Insulated glass unit

Abstract

 An insulated glass unit with two panes 1,2 and an inserted intermediate sheet 3. The intermediate sheet 3 is free to expand thermally inside the enclosed space. The intermediate sheet 3 is non structual and positioned between the panes by protruding position means 4,7,8,9,10,11,12 which are provided at the periphery of the intermediate sheet 3 without engagement with the spacer 5. The protruding position means 4 extend transversally in opposite directions. The intermediate sheet 3 enhances the thermal performance of the insulated glass unit while maintaining a low weight and easy production.

Description

[0001] The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to an insulated glass unit and more particularly to an intermediate sheet in the insulated glass unit.

Background

[0002] Windows, doors or buildings may have insulated glass units (IGU) where two or more panes are separated by a spacer. Some IGU employ an intermediate sheet between the two outer panes. There exist various arrangements for holding such intermediate sheet. GB1398434 shows an intermediate sheet held by a clip spacer. The objective is that the clip spacer is resilient an urges the two panes outwards towards the frame.

[0003] EP1101955B1 shows an intermediate sheet which is held by a stiffening profile 4. The profile is in contact with the outer panes and able to slide on the outer panes. The objective is impact resistance.

[0004] EP1529921 shows a vacuum glass unit with an intermediate sheet. Vacuum units employ very small gaps between the panes (0,1mm). The panes are spaced by spacer strips 32 which extend along the width of the window. The objective is to compensate the temperature expansion.

[0005] WO94/24398 shows an intermediate sheet positioned by spacing elements 21 fig. 1 and 62 fig. 10. The objective is to space apart the panes by using the intermediate sheet as a spacer and omit the structural edge spacer by using a hermetic edge seal D.

Summary

[0006] It would be desirable to provide an aesthetic intermediate sheet with

[0007] minimal disruption of the view and daylight. It would be desirable to provide an insulated glass unit with an intermediate sheet where the glass unit has a low weight. Further it would be desirable to provide a glass unit with an intermediate sheet providing reduced heat loss while maintaining a high reliability i.e. long lifetime.
And further it would be desirable to accommodate the intermediate sheet such that assembly is efficient and heat expansion is tolerated.

[0008] The invention relates to an insulated glass unit according to claim 1. Favourable embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.
Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, means, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, means, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0009] Any reference to a/the sheet is referring to the at least one intermediate sheet 3 between the panes 1,2.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The aspects of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail, reference being made to the enclosed drawings, in which certain examples are shown. These disclosed aspects may, however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited; rather, these aspects are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosed aspects to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of an insulated glass unit.

Fig. 2 shows an IGU with an intermediate sheet.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a perspective view of an intermediate sheet corner.

Fig. 5 and 6 show different IGU spacer arrangements.

Fig. 7-10 show different examples of protruding position means.

Fig. 11 shows an example of the intermediate sheet 3 seen from above and from the side.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0011] Typically insulated windows with 3 or more panes employ identical sealed spacers between the panes. This is simple but a cost and production intensive solution which results in heavier and thicker glass units. The present disclosure employs a light weight non glass intermediate sheet which does not depend on sealed the spacers but rather employs protruding position means 4.

[0012] Vacuum insulated glass units may employ an intermediate sheet with pillars, but the objective is to provide high compressive strength by small high strength pillars which are provided regularly on the entire surface. The present disclosure differs at least by employing protruding position means 4 located at the proximity of the intermediate sheet periphery. And the present insulated glass unit does not have vast compressive forces towards the protruding position means, so the intermediate sheet 3 may expand substantially free by thermal expansion.

[0013] It is an objective to provide a low weight insulated glass unit which accommodates an intermediate sheet 3 to enhance the insulation while maintaining low weight. Further it is an objective to minimize the visual obstruction by the intermediate sheet. The intermediate sheet may further provide a number of advantages because the sheet may efficiently be fitted during production and have a coating providing light and/or heat controlling properties.

[0014] One objective is to accommodate the thermal expansion of the intermediate sheet 3. The intermediate sheet 3 has freedom to expand at room temperature, because the intermediate sheet 3 height and width is substantially smaller than the enclosed height and width of the insulated glass unit.

[0015] Figure 1 shows a cross section example of insulated glass unit comprising a first pane 1 and a second pane 2 spaced apart by a spacer 5. A spacer 5 is sealed to provide a sealed enclosure between the panes 1,2. The seal may be a first seal 6a and a secondary seal 6b which may optionally extend across the whole spacer exterior 6c. The spacer may have a hollow interior containing a supply of desiccant material configured to remove moisture from the enclosed space between the panes 1,2. The pressure in the sealed enclosure in the insulated glass unit may be substantially atmospheric.
The spacer 5 has a body between the spacer interior surface 5a and spacer exterior surface 5b. The insulated glass unit has an interior enclosure defined by the panes 1,2 and the spacer 5 body interior surface 5a.
Figure 2 shows a similar cross section example of insulated glass unit further comprising an intermediate sheet 3. The intermediate sheet 3 is positioned in the enclosure by protruding position means 4. The protruding position means 4 are adapted accommodate the intermediate sheet 3 between the panes 1,2. The protruding position means 4 are not hidden by the spacer 5. The protruding position means 4 are not engaged with the spacer 5. The position means 4 may be substantially translucent to minimize the disruption of the view through the insulated glass unit. The protruding position means 4 are configured to maintain a distance between the panes 1,2 and the intermediate sheet 3.
The protruding position means 4 are provided on both sides of the intermediate sheet 3. The protruding position means may be pillars 4 or the protruding position means 4 may be longitudinal profiles 4 extending along the intermediate sheet 3 edge. Various examples of the protruding position means 4 are shown later.

[0016] The sheet 3 is low weight meaning that the sheet is non glass.
Preferably the sheet 3 is polymer such as PMMA, acryl, polycarbonate, PET etc. Optionally the sheet 3 may be laminated with other non glass sheet or laminated with a thin glass sheet or contain particles etc. Generally non glass sheets such as polymer sheets are lighter than glass sheets and it is hereby possible to reduce the weight. Further polymer sheets tend to have greater thermal expansion than glass which needs to be accommodated. The protruding position means 4 are prefreably adapted to appear substantially transparent and may be made from same material as the intermediate sheet 3.

[0017] Generally the intermediate sheet 3 is positioned by first protruding position means extending substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a first direction and
a second protruding position means extending substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a second opposite direction. The phrase 'extending transversally' is broadly speaking, that the protruding position means 3 have a body that occupies a transverse space and not limited to perpendicular.

[0018] Figure 3 shows an example of a perspective view of the intermediate sheet 3. The protruding position means 4 may be provided spaced apart by a certain distance. In this example the protruding position means are pillars 4 which may have any profiled shape and be solid or hollow like a pipe. Generally the protruding position means 4 may be secured to the sheet 3 for example by welding or adhesive. In particular welding may be favourable when the protruding position means 4 are from similar material like the sheet 3.

[0019] Figure 4 shows an example of a perspective view of the intermediate sheet 3. The protruding position means 4 may be curved projections 4. The projections may be provided spaced apart by a certain distance and undulated so for example first half of the projections extend transversally away from the sheet 3 in a first direction and the second half of the projections extend transversally away from the sheet 3 in a second opposite direction. Here the protruding position means 4 are integral and embedded with the intermediate sheet 3.

[0020] Figure 5 and 6 show examples of different popular structual spacers that hold panes 1,2 apart. Fig. 5 shows a U shaped spacer and fig. 6 shows a hollow tubular spacer. The spacer may also be a warm edge spacer made from foam or plastics. Combinations of plastic spacers enclosed by metal or vice versa may also be employed. The spacer and associated sealant (not shown on fig. 5,6) seals the interior enclosure of the insulated glass unit.

[0021] The protruding position means 4 may be provided associated with the edge of the intermediate sheet 3. For example figure 7 shows the protruding position means which may be legs 7 located at the edge of the sheet 3 and extend substantially transversally from the sheet plane in both directions. The legs 7 may be integral with the sheet 3 and formed by deformation or drawing. The legs 7 may be separate profiles (not shown) affixed on both sides of the intermediate sheet 3. Generally elongated legs 7 or profiles enhance the stiffness of the intermediate sheet 3 and enable smaller sheet thickness and thereby lower the weight. This is particularly advantageous for roof windows that benefit from a stiff intermediate sheet 3 due to the inclined installation angle and gravity pull.

[0022] Figure 8 shows an example of the protruding position means 8 which may be a curved projection 8 which has a small obstruction of the daylight through the insulated glass unit. Such curved projection 8 may be undulated so for example the first half of the projections extend substantially transversally away from the sheet 3 plane in a first direction and the second half of the projections extend substantially transversally away from the sheet 3 plane in a second opposite direction. The curved projections 8 may be spherical or bubble like.

[0023] Figure 9 shows an example of the protruding position means 9 which is a terminal curl where a first part 9 extends in a first direction substantially transversally to the sheet plane and the second part 10 extends towards a second opposite direction. For example the protruding position means may be elastic or have an elastic portion such as a bending protion whereby the position means 4 may adapt in the transverse direction. Hereby the intermediate sheet 3 can be firmly held between the panes 1,2 without damaging the pane coatings.

[0024] Figure 10 shows an example of the protruding position means 9 which are provided by bent legs 11, 12. The protruding position means 9 i.e. legs 11,12 are bent and extend in opposite transversal directions compared to the plane of the intermediate sheet. The protruding position means 9 i.e. legs 11,12 extend alternating in a first direction and in a second opposite direction.

[0025] The protruding position means 4,7,8,9,10 are provided on the intermediate sheet 3 and position the intermediate sheet 3 inside the enclosed insulated glass unit by extending transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 and spacing the intermediate sheet from the panes 1,2.

[0026] The intermediate sheet 3 is positioned between the panes 1,2 autonomously from the spacer, meaning the sheet 3 does not rely on the spacer 5 to keep the distance to the panes 1,2.

[0027] Figure 11 shows another example of the intermediate sheet 3 and the protruding position means 11,12 which in this example are a substantially continuous elongated position means 11,12 along the periphery of the sheet 3 i.e. along the four edges. The protruding position means 11,12 extend in opposite directions and thereby position the intermediate sheet 3 in between the panes1,2. Two opposing edges have first protruding position means 11 extending substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a first direction and the other two opposing edges have second protruding position means 12 extending substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a second opposite direction. The protruding position means 11,12 may be symmetrical and the opposing edges of the intermediate sheet 3 may extend transversally in the same direction. The protruding position means 11,12 may be a substantially continuous bend along the periphery of the four edges. The configuration in this example is simple to produce while providing high rigidity to the intermediate sheet 3. This is advantageous because the intermediate sheet 3 thickness and weight thereby may be reduced.

[0028] Generally the intermediate sheet 3 is substantially non structual i,e. does not hold the panes 1,2 apart and it is substantially autonomous from the spacer 5. Hereby the intermediate sheet 3 may easily be inserted during production of the IGU.

[0029] The disclosure has mainly been described above with reference to a few aspects. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other aspects than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the disclosure and as further explained below:

For example the intermediate sheet may be constructed from more
sheets, including sheets held together or laminated. Different materials may also be employed, such as glass-polymer laminates.

For example the intermediate sheet 3 needs not be in the centre
between the panes 1,2.

For example the spacer or intermediate sheet 3 may be adapted to
hold a mutin bar or sun screening.

Pane 1,2 is to be understood as a window substrate such as window
pane or a window glass, which may be laminated, coated, tempered etc.

Claims

1. An insulated glass unit comprising at least:

two panes 1,2 spaced apart by a spacer 5 at their marginal edges, and

an intermediate sheet 3 arranged between the two panes,

the spacer 5 and the panes 1,2 define an interior enclosure with a circumference defined by the spacer body 5a and the intermediate sheet 3 is substantially smaller than this circumference, and

the intermediate sheet 3 transverse position between the panes 1,2 is maintained substantially autonomously from the spacer 5,

characterised in that,

the intermediate sheet 3 comprises protruding position means 4,7,8,9,10,11,12 located in proximity of the intermediate sheet 3 periphery only

and wherein

a first protruding position means 4,7,8,9,11 extend substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a first direction and

a second protruding position means 4,7,8,10,12 extend substantially transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 in a second opposite direction.

2. An insulated glass unit according to previous claim, wherein the protruding position means 4,7,8,9,10,11,12 are integral with the intermediate sheet 3.

3. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the first protruding position means 11 are associated to two opposed edges of the intermediate sheet 3 and the second protruding position means 12 are associated to two other opposed edges of the intermediate sheet 3.

4. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the protruding position means 4 are undulated so they in turn extend in opposite transversal directions compared to the plane of the intermediate sheet 3.

5. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein at room temperature there is a gap between the spacer body 5 and the intermediate sheet 3 wherein the gap is configured to accommodate the thermal expansion of the intermediate sheet 3.

6. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the first protruding position means and the second protruding position means each extend transversally from the plane of the intermediate sheet 3 a distance corresponding to or greater than the thickness of the intermediate sheet 3.

7. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the protruding position means 4 are adapted to appear substantially transparent and preferably are made from similar material as the intermediate sheet.

8. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the intermediate sheet 3 is form a lighter material than the panes 1,2, preferably the panes are from glass material and the intermediate sheet 3 is from polymer material.

9. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the protruding position means 4 consist exclusively of protruding position means 4 located in proximity of the intermediate sheet 3 periphery.

10. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the protruding position means 4 are configured to maintain a distance between the intermediate sheet 3 and the panes 1,2.

11. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein at least some of the protruding position means 4 have an elastic portion 9 such as a bending protion enabling the position means 4 to adapt in the transverse direction.

12. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the protruding position means 7, 11,12 are elongated and extend along the margins of the intermediate sheet 3 to enhance the intermediate sheet 3 stiffness.

13. An insulated glass unit according to any previous claims, wherein the intermediate sheet 3 is substantially non structual i,e. does not hold the panes apart.

Drawing