Vacuum Panel Pump-Out Tube Sealing for Hermetic Glass Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum insulated glass panels face issues such as significant de-tempering of glass substrates, high manufacturing costs, lack of durability, and hermeticity problems due to thermal stress and cracks, which hinder their commercial viability and compliance with safety codes.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulating panel with a hermetic edge seal formed using a laser-heated ceramic frit seal, comprising a main seal layer and primer layers with controlled thermal expansion coefficients, and a pump-out tube seal made of tellurium and vanadium oxides, to maintain vacuum hermeticity and structural integrity while reducing thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional thermal sealing methods are used to seal the pump-out tube, then the sealing process is simple and low-cost, but the thermal stress causes de-tempering of glass substrates and hermeticity problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal sealing with laser sealing technology. The laser beam provides localized, controlled heating that seals the pump-out tube without generating sufficient thermal stress to cause de-tempering of the glass substrates, thereby maintaining hermeticity and structural integrity while avoiding the harmful effects of traditional thermal methods
Solution Approach 2:
The laser sealing process applies heat locally and selectively to the pump-out tube seal area rather than heating the entire panel. This localized heating approach creates the necessary seal while minimizing thermal stress propagation to the glass substrates, preventing de-tempering and maintaining structural integrity
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional sealing materials are used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the seal durability and moisture resistance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite seal structure consisting of a pump-out tube seal layer and an edge seal layer with specific material compositions. This composite approach enhances seal durability and moisture resistance through the synergistic properties of different materials, while the laser sealing process ensures proper bonding without requiring additional expensive materials or complex manufacturing steps
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 solution ensures the panel maintains high compressive and tensile stresses in the glass substrates, reduces thermal stress gradients, and improves durability and hermeticity, enabling cost-effective and efficient production.
Implementation Method 1
laser heating the seal material, using a substantially donut-shaped a laser beam, to form a pump-out tube seal
Implementation Method 2
Providing a vacuum in the space between the substrates reduces conduction and convection heat transport, and thus provides insulating properties
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum insulating panel may include: a first substrate; a second substrate; a plurality of spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure; a pump-out/evacuation tube extending at least partly into an aperture in one of the substrates; and a pump-out/evacuation tube seal. The pump-out/evacuation tube seal may include at least one of: (a) from about 20-80 wt. % tellurium oxide, the tellurium oxide comprising TeO4 and TeO3, wherein the pump-out tube seal comprises more TeO3 than TeO4 by wt. %; and/or (b) tellurium oxide and from about 10-50 wt. % vanadium oxide, wherein the pump-out tube seal by wt. % comprises more tellurium oxide than vanadium oxide, and wherein the vanadium oxide comprises VO2 and V2O5, and wherein more V in the pump-out tube seal is in a form of VO2 than V2O5. A substantially donut-shaped laser beam may be used to heat pump-out tube material in order to form a pump-out tube seal.