Vacuum Insulated Glass Pump-Out Tube Protection Ring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units face challenges with fragile pump-out tubes that are susceptible to damage during the lamination process, leading to aesthetic issues due to misalignment and rough edges from manufacturing tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A process protection ring is provided around the pump-out tube before lamination to absorb potential forces and protect it from damage, potentially eliminating the need for additional caps and improving the aesthetic appearance by using a single protective cap post-lamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pump-out tube is made protruding above the glass substrate surface to facilitate pumping and melting, then the evacuation and sealing operations become easier, but the tube becomes fragile and susceptible to damage during subsequent manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cap is placed over the protruding pump-out tube before the lamination process to cushion it against potential damage. The cap acts as a preliminary protective measure that absorbs mechanical stresses during handling and manufacturing operations, preventing breakage while maintaining the tube's functional protrusion for pumping and sealing operations
2Reliability
If protective caps are placed over the pump-out tube after evacuation and melting, then the tube is protected from damage, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to misalignment and rough edges from manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
A thin film or foil is placed over the protective cap to provide a smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface that conceals misalignment and rough edges. This flexible covering maintains the protective function while significantly improving the visual appearance of the pump-out tube assembly, addressing both protection and aesthetic requirements
3Reliability
If multiple protective caps are stacked to provide adequate protection, then the tube receives sufficient protection, but the stack-up height increases and aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple protective functions are merged into a single integrated protective cap design. Instead of stacking multiple caps, the invention combines the protective cap with a thin film/foil covering that provides both mechanical protection and aesthetic improvement simultaneously, reducing the overall stack-up height while maintaining adequate protection
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 process protection ring effectively mitigates damage to the pump-out tube during lamination, reduces stack-up height, and enhances the visual appeal by covering misalignment and rough edges, resulting in a more robust and aesthetically pleasing VIG unit.
Implementation Method 1
A process protection ring is provided around the pump-out tube before lamination to absorb potential forces and protect it from damage
Implementation Method 2
The VIG window unit is provided with a protective cap that covers the process protection ring and sealed pump-out tube
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) assembly is provided with a protective ring surrounding a portion of a glass pump-out tube extending beyond an outer surface of one of the glass substrates that form the vacuum insulated glass assembly. The vacuum insulated glass assembly may further include a laminated glass substrate in which a hole is formed to accommodate the protective ring and/or pump-out tube portion, wherein the protective ring protects the glass pump- out tube from damage during a lamination process. In addition, a cap may be provided over the laminated substrate to cover the hole in the laminated substrate and further cover the protective ring and sealed pump-out tube.