Patent Application
20140245675
Aspects of this invention relate generally to a glazing assembly, and, in particular, to a glazing assembly with a radiant energy barrier included as part of a frame member of the assembly.
Energy conservation and efficiency have become critical design elements in all building products, and glazing assemblies, e.g., windows and doors, are no exception. With each new edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, and International Energy Conservation Code (collectively called the I-Codes), the energy efficiency requirements of glazing assemblies become more stringent.
Energy efficiency of glazing assemblies is measured in thermal conductivity, or U-value. The lower the U-value, the less heat and cold are transferred through the assembly, and the better insulator the glazing assembly is. U-value is the inverse of R-value, which is a common measure of energy efficiency of building insulation. The I-Codes specify maximum U-values for glazing assemblies, which vary for different areas of the country.
To meet the ever-decreasing U-value requirements, manufacturers have had to change the designs of their glazing assemblies. Double and triple pane insulated glass with high performance low emissivity coatings have become commonplace. In vinyl framing, metal reinforcements have been replaced by low conductivity materials like fiberglass and wood-plastic composites. Air-spaces or cavities inside the framing have been filled with insulation. All of these enhancements to the framing of glazing assemblies are focused exclusively on conductive and to a lesser degree, convective heat transfer.
It would be desirable to provide a glazing assembly that reduces the transfer of radiant energy through a glazing assembly, and reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain embodiments.
The principles of the invention may be used to provide a glazing assembly that reduces the transmission of radiant energy. In accordance with a first aspect, a glazing assembly includes a frame assembly with a frame member and a pane assembly secured within the frame assembly and defining a first plane. A radiant barrier member on the frame member is configured to reflect infrared radiation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
In accordance with another aspect, a glazing assembly includes a frame assembly with a frame member defining a plurality of cavities. A pane assembly is secured within the frame assembly, and has a pane defining a first plane. Each of a plurality of radiant barrier members is received in one of the cavities and is configured to reflect infrared radiation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
In accordance with a further aspect, a glazing assembly includes a frame assembly with a frame member defining a plurality of cavities. A pane assembly is secured within the frame assembly, and has a pane defining a first plane. Each of a plurality of radiant barrier assemblies is received in one of the cavities, and is configured to reflect infrared radiation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane. At least one radiant barrier assembly includes an insert and a layer of reflective material on an interior surface of the insert. The radiant barrier assemblies may cooperate to provide a radiant barrier extending across substantially an entire width of the frame assembly.
By providing a glazing assembly with a radiant energy barrier included in the frame, the amount of radiant heat transferred through the framing of the assembly can be reduced, thus improving the overall energy efficiency of the glazing assembly, leading to reduced energy usage and decreased operating costs. These and additional features and advantages disclosed here will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of certain embodiments.
The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale, should be understood to provide a representation of particular embodiments of the invention, and are merely conceptual in nature and illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the glazing assembly depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. Glazing assemblies as disclosed herein would have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which they are used.
A glazing assembly 10 is depicted in
As seen here, looking down on glazing assembly 10 in section view, pane assembly 12, shown partially broken away, is mounted in a left frame member 15 of frame assembly 14. It is to be appreciated that frame assembly 14 includes a corresponding right frame member opposite left frame member 15, as well as top and bottom frame members extending between left frame member 15 and the right frame member, which are not shown here.
The term outwardly, outer, exterior, inwardly, inner, and interior refer generally to directions with respect to glazing assembly 10 as it is installed in a structure. Thus, in glazing assembly 10 as shown in
Left frame member 15 typically includes a plurality of frame elements 16 and a plurality of cavities 18 formed within and defined by frame elements 16. Frame elements 16 may be made of any of the commonly used materials in the industry including wood, plastics such as PVC, fiberglass, and wood-plastic composites, for example. In certain embodiments, frame elements 16 may have a central core formed of a first material and an exterior shell surrounding the core. Frame elements 16 could have a wood core with a plastic, e.g., PVC, exterior core. In other embodiments, a first exterior portion of frame assembly 14 that is exposed to an exterior of the structure in which glazing assembly 10 is installed has an outer surface formed of plastic (either solid plastic or a core covered with a plastic) or any other weather-resistant material, while a second interior portion of frame assembly 14 that is exposed to an interior of the structure is formed of wood. This allows the interior portion to be painted. Other suitable constructions of frame assembly 14 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure.
Pane assembly 12 may include one or more glass panes 20. In the illustrated embodiment, pane assembly 12 is a double pane window with two panes 20 spaced from one another and mounted in frame assembly 14. A spacer 21 may be inserted between panes 20. It is to be appreciated that pane assembly 12 may have a single pane 20 or more than two panes 20.
A radiant barrier member 22 is positioned on an interior surface 24 of a frame element 16 of frame assembly 14. In the illustrated embodiment, radiant barrier member 22 is positioned on the innermost surface of frame assembly 14, seen here positioned inwardly of pane assembly 12.
Radiant barrier member 22 is designed to be highly reflective of radiant energy, or infrared radiation, in order to reduce radiant heat transfer, through frame assembly 14, thereby improving the overall efficiency of glazing assembly 10. In certain embodiments, radiant barrier member 22 is at least 75% reflective of radiant energy, or infrared radiation.
Radiant barrier member 22 extends along frame assembly 14 in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by a pane 20 of pane assembly 12. By extending in this direction, radiant barrier member 22 is configured to reflect radiant energy in a direction A that extends substantially perpendicular to the planes of the radiant barrier member 22 and pane 20, as seen in
Radiant barrier member 22 may take the form of a metalized plastic sheet, such as MYLAR®, a polyester film provided by Dupont Tejjin Films. In other embodiments, radiant barrier member 22 may be a foil film. Radiant barrier member 22 could also be formed of metalized polyester, aluminum foil, metalized polyethylene, or any other film or coating with a reflectivity greater than about 75%.
It is to be appreciated that the right frame member, top frame member, and bottom frame member of frame assembly 14 will have a similar configuration and include a corresponding radiant barrier member 22.
Another embodiment is illustrated in
A further embodiment is illustrated in
In certain embodiments, radiant barrier member 22 may be laminated to insert 34. In other embodiments, radiant barrier member 22 may be secured to insert 34 with an adhesive, sprayed on, rolled on, or applied as a coating. Other means of securing radiant barrier member 22 to insert 34 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure.
In certain embodiments, insert 34 may be formed of rigid foam board insulation. The foam board may be formed of expanded polystyrene, polyurethane, or polyisocyanurate, for example. In other embodiments, insert 34 may be a section of extruded vinyl, pultruded fiberglass, or other non-conductive materials. Other suitable materials for insert 34 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Another embodiment is illustrated in
Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps which perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of individual elements, or more than one element, from one or more described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
