Vacuum IG window unit with peripheral seal at least partially diffused at temper

• US 6,641,689 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aggas, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Loney, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US09/986,317
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 156/107, 156/109, 65/69, 65/95, 651/14, 428/34, 428/410
• US Class Current: 156/109
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 27/00 Tempering or quenching glass products
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 23/007 by thermal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/06 Joining glass to glass by processes other than fusing fusing C03B23/20; units for use as elements for closing wall or like openings and comprising two or more parallel glass panes in spaced relationship, the panes being permanently secured together E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/10 with the aid of adhesive specially adapted for that purpose
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6612 Evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66333 of unusual substances, e.g. wood or other fibrous materials, glass or other transparent materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/249 Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing

Abstract

A vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit and method of making the same. At least a first edge seal portion is provided on at least one of two glass substrates prior to S tempering. When the substrate(s) are thermally tempered, the high tempering temperatures achieved cause the first seal portion to diffuse into or bond to the substrate. Thereafter, after substantial cooling of the substrate(s) and during assembly of the vacuum IG unit, a secondary heating is performed to form a hermetic edge/peripheral seal using at least the first seal portion (additional seal material(s) may be applied in certain embodiments before the secondary heating step).

Claims

1. A method of making a window, the method comprising:

providing a first glass substrate;

providing a second substrate;

thermally tempering at least the first glass substrate with a seal material thereon;

after said tempering of at least the first substrate with the seal material thereon, providing a plurality of spacers between the first and second substrates and forming an edge seal utilizing at least part of the seal material which was on the first substrate during said tempering.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a space between the first and second substrates to be at a pressure less than atmospheric.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein after the edge seal is formed the first substrate retains at least about 50% of its original temper strength.

4. A method of making a window, the method comprising;

providing a first glass substrate;

providing a second glass substrate;

tempering at least the first glass substrate with a seal material thereon;

after said tempering, providing at least one spacer between the first and second glass substrates and forming an edge seal utilizing at least part of the seal material which was on the first substrate during said tempering.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising causing a space between said first and second glass substrates to be at a pressure less than atmospheric.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein after the edge seal is formed the first substrate retains at least about 50% of its original temper strength.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein after the edge seal is formed the first substrate retains at least about 60% of its original temper strength.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein after the edge seal is formed the first substrate retains at least about 70% of its original temper strength.