WO2021245353A1

WO2021245353A1 - Insulating glazing and method for assembling such insulating glazing

Info

Publication number: WO2021245353A1
Application number: PCT/FR2021/050999
Authority: WO
Inventors: Katarzyna Chuda
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
Priority date: 2020-06-03
Filing date: 2021-06-02
Publication date: 2021-12-09
Also published as: FR3111154B1; FR3111154A1; EP4162138A1

Abstract

The invention relates to insulating glazing (20) comprising at least a first pane (22) and a second pane (24) arranged substantially parallel to each other, the insulating glazing (20) further comprising at least one closed hollow seal (26) containing a fluid, the hollow seal (26) being arranged at least between the first pane (22) and the second pane (24) and being arranged at least partially around the periphery of the first and second panes (22, 24).

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: INSULATING WINDOWS AND ASSEMBLY METHOD OF SUCH INSULATING WINDOWS

The invention relates to insulating glazing, intended in particular for a building, comprising at least a first pane, a second pane and at least one closed hollow joint. The invention further relates to a method of assembling such an insulating glazing.

It is known from the prior art of insulating glazing comprising two sheets of glass, also called panes, making it possible to thermally and acoustically insulate, vis-à-vis the outside, the interior of a building in which these glazings insulators are installed. These insulating glazing units are designated under different names such as double glazing, double glazed window, or IGU, an acronym meaning Insulated Glazing Unit in English. An insulating glazing 10, according to the prior art, is shown schematically in FIG. 1. Such an insulating glazing 10 generally comprises a first pane 12 intended to be oriented towards the outside of the building and a second pane 14 intended to be. oriented towards the interior of the building. It may be, for example, monolithic glass sheets having a thickness between 2 and 6 mm. It may also be, in particular as regards the first pane 12, an assembly of two sheets of glass adhesively bonded by a lamination interlayer, for example of polyvinyl butyral, also known by the acronym PVB. This assembly makes it possible to give the window anti-burglary and / or sound insulation and / or personal safety properties, for example anti-breakage. The faces of the first and second panes 12, 14 can be coated with stacks of thin layers giving the pane 10 various functions. For example, the external face 12a of the first pane 12 can be coated with a self-cleaning stack containing at least one photocatalytic layer, in particular of titanium oxide, in particular at least partially crystallized in the anatase form and / or of a stack anticondensation comprising at least one low emissivity layer such as a layer of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), in particular indium tin oxide (ITO) or doped zinc oxide. The other faces of the first and second panes 12, 14 may be coated with stacks of thin low emissivity layers comprising at least one layer of silver. The first and second panes 12, 14 are attached to a spacer 16 extending continuously along their edges. The spacer 16 has, in particular, the function of arranging an air space 5 between the two panes 12, 14. The air space 5 thus makes it possible to create thermal insulation. The cold wall effect is reduced allowing a reduction, or even disappearance, of the condensation. In winter, heat loss is reduced and in summer heat transfer from the outside to the inside of the building is limited. Thus, if the building has an air conditioning system, it is more energy efficient. The spacer 16 can be made of metal and / or of a polymeric material. Metallic materials such as aluminum or stainless steel and polymers such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyesters, polyurethanes, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer are well suited. The spacer 16, when made of polymeric material, may be reinforced with fibers, for example glass or carbon fibers. In order to seal the volume containing the air space 5, sealing cords 15 are arranged between the inner faces of the first and second panes 12, 14 and the lateral edges of the spacer 16. The cords d Seals are, for example, based on polyisobutylene. A desiccant material can be added to the spacer 16 in order to absorb any residual moisture that may be in the volume containing the air space 5. The desiccant material can be any material capable of allowing dehydration of the air such as molecular sieve, silica gel, CaC, Na2SO4, activated carbon, zeolites and / or a mixture thereof.

A sealing barrier 17, for example made of polysulfide resin, is applied to the outer periphery of the spacer 16 between the inner faces of the first and second panes 12, 14 in order to fix them to the spacer 16. The air space 5 can be replaced by an insulating gas in order to improve the insulating characteristics of the glazing 10 such as argon, krypton or xenon. Finally, the insulating glazing 10 is applied to a joinery, also called an interface, the function of which is to connect the insulating glazing 10 to the wall of a building to be insulated. Joinery can be made of metallic material, plastic material or wood. The insulating glazing 10 can be fixed to the joinery by various means and methods of fixing such as gluing, clamping by means of glazing beads or stapling.

In order to improve and simplify the fixing of an insulating glazing to a joinery, it was proposed in document GB2514080A a solution implementing an inflatable seal arranged around an insulating glazing. The insulating glazing comprises a sealing device having a deformable seal and a reservoir connected to it. The joint is an expandable elongated tube having a circular shape in a straight section. It is arranged around the perimeter of double glazing and is positioned in an opening. The gasket is inflated, or expanded, to secure the double glazing in the opening. The seal is substantially hollow and closed and is made from a resilient, damage-resistant material. The hollow seal defines a chamber capable of receiving a fluid making it possible to inflate the seal. The seal chamber communicates with a chamber of the closed reservoir. The closed reservoir comprises a cylinder and is positioned adjacent to the edge of the double glazing. A piston is disposed inside the reservoir to circulate pressurized fluid through the seal, thereby inflating it.

The main drawback of the device proposed by the state of the art is a difficulty in implementing it. Indeed, it is first of all necessary, during the manufacture of the insulating glazing, or at least before its installation in the opening, to add the various parts of the device to it. The assembly of these parts takes a relatively long time compared to the time of assembly and installation of an insulating glazing 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the device requires periodic maintenance in order to ensure the good retention of the insulating glazing in the opening.

The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an insulating glazing offering insulating performance. improved thermal and acoustic while offering simplified assembly and implementation.

To do this, the invention thus relates, in its broadest sense, to an insulating glazing comprising at least a first pane and a second pane arranged substantially parallel to one another, said insulating glazing comprising at least at least one closed hollow seal containing a fluid characterized in that said hollow seal is disposed at least between said first pane and said second pane and is arranged at least partially around the periphery of said first and second panes.

The insulating glazing according to the invention provides improved sealing, thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics. The manufacture of such an insulating glazing is further simplified. In addition, the insulating glazing according to the invention requires fewer components than a conventional insulating glazing. The hollow gasket acts as a spacer, allowing precise control of the thickness of an air gap between the first and second panes.

Advantageously, said hollow seal further comprises a first lateral housing and a second lateral housing, said first pane being disposed in said first lateral housing and said second pane being disposed in said second lateral housing.

The first and second side housings have the advantage of simplifying the positioning of the first and second panes in the hollow seal.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said insulating glazing further comprises a glazing bead and an additional hollow seal arranged between said second pane and said glazing bead.

Preferably, said hollow seal comprises a first side part having an elongated shape, a second side part having an elongated shape, a first thickness of glue being arranged between the first pane and the first side part and a second thickness of glue being arranged between the second pane and the second side part.

The first and second lateral parts make it possible to precisely position the first and second thicknesses of adhesive. The bonding of the first and second panes is thus improved. In a preferred embodiment, said fluid exhibits a pressure greater than the pressure external to said hollow seal.

It is thus possible to control the spacing between the first and second panes on the one hand, and on the other hand to check the tightness during the assembly of the insulating glass in a joinery.

Advantageously, said at least hollow seal is made of a silicone-based material.

Thus, the hollow joint has the possibility of filling the various asperities and cavities when the insulating glazing is installed in a joinery. In addition, the seal between the hollow seal and the first and second panes is ensured.

The invention also relates to a window assembly comprising an interface fixed to a building characterized in that said assembly comprises an insulating glazing according to the invention.

A further subject of the invention is a method for assembling an insulating glazing according to the invention comprising the following steps:

- a step of obtaining at least one closed hollow seal containing a fluid having a first lateral housing and a second lateral housing, a first pane and a second pane;

- a step of positioning said first pane in said first lateral housing and said second pane in said second lateral housing so as to assemble said insulating glazing.

Preferably, said method comprises, after the positioning step, a step of applying a pressure greater than the pressure external to said at least hollow seal. Advantageously, said method comprises, after the positioning step, the following steps:

- a step of fixing the assembly of said insulating glazing obtained in the positioning step in an interface itself attached to a building;

- a step of applying a pressure greater than the external pressure to said at least hollow joint.

Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which: [Fig.1] schematically shows a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to the prior art;

[Fig.2] schematically illustrates a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to a first embodiment of the invention; [Fig.3] schematically shows a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.4] schematically shows a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.5] schematically shows a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.6] schematically shows a sectional view of an insulating glazing according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.7] schematically shows a sectional view of a method of assembling an insulating glazing according to the invention. Figures are not to scale.

In all the embodiments of the invention, the use of panes is described. Each pane can be monolithic, that is to say made up of a single sheet of material, or be composite, that is to say made up of several sheets of material between which is inserted at least one layer of adherent material. , in the case of laminated glazing. The sheet (s) of material may (or may) be mineral (s), in particular glass, having for example undergone annealing or tempering, or organic, in particular plastic. Referring to Figure 2, there is shown schematically an insulating glazing 20 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The insulating glazing 20 comprises a first pane 22 and a second pane 24. The insulating glazing 20 further comprises a closed hollow seal 26 disposed on the peripheries of the first and second panes 22, 24. The hollow seal 26 is closed in the sense that it is closed. does not have a permanent opening with its external environment. In Figure 2, the insulating glazing 20 is shown partially, the first and second panes 22, 24 being shown in an interrupted view. In one embodiment, the hollow seal 26 is closed and is thus disposed continuously on the peripheries of the first and second panes 22, 24. In a alternatively, the hollow seal 26 partially covers the peripheries of the first and second panes 22, 24. Consequently, part of the perimeter of the first and second panes 22, 24 is not covered by the hollow seal 26. The hollow seal 26 is therefore not covered by the hollow seal 26. nevertheless closed at each of its ends.

In all the embodiments, the hollow seal 26 is made of a material capable of deforming when the pressure of a fluid contained in a hollow part 27 of the hollow seal 26 is increased or decreased. The material may be silicone, in particular non-toxic, or an elastomer, in particular vulcanized. The fluid contained in the hollow portion 27 of the hollow seal 26 is a gas or a liquid, such as air or water.

The hollow seal 26 may include a first lateral housing 28, 48 and a second lateral housing, the first window 22 and the second window 24 being respectively positioned in the first lateral housing 28 and in the second lateral housing 29. Thus, it is possible to simplify the positioning of the first pane and of the second pane on the hollow seal. A lateral housing (the first lateral housing and / or the second lateral housing) may be formed by a recess formed by part of the seal. The recess has a face adapted to be in contact with an exterior face of a pane positioned in the recess and a face adapted to be in contact with an interior face of the pane. The housing can also be formed, on the one hand, by a wall forming the hollow part 27 and, on the other hand, by a support part having a face on which the pane can be positioned. The wall forming the hollow part 27 and the other parts of the seal, preferably the part or parts forming the housings, are integral, and can be formed monolithically. The first and second lateral housings 28, 29 may have, in a straight section, a quadrilateral shape such as a rectangle or a square, of width l and depth p. The first depth p28 is between an upper outer surface 30 of the hollow seal 26 and the bottom of the first lateral housing 28. The second depth P29 is between the upper outer surface 30 of the hollow gasket 26 and the bottom of the second lateral housing 29. In one embodiment, the widths bs, I29 of the first and second lateral housings 28, 29 are substantially identical and correspond substantially to the thickness e22, Q24 of the first and second panes 22, 24. In an alternative, the first pane 22 has a first thickness at and the second pane 24 has a second thickness e24, different from the first thickness at. The first lateral housing 28 then has a first width s substantially equal to the first thickness in and the second lateral housing 29 for its part has a second width I29 substantially equal to the second thickness e24. For example, for a glass thickness of approximately 6 mm, the depth p is between 4 and 20 mm, or even between 6 and 10 mm. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the hollow part 27 of the hollow seal 26 has, in a straight section, a first circular arc 32 in the upper part and a second circular arc 33 in the lower part, a first rectilinear portion 34 on one of its sides and a second rectilinear portion 31 on the other side. The first and second rectilinear portions 34, 31 have the advantage of applying a uniform pressure on the edges of the first and second panes 22, 24. The hollow gasket 26 thus comprises a main portion 35 having the advantage of maintaining a controlled spacing between the first pane 22 and the second pane 24 thus making it possible to control the thickness of an air space 21 present between the first pane 22 and the second pane 24. In fact, when the pressure of the fluid contained in it is increased. the hollow seal 26, the distance between the inner faces of the first and second panes 22, 24 is precisely controlled. The hollow seal 26 thus has a spacer function.

In a second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an insulating glazing 40 comprises a closed hollow joint 46 having, in a straight section, a hollow part 47 of quadrilateral shape such as a square of width I47, a first lateral housing 48 and a second lateral housing 49 respectively having a first depth p48 and a second depth P49. The shape of the hollow part 47 has the advantage of distributing the pressure of the fluid contained in the hollow seal 46 over a large area. The hollow seal 46 comprises a main portion 45 having the advantage of maintaining a controlled spacing between the first pane 42 and the second pane 44 to make it possible to control the thickness of an air space 41 present between the first pane 42 and the second pane 44. In the first and second embodiments, the first and second panes are fixed to the hollow joint by means of fasteners such as clips or external fixing brackets (not shown).

Referring to Figure 4, there is schematically shown a sectional view of an insulating glazing 50 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The insulating glazing 50 comprises a closed hollow seal 56 disposed between a first pane 52 and a second pane 54. The hollow seal 56 has, in a straight section, a hollow oval shape. In an alternative, the hollow seal 56 has, in a straight section, a hollow circular shape. The hollow seal 56 comprises a first lateral portion 56a having an elongated shape and substantially parallel to the first window 52 in a straight section and a second lateral portion 56b also having, in a straight section, an elongated shape and substantially parallel to the second window. 54 arranged on each of its sides. The first and second lateral parts 56a, 56b are integral with the hollow seal 26 and are, for example, obtained directly during its manufacture by injection or extrusion. In addition, they have flat outer surfaces. A first thickness of glue 58a is arranged between the inner face of the first window 52 and the first side part 56a and a second thickness of glue 58b is arranged between the inner face of the second window 54 and the second side part 56b. The first and second thicknesses of glue 58a, 58b are thus in contact with the flat outer surfaces of the first and second side parts 56a, 56b. As has been described in the previous embodiments, the hollow seal 56 contains a fluid, liquid or gaseous, such as water or air. In a particular embodiment, the hollow seal 56 does not include the first and second lateral parts 56a, 56b. This configuration is advantageous when it is desired to obtain an improved seal between the first and second panes 52, 54 and the interface in which the insulating pane 50 is placed. In fact, when the pressure of the fluid contained in the hollow seal 56 is increased in order to inflate the latter, the material of the hollow seal 56 tends to fill the various cavities and asperities present in its environment. In an alternative, the hollow gasket 56 comprises a single lateral part of elongated shape and a single thickness of adhesive in order to obtain a better seal on the portion of the hollow gasket 56 not comprising a lateral part. Referring now to Figure 5, there is schematically shown a sectional view of an insulating glazing 60 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The insulating glazing 60 comprises a closed hollow seal 66 disposed between a first pane 62 and a second pane 64. The hollow seal 66 has, in a straight section, the shape of a square. In an alternative, the hollow seal 66 has, in a straight section, a rectangular shape. The hollow seal 66 includes a first side 66a and a second side 66b. A first thickness of glue 68a is arranged between the inner face of the first window 62 and the first side 66a and a second thickness of glue 68b is arranged between the inner face of the second window 64 and the second side 66b. As has been described in the previous embodiments, the hollow seal 66 contains a fluid, liquid or gaseous, such as water or air.

Referring to Figure 6, there is schematically shown a sectional view of an insulating glazing 70 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. The insulating glazing 70 comprises a first pane 72 and a second pane 74. A first closed hollow seal 76 is disposed between the first pane 72 and the second pane 74. The insulating glazing 70 further comprises a second hollow seal 77 disposed between the second window 74 and a glazing bead 81. The first hollow gasket 76, the second hollow gasket 77 and the glazing bead 81 form a first lateral housing 78 and a second lateral housing 79. The second hollow gasket 77 has a lateral extension 80, the first hollow gasket 76, the first window 72 and the second window 74 resting on the latter. The second hollow seal 77 also rests on the glazing bead 81. The first and second hollow seals 76, 77 contain a fluid, liquid or gaseous, such as water or air. Such a configuration is advantageous because it is possible to assemble the various components of the insulating glazing 70 directly at its place of installation, for example on the building site of the building requiring one or more insulating glazing 70. The first and second hollow joints 76, 77 are inflated after placing the glazing bead 81 in the interface fixed to the building.

The present invention also relates to a method of assembling an insulating glazing. A step of the assembly process is illustrated schematically in FIG. 7. In a first step, a first pane 82, a second pane 84 and a closed hollow seal 86 containing a fluid, liquid or gaseous, such as water or air. During a second step, the first window 82 is positioned in a first housing 88 of the hollow gasket 86, then the second window 84 is positioned in a second housing 89 of the hollow gasket 86. In a third step, a spray is applied. pressure in the fluid contained in the hollow seal 86 so as to inflate it to unite the first and second panes 82, 84, and the hollow seal 86 in order to obtain assembled insulating glazing. The insulating glazing can then be fixed to an interface, such as a joinery or a frame, itself fixed to an opening made beforehand, for example in a building wall. The assembly method according to the invention also applies to an insulating glazing comprising several joints, such as the insulating glazing 70 shown in FIG. 6. In a first step, a first pane 72, a second pane 74 is obtained. , a first closed hollow seal 76 containing a fluid, a second closed hollow seal 77 also containing a fluid and a glazing bead 81. During a second step, the first window 72 is positioned in a first lateral housing 78, then the second window 74 in a second lateral housing 79. During a third step, pressure is applied to the fluid contained in the first and second hollow joints 78, 79 so as to inflate them to unite the first and second windows 82, 84, the first and second hollow joints 78, 79 and the glazing bead 81 in order to obtain assembled insulating glazing.

In a first alternative, the assembly obtained during the second step is positioned before the third step in an interface such as a joinery or a frame. The interface is fixed in an opening made beforehand in the building in which it is desired to install the insulating glazing. The third step is then carried out. This first alternative makes it possible to fix the insulating glazing, by swelling of the latter, to the interface and to obtain improved thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as better resistance to vibrations from the building compared to insulating glazing from the building. 'state of the art as shown in Figure 1. In a second alternative, is fixed, before the third step, the assembly obtained during the second step at the interface by conventional fixing means such as stapling , gluing or clamping by means of glazing beads. This second alternative makes it possible to obtain an improved seal between the insulating glazing and the interface with respect to the seal that it is known by implementing an insulating glazing of the state of the art as shown in Figure 1.

In an exemplary embodiment, the application of pressure to the fluid contained in the hollow seal is effected by means of a metal valve present on the latter. The insulating glazing according to the invention is also advantageous with regard to its dismantling, in particular with a view to its recycling. Indeed, it suffices to deflate it, in particular by means of the metal valve, to disassemble it. It is thus possible to simply recycle the various components of the insulating glazing. In the various embodiments of the invention, the fluid contained in the hollow seal may have a pressure greater than the pressure external to said hollow seal, in this case the hollow seal is inflated or it may have a pressure substantially equal to the pressure. outside the hollow seal, in this case the hollow seal is deflated. In the various embodiments shown, the cavity formed by the first and second panes and the hollow seal may contain moisture absorbing elements which may be found in the volume containing the air gap. For example, these elements are integrated into the hollow seal, preferably on its inner face, that is to say the one facing the cavity. In another example, these elements are arranged in the cavity, in the form of absorbent cartridges, during the assembly of the insulating glazing. The material used for these elements can be any material capable of allowing dehydration of the air such as molecular sieve, silica gel, CaC, Na2SO4, activated carbon, zeolites and / or a mixture of these. this. The hollow joints presented above are not limited to the shapes described or illustrated in the figures. Hollow joints according to the invention can take various shapes, in a straight section, such as the shape of a triangle, a quadrilateral, a polygon or an ellipse.

Claims

1. Insulating glazing (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) comprising at least a first pane (22, 42, 52, 62, 72) and a second pane (24, 44, 54, 64, 74) arranged substantially parallel relative to each other, said insulating glazing (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) further comprising at least one closed hollow seal (26, 46, 56, 66, 76, 77) containing a fluid, said hollow seal (26, 46, 56, 66, 76) being disposed at least between said first pane (22, 42, 52, 62, 72) and said second pane (24, 44, 54, 64, 74) and being arranged at least partially around the periphery of said first and second panes (22, 42, 52, 62, 72, 24, 44, 54, 64, 74), the insulating glazing being characterized in that said hollow seal (26, 46) further comprises a first lateral housing (28, 48) and a second lateral housing (29, 49), said first pane (22, 42) being disposed in said first lateral housing (28, 48) and said second pane (24, 44) being disposed in said second lateral housing (29, 49).

2. Insulating glazing (70) according to claim 1 characterized in that said insulating glazing (70) further comprises a glazing bead (81) and an additional hollow seal (77) disposed between said second pane (74) and said glazing bead (81 ).

3. Insulating glazing (50) according to claim 1 characterized in that said hollow seal (56) comprises a first side portion (56a) having an elongated shape, a second side portion (56b) having an elongated shape, a first thickness of glue (58a) being arranged between the first window (52) and the first side part (56a) and a second thickness of glue (58b) being arranged between the second window (54) and the second side part (56b).

4. Insulating glazing (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said fluid has a pressure greater than the pressure external to said hollow seal (26, 46, 56, 66 , 76).

5. Insulating glazing (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said at least hollow seal (26, 46, 56, 66, 76, 77) is made of 'a silicone-based material.

6. Window assembly comprising an interface attached to a building characterized in that said assembly comprises an insulating glazing (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method of assembling an insulating glazing (20, 40, 70) according to any one of claims 1 to 2 comprising the following steps:

- a step of obtaining at least one closed hollow seal (26, 46, 76, 77, 86) containing a fluid having a first lateral housing (28, 48, 78, 88) and a second lateral housing (29, 49, 79, 89), a first window (22, 42, 72, 82) and a second window (24, 44, 74, 84); - a step of positioning said first window (22, 42, 72, 82) in said first lateral housing (28, 48, 78, 88) and said second window (24, 44, 72, 84) in said second housing lateral (29, 49, 79, 89) so as to assemble said insulating glazing (20, 40, 70).

8. The assembly method according to claim 7 characterized in that it comprises, after the positioning step, a step of applying a pressure greater than the pressure external to said at least hollow seal (26, 46, 76 , 77, 86).

9. The assembly method according to claim 7 characterized in that it comprises, after the positioning step, the following steps:

- a step of fixing the assembly of said insulating glazing (20, 40, 70) obtained in the positioning step in an interface itself attached to a building; - a step of applying a pressure greater than the external pressure to said at least hollow seal (26, 46, 76, 77, 86).