DE3435365A1 - GLAZING STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IT - Google Patents

Description

Henkel, Pfenning, Feiler, Hänzei & Meinig patent attorneys

European patent attorneys

3 / O ₁ C ^ ί R Authorized representatives in front of aern

u ο -J -J vj ο European Patent Office

'Dr. ph.l G handle. Munich

Dipl-Ing J. Pfenning. Berlin Dr rer. nai L Feiler. Munich Dipl-Ing. W Hänzei. Munich Dip! -Phys K. H Meinig. Berlin Dr.-lng. A. Butenschon. Berlin

Kurfürstendamn 170 D-1000 Berlin 15

Tel. 030 / 8812008-09 Telex 186 237 hnkld telegrams: rope defense patent

September 24, 1984 Pf / schu

LIBBEY-OWENS FORD COMPANY
Madison Avenue, Toledo, Ohio USA

Glazing construction and method of its
Manufacturing

Glazing structure and method 2U of its manufacture

The invention relates to a window structure and to a method for its manufacture and is particularly directed to a window structure with a pane of optically transparent material, for example Glass, and a seal formed from a polymeric material that polymerizes in situ and is hardened to enclose the edge area of the disk circumference. The seal will formed by a reaction injection molding process. The arrangement can, for example, be a vehicle windshield form, which can be installed in a simple manner for closing a windbreak opening surrounded by a frame which the frame is adapted to the seal arranged on the pane.

Originally, such windbreak structures consisted of a plurality of elements, including all around the peripheral edges of the Adhesive sealant arranged in a glass pane, mechanical fastening elements, for example metal clips, and sweeter decorative strips to cover the joint between the peripheral edges of the glass pane and the adjacent part of the vehicle frame.

Such constructions have of course been costly in both material and cost regarding their processing and installation.

Later, in an effort to improve the structure, window assemblies were created, as shown in U.S. Patent 4,072,340. These structures have a glass pane, an adjacent frame, and a housing or gasket of molded material, for example polyvinyl chloride, which is between the frame and the peripheral edge of the window is arranged to hold the glass sheet and frame together. They were fasteners provided at spaced locations along the frame to form the entire structure as a unit to lead into a position above the vehicle opening, the fastening elements through aligned openings have been introduced into the vehicle body and from inside the vehicle have been secured.

Other window structures disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,139 have a window structure surrounding the edge of a pane of glass

housing-like molded seal with molded-in from her protruding fasteners !! for connection to the vehicle body.

The relatively heavy frame members of the aforementioned structures are typically made of zinc or other metal or metal alloys, and the molded seals for Fastening the frame to the window adds considerable weight to any window structure In addition, as is apparent from US Pat. No. 4,072, the outer decorative frame, the Requires fasteners along its length to make the entire assembly into one To fasten the vehicle, expensive sealing technology is necessary, which makes the frame more expensive and the installation is time consuming.

In an effort to reduce the total weight of such a window structure and those associated with it To reduce costs, other window assemblies were developed, such as those described in the U.S. Patent 3,759,004 and 4,364,595. Has the structure described in the first place a trim strip surrounding its edge, which is inserted into a suitable frame opening of the The vehicle is attached by means of an adhesive between the glass and / or the Trim strips and the adjacent part of the frame pressed around the vehicle opening is. The trim strip is made of a flexible plastic material with a channel-shaped Section that wraps around the edge of the glass pane and a front decorative strip part, which extends from the edge of the front wall of the channel section, which is on the inside

of the trim strip attached around the glass, and fitted to the front wall. The triangular strip can be held in position on the glass pane by means of suitable retaining clips made of metal springs.
5

The previously last-mentioned US-PS shows a different window structure, for example as a unit is installed to close a vehicle opening from the outside. The structure has a Glass pane, a decorative frame or several trim elements surrounding the glass pane and one or more fastening elements, which are directly attached to the glass pane, from the outside attack invisibly. The fasteners are, for example, rigid metal bolts that pass through suitable adhesive are attached directly to the glass surface. The decorative The frame can be injection molded around the pane of glass.

The invention is based on the object of creating a window structure that is easy to use Weight and low cost, and which can be easily and with minimal Can install costs in a vehicle.

The invention relates to a window arrangement and to a method for its production, whereby a glass pane is used as the window material and a mounting element serving as a seal carries that encloses the peripheral edge region of the glass pane like a capsule. The seal is applied to the periphery of the disc in the spray path by placing in one end of the periphery of the disc surrounding cavity of a mold one in the cavity

polymerizable and curable compound injected is used to produce the seal. The compound performs due to the polymerization and hardening in the closed Autogenous mechanism entering into intimate contact with the cavity of the mold the cavity forming walls of the mold and with the pane of glass. Outstanding results were achieved by forming the seal from a polyurethane compound that becomes a cures microcellular elastomers.

In the method according to the invention that The material of the glass pane is only subjected to low pressures and differs in this respect of processes in which window structures with plastic frames were previously used, for example manufactured by injection molding using thermoplastic material such as polyvinyl chloride or the like, at extremely high pressures in the range of 5,000 to 20,000 psi was injected in contact with the surface of the glass sheet. In some cases own the glass panes used have relatively minor irregularities caused by their manufacturing process are conditional. These irregularities typically arise in the glass surface Has zones in which the normally flat and even glass is interrupted by a series of small corrugations caused by changes in the surface dimension. In cases where such glass is used in the injection molding process, there is significant glass breakage. The injection molding The high injection pressures required require a very considerably high clamping pressure

on the glass surface. Because the steel surface of the shape does not match the irregularities matches and cannot match, since the irregularities occur differently, These high pressures often lead to glass breakage in those zones in which the irregularities are present.

The resins preferably used in the process according to the invention are polyurethanes, preferably

IQ linear or slightly branched polypropylene glycol polyethers and diphenyl methane diisocyanates (MDI) that are slightly modified either by carbodimide or by reaction with glycols to give isocyanate compounds that are liquid at room temperature with a viscosity low enough to meet process requirements high pressure metering and mixing equipment.

Di _e resins are so set that they are polymerizes upon injection into the mold cavity where the polymerization and curing proceed. The reactivity is controlled to achieve a satisfactory polymerization and cell stabilization and a relatively short residence time in the mold in order to obtain a satisfactory structure. While curing at room temperature is possible, temperatures of the mold are maintained in the range of 60 to 71 ° C, which is also withstood by laminated glass.

The invention is intended to provide a pre-formed window structure with a pane of glass or other transparent material and with a sealing

Frame made by molding a synthetic polymer such as polyurethane in which the polyurethane is polymerized for the purpose of the sealing connection to the adjacent glass surface in such a way that the glass structure produced in this way can be closed an opening, for example a vehicle opening in a simple manner with minimal Handling, installation without additional fasteners and trim strips can take place, and wherein the frame-shaped formed from a synthetic polymer An outer trim part is provided, which closes the gap between the glass surface and the seal the vehicle opening to be closed overlaps in an aerodynamic relationship in alignment.

The invention consists of a transparent pane and one that surrounds it A seal formed from a synthetic polymer adhered to predetermined parts of the disc existing window structure is characterized in that the seal is in situ adjacent to the predetermined parts of the The disc is polymerized and the autogenous resulting from the polymerization and curing Mechanism is brought into intimate adhesive contact with the predetermined disc parts.

That serving to achieve the window structure The procedure is characterized by the following steps:

a) a transparent pane is inserted into the interior of one of a plurality of interacting Mold sections formed mold cavities

used, which in terms of its shape and its location relative to the disc of Shape of the seal corresponds and the disc surfaces lying adjacent to the circumference includes;

b) in the mold cavity is used to form the seal, polymerizable and hardenable compound injected, which, when hardened, adheres to the surfaces lying in the edge area of the pane is connected;

c) the injection pressure of the joint into the mold cavity becomes so low by control held that damage to the disc is avoided;

d) the temperature of the mold cavity, the injection of the compound and the injected portion the compound are controlled in such a way that the compound polymerizes after its injection and by the at the Polymerization resulting autogenous pressure brought into intimate contact with the mold cavity and the pane and during this Contact is cured;

e) whereupon the glazing structure is removed from the mold cavity.

The subclaims aimed at the expansion on the one hand and the method on the other hand serve the advantageous further development of the measures characterized in the preceding claims.

1 The enclosed m drawings show a 1 a rear view of the for example Embodiment of the window Window construction; construction and I an explanation of the procedure, 2 enlarged partial representation in and it means Section along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; 5 Fig. 3 enlarged sectional view of the Fig. Perimeter of the structure according to Figures 1 and 2 prior to their installation; 10 4th vertical section of the window Fig. structure according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 after installation to close the window opening; 15th Fig. 5 schematic diagrammatic dar setting of the course of the procedure; 6th enlarged individual display according to FIG. 5; 20th Fig. 7th Supervision of one of the manufacture Fig. the window structure according to FIG. 1 up to 4 used injection mold; 25th 8th enlarged sectional view Fig. along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; 9 enlarged sectional view according to line 9-9 of Figure 7; 30th Fig. and Fig. 35

Fig. 10 enlarged individual representation

the buffer supporting the pane of glass during the manufacture of the seal to be applied to the pane.
5

Figures 1 through 4 show a preformed window structure for a rear window 10 which is inserted into a corresponding opening in a vehicle body can be installed. The vehicle body has a part 12 of its rear wall with a opening to be closed. The rear wall part 12 consists of a metal sheet deformed by pressing, which is attached to a reinforcing element 14, for example by resistance welding is. The wall part 12 has an outwardly directed part with it Wall part 16 / which together with the wall part 12 forms a cavity for receiving the preformed Window structure 10. The wall part 16 ends in a sharp bend 18 which the Forms silhouette of the vehicle.

The window assembly 10 has a suitably shaped window pane 20 of clear Glass. A frame made of synthetic resin and designed as a seal 22 encloses it front, rear and peripheral edge portions of the disc 20. The outer bead or trim portion 24 the seal 22 covers, as best seen from Fig. 4, a gap between the peripheral edge of the disc 20 and the metal of the vehicle body that surrounds the opening, such as the wall portion 16 when the body 20 is installed in the vehicle.

The one extending inward from the trim part 24 Part of the seal 20 surrounds the peripheral edge and the rear edge area of the disc 20 and terminates along its rear surface. On the rear Surface of the disc 20 is also a locking ring 26 is arranged, which is a distance from the end of the seal 22. The zone between the end of the seal 22 and the Ring 26 is used to introduce a suitable adhesive material that is used in the window construction will. In addition, lugs 28 and the locking ring 26 and 26 are integral with the seal the bridge member 40 is arranged between the seal 22, the ring 26 and the lugs 28.

The lugs 28 are used to set up and align during assembly of the Structure on the vehicle and the fixation of the structure until the adhesive material hardens and the desired close bond between the preformed structure and the opening of the Vehicle manufactures.

The first step in the process of making the rear window 10 includes cleaning the front, rear and peripheral edge parts of the glass sheet 20 for preparation the application of the seal 22, the ring 26 and the tabs 28. It has been found to be useful in certain cases a layer 32 of opaque paint, glass frit or the like on a part the rear surface of the disc 20 to apply. The opaque layer is usually used when it is necessary to be located on the outside of the structure

To mask parts, for example windshield wiper drives, and this layer is also used often for protection against ultraviolet rays.

The next step in making the insert 10 is to apply a Primer coat on the previously cleaned glass surfaces. Satisfactory results have been obtained achieved by using a layer 34 of a product called "Betaseal, Glass Primer 435.18 "sold by Essex Chemical Corporation, Clifton, New Jersey, U.S.A. will. The bonding area of the glass with the seal is coated with the primer and forms a layer 34, which serves as a coupling agent for the seal, and of one moisture-sensitive material, such as Gama-Aminopropyltriäthoxysilan, which the Adhesion between Betaseal products and glass

promotes.
20th

After the application of the layer 34, a second primer layer 36 is applied over the layer upset. Satisfactory results have been obtained using one under the designation "Betaseal, Glass Primer 435.20" available product. This material is a blackout primer, which prevents ultraviolet damage to urethane seals and adhesives and the rapid formation of a hydro-

■ * ° lytically stable bond between the glass and the urethane is used. About 20 minutes after the application of layers 34 and 36, the pane of glass becomes inserted into the cavity of a mold in which the polyurethane seal 22, the locking ring 26 and the lugs 28 are formed. The form is part

an arrangement described later in detail with reference to FIGS.

It is often desirable to be on the outer surface of the trim portion 24 of the seal 22 Apply a coating 38 prior to installing the structure 10 in the vehicle. The coating 38 can be a black urethane based paint and is used to protect the Sealing material against deterioration by ultraviolet radiation from unfiltered Sunlight.

The pre-formed window insert can be installed in a suitable vehicle opening using a bead 40 of adhesive material, for example a urethane sealant, as sold by Essex Chemical Corporation under the designation "Betaseal 551.2" will. This material is on the back surface of the edge area between the Seal 22 and the locking ring 26 applied when installing the window structure with the opening of the vehicle, pushing the body into place. When building too the window opening is aligned, the lugs 28 enter with spaced apart openings 42 in the rear wall 12 and the reinforcement plate 14 of the vehicle engaged. The noses 28 have tapered lugs to facilitate alignment. When the build is in position is pressed, the conical lugs of the lugs 28 pass through the openings 42 and snap in locking positions where they keep the adhesive bead 40 in a compressed state, such as Fig. 4 shows. As soon as the adhesive material 40

is hardened, the installation is finished.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show the equipment used to manufacture the structure 10, which is shown in FIG a priming station 50 and a forming station 52 according to FIG. 5. The station 52 has a storage area 54, from which one of a mixture of polyol, a Extenders such as ethylene glycol, pigment and a catalyst and a separate one Stream from an isocyanate of a urethane metering station 56 are fed. The isocyanate is transferred from the supply station 54 to a conditioning tank 58 while the polyol mixture is fed to a tank 60. The outputs of the Tanks 58 and 60 are available with distribution cylinders or high pressure metering pumps 66 and 68 via recirculation pumps 62 and 64 in communication to the material at all times to be kept liquid in the lines leading to a mixing head 74 and in recirculation lines, which lead to the metering cylinders 66 and back. Heat exchangers 70, 72 are in the system used to maintain the required reaction temperatures.

Constant movement and temperature control are essential for the maintenance of the insoluble components in suspension at temperatures at which they are inert with each other to be reacted agent and remain liquid, but immediately go to the reaction when they are brought together.

An injection system is provided for injecting one of precisely controlled parts of the two circulating streams combined

Charge into the mold in an even, straight flow path. Measured batches of the two streams are entered into the mixing head 74 from the outputs of the cylinders 66, 68 by actuation the piston shown schematically. The injection in the mixing head 74 takes place at one Pressure in the range of 1000 to 3000 psi. The two streams are mixed together in the mixing head 74 is mixed and the mixture is transferred from the head 74 to an associated mold 76 with a pressure between 50 and 100 psi. The shape is maintained on one Temperature between 60 and 70 C.

The mold 76 consists of a lower mold half 78 as shown in FIG. 7 and an upper mold half 80. Suitable means, not shown, are provided for opening and closing the two Mold halves 78 and 80. When the mold halves are opened, the pane of glass 20 is raised of the lower mold half 78 in position, with portions of the rear surface of the glass sheet rest on buffers 82. After the glass sheet 20 is placed on the buffers 80 is brought, the upper mold half 80 is in the 5 closed position with the lower mold half 78 lowered and the two mold halves are clamped together to form the Mold cavities. The upper mold half 80 carries buffers cooperating with the buffers 82. 84 for elastically holding the glass pane 20 in the mold cavity. The shape 76 nest is larger than the glass pane 20 to prevent glass-to-metal contact.

■ 29-

7 and 9, vacuum heads are disposed in the upper mold half 80 of the mold 76 for supporting the glass sheet in the upper mold half 80 when the molding operation is finished and removal of the glass sheet 20 from the mold 76 is required. The vacuum heads consist of a suction cup 86 which is connected to a vacuum source via a line 88 is.

A number of movable mold sections 90 are spaced around the perimeter of the mold in correspondence with the lugs 28 of the seal 22. All molded parts are identical to one another and are slidably received in corresponding recesses 92 of the lower mold half 78. That outer end of each molding 90 is attached to a block 94, which is connected to the end of a Piston rod 96 of a cylinder 98 is connected. The opposite, inner end of each Molded part 90 ends in a contour corresponding to the outer profile of the seal 28 and has a protrusion 100 that the undercut in the nose 28 forms. In operation, the piston rod 96 is extended and moves the mold section 90 forward as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 in the ready position for receiving the Lot of the resin forming the gasket 22. After polymerization and hardening the sealing material, the piston rod is withdrawn with the movable piston section 90, as shown in dashed lines in Fig., wherein the projection 100 from the undercut part of the nose 28 is pulled out, releasing the nose 28 and the window structure for removal from the lower one

Mold half 78 by means of the suction cups 86 of the upper mold half 80.

After the window assembly is removed from the mold half 78, any excess material is removed the seal removed in a trimming station 100, the assembly washed and dried in a Station 110 and the paint coat 38 on the outside of the trim bead 24 of the seal 22 applied and cured in station 120. 10

An example implementation of the method is shown in the following example.

EXAMPLE

The surfaces of the upper and lower mold halves 80 and 78 which, when closed, form the mold cavity between them were made with a wax mixture with a solvent Treated release agent, this agent is sold under the name PRO789 by the company Park Chemical Company, Detroit, Michigan, USA. A sheet of glass was then placed on top of the lower mold half 78 brought into position, whereupon 5 the upper mold half 80 to the lower mold half brought into the closed position and both mold halves were clamped together. One batch out one part by weight of a polyol compound and 0.63 part by weight of an isocyanate was placed thereon into the mix head 74 at a pressure of 2,500 psi and thence into the mold 76 at a pressure of entered approx. 50 psi. The polyol stream and the isocyanate stream had a temperature of approx. 43 ° C, while the mold 76 was held at a temperature of about 63 ° C. The two mentioned above

Streams were mixed together in head 74 before transferring to mold 76 About 90 seconds after the urethane compound was injected, the Form 76 opened and assembly 10 removed.

The elastomeric seal 22 obtained had a microcellular structure, a specific gravity of 1.07 g / c ³ , a Shore "H" hardness of 90, a flexural strength of 1500 psi, a percent elongation at break of 279 and a flexural modulus at 24 ° C of about 3500 psi.

The polyol compound used in the embodiment consisted of 45.4 kg polyol base, namely polyether triol (molecular weight 6000) with ethylene oxide as "capping" (available under the designation "Voranol" 5815 from Dow Chemical Company, Mindland, Michigan, USA, 4.5 kg of ethylene glycol and 1.4 kg of 20% carbon black in polyol.

The isocyanate used was a modified 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (available under the name "Rubinate LF 179" from Rubicon Chemicals Inc., Geismar, Louisiana, USA.

The abovementioned proportions were catalyzed by the addition of dibutyl tin dilaurate and a solution of triethylenediamine in dipropylene glycol.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the specific parts of the Invention are made provided that they are within the scope of the invention general inventive ideas lie.

Instead of a structure 10 for a skirt window of a motor vehicle, others according to the invention can be used Superstructures are used in the same way for fixed glazing of vehicles, such as Motor vehicles, trucks, freight wagons or buses, and also generally for architectural purposes, for any plant and equipment.

The configuration of the trim bead 24 of the seal 22 is aerodynamic adapted to the automotive industry. One goal of coachbuilders is to look for aerodynamic properly trained vehicles to increase the efficiency and thus to Reduction of the required drive energy and thus a reduction in fuel consumption. Because the rear window and the windshield are sources of significant generation drag, there is a constant effort to improve the aerodynamic shape of the Structure of the rear window and the windshield and also the fastening elements and the decorative Improve fairings.

It should be noted that so far in the known structures for windshields, the fastening means and the decorative features are imperfect from an aerodynamic point of view and lead to the generation of undesirable eddy currents, through which the efficiency of the vehicle is reduced and also annoying wind noise inside the vehicle during during the journey. The window structure according to the invention can also be used for a windshield can easily be integrated into a flowing assembly system in which the trim bead 24

the seal 22 is practically flush with the adjacent surfaces, thereby reducing the aerodynamic Characteristic significantly improved and unwanted eddy currents and wind noise be avoided.

Instead of the polyurethane compound used in the invention, others can also be used Compounds such as nylon, polyester and epoxy resins are used. 10

Claims (17)

Claims 1. Glazing structure, consisting of a transparent one disc-shaped material and one adhering to predetermined parts of the disc connected seal made of a synthetic polymer, characterized in that the seal (22) is polymerized in situ adjacent the predetermined parts of the disc (10) and that occurring in polymerization and limited curing autogenic mechanism in close contact. is held with these predetermined parts. 2. Glazing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (22) has a trimming section (24) which is located outside of the disc (10) in a parallel to the adjacent front edge surface of the disc (10) lying plane extends. 3. Glazing structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pane (10) made of glass. 4. Glazing structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Disc (10) consists of a layered glass. 5. Glazing structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the glass pane (10) is an annealing quenched and tempered disk. 6. Glazing structure according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seal (22) the periphery of the disc (10) completely encloses and adheres to the surfaces forming the edge area connected is. 7. Glazing structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Seal (22) consists of a polyurethane. 8. Glazing structure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the Seal (22) consists of a microcellular polyurethane elastomer. 9. Glazing structure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the outer surface of the gasket (22) absorbs an ultraviolet ray coating (38) is arranged. 10. Glazing structure according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the Seal (22) has a U-shaped 5 channel section in cross section which extends to the outside the rear surface of the edge of the disc (10) is open. 11. Glazing structure according to claim 10, characterized in that the opening through a at a distance from the seal (22) lying locking ring (26) is formed that of the receptacle an adhesive or adhesive is used. 12. A method for producing glazing according to claims 1 to 11, characterized by the following steps: a) a transparent pane is inserted into the interior of one of a plurality of cooperating Molded sections formed cavity used, which in terms of its shape and its location relative to the disk corresponds to the shape of the seal and comprises the disk surfaces adjacent to the circumference; b) in the mold cavity is used to form the seal, polymerizable and hardenable compound injected, which, when hardened, adheres to the surfaces lying in the edge area of the pane is connected; c) the injection pressure of the joint into the mold cavity becomes so low by control held that damage to the disc is avoided; d) the temperature of the mold cavity, the injection of the compound and the injected portion the compound are controlled in such a way that the compound polymerizes after its injection and by the at the Polymerization resulting autogenous Pressure brought into intimate contact with the mold cavity and the disc and during this Contact is cured; e) whereupon the glazing structure is removed from the mold cavity. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that that a primer is applied to the edge areas of the surfaces of the disc (10) before it is introduced into the mold cavity is applied, which increases the adhesion of the seal to the edge surfaces. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that forming the seal Compound an isocyanate and polyol-containing compound is used, which is after polymerization and curing forms a microcellular polyurethane elastomer. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the mold cavity forming Molded parts are kept at a temperature in the range from 60 to 71 ° C. 16. The method according to any one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the connection is injected into the mold cavity at a pressure of approximately 50 psi to 100 psi. 17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that an ultraviolet Radiation absorbing coating is applied to the exposed surface of the gasket after their removal from the mold.