(19)
(11)EP 2 847 409 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
11.12.2019 Bulletin 2019/50

(21)Application number: 13722637.9

(22)Date of filing:  29.04.2013
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E06B 3/66(2006.01)
B32B 17/10(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/US2013/038575
(87)International publication number:
WO 2013/169504 (14.11.2013 Gazette  2013/46)

(54)

VACUUM INSULATED GLASS WINDOW UNIT INCLUDING PUMP-OUT TUBE PROTECTION RING AND CAP AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME

FENSTEREINHEIT MIT VAKUUMISOLIERTEM GLAS MIT AUSPUMPROHRSCHUTZRING UND -KAPPE UND VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG DAVON

UNITÉ DE FENÊTRE EN VERRE D'ISOLATION SOUS VIDE COMPRENANT UNE BAGUE ET UN CAPUCHON DE PROTECTION DE TUBE DE MISE SOUS VIDE ET PROCÉDÉ DE RÉALISATION


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 08.05.2012 US 201213466356

(43)Date of publication of application:
18.03.2015 Bulletin 2015/12

(73)Proprietor: Guardian Glass, LLC
Auburn Hills MI 48326 (US)

(72)Inventor:
  • JONES, Jeffrey, A.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48101 (US)

(74)Representative: Hoyng Rokh Monegier LLP 
Rembrandt Tower, 31st Floor Amstelplein 1
1096 HA Amsterdam
1096 HA Amsterdam (NL)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 508 551
CN-Y- 2 835 403
CN-Y- 2 564 694
JP-A- 2000 203 892
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] This application is related to commonly-assigned co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/246,980, entitled, "Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) Unit Pump-Out Tube Protecting Techniques, and/or VIG Units Incorporating the Same," filed September 28, 2011.

    Technical Field



    [0002] This disclosure relates to vacuum insulated glass (VIG) unit configurations according to the claims 1-13. The disclosure further describes a method according to claim 14 for making a VIG unit.

    BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS



    [0003] Vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units typically include at least two spaced apart glass substrates that enclose an evacuated or low-pressure space therebetween. The substrates are interconnected by a peripheral edge seal and typically include spacers between the glass substrates to maintain spacing between the glass substrates and to avoid collapse of the glass substrates that may be caused due to the low pressure environment that exists between the substrates. Some example VIG configurations are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,664,395, 5,657,607 and 5,902,652.

    [0004] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical VIG unit 1 and elements that form the VIG unit 1. For example, VIG unit 1 may include two spaced apart glass substrates 2, 3, which enclose an evacuated or low-pressure space 6 therebetween. Glass sheets or substrates 2,3 are interconnected by a peripheral edge seal 4 which may be made of fused solder glass, for example. An array of support pillars/spacers 5 may be included between the glass substrates 2, 3 to maintain the spacing of substrates 2, 3 of the VIG unit 1 in view of the low-pressure space/gap present between the substrates 2, 3.

    [0005] A pump-out tube 8 may be hermetically sealed by, for example, solder glass 9 to an aperture/hole 10 that passes from an interior surface of one of the glass substrates 2 to the bottom of a recess 11 in the exterior surface of the glass substrate 2. A vacuum is attached to pump-out tube 8 to evacuate the interior cavity 6 to a low pressure. After evacuation of the cavity 6, the tube 8 is melted to seal the vacuum. Recess 11 retains the sealed pump-out tube 8. Optionally, a chemical getter 12 may be included within a recess 13 that is disposed in an interior face of one of the glass substrates, e.g., glass substrate 2.

    [0006] VIG units with fused solder glass peripheral edge seals 4 are typically manufactured by depositing glass frit, in a solution, around the periphery of substrate 2. This glass frit ultimately forms the glass solder edge seal 4. A second substrate 3 is brought down on substrate 2 so as to sandwich spacers/pillars 5 and the glass frit solution between the two substrates 2, 3. The entire assembly including the glass substrates 2, 3, the spacers or pillars 5 and the seal material (e.g., glass frit in solution), is then heated to a temperature of at least about 500°C, at which point the glass frit melts, wets the surfaces of the glass substrates 2, 3, and ultimately forms a hermetic peripheral or edge seal 4.

    [0007] After formation of the edge seal 4, a vacuum is drawn via the pump-out tube 8 to form low pressure space 6 between the substrates 2, 3. The pressure in space 6 may be produced by way of an evacuation process to a level below atmospheric pressure, e.g., below about 10-2 Torr. To maintain the low pressure in the space or cavity 6, substrates 2, 3 are hermetically sealed. Small high strength spacers or pillars 5 are provided between the substrates to maintain separation of the approximately parallel substrates against atmospheric pressure. Once the space 6 between substrates 2, 3 is evacuated, the pump-out tube 8 may be sealed, for example, by melting using a laser or the like.

    [0008] The pump-out tube 8 is often located in a corner of one of the substrates, such as, for example, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pump-out tube 8 may be made of glass and may protrude above a surface of the glass substrate in which it is located to facilitate pumping and subsequent melting. Because the pump-out tube 8 is typically made of glass and extends above a surface of the substrate it is quite fragile and susceptible to damage. To address this and other fragility problems, protective caps are sometimes placed over the tubes after evacuation and melting. There are a number of protective cap configurations and mounting methods. Some arrangements suffer from drawbacks such as those identified in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/246,980.

    [0009] Additionally, a number of newly developed VIG configurations have been developed. According to some of these configurations, a VIG unit 1, such as, for example, described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, may be provided with an additional laminated sheet or substrate that may be disposed, for example, on or over a substrate that includes a pump-out port. The additional laminated sheet may be adhered to one of the substrates of a conventional VIG unit by means of a laminating adhesive in the form of a laminating film of or including a polymer based adhesive, such as, for example, PVB, or the like.

    [0010] Additional problems arise with respect to treatment of the pump-out tube in VIG configurations that have an additional substrate laminated thereon. For example, when laminating an additional substrate on a side of the VIG unit where the pump-out port is located, the laminated additional substrate and the laminating film must be provided with a hole to accommodate the protruding pump-out tube. The hole must be of a diameter to provide sufficient clearance about the pump-out tube when the laminated substrate and laminating film are disposed over the substrate of the VIG unit. Due to manufacturing tolerances when creating the hole, as well as the subsequent placement of a protective cap, there is a chance that the holes and the protective cap will not be concentrically or even substantially concentrically aligned. In addition, a glass edge of the access hole formed in the additional laminated substrate could have a rough edge. Both of these factors, e.g., poor registration of the hole and a possible protective cap, and the rough edge around the access hole in the laminated substrate, contribute to an undesirable aesthetic appearance of the final laminated VIG unit.

    [0011] One possible solution may be to just place the cap over the hole in the additional laminated substrate after the lamination process that provides the laminated substrate on the underlying VIG unit to form a laminated VIG unit. However, this proposed solution suffers from numerous drawbacks. For example, as noted above, the pump-out tube is fragile, and is exposed during the lamination process, thus making it even more susceptible to damage during the lamination process. Another solution may be to simply place a second cap over the first cap at the conclusion of the lamination process. This solution also suffers from a number of drawbacks including, for example, that the resulting laminated VIG unit will exhibit a significant amount of stack-up height in the area of the stacked protecting caps.

    [0012] Document EP 1508 551 A1 relates to a glass panel comprising a pair of glass plates opposed to each other to define a void therebetween by a large number of space-maintaining members arranged along plate surfaces with predetermined intervals between rows. A thermally meltable seal member for joining the glass plates throughout a circumference thereof to be hermetically sealed by a heat-joining process is provided.

    [0013] Reference JP 2000 203892 A suggests providing a glass sheet with a through hole, and providing a low melting point glass sealing portion over a hole periphery.

    [0014] Reference CN 2835403 Y relates to vacuum glass. A security vacuum laminated glass structure is disclosed comprising a first panel formed by laminated glass vacuum glass, and a second panel formed by ordinary plate glass vacuum glass.

    [0015] CN 2564694Y discloses a vacuum insulated window assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

    [0016] The present invention provides a solution according to the subject matter of the independent claims.

    [0017] According to the invention, a protective ring is provided around the pump-out tube prior to the lamination process. This may be possibly be done in combination with any of the other possibilities discussed above. During the lamination process, the process protection ring provides a barrier that protects the pump-out tube from damage that might occur during the lamination process. For example, if the edge of the hole formed in the laminating film and/or the laminated substrate engages the pump-out tube, such force may break or damage the pump-out tube. In the case where a process protection ring is provided around the exposed portions of the pump-out tube, the forces that would otherwise have impacted the pump-out tube, are absorbed by the process protection ring, thereby mitigating potential damage to the pump-out tube. In this connection the height of the process protection ring may be sufficient to provide protection to the exposed portions of the pump-out tube. According to certain example embodiments, it may be preferable for a height of the process protection ring to be about the same height of the sealed pump-out tube. Alternatively, the process protection ring may have a lower or slightly lower height than the sealed pump-out tube so long as the process protection ring is of sufficient height to provide protection to the pump-out tube. It may also be preferable, according to certain example embodiments, that the height of the process protection ring not be substantially greater than a height of the sealed pump-out tube, so as to avoid additional stack-up height with the finished protective cap.

    [0018] Additionally, by providing a process protection ring, the need for providing a cap during the lamination process is reduced and could possibly be eliminated in certain example non-limited embodiments. Thus, after the lamination process, a single cap may be disposed over the holes in the laminating film and laminated substrate that were provided to accommodate the protruding pump-out tube. A further advantage of providing a single opaque or substantially opaque protective cap over the pump-out tube, process protection ring and hole(s) in the laminating film and laminated substrate, in certain example embobdiments, is that the single outer protective cap covers the holes and exposed edges thereof, and therefore provides a more desirable aesthetic appearance by covering any potential misalignment or non-concentric arrangement of the pump-out tube and hole(s) that may otherwise be visible.

    [0019] According to further example embodiments, the protective cap may be further provided with at least one positioning ridge disposed about a periphery of the side of the cap that faces the laminated glass substrate, such that the ridge may engage an interior edge of the hole formed in the laminated substrate. This positioning ridge provides additional protective strength for the protective cap and may further reduce the amount of movement of the protection cap once placed over the hole in the laminated substrate. In addition, it may also be advantageous to provide a protective cap having a lower profile than conventional protective caps to improve the aesthetic appearance of the laminated VIG unit.

    [0020] To provide these and other advantages, a vacuum insulated window assembly according to claim 1 is provided.

    [0021] Further, a method for making a vacuum insulated glass assembly according to claim 14 is provided.

    [0022] These and other embodiments and advantages are described herein with respect to certain example embodiments and with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0023] 

    FIG. 1 is a cross sectional schematic diagram of a conventional VIG unit;

    FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a conventional VIG unit;

    FIG. 3 is a cross sectional schematic diagram of a laminated VIG unit according to an example embodiment;

    FIG. 4A is a top plan view of a process protection ring according to an example embodiment;

    FIG. 4B is a bottom plan view of a process protection ring and adhesive according to an example embodiment;

    FIG. 5 is a cross sectional schematic diagram of a laminated VIG unit according to an example embodiment including a protective cap;

    FIG. 6A is a bottom plan view of a protective cap and adhesive according to an example embodiment;

    FIG. 6B is a cross sectional schematic view of a protective cap according to an example embodiment; and

    FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of making a laminated VIG unit according to an example embodiment.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS



    [0024] Certain example embodiments will be described in detail herein with reference to the foregoing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting, and that those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims appended hereto.

    [0025] According to certain example embodiments, a VIG window unit is provided with at least one process protection ring surrounding an exposed portion of a pump-out tube that has been sealed after use in an evacuation process that provides a low pressure (e.g., lower than atmospheric pressure) in a cavity between first and second transparent glass substrates of a VIG window unit. The example process protection ring provides additional protection against potential damage to a pump-out tube (e.g., an exposed portion of a pump-out tube), especially where the VIG unit is subjected to additional manufacturing processes, such as, for example, lamination of an additional glass substrate via a laminating film. The VIG window unit may be provided as a window in building such as residential homes, apartment buildings, and/or commercial office buildings. The VIG window unit may also be used as a window in a building door, freezer door or the like. In certain example embodiments, the VIG window unit has a visible transmission of at least about 30%, more preferably of at least about 40%, even more preferably of at least about 50%, and even more preferably of at least about 60% or 70%.

    [0026] According to the invention a protective cap is provided over the process protection ring and sealed pump-out tube after lamination of an additional transparent glass substrate. The protective cap may preferably have a low profile to reduce stack-up height and to improve aesthetic appearance of the product, including, covering the hole to thereby hide any unappealing visual artifacts that might occur as a result of misalignment of the holes in the laminated sheet, laminating film and pump-out tube, rough edges of the holes, or the like. Additionally, the protective cap may be provided with a positioning ridge located and sized such that the ridge may engage a hole in the laminated substrate and/or laminating film that was provided to accommodate the pump-out tube and process protection ring, or alternatively to limit the amount of movement of the protective cap once placed over the hole.

    [0027] With reference to FIG. 3, a schematic cross sectional view of a laminated VIG window unit according to an example embodiment is illustrated. The laminated VIG unit 20 includes spaced apart first and second transparent glass substrates 2, 3 that may be interconnected by an edge seal 4, which may, for example, be of or include fused solder glass hermetically sealing edge seal. In certain embodiments, the substrates 2, 3 may be approximately the same size and/or the same size in certain example embodiments. However, in certain other example embodiments, one glass substrate may be larger than the other to provide, for example, an approximately L-shaped step proximate an edge of the VIG unit. Conventional edge seal compositions are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,837,866; 4,256,495; 4,743,302; 5,051,381; 5,188,990; 5,336,644; 5,534,469; 7,425,518, and U.S. Publication No. 2005/0233885. Additional suitable edge seal compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/354,963, entitled, "Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Filler for Vanadium-Based Frit Materials and/or Methods of Making and/or Using the Same," filed January 20, 2012. These edge seal compositions may sometimes be referred to as VBZ (e.g., vanadium, barium, zinc) based compositions. Still further example edge seal materials are disclosed in Application Serial No. 12/929,875, filed February 22, 2011; and/or Application Serial No. 13/238,358, filed September 21, 2011. Other frit materials may be used including, for example, Ferro 2824B and 2824G frits. See, for example, Application Serial No. 12/929,874, filed February 22, 2011. Other so-called "lead-free" frits may be used for the seal 4 in different example embodiments.

    [0028] An array of support pillars/spacers 5 may also be included between the glass substrates 2, 3 to maintain the spacing of the substrates 2 and 3 in view of the lower than atmospheric pressure that is ultimately provided in a cavity 6 between the substrates 2, 3. In certain example embodiments, the spacers may have a height, for example, of from about 0.1 to 1.0 mm, more preferably from from about 0.2 to 0.4 mm. The spacers 5 are preferably of a size that is sufficiently small so as to be visibly unobtrusive. According to certain example embodiments, the spacers may be made of or include solder glass, glass, ceramic, metal, polymer, sapphire, or any other suitable material. Additionally, the spacers 5 may be, for example, generally cylindrical, round, spherical, dime-shaped, C-shaped, pillow-shaped and/or any other suitable shape.

    [0029] A pump-out tube 8, that may be hermetically sealed, for example, of or including solder glass 9 is provided through a hole that passes from an interior surface of one of the glass substrates, e.g., substrate 3 in Fig. 3, and through the glass substrate 3 and extending beyond the outside surface thereof. The pump-out tube 8 (before its tip is sealed/closed) is used in a process to evacuate the cavity 6 between the substrates 2, 3, such as, for example, by attaching a vacuum pump to the pump-out tube 8 and evacuating the cavity 6 to a low pressure, e.g., a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. After the pumping out process, in a preferred example, a pressure in the cavity 6 is, for example, preferably below about 10-2 Torr, and more preferably below about 10-3 Torr, and even more preferably below about 5x10-4 Torr. In certain example embodiments, the pump-out tube 8 , may, for example, have a diameter or distance from about 0.1 to 1.0 mm, more preferably from about 0.3 to 0.7 mm, and even more preferably from about 0.5 mm.

    [0030] VIG window units using fused solder glass peripheral edge seals 4 may, for example, be manufactured by depositing glass frit, such as, for example, any of those referenced above, in a solution, around the periphery of one of the substrates, e.g., substrate 2. This glass frit ultimately forms the glass solder edge seal 4 after curing. A second substrate, e,.g., substrate 3 is brought down on substrate 2 so as to sandwich spacers/pillars 5 and the glass frit solution between the two substrates 2, 3. The entire assembly including the glass substrates 2, 3, the spacers or pillars 5 and the seal material (e.g., glass frit in solution), is then heated to a temperature sufficient for the seal material (e.g., glass frit) to melt and wet the surfaces of the glass substrates 2, 3, and form a hermetic peripheral/edge seal 4. A pump-out tube 8 and vacuum apparatus may then be used to evacuate the cavity 6 formed between the substrates 2, 3 in the example manner described above to provide a low pressure (e.g., lower than atmospheric pressure) between the substrates 2, 3. After the cavity 6 is evacuated to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, the top or tip of the glass pump-out tube 8 may then be sealed by melting an exposed potion of the tube using a laser or the like. Sealing the pump-out tube 8 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) maintains the low pressure in the cavity 6. After the tube 8 has been sealed, the central portion of the tube 8 is still in fluid communication with the cavity 6, but the external atmosphere is not because the tip/top of the tube 8 has been sealed shut.

    [0031] An additional transparent glass substrate 15 is laminated over or above the substrates 2, 3 that define the cavity 6. In the Fig. 3 embodiment, the third glass substrate 15 may be the same size as substrate 3. In an example preferred embodiment, the additional laminated glass substrate 15 may be adhered to the outer surface of one of the glass substrates, e.g., substrate 3, using a laminating film 14, that may be of, or include, a polymer based adhesive, such as, for example, PVB, or the like. In order to provide an additional laminated glass substrate 15, a hole 11 is provided in the additional glass substrate 15 and the laminating film 14 to accommodate the exposed portion of the sealed pump-out tube 8 described above. The hole 11 is of a size to provide sufficient clearance about the pump-out tube 8 when the laminated substrate 15 and laminating film 14 are disposed over the substrate 3 of the VIG window unit 20. Due to manufacturing tolerances when creating the hole 11, there is a possibility that the holes in the substrate(s) and the protruding pump-out port 8 will not be concentrically or even substantially concentrically aligned. In addition, a glass edge of the access hole 11 formed in the laminated substrate 15 could have a rough edge. Both of these factors, e.g., poor registration of the holes in substrates 3 and 15 and pump-out port 8, and the rough edge around the access hole 11 in the laminated substrate 15, could contribute to an undesirable aesthetic appearance of the final laminated VIG unit.

    [0032] To overcome these and other problems, a protective cap 47 is provided over the pump-out tube 8 after the lamination process for providing the additional laminated glass substrate 15. However to do this, as discussed above, the pump-out tube 8 must be exposed to a manufacturing process in which the laminating film 14 and additional laminated glass substrate 15 are placed over the exposed portions of the pump-out tube 8, thereby exposing the pump-out tube 8 to the potential for damage during the lamination process, such as, for example, and without limitation, by contact of the edges of the holes 11 in the laminating film 14 and/or additional laminated substrate 15 with the fragile glass pump-out tube 8. In order to provide protection against breakage or damage to the exposed pump-out tube 8 during the lamination process, a process protection ring 16 is provided around the exposed pump-out tube 8 during lamination so as to surround the tube 8 when the unit in Fig. 3 is viewed from above.

    [0033] According to certain example embodiments, a process protection ring 16 may be adhered to the substrate 3 and surrounding the pump-out tube 8 using, for example, an adhesive tape, such as, for example, 3M VHB adhesive tape, prior to the lamination process that is used to laminate the additional glass substrate 15 to substrate 3. According to a preferred example, the process protection ring 16 may have a height substantially equal to a height of the exposed portion of the pump-out tube 8. According to further example embodiments, the height of the process protection ring may have a height slightly less than that of the exposed portion of the pump-out tube 8, so long as the dimensions of the process protection ring are sufficient to provide adequate protection to the pump-out tube 8. According to still further embodiments, a height of the process protection ring 16 is preferably not higher than a height of the pump-out tube 8 to avoid adding significant stack-up height that may affect the appearance of the laminated VIG unit 20. When viewed from above in the context of Figs. 3-6, the ring 16 may be circular in shape as shown in Figs. 4A-4B, or alternatively may be oval shaped, substantially circular shaped, substantially square, and/or substantially rectangular shaped.

    [0034] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, bottom plan views of an example process protection ring 16 are shown. The process protection ring 16, according to certain example embodiments, may be generally circular in cross section and otherwise generally cylindrical. Of course, other suitable geometries may be used so long as adequate protection is provided to the pump-out tube 8 during the lamination process as mentioned above. FIG. 4B is a bottom plan view of an example process protection ring 16 showing an adhesive 17, such as, for example, 3M VHB adhesive tape, or the like, used to adhere the process protection ring 16 to the surface of a substrate, e.g., substrate 3, of the VIG unit 20 prior to the lamination process. As discussed above, according to certain example embodiments, a preferred height of the process protection ring 16 may be set to be less than or substantially equal to a height of the exposed portion of the pump-out tube 8, and should preferably be of sufficient height to provide protection to the exposed portions of the pump-out tube 8 during the lamination process. It is also noted that by providing a process protection ring 16 prior to lamination, the need for providing a cap during the lamination process is avoided in certain example instances. Thus, as discussed below, a single cap may be disposed over the holes 11 in the laminating film 14 and the laminated substrate 15 that were provided to accommodate the protruding portion of the pump-out tube 8.

    [0035] As discussed above, after the lamination process is completed (i.e., after substrate 15 has been laminated to substrate 3 via polymer based adhesive 14), a protective cap is provided over the hole(s) 11 as discussed above, to provide further protection by covering the exposed pump-out tube 8, and to provide further aesthetic improvement by covering the holes 11 in the laminating film 14 and the additional laminates substrate 15 that were formed to accommodate the exposed pump-out port 8 during lamination, e.g., by covering any potential misalignment or non-concentric arrangement of the pump-out tube 8 and holes that may otherwise be visible.

    [0036] Turning now to FIG. 5, a laminated VIG window unit 20 including the laminated substrate 15, laminating film 14, process protection ring 16 and protective cap 47 is illustrated in cross section. FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, but includes an illustration of the protective cap 47. The protective cap 47 is disposed over the holes (see 11 in Fig. 3) that accommodate the exposed portion of the pump-out tube 8 and the process protection ring 16 discussed above. The protective cap 47 may be adhered to the outer surface of the additional laminated glass substrate 15 by way of an adhesive tape 19, such as, for example, 3M VHB adhesive tape, or the like. The size of the protective cap 47 is preferably such that it provides complete coverage of the holes 11 and is of sufficiently low profile to provide further desirable aesthetic appearance of the laminated VIG unit 20. For example, the protective cap 47 includes an inner cavity 21 having a diameter and depth sufficient to accompodate the pump-out tube 8, the process protection ring 16 and to completely cover the hole 11 in the laminated substrate 15. The surface area of the base portion of the cap should be sufficient to accommodate enough adhesive tape to provide a secure connection to the laminated substrate 15.

    [0037] The protective cap 47 may also optionally be provided with a positioning ridge 18 provided about a periphery of the side of the cap that faces the laminated glass substrate 15 of the generally circular protective cap 47 (e.g., see Figs. 5-6). The positioning ridge 18 may preferably engage or be located very close to an interior portion of the hole 11 in the laminated substrate 15 to provide additional protective strength for the protective cap, and further reduce the amount of movement of the protection cap once placed over the hole in the laminated substrate 15 (e.g., see Fig. 5).

    [0038] FIGS 6A and 6B are a bottom plan view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of example embodiments of the protective cap 47. With reference to FIG. 6A, the protective cap 47 may have a generally circular shape. The positioning ridge 18 generally conforms to this shape and is disposed in a peripheral region of the side of the protective cap 47 that engages the hole in the laminated substrate 15. According to the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6A, an adhesive tape 19, such as, for example, 3M VHB adhesive tape, or the like, is shown. Turning to FIG. 6B, a cross section of the protective cap 47 according to an example embodiment is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6B, an optional positioning ridge 18 may also be provided with the protective cap 47 as described above. According to example preferred embodiments, and outer diameter D2 of the positioning ridge 18 may be such that it engages the hole formed in the laminated substrate 15, or is close to engaging the hole. An inner diameter D1 of the positioning ridge 18 may be such that it is sufficient to accommodate the process protection ring 16 and exposed portion of the pump-out tube 8 in a cavity 21 defined by a top of the protective cap 47 and the positioning ring 18.

    [0039] While the protective cap 47 is illustrated having a generally circular shape, it will be understood that any suitable shape may be used. In addition, a generally polygonal exterior shape in combination with a generally circular positioning ridge 18 may be used. It will be understood that it is preferable that the positioning ridge 18 be of a shape to adequately engage an inner portion of the hole formed in the additional laminated substrate 15. According to another example, it is not necessary for the positioning ring 18 to be continuous, and it may be provided by a number of protrusions about a periphery of an interior cavity 21 of the protective cap 47, for example. According to certain example embodiments, the protective cap 47 may, for example, be made of or including metal, plastic, silicone, or some other suitable material. Moreover, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the cap 47 and the glass substrates may match one another, for example, within about 25%, more preferably within about 20% and even more preferably in a range of about 10-20%.

    [0040] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method for making a laminated VIG unit according to an example embodiment. A first substrate, such as, for example, a substrate of or including glass is provided in step S1. Spacers or pillars, such as those discussed above, are then provided on a first major surface of the first substrate and located at spaced apart positions sufficient to maintain spacing between the first substrate and a second substrate to be provided S3. In step S5, a frit material, such as, for example, those discussed above that provide the edge seal, is disposed (e.g., printed or otherwise applied) around peripheral edges of the first substrate. A second substrate, such as, for example, a substrate of or including glass, is provided over the first substrate, sandwiching the pillars or spacers and frit material, thereby defining a cavity between the two substrates S7. The subassembly including the first and second substrates, spacers and frit material is then heated at a sufficient level to form a hermetic edge seal S9. The cavity defined between the two substrates is then evacuated to a suitable vacuum level, being lower than atmospheric pressure, by, using a pump-out tube S11. The cavity then may optionally be cleaned using a suitable process, such as, for example, plasma cleaning, such as, for example, and without limitation, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/149,085, filed May 31, 2011, and U.S. Patent No. 6,692,600, S13.

    [0041] The pump-out tube may then be sealed S15 by any suitable means, such as, for example, and without limitation, melting using a laser, exposing the tube to other heat energy, or the like. A process protection tube of the type disclosed and described above is then disposed about the exposed and sealed pump out tube S17. The process protection tube may be affixed to the second substrate by, for example, and without limitation, an adhesive tape, such as, for example, 3M VHB adhesive tape. In step S19, a laminating film and additional substrate are disposed over the second substrate, and include holes for accommodating the exposed sealed pump-out tube and process protection ring. The laminating film may, for example, be of or include a polymer based adhesive, such as, for example, PVB. It is noted that the laminated VIG unit so formed has a number of substantially aligned holes that accommodate the exposed pump-out tube and surrounding process protection ring. A protective cap 47 is then provided to cover the holes and the exposed pump-out tube and process protection ring S21. Optionally, a positioning ridge in the protective cap may be arranged to engage an interior surface of a hole in the laminated glass substrate.

    [0042] While certain example embodiments have been described and disclosed herein, it will be understood that the embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting, and that those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications may be made without departing from the full scope of the claims appended hereto.


    Claims

    1. A vacuum insulated window assembly, comprising:

    first and second substantially parallel spaced apart substantially transparent substrates (2, 3);

    a seal (4) disposed at least between said first and second spaced apart substrates (2, 3), the seal (4) and first and second substrates (2, 3) defining a cavity (6) therebetween with the cavity (6) being at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure;

    a pump-out tube (8) extending at least partially through an aperture in said first substrate (3) so as to communicate with the cavity (6) and extending beyond an outer major surface of said first substrate (3); and

    a protective ring (16) disposed proximate to the outer major surface of the first substrate (3) so as to at least partially surround said pump-out tube (8) of the vacuum insulated window assembly,

    wherein an inner diameter of said protective ring (16) is sufficiently large to accommodate a portion of said pump-out tube (8) that extends beyond the outer major surface of said first substrate (3) without coming into contact with said portion of said pump-out tube (8) that extends beyond the outer major surface of said first substrate (3) when said protective ring (16) is disposed over and/or on said first substrate (3),

    characterised in that

    the assembly further comprises a third substrate (15) laminated over said first substrate (3) and a cap disposed over each of said pump-out tube (8), said

    protective ring (16) and an opening (11) formed in said third substrate (15).


     
    2. The vacuum insulated window assembly of claim 1, further comprising a laminating film (14) comprising a polymer disposed between said first substrate (3) and said third substrate (15) for at least laminating the first and second substrates (2, 3) to each other.
     
    3. The vacuum insulated window assembly of claim 2, wherein said cap (47) preferably includes a positioning ridge (18) on a side of said cap (47) facing said third substrate (15) and wherein even more preferred said positioning ridge (18) engages or is located very close to an interior surface of a hole (11) formed in said third substrate (15).
     
    4. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any preceding claim, wherein said protective ring (16) is secured to the outer major surface of said first substrate (3) by an adhesive tape (17).
     
    5. The vacuum insulated window assembly of claim 3, wherein said cap (47) is secured to an outer surface of said third substrate (15) by an adhesive (19).
     
    6. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the pump-out tube (8) extending beyond the outer surface of the first substrate (3) is sealed.
     
    7. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of spacers (15) disposed in said cavity (6) between said first and second substrates (2, 3).
     
    8. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any preceding claim, wherein said seal (4) comprises glass frit and/or said seal (4) comprises vanadium and/or solder glass.
     
    9. The vacuum insulated window assembly according to claim 1,
    wherein said substrates are glass substrates (2, 3);
    wherein said seal is a peripheral edge seal (4) disposed proximate a periphery of said first and second spaced apart glass substrates (2, 3),;
    wherein said pump-out tube (8) extends from said first substrate (3), through at least part of said first substrate (3) and extending beyond the outer surface of said first substrate (3);
    wherein said protective ring (16) is disposed about a portion of said pump-out tube (8);
    wherein said third substrate (15) includes the opening (11) in which said pump-out tube (8) and said protective ring (16) are located.
     
    10. The vacuum insulated window assembly of claim 9, further comprising a laminating film (14) disposed between said first substrate (3) and said third substrate (15).
     
    11. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any of claims 9 - 10, wherein said cap (47) includes a positioning ridge (18) disposed about a periphery of said cap (47) on a side of said cap (47) facing said third substrate (15), wherein said positioning ridge (18) preferably engages an interior surface of a hole (11) formed in said third substrate (15).
     
    12. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any of claims 9 - 11, wherein a height of said protective ring (16) is less than or substantially equal to a height of a portion of said pump-out tube (8) that extends beyond an outer surface of said first substrate (3).
     
    13. The vacuum insulated window assembly of any of claims 9 - 12, wherein said seal (4) comprises one or more of vanadium, barium and zinc.
     
    14. A method of making a vacuum insulated window assembly according to any of the claims 1-13, the method comprising:

    providing a glass substrate (2);

    disposing a plurality of spacers (15) on said substrate (2);

    depositing an edge seal material along substantially a periphery of a first surface of said substrate (2);

    providing another glass substrate (3) over said first glass substrate (2) sandwiching said spacers (15) and edge seal material therebetween;

    heating said edge seal material to form a seal (4) so as to form a cavity (6) between said substrates (2, 3);

    evacuating said cavity (6) via a pump-out tube (8) provided in one of the substrates (2, 3);

    sealing said pump-out tube (8) by melting a portion thereof;

    disposing a protective ring (16) surrounding a periphery of said pump-out tube (8), wherein an inner diameter of said protective ring (16) is sufficiently large to accommodate a portion of said pump-out tube (8) provided in one of the substrates (2, 3) without coming into contact with said portion of said pump-out tube (8) provided in one of the substrates (2, 3) when said protective ring (16) is disposed over and/or on said substrate (3) providing said pump-out tube (8);

    laminating a third substrate (15) to at least one of said glass substrates (2, 3), said third substrate (15) including an opening (11) defined therein through which at least a portion of said pump-out tube (8) extends; and

    providing a cap (47) over said opening (11) in said third substrate (15) in which said protective ring (16) and at least said portion of said pump-out tube (8) are disposed.


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe, umfassend:

    ein erstes und ein zweites Glassubstrat (2, 3), die im Wesentlichen parallel, voneinander beabstandet und im Wesentlichen transparent sind,

    eine mindestens zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten voneinander beabstandeten Substrat (2, 3) angeordnete Dichtung (4), wobei die Dichtung (4) und das erste und zweite Substrat (2, 3) einen Hohlraum (6) dazwischen definieren, wobei der Hohlraum (6) einen Druck aufweist, der kleiner als Atmosphärendruck ist;

    eine Auspumpröhre (8), die sich mindestens teilweise durch eine Öffnung in dem ersten Substrat (3) erstreckt, um mit dem Hohlraum (6) zu kommunizieren, und sich über eine äußere Hauptoberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinaus erstreckt; und einen Schutzring (16), der nahe der äußeren Hauptoberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) angeordnet ist, um die Auspumpröhre (8) der vakuumisolierten Fensterbaugruppe mindestens teilweise zu umgeben,

    wobei ein Innendurchmesser des Schutzrings (16) ausreichend groß ist, um einen über die äußere Hauptoberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinausragenden Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8) aufzunehmen, ohne dass er in Kontakt mit dem über die äußere Hauptoberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinausragenden Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8) kommt, wenn der Schutzring (16) über und/oder auf dem ersten Substrat (3) angeordnet ist,

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

    die Baugruppe ferner ein drittes Substrat (15), das über das erste Substrat (3) laminiert ist, und eine Kappe umfasst, die über jedem von der Auspumpröhre (8), dem Schutzring (16) und einer Öffnung (11), die in dem dritten Substrat (15) ausgebildet ist, angeordnet ist.


     
    2. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 1, ferner umfassend eine Laminierfolie (14), die ein Polymer umfasst und zwischen dem ersten Substrat (3) und dem dritten Substrat (15) angeordnet ist, um mindestens das erste und zweite Substrat (2, 3) aneinander zu laminieren.
     
    3. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Kappe (47) vorzugsweise einen Positionierungssteg (18) auf einer dem dritten Substrat (15) zugewandten Seite der Kappe (47) einschließt und wobei noch mehr bevorzugt der Positionierungssteg (18) in eine innere Oberfläche einer in dem dritten Substrat (15) ausgebildeten Öffnung (11) eingreift oder sich sehr nahe an dieser inneren Oberfläche befindet.
     
    4. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Schutzring (16) durch ein Klebeband (17) an der äußeren Hauptoberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) befestigt ist.
     
    5. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Kappe (47) durch einen Klebstoff (19) an einer äußeren Oberfläche des dritten Substrats (15) befestigt ist.
     
    6. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei ein Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8), der sich über die äußere Oberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinaus erstreckt, abgedichtet ist.
     
    7. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, ferner umfassend eine Vielzahl von Abstandshaltern (15), die in dem Hohlraum (6) zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten Substrat (2, 3) angeordnet sind.
     
    8. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Dichtung (4) Glasfritte umfasst und/oder die Dichtung (4) Vanadium und/oder Glaslot umfasst.
     
    9. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 1,
    wobei die Substrate Glassubstrate (2, 3) sind;
    wobei die Dichtung eine umlaufende Kantendichtung (4) ist, die nahe eines Umfangs des ersten und zweiten voneinander beabstandeten Glassubstrats (2, 3) angeordnet ist;
    wobei sich die Auspumpröhre (8) von dem ersten Substrat (3) durch mindestens einen Teil des ersten Substrats (3) erstreckt und sich über die äußere Oberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinaus erstreckt;
    wobei der Schutzring (16) um einen Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8) herum angeordnet ist;
    wobei das dritte Substrat (15) die Öffnung (11) einschließt, in der sich die Auspumpröhre (8) und der Schutzring (16) befinden.
     
    10. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach Anspruch 9, ferner umfassend eine Laminierfolie (14), die zwischen dem ersten Substrat (3) und dem dritten Substrat (15) angeordnet ist.
     
    11. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 10, wobei die Kappe (47) einen Positionierungssteg (18) einschließt, der um einen Umfang der Kappe (47) herum auf einer dem dritten Substrat (15) zugewandten Seite der Kappe (47) angeordnet ist, wobei der Positionierungssteg (18) vorzugsweise in eine innere Oberfläche einer in dem dritten Substrat (15) ausgebildeten Öffnung (11) eingreift.
     
    12. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 11,
    wobei eine Höhe des Schutzrings (16) kleiner oder im Wesentlichen gleich einer Höhe eines Abschnitts der Auspumpröhre (8) ist, der sich über eine äußere Oberfläche des ersten Substrats (3) hinaus erstreckt.
     
    13. Vakuumisolierte Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 12, wobei die Dichtung (4) eines oder mehrere von Vanadium, Barium und Zink umfasst.
     
    14. Verfahren zum Herstellen einer vakuumisolierten Fensterbaugruppe nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:

    Bereitstellen eines Glassubstrats (2);

    Anordnen einer Vielzahl von Abstandshaltern (15) auf dem Substrat (2);

    Aufbringen eines Kantendichtungsmaterials entlang im Wesentlichen eines Umfangs einer ersten Oberfläche des Substrats (2);

    Bereitstellen eines weiteren Glassubstrats (3) über dem ersten Glassubstrat (2), das die Abstandshalter (15) und das Kantendichtungsmaterial dazwischen sandwichartig einschließt;

    Erwärmen des Kantendichtungsmaterials, um eine Dichtung (4) zu bilden, sodass ein Hohlraum (6) zwischen den Substraten (2, 3) gebildet wird;

    Evakuieren des Hohlraums (6) über eine in einem der Substrate (2, 3) bereitgestellte Auspumpröhre (8);

    Abdichten der Auspumpröhre (8) durch Schmelzen eines Abschnitts derselben;

    Anordnen eines Schutzrings (16) um einen Umfang der Auspumpröhre (8) herum, wobei ein Innendurchmesser des Schutzrings (16) ausreichend groß ist, um einen Abschnitt der in einem der Substrate (2, 3) bereitgestellten Auspumpröhre (8) aufzunehmen, ohne dass er in Kontakt mit dem Abschnitt der in einem der Substrate (2, 3) bereitgestellten Auspumpröhre (8) kommt, wenn der Schutzring (16) über und/oder auf dem Substrat (3), das die Auspumpröhre (8) bereitstellt, angeordnet ist;

    Laminieren eines dritten Substrats (15) auf mindestens eines der Glassubstrate (2, 3), wobei das dritte Substrat (15) eine darin definierte Öffnung (11) einschließt, durch die sich mindestens ein Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8) erstreckt; und

    Bereitstellen einer Kappe (47) über der Öffnung (11) in dem dritten Substrat (15), in der der Schutzring (16) und mindestens der Abschnitt der Auspumpröhre (8) angeordnet sind.


     


    Revendications

    1. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide, comprenant :

    des premier et deuxième substrats sensiblement transparents espacés sensiblement parallèles (2, 3) ;

    un joint (4) disposé au moins entre lesdits premier et deuxième substrats espacés (2, 3), le joint (4) et les premier et deuxième substrats (2, 3) définissant entre eux une cavité (6), la cavité (6) étant à une pression inférieure à la pression atmosphérique ;

    un tube de mise sous vide (8) s'étendant au moins partiellement à travers une ouverture dans ledit premier substrat (3) de manière à communiquer avec la cavité (6) et s'étendant au-delà d'une surface principale externe dudit premier substrat (3) ; et

    une bague de protection (16) disposée à proximité de la surface principale externe du premier substrat (3) de manière à entourer au moins partiellement ledit tube de mise sous vide (8) de l'ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide,

    dans lequel un diamètre interne de ladite bague de protection (16) est suffisamment grand pour recevoir une partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) qui s'étend au-delà de la surface principale externe dudit premier substrat (3) sans venir en contact avec ladite partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) qui s'étend au-delà de la surface principale externe dudit premier substrat (3) lorsque ladite bague de protection (16) est disposée par dessus et/ou sur ledit premier substrat (3),

    caractérisé en ce que

    l'ensemble comprend en outre un troisième substrat (15) laminé sur ledit premier substrat (3) et un capuchon disposé sur chacun dudit tube de mise sous vide (8), de ladite bague de protection (16) et d'une ouverture (11) formée dans ledit troisième substrat (15).


     
    2. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un film de lamination (14) comprenant un polymère disposé entre ledit premier substrat (3) et ledit troisième substrat (15) pour au moins laminer les premier et deuxième substrats (2, 3) l'un à l'autre.
     
    3. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit capuchon (47) comprend de préférence une arête de positionnement (18) sur un côté dudit capuchon (47) faisant face audit troisième substrat (15) et dans lequel encore plus préférablement ladite arête de positionnement (18) vient en prise avec ou est située très près d'une surface intérieure d'un trou (11) formé dans ledit troisième substrat (15).
     
    4. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans lequel ladite bague de protection (16) est fixée à la surface principale externe dudit premier substrat (3) par un ruban adhésif (17).
     
    5. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon la revendication 3, dans lequel ledit capuchon (47) est fixé à une surface externe dudit troisième substrat (15) par un adhésif (19).
     
    6. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans lequel une partie du tube de mise sous vide (8) s'étendant au-delà de la surface externe du premier substrat (3) est scellée.
     
    7. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon une quelconque revendication précédente, comprenant en outre une pluralité d'entretoises (15) disposées dans ladite cavité (6) entre lesdits premier et deuxième substrats (2, 3).
     
    8. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon une quelconque revendication précédente, dans lequel ledit joint (4) comprend de la fritte de verre et/ou ledit joint (4) comprend du vanadium et/ou du verre de soudure.
     
    9. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon la revendication 1,
    dans lequel lesdits substrats sont des substrats en verre (2, 3) ;
    dans lequel ledit joint est un joint de bord périphérique (4) disposé à proximité d'une périphérie desdits premier et deuxième substrats en verre espacés (2, 3), ;
    dans lequel ledit tube de mise sous vide (8) s'étend depuis ledit premier substrat (3), à travers au moins une partie dudit premier substrat (3) et s'étendant au-delà de la surface externe dudit premier substrat (3) ;
    dans lequel ladite bague de protection (16) est disposée autour d'une partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) ;
    dans lequel ledit troisième substrat (15) comprend l'ouverture (11) dans laquelle ledit tube de mise sous vide (8) et ladite bague de protection (16) sont situés.
     
    10. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon la revendication 9, comprenant en outre un film de lamination (14) disposé entre ledit premier substrat (3) et ledit troisième substrat (15).
     
    11. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 10, dans lequel ledit capuchon (47) comprend une arête de positionnement (18) disposée autour d'une périphérie dudit capuchon (47) sur un côté dudit capuchon (47) faisant face audit troisième substrat (15), dans lequel ladite arête de positionnement (18) vient en prise de préférence avec une surface intérieure d'un trou (11) formé dans ledit troisième substrat (15).
     
    12. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 11,
    dans lequel une hauteur de ladite bague de protection (16) est inférieure ou sensiblement égale à une hauteur d'une partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) qui s'étend au-delà d'une surface externe dudit premier substrat (3).
     
    13. Ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 12, dans lequel ledit joint (4) comprend un ou plusieurs parmi le vanadium, le baryum et le zinc.
     
    14. Procédé de fabrication d'un ensemble fenêtre isolé sous vide selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, le procédé comprenant :

    une fourniture d'un substrat en verre (2) ;

    un positionnement d'une pluralité d'entretoises (15) sur ledit substrat (2) ;

    un dépôt d'un matériau de scellement de bord le long de sensiblement une périphérie d'une première surface dudit substrat (2) ;

    une fourniture d'un autre substrat en verre (3) sur ledit premier substrat en verre (2) prenant en sandwich lesdites entretoises (15) et ledit matériau de scellement de bord entre eux ;

    un chauffage dudit matériau de scellement de bord pour former un joint (4) de manière à former une cavité (6) entre lesdits substrats (2, 3) ;

    une évacuation de ladite cavité (6) par l'intermédiaire d'un tube de mise sous vide (8) prévu dans l'un des substrats (2, 3) ;

    un scellement dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) en faisant fondre une partie de celui-ci ;

    un placement d'une bague de protection (16) entourant une périphérie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8), dans lequel un diamètre interne de ladite bague de protection (16) est suffisamment grand pour recevoir une partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) prévu dans l'un des substrats (2, 3) sans venir en contact avec ladite partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) prévu dans l'un des substrats (2, 3) lorsque ladite bague de protection (16) est disposée par dessus et/ou sur ledit substrat (3) fournissant ledit tube de mise sous vide (8) ;

    une lamination d'un troisième substrat (15) sur au moins un desdits substrats en verre (2, 3), ledit troisième substrat (15) comprenant une ouverture (11) définie à l'intérieur de celui-ci à travers laquelle s'étend au moins une partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) ; et

    une fourniture d'un capuchon (47) sur ladite ouverture (11) dans ledit troisième substrat (15) dans lequel ladite bague de protection (16) et au moins ladite partie dudit tube de mise sous vide (8) sont disposées.


     




    Drawing

















    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description