GB1578030A

GB1578030A - Multiple glazing

Info

Publication number: GB1578030A
Application number: GB3559776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Pilkington Brothers Ltd
Current assignee: Pilkington Group Ltd
Priority date: 1976-08-26
Filing date: 1976-08-26
Publication date: 1980-10-29
Also published as: AU505307B2; AU2803077A

Description

(54) MULTIPLE GLAZING (71) We, PILKINGTON BROTHERS LIMITED, a Company incorporated under rhe laws of Great Britain, of Prescot Road, St.

Helens, Merseyside, WA10 3TT, England, do hereby declare the ivention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to multiple glazing units and especially to sealed multiple glazing units.

When a multiple glazing unit is sealed and then subsequently subjected to a different atmospheric temperature or pressure, for example when in transit or at the location where it is to he installed, there will be a pressure difference between the gas (usually air) sealed inside the air space of the unit and the atmosphere outside the unit. This pressure difference may result in failure of the unit, either by rup- ture of the seal or breakage of one of the panes, or may result in bowing of the panes which detracts from the appearance of the unit.

The problem referred to above has been overcome by providing a gas duct communicating between the air space of the multiple glazing unit and a pressure reservoir, for example, an expansion chamber outside the unit.

The gas duct may pass through the spacer between the panes; this does not cause any great problems when a substantial rigid spacer is used, but does cause difficulties when a hollow section spacer, especially a thin-walled hollow section spacer, is used.

It has now been found that these dfficulties may be overcome, or at least alleviated, in a simple and economical manner, by providing a plug in the hollow section of the spacer and passing a connector through the spacer so that it is supported by the plug.

According to the present invention there is provided a multiple glazing unit comprising at least two panes of glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated by spacing and sealing means extending around the unit at or adjacent the periphery thereof, said spacing and sealing means comprising a spacer frame of hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section, there being a hole through said spacing and sealing means between the inside and outside of the unit which hole passes through the plug, and a connector secured in the hole and located partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, the connector being in gas-tight relationship with the spacing and sealing means and including an internal duct which communicates between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure outside the unit.

The pressure reservoir may be simply the atmosphere itself but, in this case, it is desirable to provide a desiccant in the air path between the atmosphere and the space between the panes of the unit to prevent atmospheric moisture entering the unit. Preferably, the pressure reservoir is an expandable reservoir, for example a plastics bag, closed from the outside atmosphere.

The connector is secured in a hole in the spacing and sealing means which hole passes through the plug so that the connector is located partly within the plug and the plug supports ihe connector. At least part of the plug fits within the hollow section of the spacer frame. It is not essential for the plug to extend across the whole section so as to effectively block the section, but, at least when the connector is in place, the plug should engage the walls of the section so that it is held firmly in position and is capable of supporting the connector.

In some commercially available units, the spacer frame is made by joining together the open ends of one or more lengths of thinwalled hollow section spacer material, for example aluminium, aluminium alloy or galvanised steel, with jointing membhrs wich fit into the open ends of the lengths of spacer material and engage the walls thereof. We have found that such jointing members may, at least in some cases, be used to constitute the plugs required by the present invention.

Thus, in one form of multiple glazing. unit in accordance with the invention, the plug is a jointing member which fits into and joins two. open ends of hollow section spacer material of the spacer frame.

In certain of the commercially available units referred to above, the spacer frame is made by bending a length of hollow section spacer material into the required shape, gen erally substantially rectangular, and joining the open ends, which may meet at or between corners, with a jointing member which fits into and engages the open ends. In a more common form of construction, a rectangular spacer frame is made up of four straight lengths of hollow section spacer material joined by four corner jointing members which fit into and join adjacent open ends of the lengths of hollow section spacer material.

Thus the invention may be applied in units in which the spacer frame comprises four straight lengths of hollow section spacer material joined in the form of a rectangle by corner jointing members which fit into and join adjacent open ends of the lengths of hollow section spacer material and one of said jointing members constitutes the plug which suipi ports the connector.

A convenient method of securing the connector in place is to use a connector which has an external screw-thread and to provide a corresponding internal screw-thread in the hole through the spacing and sealing means which engages the screw-thread on the connector. However, other suitable securing techniques may be used if desired.

A layer of sealant may be provided around the connector to produce or improve the seal between the connector and the spacing and sealing means.

The sealing function of the spacing and sealing means may be fulfilled by a layer or layers of sealant over the joints between the spacer frame and the panes, for example, the spacer frame may be inset from the edges of the panes so that, together with the inner faces of the panes, it defines a channel around the periphery of the unit; a layer of sealant in this channel provides a seal around the periphery of the unit. As is well known in the art, the sealant may be an adhesive which secures the spacer frame and panes together, or a separate securing means, for example an adhesive other than the sealant, may be used.

Whilst, in most multiple glazing units, the panes of glazing material are glass panes, the invention may of course also be applied to units in which the panes are of a glazing material other than glass, for example sheet plastics material.

The multiple glazing units of the present invention may be manufactured, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention, by (a) providing a pre-assembly comprising two panes of glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated adjacent their peripheral edges by a spacer frame of hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section and a hole extending through said spacer frame which hole passes through the plug, a keeper member extending from outside said spacer frame into said hole, the spacer frame, together with the inner faces of the panes, defining a channel around the periphery of the pre-assembly, (b) at least partly filling said channel with a sealant to provide a seal around the periphery od the unit, and (c) removing the keeper member and replacing the keeper member with a connector which extends through the spacing and sealing means constituted by the spacer frame and sealant in gas-tight relationship therewith and is located partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, said connector including a duct therethrough to provide communication between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure outside the unit.

Preferably, the hole in the spacer frame is screw-threaded and the keeper, which prevents sealant from blocking the hole, is a screw with a corresponding thread. However, this is not essential. Thus, for example, the hole may be straight-sided and a corresponding straight-sided bar may be used as the keeper; if a screw-thread is required, it may be cut later, for example by using a screw-threaded connector with a self-tapping thread.

It is not essential to use a keeper member as described above and if desired the connector itself may be fitted in the hole through the spacer frame in the pre-assembly instead of a keeper member. Thus units in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured by (a) providing a pre-assembly comprising two panes of glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated adjacent their peripheral edges by a spacer frame of hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section and a hole extending through said spacer frame which hole passes through the plug, and a connector located in said hole and partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, thc connector including a duct therethrough to provide communication between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure, the spacer frame, together with the inner faces of the panes, defining a channel around the periphery of the pre-assembly, and (b) at least partly filling said channel with sealant to provide a seal around the periphery of the unit, the connector being in gas-tight relationship with the spacing and sealing means constituted by the spacer frame and sealant. However, when the connector is fitted before application of the sealant then, if the outer end of the connector extends beyond the edges of the panes, this outer end will obstruct the path of a nozzle passed around the periphery of the unit against the edges of the panes to apply sealant to the channel formed between the panes and the spacer frame. For this reason, we generally prefer to use a keeper member as described previously.

When a multiple glazing unit in accordance with the present invention reaches the site where it is to be installed, the pressure reservoir is no longer required. The connector may thus be removed from the unit and replaced by a sealing member, for example, a screw, the unit being sealed with the space between the panes at atmospheric pressure at the site where the unit is to be installed. If required, a sealant may be applied over the head of the sealing member to ensure a proper seal.

To facilitate the above operation, it is helpful to pack a kit comprising a suitable screw and a quantity of sealant with the unit. Thus, according to a further aspect of the invention there is provided, in combination, a mukiple glazing unit in accordance with the invention and a kit for resealing said unit, said kit comprising a sealing member suitable for insertion in the hole in which the connector is fitted and a quantity. of sealant.

The invention is illustrated but not limited by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a double glazing unit in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section on the line II--II ob Figure 1, with the pressure reservoir of Figure 1 not shown Figure 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section, corresponding to Figure 3, through the edge of the unit during production before the application of the sealant between the panes.

Figure 5 is a section, corresponding to Figure 3, after replacement of the screwthreaded connector by a solid screw.

A double glazing unit, generally designated 1, comprises two spaced parallel panes of glass, 2 and 3, separated by a rectangular hollow spacer frame, generally designated 4, around the periphery of the unit adjacent the edges of the panes. The panes 2 and 3 and spacer frame 4 together define an enclosed air space 5.

The hollow spacer frame 4 comprises four straight lengths of thin-walled hollow section aluminium spacer 7, 8, 9 and 10 joined at their ends by solid jointing members 11, 12, 13 and 14 which extend into and fit closely within the open ends of the hollow sections.

The lengths of hollow section aluminium spacer contain a desiccant 16 and each length has a slit 17 in the side thereof facing the air space 5 od the unit. The spacer frame is inset from the edges of the panes and, together with the panes 2 and 3, defines a channel extending all around the periphery of the unit and filled with a polysulphide sealant 18.

A connector, generally designated 21, extends through a hole in the jointing member 11 and the length of hollow section aluminium spacer 7. The connector 21 comprises a lower part 23 extending through the spacer frame into the air space 5 of the unit, an intermediate part, 25, extending through the sealant layer 18 and an upper part 26 extending outwardly from the edge of the unit (Figure 3). Each part is circular in cross section, the diameters increasing from the lower part to the intermediate part to the upper part; the diameter of intermediate part 25 is just smaller than the perpendicular distance between the panes, which is determined by the thickness of the spacer frame. The step between the lower and intermediate parts of the connector is an advantage in that it provides an annular shoulder which rests on the outer wall of the spacer frame and assists in supporting the connector in place. The step between the intermediate and upper parts of the connector is incidental; in the case described it is present because the diameter of the upper part is chosen so that it engages the tube 31 which joins the connector to the pressure reservoir 30.

An extemal screw thread 24 is provided on the lower pert 23 of the connector 21 and engages a corresponding thread in the length of hollow section aluminium spacer 7 and jointing member 11 of the spacer frame 4.

Thus the connector 21 is secured in a hole through the spacing and sealing means and is located partly within a plug constituted by the jointing member 11 so that the jointing member Supports the connector. The sealant 18 provides a gas-tight seal around the intermediate part 25 of the screw-threaded connector 21. A longitudinal bore 27 extends through the connector 21 and constitutes a duct communicating with the air space 5 between the panes and a pressure reservoir 30.

The pressure reservoir 30 is constituted by an expandable balloon connected to the bore 27 through connector 21 by a tube 31. The tube and balloon may each be of plastics material although other materials, for example rubber, may be used if desired.

The unit described above may conveniently be made by the following procedure. Lengths ob hollow section aluminium spacer are cut and a jointing member fitted into one length of the hollow section aluminium spacer. The sub-assembly comprising the jointing member and length of spacer is then placed in a suitable jig and a hole for the connector screw is drilled and tapped, and a corresponding screw screwed into the hole from the outside of the spacer. The sub-assembly is then assembled with further lengths of hollow section aluminium spacer and jointing members to provide a rectangular spacer frame, the lengths of spacer being filled with a particulate desiccant before assembly. The unit is then pre-assembled with the spacer frame between two panes of glass 2 and 3 adjacent but inset from the edges of the panes. The screw 33 (Figure 4) is adjusted so that its head is either flush with or slightly inset from the edges of the panes. A polysulphide sealant 18 is applied to fill the channel between the spacer frame and the edges of the panes, and allowed to cure. The screw 33 is removed and replaced by the connector screw, which has a similar thread to facilitate a gas tight seal between the connector and the spacer frame, which is additional to the seal formed between the connector and the sealant. If desired, rhe thread of the connector may be wrapped with a layer of sealant, for example polyisobutylene or a PTFE tape to improve the seal between the connector and the spacer frame.

The tube 31 attached to the expandable balloon constituting the pressure reservoir is then connected to the upper part 26 of the connector 21, thus sealing the unit.

When the sealed unit is moved to an area of higher or lower pressure or temperature, air can flow between the pressure reservoir and the air space of the unit so that the air space remains at atmospheric pressure.

In this way, stresses on the seal or the panes due to differences between internal and external pressures are avoided.

When the unit reaches the location where it is to be installed, the connector 21 may, if desired, be removed and replaced by a solid sealing screw 35 (Figure 5). A short screw is preferably used to ensure the screw is not visible inside the unit through the panes. A portion of sealant 36 may be placed over the head of the screw to con2plete the seal. Conveniently, a polyisobutylene or silicone may be used for this purpose.

If the unit described with reference to the drawings, the sealant 18 is also an adhesive which serves to secure the spacer frame and panes together in the assembled unit.

The invention has been specifically des cribed with reference to a double glazing unit, but it will be appreciated that it is also applicable to other multiple glazing units, for example multiple glazing units having two or more air spaces. In such applications, separate connectors passing through the spacer frames and communicating with the respective air spaces, may be used. An alternative approach is to use a single connector communicating with one air space and provide ducts between the air spaces to allow for equalisation of pressure in the air spaces.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A multiple glazing unit comprising at least two panes ob glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated by spacing and sealing means extending around the unit at or adjacent the periphery thereof, said spacing and sealing means comprising a spacer frame ob hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section, there being a hole through said spacing and sealing means between the inside and outside of the unit which hole passes through the plug, and a connector secured in the hole and located partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, the connector being in gas-tight relationship with the spacing and sealing means and including an internal duct which communicates between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure outside the unit.

2. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said plug is a jointing member which fits into and joins two open ends of hollow section spacer material of the spacer frame.

3. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the spacer frame comprises four straight lengths of hollow section spacer material joined in the form of a rectangle by corner jointing members which fit into and join adjacent open ends of the lengths of hollow section spacer material and one of said jointing members constitutes the plug which supports the connector.

4. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the connector has an external screw-thread which engages a corresponding internal screw-thread in the spacing and sealing means.

5. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein a layer of sealant is provided between the screw threads on the connector and the spacing and sealing means.

6. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the spacer frame is inset from the edges of the panes and, together with the inner faces of the panes, defines a channel around the periphery of the unit and a layer of sealant in said channel provides a seal around the periphery of the unit.

7. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sealant is a polysulphide sealant.

8. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the duct in the connector is in communication with a closed expandable reservoir at atmospheric pressure.

9. A double glazing unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 ob the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of manufacturing a multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 1 which comprises (a) providing a pre-assembly comprising two panes of glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated adjacent their peripheral edges by a spacer frame of hollow section which indudes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section and a hole extending through said spacer frame which hole passes through the plug, a keeper member extending from outside said spacer frame into said hole, the spacer frame, together with the inner faces of the panes, defining a channel around the periphery of the pre-assembly, (b) at least partly filling said channel with a sealant to provide a seal around

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. frame and the edges of the panes, and allowed to cure. The screw 33 is removed and replaced by the connector screw, which has a similar thread to facilitate a gas tight seal between the connector and the spacer frame, which is additional to the seal formed between the connector and the sealant. If desired, rhe thread of the connector may be wrapped with a layer of sealant, for example polyisobutylene or a PTFE tape to improve the seal between the connector and the spacer frame. The tube 31 attached to the expandable balloon constituting the pressure reservoir is then connected to the upper part 26 of the connector 21, thus sealing the unit. When the sealed unit is moved to an area of higher or lower pressure or temperature, air can flow between the pressure reservoir and the air space of the unit so that the air space remains at atmospheric pressure. In this way, stresses on the seal or the panes due to differences between internal and external pressures are avoided. When the unit reaches the location where it is to be installed, the connector 21 may, if desired, be removed and replaced by a solid sealing screw 35 (Figure 5). A short screw is preferably used to ensure the screw is not visible inside the unit through the panes. A portion of sealant 36 may be placed over the head of the screw to con2plete the seal. Conveniently, a polyisobutylene or silicone may be used for this purpose. If the unit described with reference to the drawings, the sealant 18 is also an adhesive which serves to secure the spacer frame and panes together in the assembled unit. The invention has been specifically des cribed with reference to a double glazing unit, but it will be appreciated that it is also applicable to other multiple glazing units, for example multiple glazing units having two or more air spaces. In such applications, separate connectors passing through the spacer frames and communicating with the respective air spaces, may be used. An alternative approach is to use a single connector communicating with one air space and provide ducts between the air spaces to allow for equalisation of pressure in the air spaces. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A multiple glazing unit comprising at least two panes ob glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated by spacing and sealing means extending around the unit at or adjacent the periphery thereof, said spacing and sealing means comprising a spacer frame ob hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section, there being a hole through said spacing and sealing means between the inside and outside of the unit which hole passes through the plug, and a connector secured in the hole and located partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, the connector being in gas-tight relationship with the spacing and sealing means and including an internal duct which communicates between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure outside the unit.

the periphery of the unit, and (c) removing the keeper member and replacing the keeper member with a connector which extends through the spacing and sealing means constituted by the spacer frame and sealant in gas-tight relationship therewith and is located partly within the plug so that the plug sup ports the connector, said connector including a duct therethrough to provide comr.unication between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atmospheric pressure.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hole through the spacer frame is provided with an internal screw thread and the keeper member and connector have cor responding external screw threads for engage ment therewith.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein a layer of sealant is wrapped around the external screw thread of the connector before it is placed in position.

13. A method of manufacturing a multiple glazing unit as claimed in claim 1 comprilszng (a) providing a pre-assesnbly comprising two panes of glazing material in parallel spaced relationship separated adjacent their peripheral edges by a spacer frame of hollow section which includes a plug which fits at least partly within said hollow section and a hole extending through said spacer frame which hole passes through the plug, and a connector located in said hole and partly within the plug so that the plug supports the connector, the connector including a duct therethrough to provide communication between the space between the panes and a pressure reservoir at atnaospheric pressure, the spacer frame, together with the inner faces of the panes, defining a channel around the periphery of the pre-assembly, and (b) at least partly filling said channel with sealant to provide a seal around the periphery of the unit, the connector being in gas-tight relationship with the spacing and sealing means constituted by the spacer frame and sealant.

14. A method of manufacturing a double glazing unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A multiple glazing unit made by a method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14.

16. A process for installing a multiple glazing unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 and 15 which comprises the step of removing the connector and replacing it with a sealing member.

17. A process as claimed in claim 16 wherein a sealant is appllied over the head of the sealing member.

18. A multiple glazing unit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 and 15 in combination with a kit for resealing said unit, said kit comprising a sealing member suitable for securing in the hole in which the connector is fitted and a quantity of sealant.