Vacuum insulated glazing, valve, flexible seal, and method for making vacuum insulated glazing

A method of making a vacuum insulated glazing, comprising the steps of:

• providing first and second spaced apart glass panes having perimeter portions, the glass panes defining a vacuum space between the glass panes;
• positioning a vacuum valve at the perimeter portions of the glass panes, the vacuum valve comprising a valve body, a portion of the valve body extending between the perimeter portions of the glass panes, the valve body having first and second ends and an elongated fluid conduit having corresponding first and second ends and extending from the first end to the second end of the valve body, the first end of the fluid conduit being in fluid communication with the vacuum space, wherein the elongated fluid conduit comprises a conical portion and at the first end is smaller in cross section than at the second end;
• a one-way valve in the valve body positioned between the first end and the second end of the fluid conduit, the one-way valve permitting fluid flow in the fluid conduit from the first end to the second end, and preventing fluid flow from the second end to the first end of the fluid conduit, wherein the one-way valve comprises a movable valve member in the fluid conduit, the valve member having first and second positions in the fluid conduit, the valve member in the first position preventing fluid flow through the fluid conduit, and in the second position permitting fluid flow through the conduit, wherein the valve member is a spherical ball, and further comprising a restricting member for preventing movement of the spherical ball through the second end of the fluid conduit, and a suction fitting attached to the second end of the valve body for connecting the valve body to a suction device in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid conduit;
• and,
• positioning and attaching a flexible metallic end seal having opposing free ends between the perimeter portions of the glass panes to hermetically seal the vacuum space, the valve body comprising channel members for receiving and securing the free ends of the end seal;
• connecting a suction source to the suction fitting and applying suction to withdraw a gas from the vacuum space through the fluid conduit to create a vacuum in the vacuum space;
• ceasing the suction and removing the suction source from the suction fitting, whereby the one-way valve will prevent the flow of air through the vacuum conduit into the vacuum space such that the vacuum insulated glazing is capable of maintaining a vacuum of 10−3 Torr.