JPH11228189A - Vacuum double grazing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the movement of spacers and to prevent the increase in a tensile stress which occurs in a long period of time by arranging the wire- shaped spacers in the spacing between two parallel sheets made of glass, sealing the peripheral ends of the-glass sheets, putting the spacing part into a reduced pressure state and paralleling the spacers in the longitudinal direction or transverse direction of the glass sheets. SOLUTION: The spacers 1 are arranged in the spacing part between the two glass sheets and the peripheries of these glass sheets are sealed by sealing materials 2, by which the spacing part is formed as a hermetic space. The pressure in the spacing part is reduced to a vacuum state. The sectional shape of the spacers may be any among circular, elliptical and rectangular shapes. The broad use of rigid plastic, etc., in addition to a stainless steel alloy, iron and cereamics for the material of the spacers is made possible by the increase in the supporting area of the spacers as compared with the dotty spacers. The width of the spacers is usually preferably about 0.2 to 1.0 mm and is more particularly preferably 0.4 to 1.6 mm. The grating-like arrangement of the spacers is adequate as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum insulating glass, and more particularly, to a vacuum insulating glass in which linear or lattice spacers are arranged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve heat insulation performance and sound insulation performance, vacuum double glazing is mainly used to seal the periphery of two glass plates and reduce the pressure in the gap between the two glass plates to obtain a high vacuum (10 ^-1 Torr or less). These two functions cannot be performed unless a predetermined high degree of vacuum is realized. Therefore, in the vacuum double glazing, a large number of spacers are arranged in the gap between the two glasses so that the gap can be kept constant for a long time even under vacuum pressure. Conditions that determine the shape, size, and material of the spacer include: a) a material that does not impair the heat insulating property;
Examples include b) a material that does not significantly impair the inherent transparency of the glass plate, and c) a material that reduces a long-term tensile stress generated in the glass plate.

[0003] In particular, in the conventional vacuum double glazing,
From the viewpoints of a) and c), for example, JP-T-7-508967
US Pat. No. 4,683,154 proposes disposing a large number of spherical spacers in the gap, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-183636 and US Pat. No. 5,643,644 propose disposing a large number of columnar spacers in the gap. The spacers proposed in these examples are, for example, those in US Pat. No. 5,643,644 in which the diameter of the column spacer is preferably 0.5 mm or less, and those in JP-A-9-183636 in which the diameter of the column spacer is 0.3 mm or less.
There is an example in which 1.0 mm is preferable. As is clear from these examples, it is understood that in order to satisfy the above-mentioned condition a), a spacer having an extremely small cross section with respect to the area of the glass plate has to be used preferentially. .

[0004]

The object of the present invention is to solve the following disadvantages. The existing spacers described in the prior art aim to realize particularly excellent heat insulating performance as described above, and therefore the contact area between each spacer and the glass plate is very small. As a result, as mentioned in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-268035, the spacer may move, and this tendency is particularly strong in the spacer close to the peripheral seal.

[0005] Further, in the vacuum double glazing in which the spacers are arranged, a tensile stress is generated in the glass plate of the spacers for a long time after production, so that even if one spacer moves, the tensile strength is reduced. The stress will increase, which can cause a reduction in life.

[0006] Further, in the conventional vacuum double glazing, from the above-described conditions for determining the spacer, the interval between the spacers is set to the maximum interval that will not be broken by the stress generated on the glass plate on the spacer in order to minimize the number of spacers. Has been selected. This long-term tensile stress does not exist in ordinary double glazing, and it is desirable to reduce the value as much as possible. However, in order to realize this with the conventional spacer, it is necessary to make the spacing between the spacers smaller than the conventional value, and as a result, the number of spacers increases, and the arrangement thereof becomes difficult.

The present invention firstly aims at preventing the spacer from moving, and secondly, by preventing the spacer from moving, thereby preventing an increase in the tensile stress generated over a long period of time. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the tensile stress generated over a long period of time after manufacturing.

[0008]

In consideration of realizing only high sound insulation, instead of realizing both high heat insulation and high sound insulation as is considered in the conventional vacuum insulated glass, From the acoustic point of view, the influence of the spacer configuration is small, and rather the high vacuum in the gap is the dominant factor that determines the sound insulation performance, and it is not necessary to use a small spacer as described above .

As described above, an important point as a means for solving the problems of the present invention is that the point of contact between the glass plate and the spacer, which is seen in the conventional spacer, is changed to line contact or surface contact. In other words, the purpose is to increase the contact area between them and increase the frictional force between the glass plate and the spacer, and to prevent the movement of the spacer by bonding the spacer to the peripheral seal as necessary.

That is, as described above, the present invention is based on a new idea that if the functional purpose of the vacuum insulating glass is given priority to the sound insulation performance, the conventional small spacer is not required. The spacer is not a sphere or cylinder as seen in the past, but a new configuration consisting of linear or lattice spacers, and the use of linear spacers or lattice spacers prevents the spacers from moving, thus prolonging the movement. By adding a function to eliminate the increase in tensile stress that occurs in the spacer, and by increasing the spacing between the spacers to a distance equal to or greater than the spacing set by conventional spacers, the tensile stress itself that occurs over a long period of time after the spacer is manufactured can be reduced. is there.

According to the present invention, a spacer is provided between two parallel glass plates to maintain a predetermined gap between the plates, to seal a peripheral end of the glass plate, Wherein the spacers are linear spacers, and the spacers are arranged in parallel in the vertical or horizontal direction of the glass plate. Provide glass.

Further, according to the present invention, a spacer for holding a gap between the two glass plates at a predetermined interval is disposed between the parallel plates, and a peripheral end of the glass plate is sealed, and the gap is formed. A vacuum double-glazed glass in which a part is in a decompressed state, wherein the spacer is a grid-shaped spacer having a plurality of grid points.

Still further, according to the present invention, a spacer is provided between parallel plates made of two glass plates so as to maintain a gap between the plates at a predetermined interval, and a peripheral end of the glass plate is sealed, and A vacuum double-glazed glass in which a gap portion is in a reduced pressure state, wherein the spacer is formed of an aggregate in which a plurality of short linear spacers are arranged in a polygonal shape, and the aggregate is adjacent to the entire surface of the glass plate. A vacuum double-glazed glass characterized by being arranged with or without sharing one of the short linear spacers.

Another feature of the present invention is that a plurality of ring-shaped spacers are arranged in the gap between the glass plates as the spacers.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show examples of the arrangement of linear spacers 1 of vacuum double-glazed glass according to the present invention. The spacer 1 is disposed in a gap between two glass plates. The periphery of the glass plates is sealed with a sealant 2 to make the gap a closed space, and the gap is depressurized. By forming a vacuum state, a vacuum double glazing is formed.

The cross section of the spacer is circular, elliptical,
Any material such as a rectangle may be used, and the material of the spacer may be increased in addition to the conventional stainless steel, iron, and ceramics by increasing the supporting area of the spacer from the conventional dot-shaped one.
It can be used widely for smaller Young's modulus materials such as hard plastics.

Further, the width of the spacer (the width visually recognized through the glass plate) is preferably about 0.2 to 1.0 mm, more preferably 0.4 to 0.6 mm. In general, it is preferable that the spacers be as inconspicuous as possible from the viewpoint of design. The above-mentioned spacers are common to all spacers including a lattice spacer described later.

FIG. 1 shows a case in which both ends of each spacer 1 come into contact with the surrounding sealing material 2. Since the spacer is fixed by the sealing material, there is no movement. FIG. 2 shows a case where only one end of each linear spacer 1 is in contact with the surrounding sealing material, and the other end has a gap 4 with respect to the sealing material 2. Also in this case, there is no movement of the spacer. FIG. 3 shows a case where both ends of each linear spacer 1 do not contact the surrounding sealing material 2, and the spacer is sandwiched between the glass plates with a gap 4 from the sealing material 2. In this case, unlike FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, there is a possibility of movement, but there is almost no movement since it is linear and has a large contact area with the glass plate.

The intervals 3 between the spacers 1 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are normally set at equal intervals, but may be arranged at different intervals. In addition, the arrangement direction may be the horizontal direction other than the illustrated vertical direction.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention in which a grid spacer 10 is arranged. FIG.
The spacer does not move when all ends of the grid spacer come into contact with the surrounding sealing material 2. FIG. 5 shows a case where only one end on one side among the peripheral ends of the grid spacer comes into contact with the peripheral sealing material. Also in this case, there is no movement of the spacer. FIG. 6 shows a case where the entire circumference of the grid-like spacer is separated from the surrounding sealing material, and has gaps 4 and 6 on the horizontal and vertical sides, respectively. In this case, although there is a possibility that the spacer moves, the spacer does not substantially move since at least a part of the spacer can be sandwiched by the glass plate by the lattice-like continuous structure.

In each of the grid-like spacers of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the cross-sectional shape of the wire forming the grid is the same as that of the above-described linear spacer. They may be the same or different. Further, in the drawings, the wires forming the grid spacers are arranged in parallel to the vertical and horizontal sides of the glass plate, and the wires intersect at right angles in a cross shape at grid points. May be arranged at a fixed angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal sides, or may intersect at a grid point at an angle other than a right angle.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show embodiments in which the linear spacers shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are divided into a plurality. In general, long linear spacers are cut into short linear spacers of a predetermined size, which are arranged with a predetermined gap 7 in the linear direction. 7 and 8, the spacer at the center of the glass plate is easier to move than the continuous linear spacer, but has a larger contact area than the conventional spacer, so that the possibility of movement is relatively small. Become.
The lengths of the short linear spacers in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the intervals 7 when these are linearly arranged are made as identical as possible, and the positions of the intervals 7 between the adjacent spacers 1 are aligned. Is desirable in appearance.

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a spacer similar to the grid spacer of FIG. 6, but with the grid points cut out of the spacer to form a short linear spacer with each component arranged in a cross. 12. Actually, the short linear spacers 12 are arranged so that the four spacers have the gaps 8 and 9 at the center of the cross. That is, an aggregate obtained by arranging four short linear spacers in a square,
It is one in which one of the short spacers of adjacent aggregates is shared. Since this short linear spacer 12 is separated, it is easier to move than the lattice spacer of FIG.
Since the desired contact area is obtained by the linear spacer, substantially no movement occurs.

In this example, the case where the above-mentioned aggregate is the most common square is shown. However, the aggregate is a polygon other than a square, and the aggregate is not shared by one of the short-line spacers. Obviously, the arrangement can be made easily. In the case where the spacer is such a polygonal aggregate, the size of the gap (the gaps 8 and 9) at the portion where the ends of the short linear spacers gather can be appropriately changed.

Although not shown, there is a ring-shaped spacer as another embodiment of the spacer. In this method, a ring-shaped spacer that can be functionally replaced by the linear spacer, the lattice-shaped spacer, or the like described above is used as the spacer of the vacuum double-glazed glass. For this reason, the ring-shaped spacer must have a sufficient contact area with the glass plate. If the ring-shaped spacer is too small, a desired contact area cannot be obtained, and the ring-shaped spacer tends to move. According to experience, the size or diameter of the ring-shaped spacer is usually preferably about 20 to 30 mm.

Next, the effect that the present invention can reduce the tensile stress generated in the glass plate for a long time will be described. In the study, the finite element method was used without depending on experiments. The reasons are as follows: 1) The tensile stress generated in glass for a long time after production is local,
It is difficult to measure using a method using a strain gauge or a measuring instrument based on the refractometer method in JIS R 3222. 2) For each specification of the spacer, manufacture an actual spacer and examine it. Then, not only does the spacer change, but also the manufacturing variations (vacuum pressure, spacer spacing,
That the long-term tensile stress may change due to other factors such as spacer width, etc. 3) that the change in the generated stress due to the difference in spacer can be examined by arbitrarily changing the conditions by using the finite element method, 4) Already
The literature has proposed examples of spacer spacing and generated stress for vacuum insulated glass using the finite element method used this time, and it has been determined that there is no problem in application.

In this case, the calculation was performed by modeling the state of supporting the glass plate for each specification of each spacer. However, in the study, the main focus is on whether the entire spacer is linear or lattice-shaped rather than the difference in the cross-sectional shape (circle, ellipse, square, etc.) of the spacer. Therefore, the glass plate is supported by the spacer by constraining the nodes of the finite element corresponding to the glass plate by the width of the spacer. This eliminates the need to generate a finite element for the spacer cross section, simplifies the model, and facilitates study. In particular, in this model, a square or rectangular spacer having a predetermined width and infinite rigidity was reproduced.

(Examination Example 1) With respect to the linear spacer shown in FIG. 1, the relationship between the spacer interval and the tensile stress generated in the glass plate was determined. Here, the spacer spacing was 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 mm, and the spacer width was 0.6 mm. The glass plate to be composed is 3mm and 4mm
mm. In the calculation, it was assumed that the rigidity of the spacer was infinite. As a result, the tensile stress generated in the glass plate becomes larger than that in the case where the glass plate is supported by the elastic body, and the evaluation on the safe side can be performed. Actually, any material can be used for the spacer as long as it does not break under vacuum pressure and does not deform beyond the thickness of the gap. The vacuum pressure was 0.001 mmHg.

FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the spacer interval and the maximum tensile stress generated on the non-gap portion side of the glass plate. Calculations show that the maximum tensile stress of the glass sheet occurs on the non-gap side. For reference, with a cylindrical spacer,
The results for a glass plate having a diameter of 0.6 mm, a spacer interval of 20 mm, and a thickness of 3 mm are also shown. FIG. 10 shows that the linear spacer of the present invention can reduce the generated stress as compared with the columnar spacer having the same diameter. For example, if a generated stress of 50 kgf / cm ² is allowed, the spacer interval can be 29 mm for a 3 mm glass plate and 38 mm for a 4 mm glass plate.

The characteristics of the stress distribution obtained by calculation will be described for reference. The maximum tensile stress of conventional columnar spacers occurs near the glass plate that contacts the spacer on the gap side, and can occur on the glass surface above the point where the spacer and the glass plate contact on the non-gap side. I know it.

On the other hand, the maximum tensile stress of the linear spacer as shown in FIG. 1 is generated at the center between the spacers on the gap side, and on the glass surface above the line where the spacer and the glass plate contact on the non-gap side. It has been found that the maximum tensile stress on the non-gap side is larger. From the characteristics of the generated stress, it can be inferred that the diameter of the column greatly affects the maximum tensile stress on the gap side in the case of the columnar spacer, and that the width of the linear spacer has little effect. In fact, the width of the linear spacer is at least 0.6 m
If it is less than m, it has been confirmed that there is no significant difference in the relationship between the spacer spacing and the maximum tensile stress in FIG. This means that the width of the spacer should not be impaired as a support to improve the design, as much as possible.
Suggests that you can make it smaller.

Further, the gaps 4 of FIG. 2, gaps 4 of FIG. 3, gaps 7 of FIG. 7, and gaps 4 and 7 of FIG. 8, which are specifications derived from the linear spacer of FIG. In this case, it has been confirmed that there is no significant difference between the relationship between the spacer spacing and the generated stress shown in FIG.

(Study Example 2) With respect to the lattice spacers shown in FIG. 4, the relationship between the spacing of the spacers and the stress generated in the glass plate was determined. Here, the spacer interval is 2
0, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 mm,
The width of the spacer was 0.6 mm. Two types of glass plates, 3 mm and 4 mm, were used. In the calculation, it was assumed that the rigidity of the spacer was infinite as in the first embodiment. The vacuum pressure was 0.001 mmHg.

FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the spacer spacing and the maximum tensile stress on the non-gap side. The calculation shows that the maximum tensile stress of the glass plate occurs on the non-gap side similarly to the linear spacer. For reference, a cylindrical spacer with a diameter of 0.6 mm, spacer spacing of 20 mm,
The results for a glass plate having a thickness of 3 mm are also shown. From FIG. 11, it can be seen that the lattice-shaped spacer can reduce the generated stress as compared with the columnar spacer having the same diameter. For example, if a generated stress of 50 kgf / cm ² is allowed, the spacer interval can be set to 38 mm for a glass plate having a thickness of 3 mm and 50 mm for a glass plate having a thickness of 4 mm.

For reference, similar to the linear spacer, the characteristics of the stress distribution obtained by calculation will be described.
The maximum tensile stress of the lattice spacer as shown in FIG. 4 occurs in the middle of the lattice on the gap side, and the upper part of the center point of one side forming the lattice of the line where the spacer and the glass plate contact on the non-gap side. It has been found that the maximum tensile stress generated on the glass surface and the non-gap side is larger.

From the characteristics of the generated stress, it can be inferred that, similarly to the linear spacer, the influence of the width of the lattice spacer is small. Actually, if the width of the spacer is at least 0.6 mm or less, it has been confirmed that there is no significant difference in the relationship between the spacer interval and the maximum tensile stress in FIG. This suggests that, similarly to the linear spacer, the width of the spacer can be reduced as much as possible within a range that does not impair the function as a support in order to improve the design.

Further, the gaps 4, 6 shown in FIG. 5 and the gaps 4, 6, shown in FIG.
If the gaps 4, 6, 8, and 9 in FIG. 9 are at least 0.6 mm or less, it is confirmed that there is no significant difference between the relationship between the spacer interval and the maximum tensile stress shown in FIG. I have.

The differences in the evacuation method required for each spacer specification are shown below for reference. 1, 4, 5, and 5 in the spacer specification showing the embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows that, when evacuation is performed to increase the degree of vacuum in the gap, there is a closed space surrounded by a glass plate and a spacer in the gap. Requires a vacuum chamber to seal around. On the other hand, in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9,
The gaps are all one space, and the above-mentioned vacuum chamber is not necessary. After sealing the surroundings under atmospheric pressure, the pressure is reduced by a vacuum pump through a hole made at an appropriate position on the glass plate surface. A predetermined vacuum pressure can be achieved.

[0039]

According to the present invention, since a linear spacer having a relatively large contact area with the glass plate is used, the movement of the spacer can be prevented. Can be prevented from increasing due to the movement of the spacer. In addition, the use of linear spacers with a relatively large contact area reduces the long-term tensile stress itself generated on the glass plate, and measures to reduce these tensile stresses contribute to the safety performance of vacuum double-glazed glass. Can be relatively increased.

Further, since the spacers shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 to 9 have a clearance for the extension of the spacers, the spacers can be prevented from being twisted when the spacers expand and contract due to heat.

Further, in the spacers shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 9, in the step of increasing the degree of vacuum in the gaps, a vacuum evacuation is performed by a method other than the step of placing vacuum insulated glass in a vacuum chamber. This eliminates the need for capital investment in a vacuum chamber.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a vacuum insulating glass according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the spacing between linear spacers and the maximum tensile stress of the non-gap portion side glass.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the spacing between lattice spacers and the maximum tensile stress of the non-gap portion side glass.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: linear spacer 2: seal material 3: gap between linear spacers 4: gap between seal material and linear spacer 5, 11: gap between grid spacers 6: gap between seal material and grid spacer 7: wire Gap between the spacers 8, 9: Gap between the spacers at the center of the cross 10: Lattice spacer 12: Short line spacer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Kubo 1-1-1, Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasushi Maeda 1-1-1, Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Asahi Glass Inside the corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A spacer for holding a gap between two parallel glass plates at a predetermined interval to seal a peripheral edge of the glass plate and to reduce the pressure in the gap. A vacuum laminated glass in a state wherein the spacers are linear spacers, and the spacers are arranged in parallel in a vertical or horizontal direction of a glass plate. 2. The spacer, which is arranged in parallel in the vertical or horizontal direction of the glass plate, is divided into a plurality of short linear spacers having a predetermined size, and the spacers are arranged at desired intervals in the linear direction. The vacuum double glazing according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A spacer for holding a gap between the parallel plates made of two glass plates at a predetermined interval to seal a peripheral end portion of the glass plate and depressurize the gap portion. A vacuum laminated glass in a state, wherein the spacer is a lattice spacer having a plurality of lattice points. 4. A spacer for holding a gap between the two glass plates at a predetermined interval between the parallel plates, to seal a peripheral end of the glass plate and to reduce the pressure in the gap. The vacuum double-glazed glass in a state, wherein the spacer is an aggregate in which a plurality of short linear spacers are arranged in a polygonal shape, and the aggregate is a short linear spacer of an aggregate adjacent to the entire surface of the glass plate. A vacuum double glazing characterized by being arranged with or without sharing one. 5. A spacer for holding a gap between the two glass plates at a predetermined interval between the parallel plates, to seal a peripheral end of the glass plate and to reduce the pressure in the gap. The vacuum double glazed glass in a state, wherein the spacer is a plurality of ring-shaped spacers arranged in a gap between glass plates.