Multiple Pane Production Method for Protrusion-Free Glass Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing multiple panes with reduced pressure spaces result in undesired protrusions from the glass panels due to the evacuation pipe, which complicates the production process, increases costs, and can lead to loss of the reduced pressure state if the pipe is broken.
Innovation Solution
A production method that hermetically bonds glass panels with a hermetically-bonding member, evacuates the space, and then divides it into an outlet region and a reduced-pressure region using a region forming member, allowing the evacuation pipe to be removed without compromising the reduced-pressure state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an evacuation pipe is embedded into the glass panel to maintain reduced pressure, then the reduced pressure state can be maintained, but the glass panel has an undesired protrusion that affects appearance and creates reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation pipe is completely removed from the glass panel after serving its purpose during the evacuation process. The pipe is extracted through the hermetically-bonding member, leaving no protrusion on the glass panel surface, thus resolving the appearance issue while maintaining the reduced pressure state through the sealed outlet region.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically-bonding member serves as an intermediary that allows the evacuation pipe to pass through during the process while ultimately sealing the outlet region without requiring the pipe to remain embedded. This mediator enables the pipe to fulfill its evacuation function and then be removed, solving both the appearance and reliability concerns.
2Ease of operation
If the evacuation pipe is shortened to improve handling, then ease of operation improves, but the risk of breakage from external force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation pipe is completely extracted from the structure after the evacuation process is complete. By removing the pipe entirely rather than shortening it, the source of potential breakage is eliminated while the reduced pressure state is maintained through the sealed outlet region, thus improving reliability without compromising ease of operation.
3Shape
If the evacuation pipe is positioned at the upper-right corner to minimize visual interference, then appearance improves, but the reduced pressure state is still vulnerable to pipe breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation pipe is completely removed from the glass panel structure after serving its evacuation purpose. The outlet region is sealed through the hermetically-bonding member, maintaining the reduced pressure state without requiring the pipe to remain in position, thus eliminating the vulnerability to breakage while achieving optimal appearance.
4Reliability
If conventional methods with embedded evacuation pipes are used, then the reduced pressure state can be maintained, but the production process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation pipe is extracted through the hermetically-bonding member during the production process and the outlet region is sealed, eliminating the need for complex embedding procedures, shields, or cover members. This simplifies the production process while maintaining the reduced pressure state, reducing both device complexity and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of the evacuation pipe and the hermetically-bonding member are merged in the sense that the pipe passes through the bonding member during evacuation and the bonding member subsequently seals the outlet region. This integration eliminates the need for separate embedding steps and additional protective components, simplifying the overall production 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, eliminates protrusions from the glass panels, and maintains the reduced-pressure state, ensuring effective thermally insulating, dew prevention, and sound insulating properties.
Implementation Method 1
hermetically bonding, with a hermetically-bonding member, peripheries of paired glass panels
Implementation Method 2
evacuating air from the space through an outlet to make the space be in a reduced-pressure state
Data Source
AI summary
The objective is to propose a production method of multiple panes which can be simple and nevertheless produce a multiple pane in its finished state which does not include any undesired protrusion from an external surface of a glass panel. The production method includes: hermetically bonding, with a sealing member, peripheries of paired glass panels disposed facing each other at a predetermined distance to form a space to be hermetically enclosed between the glass panels; evacuating air from the space through an outlet to make the space be in a reduced pressure state; and dividing, after the space is made be in the reduced pressure state, the space by a region forming member into an outlet region including the outlet and a reduced pressure region other than the outlet region.