Insulated glass unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional triple pane insulated glass units for display cooler doors fail to meet design constraints such as minimized mass, maximized visibility, minimized door thickness, robust mechanical design, and minimized manufacturing cost, while maintaining thermal insulation performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a triple pane insulated glass unit with thin glass panes, where at least one pane is 1.5 mm or less in thickness, and coated with low emissivity coatings, along with varying gap spaces filled with inert gases, to enhance thermal insulation and mechanical strength, while minimizing weight and maintaining visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the number of glass panes is increased from two to three to improve thermal performance, then thermal insulation is improved, but weight and visibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of glass panes from conventional values (e.g., 3mm, 4mm) to thin glass values (0.7mm to 1.5mm). This parameter change allows triple pane configuration to achieve adequate thermal insulation while dramatically reducing the overall mass and weight of the IGU, resolving the contradiction between thermal performance and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures by combining multiple thin glass panes with low-emissivity (low-E) coatings and inert gas fills. This composite approach creates a triple pane system that achieves superior thermal insulation performance without the weight penalty of using a single thick glass pane, effectively resolving the thermal insulation versus weight contradiction.
2Loss of energy
If conventional thickness glass panes are used in triple pane IGU, then thermal performance is improved, but visibility and weight are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the thickness parameter to thin glass (0.7mm-1.5mm), the patent reduces light absorption and reflection that occur in thicker glass. This parameter change improves visible transmittance and customer visibility of displayed products while maintaining thermal insulation through the triple pane low-E configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of low-emissivity coatings on thin glass panes creates a composite structure that selectively blocks thermal radiation while allowing visible light transmission. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction by achieving thermal insulation without sacrificing visibility.
3Loss of energy
If thicker insulation is added to the refrigerated compartment, then thermal performance is improved, but storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the insulation strategy from increasing thickness to improving material efficiency. By using thin glass triple pane IGUs with low-E coatings and inert gas fills, the system achieves high thermal performance with minimal thickness, preventing storage space reduction while improving thermal insulation.
4Loss of energy
If triple pane IGU is used to improve thermal performance, then insulation is improved, but door thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the glass pane thickness parameter to thin glass (0.7mm-1.5mm), the patent compresses the overall IGU thickness. This allows triple pane configuration to achieve superior thermal insulation while maintaining constrained door thickness, preventing interference with storage space and existing hardware.
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 achieves improved thermal insulation, reduced weight, enhanced visibility, and robust mechanical design, while maintaining a constrained thickness, thus addressing the limitations of conventional triple pane units.
Implementation Method 1
any one or more of the glass panes may be coated with a low emissivity coating or other thermally insulative coating
Implementation Method 2
the space between each sheet of glass, once sealed, can be filled with an inert gas, such as argon or krypton
Data Source
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AI summary
An insulated glass unit is described and includes at least first and second glass pane and an optional third glass pane. Any one or more of the glass panes may have a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.7 mm. In some instances, any one or more of the glass panes may form part of an electronic display. The insulated glass unit has a lower mass and an improved thermal performance compared to a conventional triple pane insulated glass unit, and is particularly suited for use in a display cooler door.