# US 8,782,971 B2 · System for pressure equalizing and drying sealed translucent glass glazing units

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- Number: US 8,782,971 B2
- Document ID: US8782971B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/841,562
- Filed: 2010-07-22
- Published: 2012-01-26
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-22
- Assignees: Advanced Glazing Technologies Limited (AGTL)
- Applicants: Douglas I. Milburn; Allan Gordon Archie MacMillan; Esam George Yousif
- Inventors: Douglas I. Milburn; Allan Gordon Archie MacMillan; Esam George Yousif
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782971B2

## CPC

- E06B 7/12: Measures preventing the formation of condensed water (double glazing E06B3/24 - E06B3/28 {and E06B3/677} ; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84)
- E06B 3/24: specially adapted for double glazing (separable parts for securing panes E06B3/64)
- E06B 3/66: Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together {(reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10)}
- E06B 3/6612: {Evacuated glazing units}
- E06B 3/66361: {with special structural provisions for holding drying agents, e.g. packed in special containers}
- E06B 3/677: Evacuating or filling the gap between the panes {; Equilibration of inside and outside pressure}; Preventing condensation in the gap between the panes (by means of spacing elements E06B3/663); Cleaning the gap between the panes
- E06B 7/02: for providing ventilation, e.g. through double windows; Arrangement of ventilation roses (airflow control members per se F24F13/08)
- F26B 3/28: by radiation, e.g. from the sun
- F26B 21/331: {by using sorbent or hygroscopic materials, e.g. chemical substances or molecular sieves}
- E06B 2007/026: {with air flow between panes}
- Y02A 30/249: Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
- Y02B 80/22: Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sealed translucent glass glazing unit includes two lites of spaced translucent glass to define a gap which contains an absorptive filler. A spacer around the perimeter of the unit seals the unit and maintains the gap. A vent tube is mounted within the spacer with one end open to the filler and one end open to the exterior.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sealed translucent glass glazing unit, comprising:
two spaced lites of translucent glass;
a spacer connected with and between outer edge portions of said lites to define a sealed chamber within the unit;
a temperature-responsive filler arranged in said chamber, the filler being made of an absorptive material which is responsive to temperature changes in ambient air within said chamber such that the filler absorbs moisture from the air within said chamber as the filler cools and releases moisture to the air within said chamber as the filler warms, said filler comprising at least one of glass fiber veil, hydrophobic silica serogel granules, acrylic honeycomb, glass fiber materials, acrylic honeycombs, silica aerogels, fiberglass veil, cotton and wool; and
a vent tube mounted through the spacer with one end open to the absorptive filler within said chamber and one end open to an exterior of the unit, such that air flows through the vent tube from said chamber to the exterior of the unit when the filler is heated and air flows through the vent tube from the exterior of the unit to said chamber when the filler is cooled, the vent tube being sized to maintain controlled airflow according to a predetermined time constant, wherein natural humidity equilibrium of the unit is maintained without the use of a desiccant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sealed translucent glass glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the filler is acrylic honeycomb.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sealed translucent glass glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the time constant is between 15 minutes and 12 hours.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sealed translucent glass glazing unit of claim 3, wherein the time constant is about 2 hours.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sealed translucent glass glazing unit of claim 1, wherein more than one of said vent tube is used.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sealed translucent glass glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the vent tube is a capillary tube.