Sliding Glazing Unit Assembly for Precise Y-Axis Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing vehicle glazing with vertical mobility face challenges in controlling lateral fixing tolerance and require complex adhesive application orientations, leading to imprecise and time-consuming production processes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of fast-curing plastic material and adhesive injection within a U-shaped glass holder, secured by foam strips, allowing for precise fixation of the glazing without waiting for adhesive hardening, enabling high precision and faster production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If liquid adhesive is used to fix the glass holder, then bonding strength is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming due to orientation requirements and hardening delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is segmented into two distinct components: a fast-curing plastic material for immediate mechanical fixation and a liquid adhesive for subsequent chemical bonding. This segmentation allows each material to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, enabling rapid production while maintaining strong bonds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fast-curing plastic material is applied first to create immediate mechanical fixation of the glass holder to the glass. This preliminary action establishes positional stability and mechanical strength before the liquid adhesive is applied, eliminating the need to wait for adhesive hardening during assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If vertical orientation is used for adhesive application, then liquid adhesive containment is improved, but positioning precision along Y-axis deteriorates due to gravity reference limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive containmentVSAvoidY-axis positioning tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fast-curing plastic material acts as an intermediary between the glass holder and the liquid adhesive. It provides immediate mechanical fixation and positional stability, allowing the liquid adhesive to be applied without orientation constraints. The plastic material mediates the bonding process, enabling precise Y-axis positioning while the adhesive cures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If mechanical fixation is delayed until adhesive hardening, then bonding strength is improved, but production time increases due to waiting for complete polymerization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidhardening waiting time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding process is segmented into two phases: immediate mechanical fixation using fast-curing plastic material, and subsequent chemical bonding using liquid adhesive. This segmentation eliminates the need to wait for adhesive hardening before achieving mechanical strength, as the plastic material provides immediate fixation while the adhesive cures in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The curing time parameter of the fixation material is changed from slow (traditional adhesive) to fast (plastic material curing in maximum 60 seconds). This parameter change enables mechanical fixation to be completed rapidly, dramatically reducing production time while maintaining bonding strength through the combined action of both materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If rigid fixation materials are used, then positioning precision is improved, but compensation for thermal expansion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation precisionVSAvoidexpansion compensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation system uses a composite of two materials with different properties: fast-curing plastic material for immediate mechanical fixation and liquid adhesive for chemical bonding. The foam strips incorporated into this composite provide flexibility and thermal expansion compensation, while the plastic and adhesive materials provide precision and strength. This composite approach combines rigid and flexible properties to achieve both precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Foam strips are incorporated into the fixation system to provide flexible compensation for thermal expansion. These flexible elements can expand and contract with temperature changes while maintaining the overall structural integrity and positioning precision provided by the fast-curing plastic material and adhesive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The method achieves precise fixation along the Y-axis with a tolerance of ±0.5 mm, reduces manufacturing time, and lowers costs by eliminating the need for adhesive hardening delays, while incorporating flexible materials for expansion compensation.

Implementation Method 1

a fast-curing plastic material is injected inside said U-shaped part... The fast-curing plastic material, once it has hardened, mechanically secures the position of the glass holder relative to the glass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

an adhesive is injected inside said U-shaped part, between said two pairs of foam strips of said fixing area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

integrates in its fixing zone(s) flexible material: foam strips... it makes it possible to create a compensation region for the different expansion coefficients of the different materials used for the glazing and for the means allowing its mobility

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4334559B1Method for manufacturing a sliding glazing unit, and sliding glazing unit
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SAINT GOBAIN SEKURIT FRANCE
  • EP4334559B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4334559B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4334559B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle glazing unit (1) and to a glazing unit (1) in which: - two pairs (7, 7') of foam strips (71, 72, 73, 74) are applied and fastened, each to a longitudinal edge of a fastening region (F, F'), - a pane holder (6, 6') having a U-shaped part fitting over an edge of the pane and the two pairs (7, 7') of foam strips, - a rapidly curing plastics material is injected inside the U-shaped part, between the two foam strips of each pair (7, 7'), and - an adhesive is injected inside the U-shaped part, between the two pairs (7, 7'). Figure for the abstract: [Fig. 4]