Interlocking Structural Glazing Panels for Wall Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building wall systems fail to incorporate glazing units into structural walls while providing adequate thermal insulation, leading to inefficiencies in energy management and increased installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A glazing unit comprising a pair of transparent or translucent lites with a rigid structural spacer that extends around the periphery, providing an interlocking profile for assembly into structural walls without additional framing, and using structural adhesives or mechanical connectors for attachment, allowing for integration into existing panel systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional framed window systems are installed into insulated core rigid skinned panel cladding systems, then adequate thermal insulation is provided, but device complexity and installation complexity increase due to the need for additional structural framing and adaptor profile frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the glazing unit with the structural wall panel by integrating the interlocking profile directly into the rigid structural spacer that is already bonded to the lites. This eliminates the need for separate framing systems and adaptor profiles, combining multiple functions (structural support, thermal insulation, and interlocking) into a single integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid structural spacer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the gap between lites for thermal insulation, provides the interlocking profile for structural assembly, and bonds the lites together. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate framing components.
2Device complexity
If glazing units are integrated into structural walls without additional framing, then installation complexity is reduced, but the structural integrity and load-bearing capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking profile is integrated directly into the rigid structural spacer that is already bonded to the lites with structural adhesive. This merging ensures that the same component providing structural assembly capability also provides load-bearing capacity, eliminating the need for separate framing while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid structural spacer is made from materials with high structural capacity (such as aluminum or composite materials) that can simultaneously provide interlocking capability and bear structural loads, ensuring both ease of assembly and structural integrity.
3Loss of energy
If the gap between glazing lites is increased to provide thermal insulation, then thermal performance improves, but hermetic seal maintenance becomes difficult leading to condensation problems
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid structural spacer acts as an intermediary component that maintains the optimized gap between lites while providing its own hermetic seal through precise manufacturing and structural bonding. The spacer's rigid structure and precise dimensions ensure consistent gap maintenance without relying on flexible sealing materials that fail over time.
4Illumination intensity
If conventional transparent windows are used, then natural light transmission is maximized, but excessive contrast is created in the building interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different optical properties to different parts of the glazing system by using translucent lites that diffuse light while maintaining transparency. This local modification of optical quality allows light transmission while eliminating excessive contrast, creating a balanced illumination environment.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an interlocking glazing panel comprising a pair of transparent or translucent lites, and rigid structural spacer located between, and firmly attached to, said lites to define a gap therebetween, said rigid structural spacer extending around at least part of the periphery of said glazing unit and having over at least a portion thereof an interlocking profile to provide a firm interlocking connection to another interlocking panel having a complementary like interlocking profile, wherein said glazing panel can be inserted as a structural member in a wall or roof constructed of interlocking panels.