CA1163112A - Evacuated glass tile - Google Patents
Evacuated glass tileInfo
- Publication number
- CA1163112A CA1163112A CA000390921A CA390921A CA1163112A CA 1163112 A CA1163112 A CA 1163112A CA 000390921 A CA000390921 A CA 000390921A CA 390921 A CA390921 A CA 390921A CA 1163112 A CA1163112 A CA 1163112A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tile
- glass
- gas
- nipple
- evacuated
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 19
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 210000002445 nipple Anatomy 0.000 claims description 15
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000006060 molten glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000008022 sublimation Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000859 sublimation Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000007511 glassblowing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
- E04C1/42—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings of glass or other transparent material
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/62—Insulation or other protection; Elements or use of specified material therefor
- E04B1/74—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls
- E04B1/76—Heat, sound or noise insulation, absorption, or reflection; Other building methods affording favourable thermal or acoustical conditions, e.g. accumulating of heat within walls specifically with respect to heat only
- E04B1/78—Heat insulating elements
- E04B1/80—Heat insulating elements slab-shaped
- E04B1/806—Heat insulating elements slab-shaped with air or gas pockets included in the slab
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides a blown glass tile which is evacuated for insulating purposes and a method of forming the blown glass tile. The tile is blown through a opening which is later sealed by means of a pressure pro-ducing source in solid state to form a gas at a temperature below 600°C which is the melting point of glass. The molded glass is then blown by means of the gas which has been formed from the pressure producing source into a mold to form a tile. The tile is sealed with the gas trapped therein and thereafter cooled which initially results in solidification of the glass and thereafter sublimation of the gas back to the solid state producing a vacuum within the now formed tile.
The present invention provides a blown glass tile which is evacuated for insulating purposes and a method of forming the blown glass tile. The tile is blown through a opening which is later sealed by means of a pressure pro-ducing source in solid state to form a gas at a temperature below 600°C which is the melting point of glass. The molded glass is then blown by means of the gas which has been formed from the pressure producing source into a mold to form a tile. The tile is sealed with the gas trapped therein and thereafter cooled which initially results in solidification of the glass and thereafter sublimation of the gas back to the solid state producing a vacuum within the now formed tile.
Description
~1~3~
~ ___________ The present invention relates to an evacuated glass tile which is particularly useful as a wall insulator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
______________ _ __ _____ In the recent past there has been a substantial move to increased building insulation as a result of the ever increasing cost of energy resources. One method of providing insulation is through the use of glass blocks.
However the insulating factor of these glass blocks is not at a maximum because the blocks are generally filled with air which prevents convection of heat energy across each block. A glass structure has been proposed in ~anadian Patent 798,079 issued November 5, 1968 to Lessings Ltd. Inc. in which a double glazed unit is evacuated for maximizing insulation of the unit.
However, this double glazed unit which is in the order of 1 square meter requires an internal supporting structure to prevent the unit from crushing inwardly under atmospheric pressure. The unit is made from two separate pieces to permit the insertion of the internal support.
After the support has been located in position the tvo pieces are fused to one another and the unit is then ~- evacuated. Accordingly the Lessings structure is expensive from a material standpoint in that extra material in the form of the internal support must be added. It is also expensive from the labour standpoint required for inserting the support within the unit and thereafter fusing the unit sections to one another. No mention is made in the patent as to how the vacuum is formed within the unit.
3 1 1 ~
_ ______________________________ The present invention provides a glass tile which is highly effecient as an insulator while at the same time being relatively simple and ine~pensive to construct.
The tile which is formed by a glass blowing method is evacuated and blown only to a size such that the tile will withstand atmospheric pressure without requiring supplementary internal supports~ The tile includes a common orifice through which it is both blown and evacuated and a cap at the orifice for maintaining the vacuum within the tile.
The tile is Eormed in a limited number of extremely easy steps and can be both blown and evacuated by a single machine adapted to perform both functions.
Therefore the cost of the tile is kept to a minimum even though it is e~tremely efficient as an insulator due to its substantial evacuation. Furthermore without the inclusion of internal supports within the tile there is very little conduction of heat energy across the tile other than at its edge regions which are small in proportion to the remainder of the tile. This of course is in contrast to prior art structure in which heat ; energy is rapidly conducted via the internal supports from one side of the tile to the other.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a glass 3 1 ~
1 formed evacuated tile according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view along the lines 10-10 of Figure l; and Figures 3 and 4 are exploded plan views showing the use of the tile of Figure 1 in the formation of insulating surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Tile 21 shown in Figure 1 is formed by a glass blowing process. After the tile has been formed it is then evacuated. The tile itself is of a size such that it will withstand atmospheric pressure without requiring any internal supports within the tile as can be seen in Figure 1. A typical tile size is 4" by 8" although this size may vary slightly. However the size of the tile cannot increase to the extent that it will collapse inwardly under normal atmospheric pressures. On the other hand it is not practical to make the tile so small that it loses most of its insulating properties.
A plurality of evacuated tiles may be set up as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to insulate an entire wall or ceiling surface. Furthermore the two layers formed in Figures 3 and 4 may be overlaid with one another to increase the overall insulation at the wall or ceiling surface.
Tiles formed according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention are both blown and evacuated through a common opening in the tile wall. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, this opening takes the form of a glass nipple although the tile may be 31~2 1 formed without a nipple. Regardless of whether or not the tile has a nipple, it may be formed according to a particularly efficient method which involves the heating of a source of material such as sulphur from the solid state to a temperature at which the source vapourizes to form a gas. This gas which is under pressure is used in blowing molten glass preferably into a mold for the formation of the tile body. The vapourization point of the gas forming source should be something below the melting temperature of the glass which is about 600 degrees ~elcius. Sulphur for example has a vapourization point of about 400 degress celcius. After the tile is completely formed in the mold it is cooled and sealed and as the tile cools the glass which hardens below 600 degrees celcius returns to the solid state while the gas used in blowing the gas maintains pressure within the tile to hold its shape in the mold. Vpon further cooling and after the glass has hardened, the gas returns to its solid state at which time a vacuum is formed within the now sealed tile body with a small residue of source material being left in the tile.
Gases other than sulphur with a vapourization point below 600 degrees celcius can also be used with the same effectiveness. Furthermore in order to reduce the pressure required to blow the molten glass into the mold, the mold itself may be partially or totally evacuated so that only a small amount of gas is needed to hold the shape of the tile within the mold.
Returning now to Figure 1, tile 21 includes a pair of large faces 23, one on either side of the tile and a `~ 3 ~ 3 ~
1 rectangular frame 25 bordering the faces. As shown in Figure 2, faces 23 are bowed slightly outwardly, i.e.
they have a convex configuration to add to the strength of the tile body which is particularly important in view of the fact that the tile is evacuated and free of any supplemental internal supports. The outward bowing of the wall therefore helps the tile to withstand atmospheric pressures.
In order to assure that these convex tiles properly seat against one another, when two or more layers are used in insulating a wall or the like, the oter frame 25 enables flat contact between adjacent tiles laid over one another. As can be seen in Figure 2, the frame 25 extends laterally outwardly beyond the convex tile faces so that there is no contact between the faces of abutting tiles.
Tile 21 includes a nipple 27 at one end of the tile through which the tile is both blown and evacuated. ~his nipple after being sealed, remains exposed along the edge of the tile. However, as can be seen in Figure 1 the tile is additionally provided with a cavity or recess 29 at the opposite end of the tile as well as a pair of ~ recesses 31 and 33 along one side of the tile. The tile ; could of course be provided with corresponding recesses on the opposite side of the tile in addition to or in lieu of recesses 31 and 33.
The cavities on tile 21 are adapted to receive an exposed nipple of an identical tile to that shown in Figure 1. Accoringly cavity 29 is positioned centrally of the endwall of the tile so that two or more tiles will 3 ~ ~ ~
1 mate flushly when fitted end to end with one another.
However, with some arrangements it may be necessary to position tiles in something other than an end to end relationship whereby cavities 31 and 33 along the side of the tile are used for receiving nipples of two side by side tiles at right angles to tile 21. Accordingly tile 21 in the embodiment shown has, as described above, a length double to that of its width, e.g. 4" by 8" and if the tile body were divided into two equal halves, cavities 31 and 33 would be positioned centrally of those halves so that the two side by side tiles would fit flushly with the side edge of the frame of tile 21.
Figures 3 and 4 show the formation of two layers of insuating surfaces using a plurality of tiles identical to tile 21. As will be seen in these Figures, when the tiles are properly positioned all of the exposed nipples are covered and a combination of 8 tiles forms a square which can be aligned with or overlaid by a second layer of similarly arranged tiles. It will be noted that the layers shown in Figures 3 and 4 are positioned such that all of the tiles forming the second layer are turned at 90 degrees to the tiles forming the first layer to maximize the strength of the arrangement and at the same time to block any small gaps that might appear between the individual tiles from one layer to the next. It will furthermore be appreciated that the frames rather than the tile faces will be in contact with one another at the interface between the two layers.
Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail it will be 3 ~
1 appreciated by those skilled in the art that variati~ns may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
' : 7 :
~ ___________ The present invention relates to an evacuated glass tile which is particularly useful as a wall insulator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
______________ _ __ _____ In the recent past there has been a substantial move to increased building insulation as a result of the ever increasing cost of energy resources. One method of providing insulation is through the use of glass blocks.
However the insulating factor of these glass blocks is not at a maximum because the blocks are generally filled with air which prevents convection of heat energy across each block. A glass structure has been proposed in ~anadian Patent 798,079 issued November 5, 1968 to Lessings Ltd. Inc. in which a double glazed unit is evacuated for maximizing insulation of the unit.
However, this double glazed unit which is in the order of 1 square meter requires an internal supporting structure to prevent the unit from crushing inwardly under atmospheric pressure. The unit is made from two separate pieces to permit the insertion of the internal support.
After the support has been located in position the tvo pieces are fused to one another and the unit is then ~- evacuated. Accordingly the Lessings structure is expensive from a material standpoint in that extra material in the form of the internal support must be added. It is also expensive from the labour standpoint required for inserting the support within the unit and thereafter fusing the unit sections to one another. No mention is made in the patent as to how the vacuum is formed within the unit.
3 1 1 ~
_ ______________________________ The present invention provides a glass tile which is highly effecient as an insulator while at the same time being relatively simple and ine~pensive to construct.
The tile which is formed by a glass blowing method is evacuated and blown only to a size such that the tile will withstand atmospheric pressure without requiring supplementary internal supports~ The tile includes a common orifice through which it is both blown and evacuated and a cap at the orifice for maintaining the vacuum within the tile.
The tile is Eormed in a limited number of extremely easy steps and can be both blown and evacuated by a single machine adapted to perform both functions.
Therefore the cost of the tile is kept to a minimum even though it is e~tremely efficient as an insulator due to its substantial evacuation. Furthermore without the inclusion of internal supports within the tile there is very little conduction of heat energy across the tile other than at its edge regions which are small in proportion to the remainder of the tile. This of course is in contrast to prior art structure in which heat ; energy is rapidly conducted via the internal supports from one side of the tile to the other.
BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a glass 3 1 ~
1 formed evacuated tile according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view along the lines 10-10 of Figure l; and Figures 3 and 4 are exploded plan views showing the use of the tile of Figure 1 in the formation of insulating surfaces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Tile 21 shown in Figure 1 is formed by a glass blowing process. After the tile has been formed it is then evacuated. The tile itself is of a size such that it will withstand atmospheric pressure without requiring any internal supports within the tile as can be seen in Figure 1. A typical tile size is 4" by 8" although this size may vary slightly. However the size of the tile cannot increase to the extent that it will collapse inwardly under normal atmospheric pressures. On the other hand it is not practical to make the tile so small that it loses most of its insulating properties.
A plurality of evacuated tiles may be set up as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to insulate an entire wall or ceiling surface. Furthermore the two layers formed in Figures 3 and 4 may be overlaid with one another to increase the overall insulation at the wall or ceiling surface.
Tiles formed according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention are both blown and evacuated through a common opening in the tile wall. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, this opening takes the form of a glass nipple although the tile may be 31~2 1 formed without a nipple. Regardless of whether or not the tile has a nipple, it may be formed according to a particularly efficient method which involves the heating of a source of material such as sulphur from the solid state to a temperature at which the source vapourizes to form a gas. This gas which is under pressure is used in blowing molten glass preferably into a mold for the formation of the tile body. The vapourization point of the gas forming source should be something below the melting temperature of the glass which is about 600 degrees ~elcius. Sulphur for example has a vapourization point of about 400 degress celcius. After the tile is completely formed in the mold it is cooled and sealed and as the tile cools the glass which hardens below 600 degrees celcius returns to the solid state while the gas used in blowing the gas maintains pressure within the tile to hold its shape in the mold. Vpon further cooling and after the glass has hardened, the gas returns to its solid state at which time a vacuum is formed within the now sealed tile body with a small residue of source material being left in the tile.
Gases other than sulphur with a vapourization point below 600 degrees celcius can also be used with the same effectiveness. Furthermore in order to reduce the pressure required to blow the molten glass into the mold, the mold itself may be partially or totally evacuated so that only a small amount of gas is needed to hold the shape of the tile within the mold.
Returning now to Figure 1, tile 21 includes a pair of large faces 23, one on either side of the tile and a `~ 3 ~ 3 ~
1 rectangular frame 25 bordering the faces. As shown in Figure 2, faces 23 are bowed slightly outwardly, i.e.
they have a convex configuration to add to the strength of the tile body which is particularly important in view of the fact that the tile is evacuated and free of any supplemental internal supports. The outward bowing of the wall therefore helps the tile to withstand atmospheric pressures.
In order to assure that these convex tiles properly seat against one another, when two or more layers are used in insulating a wall or the like, the oter frame 25 enables flat contact between adjacent tiles laid over one another. As can be seen in Figure 2, the frame 25 extends laterally outwardly beyond the convex tile faces so that there is no contact between the faces of abutting tiles.
Tile 21 includes a nipple 27 at one end of the tile through which the tile is both blown and evacuated. ~his nipple after being sealed, remains exposed along the edge of the tile. However, as can be seen in Figure 1 the tile is additionally provided with a cavity or recess 29 at the opposite end of the tile as well as a pair of ~ recesses 31 and 33 along one side of the tile. The tile ; could of course be provided with corresponding recesses on the opposite side of the tile in addition to or in lieu of recesses 31 and 33.
The cavities on tile 21 are adapted to receive an exposed nipple of an identical tile to that shown in Figure 1. Accoringly cavity 29 is positioned centrally of the endwall of the tile so that two or more tiles will 3 ~ ~ ~
1 mate flushly when fitted end to end with one another.
However, with some arrangements it may be necessary to position tiles in something other than an end to end relationship whereby cavities 31 and 33 along the side of the tile are used for receiving nipples of two side by side tiles at right angles to tile 21. Accordingly tile 21 in the embodiment shown has, as described above, a length double to that of its width, e.g. 4" by 8" and if the tile body were divided into two equal halves, cavities 31 and 33 would be positioned centrally of those halves so that the two side by side tiles would fit flushly with the side edge of the frame of tile 21.
Figures 3 and 4 show the formation of two layers of insuating surfaces using a plurality of tiles identical to tile 21. As will be seen in these Figures, when the tiles are properly positioned all of the exposed nipples are covered and a combination of 8 tiles forms a square which can be aligned with or overlaid by a second layer of similarly arranged tiles. It will be noted that the layers shown in Figures 3 and 4 are positioned such that all of the tiles forming the second layer are turned at 90 degrees to the tiles forming the first layer to maximize the strength of the arrangement and at the same time to block any small gaps that might appear between the individual tiles from one layer to the next. It will furthermore be appreciated that the frames rather than the tile faces will be in contact with one another at the interface between the two layers.
Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein in detail it will be 3 ~
1 appreciated by those skilled in the art that variati~ns may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
' : 7 :
Claims (5)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An insulating evacuated tile which is blown from glass including an exposed nipple through which said tile is both blown and evacuated, said tile being provided with at least one nipple receiving recess for receiving the nipple of a corresponding tile such that said tile mates flushly with the corresponding tile in forming an insulating surface and having a rectangular configuration with substantially parallel side walls and endwalls, the side walls being at right angles to and twice as long as the endwalls, the exposed nipple extending approximately centrally from one of said endwalls, the other of said endwalls being provided with a centrally located nipple receiving recess and at least one of said side walls being provided with a pair of nipple receiving recesses positioned in the side wall to receive the nipples of a pair of said tiles which are positioned side-by-side with one another in forming the insulating surface.
2. An insulating tile as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said tile is provided with face portions which are convex for increasing strength of said face portions, said tile further being provided with a rectangular frame bordering and extending laterally outwardly beyond said face portions for mating flushly with corresponding tiles.
3. A method of forming an evacuated glass tile comprising heating a pressure producing source in solid state to form a gas at a temperature below 600 degrees celcius, blowing molten glass by means of said gas from the pressure producing source into a mold to form a tile, sealing the tile with the gas trapped therein and thereafter, cooling the tile for solidification of the glass and causing the gas to return to the solid state thereby producing a vacuum within the tile.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the pressure source comprises sulphur in the solid state.
5. A method as claimed in Claims 3 or 4 wherein said method further comprises a step of at least partially evacuating the mold to reduce the pressure required in forming the tile within the mold.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390921A CA1163112A (en) | 1981-11-25 | 1981-11-25 | Evacuated glass tile |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390921A CA1163112A (en) | 1981-11-25 | 1981-11-25 | Evacuated glass tile |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1163112A true CA1163112A (en) | 1984-03-06 |
Family
ID=4121505
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000390921A Expired CA1163112A (en) | 1981-11-25 | 1981-11-25 | Evacuated glass tile |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1163112A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106836614A (en) * | 2015-12-06 | 2017-06-13 | 哈尔滨市三和佳美科技发展有限公司 | Vacuum glass brick |
-
1981
- 1981-11-25 CA CA000390921A patent/CA1163112A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106836614A (en) * | 2015-12-06 | 2017-06-13 | 哈尔滨市三和佳美科技发展有限公司 | Vacuum glass brick |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |