US2873486A

US2873486A - Multiple glazed unit

Info

Publication number: US2873486A
Application number: US627362A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas H Hughes
Original assignee: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co
Current assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Priority date: 1956-12-10
Filing date: 1956-12-10
Publication date: 1959-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-17

Description

1959 T. H. HUGHES 2,873,486

MULTIPLE GLAZED UNIT Filed Dec 10, 1956 INVENTOR. 7HOMIIS H WWI/8 4 United States Patent 2,873,486 MULTIPLE GLAZED UNIT Application December 10,1956, SerlalNo) 627,362 6 Claims. (Cl. -'-56.5)

This invention relates to a multiple glazed window construction and it has particular relationship to such construction. having an improved means for mounting a lightmodifying screen in the air space between the sheets of glass forming the unit.

. Multiple. glazed units comprise .two or. more sheets of .glass spaced from one another. to provide an insulating airspace between the sheets. This air space is effec tive for 'reducingthe passage of heat through the unit due to conduction and convection, but does not satisfactorily reduce heat transmission due to radiation. It is known to support a light modifying screen in the air chamber be tween the sheets. Such screens are in the form of fixed or adjustable. Venetian blinds and serve to reduce passage of sunlight through the unit, reduce glare of light passing through the unit and reduce heat transfer through the unit due to radiation.

Conventional light modifying screens contemplated for use in the present invention are composed of horizontal louvers or slats strung together one above the other and spaced from each other by suitable vertical wire stringers which pass through or around each slat. The slats are tilted at a slight angle to the horizontal so as to reflect a portion of the suns rays. g

Problems have been encountered in mounting these light modifying screens within a multiple glazed unit so as toobtain uniform transmission of light. The screens should be maintained in one straight plane. If there are any undulations or wavy portions in the screen, the angle of the slats to the horizontal in these portions will differ from the angle of the slats in other portions in the screen. In this case, the pattern of light transmitted through the screen is. non-uniform and the reflectance of the sun's rays is non-uniform.

One method employed to maintain the screen in a single plane between the sheets is to have the sheets of glass in touching relationship with the screen on both sides of the screen. This method is unsatisfactory for the thickness of the screen is small and the resulting air space between the sheets of glass is not suflicient to provide substantial insulation. The thickness of the screens contemplated for use in the present invention is of the order of 1 inch, whereas, it is desired that the airspace be approximately fit to /2 inch in thickness. p

An objectof the present invention is to provide a multiple glazed unit having a light modifying screen mounted therein in an air space of greater thickness than the thickness of the screen. a

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mounting means in a multiple glazed unit for a light modifying screen so as to mount the screen in a plane parallel to the glass sheets but out of contact with the glass sheets.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means for mounting a light modifying screen in a multiple glazed unit to prevent undulations in the screen and consequent variations in light transmission and heat transmission through the screen and unit.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention 2,873,486 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 2 will become more apparent by reference to the following description of the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a multiple glazed unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section along lines lI-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is a partial isometric view of a light modifying screen;

, Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a clip suitable for mounting a light modifying screen ina multiple glazed unit, and,

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of another lar to that shown in Fig. 4.

A multiple glazed unit 10 containing a light modifying screen 12 mounted therein is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The unit is composed of two sheets of

glass

13 and 14 separated at their marginal edge by spacer element 16 so as to form an air space 17 between the sheets of

glass

13 and 14. The sheets of glass may be tempered, colored, laminated or have other special strength or optical properties such as the ability to absorb ultra-violet or infra-red rays.

The spacer element 16 comprises a metal tube having a protruding lock seam 18 extending along the length thereof on the side of the spacer facing the interior of the unit. The spacer elementis preferably of rectangular cross-section, but may be of any cross-section and the central enclosed space may be filled with a desiccant 20 as shown in Fig. 2. The lock seam 18 may be formed by conventional metal rolling apparatus and comprises one edge portion 22 of the metal forming the tube having the other edge 24 wrapped around it. Before the seam forming operation, the edge or marginal portion 24 is knurled to provide a plurality of lateral grooves 26 therein. The grooves 26 are provided on both faces and around the end of the marginal edge portion 24.

p The spacer element 16 maybe formed by shaping fiat, aluminum strips into the cross-section illustrated. The spacer tubing may be formed from any suitable metal, such as aluminum, stainless or carbon steels, and the like, of 0.01 inch to 0.02 inch thickness. Such tubing is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of suitable extruded aluminum tubing. The channels or grooves 26 resulting from the knurling operation provide a plurality of passageways from the outside of the spacer element 16 to the inside thereof for permitting circulation of air from inside the unit into contact with the moisture absorbing desiccant 20. within the spacer element.

The spacer element 16 is adhered to the

glass sheets

13 and 14 at their meeting faces by means of a thin, continuous film of a moisture impervious mastic composition 30. .A compositionwhich has been found to be most satisfactory as a mastic is adispersion of carbon black in polyisobutylene such as set forth in U. S. Patent No. 2,551,952, granted to Gerald E. Kunkle. Other caulking compounds or mastic compositions may be employed but the above has been found to be quite suitable.

A rigid plate 31 having a screw threaded opening 32 therein is mounted across the edges of the

glass sheets

13 and 14 and spacer element 16 in line with a screw threaded opening 33 in the spacer element. The plate may be in the form of a circular Washer or other form such as rectangular. The plate is located at the center point along the top of the unit and other similar plates may be locatedat other points along the top of the unit depending upon the length of the top of the unit.

A screw 34 threaded into

openings

32 and 33 permits the plate 31 to support the spacer element and prevent it from sagging downwardly into the unit due to the weight of the screen 12 which is fastened to the seam 18 of the spacer element 12 as will be described below. A

type of clip simistrip of cushioning material35 such as polyethylene may be inserted between the meeting faces of the plate and the edges of the

sheets

13 and 14 to prevent chipping of the edges of the sheet. In addition to being between the spacer element and the glassv sheets in theirmeeting areas, the mastic compositionfitl'is also provided along the outer edge of the unit overlapping the edges of the glass sheets, spacer element and plates at 36 so as to provide a continuous moisture proof seal around the unit.

A channel member 38 of U-shaped cross-section is afiixed around the periphery of the sealed unit. The channel member is made of metal 'such as stainless steel. The angle which the flanges or sides of the channel member form with the central portion of the channel member is slightly less than 90. When the channel member is affixed to the edges of the sealed unit, these flanges are held apart to allow the sealed glass assembly to be inserted. After insertion of the glass assembly, the flanges are released and they spring back into contact with the faces of the glass sheets. The channel member is thus held around the edges of the sealed unit under tension. Other means may be employed to hold the glass sheets and spacer element in constant fixed relationship.

In accordance with the present invention, the light modifying screen 12 is mounted within the air space 17 by clamping means 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the screen 12 may comprise a series of small, thin, parallel, metal strips or slats 42 disposed horizontally, one above the other. Each slat is inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal and so proportioned in fixed relationship to the other slats as to constitute, in effect, a series of small louvers. These slats are maintained in proper fixed position with respect to each other by means of transverse vertical wires or stringers 44 which are disposed at appropriate intervals across the width of the screen. Pairs of these wires, one on each side of the screen, are twisted together as indicated at 46 to provide eyelets 47 through which the slats 42 extend. The construction of a screen of this type is Well understood by those skilled in the art and is commercially available in several forms, one form being known as Koolshade.

The clip 40 is shown in detail in Fig. 4. The clip comprises a hollow cylinder of suitable metal such as aluminum, being open at both ends and having a-longitudinal opening 50 extending completely along one side thereof so as to present

mating lips

54 and 56 for clamping onto the lock seam 18. The

lips

54 and 56 may be ground on one or both sides so as to present a pointed lip. This permits the lips to fit snugly around the seam. The cylindrical clipalso has one or more slots 57 extending from the opening 56 more than half Way, but less than completely, around the cylinder so as to permit it to be inserted around the vertically extending stringer wires 44.

A modification of the clip 40 is shown in Fig. 5. This cilp may be used along the vertical portions of the spacer element to secure the sides of screen 12 to the vertical seam portions. The clip 60 as shown in Fig. is substantially-of the same design as clip 40, with longitudinal slot 62 extending completely along one side of the hollow, open cylinder so as to present mating portions 63 and 64 which can clamp to the lock seam 18. In clip 60, numerous openings 67 similar to opening 57 of clip 40 extend from openings 62 around the circumference of cylinder 60 for more than half, but less than the'full, circumference so as to permit the clip to be inserted around the wires 44 along the sides of the screen. This maintains the sides of the screen in a straight vertical plane spaced from the inside surfaces of the

sheets

13 and 14.

In assembly of the multiple glazed unit, the clips 40 or'dtl are first passed through the screen 12 and then clamped to the lock seam 18. The clip 40 is inserted around the slats at the intersection of the stringer wires withthe' slats with about an equal portion of theclip extending on either side of the wires 44. This prevents distortion of the slats at the point of contact with the mounting clips. The clips 60 may be passed around the vertical wires 44 and through the slats at any position along the sides of the screen.

The screen is then fastened under tension to the lock seam of the spacer element by bringing the meeting edges 54 and 56 of

clip

40 and 63 and 64 of clip 60 into position around the protruding lock seam. A clamping or squeezing means, such as a pair of pliers may be employed to press the meeting edges inwardly toward each other and around the lock seam. to hold the clip in place on the seam.

The mastic'30 is then applied to the edges of the spacer element 16 which are to contact the, marginal edge surfaces of the

glass sheets

13 and 14. This may be done either before or after the screen is attached to the spacer element. The spacer element with screen attached is then assembled between the glass sheets, the mastic strip 36 applied and channel-38 afjxed around the assembly to fasten it together. As described above, other suitable means may be employed to hold the edges of the glass sheets and spacer element in fixed relation.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except insofar as included in the accompanying claims:

I claim:

1. A multiple glazed unit comprising a plurality of sheets of glass separated by a marginal edge spacer element having a longitudinal seam extending along one side of the element, a light modifying screen composed of horizontal slats held in spaced relation by vertical supporting means, said screen being held in rigid planar position between the sheets by a series of clips passing through the screen and fastening to the seam, and means for bolding the glass sheets and spacer element in fixed relationship to each other.

2. A multiple glazed unit as described in claim 1 wherein the clips pass between the slats of the screen at an intersection of the slats with the vertical supporting means and fasten to the seam along a horizontal portion of the spacer element.

3. The multiple glazed unit as described in claim 2 wherein the'screen is further fastened to the seam by means of clips which pass around the vertical supporting means and between the slats and fasten to the seam along a vertical portion of the spacer element.

4. A multiple glazed unit comprising a plurality of sheets of glass separated by a marginal edge spacer element having protrusions extending along the side of the element facing the interior of the unit, a light modifying screen composed of horizontal slats held in spaced relation by vertical supporting means, said screen being held in rigid position between the sheets by a series of clips passing through the screen and fastening to the protrusions on the spacer element and means for holding the glass sheets and spacer element in fixed relationship to each other.

5. A multiple glazed unit comprising a plurality of sheets of glass separated by a marginal edge spacer element in the shape of a tubular member having a longitudinal seam extending along one side of the element facing the interior of the unit, said seam including a pair of overlapped surfaces, one of said overlapped surfaces having a series of transversely extending grooves therein whereby the grooves provide a multiplicity of passages through said seam, a desiccant in the spacer element, a light modifying screen composed of horizontal slats held in spaced relation by vertical supporting means, said screen being held in rigid position between the sheets by a series of clips passing through the screen and fastening to the seam,.and

asvanse means for holding the glass sheets and spacer element in fixed relationship to each other.

6. A multiple glazed unit comprising a plurality of sheets of glass separated by a marginal edge spacer element, a moisture and vapor impervious mastic composition between the marginal edge spacer element and the marginal edges of the sheets of glass, a light modifying screen composed of horizontal slats held in spaced relation by vertical supporting means, said screen being fastened to the spacer element along the top of the unit and suspended in rigid planar position between the sheets, rigid, plate-like, supporting means fastened to the spacer References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,988,964 Barrows Jan. 22, 1935 2,318,955 Milnor May 11, 1943 2,545,906 Watkins Mar. 20, 1951 2,593,539 Cohen Apr. 22, 1952