FR3046431A1 - SPACER FOR INSULATING GLAZING - Google Patents

Abstract

This spacer (1) for insulating glazing comprises a profile (2) which comprises at least one tubular portion (4.1, 4.2) defining a housing (5.1, 5.2) for receiving desiccant material (6). The housing (5.1, 5.2) opens at two ends (4.1 A, 4.1 B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular part and is closed in the vicinity of each end with a plug (7.1, 8.1 , 7.2, 8.2). The housing (5.1, 5.2) comprises a desiccant material (6) between the two plugs and at least one of the plugs (7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) is offset (d) longitudinally inside the housing (5.1, 5.2) relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion.

Description

SPACER FOR INSULATING GLAZING

The present invention relates to a spacer for insulating glazing and to an insulating glazing unit comprising a spacer frame formed by assembling a plurality of spacers. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a spacer for insulating glazing.

In known manner, an insulating glazing unit can be obtained by joining a rigid spacer frame to the periphery of two glass sheets by means of sealing beads and by applying an outer sealing barrier to the entire outer periphery of the spacer frame between the two sheets of glass, so as to ensure the maintenance of the glass sheets between them and on the spacer frame. The spacer frame comprises a desiccant material in its interior volume, to ensure dehydration of the or each cavity formed between the glass sheets of the insulating glass. The spacer frame is conventionally manufactured either by successive bends of a straight section of ductile material such as aluminum, or by angular assembly at their ends of four straight sections, so as to obtain a rectangular frame.

The filling of the spacer frame with the desiccant material is generally performed just before the closure of the frame, especially at a last open angle of the frame, to prevent leakage of the desiccant material. However, the assembly of the spacer frame is not made directly on the manufacturing line of insulating glass, but on an independent island. The filling of desiccant material when it takes place when closing the spacer frame can not be integrated online. In addition, the filling of desiccant material at the time of closure of the spacer frame is not suitable when the assembly of the spacer frame is around at least one central sheet of glass, as is the case for glazing multiple spacers as described in US 2012/0141699 A1. Indeed, there is then a risk of damage to the central glass sheet by the filling device desiccant material. It is to these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a spacer for insulating glazing whose filling in desiccant material can be carried out in line, without risk of leakage of the desiccant material, and which is compatible with an assembly of the spacer frame around at least one central glass sheet. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a spacer for insulating glazing, comprising a profile which comprises at least one tubular part defining a desiccant-receiving housing, where the housing opens at two ends of the tubular part, characterized in that the housing is closed near each end of the tubular part by means of a plug and comprises a desiccant material between the two plugs, at least one of the plugs being offset longitudinally inside the housing relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion.

For the purposes of the invention, a profile is a piece of straight volume, that is to say generated by straight lines. Thus, the invention is concerned with straight rigid spacers, intended to be assembled angularly at their ends with other similar spacers to form an insulating glazing spacer frame, in contrast to flexible spacing cords that can be extruded directly onto a spacer. glass sheet of insulating glazing with directional change of the extrusion head in the corners.

Thanks to the specific structure of a spacer according to the invention, the manufacturing steps of the spacer can be performed online, on an insulating glass production line. In particular, it is possible to integrate online the steps that are the setting length of the profile of the spacer, the closure of the tubular portion in the vicinity of a first end of the profile with a first plug, filling the tubular portion with the desiccant material from the second end of the profile, sealing the tubular portion adjacent the second end of the profile with a second plug. This results in a decrease in cycle time and thus a reduction in manufacturing costs.

Advantageously, a spacer according to the invention, which is filled with desiccant material prior to its assembly with other similar spacers, can be easily handled by an operator or robot to form a spacer frame, without risk of leakage of the material desiccant since it is confined between two plugs inside each tubular part. The fact that the spacer is pre-filled with desiccant material also allows its use for assembling a spacer frame around at least one central glass sheet, as may be required for the manufacture of multiple glazing having at least three sheets of glass, by avoiding the need to fill the frame with desiccant material after its assembly around the central glass sheet. The pre-filled spacer of desiccant material according to the invention may advantageously be manufactured just before its implementation in an insulating glazing unit, which limits the prior absorption of moisture by the desiccant material and improves the quality of the insulating glazing unit.

According to one aspect of the invention, the tubular portion comprises a through orifice for the passage of gas between a cavity of the insulating glazing unit and the outside of the insulating glazing unit for filling and / or evacuation of the cavity gas, which is formed in a portion of the tubular portion between an offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the portion between an offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion is empty, without desiccant material in its interior, to provide a through hole filling and / or evacuation of gas from a cavity of the insulating glazing unit. Advantageously, the through orifice opens into two walls of the tubular portion intended to extend transversely with respect to the glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit. The arrangement of the through-orifice in a section comprised between an offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular part makes it possible, during the drilling of the profile of the spacer, to avoid any risk of leakage of the desiccant material through the through hole. In addition, once the spacer integrated in an insulating glazing unit, this arrangement allows gas filling of the cavity of the insulating glass through the through hole without risk of pollution of the insulating glass with the desiccant material, since the desiccant material is confined to the back of the cap delimiting the section. This results in a simplification of the gas filling process of the cavity of the insulating glazing comprising a spacer according to the invention, and therefore a reduction in manufacturing costs.

Each cavity of the insulating glazing between the glass sheets can be filled with air. However, preferably, each cavity of the insulating glazing unit comprises a blade of an insulating gas, which is substituted for the air between the glass sheets. Examples of gases used to form the insulating gas plate in each cavity of the insulating glazing include, in particular, argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe). Advantageously, the insulating gas strip in each cavity of the insulating glazing unit comprises at least 85% of a gas having a lower thermal conductivity than that of air. Suitable gases are preferably colorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable, insensitive to ultraviolet radiation exposure.

Advantageously, the or each tubular portion of the spacer comprises two side walls, each of which is intended to be adjacent to a glass sheet of the insulating glazing, and two transverse walls, which are intended to extend transversely with respect to the glass sheets of the insulating glass being one directed towards a cavity of the insulating glazing and the other directed towards the outside of the insulating glass. For each tubular portion, the desiccant receiving housing is delimited by the side and transverse walls. The transverse wall which is directed towards the cavity of the insulating glazing is provided with a plurality of perforations on its part between the two closure plugs of the housing, so as to put the desiccant material in communication with the air or the gas inside the cavity. The desiccant material can thus absorb the moisture contained in the cavity and prevent fogging between the glass sheets of the insulating glass.

According to one aspect of the invention, the or each section of the tubular portion between an offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion has a length of the order of 2 cm to 5 cm. Such a configuration makes it possible to drill a through-hole for the passage of gas in this section without there being any difficulty in positioning the piercing device, since a sufficient length of section that is free from desiccant is available. Preferably, the distance between the offset plug and the through hole is of the order of 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. Advantageously, the through orifice has a diameter less than or equal to 1 cm, preferably of the order of 5 mm.

In one embodiment, the profile of the spacer comprises at least two tubular portions and a groove delimited between the two tubular portions, the groove being intended to receive an edge of a central glass sheet, each tubular portion defining a housing receiving desiccant material which opens at two ends of the tubular portion, the housing of each tubular portion being closed in the vicinity of each end of the tubular portion with a plug and having a desiccant material between the two plugs, at least one of the plugs of each tubular portion being offset longitudinally within the housing relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion.

Such a spacer structure with at least two tubular parts allows the manufacture of multiple glazings having at least three sheets of glass. In particular, a spacer profile with two tubular parts and a groove is adapted for the manufacture of triple glazing, where two outer glass sheets are positioned on either side of the spacer, while a sheet of central glass is received in the groove of the spacer. A spacer profile with three tubular parts and two grooves is adapted for the manufacture of an insulating glazing unit with four glass sheets, where two external glass sheets are positioned on either side of the spacer, while two central glass sheets are each received in a respective groove of the spacer. Similar configurations of insulating glass units with more than four glass sheets can of course be obtained by increasing the number of tubular portions and thus of grooves adapted to receive a central glass sheet. Advantageously, irrespective of the number of tubular portions of the spacers and therefore of grooves able to receive a central sheet of glass, it is possible to form and assemble the spacer frame of the insulating glazing around the glass sheet or sheets central, by inserting the edges of each central glass sheet in the corresponding grooves of the spacers and assembling the spacers two by two at their ends at the corners of the spacer frame.

According to an advantageous characteristic, in the vicinity of at least one end of the profile of the spacer, the plugs of the two tubular parts are both offset longitudinally within the housing relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion. It is then possible, in the vicinity of this end of the section of the spacer where the plugs are both offset, to provide two through holes each for the passage of gas between a cavity of the insulating glass and the outside of the insulating glazing for the filling and / or evacuation of the cavity, each through hole being formed in one of the two tubular portions, at the portion which is between the offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion. Preferably, the two through holes are juxtaposed, so that they can be created by means of the same drilling device, which comprises either a piercing member movable between the positions of the two through holes, or two piercing members juxtaposed . Advantageously, the two through orifices allow filling and / or gas evacuation of the two cavities of the insulating glazing located on either side of the central glass sheet.

According to one aspect of the invention, the spacer comprises a liner positioned in the groove for receiving the edge of the central glass sheet. The groove may have a width greater than the thickness of the central glass sheet. The liner serves to fix the central glass sheet in the groove, while compensating for any variations in thermal expansion of the central glass sheet. Unrestrained fixation of the central glass sheet in the groove is thus ensured. Advantageously, the reduction of the stresses applied to the central glass sheet makes it possible to reduce the thickness and the weight of this glass sheet, compared with those used in insulating glass units where the central glass sheet is fixed on the periphery. of the spacer instead of being received in a groove. Putting a lining in the groove also makes it possible to adapt the spacer to different possible thicknesses of the central glass sheet. It is thus possible to use the same spacer model to manufacture insulating glazings having central glass sheets of different thicknesses, without the need to produce spacers with a range of different groove widths, which is advantageous in terms of production costs. In one embodiment, the lining is configured to allow gas flow balancing between the cavities of the insulating glazing located on either side of the central glass sheet.

Advantageously, the lining positioned in the groove of each spacer acts as a mechanical and acoustic damper, particularly when inserting the edges of the central glass sheet into the grooves of the spacers to form a spacer frame around of the central glass sheet. The liner may be provided continuously along the length of the groove or discontinuously. Preferably, the gasket is based on elastomeric material, in particular ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). The lining can be obtained in one piece with the profile of the spacer by coextrusion. Alternatively, when the profile of the spacer is of polymeric material, the assembly comprising the spacer profile and the lining positioned in the groove can be obtained in one piece by injection molding two polymeric materials.

The profile of the spacer according to the invention may be made of metal and / or polymer material. Examples of suitable metallic materials for the spacer profile include, in particular, aluminum or stainless steel. Examples of polymeric materials suitable for the spacer profile include, in particular, polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyesters, polyurethanes, polymethyl methacrylate polyacrylates, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN). Any combination or mixture of these materials is also conceivable, for example the profile of the spacer may be based on polypropylene having an armature constituted by a stainless steel film. When it is based on polymeric material, the profile of the spacer is advantageously reinforced by fibers, in particular glass or carbon fibers.

Advantageously, the profile of the spacer comprises a thermal insulating coating on its surface intended to be directed towards the outside of the insulating glazing unit. This may be, in particular, a multilayer coating comprising at least one polymer layer and a metal layer or a ceramic layer. The thickness of the or each polymer layer is then preferably between 5 μm and 80 μm, while the thickness of the metal layers and / or ceramic layers is between 10 nm and 200 nm. This insulating coating reduces the heat transfer through the spacer profile to the cavities of the insulating glass.

According to one aspect of the invention, each plug of the spacer is formed by injecting a polymeric material into the housing of the tubular portion. Preferably, each plug is made of a resilient and resilient polymeric material such as polyisobutylene, also called butyl, or butyl hot melt, also called butyl hotmelt. An advantage of using butyl, butyl hotmelt or similar material for spacer plugs is that such a material has sufficient stability not to flow uncontrollably into the housing of each tubular portion. Advantageously, the plugs made of butyl or butyl hotmelt also have good water vapor and gas tightness.

In the context of the invention, the desiccant material may be any material capable of ensuring dehydration of the air or gas plate present in the cavities of the insulating glass between the glass sheets, in particular chosen from molecular sieves, silica gel, CaCl 2, Na 2 SO 4, activated charcoal, zeolites, and / or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the desiccant material is molecular sieve or silica gel. The absorption capacity of these desiccant materials is greater than 20% of their weight. The use of a desiccant material in fluid form, especially in powder form or in granular form, allows the filling of the housing of each tubular portion of the spacer by gravity flow of the desiccant material in the housing.

According to one aspect of the invention, each end of the profile of the spacer is tapered, so that the spacer is adapted to be assembled angularly with a similar spacer. In the context of the invention, any bevel angle of the ends of the profiles is possible, including a 45 ° bevel angle corresponding to a mitered section assembly, but also any other bevel angle. The invention also relates to a spacer frame for insulating glazing comprising four spacers as described above, which are assembled angularly at their ends.

According to one aspect of the invention, the spacer frame comprises a first spacer and a second spacer which are angularly assembled at their ends, where each of the first and second spacers comprises a through orifice formed in a portion of the tubular portion between a offset cap and the corresponding end of the tubular portion, such that in at least one configuration where the plane of the spacer frame is substantially vertical, the through hole of the first spacer is in the lower position while the through hole of the second spacer is in the up position. Such an arrangement of two through-holes of the spacer frame is advantageous for filling each cavity of the insulating glazing unit with an insulating gas that is denser than air, by injecting the insulating gas into the cavity through the through-orifice located in position. low and evacuation of the air present in the cavity through the through hole located in the upper position. The invention also relates to an insulating glazing unit comprising a spacer frame positioned between two outer glass sheets, wherein the spacer frame is formed from four spacers as described above, which are assembled angularly at their ends.

In such an insulating glass, the spacer frame is conventionally secured to the periphery of the two outer glass sheets by means of a peripheral sealing gasket, in the form of a mastic bead generally based on polyisobutylene, or butyl, which is particularly efficient in terms of water vapor and gas tightness. Maintaining the glass sheets between them and on the spacer frame is provided by an outer sealing barrier, which is applied to the entire outer periphery of the spacer frame between the two outer glass sheets. The outer sealing barrier may be formed, in particular, from a resin selected from polysulfides, polyurethanes, silicones, hot melt butyls, or butyls hotmelt, and combinations or mixtures thereof. These sealants have good adhesion to the glass sheets and mechanical properties allowing them to maintain the glass components on the spacer. The subject of the invention is also a method for manufacturing a spacer for insulating glazing, comprising steps in which: a profile having the desired length of the spacer is provided, which comprises at least one tubular part defining a receiving housing; desiccant material, wherein the housing opens at two ends of the tubular portion; - Closing the housing of each tubular portion of the profile adjacent a first end of the profile with a first plug; - A desiccant material is inserted in the housing of each tubular portion of the profile from the second end of the profile opposite the first end; - Closing the housing of each tubular section of the profile adjacent the second end of the profile with a second plug, where for each tubular portion, at least one of the first plug and the second plug is shifted longitudinally within the housing relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion.

According to one aspect of the invention, the profile of the spacer is drilled, in particular by means of a drill, so as to create a through-orifice for the passage of gas in a section of the tubular part intended to be between a plug offset and the corresponding end of the tubular portion, wherein the through opening opens into two walls of the tubular portion adapted to extend transversely between the two outer glass sheets of the insulating glass. Of course, this drilling step of the profile of the spacer can take place before or after the sealing step with a plug of the housing in the vicinity of the corresponding end of the tubular portion.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the housing of each tubular part is closed in the vicinity of the first end of the profile by means of a first offset plug and the profile of the spacer is drilled so as to create a through-orifice for the passage of gas in the section of each tubular portion intended to be between the first offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion, individually for each profile, the order of the shutter and piercing steps being arbitrary; then the desiccant material is inserted in the housing of each tubular part of the profile from the second end of the profile and the housing of each tubular part is closed in the vicinity of the second end of the profile by means of the second stopper, in a collective manner to several profiles.

According to one characteristic, the profile of the spacer is obtained by cutting an initial profile to the desired length of the spacer, by means of a tool such as a cutter. According to another characteristic, each end of the profile of the spacer is shaped according to a beveled shape with the same tool used to cut the profile to the desired length of the spacer.

According to an advantageous aspect, each plug is inserted by injecting a polymeric material into the housing of the tubular part. Preferably, each plug is made of a resilient and resilient polymeric material, such as butyl or butyl hot melt, having sufficient stability not to flow uncontrollably into the housing of the tubular portion.

When the desiccant material is in a fluid form capable of flowing, especially in powder form or in granular form, the insertion of the desiccant material into the housing from the second end of the spacer profile is advantageously carried out by flow. by gravity of the desiccant material in the housing. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insulating glazing unit comprising steps for manufacturing a spacer as described above. Preferably, the manufacturing steps of each spacer of the insulating glazing are performed in line, on an insulating glass production line. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, each spacer of the insulating glazing unit is manufactured just before it is used in the manufacture of the insulating glazing unit, which limits the prior absorption of moisture by the desiccant material and improves the quality of the insulating glazing unit. .

Finally, the subject of the invention is an installation for the manufacture of spacers for insulating glazing, comprising: a station for preparing spacer profiles before they are filled with desiccant material, in which each profile is individually cutting each spacer profile to the desired length, sealing the housing of each tubular portion in the vicinity of a first end of the profile with a first offset plug, and possibly drilling the profile in the vicinity of its first end in the section of each tubular portion intended to be between the first offset plug and the corresponding end of the tubular portion, so as to create a through-orifice of the gas passage, the order of the shutter steps and piercing being any; a station for filling spacer sections with a desiccant material, in which, for a plurality of sections, the desiccant material is inserted into the housing of each tubular part of the section from the second end of the section opposite to the section. first end, and the closure of the housing of each tubular portion of the profile adjacent the second end with a second plug.

Advantageously, this spacer manufacturing facility is integrated on an insulating glass production line.

The features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of several embodiments of a spacer, a spacer frame and an insulating glazing unit according to the invention, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of a spacer for insulating glazing according to a first embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a partial section of an insulating glazing whose spacer frame comprises the spacer of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a spacer for insulating glazing according to a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 4 is a partial section of an insulating glazing whose spacer frame comprises the spacer of Figure 3; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a spacer frame for insulating glazing formed by the assembly of four spacers of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3; - Figure 6 is a schematic view of a preparation station of spacer profiles according to the second embodiment before filling desiccant material; - Figure 7 is a schematic view of a spacer profile filling station according to the second embodiment with a desiccant material, in a desiccant material insertion configuration in the housing of each tubular portion of the profile; and - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, the filling station being in a closed configuration of the housing of each tubular portion of the profile.

In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spacer 1 is formed by a section 2 having a single tubular portion 4, which defines a housing 5 for receiving desiccant material 6. The housing 5 opens at the level of two ends 4A and 4B of the tubular portion 4, which correspond to the ends 2A and 2B of the profile 2. In this example, the section 2 is made of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), reinforced with about 35% of glass fibers. The spacer 1 of this first embodiment can be implemented in an insulating glazing unit 10 of the double glazing type, as shown in FIG. 2, comprising two external glass sheets 12 and 14 joined at their periphery with a spacer frame. formed by the assembly of several spacers 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tubular portion 4 of the spacer 1 comprises two lateral walls 43 and 45 which, in the insulating glazing unit 10, are respectively adjacent to the glass sheet 12 and to the glass sheet 14, and two transverse walls 44 and 46 which, in the insulating glazing unit 10, extend transversely with respect to the glass sheets 12 and 14, with the wall 44 directed towards the internal cavity 17 of the insulating glazing unit and the wall 46 directed towards the outside of the insulating glazing. In order to reduce the heat transfer through the profile 2 at the periphery of the glazing, the profile 2 is provided with a thermal insulating coating 22 on the outer surface of the transverse wall 46 intended to be directed outwards. The bond between each glass sheet 12 or 14 and the adjacent wall 43 or 45 of the spacer 1 is provided by a respective sealing bead 13 or 15 butyl. The insulating glazing unit 10 also comprises an outer sealing barrier 18 made of polysulphide resin, which is applied to the entire outer periphery of the spacer frame between the two sheets of glass 12 and 14, so as to hold the glass sheets 12 and 14 together. and on the spacer frame.

The housing 5 of the spacer is delimited by the side walls 43, 45 and transverse 44, 46 of the tubular portion 4. The desiccant material 6, which in this example is molecular sieve, is received in a central portion of the housing 5 , between two plugs 7 and 8 closing the housing 5. More specifically, the housing 5 is closed in the vicinity of the end 4A of the tubular portion with a plug 7 and in the vicinity of the end 4B of the tubular portion with a plug 8. Each of the two plugs 7 and 8 is offset longitudinally inside the housing 5 relative to the corresponding end 4A or 4B, as shown by the distance d on Figure 1.

Advantageously, each of the two plugs 7 and 8 is obtained by injection of butyl hotmelt in the housing 5 from the end 4A or 4B closest to the tubular portion 4, using an injection nozzle. The transverse wall 44 of the tubular portion 4, which is intended to be directed towards the cavity 17 of the insulating glazing, is provided with a plurality of perforations 49 on its part between the two plugs 7 and 8, so that the material desiccant 6 is able to absorb the moisture contained in the cavity 17, which makes it possible to prevent fogging between the glass sheets 12 and 14.

Due to the positioning of the plugs 7 and 8 longitudinally offset within the housing 5, the tubular portion 4 comprises two end sections 47 and 48 which do not include desiccant material in their interior volume. A through-orifice 9 of gas passage is formed in the end portion 48 between the plug 8 and the end 4B of the tubular portion. The drilling of this through hole 9 in the section 2 can take place indifferently before or after the filling of the section 2 with the desiccant material 6. The arrangement of the through hole 9 in the empty section 48 allows, if the drilling of the profile 2 takes place after the filling of desiccant material, to avoid any risk of leakage of the desiccant material 6 through the through hole 9. In this example, the end sections 47 and 48 each have a length d of the order 40 mm. The through hole 9 has a diameter of the order of 5 mm. The distance between the central axis of the through orifice 9 and the plug 8 is of the order of 10 mm. The through orifice 9 opens into the transverse walls 44 and 46 of the tubular portion 4. Thus, once the spacer 1 integrated in an insulating glazing unit, the through orifice 9 can be used to fill the cavity 17 with an insulating gas, or to evacuate air from the cavity 17, without risk of pollution of the insulating glass with the desiccant material 6 since it is confined to the rear of the plug 8.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the spacer 1 differs from that of the first embodiment in that the section 2 comprises two tubular portions 4.1 and 4.2 juxtaposed. Each tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2 defines a receiving housing 5.1 or 5.2 desiccant material 6, which opens at both ends 4.1 A, 4.1 B or 4.2A, 4.2B of the tubular portion. The ends 4.1A and 4.2A are juxtaposed at the end 2A of the section 2, while the ends 4.1B and 4.2B are juxtaposed at the end 2B of the section 2. As in the previous example, the section 2 is styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), reinforced with about 35% glass fiber. A groove 3 is delimited between the two tubular parts 4.1 and 4.2. The spacer 1 of the second embodiment can be implemented in an insulating glazing 10 of triple glazing type, as shown in FIG. 4, comprising two external glass sheets 12 and 14 positioned on either side of the spacer 1 and a central glass sheet 16 received in the groove 3 of the spacer. With such a structure of the spacer 1, it is possible to form a spacer frame around the central glass sheet 16, by inserting the edges of the central glass sheet 16 in the grooves 3 of several spacers 1 and assembling the spacers 1 two by two at their ends at the corners of the spacer frame.

Each tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2 of the spacer has two side walls, respectively 43, 40.1 and 40.2, 45. The walls 40.1 and 40.2 laterally delimit the groove 3 for receiving the central glass sheet 16, while the walls 43 and 45 are intended, in the insulating glazing unit 10, to be respectively adjacent to the external glass sheet 12 and to the outer glass sheet 14. Each tubular section 4.1 or 4.2 of the spacer also comprises two transverse walls, respectively 44.1, 46.1 and 44.2, 46.2 which, in the insulating glazing unit 10, extends transversely with respect to the glass sheets 12, 14, 16, with the wall 44.1 or 44.2 directed towards an internal cavity 17 or 19 of the insulating glazing unit and the wall 46.1 or 46.2 directed outward of the insulating glass. The walls 46.1 and 46.2 are parts of a transverse wall 46 of the profile which also defines the bottom of the groove 3. In order to reduce the transfer of heat through the profile 2 to the cavities 17 and 19 of the insulating glazing, the profile 2 comprises a thermal insulating coating 22 on the outer surface of the transverse wall 46 intended to be directed towards the outside of the insulating glazing unit.

As in the first embodiment, a butyl sealing bead 13 or 15 provides the connection between each outer glass sheet 12 or 14 and the adjacent wall 43 or 45 of the spacer 1. Maintaining the outer glass sheets 12 and 14 between them and on the spacer frame is provided by an outer sealing barrier 18 polysulfide resin, which is applied to the entire outer periphery of the spacer frame between the two sheets of glass 12 and 14. In addition, the spacer 1 comprises a gasket 11 positioned in the groove 3 to receive the edge of the central glass sheet 16. This gasket 11 is made of EPDM and makes it possible to ensure an unrestrained fixing of the central glass sheet 16 in the groove 3. trim 11 also acts as a mechanical and acoustic damper, in particular when inserting the edges of the central glass sheet 16 into the grooves of the spacers 1 to form a self spacer frame ur of the central glass sheet.

The receiving compartment 5.1 or 5.2 desiccant material is delimited by the side and transverse walls of the corresponding tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2 of the spacer. As in the previous example, the desiccant material 6 is molecular sieve, which is received in a central part of the housing 5.1 or 5.2, between two plugs 7.1, 8.1 or 7.2, 8.2 closing the housing. More specifically, the housing 5.1 is closed in the vicinity of the end 4.1A of the tubular portion 4.1 with a stopper 7.1 and in the vicinity of the end 4.1 B of the tubular portion 4.1 with the aid of a plug 8.1. The housing 5.2 is closed near the end 4.2A of the tubular portion 4.2 with a plug 7.2 and in the vicinity of the end 4.2B of the tubular portion 4.2 with a plug 8.2 . For each tubular part 4.1 or 4.2, each of the two plugs 7.1, 8.1 or 7.2, 8.2 is offset longitudinally inside the housing 5.1 or 5.2 with respect to the corresponding end of the tubular part, as shown by the distance d on Figure 3.

Advantageously, for each tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2, each of the two plugs 7.1, 8.1 or 7.2, 8.2 is obtained by injecting butyl hotmelt in the housing 5.1 or 5.2 from the end nearest to the tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2 , using an injection nozzle. Each transverse wall 44.1 and 44.2, intended to be directed towards the cavity 17 or 19 of the insulating glazing, is provided with a plurality of perforations 49.1 or 49.2 on its part between the two plugs, so that the desiccant material 6 is suitable. absorbing moisture included in each cavity 17 and 19, which prevents fogging between the glass sheets 12 and 16 and between the glass sheets 14 and 16.

As in the first embodiment, because of the positioning of plugs 7.1, 8.1 and 7.2, 8.2 longitudinally offset inside the respective housing 5.1 and 5.2, each tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2 comprises two end sections 47.1, 48.1 or 47.2, 48.2 which do not include desiccant material in their interior volume. Two through-holes 9 .1 and 9.2 of gas passage are formed in the vicinity of the end 2B of the profile 2, namely the through orifice 9.1 in the end section 48.1 between the plug 8.1 and the end 4.1 B of the tubular portion 4.1 and the through-orifice 9.2 in the end section 48.2 between the plug 8.2 and the end 4.2B of the tubular portion 4.2. The drilling of these through orifices 9.1 and 9.2 in the section 2 can take place indifferently before or after the filling of the housing 5.1 and 5.2 with the desiccant material 6. The arrangement of the two through-holes 9.1 and 9.2 in the empty sections 48.1 and 48.2 allows, if the drilling of the section 2 takes place after filling with the desiccant material 6, to avoid any risk of leakage of desiccant material 6 through these orifices. In this example, the end sections 47.1, 48.1 and 47.2, 48.2 each have a length d of the order of 40 mm. Each of the through orifices 9.1 and 9.2 has a diameter of the order of 5 mm. The distance between the central axis of the through orifice 9.1 or 9.2 and the corresponding plug 8.1 or 8.2 is of the order of 10 mm.

Each through orifice 9.1 or 9.2 opens into the transverse walls 44.1, 46.1 or 44.2, 46.2 of the tubular portion 4.1 or 4.2. Once the spacer 1 is integrated in an insulating glazing unit, the through orifice 9.1 can be used to fill the cavity 17 with an insulating gas, or to evacuate air out of the cavity 17, while the through orifice 9.2 can be used to fill the cavity 19 with an insulating gas, or to evacuate air from the cavity 19, without risk of pollution of the insulating glass with the desiccant material 6 since it is confined in each slot 5.1 or 5.2 behind the cap 8.1 or 8.2.

In both embodiments, each of the two ends 2A and 2B of the profile 2 is tapered at an angle of the order of 45 °, so that the spacer 1 can be assembled in a miter-cup assembly with a dia. other spacers 1 analogous to form a spacer frame 20, as visible in Figure 5. The assembly between the ends of the spacers 1 at each corner of the spacer frame 20 can be obtained, in particular, using brackets assembly or welding, in particular by ultrasonic welding.

Advantageously, the spacer frame 20 comprises at least two spacers 1 provided with through orifices so that, in at least one substantially vertical configuration of the spacer frame 20 as shown in FIG. 5, the through hole or holes a spacer 1 are in the low position while the orifices through the other spacer 1 are in the up position. Such an arrangement is advantageous for filling each cavity of the insulating glazing unit with an insulating gas that is denser than air, by injecting the insulating gas into the cavity through the through-orifice 9 located in the lower position along the arrow F of FIG. FIG. 5 and evacuation of the air present in the cavity through the through-orifice 9 situated in the high position along the arrow E of FIG.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a plant for manufacturing spacers 1 with two tubular parts according to the second embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, for use in the production of triple glazing. Of course, this installation is easily adaptable for the manufacture of spacers 1 to a single tubular portion according to the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, for use in the production of double glazing, or for the manufacture of spacers with more than two tubular parts, for use in the production of multiple glazing with more than three glass sheets. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the spacer manufacturing installation comprises a station for preparing sections 2 of spacers before they are filled with desiccant material, called a "preparation station", and a station for filling profiles. spacers with a desiccant material, called "filling station".

Figure 6 shows the preparation station, which comprises a device 30 for cutting and shaping, a device 50 for drilling, and a device 60 for closing the two tubular portions of the section 2 at one end. An initial profile 2i of great length transits in a direction X. First, the initial section 2i is cut with a cutter 31 of the cutting device 30 at its front end 2B, the cutter 31 realizing at the same time shaping this end 2B in a 45 ° bevel. The end 2B of the profile 2i is then pierced using at least one drill 51 of the drilling device 50, to provide the two through holes 9.1 and 9.2 in their respective section 48.1 and 48.2. The drilling device 50 may comprise either a drill 51 movable between the positions of the two through-holes 9.1 and 9.2, or two drills 51 juxtaposed. The two tubular portions 4.1 and 4.2 of the profile 2i are then closed simultaneously in the vicinity of the end 2B of the profile 2i, by injecting two plugs 8.1 and 8.2 into butyl hotmelt in each housing 5.1 and 5.2, from the end 4.1 B or 4.2B of the tubular part. This shutter step is performed using two injection nozzles 62 and 64 of the closure device 60, each connected to a reservoir 61 or 63 of butyl hotmelt. Of course, in a variant, the step of drilling the profile 2i can take place after the step of closing the housings 5.1 and 5.2.

Advantageously, the closure device 60 is movably mounted on the frame of the preparation station in the direction X and in a direction Y transverse to the direction X. The mobility in the direction X allows each injection nozzle 62 and 64 to penetrate sufficiently into the housing 5.1 and 5.2 to be able to inject the plug 8.1 or 8.2 at the right distance d with respect to the corresponding end of the tubular part. The mobility in the direction Y allows the device 60 to free space so that the profile 2i when prepared at its end 2B can advance in the direction X, and then cut to the desired length of the section 2 at its end 2A. The cutting of the profile 2i at its end 2A is performed using the cutter 31 of the cutting device 30, the cutter 31 at the same time forming the forming of the end 2A in a 45 ° bevel. This results in a profile 2 having the desired length of the spacer, beveled at both ends 2A and 2B and pierced and closed at its end 2B, which can advance to the filling station.

As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the filling station comprises a movable arm 70 for supporting the profile 2, a device 80 for filling the two housings 5.1 and 5.2 of the section 2 with the desiccant material 6, and a device 90 for closing the two tubular portions of the section 2 at the end 2A left open in the preparation station.

FIG. 7 shows the filling station in an insertion configuration of the desiccant material 6 in the housing 5.1 or 5.2 of each tubular part of the profile 2. In this configuration, the arm 70 holds the profile 2 in a position inclined with respect to the horizontal at an angle of the order of 45 °, with its end 2B previously closed in the preparation station directed downwards and its end 2A left open upwardly. The arm 70 is movable in translation in the direction of the double arrow Fi of FIG. 7, so that it can position the open end 2A of the section 2 under the filling device 80. Two nozzles 82 and 84 for filling with desiccant material 6, which are connected to a reservoir 81 of desiccant material, and are each positioned in one of the housing 5.1 and 5.2, the side of the open end 2A of the section 2, so that the desiccant material 6, which in this example is molecular sieve, can be inserted in slots 5.1 and 5.2 by gravity flow. Optionally, the filling device 80 may comprise means for measuring the filling rate of each housing 5.1 and 5.2 in desiccant material 6.

FIG. 8 shows the filling station in a closure configuration of the housing 5.1 or 5.2 of each tubular part of the profile 2. In this configuration, the arm 70 has moved in the direction Fi to move away from the filling device 80, so that the closure device 90, which is movable in translation in the direction of the double arrow F2 of Figure 8, can be opposite the end 2A of the profile 2. Two injection nozzles 92 and 94, which are each connected to a reservoir 91 or 93 of butyl hotmelt, are thus each positioned in one of the housings 5.1 and 5.2, on the open end 2A side of the profile 2. The two tubular parts 4.1 and 4.2 of the section 2 are then closed simultaneously in the vicinity of the end 2A of the section 2, by injection of two plugs 7.1 and 7.2 in butyl hotmelt in each housing 5.1 and 5.2. Advantageously, the mobility of the arm 70 in the direction of the arrow Fi allows each injection nozzle 92 and 94 to penetrate sufficiently into the housing 5.1 and 5.2 to be able to inject the plug 7.1 or 7.2 at the right distance d relative at the corresponding end of the tubular part. The closure device 90 may comprise means for blowing desiccant material in order to release a volume in each housing 5.1 and 5.2 for the admission of the butyl hotmelt which forms the plugs.

Of course, the filling station has been described for the treatment of a single spacer profile 2 at a time, but it is understood that the arm 70, the filling device 80 and the closure device 90 can be adapted to allow the treatment of several profiles 2 at a time, including four spacer profiles intended to be assembled to form the frame of an insulating glazing unit.

Advantageously, the steps of manufacturing a spacer 1 as described above are performed online, on an insulating glass production line, and preferably just before the implementation of the spacer 1 in the manufacture. insulating glass.

As is apparent from the embodiments described above, the invention provides a spacer for insulating glazing whose filling of desiccant material can be carried out in line, without risk of leakage of the desiccant material, and which can be used for an assembly of spacer frame around at least one central glass sheet, in the context of manufacturing multiple glazings with at least three sheets of glass. A spacer according to the invention also offers the possibility of providing through holes in a section of the spacer which is isolated from the desiccant material, which allows a gas filling of the or each cavity of the insulating glazing without risk of pollution of the insulating glazing with the desiccant material. This results in a simplification of the gas filling process of the cavity and a reduction in the manufacturing costs of the insulating glazing unit. The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. In particular, as mentioned above, the number of tubular parts of a spacer according to the invention may be greater than two, with a groove defined by each pair of adjacent tubular parts, which allows the manufacture of insulating glass units comprising more than three glass sheets. In addition, a spacer according to the invention can be filled with any type of desiccant material suitable for use in an insulating glazing unit, including a desiccant material not in fluid form, which can then be inserted into the profile. spacer by a technique other than gravity flow. Of course, the manufacturing process of the spacer described above has been given by way of non-limiting example and can be adapted according to the geometry of the spacer profile, the nature of the desiccant material, etc.

Claims (20)

1. Spacer (1) for insulating glazing (10), comprising a profile (2) which comprises at least one tubular part (4; 4.1, 4.2) defining a desiccant receiving housing (5; 5.1, 5.2) (6; ), wherein the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) opens at two ends (4A, 4B, 4.1 A, 4.1 B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular part, characterized in that the housing (5; , 5.2) is closed in the vicinity of each end (4A, 4B, 4.1 A, 4.1 B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular portion by means of a plug (7, 8, 7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) and comprises a desiccant material (6) between the two plugs, at least one of the plugs (7, 8; 7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) being offset (d) longitudinally inside the housing (5; 5.1, 5.2) relative to the corresponding end of the tubular part. 2. Spacer according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular part (4; 4.1, 4.2) comprises a through orifice (9; 9.1, 9.2) for the passage of gas between a cavity (17, 19) of the insulating glazing (10) and the outside, which is formed in a section (48; 48.1, 48.2) of the tubular portion between an offset plug (8; 8.1, 8.2) and the corresponding end (4B; 4.1 B, 4.2B). ) of the tubular part. 3. Spacer according to claim 2, characterized in that the through orifice (9; 9.1, 9.2) opens into two walls (44, 46; 44.1, 46.1, 44.2, 46.2) of the tubular portion (4; 4.1.4.2). ) intended to extend transversely with respect to the glass sheets (12, 14, 16) of the insulating glazing unit (10). 4. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each section (47, 48; 47.1, 48.1, 47.2, 48.2) of the tubular part (4; 4.1.4.2) between an offset plug ( 7, 8, 7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) and the corresponding end of the tubular portion has a length (d) of the order of 2 cm to 5 cm. 5. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile (2) of the spacer comprises at least two tubular parts (4.1, 4.2) and a groove (3) delimited between the two tubular parts, the groove (3) for receiving an edge of a central glass sheet (16), each tubular portion (4.1, 4.2) defining a desiccant receiving housing (5.1, 5.2) which opens at the level of two ends (4.1 A, 4.1 B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular part, the housing (5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4.1, 4.2) being closed in the vicinity of each end (4.1 A, 4.1 B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular part by means of a plug (7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) and comprising a desiccant material (6) between the two plugs, at least one of the plugs (7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) of each tubular portion (4.1, 4.2) being offset longitudinally within the housing (5.1, 5.2) relative to the Corresponding end of the tubular part. 6. Spacer according to claim 5, characterized in that, in the vicinity of at least one end (2B) of the profile (2) of the spacer, the plugs (8, 8.1, 8.2) of the two tubular parts (4.1, 4.2) are both offset longitudinally within the housing (5.1, 5.2) relative to the corresponding end (4.1 B, 4.2B) of the tubular portion. 7. Spacer according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the vicinity of said end (2B) of the profile (2) of the spacer where the plugs (8, 8.1, 8.2) of the two tubular parts (4.1, 4.2) are both offset, each tubular portion (4.1, 4.2) comprises a through orifice (9.1, 9.2) for the passage of gas between a cavity (17, 19) of the insulating glazing (10) and the outside, which is arranged in the section (48.1, 48.2) of the tubular part between the offset plug (8.1, 8.2) and the corresponding end (4.1 B, 4.2B) of the tubular part. 8. Spacer according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a gasket (11) positioned in the groove (3) for receiving the central glass sheet (16). 9. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile (2) of the spacer is metal and / or polymeric material. 10. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each plug (7, 8; 7.1, 8.1, 7.2, 8.2) is formed by injection of a polymeric material into the housing (5; 5.1, 5.2). . 11. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the desiccant material (6) is molecular sieve or silica gel. 12. Spacer according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each end (2A, 2B) of the profile (2) of the spacer is tapered, so that the spacer (1) is able to be assembled angularly. with a spacer (1) analog. 13. Spacer frame for insulating glazing (10), characterized in that it comprises four spacers (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which are angularly assembled at their ends (2A, 2B). 14. Spacer frame according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a first spacer (1) and a second spacer (1) which are angularly assembled at their ends (2A, 2B), where each of the first and second spacers comprises a through hole (9; 9.1; 9.2) in a section (48; 48.1; 48.2) of the tubular portion between an offset plug (8; 8.1; 8.2) and the corresponding end (4B; 4.1 B, 4.2); B) of the tubular portion such that, in at least one substantially vertical configuration of the spacer frame, the through hole (9; 9.1, 9.2) of the first spacer (1) is in the down position while the through hole ( 9, 9.1, 9.2) of the second spacer (1) is in the up position. 15. insulating glass (10), characterized in that it comprises a spacer frame positioned between two outer glass sheets (12, 14), the spacer frame being formed of four spacers (1) according to any one of claims 1 at 12 angularly assembled at their ends (2A, 2B). 16. A method of manufacturing a spacer (1) for insulating glazing (10), characterized in that it comprises steps in which: - a profile (2) is provided having the desired length of the spacer, which comprises at least one tubular portion (4; 4.1, 4.2) defining a desiccant receiving housing (5; 5.1, 5.2), wherein the housing (5; 5.1, 5.2) opens at two ends (4A, 4B; 4.1A, 4.1B, 4.2A, 4.2B) of the tubular portion; the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4, 4.1, 4.2) of the profile (2) is closed in the vicinity of a first end (2B) of the profile by means of a first plug ( 8, 8.1, 8.2); a desiccant material is inserted in the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4, 4.1, 4.2) of the profile (2) from the second end (2A) of the profile (2) opposite to the first end ( 2B); - the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4, 4.1, 4.2) of the profile (2) is closed in the vicinity of the second end (2A) of the profile (2) by means of a second plug (7; 7.1, 7.2) where, for each tubular portion (4; 4.1, 4.2), at least one of the first plug (8; 8.1, 8.2) and the second plug (7; 7.1, 7.2) is offset (d) longitudinally within the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) relative to the corresponding end of the tubular portion. 17. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that the profile (2) is drilled so as to create a through-orifice (9; 9.1, 9.2) in a section (48; 48.1, 48.2) of the tubular part intended for between an offset plug (8; 8.1, 8.2) and the corresponding end (4B; 4.1B, 4.2B) of the tubular portion, wherein the through-orifice (9; 9.1, 9.2) opens into two walls (44; , 46, 44.1, 46.1, 44.2, 46.2) of the tubular portion (4; 4.1, 4.2) for extending transversely between the two outer glass sheets (12, 14) of the insulating glazing unit (10). 18. A method according to any one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the profile (2) is obtained by cutting an initial profile (2i) to the desired length of the spacer. 19. The method of claim 18, characterized in that each end (2A, 2B) of the profile (2) of the spacer is shaped according to a beveled shape with the same tool (31) as that used to cut the profile ( 2) to the desired length of the spacer. 20. Process according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the housing (5; 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4, 4.1, 4.2) of the profile (2) is closed using the first plug (8; 8.1, 8.2) individually for each profile (2), and in that the desiccant material is inserted into the housing (5, 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular portion (4; 4.1.4.2) of the section (2) and the housing (5; 5.1, 5.2) of each tubular part (4, 4.1, 4.2) of the profile (2) is closed with the aid of the second plug (7, 7.1, 7.2) collectively for several sections (2).