Insulating Glazing Adapter Element for Breakthrough Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulating glazing technologies face challenges in achieving high break resistance and cost-effective production, with complex processes and high raw material costs, while also offering inadequate insulating effects and mechanical stability.

Innovation Solution

A spacer with an adapter element featuring a fastening groove and a U-shaped receiving profile that connects to the spacer, allowing for standardized production across different break-through resistance classes, using materials like polyethylene and aluminum for enhanced stability and thermal performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plastic-glass laminates are produced using autoclave process with thermoplastic polyurethane films, then stability and resistance to breakdown are improved, but production cost increases and insulating effect decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability and resistance to breakdownVSAvoidproduction cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the thermoplastic pane from the complex autoclave lamination process and secures it independently using a receiving element with a receiving groove. This allows the thermoplastic pane to be fixed without requiring expensive autoclave equipment or thermoplastic polyurethane films, thereby reducing production cost while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer is divided into functional sections: a receiving element with a receiving groove for securing the thermoplastic pane, and connection elements for bonding to glass panes. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall production process while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If standardized spacers are used for all break-through classes, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but break resistance classification becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process simplificationVSAvoidbreak-through resistance class range

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves different break-through resistance classes (P6B, P7B, P8B) by varying the thickness of the thermoplastic pane while using the same standardized spacer design. This allows a single spacer type to accommodate multiple security classes simply by changing the thermoplastic pane thickness parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving element with the receiving groove is designed as a universal component that can secure thermoplastic panes of various thicknesses. This universal design allows the same spacer to be used across different break-through resistance classes, enhancing manufacturing efficiency while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3574174B1Insulating glazing with increased breakthrough inhibition and an adapter element

Publication Date: 2023.03.29 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an adapter element (1) for connecting a pane (17) to a spacing element (6) comprising a fastening groove (12), the adapter element (1) comprises at least one receiving profile (2) for securing to the pane (17) and at least one lower part (3) for fixing to the spacing element (6), and the lower part (3) is positvely connected to the fastening groove (12) of the spacing element (6).