Triple Pane Window Spacer Undulating Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional window spacers with two sheets and one air space fail to provide adequate insulation, leading to inefficient heat transfer and temperature distribution within buildings.
Innovation Solution
A window spacer system with three sheets and two air spaces, featuring a first and second elongate strip with undulating shapes, support legs, and a desiccant filler, which maintains the sheets' spacing and enhances thermal insulation by allowing fluid communication between air spaces, reducing thermal transfer and wind load on the intermediary sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional window spacers with two sheets and one air space are used, then the device complexity is low, but the insulation value is insufficient and heat transfer is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The window assembly is segmented into three separate glass sheets instead of two, creating two distinct air spaces. This segmentation increases the thermal insulation path length and reduces heat transfer through the window assembly, directly addressing the energy loss problem while accepting increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds an additional dimension to the insulation system by introducing a third glass sheet and second air space. This dimensional expansion from one air space to two air spaces significantly increases the thermal resistance without requiring changes to the material properties, effectively reducing heat transfer.
2Loss of energy
If three sheets and two air spaces are used to increase insulation, then the insulation value is significantly increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains spacing between three glass sheets, provides structural support through undulating shapes, enables fluid communication between air spaces, and integrates desiccant for moisture control. This multi-functionality justifies the increased complexity by delivering comprehensive performance benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary glass sheet serves as a thermal break and structural mediator between the exterior and interior environments. It divides the single large air space into two smaller air spaces, each with different thermal characteristics, thereby optimizing overall insulation performance while managing the complexity of the spacer system.
3Loss of energy
If three sheets and two air spaces are used, then insulation value increases, but wind load on the intermediary sheet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid communication channels extract and redirect wind pressure forces away from the intermediary glass sheet. By allowing air to flow between the two air spaces through the spacer, the system reduces pressure differential accumulation on the intermediary sheet, thereby reducing wind load while maintaining the beneficial insulation properties of the triple-pane configuration.
4Loss of energy
If fluid communication between air spaces is allowed, then thermal transfer is reduced and wind load is minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid communication channels are merged into the spacer structure itself rather than being separate components. The undulating shapes and integrated pathways are formed as part of the spacer manufacturing process, combining the spacing function, fluid communication function, and structural support function into a single integrated component, thereby reducing assembly complexity.
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 triple-pane configuration significantly increases insulation value, reduces heat transfer, and minimizes wind load on the intermediary sheet, resulting in improved thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The filler includes a desiccant
Implementation Method 2
The air space reduces heat transfer through the window to insulate the interior of a building
Data Source
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AI summary
A spacer, window assembly, method of manufacturing a window assembly, and method of manufacturing a spacer is described herein involving window assemblies having three sheets of material, which will be referred to as a triple pane assembly. Two interior spaces are defined within the window assembly: a first air space between the first sheet and intermediary sheet and a second air space between the second sheet and the intermediary sheet.