Flexible Sealing Gasket for Vacuum Insulated Glass Thermal Deflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for integrating vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units into building aperture covers face challenges such as stress and space issues due to thermal edge deflection, and they often struggle to provide effective sealing and impact resistance under varying climatic conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of elongated flexible sealing gaskets with an interior, sealed cavity configured to comprise a pressurized fluid, which are arranged between the outer major surface of the VIG unit and the frame part of the building aperture cover. These gaskets extend substantially parallel to the edge of the VIG unit and are designed to absorb and transfer forces caused by thermal movements, providing improved sealing and impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid sealing gaskets are used to seal the VIG unit in the frame, then sealing tightness is improved, but stress from thermal edge deflection cannot be absorbed leading to potential seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing gaskets made of elastomeric materials that can deform and accommodate thermal edge deflections of the VIG unit while maintaining sealing contact with the frame, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining seal tightness and absorbing thermal stress
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing gasket's physical parameters (flexibility, durometer) are specifically selected to balance between maintaining sufficient contact pressure for sealing and allowing enough deformation to absorb thermal expansion/contraction forces
2Adaptability or versatility
If resilient tabs are used to accommodate VIG unit distortion, then adaptability to thermal movement is improved, but impact resistance and structural strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of resilient tabs, the patent uses continuous flexible sealing gaskets that provide both the flexibility to accommodate thermal movement and the structural integrity to resist impact forces, eliminating the need for separate resilient tab components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sealing function and the thermal movement accommodation function into a single flexible gasket component, which also provides impact resistance, thereby integrating multiple functions that were previously分散 into separate elements
3Strength
If the frame is designed to be rigid for structural strength, then impact resistance is improved, but the frame cannot accommodate thermal edge deflection of the VIG unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame structure into rigid support elements for structural strength and flexible sealing gaskets for thermal movement accommodation, allowing each component to perform its specialized function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sealing gasket acts as an intermediary element between the rigid frame and the VIG unit, transmitting and accommodating thermal deflection forces while maintaining the structural integrity of the rigid frame
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 flexible sealing gaskets effectively absorb thermal edge deflections of the VIG unit, reducing stress and improving the tightness of the seal, while also providing enhanced impact resistance against external forces such as wind, hail, or items striking the VIG unit.
Implementation Method 1
Vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units may be subjected to various movements caused by temperature differences between the first and second glass sheets of the VIG unit
Implementation Method 2
The flexible sealing gasket is configured to follow the movement of the vacuum insulated glass unit when the edges of the vacuum insulated glass unit deflect
Implementation Method 3
Vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units provides several advantages such as good heat insulation properties
Implementation Method 4
an evacuated gap placed between a first and a second glass sheet
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a building aperture cover (1) such as a window or a door. The building aperture cover comprises a frame arrangement (2) and a vacuum insulated glass unit (3), wherein the vacuum insulated glass unit (3) comprises an evacuated gap (4) placed between a first and a second glass sheet (3a, 3b), and wherein a plurality of support structures (5) are arranged in the evacuated gap (4). The vacuum insulated glass unit (3) is arranged in the frame arrangement (2, 6). The building aperture cover (1) comprises one or more elongated flexible sealing gaskets (21, 22) arranged between an outer major surface (S1, S2) of the vacuum insulated glass unit (3) and a frame part (13a, 13c, 23a, 23c) of the frame arrangement (2, 6). The one or more elongated flexible sealing gaskets (21, 22) is arranged to extend substantially parallel to an edge (7, 50a-50d) of the vacuum insulated glass unit (3). One or more of the one or more elongated flexible sealing gaskets (21, 22) comprises an interior, sealed cavity (21a, 22a) configured to comprise a pressurized fluid.