Double glazing and a process for obtaining it

A process for producing a glazing comprising the steps of:

• providing frame sections with a pressure-equalizing member in the form of a bellows;
• bonding the sections to one another and to two opposing panes to form a leakproof assembly;
• partitioning space enclosed by said panes and said frame into a first, peripheral chamber and a second chamber in communication with said first chamber by placing an auxiliary member between said sections with projections of one of said auxiliary member and said sections fitting grooves of the other of said auxiliary member and said sections with clearance;
• locating said pressure-equalizing member within said peripheral chamber so as to wholly protect the pressure-equalizing member against radiation penetrating said panes;
• after bonding, producing a pressure difference between the two faces of the equalizing member through a sealable orifice in one section and communicating with an interior of the glazing, this pressure difference being such that the average shape of said equalizing member during use will be intermediate between its extreme shapes and subsequently sealing off communications between the interior of the glazing and the outside at least up to the moment when the glazing is used.

A glazing comprising:

• a pair of spaced apart panes;
• a frame peripherally anchoring said panes, said frame including opposing sections which bear on inner faces of said panes, said frame including also an auxiliary member supported by said sections with projections of one of said auxiliary member and said sections fitting into grooves of the other of said auxiliary member and said sections with clearance, said auxiliary member partitioning space inside said glazing into a first, peripheral chamber situated between said opposing section members and a second chamber, said first and second chambers communicating with each other through said clearance;
• a pressure-equalizing bellows located in said peripheral chamber, whereby said sections and said auxiliary member protect all of said bellows from radiation penetrating the panes;
• passage means through said frame for communicating said bellows with an environment outside the glazing;
• and
• leakproofing gasket means for forming a water vapor barrier between said frame and said panes.

A method of equalizing pressure within a glazing comprising spaced apart panes, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting peripheries of the panes with a frame having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional form, opposing sections of said frame being placed adjacent inner faces of the panes;
• bonding said sections to said panes to form a leak-proof assembly;
• partitioning space enclosed by said panes and said frame into a first, peripheral chamber and a second chamber in communication with said first chamber by supporting an auxiliary member between said sections with clearance;
• locating a pressure-equalizing bellows in said first chamber so as to protect all of said bellows against-radiation entering the glazing through said panes;
• and communicating said bellows with an environment outside said frame through said frame.