Method of manufacturing heat insulating structural and/or light elements and installation for carrying out the method

• US 6,637,644 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emil Bachli
• Original Assignee: Emil Bachli
• Inventors: Sager, Kurt, Bächli, Emil
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Tom
• Assistant Examiner(s): STONER, KILEY SHAWN
• Application Number:
  US10/042,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 228/245, 228/246, 228/248.1, 228/254, 228/256, 228/124.6, 228/122.1, 428/34
• US Class Current: 228/122.1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66304 Discrete spacing elements, e.g. for evacuated glazing units
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/66357 Soldered connections or the like
• 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: E06B 3/67365 Transporting or handling panes, spacer frames or units during assembly E06B3/67304 - E06B3/67339 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/67369 Layout of the assembly streets
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6775 Evacuating or filling the gap during assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/249 Glazing, e.g. vacuum glazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/22 Glazing, e.g. vaccum glazing

Abstract

A method of manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas. The method includes conveying wall elements which have been cleaned and coated on at least one surface thereof and are intended for a structural and/or light element in a manufacturing line extending over manufacturing sections, coating with solder at least one side of each wall element at edges thereof, placing spaced-apart support elements on a wall element, positioning the wall elements opposite each other at a distance determined by the support elements, and subsequently enclosing the wall elements to form a gas-tight hollow space between the wall elements by applying a deformable metal sealing element at the coated edges of both wall elements.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas, the method comprising conveying wall elements which have been cleaned and coated on at least one surface thereof and are intended for a structural and/or light element in a manufacturing line extending over manufacturing sections, coating with solder at least one side of each wall element at edges thereof, placing spaced-apart support elements on a wall element, positioning the wall elements opposite each other at a distance determined by the support elements, and subsequently enclosing the wall elements to form a gas-tight hollow space between the wall elements by applying a deformable metal sealing element at the coated edges of both wall elements.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising applying the solder layer after placing the support elements on a wall element.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element provided with an evacuated hollow space travel through at least one evacuatable manufacturing section equipped for a specific manufacturing method.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element travel through the manufacturing sections one behind the other, next to each other, above each other or offset next or above each other.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing sections are rooms which can be separated, comprising applying a vacuum to each room in accordance with the manufacturing method being carried out.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out a pretreatment step for cleaning and/or applying a heat radiation-reflecting layer on the wall elements, wherein the pretreatment step is a manufacturing section of the manufacturing method.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the pretreatment step is connected to the subsequent manufacturing sections of the manufacturing method.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing sections are manufacturing rooms which can be separated from each other.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising, after carrying out the edge coating of the wall elements, placing the support elements on at least one wall element, subsequently joining the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element at a distance of the support elements, and then conveying the wall elements to an enclosing step for mounting the edge sealing element.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall elements travel through the manufacturing sections vertically and/or horizontally.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising carrying out a further evacuation of the hollow space between the wall elements after the sealing element is mounted.