Glass element for a cabinet having a refrigerated chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated chamber cabinets face challenges in maintaining thermal insulation while providing wide openings for product display, leading to increased energy consumption and bulkiness due to the use of conventional multiple glazings with support frames.
Innovation Solution
A glazed element comprising at least two glass sheets with a spacer and peripheral seals made of transparent resin, supported by a mobile frame lacking lateral crosspieces, offering improved thermal insulation and a larger transparent surface area without the need for a full support frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional multiple glazings with support frames are used, then thermal insulation is improved, but the device becomes bulky and requires significant structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lateral crosspieces from the mobile support frame, extracting only the necessary supporting elements (fixed support with upper and lower crosspieces) while eliminating redundant structural components. This reduces device complexity and bulkiness while maintaining sufficient thermal insulation through the remaining frame structure and glazing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile support frame is segmented into essential components (fixed support, upper crosspiece, lower crosspiece, hinge) rather than using a complete peripheral frame. This segmentation allows the structure to provide necessary support and insulation while reducing overall material usage and structural complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If wide openings are provided for product display, then visibility and display function are improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction with multiple glass sheets (first and second glass sheets) joined by spacers and sealed with peripheral seals, creating a multi-layer glazing system. This composite structure provides both large transparent surface area for display and improved thermal insulation through the layered configuration and insulating spacer materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane glazing to a three-dimensional multi-layer structure with spacers creating depth between glass sheets. This dimensional change allows the glazing to maintain large surface area while adding thermal resistance through the layered configuration and gas-filled spacer cavities.
3Strength
If complete support frame is used for multiple glazings, then mechanical strength is improved, but the structure becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential supporting elements from the complete peripheral frame, removing lateral crosspieces while retaining the fixed support with upper and lower crosspieces. This provides sufficient mechanical strength for the glazing configuration while significantly reducing frame bulkiness and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin peripheral seals (adhesive seals or grommets) instead of thick structural frame members to join glass sheets and provide sealing. These thin film elements provide necessary mechanical connection and sealing while minimizing added bulkiness.
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
This configuration reduces energy consumption, enhances thermal insulation, and provides an aesthetically pleasing, efficient refrigerated display while maintaining product preservation and visibility, meeting new energy-saving regulations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one internal space that comprises a cavity filled with an insulating gas
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a glass element (200) including at least one insulating glass panel including at least one first (10) and one second (11) glass sheet combined with one another via a spacer (12) which keeps same spaced apart from one another, said spacer extending along the side, upper and lower edges of said two glass sheets and between said at least two glass sheets, at least one inner space (15) including a layer of an insulating gas and closed by a first (13) and a second (14) peripheral seal arranged around said inner space, and at least one frame (201) which supports said at least one insulating glass panel, said frame including (i) a stationary bracket (21) and (ii) a movable bracket (22) which is hinged on the stationary bracket and which allows the opening and/or the closing of the glass element. Such a glass element includes a spacer (12), the first (13) and the second (14) peripheral seal extending along at least one of the side edges of said at least two glass sheets are formed from a transparent resin, and said movable bracket is devoid of at least one side crosspiece.