Frameless Insulating Glazing with Mixed Material Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulating glazing without a frame on part of its periphery faces challenges in mechanical hold and shock resistance due to spacers made of different materials, leading to stress accumulation during impacts.
Innovation Solution
The design includes two glass sheets spaced by vertical and horizontal spacers of different materials, with metal profiles fixed using structural adhesive for enhanced rigidity, and sealing barriers to secure the spacers and glass sheets, ensuring mechanical reinforcement and shock resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If transparent spacers are used on vertical edges to achieve frameless appearance, then the clear view is optimized, but the mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer system is segmented into different materials for different edges: transparent spacers on vertical edges for aesthetic purposes, and metal profiles on horizontal edges for mechanical strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are applied locally to different parts of the glazing unit: transparent spacers are used where aesthetics are prioritized (vertical edges), while metal profiles are used where mechanical strength is critical (horizontal edges). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between appearance and strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spacers made of different materials are combined to optimize performance, then the functional requirements are met, but stress builds up at the boundary leading to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
A structural adhesive acts as an intermediary material between the transparent spacers and metal profiles, and between these spacers and the glass sheets. This intermediary layer distributes and absorbs thermal and mechanical stresses that would otherwise concentrate at the material boundaries, preventing crack propagation and breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite construction combining transparent spacers, metal profiles, and structural adhesive in a multi-material assembly. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its advantageous properties while the adhesive bonding ensures stress distribution across the interface between dissimilar materials.
3Strength
If metal profiles are added to reinforce horizontal edges, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal profiles serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical reinforcement to the horizontal edges, act as mounting surfaces for the structural adhesive, and contribute to the overall structural integrity of the glazing unit. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural element.
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 improved mechanical hold and shock resistance to insulating glazing, allowing it to withstand impacts without compromising sealing, even with spacers made of different materials, and is applicable in refrigeration furniture and doors.
Implementation Method 1
at least one end of the lower metal profile being fixed at least to the two sheets of glass using a structural adhesive
Implementation Method 2
a seal, forming a second sealing barrier, preferably watertight, of the polyurethane, polysulfide or silicone type, between each face of the horizontal spacers facing the outside of the insulating glazing and each metal profile
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5a~5e
AI summary
The invention relates to an insulating glazing unit (1) forming a window or door opening panel, which is frameless around at least a part of its perimeter and which comprises at least two panes of glass (3, 4) that are spaced apart in pairs by a left-hand and a right-hand vertical spacer (2) that are made of glass and disposed respectively close to the left-hand and right-hand edges of the glass panes, and an upper and a lower horizontal spacer (5) that are made of a material other than glass and are disposed respectively close to the upper and lower edges of the glass panes. The insulating glazing unit also comprises, between each face of the horizontal spacers that is turned toward the outside of the insulating glazing unit and the edge of the glass panes, a metal profiled element (7), at least one end of the lower metal profiled element being fastened at least to the two glass panes by virtue of a structural adhesive. The invention makes it possible to provide an insulating glazing unit forming a window or door opening panel, which is frameless around at least a part of its perimeter, has good mechanical integrity and is shock resistant in spite of the spacers made of different materials.