EP2198106B1 - Glazing member with electric conducting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a glazing member (1) that comprises at least one prestressed glazing (2) having a surface that bears an electric conducting structure (4) connected to electric connection points (5) on the edge of the glazing for connecting the same to the outside, the glazing being connected to a frame-shaped spreading member, that surrounds the field of vision of the glazing member, using a glue bead having a high electric resistance (3A). According to the invention, the conducting structure (4) itself has the shape of a loop or a continuous conducting track, and is provided outside the field of vision of the glazing member (1) substantially or entirely within the surface area covered by the spreading member (3) and the glue bead having a high electric resistance (3A).

Description

The invention relates to a glass element comprising a conductive electrical structure with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

To form an alarm pane composed of at least two panes assembled to one another in an insulating pane via a spacer element in the form of a frame, it is known from the document EP-B1-0 058 348 to provide on at least one of the windows a conductive electrical structure in the region of the surface framed by the spacer element (field of view) and to prestress this window. In the mounted state, a dormant electrical circuit is led by the conductive structure. The one is broken when the window is broken, which triggers an alarm.

The electrical connection lines of the conductive structure must be directed outwards between the spacer element and the window, outside the intermediate space of the insulating glass. In this case, they must remain electrically isolated. Similarly, the sealing of the space between the panes of the insulating glass must not be compromised. In the aforementioned document, the segment of the conductive structure covered by the spacer element is electrically isolated using a non-conductive fired screen printing paste.

The document DE-C1-199 60 450 discloses, from the above solution, an isolation of the line segments located below the spacer element by means of a plastic layer, which may for example be a thin film, assembled by force complementarity or material on the surface of the glass after prestressing. In a preferred embodiment, the thin film At the same time, insulation forms a support film for fittings made from a flat conductor.

An element of glass of this nature, based on this state of the art, is known from the document DE-C1-101 54,558 . Here, to isolate the conductive structure from the bonded spacer, at least in the crossover region, a bead of material is used at a predetermined length which has a significantly increased electrical insulation effect by relative to the material of the remainder of glue bead. In this solution too, however, the conductive structure is arranged inside the field of view, analogously to the solution of the document DE-C1-199 60 450 , and therefore remains visible.

The document DE-A1-40 11,541 discloses a prestressed alarm glass with a conductive electrical coating. With the aid of a separation line marked by a laser beam, a marginal strip is electrically separated from the electric heating coating of the main region of the coating and a "conducting structure" is also formed in the sense of the aforementioned publications. The aforementioned partial region is used, with the aid of separate external contacts, as a sensor for detecting a rupture of the prestressing pane concerned. This can be incorporated in a composite pane or also in an insulating pane element, admitting in the latter case that the partial region of the coating serving as a sensor is located outside the part of the face framed by the pane. spacing element of the insulating glass, to avoid known insulation problems. Preferably, a layer system is used which can withstand a high thermal load and which can already be deposited on the surface of the window prior to prestressing.

The document DE-A1-103 58 316 finally discloses an insulating glass warning window, whose spacer element is placed at a determined distance from the outer edge of the prestressed alarm glass itself, and thus leaving a free edge area, in which the conductive loop provided to trigger an alarm in case of breakage of the glass is arranged. With this solution, one must avoid the risk of a disruption of the operation by the bonded composite edge and concretely as a result of a possible short circuit of the conductive loop with the metal spacer element or containing metal. With this solution, however, there is some risk of malfunction due to moisture penetrating from the outside, against which it can not reliably ensure sufficient sealing for the conductive loop.

Since, in the past, there have been untimely alarms with such windows in the past, the requirements for insulation quality (insulation values or insulation resistance) are increasing for these electrical connections. , which are tested for resistance to breakdown with test voltages of up to 1000 V. Faced with this background, the adhesives used up to now for the spacer frame in the insulating glazing elements, namely butyl cords, generally colored black with soot for optical reasons, do not have sufficiently high insulation values and contribute to a small extent to the quality of the insulation. Precisely in the region of the intersection of the connections and the spacer, the bead of adhesive is brought to a thickness of a few tenths of a millimeter during the pressing of the composite, so that there must be values of very high electrical insulation.

In the case of use, the insulation resistance can be further strongly influenced by moisture or water. This particularly relates to secondary sealing materials located outdoors because of their relatively large surfaces.

The mass of the glue could, of course, be colored with other coloring substances, a transformation of bulk manufacture or a separate manufacture of smaller quantities with other coloring substances would entail a high expense, which glue manufacturers refuse and whose total costs are not accepted by customers.

The document CA 920683 A1 discloses a glazing unit comprising a first tempered glass sheet, a second glass sheet and a spacer extending between the two glass sheets along their periphery. The glazing also includes an electrically conductive layer, connected to an alarm and attached to an inner edge surface of the tempered glass sheet. A layer of glue is deposited between the spacer and the inner edge surface of the glass sheets.

The object of the invention is to provide an element of glass further improved visually without compromising the operational safety.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The features of the secondary claims show advantageous embodiments of this invention.

In the interest of as little overlap as possible between the spacer element or its adhesive and the conductive structure on the one hand to avoid unnecessary contact possibilities and on the other hand to ensure adhesion as good as possible glue on the surface of the window pane, the necessary bushings or connecting segments of the conductive structure have so far been made in a limited expansion cross zone below the spacer element.

Because, according to the invention, the conductive structure or the alarm loop itself is disposed outside the field of view of the window element, essentially or entirely (apart from the necessary external connections) in the area of the surface covered by the spacer element and by a bead of high electrical resistance glue - preferably using a known material in a manner known per se - a cautious measure generally applied until now in regards to the insulation ratios between the conductive structure and the spacer element, and at the same time this conductive structure is completely masked. Compared with the document solution DE-A1-103 58 316 However, the protection of the conductive structure against moisture which causes corrosion and short circuits is maintained at a high level.

The conductive structure or the alarm loop itself can again be deposited in a single operation by screen printing on coated or uncoated panes.

While it is generally sought to provide the connection contacts of the two ends of the conductive structure in proximity to each other, it is also possible to separate them from each other (as shown in the Documents DE-A1-103 58 316 or DE-A1-40 11,541 ). The conductive structure can then also be designed as a generally rectilinear conductive path (possibly in sinuous or corrugated or zigzag segments), which extends generally parallel to and below the respective segment of the spacer element over any its length - excluding external connection regions or soldering points. The connection points are not part of the conductive structure in the strict sense.

To ensure a sufficient distance between the spacer element and the conductive structure, even in the case of excessive pressing of the adhesive bead, projections or studs may be placed on the surface of the glass, in addition to the conductive structure. which rise above the glass surface higher than the actual conductive structure.

A conductive structure produced by screen printing in a continuous industrial process is 10 to 50 μm above the surface of the substrate or glass. For the sake of safety, the thickness of the glue layer must not be less than 200 μm. This easily results in the height or the necessary elevation of the aforementioned pads for the spacer element. These pads may optionally be made also by screen printing or also by depositing / gluing other materials on the surface of the glass near the conductive structure. They can also be made in a similar way to the solution already mentioned in the document DE-C1-199 60 450 in the form of flat plastic pieces and also cover the conductive structure, partially or in places. In this case, it is of course not necessary to install the spacer element by completely completely squashing the glue material actually on the studs, but there may also remain glue in their region between the studs and the stud. spacer element.

To further increase the insulation safety, it is possible to insert another insulating material between the spacer element and the conductive structure, preferably between the latter and the adhesive material, insofar as this does not compromise the tightness sure of the space between the windows because of the glue.

Tests have shown that the conductive structure is also broken when the prestressed glass breaks, regardless of whether it is according to the invention in an area of the glass surface, which is in principle secured by a layer of glass. elastic adhesive and the spacer. Nevertheless, it certainly forms, during the breaking of the glass, several cracks in the longitudinal pattern of the conductive structure, insofar as it is longer than the average size of the fragments formed during the breakage of the prestressed glass . It can therefore no longer circulate current through the conductive structure, so that its function as a sensor (electrical dormant) for breaking the window is retained. At the same time, the demand for an insulation resistance of at least 10 MΩ can be satisfied.

Other details and advantages of the subject of the invention will become apparent from the drawings of an exemplary embodiment of the invention and from their detailed description which follows.

La Fig. 1

représente une première forme de réalisation d'un élément de vitre selon l'invention avec une structure conductrice;

La Fig. 2

représente une deuxième forme de réalisation de la structure conductrice;

La Fig. 3

représente une troisième forme de réalisation de la structure conductrice;

La Fig. 4

est une vue en coupe partielle de l'élément de vitre le long de la ligne IV-IV de la Figure 1, dans la région d'un point de raccordement pour un raccord extérieur de la structure conductrice;

La Fig. 5

est une vue en coupe partielle de l'élément de vitre le long de la ligne V-V de la Figure 2, vu dans la direction de la dimension longitudinale globale de la structure conductrice;

La Fig. 6

est une autre vue en coupe partielle de l'élément de vitre, vu transversalement à la dimension longitudinale globale de la structure conductrice.

In these drawings, which are simplified representations without a particular scale,

Fig. 1

represents a first embodiment of a window element according to the invention with a conductive structure;

Fig. 2

represents a second embodiment of the conductive structure;

Fig. 3

represents a third embodiment of the conductive structure;

Fig. 4

is a partial sectional view of the window element along line IV-IV of the Figure 1 in the region of a connection point for an external connection of the conductive structure;

Fig. 5

is a partial sectional view of the window element along the line VV of the Figure 2 seen in the direction of the overall longitudinal dimension of the conductive structure;

Fig. 6

is another view in partial section of the window element, seen transversely to the overall longitudinal dimension of the conductive structure.

According to Figure 1 , a window element 1 comprises a prestressed window 2 and a spacer element 3, which is indicated in the Figures 1 to 3 only by dashed lines in its line parallel to the outer edges of the pane 2. The spacer element 3 assembles the pane 2, using adhesive beads, in the usual way to another window pane. glass or plastic, into an insulating glass (see Figures 4 and 5 ). It also frames the field of view of the finished window element, which is normally used as a building window or is integrated therein. The spacer element 3 itself is generally composed of a hollow section filled with a desiccant. This profile can be metal (eg aluminum) or plastic.

On the surface of the window 2 facing the spacer element 3, a conductive structure 4 has been applied by screen printing or otherwise fixed (for example by ink jet printing, extrusion). durably in situ on the surface. The essential part or all of this conductive structure is located inside the surface covered by the spacer element 3, thus outside the field of vision of the window pane. Two connection points 5 (soldering points) of the conductive structure are provided, at both ends of the latter, outside the region of the surface or field of view framed by the spacer element 3. connection points 5 are still accessible after the manufacture of the insulating window composite, that is to say after the bonding of the spacer element 3. External connections (cables) 6 are brazed to them.

The Figure 2 shows a variant of the conductive structure, in which the two connection points 5 are located on either side of the ends of the part of the spacer element which covers the conductive structure 4. This allows an extended support of any the conductive structure and a great total length.

The Figure 3 shows another variant of the conductive structure, in which the two connection points 5 are in an angle region of the window pane 2. The conductive structure described here, in the region covered by the spacer element 3, loop in which two segments of this conductive loop are parallel to each other, both in the area of the surface covered by the spacer element.

In all three embodiments, the overall longitudinal extension or the longitudinal direction of the conductive structure 4 is parallel to the pattern of the spacer element 3. Locally, it can, as already mentioned and as it is represented here, be in the form of a zigzag or rectilinear, in the form of a loop, or also have any shape deviating from the straight line (undulations, meanders). A general request is only that it does not leave the region covered by the spacer element 3 or by its bonding, and that its length is greater than the size of the (relatively small) fragments produced during the breaking of the window prestressing. Furthermore, in the sense of increased security against penetrating moisture from the outside, it is possible to lay the entire layout of the conductive structure 4 under the spacer element, with an off-center tendency towards the field of view. vision.

If the conductive structure should not be disposed under a segment of the spacer element with a non-rectilinear path, for example curved or bent, one would naturally adjust its overall longitudinal extension accordingly.

Usually, a certain distance is provided between the spacer element and its bonding and the outer edge of the window, or an exceeding of the surface of the window beyond the surface covered by the spacer element. On the one hand, this allows the filling of the residual edge slot with another sealant (preferably polysulfide). On the other hand, there remains in the region of the conductive structure 4 sufficient room for the electrical connection of the connection points 5 of the conductive structure 4 carried out of the space framed by the spacer element, in a hidden place at the sight.

Often, this edge region as well as the regions of contact of the adhesive beads with the glass are still hidden from view by means of opaque flat printing (which is not shown here for simplicity), which is located in below the fittings, directly on the surface of the glass. This printing can also be done by screen printing and baking. It can also serve as a base for an attachment agent to be applied optionally ("primary") for gluing the spacer element.

In the absence of the opaque impression mentioned above, the observer could recognize the views of the Figures 1 to 3 , especially conductive structures 4, even looking out the outside of the window element.

Preferably, the entire conductive structure 4, in addition to the connecting lines and the connection points 5 (soldering points), is deposited by screen printing a ceramic baking paste into a high silver content brazing material (more 80% silver) in a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.03 or as much as 0.05 millimeters and in a width of between 0.25 and 1 millimeter. This paste is fired by the high temperature heating required for the thermal preload of the glass 2. The electrical conductivity is fully sufficient for the described application cases, even with such small cross sections.

Of course, other techniques than screen printing can also be applied to produce the conductive structure on the surface of the pane, for example ink jet printing or extrusion.

The Figure 4 shows a partial section, enlarged to make it clearer, through the edge of the window element 1 looking in the overall longitudinal direction of the conductive structure 4. This is visible only by a cutting face. We can see here that the conductive structure 4 is deposited directly on the surface of the pane 2, so that it is also destroyed with certainty in case of breakage of the pane and thus interrupts the fixed electrical circuit applied. It can also be seen that an adhesive layer / adhesive bead 3A for assembling the spacer element 3 completely covers the conductive structure 4 under the spacer 3, so that the latter has no contact to the outside, to the intermediate space between the panes and to the spacer element 3 itself.

Finally, for the practice of the present invention, it is important that the conductive structure 4 is covered by the adhesive bead 3A. Unlike the representation, it may also be slightly wider than the spacer element 3 itself; this larger width can for example be adjusted by laterally moving the glue material during the pressing of the spacer element.

It can not be accepted that the connection between the window 2 and the adhesive bead 3A is compromised by the conductive structure. The latter consists, in a known manner, of a vitreous material (glass frit with addition of silver), such that it reigns between it and the glue material the same adhesion conditions as between the surface of the glass and the glue material. By cooking, the conductive structure also adheres very strongly to the surface of the glass.

Only a short segment of the conductive structure 4 leaves, as connection with the connection point 5, the covering with the spacer element 3 or with the adhesive bead 3A. As already mentioned, the edge slot between the spacer element 3 and the outside overhang of the window 2 is filled with an additional sealing compound 7. This also covers the connection point 5 with a brazed outer connection 6 and isolates its connection region to the outside.

The Figure 5 shows another partial section corresponding to the line VV of the Figure 2 , thus also looking in the overall longitudinal direction of the conductive structure 4 in the region covered by the spacer element 3 and the adhesive bead 3A.

We have again schematically indicated in the Figures 4 and 5 the extension of the sealing mass 7 upwards and beyond a second window pane 2 ', with which the window element 1 forms a multiple pane or a complete insulating pane.

The adhesive layers or beads on both sides must be removed before the assembly of the two window panes, using the frame-shaped spacer element 3, with a thickness as uniform as possible. These can be deposited either directly on the glass surfaces along the region of its contact with the spacer element or (preferably) on the spacer itself. In most cases, glue beads 3A are made of butyl rubber, which adheres remarkably and durably to both glass surfaces and metal surfaces, and can be extruded as a cord or uninterrupted coil on the relevant surface of a room.

When pressing the windows 2 and 2 'with the spacer 3 in a conventional manner, the adhesive bead 3A is strongly compressed. In this case, the material beneath the spacer 3 could also escape laterally outward and there might be no longer sufficient layer thickness for insulation with conventional glue. To minimize the risks, we stick at least the whole region covering between the spacer element 3 and the conductive structure 4 with a highly insulating adhesive according to the document DE-C1-101 54,558 .

When the conductive structure has an extended shape, such as that shown here (which therefore does not form a conductive loop in the proper sense), it is certainly not possible by nature to accept "internal" short circuits of the conductive structure, which could lead to accidental tripping of an alarm with evaluation electronics whose sensitivity is correspondingly set. However, great importance is attached to quality insulation.

Independently of this, the conductive structure can of course, in this case, also be realized as shown in FIG. Figure 3 in the form of a conductive loop with connection points 5 in close proximity to one another, without abandoning the construction principle according to the invention.

If it is desired to stick the spacer element 3 only in the region of the conductive structure 4 with the adhesive having very high values of electrical insulation, the latter must of course be compatible with the material of the "normal" adhesive bead ". Precisely in the transitions, the tightness of the finished glue bead against penetration of gas and moisture in the insulating composite glazing must be preserved. This can be thought of as achieving seamless transitions between most of the bead of glue and the segment or segments used, as needed, in the crossing region. Naturally, there is a heterogeneity in the transitions even after crushing the bead of glue, which can be visible during careful examination even if the two materials have the same color. However, this can not in any way reduce the seal.

For example, in the simplest case, it is possible to use, for a high quality insulation, a butyl material without soot, either colorless or colored with other coloring substances (non-conductive). In this way, but also with other comparable glues, good homogeneity in the transitions with the peripheral adhesive bead on either side of said region can be obtained without great expense.

This total expenditure slightly increased compared to the usual manufactures so far is necessary only on the side of the spacer element, which is oriented towards the prestressed glass provided with the conductive structure. The spacer element can be assembled to the other glass in the usual manner tested with a bead of peripheral glue, which must not have particular electrical insulation properties.

An additional (secondary) sealing compound, for example Thiokol, polysulfide, silicone or polyurethane, is then deposited externally around the spacer element and the adhesive layers in order to provide additional closure of the intermediate space. between the windows, and also to seal the connecting faces located outside. The electrical insulation properties of this sealing compound are certainly similar to those of the adhesive itself, however this additional sealing material retains a relatively large thickness everywhere, so that the problem of lack of electrical insulation of extraordinarily low layer thickness can not occur here.

The Figure 6 shows finally another partial section viewed transversely to the overall longitudinal extension of the conductive structure 4 (in an embodiment similar to the Figure 1 ). Here we see two pads 3S arranged on either side of the conductive structure 4, which are preferably also embedded entirely in the glue bead 3A. It should be remembered that the conductive structure amounts to a maximum of 50 μm above the surface of the window 2, and that therefore the 3S pads require a very small height of about 2 tenths of a millimeter. They can either themselves be screen printed or if necessary be made up of small pieces of a non-conductive (plastic) material, which can be glued to the face of the glass.

The Figure 6 shows that there can still remain a thin layer of glue between the pads 3S and the spacer element 3. In an extreme case only, the two pads 3S would support in the manner of a bridge the segment covering the structure conductive, so as to avoid contact between the conductive structure and this segment and also to preserve between them a layer of insulating adhesive sufficiently thick.

In contrast to this representation, these pads 3S (which also provide for their part the spacer element function) can of course also be placed above the conductive structure 4, substantially like the insulating layer described in the document DE-C1-199 60 450 , which, unlike that, would not require masking over the entire length of the cover. This would be particularly recommended in one embodiment of the conductive structure according to the Figure 2 but would be functionally equivalent to the solution illustrated here in Figure 6 .

Claims (14)

1. Glazing element (1) comprising at least one prestressed glazing pane (2) the surface of which bears an electrically conductive structure (4) which is connected at electrical connection points (5), on the edge of the glazing pane (2), for the purpose of its external connection, in which

   • the glazing pane (2) is a component of a multiple or insulating glazing unit formed by at least one other glazing pane (2') and a spacer element in the form of a frame, surrounding the field of view of the glazing element;

   • the spacer element (3), assembled with the surface of the glazing pane (2) bearing the conductive structure (4) by means of a bead of adhesive (3A), covers at least some parts of the conductive structure (4), the conductive structure (4) itself being placed outside the field of view of the glazing element (1) mainly or entirely in the region of the surface covered by the spacer element (3) and the bead (3A) of high-electrical-resistance adhesive, characterized in that the adhesive has a high electrical resistance and in that there are, between the spacer element (3) and the surface of the glazing pane (2), in the region of the conductive structure (4), pads (3S) that limit the advance of the spacer element (3) when the layer of adhesive (3A) is pressed, the pads (3S) being placed next to the conductive structure (4).
2. Glazing element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the conductive structure (4) extends generally parallel to the spacer element (3).
3. Glazing element according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the conductive structure (4) is produced in the form of a generally continuous conductive track with two connection points (5) placed at its ends separated by a distance corresponding to the length of the conductive track or in the form of a loop with connection points located near each other.
4. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive structure (4), at least in segments, undulates, is in zigzags, or is sinuous or diverges in another way from its general longitudinal extension.
5. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the total insulation between the conductive structure (4) and the spacer element (3) has an electrical resistance of at least 10 MΩ.
6. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is, between the conductive structure (4) and the spacer element (3), in particular between the conductive structure (4) and the bead of adhesive (3A), at least one other thin insulating layer made of an electrically non-conductive material, for example polyimide or polyethylene.
7. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segment of the bead (3A) of high-electrical-resistance adhesive located in the covered region is extruded in situ between the ends of a bead of adhesive and another material, which is connected thereto.
8. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the segment of the bead of adhesive (3A) located in the covered region is composed of a carbon-black-free butyl rubber.
9. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its conductive structure (4) is produced by screen printing, inkjet printing, or extrusion of a corresponding, electrically conductive, paste onto the surface of the glazing pane.
10. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive structure (4) is baked using a heat treatment, in particular during the thermal prestressing of the glazing pane (2).
11. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive structure (4) is provided with connection points (5) located outside of the surface of the glazing pane framed by the spacer element (3).
12. Glazing element according to Claim 11, characterized in that the connection points (5) are formed with the conductive structure (4) in a single operation.
13. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that another (secondary) seal (7) covers the side turned towards the exterior of the spacer element (3) on the periphery around the glazing element (1).
14. Glazing element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glazing pane (2) and the spacer element (3) are assembled with another window pane (2') into a multiple or insulating glazing unit.

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