Laminated Glass Edge Wrapping for Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laminated glass structures face weakness and potential breakage at cut edges due to exposed tension surfaces, which compromises their strength and damage resistance.
Innovation Solution
A laminated glass structure is formed with inner layers in tension and outer layers in compression, where the outer layers are partially or fully wrapped around the inner layers at the edges through a process involving glass removal and heat application to create a concavity and induce the outer layers to enclose the inner layers, enhancing edge protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the laminated glass structure uses inner layers in tension for flexibility, then the glass can be more easily shaped and installed, but the cut edges become weak and prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different stress states to different regions of the glass structure. The inner layers are placed in tension across the majority of the surface area to enable flexibility and shaping, while the outer layers are placed in compression specifically at the edge regions to provide strength and prevent breakage. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and edge strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite laminated structure combining multiple glass layers with different stress states. The inner tensioned layers provide flexibility while the outer compressed layers provide edge strength. This composite approach allows the single glass structure to simultaneously exhibit both flexible and strong characteristics in different regions.
2Strength
If outer layers are added to protect edge surfaces, then the strength and break resistance increase, but the overall thickness of the laminate structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding thickness in the z-direction to protect edges, the patent uses the existing outer layers and redirects their stress state to compression at the edges. The protection mechanism operates in the plane of the glass layers rather than by adding layers perpendicular to the plane, thus maintaining constant thickness while achieving edge protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the stress state parameter of the outer layers from tension to compression at the edge regions. This parameter change allows the same material layers to provide protective function without requiring additional thickness. The compressed outer layers actively resist edge breakage while maintaining the original laminate thickness.
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 significantly increases the strength and break resistance of the glass edges by protecting the tension surfaces, reducing the risk of damage and maintaining the glass thickness without adding thickness to the laminate structure.
Implementation Method 1
applying heat to the at least one of the one or more edge surfaces so as to cause one or both of the outer layers to at least partially wrap around the one or more inner layers at the at least one of the one or more edge surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a laminated glass structure with one or more inner glass layers with at least one in tension and two outer glass layers in compression wherein one or both of the outer layers at least partially wrap around the one or more inner layers at one or more of the edges of the laminated glass structure. Also disclosed is a process for forming a laminated glass structure, comprising providing a laminated glass structure, removing at least some glass from at least one the edges of the structure to produce a concavity in at the at least one edge and applying heat to the at least one edge.