Patent Application
20110023391
The present invention relates generally to insulated glass units (IGUs), devices for mounting IGUs and a method of mounting IGUs.
Insulated Glass Units (IGUs), also known as double glazing units, are generally formed from two spaced apart panes of glass separated by a peripheral spacing frame. The frame and glass forms a hermetically sealed chamber so as to provide a transparent insulating barrier. However, the peripheral frames are bulky, expensive and unsightly, and interfere with the view through the glass panels, especially when an IGU glass wall is formed by abutting several IGUs together in an edge to edge manner.
Other arrangements use point fixing structures which have a spacer between the glass panels to mount the IGUs. Point fixing devices allow the use of much slimmer peripheral frames.
One particular known point fixing structure is disclosed in JP 2000104456A. This structure includes a spacer, for providing an air gap, between an inner and an outer glass panel, the spacer being arranged such that inner faces of the inner glass panel and the outer glass panel directly abut the respective faces of the spacer. This structure further includes a cylindrical collar assembly comprising several parts inserted central to the spacer. In this configuration, a void is formed between an inner radial surface of the spacer and an outer radial surface of the collar assembly.
To seal the air gap from the external environment, a sealant is disposed within the void and a bolt is inserted central to the collar assembly. An oversized nut is then engaged to a threaded end of the bolt and tightened such that the inner and outer glass panels are clamped against the spacer. During clamping, the sealant is squeezed into and retained in the void by the inner surface of the over sized nut, and the collar assembly serves to prevent over tightening.
A disadvantage with this type of point fixing structure is that the collar comprises a stacked arrangement of multiple parts with different compression characteristics and variable dimensions. Accordingly, it is difficult to ensure the height of the overall collar assembly is reliably within tolerances required to provide accurate compression when tightening the nut. For example, when the glass panels are clamped against the spacer, the components of the collar assembly, such as the sealant and sealing washers are squeezed by differing degrees. Furthermore, as multiple parts of the collar assembly may need to be inserted by hand, it is difficult to automate the manufacturing process of an IGU.
Another disadvantage of this type of point fixing structure is that it may be difficult to assemble an IGU unit when the glass panels are in a vertical orientation, which is advantageous in an assembly line. For example, the main sealant of JP 2000104456 A would likely not be held in place during manufacture between the inner radial surface of the spacer and an outer radial surface of the collar assembly, if the glass unit was constructed in a vertical orientation.
Yet another disadvantage of this type of point fixing structure is that the spacer serves only to hold the glass panels in spaced relation. The spacer does not directly retain any sealant which can be used as a seal to retain air in the air gap, and also ensure unified fit with the glass panels which may have surfaces that are not entirely congruent with the respective faces of the spacer.
The present invention seeks to ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device for providing a fixing point for an insulated glass unit, the device having clamping blocks to mount the device though opposed panes of glass of the unit and a spacer with opposed faces provided with an annular groove for carrying sealant to seal against an associated one of the glass panes when the glass panes are tensioned together by the clamping blocks.
In another aspect, there is provided a spacer for use in the abovedescribed device, the spacer having a flattened donut shape with an annular groove formed on opposed faces thereof, the grooves defining wells for receipt of a sealant material.
In another aspect, there is provided a method of mounting a device, as described above, to opposed panes of glass, including: locating a spacer, with sealant provided in an annular groove thereof, over a hole in a first pane of glass; and pressing the spacer between the first pane and a second pane of glass, to engage the sealant and seal the spacer against both panes of glass.
In another aspect, there is provided a glass unit formed in accordance with the abovedescribed method, with a plurality of devices mounted thereto, to allow for multiple point fixing of the unit.
In yet another aspect, there is provided a clamping block structure, for use in the above described device.
Preferably, the sealant is filled into the groove, before attaching the spacer to the panes of glass, to a depth at least as deep as the groove.
Preferably, polyisobutylene sealant is filled into an annular groove on each opposed face of the spacer.
Preferably, the method includes the step of fitting a flange of the spacer in the hole of the first pane of glass to thereby locate the spacer over the hole.
Preferably, the method includes the step of coupling clamping blocks together through a bore defined by the spacer, from opposite sides of the panes of glass; tensioning the blocks to squeeze the panes of glass together; and providing a stop device on the blocks to prevent overtensioning of the panes.
Preferably, the method includes the step of coupling the blocks together by fitting one of the blocks, in the form of a nut, onto a threaded shaft of the other block and screw threading the nut into tensioned engagement with the nut.
Preferably, the method further includes the step of fitting a bush to one of the glass panes and seating an associated one of the clamping blocks, in the form of a threaded bolt, in the bush for connection to the other one of the blocks.
Preferably, the method further includes the step of providing a seal between the bush and the glass pane and between the bush and the bolt.
Preferably, the method further includes providing a bush for each of the clamping blocks and counter sinking the bushes in the glass panes.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a glass unit is formed in accordance with the method defined above, with a plurality of devices mounted thereto, to allow for multiple point fixing of the unit.
Preferably, the devices are profiled to allow the unit to be flat packed, wherein the devices are also adapted to carry an articulated ball joint for mounting the glass unit to a supporting structure.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamping block structure for an insulated glass unit, including bushes which fit in holes of opposed panes of glass, clamping blocks in the form of threaded bolts arranged to be seated in the associated bushes and to be coupled together through the unit, wherein the clamping blocks carry a stop device to inhibit over tensioning of the panes of glass clamped between the blocks.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamping block structure for an insulated glass unit, including clamping blocks seated on opposed panes of glass, wherein the clamping blocks are coupled together by a threaded coupling which passes through the unit, the threaded coupled having a stop device to inhibit over tensioning of the panes of glass clamped between the clamping blocks.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a clamping block structure for an insulated glass unit, including a bush which fits in a hole of a first pane of glass and clamping blocks in the form of a bolt with opposed first and second ends; wherein a first end is configured to be seated in the bush and a second end seated on an outer surface of a second pane of glass when the bolt is coupled together through the unit; wherein the clamping blocks carry a stop device to inhibit over tensioning of the panes of glass clamped between the blocks.
The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;
a and 10b show respectively a side and a front view of a seating portion of a countersunk bush;
a and 11b show respectively a side and a front view of an insert portion of a countersunk bush;
a and 12b show respectively a side and a front view of a seating portion of a countersunk bush;
a and 13b show respectively a side and a front view of an insert portion of a countersunk bush;
a-14c show several isometric views of a spacer used in the second embodiment;
a-15d show several isometric views of first and second ends of a shee bolt which is used in the second example;
a and 16b show isometric views of a third example of the point fixing apparatus;
a is an isometric cutaway view of the point fixing apparatus;
b is a side cutaway view of the point fixing apparatus;
c is another isometric cutaway view of the point fixing apparatus;
a is a side cutaway view of a forth example of the point fixing device;
b is a detailed view of the point fixing device shown in
Referring to
An axle 21 is provided so as to support clamping blocks 22. In use, the axle 21 is inserted through the bore 11 of the spacer 10, the bore 11 being smooth sided to allow the axle 21 to slide easily therethrough. Furthermore, the axle 21 includes shaft 23 having threaded ends 24 onto which the clamping blocks are coupled. The axle 21 also includes stops 25 and 26 so as to inhibit clamping blocks 22 from overtightening the point fixing apparatus 2. The stops 25 and 26 are, respectively formed of a shoulder 27 and axle end 28 on the shaft 23.
The device includes a seal apparatus 30 to seal gas, such as an inert gas within the insulating chamber 4 from the external environment (not shown). The seal apparatus 30 includes a first seal element 31 in the form of structural washers 32 and 33 which are constructed from silicone 34 in order to provide suitable flexibility, sealing and frictional and structural support for the panes 5 and 6.
The seal apparatus 30 also includes a second seal element 35 in the form of a flexible polyisobutylene (PIB) sealant 36. The PIB sealant 36, when the apparatus 2 is assembled, is applied in a 5.5 mm diameter bead to the spacer faces 13 and 14, in the wells 19 and 20.
The seal apparatus 30 further includes a second well (or chamber) 37 for receiving flexible PIB sealant adjacent the flange 12. A bevel 38 at the end of the flange 12 increases the size of the second well 37 so that a secure flexible PIB seal may be effected between the panes 5 and 6, the flanges 12 and internal diameters of the washers 32 and 33. The volume of the second well 37 and hence the seal is maintained by the stops 25 and 26 which inhibit the clamping blocks 22 from squeezing out all the PIB sealant when tightened. The stops 25 and 26 at their minimum spacing, generally define a separation distance which is a minimum specified thickness of glass panes 5 and 6, less a small separation for compression of the silicone washers 32 and 33.
Advantageously, as may be appreciated from the above, the volume of the second well 37 is maintained by the various features of the preferred embodiments, being the frictional engagement of the silicone washers 32 and 33 with the panes 5 and 6, and the stops 25 and 26 so that the apparatus 2 does not require a cured wet connection before the IGU 3 may be moved or installed.
To assemble the point fixing apparatus 2, a first pane 5 waits at an assembly station on a production line (not shown). The pane 5 has a peripheral bead of PIB sealant applied around its peripheral edges (not shown). The spacer 10 is loaded with 5.5 mm diameter beads of PIB on both faces 13 and 14, in the wells 19 and 20. The flange 12 of the spacer 10 is then inserted into a hole of the pane 5 which a diameter sized large enough to allow passage of the flange 12 yet small enough to provide circumferential abutment of the face 13 of the spacer 10 with the first pane 5. The spacer 10 is then squeezed against the pane 5 until the face 13 abuts it, leaving a PIB adhesive seal at least as deep as the groove 17 or well 19. The PIB sealant provides a temporary glue to hold the spacer 10 in place while a second pane 6 is manoeuvred into place.
The pane 6 is located using the flange 12 which protrudes from the other side of the spacer 10. Pane 5 is squeezed against pane 6 so that spacer face 14 abuts pane 6. As such, the PIB loaded in wells 19 and 20 is squeezed against the respective glass pane 5 and 6 so as to form the second seal elements 28. During assembly, it may be appreciated that the bevels 38 disposed at outer ends of the flanges 12 provide ramps 40 to facilitate loading of the panes 5 and 6 onto their respective flanges 12.
Once the spacer 10 has been applied to the inner faces of the panes 5 and 6, the axle 21 may be inserted though bore 11, and PIB is injected into the second well 37, adjacent the bevel 38. Clamping blocks 22 are then threadably applied to either end of the axle shaft 23, and the end faces 39 of the clamping blocks 22 abut the silicone washers 32 and 33 respectively, so as to form the first seal element 31. The geometric configuration of the clamping blocks 22 spread the support load from the mounting device 1 and are utilised to clamp the panes 5 and 6 against the first seal element 21 and second seal element 35 so as to inhibit pollution and leakage into the chamber 4 between panes 5 and 6.
It is important the PIB adhesive seal remains at least as deep as the well 19 and 20 to provide the second seal element 35. The required depth of the second seal element 35 is controlled by the volume of the PIB bead being greater than the volume of the wells 19 and 20 in addition to the torque applied to the clamping blocks 22 during tightening. Furthermore, if the glass panes 5 and 6 are at the smallest manufacturing tolerance for the thickness then the stops 25 and 26 will prevent over extrusion of the PIB sealant as well as the panes 5 and 6 from touching the spacer 10 ensuring the integrity of the second seal element 28. Furthermore, the stops 25 and 26 ensure that the clamping blocks 40 cannot be over tightened so that the glass panes 5 and 6 are not crushed or cracked.
The clamping blocks 22 also include gripping means 41 which may be actuated to apply a torque to tighten the clamping blocks 22. Furthermore, the gripping means 41 may be configured to receive a tool which allows a more secure load holding and spreading when tightening the clamping blocks 22 on the axle 21.
The axle 21 includes a bore 42 with an internal thread 43 into which an articulated ball joint assembly 45 may be engaged. The articulated ball joint assembly 45 is movable along the thread 43 of the bore 42 so that an installer may change the point of application of the shear load from the IGU 3 or remove an articulating ball joint assembly 45 altogether. The shear load of the IGU 3 is taken by the end of a stem 4 upon which the articulating ball joint assembly 45 is mounted. The articulating ball joint assembly 45 may move outwardly along the bore 42 until the shear load is taken mainly through the ball joint 45 itself, reducing shear forces on the stem 44 which transfers the load of the IGU 4 to a structure when the IGU 3 is installed. Additionally, the articulating ball joint assembly 45 and stem 44 can be removed from the bore 42 so as to facilitate flat packing of IGUs 3.
As may be appreciated from
Referring now to
The shee bolt 108 is configured to hold the countersunk bushes 109 against the panes 105 and 106. The shee bolt 108 includes a stop 125 to prevent over tightening of the apparatus 102. Finally, to improve sealing, the shee bolt 109, countersunk bushes 109 and washers include o-rings 152.
Accordingly, it may be appreciated the annular gaps 156 allows lateral play to exist between the first and second ends 150, 151 and their respective countersunk bushes 109. This lateral play is important when coupling the glass panes 105, 106 together if tolerances or other manufacturing variances are such that the axes of the countersunk holes 107 are not exactly aligned.
The diameter of the inner portion 157 of the countersunk bush 109 is configured to allow passage of the respective neck 158, 159 portions of the first and second ends 150, 151 of the of the shee bolt 108, however, whilst being small enough so that the flanges 153, 154 are seated on the inner portion 157 of the countersunk bush 109 when in a coupled condition.
Furthermore, the flanges 153, 154 have an annular channel 160 which retains the o-ring 152 which form part of the seal apparatus 230 between the first and second ends 150, 151 of the shee bolt 108 and the countersunk bush 109.
As may be better appreciated from
Furthermore, the countersunk bushes 108 have annular recesses 161 which are configured to receive PIB sealant to form yet another part of the seal apparatus 230 between the respective glass panes 105 and 106 and the countersunk bushes 109. Accordingly, when the first and second ends 150, 151 are engaged and tightened, as shown in, for example
The configuration of the countersunk bushes 109 is particularly important as glass panes are typically not flat (for example the flatness of glass can vary as much as 6 mm per meter of length). As a result, when the countersunk holes 107 are drilled and the glass panes 105 and 106 are clamped together, axes of the holes 107 may not be coaxial. For example, each hole 107 may be laterally shifted relative to the other, as well have angular differences.
Accordingly, during assembly, the bushes 109 are prepared with a PIB bead in the inner recess 161 and are inserted into the countersunk drilled holes 107 of the glass panes 105 and 106. Importantly, the volume of the recess 161 is smaller then the volume of the PIB bead such that the over-volume of PIB is extruded between the bushes 109 and the respective tapered surfaces of the countersunk holes 107 of the glass panes 105 and 106. This allows the frustoconical surfaces of the bushes 109 and the respective glass panes 105 and 106 to pivot about the PIB bead so as to allow the first and second ends 150, 151 of the shee bolt 108 to be coaxial (despite variations in the axis of the holes 107) and maintain seal integrity whilst allowing for such manufacturing tolerances.
a, 10b and
a to 14c illustrate further views of the spacer 110. As previously described the spacer 110 has annular grooves 117, 118 on both sides which form wells 119, 120. Spacer 110 has a central bore 111 skirted by a circumferential face 116, and a flange 112 extending peripherally around the circumferential face 116.
Referring to
In use, the first end 150 and the second end 151 may be advanced together until second end 151 abuts a shoulder 127 of the first end 150. This shoulder 127 forms a stop 125 which prevents over tightening of the shee bolt 108 when clamping the panes 105 and 106 onto the spacer 110. The first and second end 150, 151 also include gripping means that may receive a tool (not shown) for use in tightening the shee bolt 108.
As mentioned in relation to the first example, it is also important in this example that the PIB adhesive seal remains at least as deep as the wells 119 and 120 of the spacer 110 to provide the second seal element 135. The required depth of the seal is controlled by the volume of the PIB bead being greater than the volume of the wells 119 and 120 in addition to the torque applied to the shee bolt 108 (which provides clamping blocks 122) during tightening. Furthermore, if the glass panes 105 and 106 are at the smallest manufacturing tolerance for the thickness then the stop 125 will prevent over tightening of the shee bolt 108 so that the PIB sealant is maintained at a sufficient thickness and panes 105 and 106 are prevented from touching the spacer 110 ensuring that the integrity of the second seal element 135.
Referring to
Similarly to the previous example, the point fixing apparatus 202 includes a shee bolt 208 which passes through glass panes 205 and 206. In this example, however, the glass pane 206 is formed of double laminate glass. The shee bolt 208 includes a first end 250 coupled to a second end 251 so as to function as clamping blocks 222 to clamp the panes 205 and 206 onto a spacer 210 disposed between panes 205 and 206.
Referring now to
Referring now to
As was described in relation the second example, the bush is 209 are prepared with a PIB bead in the inner recess 261 and is inserted into the countersunk drilled hole 207. The volume of the PIB is greater than the volume of the recess 261 such that the over-volume of PIB is extruded between the bush 209 and the tapered surface of the countersunk hole 107 of the glass pane 205. This allows the frustoconical surfaces of the bush 209 and the glass pane 205 to pivot about the PIB bead. This allows the first end 250 of the shee bolt 208 to be able to move so as to accommodate misalignment of holes 107 in the panes of glass 205, 206 and be coaxial with the second end 251.
The first end 250 has an elongate neck 258 extending from the flange end 253 to an opposing end 263. In this example, has an inner bore 283 with an outer threaded portion 284 and an inner hemispherical portion 284 which has a substantially smooth surface. Furthermore, the neck 258 has a threaded portion 264 configured to be engaged with a corresponding receiving portion 265 on the neck 259 of the second end 251 of the shee bolt 208, when assembled.
Furthermore, the second end 251 of the shee bolt 208 also includes a flange 254 which, when assembled, is seated in an outer face of the glass pane 206. The flange 254 includes an annular channel 260 which receives an o-ring 252 to provide a seal. The diameter of the flange 254 and annular channel 260 are configured to be substantially larger then the hole 207 in the pane 206. In this configuration, it may be appreciated that the flange 254 undergo some lateral movement relative to the hole 207 to accommodate misalignment of the holes and/or misalignment with respect to the first end 250 of the shee bolt 208. Additionally, the flange 254 provides a relatively large clamping surface on the outer face of the glass pane so as to distribute any clamping forces on the pane.
Referring now to
Referring to
As illustrated in
Similarly to example 1, the axle 321 includes shaft 323 having threaded ends 324 as well as stops 325 and 326 so as to inhibit clamping blocks 322 from overtightening the point fixing apparatus 302. Furthermore, the axle 321 includes a bore 342 with an internal thread 343 into which an stem 344, as shown in
Advantageously, the point fixing apparatus described above (2, 102, 202, 302) is designed to be installed during automated process on an IGU assembly line. The method steps below generally apply all of above mentioned examples:
Furthermore, for the benefit of the skilled addressee, the section below provides a list of variables and practicalities that may be considered when designing, manufacturing and installing the point fixing apparatus.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.
Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60907426 | Apr 2007 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12594329 | Jan 2010 | US |
| Child | 12723549 | US |
