Emergency Escape Window Break-Out Zone Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency escape windows with break-out zones in vehicles face issues due to adhesive interlayer separation from extreme temperature changes and sunlight exposure, leading to potential failure in escape functionality.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an anti-adhesive foil and a cutting element in the break-out zone between the glass plates of a laminated glass pane to prevent adhesive interlayer adhesion, allowing secure removal of the glass pane from its frame without glass splinters bridging the break-out zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an air gap is used in the break-out zone instead of adhesive interlayer, then the glass plates can be separated more easily, but water vapour condensation and extreme temperature changes cause the adhesive interlayer to separate and creep, leading to failure of the escape function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of glass plate separationVSAvoidreliability of escape function
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive interlayer is segmented into two distinct functional zones: a bonded zone that provides structural integrity and an anti-adhesive break-out zone that enables easy glass separation. This segmentation allows the window to maintain both reliability during normal use and ease of operation during emergency escape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the interlayer assembly have different adhesive properties. The bonded zone has strong adhesion to hold glass plates together, while the break-out zone has anti-adhesive properties (using Teflon® foil or release agent) to allow easy separation when impacted, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and escape functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the adhesive interlayer is made strong to bond glass plates securely, then structural integrity is improved, but the interlayer softens and creeps under intensive sunlight and heat, causing the break-out zone to narrow and the impact point mark to displace

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of glass plate bondingVSAvoidstability of break-out zone dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The interlayer assembly has spatially varying properties: the bonded zone uses strong adhesive for structural integrity, while the break-out zone uses anti-adhesive material that is resistant to thermal and UV-induced softening. This local differentiation maintains both bonding strength and dimensional stability of the break-out zone under environmental stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Teflon® foil or mold release agent acts as an intermediary layer in the break-out zone between the glass plates and adhesive interlayer. This intermediary material provides thermal and UV stability, preventing the adhesive from softening and creping, thereby maintaining the break-out zone dimensions and impact point mark position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the break-out zone width is increased to ensure easy escape, then ease of escape is improved, but the area available for structural bonding is reduced, potentially compromising window integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of escape through windowVSAvoidstructural integrity of window
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The window glass assembly is segmented into multiple functional zones: large bonded zones that provide structural integrity and a specifically positioned break-out zone that enables escape. This segmentation allows optimization of each zone's function without compromising the others, maintaining both window strength and escape ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the glass assembly have different functional qualities: the bonded zones have strong adhesive bonding for structural support, while the break-out zone has anti-adhesive properties for easy escape. This local quality differentiation allows the window to simultaneously achieve high structural integrity and easy escape functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Ensures reliable escape functionality under varying temperatures and sunlight conditions, maintaining the original impact point indication and preventing glass splinter bridging, thus facilitating safe egress.

Implementation Method 1

anti-adhesive foil or an anti-adhesive layer and at least one cutting element adapted for splitting the adhesive interlayer after lamination are disposed in the break-out zone between the glass plates and the adhesive interlayer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-adhesive property:

Implementation Method 2

at least one cutting element adapted for splitting the adhesive interlayer after lamination are disposed in the break-out zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical cutting:

Implementation Method 3

laminated glass pane consists of at least two toughened glass plates and an interlayer or interlayers located between the glass plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2049330B1Emergency escape window with break-out zone and a predetermined impact point and method for producing thereof
Publication Date: 2010.03.17 HIRSCHLER UVEGIPARI VALLALKOZAS
  • EP2049330B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2049330B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The object of the invention is an emergency escape window with break-out zone and a predetermined impact point applicable for vehicles, primarily for railroad vehicles. The emergency escape window has a laminated glass pane embedded in a frame. The laminated glass pane consists of at least two toughened glass plates and an interlayer or interlayers located between the glass plates, and where the glass plates are not bonded together in the break-out zone. The solution is essentially characterised by that anti-adhesive foil (7) or an anti-adhesive layer (10) and at least one cutting element (8) adapted for splitting the adhesive interlayer (6) after lamination are disposed in the break-out zone (2) between the glass plates (5) and the adhesive interlayer (6). A further object of the invention is a method for producing the emergency escape window which comprises the steps of inserting an adhesive interlayer between the toughened glass plates, placing in the break-out zone an anti-adhesive foil on the toughened glass plates or on the adhesive interlayer and at least one cutting element between at least one of the toughened glass plates and the anti-adhesive foil, and subsequently laminating the glass pane in a manner known per se, during which operation the cutting element completely cuts through the molten adhesive interlayer. The emergency escape window may also be produced by inserting an adhesive interlayer between the toughened glass plates, applying in the break-out zone an anti-adhesive layer on the toughened glass plates or on the adhesive interlayer and placing at least one cutting element coated with anti-adhesive material between at least one of the toughened glass plates and the anti-adhesive layer, and subsequently laminating the glass pane in a manner known per se, during which operation the cutting element completely cuts through the molten adhesive interlayer.