Thermally insulating fenestration devices and methods

• US 8,601,757 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• 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: Jaster, Paul August, Kopitzke, Keith Robert, Wilson, David James, Rillie, David Windsor
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MINTZ, RODNEY K
• Application Number:
  US12/789,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 522/00, 521/711, 522/045, 359/591, 359/592, 359/593, 359/595, 359/596, 359/597, 359/598, 359/599, 362/1, 362/2, 362/147, 362/290
• 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:

first and second glazing panes capable of being installed in an opening of a building envelope;

a tessellated structure disposed between the first and second glazing panes, 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, a cell area, and a cell depth, wherein the at least one partition has a thickness that is less than or equal to 0.01 inches;

wherein the at least one partition comprises reflective film;

wherein the tessellated structure comprises a honeycomb structure;

wherein each of the plurality of spatially separated cells is at least partially surrounded by at least one face of the at least one partition,

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,

wherein the fenestration apparatus has a visible light transfer efficiency greater than or equal to 85% when measured with respect to light entering the fenestration apparatus at an incident angle of 75°

, and

wherein a U-factor of the fenestration apparatus is reduced by at least 25% when compared to a fenestration device having a same configuration but no tessellated structure.

2. 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.

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

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fenestration apparatus is positioned such that exterior light passes through the second glazing pane after passing through the tessellated structure, and wherein a 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the honeycomb structure of the tessellated structure comprises a cubic prismatic honeycomb structure or a hexagonal prismatic honeycomb structure.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luminous reflectance of the first face of the at least one partition is greater than or equal to about 99% when measured with respect to CIE illuminant D₆₅.

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 a ratio of the cell depth to the cell area of the plurality of spatially separated cells is at least 2.0.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition has a thermal conductivity that is less than or equal to about 1.5 BTU/Hr-Ft²-°

F/inch.