EP2288777A2

EP2288777A2 - Method for producing a corner of a frame-type spacer for insulating glass panels and spacer and insulating glass panels produced according to said method

Info

Publication number: EP2288777A2
Application number: EP09729376A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl Lenhardt
Original assignee: Plus Inventia AG
Current assignee: Plus Inventia AG
Priority date: 2008-04-11
Filing date: 2009-04-09
Publication date: 2011-03-02
Also published as: WO2009124770A2; CA2720758A1; WO2009124770A3; US8615883B2; US20110027606A1; DE102009017705A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a corner of a frame-type spacer for insulating glass panels by (a) making a metal hollow profile rod (1) available, which rod has an outer wall (2), two parallel flanks (3, 4) and an inner wall (5), (b) indenting the inner wall (5) and the two flanks (3, 4) in the position of the hollow profile rod (1) where the corner is supposed to be formed, and (c) bending the hollow profile rod (1) by a defined angle.

Description

Method for producing a corner of a frame-shaped spacer for insulating glass panes and spacers and insulating glass panes produced by the method

Spacers for insulating glass panes usually consist of hollow profile bars made of aluminum or stainless steel, which contain a free-flowing desiccant, usually molecular sieves. It is the task of the desiccant to bind existing moisture in the insulating glass, so that the temperatures occurring in the insulating glass does not fall below the dew point. Metallic spacers are today usually bent in one piece from a hollow profile bar, in which the desiccant is already filled. Before bending a corner, the inner wall is notched so that the corner forms exactly at the intended location and has a defined appearance. As inner wall, the interior of the insulating glass pane facing wall of the spacer is understood. The inner wall of the opposite wall of the hollow profile bar is referred to as its outer wall or base. The two walls which connect the inner wall and the outer wall and face each other in the insulating glass their individual glass panes are referred to as the flanks; they usually run mostly parallel to each other, because they must be glued to the glass. On the flanks of the hollow profile bar tends Bend to buckle outward or form outward folds. In order to prevent this, the hollow profile bars are clamped on the flanks between clamping jaws, which force the hollow profile bars to widen in no way when bending a corner, see EP 1 281 451 A1.

After bending the two opposite ends of the hollow profile bar are joined together by means of a connector, thereby forming a closed frame. The hollow profile bars to be bent are usually connected to one another in succession by straight connectors. The spacers may therefore also contain several straight connectors. Such frame-shaped metallic spacers are characterized by good mechanical stability. However, they have the disadvantage that their production is complicated.

Furthermore, spacer frames of metallic U-profiles, thermoplastic full profiles, which are extruded directly onto a glass sheet, and made of plastic hollow sections are known, which are filled as well as spacers made of metal hollow profile bars with a granular, free-flowing desiccant.

Spacers made of plastic hollow profiles have only a low thermal conductivity, so that they hinder the heat transfer between the individual glass panes of an insulating glass in the desired manner. The disadvantage, however, is that hollow profile bars made of plastic can not bend to square frame, if they have the required for use as spacers in insulating glass hardness and strength. This applies in particular to hollow profile bars made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. Now you might think of spacer frame made of plastic hollow sections in that you just straight hollow profile sections, which form the legs of the frame-shaped spacers together by inserting elbows of metal in the ends of the hollow profile sections, where they claw barbs. However, this prior art technique of manufacturing metallic spacers is laborious and leads to spacer frames which are generally labile due to lack of rigidity in the corner area and which are not easy to handle and can be glued to a glass sheet with the required precision. In addition, spacer frames, which have such inserted corners, In view of the fact that insulating glass panes must be hermetically sealed at its edge against the ingress of moisture, unfavorable.

It is also known to form spacers from metallic hollow profile bars by connecting individual hollow profile bars at the corners of the spacer by elbows having two legs connected by a hinge, which in a position in which the legs form a right angle with each other are latched. For this purpose, the individual hollow profile bars are first connected in a straight line with each other, provided on their flanks continuously with an adhesive sealant and then formed by pivoting the hollow profile bars around the joint of the respective elbow to form a frame and this by a plugged into the ends of the hollow profile bar linear Plug connector closed. Such a design of the corners leads to unstable spacers with the disadvantages mentioned above.

In order to produce spacers from plastic hollow profiled bars in one piece, it is already known from EP 0 947 659 A2 and from EP 1 030 024 A2 to disengage the hollow profiled bars at the points where corners are to be formed by forming V-shaped incisions be generated, the tips of which extend to the outer wall of the hollow profile strip in the finished spacer. For forming a frame only the outer wall is bent at the notched points of the hollow profile bar. In this way, although you get distance holder, which also have a closed outer wall at the corners, but because the legs of the spacer at the corners are related only on their outer wall, the frame is an unstable structure and still needs to be stabilized. For this purpose, it is known from EP 0 947 659 A2 and EP 1 030 024 A2 to inject into the corner regions of the spacer frame through an opening in one of its flanks a thermoplastic which bridges the corners and the spacer after cooling and hardening of the plastic gives the necessary stability. The disadvantage is that it takes a comparatively long time until the plastic has cooled and solidified. In order to shorten the time for this, it is known from EP 1 030 024 A2 to transfer the spacer being produced into a special hardening zone after injection of the plastic while maintaining the angle of the bent corner. This way of working is time consuming and costly. In contrast, WO 2006/077096 A1, which discloses a spacer for insulating glass panes, which is produced from a hollow profile bar made of plastic by providing it with a recess at the points provided for the corners, in each case providing a recess which forms the inner wall and the two flanks of the hollow profile bar opens, leaving the outer wall intact. To stabilize the corners angle pieces are used, which have two legs connected by a hinge and can be converted from a straight-line shape into an angled shape in which they are fixed relative to each other. Such an angle piece is initially positioned in a straight line in the region of the respective corner to be formed. By bending the hollow profile bar, the corner is then formed and stabilized by the angle of each other in their predetermined angular position latching legs of the elbow. It is furthermore known from WO 2006/007096 A1 to apply an adhesive sealant and a dry-containing composition to the still linearly present hollow profile rod in which the angle pieces which are still in straight line are already inserted, then the corners in the hollow profile rod to form and to connect the two ends of the hollow profile bar together.

The present invention has for its object to show a way how can be made of metallic hollow profile rods with less effort than before a frame-shaped spacer with curved corners for insulating glass panes.

This object is achieved by a method having the features specified in claim 1. A frame-shaped spacer produced by this method is the subject of claim 57. An insulating glass pane with such a spacer is the subject of claim 60. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention has significant advantages:

• The fact that the two edges of the hollow profile bar, preferably also the inner wall, are pressed at the intended place for forming the respective corner of the hollow profile bar before it is bent, can without Further measures are to be taken to ensure that, on the one hand, the inner wall of the hollow profile bar in the region of the corner takes a defined, reproducible course and, on the other hand, that the two flanks of the hollow profile bar are not pressed outwards during bending and / or form folds which hold the spacer in the area of one Widen the corner. Rather, excess material of the flanks is forced into the cavity of the hollow profile bar, so that the width of the hollow profile bar in the region of the corners does not exceed the original width of the hollow profile bar. This is important, because if it were not so, there would be pressure peaks in the area of the corners when pressing insulating glass panes, which would result in glass breakage.

• Jaws that were previously required when bending metallic hollow profile bars to spacers for insulating glass panes to prevent the hollow profile bars widening in the area of the corners are no longer needed according to the invention. • In the method according to the invention, the bending of the corners and the

Closing the spacer can be done by hand. The expenditure on equipment that was previously required for the production of metallic spacers for insulating glass panes, can be substantially reduced.

Compared with spacers made of plastic, as disclosed in WO 2006/077096 A1, which can also be bent and closed by hand, there is an advantage in that no corner angles are needed to stabilize the corners and that this is necessary before bending Editing the later corner areas of the hollow profile bar is much easier: No complicated cutouts have to be made, no waste has to be removed, no expensive tools are needed. Rather, it is only necessary to depress the hollow profile bar at the designated places.

• Since the hollow profile bar does not have to be cut in the area of the corners, but only has to be pressed in and thus also has a continuous hollow profile in the corner area, the corners are sufficiently stable even without a special stabilizing measure for installation in an insulating glass pane.

• Since the hollow profile is also retained throughout the corner area of the spacer, the spacer can have a double barrier and thus a double barrier. te security against the ingress of moisture in the insulating glass.

• Should it happen in individual cases that a crack forms in the hollow profile rod as a result of being pressed in, this does not hinder its installation in an insulating glass pane, since the outer wall of the spacer, which is particularly important for sealing the interior of the insulating glass pane, during the bending process Generally there is no danger of tearing down.

• Despite a successful in the free play of the forces folding the flanks of the hollow profile bar is achieved by applying a sealant on the flanks a perfect seal the insulating glass in the critical corner region of the spacer. Suitable sealing compounds are those which are already known for the bonding and sealing of insulating glass panes.

Basically, the hollow profile bar may contain a desiccant when it is bent. In this case, it should be ensured that there is less desiccant in the corner area of the hollow profile bar when bending than outside the corner area. It has a favorable effect that, due to the contour of the walls of the hollow profile bar which is produced when the hollow profile bar is pressed in, and by the bending process itself, desiccant is forced out of the corner region, thereby facilitating the bending process. Preferably, however, the hollow profile rod is pressed and bent in an empty state and preferably also no desiccant is subsequently filled into the hollow profile bar. This has the advantage that the production of the hollow profile bar can be simplified. However, if the hollow section bar contains a desiccant, then in the assembled insulating glass pane this must have contact with the air space in the insulating glass pane; The inner wall of the hollow profile bar must be perforated for this purpose. However, if the hollow profile rod is not filled with a desiccant, then the hollow profile rod requires no perforation, but can be produced inexpensively by a simple extrusion process. This is especially important for hollow profile bars made of aluminum. Alternatively, the hollow profile rod can be formed by rolling molds from a non-perforated metal strip; In this case, it has a longitudinal seam, which is expediently secured by welding, in particular by laser welding. The manufacture by roll forming is especially for hollow profile rods made of stainless steel in question. Preferably, the longitudinal seam is sealed by welding. A closing of the longitudinal seam by gluing is also possible. It is preferred that the hollow profile bar has no opening in any of its walls. This promotes safety against the ingress of atmospheric moisture into the interior of the insulating glass pane, because the walls of the metallic hollow profile bar, which are produced without openings, are diffusion-tight with respect to water vapor. For sealing the insulating glass pane, only the gaps between the flanks of the hollow profile bar and the two glass sheets of the insulating glass pane have to be sealed with the aid of an adhesive, which is state of the art. Due to the fact that the flanks of the hollow profile bar are not forced outwards when bending in the corner area when using the method according to the invention, but excess material is forced inwards, a sufficient amount of adhesive sealing compound can be provided in the corner area which is particularly critical for the sealing of an insulating glass pane in the corner folds formed and thus the diffusion path can be extended.

The applied on the flanks adhesive sealant is z. As a thermoplastic polyisobutylene and is intended to prevent moisture from diffusing through the sealed with the sealant gap between spacer and glass in the interior of the insulating glass. Such a thermoplastic sealant is also referred to as a primary sealant. It is preferably applied after the impressions, but before the bending of the hollow profile bar, substantially over the entire length of the hollow profile bar, including the indented points of the flanks of the hollow profile bar. This has the advantage that the sealing compound is entrained in bending of the respective corner of the inwardly folding portion of the flank and pressed tightly in the fold, so that it can be ensured that no cavities arise in the fold, not with the sealant are filled. By bending arises in the corner region of the spacer, an excess of sealant, which further strengthens the sealing effect in the subsequent pressing of the insulating glass just in the critical region of the corner, which is particularly advantageous.

If it has been said at this point that the adhesive sealant is to be applied substantially over the entire length of the hollow profile bar, so it is meant that initially a slight length of the hollow profile bar can remain free of the sealant at the ends of the hollow profile bar. After the the ends of the hollow profile bar are connected by a straight connector, a gap in the strand of the sealant can be closed if necessary by a subsequent application of sealant.

If, in a hollow profile rod formed by roll forming, the longitudinal seam lies on a flank of the hollow profile rod, then the sealing compound covers the longitudinal seam and seals any leaks in the longitudinal seam. Therefore, the longitudinal seam is preferably located on an edge of the hollow profile bar.

An adhesive sealant can not only be applied to the flanks of the hollow profile bar; also on the inner wall of the hollow profile rod can - are applied over the entire length including the indented point of the inner wall - an adhesive mass, and that advantageously with such a composition containing a desiccant, z. As a molecular sieve powder, which serves to bind in the insulating glass possibly existing humidity and thereby keep the dew point low. In this case, it may be advantageous to refill a desiccant in the hollow profile bar, so that this does not require a perforated inner wall. Another advantage of this measure is that it gives the spacer in the insulating glass a pleasing appearance. A matt black adhesive mass is less conspicuous in the insulating glass pane and less disturbing than a bright, brightly reflecting metallic surface, as it is known from spacers made of stainless steel and aluminum in particular. In addition, the matte black surface creates a reflection of the color of the window frame or door frame, in which the insulating glass is installed later and thus adapts well to their appearance. Another significant advantage is that by applying the desiccant-containing composition to the inner wall of the hollow profile bar, the corner region of the spacer receives a very appealing appearance. The fact that the inner wall of the hollow profile bar was pressed in before bending the corners is no longer recognizable as a result of the subsequent application of a desiccant-containing mass.

Preferably, the adhesive sealant and the desiccant-containing composition are applied to the hollow profile bar so that they directly adjoin one another. The hollow profile bar is then on three sides, on its flanks and on his Inner wall, coated throughout, which increases the security against the ingress of moisture. The outer wall and the inner wall of the hollow-section bar and the desiccant-containing compound applied to the inner wall in each case prevent intrusion of water vapor into the insulating glass pane. In the gap between the glass sheets and the flanks of the spacer prevents the applied there sealant, z. As such based on polyisobutylene, a penetration of moisture over a relatively long diffusion path. Nevertheless, should some moisture diffuse through the adhesive sealant, it can still be absorbed by the desiccant embedded in the mass adhered to the inner wall of the hollow profile rod, which adjoins the sealant applied to the sidewalls. As a desiccant-containing mass z. For example, those known in the insulating glass industry as TPS material from which spacers are extruded in situ onto a glass sheet. Insulating glass panes with such a thermoplastic spacer, in which a powdery drying agent is incorporated, are known under the trademark TPS. The TPS material is a primary sealant based on polyisobutylene with finely divided zeolite powder (molecular sieves) as a desiccant.

The sealing compound applied to the flanks and the mass applied to the inner wall of the hollow profile rod may differ from one another, but they may also be the same. Preferably, they are applied in a joint operation synchronously or overlapping in time on the two flanks and on the inner wall of the hollow profile bar. If a thermoplastic "primary" sealant is used to seal the gap between the spacer and the two adjacent sheets of glass, then, because of its thermoplastic nature, it can not provide the necessary bond between the glass sheets and the spacer. In the prior art, the secondary sealing compound is usually filled in an edge joint of the insulating glass pane, which is set back by the two glass panes and those opposite the edges thereof Outside wall of the spacer is limited. A particularly advantageous possibility is to apply to the flanks and on the inner wall of the hollow profile bar a bonding sealant, z. B. a reactive hot melt adhesive, in which a powdery desiccant is incorporated. Thus, the insulating glass pane can be sealed and at the same time their two glass sheets mechanically and permanently connected to the spacer, namely by the Abbindevorgang so that an otherwise required final sealing process with a thermosetting two-component adhesive, which usually as a "secondary" sealing compound in the art An example of such a bonding sealant, which combines the function of a primary and a secondary sealant in itself, is known from WO 2008/005214 A1, expressly to the content of the disclosure of the sealant Reference is made.

It is particularly advantageous not to apply the desiccant-containing mass to the inner wall of the spacer profile, but only to the flanks of the spacer profile. For this purpose, the profile of the spacer may be narrower in a portion extending from the inner wall than in a portion extending from the base of the spacer profile. Such hollow profile bars are widely used in insulating glass production, but in contrast to the preferred method of the present invention installed in the insulating glass so that the narrower portion is on the outside, ie what in the prior art is the outer wall, according to the invention as an inner wall used the spacer; What is the inner wall of the spacer holder in the prior art, is used according to the invention as the outer wall of the spacer. In addition, in the prior art, the known hollow profile bars have a perforated inner wall, so that the dehumidifier housed in the hollow profile bar can absorb moisture from the interior of the insulating glass pane. According to the invention, however, it is preferred to arrange the desiccant in an adhesive mass on the hollow profile rod and to leave the cavity of the hollow profile rod empty. A perforated wall of the hollow profile bar therefore does not need the invention. Rather, according to the invention, an inexpensively available hollow profile rod can be used, which is simplified compared with the prior art by the fact that none of the walls which connect the flanks is perforated, whereby at the same time the sealing of the insulating glass pane is improved. When using a spacer profile, which is narrower in an outgoing from the inner wall portion than in an outgoing from the outer wall portion, it is particularly advantageous to concentrate the desiccant-containing mass in the narrower portion of the spacer profile to the inner wall adjacent to the edge and in the adjoining wider area of the spacer profile, an adhesive sealant which does not contain a desiccant, in particular a primary sealant and / or a setting secondary sealant, which immediately adjoins or connects to the desiccant-containing adhesive. The composition containing the desiccant and the adhesive sealant containing no desiccant are preferably applied in a joint operation on the flanks of the hollow profile rod. In this case too, the invention can be advantageously developed so that the mass containing the desiccant is the same mass used as the primary sealing compound. It is also possible to use the desiccant-containing composition as the primary sealing compound, if it is sufficiently diffusion-tight, as is the case with the polyisobutylene-based TPS material. Finally, even if the desiccant-containing composition is not arranged on the inner wall of the spacer profile, but on its flanks, it can be provided on this exclusively a sealing compound according to WO 2008/005214 A1, which has both the function of a primary and a secondary Sealant combined and additionally contains a desiccant. This variant of the invention is characterized in that it manages with a minimum amount of sealant and with a minimum of mechanical complexity. Surprisingly, it has been shown that even with such a small amount of sealing compound between the flanks of the spacer and the glass, which also contains a powdery desiccant, a good seal of the insulating glass and a perfect cohesion of the insulating glass pane can be achieved.

Preferably, any sealant, namely, the mass containing the desiccant, the primary sealant, when different from the desiccant-containing mass, and the secondary sealant, which sets and establishes the permanent bond between the spacer and the glass sheets, will be solely on the sidewalls applied to the hollow profile bar. This allows insulating glass panes, which not only have a pleasing appearance, but also make do with a minimal use of expensive Versieglungsmassen. Preferably, a thermoplastic, desiccant-containing sealing compound, which simultaneously performs the function of a primary sealing compound, is applied to the flanks, and immediately thereafter a setting sealing compound is applied, which performs the function of a secondary sealing compound. For such a development of the invention, a hollow profile rod is preferably used for the spacer, in which not only the inner wall, but also the outer wall is narrower than the hollow profile rod, so that its flanks have a central portion which is parallel to the surface of the opposite glass sheets, and on both sides of this central portion adjacent an oppositely recessed portion which terminates on the inner wall or on the outer wall of the hollow profile bar, which are narrower than the hollow profile bar overall, having its greatest width between the central portions of the flanks.

A spacer with such a profile can be used very versatile for purposes of the invention. In the recessed portion adjacent to the inner wall, a sufficient amount of the desiccant-containing adhesive may be provided which contains sufficient desiccant to fog the insulating glass during its intended life of more than 20 years, preferably more than 25 years to prevent from inside.

On the central part of the flanks, a primary sealing compound can be applied in a thin layer, which contains no desiccant and reliably prevents inward diffusion of water vapor as well as loss of a gas other than air, with which the insulating glass pane can be filled. In the recessed portion of the flanks adjoining the outer wall, a secondary sealing compound may be provided which sets and establishes the permanent mechanical bond between the glass sheets and the spacer. However, it is also possible to use as a basis for the desiccant-containing sealant a primary sealant, in particular based on polyisobutylene, in which the desiccant is incorporated in powder form. The middle part of the flanks can then be replaced by a dry The same secondary sealant is applied to the backing agent-free primary sealant, which is also provided in the recessed region of the flanks adjacent to the outer wall.

It can be applied to all three sections of the flanks but also a uniform sealant, which fulfills both the task of a primary sealant as well as the abandonment of a secondary sealant and contains a desiccant.

The recessed portions of the flanks not only allow sufficient quantities of primary or secondary sealant to be absorbed, but also have the advantage that bends in the individual sheets of glass due to wind loads, temperature stresses, and ambient pressure variations do not result in hairline cracks in the sealants Leaking of the insulating glass pane. In such bending movements, the narrow central portions of the flanks constitute a fixed point for the bending movements, which tear most near the inner wall and in the vicinity of the outer wall at the respectively provided sealing compound, but do not lead to cracking in the sealing compound, because this is there in such a great thickness that its tensile strength is not exceeded.

The recessed portions of the flanks adjoining the central portion of the flanks may be stepped in sharp-edged form, but are preferably concave in cross-section, with a preferably rounded contour, which implies gap-free filling of the interspaces between the flanks of the spacer and the adjoining glass sheets Sealing compound favors.

In cross-section adjacent to the respective central portion of the flanks receding portions of the flanks preferably have a contour such that the spacer profile tapers from the central region to the outer wall of the spacer profile out and towards the inner wall of the spacer profile or initially tapered and tapered in a constant Transitions region in which the flanks parallel to the central portions of the flanks. It should be remembered that under the inner wall of the spacer the the interior the insulating glass pane facing wall of the spacer and the outer wall is understood to be the inner wall of the opposite wall of the spacer. The recessed partial areas adjacent to it are added to the flanks.

It is also possible to select the contour of the recessed portions of the flanks adjacent to the respective central subregion of the flanks such that the spacer profile first tapers starting from the central subregion and then approaches the outer wall and / or the inner wall of the spacer profile when approaching widened again so that an undercut is created on the flanks. However, such a design is not preferred, because it can complicate the sealing of the insulating glass pane.

Preferably, a hollow profile rod is used, which is formed asymmetrically with respect to its flank cutting the longitudinal center plane, so that the back cracks, which adjoin the inner wall, are different from the recesses, which adjoin the outer wall, and can accommodate different amounts of sealing compound. This has the advantage that spacers can be produced with one and the same hollow profile bar, in which the larger recesses are provided either adjacent to the inner wall or to the outer wall of the spacer. The manufacturer of the insulating glass can choose the embodiment which he considers more suitable for a specific order. If, above all, a large volume of desiccant-containing composition is important, then it orients the spacer profile in the spacer so that the larger interspaces between the glass panes and the flanks face the interior of the insulating glass pane. However, if more emphasis is placed on a larger volume of secondary sealant, then it orients the spacer profile such that the larger gaps between the glass sheets and the flanks of the spacer are turned outward.

With regard to its the outer wall and the inner wall intersecting longitudinal center plane of the hollow profile bar, which is used for the preparation of the spacer holder, but expediently formed mirror-symmetrical. The impressions according to the invention of the inner wall and the flanks of the hollow profile bar can be done in different ways. Preferably, the hollow profile bar is pressed with a chisel with a straight front edge, which extends during the Eindrü- ckens at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar. Expediently, three separate bits are used for pressing in the inner wall and the two flanks. Preferably, the chisels are moved when pressing the hollow profile bar at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar. This has the consequence that form symmetrical indentations, which is particularly favorable for the bending process.

By the chisel of the hollow profile bar should only be pressed. If possible, no crack should occur. The front edge of the chisel is therefore preferably not formed as a cutting edge, but slightly rounded, preferably with a radius of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. This provides good results, in particular for impressing the flanks. For impressing the inner wall, chisels with a larger radius can be used at their effective leading edge.

For hollow profile bars whose outer wall is not narrower than the hollow profile bar as a whole, the following applies:

In order for the flanks to fold inwards when the corners are bent, they should preferably be pressed in at the full height of the profile of the hollow profile bar. However, at the edge between the outer wall and the flanks of the hollow profile bar must not be pressed. The best way to increase the depth of penetration of the bit when pressing the flanks of the outer wall to the inner wall. On the outer wall, the flanks are preferably pressed 1, 5 mm to 2 mm deep. It has been found that such depression of the flanks on the outer wall during the bending of a corner re-forms, which is a particular advantage for achieving a diffusion-tight corner in the insulating glass pane.

On the inner wall of the hollow profile bar, the flanks can be pressed more, z. B. 2 mm to 4 mm deep. The inner wall of the hollow profile bar is preferably pressed more strongly than the flanks, preferably by two thirds to three quarters of the measured from the outside of the outer wall to the outside of the inner wall height of the hollow profile bar. This is favorable for the emergence of a reproducible contour of the inner wall of the bracket after the bending process.

For a hollow profile rod, in which the outer wall is also narrower than the hollow profile rod as a whole, in which therefore the flanks have a recessed portion adjacent to the outer wall, the following applies:

In this case, the flanks should not be pressed in so deeply that even the edges of the outer wall are pressed. The flanks should, however, be pressed into their recessed part which adjoins the outer wall, and the depth of the depression here also preferably increases as they approach the inner wall of the hollow profile rod. The edges of the inner wall are preferably pressed in when pressing in the flanks.

The two flanks are preferably pressed in at the same time, which is firstly rational and secondly favors a symmetrical result.

The edges are expediently not pressed simultaneously with the inner wall of the hollow profile bar. Whether it is better to press first the inner wall and then the flanks or first the flanks and then the inner wall, depends on how the hollow profile bars are to be processed further. In cases in which the inner wall of the hollow profile rod is not to be coated with a desiccant-containing composition, it is preferred to press in first the two flanks in a wedge shape and then to compress the inner wall of the hollow profile rod in a wedge shape, in particular with an acute-angled wedge. The indented section lies after bending inwardly folded in the corner of the hollow profile bar and is largely removed from the view.

If the inner wall of the hollow profile bar to be covered after pressing with a desiccant-containing mass, it is preferred to depress the inner wall of the hollow profile bar with a blunt tool and then depress the flanks with an acute-angled, wedge-shaped chisel. The ones with the blunt The indentation of the inner wall produced in this case is more favorable because, when the corner is bent, a voluminous fold arises in the inner wall, which can cause a desiccant-containing mass deposited on the indentation of the inner wall to disappear in the corner area, so that there is no visible accumulation of this mass. stands. The wedge-shaped impressions of the flanks ensures that they fold inwards and the corner is formed exactly at the predetermined location.

The blunt tool, with which the inner wall of the hollow profile bar is pressed, preferably has a convex front, z. B. a dome-shaped front. Good results are also provided by a tool with a blunt or spherical front, which is elongate in plan view, so that an elongated indentation of the inner wall can be produced, wherein the longitudinal extent of the indentation is to coincide with the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar. This can be a favorable for the visual appearance flat depression in the inner wall produce. But it is also possible to depress the inner wall of the hollow profile bar with a tool which has a flat front or has a wedge-shaped front, the wedge surfaces form an obtuse angle with each other.

If the inner wall of the hollow profile bar is pressed with a blunt tool, this is preferably done before the impressions of the flanks, which are preferably pressed with acute-angled chisels. After impressing the flanks the indented point of the hollow profile bar can be deformed with advantage still with a chisel, which has a concave leading edge and is delivered in the direction of the inner wall to the outer wall of the hollow profile bar. The concave leading edge may be arcuate, but also wedge-shaped.

To carry out the invention, the straight hollow profile bar is first pressed at all designated locations at which a corner is to be formed. Thereafter, the adhesive sealant is applied to the two flanks of the hollow profile bar. If the adhesive sealant applied to the flanks is not a desiccant-containing composition, a desiccant-containing composition can additionally be applied to the flanks and / or to the inner wall of the hollow profile rod, preferably only to the flanks. This is preferably done in a single operation by co-extrusion or temporally overlapping; preferably closes the desiccant-containing composition directly and completely to the no desiccant-containing adhesive sealant. Thereafter, the corners are bent, which can be done by machine, with the least effort but also by hand is possible, since the location and shape of the corners are already predetermined by the previous impressions of the hollow profile bar. The bending can be accomplished particularly easily if there is no adhesive mass on the inner wall and on the outer wall of the hollow profile rod, but only on the flanks. In that case, the hollow-section bar can easily be gripped on its inner wall and on its outer wall without touching the mass applied to the flanks, and can then be bent by hand or mechanically. By such an approach, several machines that were previously necessary for the manufacture of spacer frames for insulating glass panes can be saved, namely a machine for filling hollow profile bars with a desiccant, a machine for bending filled hollow profile bars, and a machine for coating an already finished bent Spacer frame, to which it must be repeatedly rotated and moved between a pair of nozzles, see, for. B. DE 34 34 545 C1 The coating of a straight hollow profile bar before bending to a spacer frame is much easier than the coating of a frame formed from the hollow profile bar. Therefore, the invention enables an extremely efficient production of coated spacer frame. Preferably, a secondary sealing compound is applied to the flanks of the hollow profile bar before the frame is bent, or a uniform sealing compound is applied, which simultaneously fulfills the task of primary and secondary sealing compound and preferably also contains the desiccant. Then even the sealing machine for the secondary sealing compound can be saved, which in the prior art - see, for. B. DE 28 16 437 A1 - the most complex machine in an insulating glass production line.

Finally, the two ends of the hollow profile bar are connected by a straight connector with each other, which is inserted into both ends of the hollow profile bar. When feeding the hollow profile bar to the tools with which it is pressed, the connector can already be stuck in one end of the hollow profile bar, so that after bending the hollow profile bar whose other end only needs to be plugged into the existing connector. In order to facilitate the bending process, the profile bars have at least on its inner wall at right angles to the glass panes running grooves or waves. Preferably, such grooves or waves are also provided on the outer wall of the hollow profile rods. Each individual groove or shaft defines a possible predetermined bending point and, when provided on the outer wall, facilitates expansion of the outer wall during bending. Preferably, the grooves or corrugations end at a distance in front of the flanks to avoid undesirable, outward deflections of the flanks during bending.

If the parallel to each other and parallel to the glass panes extending portions of the flanks extend to the outer wall of the hollow section bar so that it is narrower only on the inner wall than on its outer wall, then in the gap between the glass panes and parallel to them planar sections Flanks the sealant provided in a thickness of 0.75 mm to 1, 25 mm, in particular in a thickness of about 1 mm. This is sufficient to prevent the occurrence of fine cracks in the sealing compound when exposed to changing wind loads, changing temperatures and changing external air pressures. However, if hollow section bars are used in which both the outer wall and the inner wall are narrower than the hollow section bar as a whole, so that the flanks spring back to either side of their flat, central portion, then cracking may occur in the sealant as a result of changing pressure -, Temperature and wind loads can be prevented even with a much thinner layer of sealing compound in the gap between the flat central portions of the flanks and the adjacent glass sheets, namely with a thickness of the sealant of only 0.25 mm to 0.45 mm, preferably from only 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. In order to produce such a thin layer of the sealant, you must not control the insulating glass pressed to a predetermined thickness, it is sufficient, with a predetermined specific pressure of z. B. 40 Newton per running centimeter of the circumference of the spacer on the insulating glass to act.

The present invention is finally a frame-shaped spacer for insulating glass panes, which is made of a metal hollow profile rod according to one of the method claims. In summary, the invention offers numerous advantages:

• Hollow spacer frames can be used which are hermetically sealed and contain no desiccant. Such spacer frames are characterized by a particularly low heat transfer coefficient, especially if they are made of stainless steel. Stainless steel stands for long life, is insensitive to UV light, has low thermal expansion and low thermal conductivity, absorbs no moisture and is diffusion-tight.

• The hollow and hermetically sealed spacer, whose cavity acts as a very good insulator, offers a double barrier to the penetration of water vapor.

• The outer wall of the spacer may be left free of sealant so that the only bridge between two glass panes of an insulating glass pane is the hollow and empty spacer itself. This reduces the heat transfer between the two glass panes of an insulating glass pane and reduces the risk of condensation forming in the edge region of the insulating glass pane. At the same time results in a more uniform surface temperature of the insulating glass pane. • If any sealant is provided only in the joints between the spacer and the adjacent glass panes, the least amount of sealing compound will be used without compromising the sealing and life of the insulating glass pane. The required amount of sealant is independent of the width of the spacer! • The outer wall of the spacer can be flush with the edges of the glass panels, which increases the clear cross section of the insulating glass and reduces the required installation depth in a window frame or door frame.

• The outer wall of the spacer can be painted for aesthetic reasons or to protect it.

Especially if a spacer profile is used in which both the outer wall and the inner wall are narrower than the hollow profile rod as a whole, the insulating glass pane can be pressed with a predetermined pressing pressure per running centimeter of the circumference of the spacer and Although so that the sealant at the thinnest point is only about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm thick, which not only saves sealant, but also increases the resistance to the ingress of water vapor. Stress loads in the sealant can be controlled by increasing the thickness at which the sealant is provided on the flanks of the spacer to the inner wall and the outer wall of the spacer.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Like and corresponding parts are designated in the various embodiments with corresponding reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a hollow profile rod with three acute angled scoring tools in an oblique view;

FIG. 2 shows, in an enlarged representation compared to FIG. 1, the action of two notched bits on the flanks of the hollow profile rod from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the state of the hollow profile rod from FIG. 2 after the two flanks have been pressed in,

FIG. 4 shows the result from FIG. 3 in an enlarged view,

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the hollow profile bar of FIG. 4 pressed in on the flanks.

Figure 6 shows the impressions of the inner wall of the hollow profile bar of Figure 5 in one

Tilt,

FIG. 7 shows the hollow profile rod of FIG. 6 after the impressions of its flanks and its inner wall, which FIGS. 8-10 show the hollow section bar of FIG. 7 after bending a right-angled corner in different views;

FIG. 11 shows a hollow profile rod in an oblique view, in which a blunt tool acts on the inner wall at the point provided for a corner,

FIG. 12 shows in the hollow profile rod from FIG. 11 the subsequent pressing in of the

Flanks with two chisels,

FIG. 13 shows, in the case of the hollow profile rod from FIG. 12, the reshaping of the hollow profile rod at the already pressed-in position with the aid of a convex scoring bit which is delivered from above onto the inner wall;

Figure 14 shows the hollow profile bar of Figure 13 after bending a right-angled corner in a view obliquely to the outside,

Figure 15 shows the corner in the hollow section bar of Figure 14 in a view obliquely on the

Inner wall,

Figure 16 shows a spacer frame according to the invention, incorporated in an insulating glass pane, and

FIG. 17 shows a cross section through the spacer frame installed in the insulating glass pane.

FIG. 18 shows a cross section through part of an insulating glass pane produced according to the invention,

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the insulating glass pane shown in FIG

FIG. 20 is a cross-section through the insulating glass pane shown in FIG. 18 with an adapter for attaching a rung; Figure 21 shows an alternative for attaching an adapter to a spacer,

FIG. 22 shows in cross-section a spacer profile modified with respect to FIGS. 18 to 20, the flanks of which are coated with a primary and a secondary sealing compound, on the left side of the figure before pressing with a glass pane and on the right after pressing with a glass pane,

FIG. 23 shows an insulating glass pane assembled according to the invention and assembled from three glass panes and two spacers in a representation corresponding to FIG. 18,

FIG. 24 shows, in an oblique view, a spacer profile with a seam which lies on a flank,

Figure 25 shows an oblique view of a linear connector for connecting the two

Ends of the hollow profile rod from which the spacer is formed,

FIG. 26 shows, in an oblique view, the linear connector inserted into the two ends of the hollow profile rod, wherein the hollow profile rod is shown partially transparent,

FIG. 27 shows in perspective in a longitudinal section through the hollow profile rod and through the linear connector the arrangement of the linear connector in the spacer before the injection of a sealing compound,

FIG. 28 shows an enlarged view in a longitudinal section through the hollow profile rod in the region of the linear connector of the state after the injection of sealing compound,

FIG. 29 shows, in an oblique view of the hollow-section bar shown partially transparent, how the sealing compound is distributed around the linear connector at the joint between the ends of the hollow-section bar, FIG. 30 is an oblique view of a section of an insulating glass pane with a spacer which is coated with a primary and with a secondary sealing compound;

FIG. 31 shows the insulating glass pane from FIG. 30 in an oblique view from a different angle,

FIG. 32 shows the profile of the two sealing compounds in the insulating glass pane according to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 in a side view,

33 shows an oblique view of a section of an insulating glass pane with a spacer which is coated with only a single sealing compound,

FIG. 34 shows a section of the insulating glass pane according to FIG. 33 in a side view,

FIG. 35 shows a hollow profile bar after the coating of its flanks,

Figure 36 shows the hollow profile bar of Figure 35 after bending a corner,

FIG. 37 shows a cross section through one half of a spacer with a modified profile shape next to a glass pane, before the insulating glass pane is pressed,

FIG. 38 shows a cross section through a part of a pressed-out insulating glass pane with a spacer with the profile shape from FIG. 37,

FIG. 39 shows a detail of the insulating glass pane according to FIG. 38 in an oblique view, FIG. 40 shows the spacer of the compressed insulating glass pane according to FIG. 39 in an oblique view as in FIG. 39, wherein the glass panes are not shown,

FIG. 41 schematically shows, in a cross section through part of an insulating glass pane, as in FIG. 38, how the insulating glass pane behaves with changing bends of its glass panes.

FIG. 42 shows a cross section through a spacer of the type illustrated in FIGS. 37 to 41, in which, however, the base of the spacer profile and the top side of the spacer profile opposite it are additionally provided with grooves;

Figure 43 shows a portion of the spacer of Figure 42 in a plan view, the

Figures 44 to 48 show in illustrations, which correspond to Figures 37 to 41, an insulating glass pane with a comparison with the figures 37 to 41 modified spacer profile, the

FIG. 49 shows a cross section through a part of an insulating glass pane with a spacer profile as in FIGS. 37 to 41, but conversely installed in reverse, and FIG

FIG. 50 shows a cross-section through part of an insulating glass pane with an spacer profile as in FIGS. 44 to 48, but conversely installed in reverse.

Figures 1 and 2 show an oblique view of a metal hollow profile bar 1 with approximately rectangular cross-section, as is common for insulating glass. The hollow profile bar 1 has an outer wall 2, two mutually parallel flanks 3 and 4 and a parallel to the outer wall 2 inner wall 5. In an adjacent to the outer wall 2 flat portion 3a, 4a of the flanks 3 and 4 extend parallel to each other and at right angles to the outer wall. 2 In a concave portion 3b, 4b of the flanks 3 and 4 adjoining the inner wall 5, the hollow profile bar 1 is narrower as in the sections 3a and 3b. At the dashed line indicated in Figure 1 point 6 is to be formed in the hollow profile bar 1 by bending a corner. For this purpose, in a first step, the flanks 3 and 4 are pressed in at the intended location 6 by two opposing chisels 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. The chisel 7 and 8 act with an acute-angled wedge, which ends in a straight front edge 7a and 8a, at the designated location 6 on the flanks 3 and 4 and press it at full height, on the inner wall 5 more as the outer wall 2. The result of this deformation is shown in Figure 3 in an oblique view, in Figure 4 in an enlarged oblique view and in Figure 5 in a plan view. It can be seen that the impressions of the flanks 3 and 4 in the amount of the outer wall 2 has less effect than in the amount of the inner wall 5, which has arched up by the impressions of the flanks 3 and 4. Such a bulge, but also a concavity may occur on the outer wall 2.

Next, as shown in Figure 6, the inner wall is pressed with a wedge-shaped chisel 9, the chisel 9 with its straight front edge 9a acting on the hollow profile bar 1. The hollow section bar 1 is pressed in this case by two thirds to three quarters of its original height. The result is shown in an oblique view in FIG.

It should be noted that the chisels 7, 8 and 9 act at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar 1 on this, wherein the leading edges 7a, 8a and 9a, which are preferably rounded with a small radius lie in a common plane, in which also the point 6 marked in FIG. 1 lies in which the bits 7, 8 and 9 act with their respective front edge 7a, 8a and 9a on the hollow profile rod 1.

If the hollow profile bar 1 shown in FIG. 7 is bent by 90 °, which can be done manually or by machine, then at the predetermined location 6 a rectangular corner with the shape shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 is produced. On the inner wall 5 can still be seen in a narrow gap 10 in which is symmetrical or approximately symmetrical and has a smooth contour, which gives a spacer frame, which is installed with such corners in an insulating glass pane, a pleasant appearance. The indentation of the inner wall 5 is not absolutely necessary, especially not if the inner wall 5 has at right angles to the planar portions 3a and 4a of the flanks running waves or grooves, which will be described later.

Since the spacer frame must be glued to the glass sheets of an insulating glass pane, an adhesive sealing or sealing compound is preferably applied to the flanks 3 and 4 after the hollow profile bar 1 has been pressed in, but before it has been bent. Figure 35 shows the hollow profile bar 1 after the coating of its flanks 3 and 4. On the portions 3a and 4a of the flanks, which adjoin the outer wall 2 of the hollow profile bar 1, a secondary sealant 23 was applied, which sets and a solid bond between the spacer 16 and the two glass panes of the insulating glass brought about. The secondary sealant 23 may be a two-component adhesive such as Thiokol or a one component reactive adhesive. On the sections 3b and 4b of the flanks, which adjoin the inner wall 5 and jump back relative to the subregions 3a and 4a, a thermoplastic sealant was applied, which serves as a water vapor barrier (so-called primary seal) on the one hand and on the other hand - because in addition a desiccant in this thermoplasti - see sealant 24 is stored - also used to absorb water vapor. The desiccant-containing, primary sealing compound 24 and the setting, secondary sealing compound 23, which are collectively referred to herein as sealing or sealing compound, close to each other directly. As a result of the bending process, in the corner area on the flanks 3 and 4 a clear excess of sealing or sealing compound is provided, which ensures a good sealing of the insulating glass pane in the corner area, see FIG. 36. During pressing of the assembled insulating glass pane, the excess of sealing or sealing compound is produced Sealant 23, 24 distributed in the corner and pressed into folds of the spacer, which are caused by the bending of the corners. By pressing the insulating glass pane, the sealing or sealing compound 23, 24 flows into folds of the flanks 3 and 4 and fills in the folds.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 15, the inner wall 5 of a metallic hollow-section bar 1 with a substantially rectangular cross section, which is designed as in the first embodiment, first pressed with a blunt tool 11 at the corner provided for the point 6, as shown in Figure 11. The tool 11 has a dome-shaped tip 11a in this example. After impressing the inner wall 5, the two flanks 3 and 4 with chisels 7 and 8 of the type, as they were also used in the first embodiment, pressed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. As a result, the already depressed inner wall 5 is dented further inwards and the upper edges of the hollow profile bar 1 are slightly shifted towards each other. On the upper edges of the hollow profile bar 1 is preferably acted in a third step with a chisel 12 with concave front edge 12a to optimize the contour of the indented point of the hollow profile bar 1 for the subsequent bending process. In the illustrated embodiment, the concave front edge 12a is wedge-shaped. It lies in the same plane as the leading edges 7a and 8a of the chisels 7 and 8, which are required for the impressions of the flanks 3 and 4.

If an indented hollow profile bar 1 is bent, the result is a contour in the corner area with an inner fold 13 which has sufficient capacity to absorb an excess of a desiccant-containing mass which forms by bending the corner in the region of the corner is continuously applied to the inner wall 5 of the hollow profile bar 1, compare to the coating shown on the flanks 3, 4 and on the inner wall 5 in FIG. 17 using the example of a hollow profile bar with an exactly rectangular cross section.

The outer side 14 of the corner is - as in the first embodiment - uniformly rounded, with a relatively narrow radius of curvature.

The second embodiment is particularly suitable for a procedure in which after pressing the hollow profile bar 1, but before bending the corners, on the flanks 3 and 4, an adhesive sealant and on the inside 5 a dry agent-containing mass is continuously applied, the inner wall 5 and the two flanks 3 and 4 should be subsequently covered without gaps, as it is z. B. is shown in Figure 17. Due to the coating of the inner wall 5, the spacer 16 in the insulating glass pane 15 is given a very attractive appearance. At the same time, the corner becomes perfect due to the previous application of the adhesive sealant sealed by an excess of the applied to the inner wall 5 sealant displaced into the fold 13 and a formed on the flanks 3 and 4 by bending the corner excess of sealant - as in the example of Figures 25 and 26 - by the subsequent compression of the insulating glass pane distributed in the corner area.

An insulating glass pane 22, the spacer 16 is coated on the flanks 3 and 4 and on the inner wall 5 is shown in Figures 16 and 17. Figure 16 shows a side view of an insulating glass pane 15 with a modified, rectangular spacer 16, the two ends are connected by a straight connector 17 with each other. The spacer 16 is coated on its flanks 3 and 4 with a sealant 18 and on the inside 5 with a desiccant-containing mass 19 which adjoin one another directly and on the one hand on the spacer 16 and on the other hand to the two glass panels 20 and 21 of the insulating glass 22 and adhere hermetically seal.

It is particularly advantageous if one of the masses 18 or 19 or both masses 18 and 19 has a setting property, because then a final sealing of an edge joint of the insulating glass pane with a setting two-component adhesive is dispensable. Accordingly, an edge joint is superfluous and the spacer 16 can be formed and arranged so that it is flush or approximately flush with the edge of the glass sheets 20, 21, as shown in Figure 17. This is advantageous because it allows a greater clearance of the spacer and at the same time improves the thermal insulation of the built-in window frame insulating glass, because the heat flow reaches the well-conductive spacer 16 worse and eliminates heat conduction via an edge seal filled with sealant.

Figure 18 shows a section of an insulating glass pane 22, consisting of two individual glass sheets 20 and 21, between which a frame-shaped spacer 16 is located, which is formed from a hollow profile bar 1, which has a box profile in cross-section and z. B. can be made by extrusion. The spacer 16 has in cross section an outer wall or base 2, which has a flat outer side. Two mirror-inverted legs 3 and 4 emerge from the base 2, which lead to a wall 5 parallel to the base 2, the upper side of which faces the inner wall 2. cavities of the insulating glass pane 22 faces. The wall 5 is therefore also referred to as the inner wall of the spacer 16 here.

The legs 3 and 4 form the flanks of the spacer 16. They have to the base 2 then two flat, mutually parallel sections 3a and 4a, which extend up to a predetermined distance A from the base 2. This is followed by a respective concave section 3b and 4b.

In the area of the parallel, planar wall sections 3a and 4a, a secondary sealing compound 23 is applied to the flanks 3 and 4, for. B. a one-component or two-component reactive adhesive, which connects the spacer 16 fixed to the two glass sheets 20 and 21 and hardens. On the wall sections 3b and 4b, a mass 24 is applied with a desiccant embedded therein. This mass 24 may be a primary sealant based on a polyisobutylene, e.g. B. a TPS mass. The sections 3a and 3b and 4a and 4b of the flanks 3 and 4 of the spacer 16 can be coated in a single operation by coextrusion, and preferably, as long as the rod-shaped spacer profile is still in an extended position. After the coating, a rectangular, in particular rectangular, frame-shaped spacer 16 can be formed from this, for example, B. in that the profile bar 1 is folded at the intended places for the corners 6 e. This can be done by machine, but easily by hand, the folding is particularly simple, because the base 2 and the inner wall 5 of the spacer profile are free of any coating with an adhesive mass so that they can be easily grasped. The desiccant-containing compound 24 and all other sealing compound 23 are located exclusively in the two joints 25 and 26 between the flank 3 and the glass pane 20 and between the flank 4 and the glass pane 21.

The interior 27 of the spacer 16 is empty, it contains only air, but no drying agent. All his walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 are tight.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19 differs from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18 in that the spacer profile on the flanks 3, 4 has no convex portions 3b and 4b, but instead is formed stepwise, with a right-angled step.

The embodiment shown in Figure 20 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 18 in that are anchored on the inner wall 5 of the profile bar adapter 28 on soft, as shown in Figure 21, sprouts 46 can be inserted. The adapters 28 can be inserted through a hole in the inner wall 5 at the locations provided for this purpose. The hole is preferably drilled at the location provided so long as the corners of the frame-shaped spacer 16 are not yet formed, d. h., As long as the hollow profile bar 1 is not yet bent to form corners, best before the desiccant-containing composition 24 and the other sealant 23 are applied to the flanks 3 and 4 of the hollow profile bar 1. A gap between the edge of the hole in the inner wall 5 and the adapter 28 may optionally be sealed by a sealant.

Alternatively, the adapter 28 may also be glued to the top 34 of the hollow profile bar 1 for a rung 46. This is shown in FIG. 21 and has the advantage that the hollow profile bar 1 is not damaged there.

FIG. 22 shows that a primary sealing compound 24, which contains a desiccant, and a secondary sealing compound 23 are preferably applied to the flanks 3 and 4 of the spacer 16 in such a way that they directly adjoin one another from the beginning and the course of the thickness of the layer is applied over the height of the spacer profile is selected so that the coated hollow profile rod 1 measured across the sealing compounds 23 and 24 is widest where the two sealing compounds 23 and 24 meet. From there, the width of the coated spacer profile tapers both in the upward direction, ie towards the top of the inner wall 5, as well as downwards, ie towards the outside of the base 2 of the spacer profile, as in the left half of Fi - Gur 21 is shown. This has the advantage that during the subsequent compression of the sealant masses 23 and 24 between the spacer 16 and the two glass panes 20 and 21, the risk that between the sealing compounds 23 and 24 and the glass 20 and 21 air bubbles are included, is minimal. The compression begins namely at the first meeting on the glass 20 and 21 the point 29, at which the two sealing compounds 23 and 24 adjoin one another, and proceeds from there upwards and down, so that the air from the initially wedge-shaped gaps between the sealing compounds 23 and 24 and the glass sheets 20 and 21 can be displaced , After completion of the pressing operation, the image shown in the right side of FIG. 21 results.

Figure 23 shows the application of the invention to the production of a triple insulating glass, which consists of three glass sheets 20, 21 and 30, which are held in pairs by a respective spacer 16 at a distance from each other. In both cases, the sealing compounds 23 and 24 are located exclusively in the intermediate space between the flanks 3 and 4 of the spacer 16 and the respectively adjacent glass pane 20, 21 and 30.

FIG. 24 shows a section of a hollow profile rod from which a spacer can be formed. The spacer has a profile as shown in FIG. It could also have a profile as shown in FIG. The hollow profile bar 1 is formed by roll forming from a metal strip. The two edges of the metal strip meet at an edge 4 of the hollow profile bar 1 and form there a longitudinal seam 31, the cohesion of which is secured by welding the two edges with a laser. The longitudinal seam 31 should be welded so that it is tight. However, such a longitudinal seam 31 is not necessarily and everywhere tight; she could occasionally be or become leaky in places. It is therefore preferred to place it on a flank 4 of the hollow profile bar 1, on softer it is covered by a sealing compound, whereby the longitudinal seam 31 is tight in any case.

In all embodiments, it is preferred that the sealing compound 23, which is located in the gap between the plane parallel to the glass sheets 20 and 21, planar walls 3a and 4a of the spacer 16, in the finished insulating glass 22 has a thickness of 0.75 mm to 1 , 25 mm, preferably about 1 mm. For clarification, it should be noted that in the example according to FIG. 19 it does not apply to the mass 24 which is located on the shoulder 32 between the sections 3a and 4a of the flanks 3 and 4 and the inner wall 5 of the spacer 16, but only for the sealing compound 23, which is in the narrower gap, which starts at the base 2 of the spacer profile and ends at the shoulder 32. This is a difference from the prior art. In the prior art, it is customary to press insulating glass panes so that the gap between the flanks of the spacer and the opposite glass panes is reduced to about 0.3 mm. For the purpose is acted on the insulating glass panes at the height of the spacer holder with a pressure of typically 40 Newton per running cm of the circumference of the insulating glass pane. The inventively preferred greater thickness of the sealing compound in the gap between the flanks and the glass sheets is achieved in that the insulating glass pane is pressed to a predetermined thickness, but is not pressed over only with a predetermined pressing pressure. According to the invention, the distance between the press plates, between which the insulating glass pane is pressed to the desired thickness, is precisely controlled, so that the above-stated layer thickness of the sealing compound 23 is actually achieved.

When all corners of the spacer 16 are bent, the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1 face each other and must be connected to each other to close the spacer 16. This junction should not be at a corner of the spacer 16, but between two corners, so that the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1 in the spacer 16 are aligned. For connecting the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1, a linear connector is expediently inserted into the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1. A particularly suitable linear connector is shown in an oblique view in FIG. The linear connector 33 is a straight plug-in part, which is designed mirror-symmetrically to its center plane, which halves the linear connector in its length. The linear connector has a top 34, a bottom 35 and two longitudinal sides 36. In the longitudinal sides 36, two recesses 37 are provided, which are arc-shaped in plan view, in particular approximately semicircular. Furthermore, a flat recess 38 is provided in the center of the upper side 34, in the middle of which there is a hole 39 extending from the upper side 34 to the lower side 35, in particular a bore. The width and thickness of the linear connector 33 are adapted to the inside width of the hollow profile bar 1, so that the linear connector 33 inserted into the hollow profile bar 1 after insertion into it without play. Towards the bottom 35, the bore 39 expands preferably conically, wedge-shaped or crowned, as shown in FIG. To this Way, the linear connector 33 is surrounded by a waist which is traversed by the bore 39.

Preferably, the linear connector 33 is already inserted into the one end of the Hohlprofilsta- bes 1, after this has been cut to the length required to form the spacer 16 and before the hollow profile bar 1 is pressed at the intended locations for forming the corners. Conveniently, the linear connector 33 is inserted with half its length in one end of the hollow profile bar 1. To close the spacer 16, the free end of the linear connector 33 is inserted into the opposite end of the hollow profile bar 1, see Figure 26. So he does not move in the end of the hollow profile bar 1, in which he is already stuck, it is temporarily stuck there z. B. by means of a pair of pliers.

After the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1 have collided, the outer wall 2 of the spacer 16 is in the conical, wedge-shaped or ., convex expansion of the hole 39 is pressed, wherein in the joint 41 between the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1, an opening 42 is formed, through the means of the nozzle 40 a sealing mass 43 can be injected into the spacer 16. The sealing compound 43 flows through the bore 39 in the flat recess 38 on the opposite side of the linear connector 33, distributed there and flows through the lateral recesses 37 to the two flanks 3 and 4 and further to the inside of the outer wall 2 of the spacer 16. Auf In this way, the joint 41 between the two ends of the hollow profile rod 1 is completely sealed from the inside, without the sealing compound 43 emerging from the joint 41. The joint 41 is not only reliably sealed in this way, but also very inconspicuous, which is advantageous for the appearance of the spacer 16 in the insulating glass pane. The position of the linear connector 33 is secured in the two ends of the hollow profile bar 1 by the impressions of the outer wall 2 in the extension of the bore 39 and by the injected sealing compound 43.

Figure 27 shows a perspective view in a longitudinal section through the hollow profile bar 1 and by the linear connector 33, the arrangement of the linear connector 33 in the spacer 16 prior to injection of the sealing compound 43 by means of the nozzle 40, which has already pressed the outer wall 2 of the spacer for this purpose. FIG. 28 shows an enlarged view in a longitudinal section through the hollow profile bar of the state after injection of the sealing compound 43. FIG. 29 shows, in an oblique view of the hollow profile bar 1 shown transparently, how the sealing compound 43 is distributed around the linear connector 33 at the joint between the ends of the hollow profile bar 1 Has.

FIGS. 30 and 31 show, in two oblique views, a detail of an insulating glass pane 22 with a spacer 16 whose corners are produced by the method described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15 and which, as shown in FIGS. 18 or 19 or 22, a desiccant-containing, primary sealing compound 24 has on the portions 3b and 4b of the flanks 3 and 4, while on the portions 3a and 4a of the flanks 3 and 4, a hardening, secondary sealing mass 23 is applied. It can be seen that the excess of primary and secondary sealing compound present in the corner region results in a particularly reliable sealing. At the same time, the corner provides a pleasing appearance because the sealing compounds 23 and 24 are not pressed into the interior of the insulating glass 22 due to the way the corner has been made. Evident is also the indentation 44 on the inside of the corner, which is caused by the impressions of the inner wall 5 with a spherical tool 11. Figures 30 and 31 further show a spacer 16, the inner wall 5 is provided with at right angles to the glass sheets 20 and 21 extending, arranged at regular intervals grooves 47, which facilitate the bending of the corners of the spacer 16 and a separate impressions of the inner wall 5 of Hollow profile bar 1 before bending can make superfluous.

FIG. 32 shows the course of the two sealing compounds 23 and 24 in a side view.

FIG. 33 shows, in an oblique view, a section of an insulating glass pane 22 in which, unlike the insulating glass pane illustrated in FIGS. 30 to 32, only a single sealing compound 45 containing a desiccant and the functions of a primary is applied to the flanks of the spacer 16 and a secondary sealing compound combines in itself, so abbindet, is a good barrier against the diffusion of water vapor, if necessary, diffused steam binds to the desiccant and keeps in this way the dew point in the insulating glass 22 low. Also in this embodiment, the inner wall 5 of the spacer 16 is provided with grooves 47.

FIG. 34 shows a section of the insulating glass pane according to FIG. 33 in a side view.

Pressing the insulating glass pane according to the invention with a predetermined pressure of z. B. 40 Newton per running centimeter of the circumference of the spacer or - if the circumference of the insulating glass pane coincides with the circumference of the spacer - per running centimeter of the circumference of the insulating glass pane is possible in the following embodiments; For this case, a spacer profile is preferably used, an example of which is shown in FIGS. 37 to 41. In this example, the flat portions 3a and 4a of the flanks parallel to the glass sheets 20 and 21 are narrower than in the previous examples and between the outer wall or base 2 of the spacer 16 and its flat portions 3a parallel to the sheets 20 and 21 and 4a of the flanks is a further concave portion 3c and 4c provided by which between the spacer 16 and the glass sheets 20 and 21 in the insulating glass 22, two further intermediate spaces 50 are formed, which extends from the gaps 56 between the glass sheets 20 and 21st and the respective sub-regions 3a and 4a lying opposite them extend to the base 2 and receive sealing compound, preferably a setting secondary sealing compound 23. The spaces 50 enter the spaces 49 which are provided adjacent to the inner wall 2 and receive a primary sealant 24 containing a desiccant.

Such a spacer profile has two major advantages. First, the glass sheets 20 and 21 allow bending under wind load and heat due to variations in external air pressure without causing fine cracks in the secondary sealant 23 and particularly in the primary sealant 24 that could lead to a leak. On the other hand, such a spacer profile, if the spaces 49 a different size than the intermediate have rooms 50, optionally processed to a spacer 16 and installed in an insulating glass pane 22 that the larger space 50 is on the outside (see Figure 38), if in the joints 25 and 26 more secondary sealant 23 as a primary sealant 24 embedded with Desiccant is desired, or inside (see Figure 39), if in the joints 25 and 26 more primary sealing compound 24 is desired with embedded desiccant as a secondary sealant 23.

FIG. 41 shows how an insulating glass pane 22 behaves with such a spacer 16 when the glass panes 20 and 21 of the insulating glass pane 22 are subjected to bending. With thick lines, the glass sheets 20 and 21 are shown in a state in which they are not subjected to bending. The same glass panes are shown with thin lines if they are bent in one direction or the other. With respect to the spacer 16, when subjected to bending, they behave as if a virtual joint or a virtual pivot axis 51 or 52 were located at the level of the planar subareas 3a and 4a of the flanks 3 and 4, which extend longitudinally the edge 3 or 4 extends. In the vicinity of the virtual pivot axis 51, 52, the amount of movement of the glass sheets 20, 21 is the lowest, so that even in the thin layer of secondary sealant 23 in the gap between the glass sheets 20 and 21 on one side and the planar portions 3a and 4a of the flanks on the other hand, the movement of the glass sheets 20 and 21 does not result in cracking of the primary sealant 24 and the secondary sealant 23. At a greater distance from the virtual pivot axis 51, 52, at the level of the inner wall 5 of the spacer 16 and at the level of the base 2 of the spacer 16, the extent of the movements of the glass panes 20 and 21 is larger, but distribute the forces, which there at the secondary sealing compound 23 and the primary sealing compound 24 with embedded desiccant tearing, over a much larger width of the joints 24, 25 and 26, so that it is not there to form cracks in the primary sealing compound 24 with embedded Trockenmittei or in the secondary sealant 23.

In the example of Figures 37 to 41, the base 2 adjacent "further" spaces 50 are greater than that of the inner wall 5 of the spacer 16 adjacent Intermediate spaces 49. Thus, the spacer profile in the embodiment of Figures 37 to 41 with respect to a longitudinal center plane 53 through the hollow profile bar 1, which extends at right angles to the flat intermediate regions 3a and 4a of the flanks, unbalanced. However, the hollow profile bars 1 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the other longitudinal middle plane 54, which runs parallel to the flat intermediate regions 3a and 4a of the flanks.

In FIG. 49 it is shown that hollow profiled bars 1 with the profile shape shown in FIGS. 37 to 41 can also be shaped in a reverse orientation to form a spacer 16 and installed in an insulating glass pane 15, ie. h., That the wall, which forms the base 2 in Figures 37 to 41, in Figure 49, the inner wall of the spacer 16 forms, while the wall which forms the inner wall 5 of the spacer 16 in Figures 37 to 41, in FIG 49 has become the base.

Figures 42 and 43 show a development of the spacers 16 shown in Figures 37 to 41. The modification consists in that both the base 2 and the inner wall 5 are continuously provided with grooves 48 which are at right angles to the flat intermediate areas 3a and 4a of the flanks extend from the flanks 3, 4 maintain a distance, all the same design and mutually equidistant. These grooves 48 can be formed by embossing. They facilitate the bending or folding of corners of the spacer 16. Because of this advantage, it is preferable to provide the grooves 48. They are suitable for all embodiments of the present invention.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 44 to 48 differs from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 37 to 41 only in the form of the intermediate spaces 50 which adjoin the base 2 of the spacer 16. While in the example of FIGS. 37 to 41 the intermediate spaces 50 increase steadily starting from the flat intermediate regions 3a and 4a up to the base 2, in the embodiment of FIGS. 44 to 48 they increase from the base 2 to the flat intermediate region 3a and 4a continuous, whereby viewed from the base 2 from an undercut is formed, which ends at a wall 2 parallel to the base wall 55, which bounds the intermediate plane 3a and 4a in the outward direction, ie in the direction of the base 2. With respect to bending movements of the glass sheets 20 and 21, the insulating glass sheet shown in Figs. 44 to 48 behaves similarly to the insulating glass sheet shown in Figs. 37 to 41.

FIG. 50 shows that the profile shape used in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 44 to 48 can also be processed inversely to form a frame-shaped spacer and inserted into an insulating glass pane.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

1. hollow profile bar

2. outer wall, base

3rd flank

3a / b / c. Subareas of the flanks

4th flank

4a / b / c. Subareas of the flanks

5. inner wall

6th place provided

7. Chisel

7a. leading edge

8. Chisel

8a. leading edge

9. Chisel

9a. leading edge

10. narrow gap

11. Tool

11a. dome-shaped tip

12. Chisel

12a. leading edge

13. fold

14. outside

15. Insulating glass pane

16. Spacer

17. Connector

18. Sealant

19. desiccant-containing composition

20. Glass panel, glass pane

21. Glass panel, glass pane

22. Insulating glass pane

23. secondary sealant

24. Desiccant-containing mass, primary sealant

25th fugue 26th fugue

27. Interior of 16

28. Adapter

29th place where 22 and 23 meet

30. Glass pane

31. Longitudinal seam

32nd shoulder

33. Linear connector

34. top

35. bottom

36. Long sides

37. recess

38. recess

39th hole, hole

40th nozzle

41. Fugue

42. opening

43. Sealant

44th indentation

45. Sealant

46th rung

47. grooves

48. -

49. Interspace

50th further gap

51. virtual joint, virtual pivot axis

52. virtual joint, virtual pivot axis

53. median longitudinal plane

54. median longitudinal plane

55th wall

56. Gap

Claims

Claims:

A method of manufacturing a corner of a frame-shaped spacer for insulating glass panes by (a) providing a metallic hollow profile bar (1) having an outer wall

(2), two mutually parallel flanks (3, 4) and an inner wall (5),

(B) impressing the two flanks (3, 4) at the intended for the formation of the corner point of the hollow profile bar (1) and

(C) bending the hollow profile bar (1) by a predetermined angle.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at the point provided for forming the corner of the hollow profile bar (1) and its inner wall (5) is pressed.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the impressions of the hollow profile bar (1) is carried out without opening one of its walls (2 to 5).

4. The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the hollow profile rod (1) is pressed and bent in an empty state.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flanks (3, 4) when bending the hollow profile bar (1) in the depressed areas the free play of the forces are left.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, in which no wall (2 to 5) has an opening.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) produced by extrusion is used.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a

Hollow section bar (1) is used, in which at most on a flank (3, 4) openings are present.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, which is formed from a metal strip whose longitudinal edges on a flank (3 or 4) of the hollow profile bar coincide and are connected to each other, in particular by welding or gluing of which welding is preferred.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used with a rectangular or approximately rectangular cross-section.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, which in a to the inner wall (5) adjacent portion (3b, 4b) is narrower than in a to the outer wall (2) adjacent subarea (3a, 4a).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the flanks (3, 4) after the impressions, but before the bending of the hollow profile bar (1), an adhesive sealant (18) is applied, which substantially over the entire length of the hollow profile bar (1) including the depressed point of the flanks (3, 4).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that on the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) an adhesive mass (19) is applied, which contains a desiccant and substantially over the entire length of the hollow profile bar (1) including extends depressed point of the inner wall (5).

H.Verfahren according to claim 12, characterized in that on the flanks (3, 4) of the hollow profile bar (1) an adhesive mass (19) is applied, which contains a desiccant and substantially over the entire length of the hollow profile bar (1) including the depressed portions of the flanks (3, 4).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the desiccant-containing mass (19) is applied only to the flanks (3, 4).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the desiccant-containing mass (19) to the inner wall (5) adjacent to the flanks (3, 4) is applied.

17. The method according to claims 11 and 15, characterized in that the desiccant-containing mass (19) at least in the narrower portion () of the profile bar (1) on the edges (3, 4) is applied.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the adhesive sealant (18) and the desiccant-containing adhesive (19) are applied to the hollow profile bar (1) that they connect directly to each other.

19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the desiccant receiving mass (19) and the adhesive sealant (18) which is applied as a primary sealant on the flanks (3, 4) match.

20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the desiccant-containing mass (19) and the adhesive sealant (18), which is applied to the flanks (3, 4), in a common operation on the hollow profile bar (1) are applied.

21. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that serving as a primary sealing compound sealing compound (18) at the same time contains the desiccant, so that the Trockenmittei containing mass (19) at the same time serving as a primary sealing compound mass (18).

22. The method according to any one of claims 12 and 14 to 21, characterized in that any sealant is applied exclusively on the flanks (3, 4) of the hollow profile bar (1).

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that on the flanks (3, 4) a thermoplastic, the desiccant-containing sealant (24) and immediately thereafter a bonding sealing compound (23) is applied.

24. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that on the flanks (3, 4) only a bonding, desiccant-containing sealant is applied, which causes both the typical for an insulating glass seal against the ingress of moisture into the insulating glass, as well as by her Bonding causes a permanently fixed connection of the glass panes (20, 21) of an insulating glass pane with the spacer (16).

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 11 to 24, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, the inner wall (5) and outer wall (2) are narrower than the hollow profile bar (1).

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, with respect to its flanks (3, 4) intersecting longitudinal center plane (53) is formed asymmetrically.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used, wherein the cross section of the recessed portions (3b, 4b) on one side of the flanks (3, 4) intersecting longitudinal center plane (53) is smaller as the cross section of the recessed portions (3c, 4c) on the other side of this longitudinal center plane (53).

28. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 27, characterized in that a hollow profile rod (1) is used which is mirror-symmetrical to its outer wall (2) and the inner wall (5) intersecting longitudinal center plane (54).

29. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow profile bar (1) with a chisel (7, 8, 9) with rectilinear front edge (7a, 8a, 9a) is pressed, which during the depression at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar (1) extends.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the bit (7, 8, 9) when pressing the hollow profile bar (1) at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar (1) is moved.

31. The method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that a chisel (7, 8, 9) is used, the hollow profile bar (1) pressing in front edge (7a, 8a, 9a) is rounded.

32. The method according to claim 31, characterized in that a chisel (7, 8, 9) is used whose front edge (7a, 8a, 9a) is rounded with a radius of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

33. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flanks (3, 4) of a hollow profile rod (1) whose outer wall (2) is not narrower than the hollow profile bar (1) in total, are pressed at their full height.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that the flanks (3, 4) on the outer wall (2) are pressed 1, 5 mm to 2 mm deep.

35. The method of claim 33 or 34, characterized in that the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile rod (1) by two thirds to three quarters of the outer wall (2) to the inner wall (5) measured height of the hollow profile bar (1) is pressed ,

36. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that when pressing the flanks (3, 4) of a hollow profile rod (1) whose outer wall (2) is narrower than the hollow profile bar (1) in total, the edges of the outer wall (2) are not pressed.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that the flanks (3, 4) is pressed into the adjacent edge of the inner wall (5).

38. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 37, characterized in that the flanks (3, 4) are pressed with one of the outer wall (2) in the direction of the inner wall (5) or to the inner wall (5) increasing penetration depth.

39. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two flanks (3, 4) are pressed simultaneously.

40. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that first the two flanks (3, 4) are pressed and then the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) is pressed, in particular wedge-shaped.

41. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 39, characterized in that the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) with a blunt tool (11) is pressed.

42. The method according to claim 41, characterized in that the blunt tool (11) with which the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) is pressed in, has a crowned front side (11a).

43. The method of claim 41 or 42, characterized in that the blunt tool, with which the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) is pressed, in plan view has an elongated front side.

44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that the blunt tool, with which the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) is pressed, has a flat front side or a wedge-shaped front, the wedge surfaces form an obtuse angle with each other.

45. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 44, characterized in that first the inner wall (5) of the hollow profile bar (1) with a blunt tool (11) pressed and then the two flanks (3, 4) with chisels (7, 8 ).

46. The method according to claim 45, characterized in that after the impressions of the flanks (3, 4) the indented point of the hollow profile bar (1) is deformed with a chisel (12) which has a concave leading edge (12a).

47. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corner is bent by hand.

48. The method according to any one of the preceding claims for producing a spacer frame for insulating glass panes, characterized in that initially at the corners provided for the points (6) of the hollow profile bar (1), the inner wall (5) and the two flanks (3, 4) pressed be that after the adhesive sealant (18) on the two flanks (3, 4) of the hollow profile bar (1) is applied, that then bent the corners and the two ends of the hollow profile bar

(1) by a connector (17) are interconnected, which is inserted into both ends of the hollow profile rod (1).

49. Method according to claim 48, characterized in that the plug connector (17) is inserted into one of the two ends of the hollow profile bar (1) before it is pressed in at the points (6) provided for the corners.

50. The method of claim 48 or 49, characterized in that after pressing the hollow profile bar (1) at the corners provided for the points (6) not only the flanks (3, 4) with the adhesive sealant (18), but also the

Inner wall (5) with the desiccant-containing mass (19) is coated.

51. The method according to claim 48 or 49, characterized in that after the impressions of the hollow profile bar (1) at the points provided for the corners (6) only the flanks (3, 4) are coated with at least one adhesive sealant (18, 19), of which at least one of the sealants (19) is a mass containing a desiccant.

52. The method according to claim 50 or 51, characterized in that the corners are bent only after the coating of the hollow profile bar (1).

53. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spacer (16) is used, at least on its inner wall (5), preferably also on its outer wall (2), at right angles to the glass sheets

(2, 3) has running grooves (47) or waves.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the grooves (47) or

Waves end at a distance in front of the flanks (3, 4).

55. The method according to any one of the preceding claims in conjunction with claim 25, characterized in that in the middle, to the glass panes () parallel e- benen portion (3a, 4a) of the flanks (3, 4) sealing compound in a thickness of only 0 , 25 mm to 0.45 mm, preferably only 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm is provided.

56. The method according to claim 55, characterized in that the insulating glass pane (22) with a predetermined specific pressure of z. B. 40 Newton per running centimeter of the circumference of the spacer (16) is pressed.

57. Frame-shaped spacer (16) for insulating glass panes, made of a metal hollow profile rod (1) according to a method having the features of one of the preceding claims.

58. Frame-shaped spacer according to claim 57, which has a linear connector (33) which is inserted in the two ends of the hollow profile rod (1) and where the two ends of the hollow profile rod (1) collide, has a waist which from a hole ( 39), which extends from an upper side (34) to a lower side (35) of the linear connector (33), wherein the waist with a Sealant (43) is filled, which seals the joint (41) between the ends of the hollow profile rod (1) from the inside.

59. Spacer according to claim 58, characterized in that its outer wall (2) the joint (41) across the hole (39) of the linear connector (33) is pressed.

60. An insulating glass pane with a spacer (16) according to one of claims 57 to 59,