THERMALLY INSULATING FENESTRATION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20110289869A1
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solatube International, Inc. (Kingspan Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Solatube International, Inc. (Kingspan Group PLC)
• Inventors: Wilson, David James, Kopitzke, Keith Robert, Jaster, Paul August, Rillie, David Windsor
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/200
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 2/54 Slab-like translucent elements floors for transmitting light E04B5/46; translucent or open-work ceilings E04B9/32, E04B9/34; translucent roof coverings E04D3/06, E04D3/28
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/033 provided with means for controlling the light-transmission or the heat-reflection, (e.g. shields, reflectors, cleaning devices)
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 2013/0345 with skylight shafts extending from roof to ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6715 specially adapted for increased thermal insulation or for controlled passage of light E06B3/66323 takes precedence; coating of glass pains C03C17/00; devices or arrangements for controlling the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49623 Static structure, e.g., a building component

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a fenestration apparatus including at least one glazing pane capable of being installed in an opening of a building envelope and a tessellated structure disposed adjacent to the at least one glazing pane. The tessellated structure can include at least one partition having a first face and a second face. The at least one partition can define a plurality of spatially separated cells within a substantially contiguous region of the opening. Each of the plurality of spatially separated cells can have a cell width and a cell depth. Each of the plurality of spatially separated cells can be at least partially surrounded by the first face of the at least one partition, the second face of the at least one partition, or a combination of the first face and the second face of the at least one partition.

Claims

1. A fenestration apparatus comprising:

at least one glazing pane capable of being installed in an opening of a building envelope; and

a tessellated structure disposed adjacent to the at least one glazing pane, the tessellated structure comprising;

at least one partition having a first face and a second face, the at least one partition defining a plurality of spatially separated cells within a substantially contiguous region of the opening, each of the plurality of spatially separated cells having a cell width and a cell depth;

wherein each of the plurality of spatially separated cells is at least partially surrounded by the first face of the at least one partition, the second face of the at least one partition, or a combination of the first face and the second face of the at least one partition; and

wherein the luminous reflectance of the first face of the at least one partition is greater than or equal to about 95% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminous reflectance of the second face of the at least one partition is greater than or equal to about 95% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the luminous reflectance of each of the first face and the second face of the at least one partition is greater than or equal to about 99% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition comprises a plurality of reflective film segments.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tessellated structure comprises a honeycomb structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tessellated structure comprises a cubic prismatic honeycomb structure or a hexagonal prismatic honeycomb structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second glazing pane, wherein the tessellated structure is disposed between the at least one glazing pane and the second glazing pane.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fenestration apparatus is positioned such that exterior light passes through the second glazing pane after passing through the tessellated structure, and wherein the fraction of visible light exiting the second glazing pane is greater than or equal to about 85% of the visible light entering the fenestration apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell depth of each of the plurality of spatially separated cells is greater than or equal to about 0.5 inches.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cell width of each of the plurality of spatially separated cells is less than or equal to about 2 inches.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the building envelope comprises a roof, and wherein the opening comprises an internally reflective tube extending between an aperture in the roof and a location inside of a building.

12. A method of providing light inside of a building, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning at least one glazing pane in an opening in a building envelope; and

positioning a tessellated structure adjacent to the at least one glazing pane, the tessellated structure comprising;

at least one partition having a first face and a second face, the at least one partition defining a plurality of spatially separated cells within a substantially contiguous region of the opening, each of the plurality of spatially separated cells having a cell width and a cell depth;

wherein each of the plurality of spatially separated cells is at least partially surrounded by the first face of the at least one partition, the second face of the at least one partition, or a combination of the first face and the second face of the at least one partition; and

wherein the luminous reflectance of the first face of the at least one partition is greater than or equal to about 95% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a double glazing unit incorporating the at least one glazing pane and a second glazing pane, wherein the tessellated structure is disposed between the at least one glazing pane and the second glazing pane.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning a diffuser adjacent to the tessellated structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the diffuser is configured to refract or reflect light propagating through the diffuser in a manner that alters or obscures the view of the fenestration device from inside the building.

16. A method of manufacturing a fenestration apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

dividing a sheet of reflective film into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments having a segment length;

forming at least a first loop of film, a second loop of film, and a third loop of film from the plurality of segments;

inserting a first mandrel into the first loop of film and expanding the first mandrel until the first loop reaches a desired shape;

inserting a second mandrel into the second loop of film and expanding the second mandrel until the second loop reaches a desired shape;

adhering the second loop to the first loop while the first mandrel is inserted into the first loop and the second mandrel is inserted into the second loop;

inserting the first mandrel or a third mandrel into the third loop of film and expanding that mandrel until the third loop reaches a desired shape;

adhering the third loop to the second loop while the first mandrel or the third mandrel is inserted into the third loop and the second mandrel is inserted into the second loop, the first loop, the second loop, and the third loop comprising an assembled cell structure; and

adhering additional loops to the assembled cell structure until the assembled cell structure substantially fills an aperture of the fenestration apparatus;

wherein the assembled cell structure comprises a honeycomb structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the segment length of each of the plurality of segments is greater than or equal to the perimeter of a cell in the assembled cell structure.

18. A method of manufacturing a fenestration apparatus with a tessellated structure comprising a plurality of polygonal cells, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first strip of film and a second strip of film;

crimping the first strip of film and the second strip of film at increments equal to the lengths of the sides of the polygonal cells;

bonding the first strip of film to the second strip of film together at points that are selected to create an assembled cell structure comprising individual cells having desired polygonal shapes; and

creating additional assembled cell structures until the assembled cell structures substantially fill an aperture of the fenestration apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising securing the assembled cell structures between first and second glazing panes.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first strip of film and the second strip of film comprises a material having a luminous reflectance greater than or equal to about 95% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.