# US 10,119,327 B2 · Method and apparatus for an insulating glazing unit and compliant seal for an insulating glazing unit

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,119,327 B2
- Document ID: US10119327B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/141,485
- Filed: 2016-04-28
- Published: 2017-01-05
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-05
- Assignees: Astravac Glass, Inc.
- Applicants: Astravac Glass, Inc.
- Inventors: William H. Francis, IV; Gregg E. Freebury; Neal J. Beidleman; Michael Hulse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119327B2

## CPC

- E06B 3/673: Assembling the units (E06B3/677 takes precedence {; making hollow glass sheets or bricks C03B23/24})
- B23K 1/06: making use of vibrations, e.g. supersonic vibrations
- B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method
- B32B 38/1858: {using vacuum}
- E04C 2/34: composed of two or more spaced sheet-like parts (E04C2/32 takes precedence; spacers for cavity walls E04B2/44)
- E04C 2/54: Slab-like translucent elements (floors for transmitting light E04B5/46; translucent or open-work ceilings E04B9/32, E04B9/34; translucent roof coverings E04D3/06, E04D3/28)
- E06B 3/6612: {Evacuated glazing units}
- E06B 3/66328: {of rubber, plastics or similar materials (E06B3/66314, E06B3/66323 and E06B3/66342 take precedence; transparent materials E06B3/66333)}
- E06B 3/66357: {Soldered connections or the like}
- E06B 3/6775: {Evacuating or filling the gap during assembly}
- B32B 2310/028: using vibration, e.g. sonic or ultrasonic
- B32B 2311/00: Metals, their alloys or their compounds
- B32B 2315/08: Glass
- E06B 2003/66395: {U-shape}
- Y02A 30/249: Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
- Y02B 80/22: Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A Vacuum Insulating Glazing Unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing an insulating glazing unit, the method comprising the following steps:
a) wrapping a first inner member around a first lite, joining ends of the first inner member together where the ends of the first inner member meet around the first lite to form a continuous band of first inner member abutting the first lite, and joining the first inner member to the first lite along an edge of the first lite abutting the first inner member after wrapping;
b) wrapping a second inner member around a second lite, joining ends of the second inner member together where the ends of the second inner member wrapped around the second lite meet to form a continuous band of second inner member abutting the second lite, and joining the second inner member to the second lite along an edge of the second lite abutting the second inner member after wrapping;
c) positioning the first lite and the second lite in a spaced-apart configuration forming an insulating cavity therebetween;
d) providing an outer member comprising a region with a three-dimensional surface pattern of protrusions repeating and extending in a plurality of directions along a surface of the region, wrapping the outer member around the assembly of first and second lites and first and second inner members, joining ends of the outer member together where the ends of the outer member wrapped around the assembly of first and second lites and first and second inner members meet to form a continuous band of outer member abutting the assembly of first and second lites and first and second inner members, and joining the outer member to each one of the first and second inner members to form a pair of continuous seals; and
e) evacuating the insulating cavity and sealing the insulating cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein during the step of evacuating, the insulating cavity is evacuated to a vacuum within the range from 1×10−6 torr to 1×10−3 torr.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in step a), after the first inner member is wrapped around the first lite, cutting a length of the first inner member to define the ends of the first inner member which are then joined to form the continuous band of first inner member abutting the first lite;
in step b), after the second inner member is wrapped around the second lite, cutting a length of the second inner member to define the ends of the second inner member which are then joined to form the continuous band of second inner member abutting the second lite; and
in step d), after the outer member is wrapped around the assembly of first and second lites and first and second inner members, cutting a length of the outer member to define the ends of the outer member which are then joined to form the continuous band of outer member abutting the assembly of first and second lites and first and second inner members.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein steps a)-e) are performed in the order indicated.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein steps a)-e) are performed in an order rearranged from the order indicated and/or with repeated steps.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of steps a) and b) further comprises joining the inner member to the lite using a solder excited by ultrasonic soldering.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of pre-heating the lite above the liquidus temperature of the solder and pre-tinning the lite with the solder prior to joining the inner member to the lite.

### Claim 8

A method of manufacturing a vacuum insulating glazing unit, the method comprising the following steps:
a) providing a first lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge;
b) providing a second lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge;
c) positioning the first and second lites in a spaced-apart configuration to define an insulating cavity therebetween bounded by the respective inner surfaces of the first and second lites;
d) providing an edge seal extending between the first lite and the second lite, the edge seal being formed from a hermetic material and including a first lite bonding region, a second lite bonding region and a three-dimensional surface region disposed between the first and second lite bonding regions, the three-dimensional surface region comprising a three-dimensional pattern of protrusions repeating along a surface of the three-dimensional surface region, the three-dimensional pattern extending in a plurality of directions over the surface of the three-dimensional surface region;
e) forming a first hermetic bond between a first portion of the first lite bonding region of the edge seal and the first lite;
f) forming a first structural bond between a second portion of the first lite bonding region of the edge seal and the first lite, the first structural bond being disposed along the edge seal in an interposed configuration between the first hermetic bond and the three-dimensional surface region of the edge seal;
g) forming a second hermetic bond between a first portion of the second lite bonding region of the edge seal and the second lite; and
h) forming a second structural bond between a second portion of the second lite bonding region of the edge seal and the second lite, the second structural bond being disposed along the edge seal in an interposed configuration between the second hermetic bond and the three-dimensional surface region of the edge seal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the steps a)-h) are performed in the order indicated.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the steps a)-h) are performed in an order rearranged from the order indicated and/or with repeated steps.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of steps e) and g) further comprises forming a hermetic bond between the lite and the edge seal using a solder excited by ultrasonic soldering.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of steps e) and g) further comprises pre-heating the lite above the liquidus temperature of the solder prior to exciting the solder by ultrasonic soldering.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of pre-tinning the peripheral edge of the lite with the solder prior to performing step d).

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of pre-tinning at least one of the first and second lite bonding regions of the edge seal with the solder prior to performing step d).

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein step d) further comprises:
cutting a strip of an edge seal material to a length that is less than the length of the peripheral edge of a respective one of the first and second lites;
joining the ends of the strip of the edge seal material to form a continuous band having an inner length smaller than the length of the peripheral edge of the respective first or second lite;
placing the continuous band on a stretching fixture;
stretching the continuous band until the inner length is equal to the length of the peripheral edge of the respective first or second lite;
transferring the stretched continuous band from around the stretching fixture to around the peripheral edge of the respective first or second lite.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein step d) further comprises:
providing a first inner edge seal portion around the first lite;
providing a second inner edge seal portion around the second lite; and
providing an outer edge seal portion joined to the first and second inner edge seal portions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising evacuating the insulating cavity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the insulating cavity is evacuated to a vacuum within the range from 1×10−6torr to 1×10−3 torr.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a plurality of stand-off members in the insulating cavity between the first lite and the second lite.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first hermetic bond is formed on the first lite between the insulating cavity and the first structural bond, and the second hermetic bond is formed on the second lite between the insulating cavity and the second structural bond.