Vacuum insulated panel configured for measurement of pressure in evacuated gap
AssigneeLuxWall, Inc.
InventorsPhilip J. Lingle, Scott V. Thomsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum insulating panel includes first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates), a hermetic edge seal, a pump-out port, and spacers sandwiched between at least the two substrates. The gap between the substrates may be at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to provide insulating properties. A sensor body (e.g., spinnable magnetic body, which may be substantially spherical in shape) is provided at least partially in a recess defined in at least one of the substrates, and is configured to be spun at a high rate of speed in order to measure a pressure of the recess and/or gap between the substrates.
Claims60
A vacuum insulating panel comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a second substrate;
- a plurality of spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
- a seal at least partially located between at least the first and second substrates;
- a sensor body, comprising magnetic material, at least partially located in a recess defined in at least one of the substrates so that the sensor body is positioned at least partially between at least the first and second substrates;
- and
- wherein the sensor body is configured to be rotated and/or spun to determine a pressure in the gap and/or recess.
A vacuum insulating panel comprising:
- a first glass substrate;
- a second glass substrate;
- a plurality of spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second glass substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
- a seal at least partially located between at least the first and second glass substrates;
- a sensor body, comprising magnetic material, at least partially located between at least the first and second glass substrates;
- and
- wherein the sensor body is configured to be rotated and/or spun to determine a pressure in the gap.
A method of determining pressure in a vacuum insulating panel comprising:
- a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of spacers provided in a gap between at least the first and second substrates, wherein the gap is at pressure less than atmospheric pressure, and a seal at least partially located between at least the first and second substrates, the method comprising:
- levitating and spinning a sensor body, comprising magnetic material, located at least partially in a recess defined in at least one of the substrates so as to spin the sensor body in a location which is exposed to the gap and which is at least partially provided in the recess;
- allowing the spinning of the sensor body to slow down;
- and
- determining a pressure in the gap and/or recess of the vacuum insulated panel based on at least a rate at which the spinning of sensor body slows down and/or decelerates.
A system for measuring pressure in an evacuated gap of a vacuum insulating panel, the system comprising:
- a substantially C-shaped head comprising coils and magnets and first and second arms, wherein the first and second arms are configured to be located on opposite sides of a portion of a vacuum insulating panel comprising first and second substantially parallel substrates with a gap therebetween at pressure less than atmospheric pressure;
- wherein the coils and/or magnets are configured to levitate and spin a sensor body, comprising magnetic material, located in the gap between the substrates;
- and
- at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively configured to determine a pressure in the gap and of the vacuum insulated panel based on at least a rate at which spinning of sensor body slows down and/or decelerates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.