Horizontal Filling of Fire-Resistant Glazing with Spacer Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fire-resistant glazing methods using toughened safety glass are costly, energy-intensive, and environmentally harmful due to complex manufacturing processes and limited flexibility in post-processing, while float glass is not suitable for fire protection panes with fire protection mediums greater than 3 mm due to hydrostatic pressure issues.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing fire-resistant glazing using float glass panes spaced more than 3 mm apart with a fire protection medium, where the space is filled horizontally to avoid hydrostatic pressure, and a spacer profile element is used to facilitate filling and provide a chemically neutral, heat-resistant frame for the medium, such as water glass or hydrogel, which can foam or change opacity upon heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If toughened safety glass is used for fire protection panes with intermediate space greater than 3 mm, then fire protection properties are ensured, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire protection propertiesVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the filling direction parameter from vertical to horizontal, which fundamentally alters the pressure distribution on the glass panes. This parameter change enables the use of simpler float glass instead of toughened safety glass, resolving the contradiction between fire protection reliability and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional filling direction from vertical to horizontal. This inversion eliminates the hydrostatic pressure problem that necessitated the use of complex toughened glass, allowing simpler float glass to be used while maintaining fire protection properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If toughened safety glass is used for fire protection panes, then fire resistance is achieved, but post-processing flexibility is lost due to breakage risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidpost-processing flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the filling direction to horizontal, the patent eliminates the need for toughened glass, thereby restoring post-processing flexibility while maintaining fire resistance through the horizontal filling configuration and spacer design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If float glass is used with vertical filling of fire protection medium, then manufacturing simplicity is achieved, but hydrostatic pressure causes glass damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidglass integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the filling direction from vertical to horizontal, which eliminates the hydrostatic pressure buildup that causes glass damage while maintaining the simplicity of using float glass, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing ease and glass strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of manufacture

If float glass is used for fire protection panes, then production cost is reduced, but glass panes are damaged during standard vertical filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidglass pane integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the filling direction to horizontal, which prevents glass pane damage during filling while maintaining the cost advantages of using float glass, thus resolving the contradiction between production cost and glass integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer profile elements are pre-installed on the glass panes before filling, creating a structured framework that guides the horizontal filling process and prevents glass damage, enabling the use of inexpensive float glass while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method allows for cost-effective, environmentally friendly production of fire-resistant glazing with adjustable fire resistance properties, preventing fire and smoke transmission while reducing manufacturing complexity and enabling easier handling and design options.

Implementation Method 1

In the event of a fire, the fire protection medium is activated so that the thermal radiation is absorbed and a highly effective insulating layer is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

In the event of a fire, the foaming or otherwise volume-increasing fire protection medium emerges from the abutting surfaces of a fire protection pane and closes a gap left between the adjoining fire protection pane, wall or ceiling and/or frame construction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Implementation Method 3

Alternatively, the fire protection medium can have a cooling effect without exhibiting significant foaming

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP2955312B1Method for manufacturing a fire protection pane
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 ETEX BUILDING PERFORMANCE GMBH
  • EP2955312B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2955312B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d
  • EP2955312B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fire-resistant glass pane (1), in particular for fire-resistant glazing (6) to prevent the passage of fire and/or smoke from one room to another in the event of a fire, comprising at least two spaced-apart glass panes (2) defining a gap, wherein the gap is filled with a fire-resistant medium (4). The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a fire-resistant glass pane (1) according to the invention.