Substantially transparent insulating anti-condensation structure

• US 4,382,177 A
• Filed: 09/15/1980
• Issued: 05/03/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New Anthony Inc (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corporation.
• Inventors: Heaney, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayewsky, Volodymyr Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/187,558
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 219/214, 219/203, 219/218, 219/219, 219/405, 219/522, 219/543, 338/225, 338/307, 338/308, 338/309, 427/165, 350/1.4, 350/1.6, 350/166, 350/297, 252/587, 52/171, 62/148, 62/248, 62/275, 126/200, 156/99
• US Class Current: 219/522
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0434 Glass or transparent panels
• 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

Abstract

In a substantially transparent insulating structure, positionable between a warmer region and a colder region, the improvement comprising an infrared reflecting visible light transmitting coating, applied to a surface of a pane in the structure. The coating reflects a substantial portion of infrared radiation incident thereon, so as to restrict substantial transmission of infrared radiation from the warmer region to the colder region. The reflected infrared radiation heats the surface exposed in use to the warmer region sufficiently to inhibit formation of a visibility-impeding layer thereon, without using electrical energy therefor. The reflected infrared radiation is reradiated into the warmer region, thereby inhibiting reradiation of such reflected infrared radiation into the colder region. The coating further transmits a substantial portion of visible light radiation incident thereon, to enable substantially clear visibility therethrough. In a single pane structure, the coating provides insulating properties equal to or better than a double pane uncoated structure. The single pane structure further includes an antiabrasion coating applied over the infrared reflecting coating, to protect the infrared reflecting coating from abrasion which might otherwise result from contact therewith. In a multi-pane structure, the coating provides increased insulating properties. In a structure positionable in use in a substantially horizontal plane between a warmer region thereabove and a colder region therebelow, infrared radiation reflected by the coating in combination with infrared radiation rising substantially vertically are sufficient to heat the surface exposed in use to the warmer region so as to inhibit formation of a visibility-impeding layer thereon without using electrical energy therefor. In a fluorescent lamp guard structure, the coating enables heating of the flourescent lamp for more efficient operation thereof.

Claims

1. A substantially transparent single-pane insulating structure, positionable between a warmer region and a colder region, comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent pane, one surface being exposed in use to the warmer region, the opposed surface facing the colder region in use;

(b) means applied to the surface of the pane which in use faces the colder region for electrically heating the pane, so as to heat the surface of the pane exposed in use to the warmer region; and

(c) means applied over the electrical heating means for reflecting a substantial portion of infrared radiation incident on said reflecting means through the pane to the surface of the pane exposed in use to the warmer region, so as to restrict substantial transmission of infrared radiation from the warmer region to the colder region, and so as to heat the surface of the pane exposed in use to the warmer region sufficiently in combination with the heat provided by the electrical heating means to prevent formation of a visibility-impeding layer thereon while minimizing use of electrical energy therefor, and so that, in preventing formation of the visibility-impeding layer, the reflected infrared radiation is reradiated into the warmer region so as to inhibit reradiation thereof into the colder region, and for transmitting a substantial portion of visible light radiation incident on said reflecting means;

to enable substantially clear visibility therethrough.

2. A structure as in claim 1, further comprising means applied over the reflecting means so as to be exposed in use to the colder region for preventing abrasion of the reflecting means.

3. A substantially transparent single-pane insulating door structure having an outside frame and being positionable in use in a selected plane between a humidity bearing warmer region and a colder region, comprising:

(a) a substantially transparent door pane being positioned in a selected plane, one surface being exposed in use to the humidity bearing warmer region, the opposed surface facing the colder region in use;

(b) means applied to the surface of the door pane which in use faces the colder region for electrically heating the door pane, so as to heat the surface of the door pane exposed in use to the humidity bearing warmer region; and

(c) means applied over the electrical heating means for reflecting a substantial portion of infrared radiation incident on said reflecting means through the door pane to the surface of the door pane exposed in use to the humidity bearing warmer region, so as to restrict substantial transmission of infrared radiation from the humidity bearing warmer region to the colder region, and so as to heat the surface of the door pane exposed in use to the humidity bearing warmer region sufficiently in combination with infrared radiation rising through the selectively positioned door pane and the heat provided by the electrical heating means to prevent formation of a visibility-impeding layer thereon while minimizing use of electrical energy therefor, and so that, in preventing formation of the visibility-impeding layer, the reflected infrared radiation is reradiated into the humidity bearing warmer region so as to inhibit reradiation thereof into the colder region, and for transmitting a substantial portion of visible light radiation incident on said reflecting means, to enable substantially clear visibility therethrough.

4. A structure as in claim 3, further comprising means applied over the reflecting means so as to be exposed in use to the colder region for preventing abrasion of the reflecting means.