Laser sealed vacuum insulation window
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsDavid K. Benson, C. Edwin Tracy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser sealed evacuated window panel is comprised of two glass panes held spaced apart in relation to each other by a plurality of spherical glass beads and glass welded around the edges to provide an evacuated space between the glass panes that is completely glass sealed from the exterior. The glass welded edge seal is obtained by welding the edges of the glass panes together with a laser beam while the glass panes and bead spacers are positioned in a vacuum furnace and heated to the annealing point of the glass to avoid stress fracture in the area of the glass weld. The laser welding in the furnace can be directed around the perimeter of the glass panel by a combination of rotating the glass panel and linearly translating or aiming the laser with a relay mirror.
Claims19
A thermal resistant panel comprising two panes of glass positioned closely spaced apart in substantially parallel relation to each other, a plurality of spherical glass bead spacers positioned between said two panes of glass to maintain the spacing while minimizing the thermal conduction between said panes, and a continuous glass joint around the periphery of said panel sealing the edges of said two panes together.
A thermal resistant panel conprising two panes of glass positioned closely spaced apart in relation to each other, at least one surface of one of said panes of glass having deposited thereon a layer of material that is transparent to solar radiation and light in the visible spectrum and reflective to infrared heat radiation that is not in the visible spectrum, a plurality of spherical glass bead spacers attached to one of said panes of glass and positioned in the space between said two panes of glass to maintain the spacing while minimizing the thermal conduction between said panes of glass, a continuous welded glass joint around the periphery of said panel sealing the edges of said two panes of glass together, and a vacuum in the space between said panes of glass.
A process of producing a thermal resistant panel comprising the steps of positioning two glass panes closely spaced apart in relation to each other, positioning a plurality of spherical glass bead spacers between said panes to maintain the spacing while minimizing the thermal conduction between said panes, evacuating the atmosphere around said panes, and joining the edges of said glass panes together to form a completely glass seal around the periphery of the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.