Insulating Glass Panel Unit with Segmented Spacers for Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulating glass panels are prone to breaking upon impact due to their tendency to bend under atmospheric pressure, which existing technologies fail to adequately address in terms of impact resistance without compromising thermal insulation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A glass panel unit design featuring a first and second pane of glass spaced apart with a sealant in an airtight manner, including first spacers that maintain the interval and second spacers that are only in contact with one pane, enhancing impact resistance without reducing thermal insulation by minimizing heat transmission through the spacers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are used to maintain the interior space between glass panes, then the structural stability is improved, but the impact resistance deteriorates due to the bending tendency of glass panes under atmospheric pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer system is segmented into two distinct types: first spacers that contact both glass panes to maintain the interior space, and second spacers that contact only one glass pane to provide additional impact resistance. This segmentation allows each type of spacer to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and impact resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The second spacers act as intermediary elements between the first spacers and the glass panes. These second spacers provide additional support points that distribute impact forces, mediating between the atmospheric pressure bending force and the glass pane structure to improve impact resistance while maintaining the interior space
2Stability of the object's composition
If spacers are placed to maintain the interval between glass panes, then the interior space is maintained, but heat transmission increases reducing thermal insulation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Different spacer types are assigned different contact configurations: first spacers contact both panes at specific locations to maintain space, while second spacers contact only one pane at other locations. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between maintaining interior space and minimizing thermal conduction paths, as the second spacers provide structural support with reduced thermal bridging
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 design significantly enhances impact resistance while maintaining thermal insulation efficiency by strategically placing spacers to absorb and distribute impact forces without compromising the panel's ability to retain heat.
Implementation Method 1
a sealant that is disposed between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass and joined to the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass in an airtight manner
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first spacers that are disposed in the interior space and in contact with the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of second spacers that are disposed in the interior space and in contact with only one of the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass, the plurality of second spacers being out of contact with another thereof
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An object of the invention is to obtain a glass panel unit having high impact resistance. A glass panel unit (1) of the invention includes a first pane of glass (2), and a second pane of glass (3) facing the first pane of glass (2) with both of them spaced a predetermined interval apart. It is provided with a sealant (4) between the panes of glass (2) and (3), joined to them in an airtight manner, and an interior space (10) sealed with them and the sealant (4). It is provided with a first spacer (6) in the interior space (10) so as to be in contact with the panes of glass (2) and (3), and a second spacer (7) disposed in the interior space (10) so as to be in contact with only one of the panes of glass (2) and (3) and out of contact with another thereof.