer, and a protective layer to prevent breakage into shards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If an evacuated space is implemented in an insulated glass panel, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but structural strength deteriorates due to atmospheric pressure causing bending or breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the glass from tempered to non-tempered, eliminating residual stresses that would compound with atmospheric pressure. It also optimizes the gap thickness to less than 1mm (approximately 0.2mm) to minimize the pressure differential effect while maintaining vacuum insulation benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces spacers as intermediary elements disposed within the evacuated gap to mechanically support the glass panes and maintain the predetermined gap thickness. These spacers prevent the glass from bending or breaking under atmospheric pressure while preserving the vacuum insulation performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If tempered glass is used in insulated glass panels, then safety is improved by reducing injury risk, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to uneven surfaces and residual stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjury riskVSAvoidsurface flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using tempered glass to achieve safety, the patent inverts the approach by using non-tempered glass with inherently flat surfaces and no residual stress, combined with a protective layer and vacuum evacuation to achieve both safety and precision simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by laminating a protective layer to the non-tempered glass surface. This composite approach provides the safety function previously requiring tempered glass while maintaining the flatness and optical quality of non-tempered glass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of energy

If the evacuated gap thickness is reduced, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to tighter tolerances and more precise spacer requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidgap thickness control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are designed to automatically maintain the predetermined gap thickness through their physical presence and structural properties. The spacers self-regulate the gap dimension without requiring complex external control systems, achieving precise thickness control while simplifying the overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution provides a thermally insulated and structurally robust transparent unit that maintains a precise gap thickness, offering high thermal resistance and safety while minimizing panel thickness and residual stress, effectively addressing the structural challenges of conventional panels.

Implementation Method 1

an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap has a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

at least one of the first vacuum pane and the second vacuum pane is made of a low emissivity material configured to reduce radiation heat transfer through the transparent unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation heat transfer: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS10368658B2Display case door assembly with vacuum panel

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 ANTHONY INC

AI summary

A display case door assembly for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a frame defining an opening into the temperature-controlled storage device and a transparent unit coupled to the frame. The transparent unit includes a first vacuum pane, a second vacuum pane, and an evacuated gap between the first and second vacuum panes. The evacuated gap has a predetermined thickness within which a vacuum is drawn, thereby providing a thermal insulation effect for the transparent unit. The transparent unit further includes a plurality of spacers disposed within the evacuated gap and configured to maintain the predetermined thickness of the evacuated gap when the vacuum is drawn therein.