CA1177333A - Frame for spacing glass panes - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:

A frame having a number of sides of pre-determined lengths separated by corners and used with a pair of parallel glass panes to hold the panes apart so as to form an insulating window having an enclosed area. The frame is obtained from a continuous tubular bar which is bent to form the sides and which has an inner chamber as well as an inward wall, the latter wall facing the enclosed area and desiccant granules being housed within the chamber. The cuts are made to extend fully trans-versely of and through the inward wall so as to open into the inner chamber and they are provided at the aforesaid corners, each cut having facing edges defining a predetermined axial width such that, upon bending of the tubular bar at the cuts to define the frame, the facing edges abut one another so that the desiccant granules are prevented from escaping through the cuts.

Description

~177333 The present invention ~elatec to manu~acturing a frame for use in forming an insulated window construction of spaced glass panes from a continuous length of a tubular bar containing granules of hygroscopic or desiccant material of given size. The bar has a wall section forming the inside border surface or inner wall of the frame, this inner wall having openings or passages communicating between the hygroscopic material in the bar and the region between the spaced panes. In particular, the invention is directed to -forming corners of the spacing frame by cutting the inner wall in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bar, and bending the bar sections extending between the cuts relative to each other to form the frame corners.
Various frames for spacing glass panes to form an insulated arrangement of spaced glass panes are known and disclosed, for example, in ~.S. patents Nos.3,540,118 and 3,380,145, and Canadian patent No. 1,006,052.- The spacing - frames are usually made of relati~ely light weight metal bar sections. The bar sectLons may be provided in lengths cor-responding to sides of the finished frame, the frame beingformed by joining the individual bar sections together by way of special corner connectors or pieces provided at the frame corners, as disclosed in Canadian patent No. 1,00~,052. The ends of the separate bar sections may abut each other _ at the frame corners. Further, miter cuts can be made transverse to the longitudinal direction of a tubular bar of given '; length, thereby forming connected bar sec-tions which can be ~ bent at the miter cuts to form the frame corners, the ends o~
' the tubular bar being joined by a single connecting piece. Such a construction is disclosed in ~.S. Patent No. 3,380,145.
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The tubular bar sections of the known spacing frames each contain granules of hygroscopic or desiccant material, this material being well known and commercially available.
Slots or perforations are provided in the wall sections of the bars which face the region between the glass panes to allow the desiccant material to absorb moisture from this region.
The spacing frame corners, whether formed by butt-joining of the bar sections, using a miter cut, or by the use of separate corner pieces, are considered to be weak points in an insulating glass assembly, requiring careful working and special processing.
Nevertheless, the known corner joints have been the subject of complaints, particularly in insulating glass pane assemblies which are exposed to extreme environments, for example, swimming pool enclosures or workshop areas.
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; German Patent No. 2,160,847 discloses an insulating glass assembly which consists of two or more glass panes and a spacing frame arranged between the edges of the panes. The .', 1, .
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pane edges are joined to the spacer with a plastic compound, and the spacer has a bore extending longitudinally therein , for containing a desiccant. A number o~ openings are provided in the spacer communicating between the longitudinal bore and the surface of the spacer which faces the region between the glass panes. The spacer forms the central longitudinal portion of a rigid bar, the bar having longitudinally extending grooves in its sides for receiving the edges of the glass panes. The bar therefore has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the central portion of which includes the spacer with its central bore.

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Assembly of the insulating glass assenbly of German Patent No. 2,160,847 is effected by inserting the edges of the glass panes into the outer grooves of the bar, and pressing the sides of the bar which bound the grooves against the glass panes. Such assembly is difficult, if not impossible, to realize in practice. For example, in order to properly seal the glass panes to the rigid bar including the spacer, the sides of the bar must be pressed against the panes. This pressing or rolling of the sides of the bar generally results in breakage of the gl~ss panes. Also, this patent discloses the cutting of the bar in the form of a V at locations corresponding to the corners of the frames to be formed, and then bending the individual connccted bar sections relative to each other. The bar is cut down to its base so that it is cut in V form over nearly its entire height at the corner regions i, .
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Il 3 Il -~4- 1 ~ 1177333 to obtaln a substantlally mitered jolnt. Thls method of formlng the frame corners is also undesirable due to the presence of the granules of desiccant provided in the central bore o~ the spacer portion of the bar. As soon as the V cuts are made, and the bar sections thus formed are handled to form the frame, the desiccant within the spacer portion of the bar will spill out from the central bore in the spacer, the bore phaving been Qpened to the outside by the V cuts. Inasmuch as a spacing frame for insulating glass panes must include desiccant to prevent moisture from forming on the inner `~ surfàces of the glass panes, this method is, once again, not suitable.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other shortcomings in the prior spacing frames.
- Another object of the present invention is to pro- ~t~
vide a method of preparing tubular bars filled with granules of hygroscopic or desiccant material so that they can be bent to form spacing frames without providing V-shaped miter cuts in the bar.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is broadly claimed herein a method of manufacturing a frame having a number of sides of predetermined lengths separated by corners, said frame being intended for use with a pair of parallel glass panes to hold said panes apart thereby forming an insulating window having an enclosed area within said frame and between said panes, said frame being obtained from a continuous straight tubular bar defining an inner chamber to be filled with desiccant granules and having an inner frame wall intended to face said enclosed area, said tmethod comprising: making cuts extending fully transversely of said inner wall and through said inner wall to thereby open into said chamber, said cuts being provided along said bar at loaations where said corners are to~be.formed, each . cut having facing edge's defining a predetermined axial width such that, upon bending of said tubular bar at said cuts to define said.frame, said facing edges abut one another so that desiccant granuIes are prevented from ~ .
escaping through said cuts; filling'said chamber with said desiccant gr'anules, imprisoning said granules in sald chamber and bending said tubuIar bar at said cuts so as to form said frame.
10. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is likèwise broadly claimed herein a frame having a number of sides of predetermined-lengths separated by corners, said frame being intended for use with a pair of parallel glass panes to hold said panes apart thereby forming an insulating window having an enclosed area . within said frame and between said panes, said frame comprising: a continuous tubular-bar bent to form said . sides, said tubular bar having an inner chamber and an '' inward wall adapted to face said enclosed area;
20. desiccant granuIes within said chamber; wherein cuts . . extend fully transversely of said inward wall and through said inward wall to thereby open into said chamber, said cuts being provided at said corners; each cut having facing edges abutting one another to prevent escape of said granules from said chamber.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an edge ' 30 of an insulating glass assembly including a spacing frame;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a tubular bar having a cut therein according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is.a perspective view of the tubular bar in Fig. 2 after it has been.bent to form a frame corner;

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- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of part of a tubular bar having a number of cuts made therein accordinc3 to the present invention;

, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bar in Fig. 4 , 5 after it has been bent to form a frame corner;
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Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view, partly in longitudinal cross-section, of the tubular bar in Fig. 4 in the region of the cuts;

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Fig. 7 is a side view of the frame corner formed on the bar in Fig. 5;
.,, f Fig. 8 is a fragmented plan view of a spacing frame which has been formed according to the present invention;
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Fig. 9 is a perspective view of part of a second form ~ of tubular bar having a number of cuts therein according to '~ 15 the present invention;

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Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the bar in Fig. 9 after it has been bent to form a frame corner;

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Fig. 11 is a perspective vlew of part o~ a third form of tubular bar having a number o~ cuts thereln according to the present invention; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bar in Fig. 11 after it has been bent to form a frame corner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In Fig. 1, two glass panes 1 and 2 are spaced from each other by a spacing frame 3 which is made of a relatively light weight metal tubular bar or element 20. The bar 20 as shown in Fig. 1 is known in the art. sar 20 has a wall section or inner wall 4 which forms the inside border of the frame 3, inner wall 4 having slots or passages 5 formed in a central longitudinal joint thereof. Bar 20 has side walls 6 which extend in a concave manner from inner wall or section 4 and then bend toward each other to join another wall which forms the outside border or outer wall of the frame 3.
A permanent elastic sealing and adhesive compound 7 is applied between the side walls 6 in the region of the wall section 4 and the inner surfaces of the glass panes 1 and 2 to ensure proper bonding of the glass panes to the frame 3.
A permanent, elastic sealing compound 8 is provided between the inner surfaces of the glass panes 1 and 2 in the region of the outside border of the frame 3. All bars which can be used in the manufacture of the spacing frame 3 are tubular bars or elements, each having a hollow interior region or inner chamber 9. A hygroscopic or desiccant material 19 is provided in the chamber 9 of the bar 20, this material absorbing moisture from an enclosed area 10 between glass panes 1 and 2 through the passages 5 formed in the longitudinal joint in the wall section 4 of the bar 20. The desiccant is commercially available in the form of granules about 1 to 2 mm in diameter.

1~77333 The manufacture of the spacing frame 3 begins with the selection of the tubular bar 20 which has a length ~: `corresponding to the perimeter of the spacing frame to be produced. At those locations where the frame corners are to ~'~ be formed, the bar 20 is cut in a direction transverse to its ;. longitudinal axis through the wall section 4, as shown in , Fig. 2. The depth t of the cut 11 corresponds at least to ~ the thickness s of the section 4. Thereafter, sections A
.; and B of the bar 20 which extend longitudinally from the .i 10 edges of the cut 11 are bent relative to each other as indicated by arrow 12, thus forming a frame corner as shown in Fig. 3. In accordance with this method, the sides 13 of . ` the frame corners are not significantly deformed, and no ~,. bulging occurs in the region of the sides. During bending of the bar 20r the corners including the sides 13 are care-fully guided in an appropriate tool to prevent bulging of t~e sides 13 at the coFneFs.

1~77333 tt ,i , `: i The present method also contemplates the provision of several, preferably three, cuts 11' transversely of the wall section 4 where a corner is to be formed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Webs 14 are thus provided bètween the individual cuts 11'.
The width or extent b of each of the individual cuts 11' in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bar 20 is t,''~ ~ substantially equal to the width or axial extent c of each r~ r~ 6~
` of the webs 14. The depth of the cuts 11' is pcrfera~, selected to be slightly greater than that of the thickness s of the wall section 4 of the bar 20.
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When the bar 20 is bent at the region of the cuts 11' as indicated-by arrow 12' in Fig. 4, the two outermost edges 15, s 16 bounding the cuts i1' abut one another (Fig. 7), and the webs 14 close together. Substantially smooth continuous ~15 surfaces are formed on the sides 13 of the corner thus formed.
The frame corner and the resulting orientation of the edges 15,16 of the cuts 11' is shown in Fig. 7.

As an example, for a tubular bar 20 having a wall i! section 4 about 12 mm wide, the entire axial extent or width C
of the cuts 11' tFig. 6) is selected to be about 6mm. The cuts 11' are each about lmm in axial width b, and the webs 14 are each about 1.5 mm in axial width c, providing the total axial width C of the cuts and webs of 6 ~m. Since the cuts 11' are relatively narrow, the bar 20 may be previously filled with , _~o _ 1~77333 r desiccant, or filled after making the cuts 11'. The open ends of bar 20 are then plugged, so that the desiccant 19 can not escape. The desiccant is prevented from escapin~ through , ~ ~ the cuts 11', because of the dimension selected for the axial width b of each of the cuts 11'.

~; Each set of cuts 11' is located in the bar 20 so that the ends 17,18 of the bar lie along a straight side of the frame, as shown in Fig. 8. The ends 17,18 can be joined with a simple coupling member or with a suitable part extending between the ends 17,18. Coupling of the ends 17,18 is thus at a portion of the frame which can be easily worked on during the manufacture of an insulating glass assembly. Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned weak points in the prior insulating glass assemblies.
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The present invention applies to tubular bars having cross-sections other than that of the bar 20 shown in Figs. 1-8.
Figs. 9-12 illustrate, for example, tubular bars 22 and 24 each having cross-sections different than that of the bar 20. The - bars 2?,24 are arranged to contain desiccant or hygroscopic material in their interior regions 26,28 respectively.
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- The bar~ 22 of Figs. 9 and 10 is formed from a flat metal strip which has been folded into a closed rectangular cross-section by guide rollers. Bar 22 has a slot 30 extending longitudinally and centrally in its wall section 32 which ~177333 ..
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faces the region between the glass panes between which the c~ spacing frame formed by the bar 22 is placed. The slot 30 thus allows desiccant placed within interior region 26 of bar 22 to absorb moisture from the region between the glass panes.
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In Fig. 9, the bar 22 has a set of three cuts 34 through its wall section 32, the cuts 34 extending transversely , to the longitudinal axis of the bar 22. Webs 36 are thus provid-ed between the cuts 34. The depths of the cuts 34, their ,: . .
axial width, and the axial width of each of the webs 36 is selected as discussed above in connection with the bar 20 of Figs. 1-8. In Fig. 10, the bar 22 has been bent to form a spacing frame corner, the corner having sides 40 which extend smoothly in the region of the cuts with no bulging.

The bar 24 of Figs. 11 and 12 is drawn from a light metal alloy, the bar 24 having a longitudinally extending recess 38 formed centrally in its wall section 41 which faces the region between the glass panes between which the spacing frame formed by the bar 24 is to be placed. Sets of perforations 21 extending through the wall section 41 are arranged in the recess 38 to enable desiccant placed within the interior region 28 of the bar 24 to absorb moisture from the region between the space~. glass panes.
In Fig. 11, the bar 24 has three cuts 42 in its wall section 41, the cuts 42 extending transversély of the longitudinal axis of the bar 24 to provide webs 44 between the cuts 42. The dimensions of the cuts 42 and webs 44 are selected as discussed above in connec-tion with the bar 20 of Figs. 1-8. In Fig. 12, the bar 24 has ' , I --~2--1. ~

been bent to form a frame corner, the corner havinq sides 46 which are substantially smooth and do not bulge.

The present invention is not limited to spacing frames c~So formed of light metal tubular bars, bu-t can ~ be success-S fully applied to bars which are drawn or rolled of, for example, steel. In all cases, the wall section of the bar which faces the region between the glass panes provides a perfect inner border for the glass pane assembly, and the sides of the frame corners remain substantially planar so that the width of the spacing frame remains uniform at these locations. Although the surface of the bar facing away from the region between the glass panes may be deformed at the frame corners, this has not been found to affect the quality or strength of the spacing frame.
In fact open regions provided outside the frame corners as a result of deformation of the bar can be filled with sealing compound to further enhance sealing of the glass panesat the frame corners.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illu`strate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

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Claims (17)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method of manufacturing a frame having a number of sides of predetermined lengths separated by corners, said frame being intended for use with a pair of parallel glass panes to hold said panes apart thereby forming an insulating window having an enclosed area within said frame and between said panes, said frame being obtained from a continuous straight tubular bar defining an inner chamber to be filled with desiccant granules and having an inner frame wall intended to face .
said enclosed area, said method comprising:
- making cuts extending fully transversely of said inner wall and through said inner wall to thereby open into said chamber, said cuts being provided along said bar at locations where said corners are to be formed; each cut having facing edges defining a predetermined axial width such that, upon bending of said tubular bar at said cuts to define said frame, said facing edges abut one another so that said desiccant granules are prevented from escaping through said cuts;
- filling said chamber with said desiccant granules, imprisoning said granules in said chamber and bending said tubular bar at said cuts so as to form said frame.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising providing said cuts in groups with one group at each corner, wherein each such group comprises at least two closely adjacent cuts of equal width defining a web therebetween.

3. The method of claim 2, including selecting the width of said web to be substantially equal to the width of each cut.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each group comprises three adjacent cuts thereby forming two webs extending transversely of the bar between each pair of adjacent cuts.

5. The method of claim 4, including selecting the width of each web to be substantially equal to the width of each cut.

6. The method of claims 1, 2 or 3, including selecting the width of said cut to be in the range of from about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters.

7. The method of claims 1, 2 or 3, including selecting the depth of said cut to be at least equal to the thickness of said inner wall.

8. The method according to claim 4, including selecting the width of each cut to be in the range of from about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters.

9. A frame having a number of sides of pre-determined lengths separated by corners, said frame being intended for use with a pair of parallel glass panes to hold said panes apart thereby forming an insulating window having an enclosed area within said frame and between said panes, said frame comprising: a continuous tubular bar bent to form said sides, said tubular bar having an inner chamber and an inward wall adapted to face said enclosed area; desiccant granules within said chamber; wherein cuts extend fully transversely of said inward wall and through said inward wall to thereby open into said chamber, said cuts being provided at said corners; each cut having facing adges abutting one another to prevent escape of said granules from said chamber.

10. A frame according to claim 9, wherein said inward wall has a recess extneding longitudinally of said tubular bar, communicating with said enclosed area and having a bottom with perforations spaced therealong communicating.

with said desiccant chamber; said bar having an outer wall and a pair of side walls extending between said inward and said outer walls, the inner surfaces of said walls forming said inner chamber in which said desiccant granules are housed;
wherein said corners each comprises more than one of said cuts defining webs therebetween.

11. A frame, according to claim 9, wherein the width of said cuts and of said webs are approximately equal.

12. A frame, according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein each corner has three of said cuts.

13. A frame, according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said cuts have a width in the range of 1 to 1.5 mm.

14. A frame, according to claims 10 or 11, wherein said side walls are stepped inwardly toward one another in the direction extending from said inward wall toward said outer wall.

15. A frame, according to claims 10 or 11, wherein said side walls extend substantially integrally at said corners and form corner sides which are substantially smooth.

16. A frame, according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said inward wall has a recess extending longitudinally of said tubular bar and communicating with said enclosed area, said recess having a bottom provided with perforations spaced therealong and communicating with said desiccant chamber, said perforations having a size selected to prevent escape of said granules from said chamber.

17. A frame, according to claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said inward wall is formed with a slot extending longitudinally of said tubular bar and providing communication between said chamber and said enclosed area, said slot having a width of a size selected to prevent escape of said granules from said chamber.