Drying apparatus for multi-glazed window unit
AssigneeO. M. Edwards Company, Inc.
InventorsDavid W. Remick, David T. Ahlgren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-glazed window unit of the type wherein parallel panes of a light transmitting material are sealed in a spaced apart relationship and the atmosphere between the sealed panels is treated to remove moisture therefrom. A housing containing a desiccant is positioned between the sealed panes along one outer edge of the unit. The housing is divided into two zones, the first zone being open to the atmosphere so that any moisture present in the atmosphere at the time the unit is sealed is immediately removed therefrom by the desiccant in this zone, and a second zone that is shielded from direct exposure to the atmosphere whereby the desiccant in this zone remains in a condition to remove moisture from the atmosphere which may penetrate the seal at a later time.
Claims4
In a multi-glazed window of the type wherein at least two light transmitting panels are mounted in a frame in a spaced-apart relationship and the window is sealed to prevent moisture from entering the atmosphere within the space between the panels, the improvement comprising
- an elongated housing extending along one of the margins of the window within the sealed space between the panels, said housing having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls,
- a desiccant material evenly dispersed throughout said housing in sufficient quantity to initially dry the atmosphere within the sealed space between the panels upon sealing of the window and to maintain said atmosphere in a dry condition thereafter,
- a cover mounted upon the top of said housing having a first open zone containing a plurality of closely spaced holes for exposing the desiccant in this region of the housing to said atmosphere and a second closed zone having an unbroken surface for shielding the desiccant in this region from direct exposure to the atmosphere in the sealed space, and
- said open zone of the cover containing at least twice the area of the closed zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.