Glass Panel Unit Pillar Protection Against Water Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Glass panel units with rough surfaces are prone to becoming see-through when water adheres and pillars inside the reduced pressure space are susceptible to damage due to the rough surface contact.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating pillars with a resin body and a protection layer, where the protection layer is thicker than the surface roughness and made of a different resin or metal, to prevent water adhesion and reduce damage from surface contact, while maintaining the glass panel unit's reduced pressure state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a glass plate with a rough surface is used to prevent water adhesion, then the glass panel unit maintains privacy, but the pillars are more likely to be damaged due to contact with the rough surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater adhesionVSAvoidpillar damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a protection layer as an intermediary between the rough glass surface and the pillar. This protection layer, made of a material softer than the glass surface, prevents direct contact between the hard rough surface and the pillar, thereby reducing damage while maintaining the rough surface's water-repellent properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies a protection layer specifically at the contact area between the pillar and the glass surface. This localized treatment preserves the rough surface properties in most areas while providing targeted protection only where the pillar contacts the glass, minimizing impact on overall performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the rough surface is disposed to face outside the glass panel unit to protect pillars, then pillar damage is reduced, but water adheres to the rough surface causing the glass to become see-through

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepillar damageVSAvoidwater adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protection layer serves as a mediator that allows the rough surface to face outward (maintaining privacy when wet) while preventing the harmful effects of the rough surface on the pillar through the cushioning effect of the softer material layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection layer is applied in advance to the pillar surface before contact with the rough glass. This pre-applied cushioning layer absorbs the mechanical stress of contact, preventing damage to the pillar while allowing the rough surface to perform its water-repellent function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If a protection layer is added to the pillar, then damage from rough surface contact is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepillar damageVSAvoidpillar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pillar is constructed as a composite structure with an inner core material and an outer protection layer made of different materials. The protection layer is specifically selected to be softer than the glass surface, creating a composite pillar that combines the structural integrity of the core with the protective properties of the outer layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Prevents the glass panel unit from becoming see-through by preventing water adhesion and reduces pillar damage by distributing pressure effectively, enhancing the durability of the pillars.

Implementation Method 1

the protection layer having a valid thickness reduces damage caused to each pillar when each pillar is pressed against the rough surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure distribution:

Implementation Method 2

The facing surface of the first substrate includes a rough surface... water is prevented from adhering to the rough surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface roughness effect:

Data Source

PatentEP3604727B1Glass panel unit and glass window

Publication Date: 2020.12.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

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AI summary

A glass panel unit is provided which includes ground glass and which has a thermal insulation property, wherein in the glass panel unit, the glass panel unit is suppressed from becoming see-through due to adhesion of water and a plurality of spacers are suppressed from being damaged. A glass panel unit (90) includes a first substrate (1), a second substrate (2), a seal member (5) having a frame shape, and a plurality of pillars (4). The seal member (5) having the frame shape hermetically binds the first substrate (1) and the second substrate (2) together to form an inside space (51) in a reduced pressure state. A plurality of pillars (4) are disposed in the inside space (51) and are in contact with facing surfaces (12, 22) of the first substrate (1) and the second substrate (2). The facing surface (12) of the first substrate (1) includes a rough surface (6), the facing surface (12) facing the second substrate (2). Each of the plurality of pillars (4) includes a body (40) made of a resin and a protection layer (41) which is on the body (40) to be in contact with the rough surface (6).