Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
  • E06B3/663—Elements for spacing panes
  • E06B3/66309—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
  • E06B3/66361—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit with special structural provisions for holding drying agents, e.g. packed in special containers
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
  • E06B3/663—Elements for spacing panes
  • E06B3/66309—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
  • E06B3/66314—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit of tubular shape
  • E06B3/66319—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit of tubular shape of rubber, plastics or similar materials
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
  • E06B3/663—Elements for spacing panes
  • E06B3/66309—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
  • E06B2003/6638—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit with coatings
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
  • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
  • E06B3/663—Elements for spacing panes
  • E06B3/66309—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit
  • E06B3/66342—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit characterised by their sealed connection to the panes
  • E06B3/66352—Section members positioned at the edges of the glazing unit characterised by their sealed connection to the panes with separate sealing strips between the panes and the spacer

Definitions

• Foam spacer profile for a spacer frame for an insulating glass unit and insulating glass unit Foam spacer profile for a spacer frame for an insulating glass unit and insulating glass unit
• the present invention relates to foam spacer profiles and to insulating glass units incorporating the present foam spacer profiles.
• Insulating glass units having at least two glass panes, which are held apart from each other in the insulating glass unit, are known.
• Insulating glass units are normally formed from an inorganic or organic glass or from other materials like Plexiglas. Therefore, the panes are also called glazing panes.
• the separation of the glazing panes is secured by a spacer frame.
• the spacer frame is either assembled from several pieces using connectors or is bent from one piece, so that the spacer frame is thus closable by a connector at only one position.
• the intervening space between the panes is preferably filled with inert, insulating gas such as argon, krypton, xenon, etc.
• This filling gas should not be permitted leak out of the intervening space between the panes. Consequently, the intervening space between the panes must be sealed.
• nitrogen, oxygen, water, etc., contained in the ambient air should not be permitted to enter into the intervening space between the panes. Therefore, the spacer profile must be designed so as to prevent such diffusion.
• diffusion impermeability utilized in the following description with respect to the foam spacer profiles and/or the materials forming the foam spacer profile is meant to encompass vapor diffusion impermeability as well as gas diffusion impermeability for the relevant gases.
• edge connection (the connection of the frame of the insulating glass unit, of the glazing panes, and of the spacer frame) plays a large role in achieving a low heat conduction of insulating glass units.
• Insulating glass units which ensure high heat insulation along the edge connection, fulfill "warm edge” conditions as this term is utilized in the art (usually 0.3 W/(mK) or less).
• spacer profiles were manufactured from metal. Such metal spacer profiles can not, however, fulfill "warm edge” conditions. Thus, in order to improve upon such metal spacer profiles, the provision of synthetic material on the metal spacer profile has been described, e.g., in US 4,222,213 or DE 102 26 268 Al .
• Such composite spacer profiles use a profile body made of synthetic material with a metal film, which should be as thin as possible in order to satisfy the "warm edge” conditions, but should have a certain minimum thickness in order to guarantee diffusion impermeability and strength.
• metal is a substantially better heat conductor than synthetic material, it has been attempted, e.g., to design the heat conduction path between the side edges/walls of the spacer profile (i.e. through or via the metal film) to be as long as possible (see EP 1 017 923 Al).
• the spacer frame is preferably bent from a one- piece spacer profile, if possible by cold bending (at a room temperature of approximately 20°C), whereby only one position that potentially impairs the gas impermeability is provided, i.e. the gap between the respective ends of the bent spacer frame.
• a connector is affixed to the bent spacer frame in order to close and seal this gap.
• FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a foam spacer profile according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative foam spacer profile according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a foam spacer profile according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a foam spacer profile according to a third embodiment.
• FIG. 5 A and 5B respectively show perspective cross-sectional views of the configuration of an insulating glass unit, in which a foam spacer profile according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, respectively, is arranged or disposed.
• a foam spacer profile 50 according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 1.
• the foam spacer profile is shown in cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, i.e. along a slice in the X-Y plane, and extends with this constant cross- section in the longitudinal direction Z.
• the foam spacer profile comprises a profile body 10, which is formed of a foam material.
• the profile body 10 comprises an inner wall 13 and an outer wall 14 that extend in the X-Z plane and are separated by a distance in the height direction Y, as well as two side walls 1 1, 12 that extend in the Y-Z plane and are separated by a distance in the traverse direction X.
• the side walls 11 , 12 are connected via the inner wall 13 and outer wall 14, so that a chamber 20 extending in the longitudinal direction Z is formed for accommodating hygroscopic material.
• the sides of the chamber 20 are defined in cross- section by the respective walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the profile body.
• the chamber 20 has a height in the height direction Y and a width in the transverse direction X.
• the side walls 1 1 , 12 are formed as attachment bases for attachment to the inner sides of the glazing panes.
• the foam spacer profile is formed to be adhered to the respective inner sides of the glazing panes via these attachment bases (see Fig. 5A and 5B) as is known in the art.
• the inner wall 13 is defined herein as the "inner” wall, because it is designed to face the intervening space between the glazing panes in the assembled state of an insulating glass unit (Fig. 5A, B).
• This side of the foam spacer profile designed to face the intervening space between the glazing panes is designated in the following description as the inner side in the height direction of the foam spacer profile.
• the inner wall 13, the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1, 12 are made of a foam material and are integrally provided by an extrusion process.
• the foam material from which the irmer wall 13, the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1 , 12 are formed, is a thermoplastic polymer material, preferably a polyolefin.
• the thermoplastic polymer material may independently be selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene material, a polypropylene material and a polyethylene/polypropylene mixture material.
• any suitable polyethylene and/or polypropylene material may be used.
• a preferable example is DaployTM WB135HMS, which is a structurally isomeric modified propylene homopolymer available from BOREALIS AG, Vienna, Austria.
• the foam material from which the inner wall 13, the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 11, 12 are formed, has a heat conduction value ⁇ of 0.1 W/(mK) or less, more preferably 0.07 W/(mK) or less, even more preferably 0.05 W/(mK) or less.
• the chamber 20 for accommodating hygroscopic material is formed by said extrusion process and the hygroscopic material is introduced into said chamber 20 during or after the extrusion process.
• Any suitable material having an ability to absorb moisture can be used as the hygroscopic material.
• a molecular sieve is preferably used; zeolite materials and/or silica gel materials are particularly preferred.
• Suitable zeolite materials are, for example, Purmol ® (paste) or ZEOflair ® (powder) (manufactured by ZEOCHEM ® , Uetikon, Switzerland) and SYLOSIV ® manufactured by Grace GmbH & Co. KG, Worms, Germany.
• a suitable silica gel is, for example, WEISSGEL ENGPORIG available from TROPACK Packrnittel GmbH, Lahnau-Waldgirmes, Germany.
• openings 15 are formed in the inner wall 13 (see, for example, Fig. 1), so as to improve the diffusion ability of the inner wall 13 and thereby ensure a sufficient moisture exchange between the intervening space between the glazing panes and the hygroscopic material in the chamber 20 in the assembled state (see Fig. 5A and 5B).
• the profile body 10 is firmly or fixedly or permanently bonded (e.g., fusion and/or adhesive bonded and/or coextruded) with and/or to a gas-tight film 30, which essentially or substantially encloses the profile body 10 on said outer wall 14 and said two side walls 11, 12 such that, in the assembled state of the foam spacer profile 50, the non-enclosed inner wall 13 of the profile body 10 is directed towards the intervening space 53 between the glazing panes 51, 52.
• a gas-tight film 30 which essentially or substantially encloses the profile body 10 on said outer wall 14 and said two side walls 11, 12 such that, in the assembled state of the foam spacer profile 50, the non-enclosed inner wall 13 of the profile body 10 is directed towards the intervening space 53 between the glazing panes 51, 52.
• the gas-tight film 30 may formed from any material that provides a sufficient gas barrier in order to avoid leakage or escaping of the inert, insulating gas that fills the intervening space between the glazing panes in the finished (assembled) insulating glass unit.
• the gas-tight film 30 is formed of an EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer) film or a metallized polymer film.
• EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer
• a metallized polymer film a multilayer film consisting of an inner layer of EVALTM manufactured by EVAL Europe nv, Zwijndrecht, Belgium, between moisture barrier polyolefin films of, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, may be used.
• Soarnol 29 mol% (D or DT type) may be used as the EVOH film in the above-mentioned multilayer film.
• the metallized polymer film an Al-metallized polymer film is preferably used, wherein the polymer of the polymer film is preferably a polypropylene or a polyester.
• An Al-metallized polypropylene film is particularly preferred.
• Al-metallized polymer films are available, for example, from maropack GmbH & Co. KG, Andernach, Germany, or from Taghleef Industries GmbH, Holzhausen an der Haide, Germany, as EXTENDO XZMU.
• the term "firmly bonded” preferably means that the profile body 10 and the gas-tight film 30 are durably or fixedly or permanently connected with each other, e.g. by fusion and/or adhesive and/or co-extrusion of the profile body with the gas-tight film, optionally using a primer in order to improve the adhesion properties.
• the cohesiveness of the connection is selected (e.g. by the above materials and techniques) to be sufficiently large that the materials are not separable in the peel test according to DIN 53282.
• the gas-tight film additionally acts as a reinforcement element.
• Its thickness is preferably less than or equal to 0.30 mm, more preferably less than or equal to 0.20 mm, still more preferably less than or equal to 0.15 mm, still more preferably less than or equal to 0.12 mm, and still more preferably less than or equal to 0.10 mm.
• the thickness preferably is greater than or equal to about 0.10 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 0.08 mm, still preferably greater than or equal to 0.05.
• the alternative foam spacer profile 50 includes a pair of recesses or depressions 16 (for example, grooves), each having a rectangular shape in the X-Y plane and each extending in the longitudinal direction Z of the respective side wall 1 1, 12 of the foam spacer profile 50.
• the recesses 16 extend in the height direction Y of the side walls 1 1, 12 of the foam spacer profile 50, preferably up to one fourth of the height of the side walls 1 1, 12, more preferably up to one third of the height of the side walls 11, 12, most preferred up to half of the height of the side walls 1 1, 12.
• Other cross sectional shapes (X-Y) of the recesses 16 such as other polygonal shapes, e.g., triangular, or rounded shapes, e.g., circular or arc segments, etc. are also possible.
• a rubber sealing body 17 is applied to and disposed in each recess 16, for example by adhering the same with an adhesive, or by pressing the same into the recess 16.
• the rubber sealing body 17 has a cross sectional shape (X-Y) that is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the recess 16 so as to form a (substantially) flat or flush surface of side walls 11, 12 and rubber body 17.
• the rubber sealing body 17 is made of polyisobutylene rubber and is available, for example, from KOMMERLING Chemische Fabrik GmbH, Pirmasens, Germany, or from Fenzi S.p.A., Tribiano, Milano, Italia, as BUTYLVER.
• the rubber sealing body 17 serves to provide a seal between the glazing panes 51 , 52 and the side walls 1 1, 12 in the finished (assembled) insulating glass unit.
• the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1, 12 are made of a foam material and are integrally provided or formed.
• said walls 1 1 , 12 and 14 may be integrally provided or formed by an extrusion process.
• said walls 1 1, 12 and 14 may be provided or formed in an integral manner by cutting the same from a semi-finished foam product.
• Semi-finished foam products are typically produced in an autoclave by first mixing the desired polymer and a foaming agent under specific temperature and pressure conditions and then starting the foaming by raising the temperature.
• the inner wall 13 is made of a non-foam material.
• the non-foam material of the inner wall 13 of the second embodiment is selected from a thermoplastic polymer material, preferably a polyolefin, more preferably from a polyolefin selected the group consisting of a polyethylene material, a polypropylene material and a polyethylene/polypropylene mixture material.
• a polypropylene film is preferred (for example, a Profol CPP-film available from Profol Kunststoffe GmbH, Halfing, Germany).
• the thickness of the film used as the inner wall 13 is preferably within a range of 0.05 to 0.30 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 0.25 and even more preferably 0.15 to 0.20 mm.
• the non-foam material of the inner wall 13 is selected such that it has a heat conduction value of 0.2 W/(mK) or less.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied to the upper surfaces of the side walls 11 , 12 by a suitable process after the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1, 12 have been integrally provided or formed, e.g. by extrusion.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied also at a suitable stage during the extrusion of the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1 , 12.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied by adhering it to the upper surfaces of the side walls 1 1 , 12 by using an adhesive, optionally also using a primer.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied in a known manner by performing ultrasound welding or laser welding or the like.
• the specific method for connecting the inner wall 13 to the upper surfaces of the side walls 1 1 , 12 depends on the materials used for each of the components of the foam spacer profile 50 to be manufactured and on the extrusion process used and can be suitably selected by the skilled person.
• openings 15 are preferably formed in the inner wall 13 (see Fig. 3), so as to provide a sufficient diffusion ability of the inner wall 13 and thereby ensure a sufficient moisture exchange between the intervening space between the glazing panes and the hygroscopic material in the chamber 20 in the assembled state.
• a foam spacer profile 50 according to the third embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 4.
• the foam spacer profile of the third embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment except for the differences described in the following.
• the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1, 12 are made of a foam material and are separate bodies connected in any suitable manner, for example, by using an adhesive, and the inner wall 13 is made of a non-foam material.
• said separate bodies may be provided or formed by extrusion or may be cut out from semi-finished foam products, as was described above with regard to the second embodiment.
• the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 11, 12 are provided as separate bodies, which are connected.
• the connecting process may, for example, comprise applying an adhesive onto the respective surfaces of the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 1 1, 12 and then adhering the respective surfaces together in a known manner using common devices, e.g., a clamping device.
• a primer may be applied onto the respective surfaces of the outer wall 14 and the two side walls 11 , 12 before application of the adhesive.
• the inner wall 13 is applied (affixed or adhered) to the upper surfaces of the side walls 1 1, 12.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied by adhering it to the upper surfaces of the side walls 11, 12 by using an adhesive, optionally also using a primer.
• the inner wall 13 may be applied or affixed in a known manner by performing ultrasound welding or laser welding or the like.
• the specific method for connecting the inner wall 13 to the upper surfaces of the side walls 11, 12 depends on the materials used for each of the components of the foam spacer profile 50 to be manufactured and can suitably selected by the skilled person.
• the foam material may be selected from any of the materials described above for the first embodiment, and the non-foam material and thickness etc. of the inner wall 13 of the third embodiment may be selected from any of the materials described above for the second embodiment.
• openings 15 are preferably formed in the inner wall 13 (see Fig. 4), so as to provide a sufficient diffusion ability of the inner wall 13 and thereby ensure a sufficient moisture exchange between the intervening space between the glazing panes and the hygroscopic material in the chamber 20 in the assembled state.
• the above-described foam spacer profile 50 is used as a spacer profile frame, which is suitable for mounting in and/or along the edge area of an insulating glass unit for forming and maintaining an intervening space 53 between glazing panes 51, 52.
• a foam spacer profile frame made of a foam spacer profile 50 according to one of the above-described embodiments is provided or formed by applying the foam spacer profile 50 to adhere on a glazing pane in the form of a frame by suitable manufacturing devices, like for example VSA manufactured by LiSEC Group of Companies, Hausmening, Austria, or the flexspacer" applicator manufactured by Bystronic Lenhardt GmbH, Neuhausen-Hamberg, Germany.
• the glazing pane having the applied foam spacer profile frame is then assembled into or installed in an insulating glass unit by applying a second glazing pane in a known manner.
• the side walls 1 1, 12 formed as attachment bases are adhered with the inner sides of the glazing panes 51, 52 using an adhesive material (primary sealing compound) 61, e.g., a butyl sealing compound based upon polyisobutylene.
• an adhesive material e.g., a butyl sealing compound based upon polyisobutylene.
• a specific example of such an adhesive material is Polyisobutylen GDI 15, available from KOMMERLING Chemische Fabrik GmbH, Pirmasens, Germany.
• the intervening space 53 between the glazing panes is thus defined by the two glazing panes 51, 52 and the foam spacer profile 50.
• the inner side of the foam spacer profile 50 faces the intervening space 53 between the glazing panes 51 , 52.
• a mechanically stabilizing sealing material 62 (secondary sealing compound), for example based upon polysulfide, polyurethane or silicon, is introduced into the remaining, empty space between the inner sides of the glazing panes 51, 52 in order to fill the empty space.
• This sealing compound also protects the diffusion barrier layer from mechanical or other corrosive/degrading influences.
• a specific example of such a mechanically stabilizing sealing material is Polysulfid GDI 16, available from KOMMERLING Chemische Fabrik GmbH, Pirmasens, Germany.
• an adhesive material (primary sealing compound) 61 e.g., a butyl sealing compound based upon polyisobutylene, can also optionally be used in order to improve the sealing.
• a foam spacer profile (50) configured for use as a spacer profile frame, which is intended to be mounted in and/or along at least one edge area of an insulating glass unit (1) to thereby limit, bound or define an intervening space (53) between glazing panes (51, 52), the foam spacer profile (50) comprising: a profile body (10) having an inner wall (13), an outer wall (14) and two side walls (1 1, 12) connected via the inner wall (13) and the outer wall (14), thereby defining a chamber (20) configured to accommodate hygroscopic material therein, wherein said outer wall (14) and said two side walls (1 1 1 , 12) are comprised of foam material, said inner wall (13) is comprised of one of foam material and non-foam material, and said foam material and non-foam material are independently selected from thermoplastic polymer materials, and a gas-tight film (30) enclosing at least said outer wall (14) and at least a portion of each of the two side walls (1 1, 12) that is adjacent to
• the foam spacer profile (50) according to any one of aspects 1-1 1, further including: a recess (16) defined in each of the side walls (11, 12), and a rubber sealing body (17) is accommodated in each recess (16).
• An insulating glass unit comprising: at least two glazing panes (51, 52) disposed in a spaced relationship such that an intervening space (53) is defined between the glazing panes (51, 52), a spacer profile frame disposed between the glazing panes (51, 52) so as to define an outer periphery of the intervening space and so as to seal the intervening space from the outside environment, the spacer profile frame comprising the foam spacer profile (50) according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, wherein attachment bases of the spacer profile (50) are respectively attached in a gas-tight manner to and/or with inner sides of the glazing panes (51, 52), and a mechanically stabilizing sealing material (62) filled between the inner sides of the glazing panes (51, 52) on the side of the spacer profile frame that faces away from the intervening space (53) between the glazing pan

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Securing Of Glass Panes Or The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (6)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2012
  • 2012-12-21 WO PCT/EP2012/005353 patent/WO2013120505A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2012-12-21 EP EP12816000.9A patent/EP2655778A1/fr not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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