Insulating Glass Spacer Frame Assembly Without Corner Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of insulating glass panes with spacer frames is labor-intensive and costly due to the need for manual handling and transportation of prefabricated frames, which are fragile and prone to damage, especially when large.
Innovation Solution
A method where unconnected frame pieces of the spacer frame are assembled directly on the glass pane without corner connectors, using a connecting compound to attach and seal the frame pieces to the glass and each other, eliminating the need for prefabricated frames and reducing the risk of damage during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If prefabricated spacer frames are transported to the assembly location, then the production process can be simplified, but the frames are fragile and prone to damage during transport, especially when large in dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer frame is divided into individual frame legs that are not pre-assembled into a complete frame structure. Each frame leg is positioned separately on the glass pane, eliminating the need to transport and handle large prefabricated frames while reducing the risk of damage during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame legs are prepared in advance as separate components with connecting compounds ready for application, but the actual assembly into a complete spacer frame occurs only after positioning on the glass pane. This preliminary preparation allows for easier handling and transport of individual legs rather than complete frames.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual effort is used to assemble spacer frames, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but the production process becomes labor-intensive and expensive, making automated production difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the spacer frame into individual legs that are positioned separately, the assembly process becomes more amenable to automation. Each frame leg can be independently handled and positioned by automated equipment, reducing the need for complex manual manipulation while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame legs are designed to be self-positioning on the glass pane using connecting compounds, reducing the need for complex manual assembly operations. The connecting compound facilitates automatic bonding when frame legs are positioned, enabling easier automation of the assembly process.
3Ease of manufacture
If corner connectors are used to assemble spacer frames, then the frames can be pre-assembled and transported, but this increases the complexity of the assembly process and material requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The corner connectors are completely removed from the assembly process. Instead of using separate corner connectors to join frame legs, the invention uses connecting compounds applied directly to the frame leg ends, simplifying both the components needed and the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of corner connectors and sealing elements are merged into a single connecting compound that performs both connection and sealing functions. This eliminates the need for separate corner connector components and simplifies the overall assembly process.
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 simplifies the production process, reduces material waste, and enhances the stability of the spacer frame, allowing for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of insulating glass panes with improved sealing properties.
Implementation Method 1
the frame pieces are connected to the glass panes and to one another by means of a connecting compound
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
As an improvement in the technical field of insulating glass units, the inventive method for manufacturing an insulating glass unit (1) and the inventive insulating glass unit (1) are proposed. In these units, the spacer frame (3), which is positioned between the glass panes (4, 4a) of the insulating glass unit (1), is manufactured when or after individual, still unconnected frame legs (2) are placed onto a first glass pane (4a) of the insulating glass unit (1). For this purpose, the unconnected frame legs (2) are connected to the glass panes (4, 4a) and to each other by means of a bonding compound (5). In this way, the use of corner connectors, as already known from the prior art of insulating glass units and their spacer frames, can be dispensed with (see Fig. 1).