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US 11,859,439 B2Granted
Low thermal conducting spacer assembly for an insulating glazing unit
AssigneeVitro Flat Glass LLC
InventorsWilliam Davis, II, Bradley P. Boone, Roxana Shabani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spacer for an insulated glazing unit (IGU) is provided herein, along with an IGU and methods of making the spacer and IGU. The spacer imparts high thermal insulation to the IGU. Also provided are methods of preparing an insulating glazing unit, as well as methods of preparing a spacer for an IGU.
Claims20
An insulating glazing unit comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel, the first panel having a No. 1 surface and an opposite No. 2 surface and marginal edges, the second panel having a No. 3 surface and an opposite No. 4 surface and marginal edges;
- a metal spacer formed from a single metal sheet, having an internal side and an opposite external side, affixed with adhesive to marginal portions of the No. 2 surface of the first panel and the No. 3 surface of the second panel and supporting the first and second panel in a spaced-apart configuration forming a chamber, with the internal side of the metal spacer, the No. 2 surface of the first panel, and the No. 3 surface of the second panel defining a sealed compartment, the metal spacer comprising:
- a first wall on a first lateral side of the spacer adjacent to the No. 2 surface of the first panel, having a major planar portion and comprising a first lip extending from an inward side of the first wall toward the No. 3 surface of the second panel;
- a second wall on a second lateral side of the spacer opposite the first wall and adjacent to the No. 3 surface of the second panel, having a major planar portion and comprising a second lip extending from an inward side of the second wall toward the No. 2 surface of the first panel, wherein the first and second lips define a gap opening into the compartment, wherein the gap opening is in fluid communication with the chamber formed by the first and second panel, and
- a central portion extending from a marginal side of the first wall opposite the first lip to a marginal side of the second wall opposite the second lip, comprising two or more longitudinal ridges with a first lateral valley portion between and connecting the first wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a first lateral valley on the internal side of the spacer, a second lateral valley portion between and connecting the second wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a second lateral valley on the internal side of the spacer, and one or more central valley portions between and connecting longitudinal ridges and defining one or more central valleys on the internal side of the spacer, each ridge comprising a plurality of walls comprising parallel portions parallel to each other, with peak portions connecting adjacent walls;
- and
- desiccant disposed in a central valley, wherein the insulating glazing unit has a Res-value of at least 175 (in-hr-° F.)/BTU.
4 more elements
A method of preparing an insulating glazing unit, comprising affixing a spacer between a first glazing panel and a second glazing panel, the spacer comprising:
- a single metal sheet formed into a structure comprising:
- an elongate corrugated portion comprising two or more longitudinal ridges;
- a first elongate lateral wall, having a major planar portion and extending from a first major edge of the corrugated portion;
- a second lateral elongate wall, having a major planar portion and extending from a second major edge of the corrugated portion in the same direction as the first elongate wall;
- a first lip extending from the first elongate lateral wall opposite the corrugated portion and extending towards the second elongate lateral wall;
- and
- a second lip extending from the second elongate lateral wall opposite the corrugated portion and extending towards the first elongate lateral wall, wherein a combined length of the first lip and the second lip is less than a length of the elongate corrugated portion so as to define a gap between the first lip and the second lip, and wherein the first lip and the second lip define a maximum height of the spacer;
- the corrugated portion comprising two or more longitudinal ridges, with a first lateral valley portion between and connecting the first elongate lateral wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a first lateral valley, a second lateral valley portion between and connecting the second elongate lateral wall and an adjacent ridge and defining a second lateral valley, and one or more central valley portions between and connecting adjacent longitudinal ridges and defining one or more central valleys, each ridge comprising a plurality of walls, with peak portions connecting adjacent walls,
- the method further comprising affixing the spacer with an adhesive to marginal portions of a major surface of the first panel and the second panel, and holding the first and second panels in a spaced-apart configuration, thereby defining a compartment, wherein the insulating glazing unit has a Res-value of at least 175 (in-hr-° F.)/BTU.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.