Thin Laminated Windshield Glass with Temperature-Matched Sheets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current laminated windshields face challenges in reducing weight without compromising mechanical resistance, and the process of chemically tempering glass to improve strength is expensive and time-consuming, while simultaneous bending of differently composed glass sheets can lead to defects and residual stresses.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves using glass sheets with a temperature difference of up to 80°C, allowing for simultaneous bending and assembly without reversing the order, using an external borosilicate or sodium aluminosilicate sheet with a thickness not exceeding 2.1 mm and an internal silico-soda-lime sheet with a thickness not exceeding 1.5 mm, ensuring close annealing and softening temperatures for reduced stress and optical defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the thickness of glass sheets is reduced to decrease weight, then weight is reduced, but mechanical strength decreases and fragility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of multiple glass sheets (at least two sheets) with different chemical compositions bonded together. The first glass sheet has a different chemical composition than the second glass sheet, allowing each sheet to contribute different mechanical properties. This composite approach enables weight reduction through thinner sheets while maintaining overall structural strength through the synergistic combination of different glass materials.
2Strength
If chemically tempering is applied to improve mechanical strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the glass sheets rather than applying post-manufacturing tempering processes. By selecting glass materials with inherently different chemical compositions (different oxide contents, different thermal expansion coefficients), the patent achieves enhanced mechanical strength through material selection rather than expensive and time-consuming chemical tempering processes.
3Device complexity
If glass sheets with different chemical compositions are bent simultaneously, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but defects and residual stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different chemical compositions to different regions (sheets) of the glazing assembly. The first glass sheet has a specific chemical composition optimized for certain properties, while the second glass sheet has a different chemical composition optimized for other properties. This localized differentiation allows each sheet to be bent and processed according to its specific material characteristics, reducing defects while maintaining overall process simplicity.
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 approach enables the production of lightweight, mechanically strong laminated windshields with reduced risk of breakage from thermal gradients and improved durability against gravel impact, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
bending by pressing against a solid shape, carried out either using a frame or by suction. The simultaneous bending of the glass sheets on a skeleton by gravity and/or partially by pressing
Implementation Method 2
The chemical quenching, or ion exchange, process consists of substituting on the surface an ion of the glass sheet (generally an alkaline ion such as sodium) with an ion of larger ionic radius (generally another alkaline ion such as potassium) and to create residual compressive stresses on the surface of the leaf
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to laminated glazing comprising at least an outer sheet of glass, an inner sheet of glass and a polymer separator arranged between the two sheets of glass, wherein the inner sheet has a maximum thickness of 1.5 mm, and the outer sheet of glass has a different chemical composition from that of the inner sheet, the difference between the temperatures Tp1 and Tp2 being lower than 80°C, the temperature Tp1 being defined as the average between the upper annealing temperature and the softening temperature of the outer sheet of glass, and the temperature Tp2 being defined as the average between the upper annealing temperature and the softening temperature of the inner sheet of glass.