Insulating Glass Spacer With Edge Electrical Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Insulating glazing systems face challenges in maintaining thermal insulation and optical clarity due to the introduction of electrical connection elements, which compromise the gas tightness and viewing area, especially in large exterior glass facades.
Innovation Solution
The use of thermoplastic spacers with integrated busbars and connection elements that protrude through an outer seal, allowing for electrical contact with the coating while minimizing additional components and enhancing mechanical flexibility, thereby expanding the viewing area and maintaining thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical connection elements are introduced to contact the coating with supply voltage, then the coating can be electrically activated, but the gas tightness and viewing area of the insulating glass are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical connection element with the spacer by integrating the connection element into the spacer structure. The connection element is positioned in a recess of the spacer and electrically connected to the coating through conductive adhesive, eliminating the need for separate penetration components that would compromise gas tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conductive adhesive as an intermediary substance to establish electrical connection between the connection element and the coating. This adhesive layer serves as a mediator that provides both electrical conductivity and sealing function, maintaining gas tightness while enabling electrical contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrical connection elements are introduced to contact the coating with supply voltage, then the coating can be electrically activated, but the viewing area of the insulating glass is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the electrical connection elements at the edges of the insulating glass unit, where they are integrated into the spacer structure. This local placement ensures that the central viewing area remains clear and unobstructed, while electrical connection functionality is provided at the periphery.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple individual process steps are used to assemble dimensionally stable spacers with desiccants, then the spacer structure can be constructed, but the production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the spacer structure: the spacer provides mechanical support, contains integrated connection elements for electrical contact, includes recesses for positioning components, and maintains desiccant functionality. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for multiple components.
4Temperature
If thermoplastic spacers are used to provide thermal insulation and mechanical flexibility, then thermal performance improves, but additional bonding and sealing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the bonding and sealing functions into the spacer structure itself. The spacer is designed with pane contact surfaces that directly bond to the glass panes, and the outer seal is integrated into the spacer geometry, eliminating the need for separate bonding and sealing operations.
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 improves the thermal insulation and optical clarity by reducing the need for additional bonding and sealing, while allowing for flexible adaptation to thermal expansion and maintaining a stable connection, thus enhancing the overall performance of insulating glazing systems.
Implementation Method 1
thermoplastic spacers are also advantageous due to their comparatively high mechanical flexibility, which allows them to compensate for differing thermal expansion rates among the individual components of a glazing unit
Implementation Method 2
silver-containing coatings enable low transmission of infrared radiation, thus lowering the temperature inside the building
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an insulating glazing (1) at least comprising: a first pane (2), which, on an inner surface, at least partly has a coating (13) and has two bus lines (14) for contacting the coating (13), a second pane (3), a spacer (4), which extends peripherally around the first and second panes (2, 3) and which has a polymeric main body, two pane contact surfaces (6.1, 6.2), a glazing interior surface (24) and an outer surface (8), the first pane (2) lying against a first pane contact surface (6.1) of the spacer (4) and the second pane (3) lying against a second pane contact surface (6.2) of the spacer (4), an interior (5), which is enclosed between the first and second panes (2, 3), an outer pane intermediate space (7) adjoining the outer surface (8), in which outer pane intermediate space an outer seal (9) is inserted, and an electrical connection element (15) for electrically contacting the coating (13), having an outer and an inner end (17, 18), the outer end (18) of which electrical connection element protrudes from the outer seal (9), the inner end (17) of the connection element (15) and one bus line (14) being electrically connected and being arranged between the spacer (4) and the first pane (2) outside of the interior (5) formed by the peripherally extending spacer (4).