ENERGY-FREE REFRIGERATION DOOR AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A refrigeration door adapted for use in a refrigerating compartment, said door comprising:
- an inner sheet of glass including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said inner sheet being disposed adjacent the interior of the refrigerating compartment;
an outer sheet of glass including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said outer sheet being disposed adjacent the exterior environment of the refrigerating compartment;
a middle sheet of glass disposed between said inner and outer sheets of glass;
a first sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of said inner sheet of glass and said middle sheet of glass for maintaining said inner sheet and said middle sheet in spaced-apart relationship from each other;
a second sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of said middle sheet of glass and said outer sheet of glass for maintaining said middle sheet and said outer sheet in spaced-apart relationship from each other;
a first low emissivity coating adjacent the second surface of said inner sheet of glass;
a second low emissivity coating adjacent the second surface of said outer sheet of glass;
said inner sheet, outer sheet, middle sheet, first sealant assembly, second sealant assembly, and said first and second low emissivity coatings forming an insulating glass unit having a U value substantially equal to or less than 0.2 BTU/hr-sq ft-F substantially preventing the formation of condensation on said first surface of said outer sheet of glass without the application of electricity for heating said first surface of said outer sheet of glass; and
a frame secured around the periphery of said insulating glass unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a refrigeration door, and method for making the same, for controlling condensation, providing thermal insulation, with a desired amount of visible transmittance, without using electricity to heat the door. The energy-free refrigeration door of the present invention includes a door frame housing and an insulating glass unit comprising inner, middle and outer sheets of glass. A first sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of the inner and middle sheets of glass forms a first chamber between the inner and middle sheets of glass. A second sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of the middle and outer sheets of glass forms a second chamber between the middle and outer sheets of glass. A gas, such as krypton, air, or argon is held in the first and second chambers. The outer sheet of glass and inner sheet of glass each have an unexposed surface that faces the middle sheet of glass. A low emissivity coating is disposed on the unexposed surfaces of the inner and outer sheets of glass so that the glass door as a whole has a U value that prevents formation of condensation on the outer surface of the outer sheet of the glass door, without the application of electricity to heat the door, while also providing the desired evaporation rate of condensation from the inner side of the inner sheet of the glass door.
76 Citations
1 Claim
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1. A refrigeration door adapted for use in a refrigerating compartment, said door comprising:
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an inner sheet of glass including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said inner sheet being disposed adjacent the interior of the refrigerating compartment; an outer sheet of glass including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said outer sheet being disposed adjacent the exterior environment of the refrigerating compartment; a middle sheet of glass disposed between said inner and outer sheets of glass; a first sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of said inner sheet of glass and said middle sheet of glass for maintaining said inner sheet and said middle sheet in spaced-apart relationship from each other; a second sealant assembly disposed around the periphery of said middle sheet of glass and said outer sheet of glass for maintaining said middle sheet and said outer sheet in spaced-apart relationship from each other; a first low emissivity coating adjacent the second surface of said inner sheet of glass; a second low emissivity coating adjacent the second surface of said outer sheet of glass; said inner sheet, outer sheet, middle sheet, first sealant assembly, second sealant assembly, and said first and second low emissivity coatings forming an insulating glass unit having a U value substantially equal to or less than 0.2 BTU/hr-sq ft-F substantially preventing the formation of condensation on said first surface of said outer sheet of glass without the application of electricity for heating said first surface of said outer sheet of glass; and a frame secured around the periphery of said insulating glass unit.
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Specification