System for repairing panes of glass
OwnerDante S. Giardiniinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for repairing panes of glass is provided which enables fractured panes to be strengthened and holes refilled while the pane remains installed in its support structure. The method comprises steps for relieving stress points in a fractured pane, and for applying substantially transparent materials for filling portions of the pane where glass has been removed or separated. The method enables repair of laminated glass panes as well as solid glass panes.
Claims9
A method for repairing impact holes in a pane of glass comprising,
- sandblasting the sharp edges around the impact hole to remove the edges containing stress cracks an amount sufficient to provide a hole in the pane through which a core drill support rod can be inserted,
- core drilling around the entire damaged area at a constant force to remove it from the pane while flushing swarf radially outwardly past the face of the core drill by fluid pressure means,
- beveling the sharp edges at each side of the pane around the hole formed by removing the damaged area,
- cleaning and drying the periphery of the newly drilled hole and the adjacent area of the pane,
- concentrically securing a plug having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the newly drilled hole and having a width substantially the same as the width of the pane to an applicator disc having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the hole with pressure sensitive adhesive,
- applying clear epoxy to the peripheral surfaces of the glass plug and newly drilled hole,
- inserting the glass plug into the newly drilled hole until the applicator disc abuts against the side of the pane,
- detachably securing said applicator disc to the pane,
- removing the applicator disc after the epoxy has cured, and
- scraping excess adhesive from the side of the pane by using a sharp blade.
A method for repairing cracks in a glass pane comprising,
- masking a circular area of glass to be removed along the length of the crack by securing an annular mask to the pane with a pressure sensitive adhesive, to expose the circular area to be removed,
- positioning a frame having a rotatable bushing adapted to eccentrically support a sandblasting gun nozzle so that said nozzle is aligned to direct a selectively positionable stream of sand against the entire exposed circular area,
- detachably securing said frame to the masked side of the pane,
- inserting the nozzle of the sandblasting gun in the bushing of the frame,
- sandblasting the entire exposed circular area by rotating the bushing in the frame so that the glass within the entire exposed area can be removed to thus provide a circular hole,
- detaching the frame and sandblast gun,
- countersinking the hole at each end,
- concentrically securing a pair of annularly grooved discs having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the hole, to opposite sides of the pane to thereby substantially enclose the hole,
- inserting clear epoxy into the substantially enclosed hole through an angled axial throughbore in one of said discs, until the hole is completely filled, and
- removing said discs after the epoxy has cured.
A method for repairing fractures in a laminated windshield having a sheet of plastic disposed between two panes of glass, the fracture being caused by impact of a relatively sharp object against the windshield and causing a conical portion of glass to be separated from one of the panes, said method comprising,
- cooling a portion of the plastic sheet adjacent the damaged area,
- core drilling the damaged pane around the damaged area to a depth slightly greater than the width of the damaged pane so that the plastic sheet is partly cut,
- removing the damaged area of the glass pane,
- warming the cooled portion of the plastic sheet,
- cutting the plastic sheet through the cut started by the core drill,
- removing the circular plastic piece,
- coating the periphery and both sides of a plastic disc and the periphery and one side of a glass plug with clear epoxy, said disc and said plug having diameters slightly smaller than the diameter of the core drilled hole, and having a combined width substantially the same as the depth of the hole in the windshield,
- inserting the plastic disc into the hole,
- inserting the glass plug into the hole over the plastic disc so that the coated side of the plug abuts against the plastic disc, and
- pressing the glass plug into the hole so that the uncoated side is flush with the side of the surrounding glass pane until the epoxy cures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.