SPACER WITH METALLIC SIDE SECTIONS

Abstract

A spacer for insulating glass units, includes a U-shaped main body extending in the longitudinal direction including a first metallic side section, a second metallic side section arranged parallel thereto, a polymeric connecting piece extending in the transverse direction, which connects the two metallic side sections and forms the lower limit of the main body, and an intermediate space arranged above the polymeric connecting piece between the metallic side sections. The first and second metallic side sections each include a side wall for connecting to a glass pane and a retaining arm, which protrudes into the intermediate space, and the retaining arm forms an assembly groove with the side wall, which groove runs substantially parallel to the side wall. The polymeric connecting piece is U-shaped and its two legs are inserted into the assembly grooves of the two metallic side sections.

Claims

1. A spacer for insulating glass units, comprising: a U-shaped main body extending in a longitudinal direction including a first metallic side section, a second metallic side section arranged parallel thereto, a polymeric connecting piece extending in a transverse direction, which connects the first and second metallic side sections and forms a lower limit of the main body, and an intermediate space arranged above the polymeric connecting piece between the first and second metallic side sections, wherein the first and second metallic side sections each include at least one side wall for connecting to a glass pane and a retaining arm, which protrudes into the intermediate space, and the retaining arm forms an assembly groove with the side wall, which groove runs substantially parallel to the side wall, the polymeric connecting piece is U-shaped and includes two legs that are inserted into the assembly grooves of the first and second metallic side sections.

2. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second metallic side sections each have case a fixing projection, which surrounds a corner region of the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece and whereby the polymeric connecting piece is fixed in the assembly groove.

3. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric connecting piece includes at least one moisture-proof barrier.

4. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein an adhesion-promoter layer is arranged on the side of the polymeric connecting piece facing away from the intermediate space.

5. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein a sealing means is provided in the assembly groove.

6. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second metallic side sections are produced by roll forming or by extrusion.

7. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein a cover film extends in the transverse direction between the first metallic side section and the second metallic side section and thus closes the intermediate space.

8. The spacer according to claim 1, wherein in the intermediate space, a desiccant is arranged.

9. The spacer according to claim 1, comprising a receiving profile for an additional pane, wherein the receiving profile is arranged between the first metallic side section and the second metallic side section and wherein the receiving profile includes a receiving groove or the additional pane, which groove extends in the longitudinal direction.

10. The spacer according to claim 9, wherein the receiving profile is implemented as a metallic receiving profile.

11. The spacer according to claim 9, wherein the polymeric connecting piece is divided by the receiving profile into a first U-shaped polymeric connecting piece and a second U-shaped polymeric connecting piece, the receiving profile has a first inner assembly groove and a second inner assembly groove, and one leg of the first U-shaped polymeric connecting piece is received in the first inner assembly groove, and one leg of the second polymeric connecting piece is received in the second inner assembly groove.

12. A method for producing a spacer according to claim 1 comprising: a) extruding or roll forming the first metallic side section and the second metallic side section, b) providing the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece, c) inserting and fastening the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece in the assembly grooves of the two metallic side sections.

13. An insulating glass unit, comprising a first pane, a second pane, a spacer according to claim 1 arranged circumferentially between the first pane and the second pane, wherein the first pane is attached to the side wall of the first metallic side section via a primary sealant, the second pane is attached to the side wall of the second metallic side section via a primary sealant, the spacer separates an inner interpane space from an outer interpane space, and a secondary sealant is arranged in the outer interpane space.

14. A method for producing an insulating glass unit according to claim 13, comprising d) providing a spacer according to claim 1, e) bending the spacer to form a spacer frame, which is closed at one point, f) providing a first pane and a second pane, g) fixing the spacer between the first pane and the second pane via a primary sealant, h) pressing the pane assembly comprising the first and second panes and the spacer, and i) at least partially filling the outer interpane space with a secondary sealant.

15. A method comprising utilizing the insulating glass unit according to claim 13 as a building interior glazing, a building exterior glazing, and/or a façade glazing.

16. The spacer according to claim 3, wherein the at least one moisture-proof barrier is in the form of a metal coating, a ceramic coating, a polymer film, or a multilayer film with polymeric and metallic layers or with polymeric and ceramic layers or with polymeric, metallic, and ceramic layers.

17. The spacer according to claim 4, wherein an adhesion-promoter layer is a metal-containing thin film or a ceramic thin film.

18. The spacer according to claim 5, wherein a sealing means is a butyl cord.

19. The spacer according to claim 7, wherein the cover film at least partially surrounds the first and second metallic side sections in the upper region.

20. The spacer according to claim 8, wherein the desiccant has a continuous desiccant body in the form of a strip or flexible tube.

Description

[0097] The invention is explained in detail in the following with reference to drawings. The drawings are purely schematic representations and not to scale. They in no way restrict the invention. They depict:

[0098] FIG. 1 a cross-section of a possible embodiment of a spacer according to the invention,

[0099] FIG. 2 a cross-section of a possible embodiment of an insulating glass unit according to the invention,

[0100] FIG. 3 a cross-section of another possible embodiment of an insulating glass unit according to the invention,

[0101] FIG. 4 a perspective side view of a spacer according to the invention with an incision,

[0102] FIG. 5 a perspective side view of a bent spacer according to the invention,

[0103] FIG. 6 a schematic representation of a method according to the invention.

[0104] FIG. 1 depicts a cross-section through a spacer I according to the invention. The spacer extends in the longitudinal direction, represented here by the X axis. The spacer I has a U-shaped main body 1, which extends in the X direction. The main body 1 includes the first metallic side section 2.1 and the second metallic side section 2.2 arranged parallel thereto on the opposite side. The two metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2 are connected by a U-shaped polymeric connecting piece 3. The U-shaped polymeric connecting piece extends in the transverse direction, represented here by the Y axis. The polymeric connecting piece 3 forms the lower limit of the main body 1 and delimits the intermediate space 11, which is situated between the first and the second metallic side sections and above the polymeric connecting piece.

[0105] The terms “below” and “above” refer to the Z axis. The Z axis is defined as the direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis Y. “Above” refers to the region that faces in the direction of the inner interpane space and “below” refers to the region that faces in the direction of the outer interpane space.

[0106] The two metallic side sections have in each case a side wall 7 and a retaining arm 8, which, together, form an assembly groove 6. The assembly groove 6 of the first metallic side section 2.1 accommodates the first leg 3.1 of the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece 3, and the assembly groove 6 of the second metallic side section 2.2 accommodates the second leg 3.2 of the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece 3. The assembly groove 6 runs substantially parallel to the side wall 7. The assembly grooves 6 have profiling in the shape of longitudinal ribs that extend in the longitudinal direction (X). The longitudinal ribs are located both on the side wall 7 and on the retaining arm 8.

[0107] This profiling improves the fixing of the polymeric connecting piece in the assembly grooves. The first and second metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2 are, for example, made of aluminum by extrusion and have a uniform wall thickness (thickness of side wall and retaining arm) of 0.8 mm.

[0108] The two metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2 have in each case a fixing projection 9, implemented as an extension of the respective side wall 7. The fixing projection 9 of the second metallic side section 2.2 is bent around the corner region 12.2 of the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece 3 and fixes the polymeric connecting piece 3 in the assembly groove 6. The bent fixing projection 9 keeps the polymeric connecting piece 3 from slipping out downward and increases the stability of the spacer. The angle β (beta) between the fixing projection 9 of the second metallic side section 2.2 and the associated side wall 7 is approx. 90°. For purposes of illustration, the fixing projection 9 of the first metallic side section 2.1 is not yet folded in the drawing and encloses an angle β (beta) of approx. 180° with the associated side wall 7. A previously made indentation is visible at the transition between the side wall 7 and the fixing projection 9. Along this indentation, the fixing projection 9 can be bent in the direction of the dashed arrow during production of the spacer. In a finished spacer I according to the invention, both fixing projections are bent over and surround the corner regions 12.1 and 12.2 of the polymeric connecting piece. A fixing projection extends in the transverse direction all the way to the retaining arm 8 such that the polymeric connecting piece is clamped between the fixing projection 9 and the retaining arm. In the example, this corresponds to approx. f=2 mm. With a total width of the U-shaped main body of u=16 mm, a region of 16 mm−2×2 mm=12 mm remains free. Thus, no thermally conductive connection can be made through the two fixing projections 9.

[0109] The polymeric connecting piece 3 has, for example, a total thickness of 0.3 mm and is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This provides good stability for the spacer and, at the same time, thermal conductivity is low thanks to the low material thickness. A moisture-proof barrier 4 is arranged over the entire polymeric connecting piece 3 on the side facing the intermediate space 11 of the spacer. The moisture-proof barrier 4 is protected against mechanical stresses by the arrangement in the intermediate space 11. The moisture-proof barrier 4 prevents penetration of moisture into the inner interpane space. Together with metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2, complete sealing against moisture from the outer interpane space is thus formed. Even moisture that is possibly bound in the material of the polymeric connecting piece 3 cannot make its way into the inner interpane space. This is a substantial advantage relative to conventional polymeric hollow profile spacers, which usually have a moisture-proof barrier on their outer side. The moisture stored in the polymeric hollow profile before assembly of the insulating glass unit must then be bound by the desiccant, which already reduces the capacity of the desiccant starting at the time of installation.

[0110] In the example, the moisture-proof barrier 4 is a metal-containing barrier film. The barrier film comprises two aluminum layers with a thickness of 20 nm each and two PET layers each 12 μm thick. The polymeric layers and the metallic layers are arranged alternatingly. Such a film excellently seals the spacer against the penetration of moisture. An adhesion-promoter layer 15 in the form of a 10-nm-thick coating made of aluminum and aluminum oxide is applied on the side of the polymeric connecting piece facing the outer interpane space. This adhesion-promoter layer 15 improves the adhesion to the secondary sealant 25 in the finished insulating glass unit.

[0111] A sealing means in the form of a butyl cord 13 is provided in the assembly groove 6 of the two metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2. The butyl seals the connection between the polymeric connecting piece 3 and the metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2 and thus improves the leak tightness of the spacer. In the example, the spacer has a height of h=6.5 mm and the assembly groove is m=3 mm high. This corresponds to a share of 46% of the height of the spacer or of the height of the side wall. Thus, compared to an assembly groove 6 that extends over the entire height of the side wall, material is saved and stable fixing of the polymeric connecting piece is nevertheless achieved.

[0112] A desiccant in the form of an extruded desiccant body 10 is arranged in the intermediate space 11 of the spacer. The desiccant body is made of a silicone binder with an integrated molecular sieve. The desiccant body is in the form of a strip that is attached to the second metallic side section 2.2 via an adhesive 14. In the transverse direction, the desiccant body 10 does not extend over the entire width u of the spacer. This prevents heat transfer through the desiccant body from the first pane to the second pane in the finished insulating glass unit.

[0113] A cover film 5 that extends from the first metallic side section 2.1 to the second metallic side section 2.2 is attached on the upper side of the U-shaped main body. The cover film 5 thus closes off intermediate space 11 and the desiccant 10 contained therein is concealed. The cover film is permeable to water vapor and, in the example, is a 0.1 mm, thin, expandable, and flexible polypropylene film. The cover film is glued to the metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2 and is arranged such that it engages around the metallic side sections in the upper region. Thus, it is additionally clamped between the pane and the spacer in the finished insulating glazing.

[0114] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-section of the edge region of an insulating glass unit II according to the invention with the spacer I depicted in FIG. 1. The first pane 21 is connected via a primary sealant 24 to the side wall 7 of the first metallic side section 2.1, and the second pane 22 is mounted via the primary sealant 24 on the side wall 7 of the second metallic side section 2.2. The primary sealant 24 is a cross-linking polyisobutylene. The inner interpane space 26 is situated between the first pane 21 and the second pane 22 and is delimited by the cover film 5 of the spacer I according to the invention. The intermediate space 11 is connected to the inner interpane space 26 via the water-vapor permeable cover film 5 such that the desiccant 10 absorbs the humidity from the inner interpane space 26. The first pane 21 and the second pane 22 protrude beyond the side walls 7 of the spacer I such that an outer interpane space 27 is created, which is situated between the first pane 21 and the second pane 22 and is essentially delimited by the polymeric connecting piece 3 of the spacer. The edge of the first pane 21 and the edge of the second pane 22 are arranged at the same height. The outer interpane space 25 is only partially filled with a secondary sealant 25. A central region 28 of the polymeric connecting piece 3 is free of secondary sealant 25. The secondary sealant is arranged only in the outer regions that are adjacent the first pane 21 and the second pane 22. Thus, no continuous thermally conductive connection between the panes 21 and 22 is established by the secondary sealant. The central region that remains free is made of 0.3-mm-thick PET, which is insensitive to external influences and mechanical stresses. Consequently, this embodiment is very stable despite non-continuously applied secondary sealant. The secondary sealant 25 is, for example, a silicone. Silicones absorb the forces acting on the edge seal particularly well and thus contribute to high stability of the insulating glass unit II. The first pane 21 and the second pane 22 are made of soda lime glass with a thickness of 3 mm.

[0115] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section through an edge region of an insulating glass unit II according to the invention with a spacer I according to the invention with a receiving profile 30. The spacer I is essentially produced in the same way as that depicted in FIG. 1. The additional receiving profile 30 has a receiving groove 35 that accommodates the middle pane 23. The middle pane 23 divides the inner interpane space 26 into two inner interpane spaces. The receiving groove 35 contains an insert 36 made of a butyl, which stabilizes the middle pane 23 in the receiving groove and prevents rattling of the pane 23 in the receiving groove. The insert 36 is implemented such that the two inner interpane spaces are connected to one another such that a gas exchange can occur therebetween. This is achieved by interruptions in the insert, i.e., there are multiple sections without insert in the longitudinal direction. A gas exchange between the two inner interpane spaces is advantageous since in the event of large temperature differences between the two interpane spaces, the mechanical loads on the edge seal can thus be reduced. Like the metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2, the receiving profile 35 is made of aluminum by extrusion. The receiving profile 35 has a first inner assembly groove 31 and a second inner assembly groove 32. The polymeric connecting piece is divided into a first polymeric connecting piece 33 and a second polymeric connecting piece 34. The first polymeric connecting piece is located in the assembly groove 6 of the first metallic side section 2.1 and the first inner assembly groove 31 and is fixed by the first inner fixing projection 41. The second polymeric connecting piece 34 is arranged in the assembly groove 6 of the second metallic side section 2.2 and the second inner assembly groove 32 and is fixed there by the second inner fixing projection 42. The receiving profile 35 additionally has two support projections 43 and 44, serving in each case for the attachment of a cover film. The first cover film 37 is glued onto the first support protrusion 43 and is arranged such that it protrudes into the receiving groove 36. As a result, a particularly stable attachment is achieved. The attachment of the first cover film 37 is also done by gluing to the first metallic side section 2.1. The second cover film 38 is attached analogously to the first cover film 37 on the second support protrusion 44 and the second metallic side section 2.2. The receiving profile 35 divides the intermediate space into a first intermediate space 39 and a second intermediate space 40. In the example, a desiccant body, which is in each case attached to the receiving profile, is arranged in each intermediate space. By means of the arrangement of desiccant in both intermediate spaces 39 and 40, the absorption capacity for moisture from the inner intermediate spaces is maximized. An embodiment with desiccant in only one intermediate space is also possible since a gas exchange between the two intermediate spaces is possible. The secondary sealant 25 is arranged in the outer interpane space such that two middle regions remain free. The edge regions, where the outer panes adjoin the spacer, are provided with the secondary sealant, which is important for the stability of the edge seal. A secondary sealant 25 is also arranged in the region of the receiving profile 35, which improves the sealing in this region and is additionally responsible for improving the stability of the edge seal.

[0116] FIG. 4 depicts a spacer I according to the invention with an incision 45. In the region of the incision 45, the spacer I can be bent over such that a corner of a spacer frame is created there, as is depicted in FIG. 5. The incision 45 has a V-shaped cross-section and extends in the transverse direction (Y direction) of the spacer. In other words, the spacer is cut over its entire width. The open side of the V is at the upper side (Z direction) of the spacer and the point of the V is exactly above the base of the polymeric connecting piece 3. In the example, the two sides of the V 46 and 47 enclose an angle of approx. 90° such that after the bending of the spacer at the incision point, a spacer frame with a right-angled corner is obtained, as depicted in FIG. 5. The fixing projections 9 of the first and second metallic side sections are not cut; and, thus, after bending, they have an additional stabilizing effect on the spacer frame.

[0117] FIG. 6 depicts a possible embodiment of a method for producing a spacer. In the first step, the first metallic side section 2.1 and the second metallic side section 2.2 are provided by roll forming. For this, a 0.1-mm-thick galvanized steel sheet is bent such that the fixing projection 9 is already bent and encloses an angle β (beta) of 90° with the side wall 7. The retaining arm 8 encloses an angle α (alpha) of approx. 10° to 20° with the side wall 7, i.e., the position of the assembly groove 6 is already predetermined. The angle α (alpha) can also be selected larger or smaller, as needed depending on the subsequent process steps. The assembly groove 6 extends along the entire side wall 7. The shape is particularly easy to produce by roll forming, since there is only one kink at the transition between the retaining arm and the side wall, in contrast to the example depicted in FIG. 1, in which the assembly groove extends along only one part of the side wall. In addition, the stability of the spacer is increased by the large assembly groove, which is particularly advantageous in the case of the thin steel sheet.

[0118] The opening between the retaining arm 8 and the fixing projection 9 is large enough that the polymeric connecting piece 3 can be inserted there in step c). In the following step a1), a butyl cord 13 is placed in the assembly groove 6 at the point where the side wall 7 of a metallic side section adjoins the retaining arm 8. In step b), the polymeric connecting piece 3 is provided. This is a 0.3-mm-thick PET piece with a moisture-proof barrier coating 4 on the side facing the intermediate space in the installed position in the form of a 200-nm-thick aluminum layer. On the side of the PET piece facing away from the intermediate space in the installed position, a 30-nm-thick silicon dioxide layer is arranged as an adhesion promoter 15. After heating, the PET piece is bent at the kinks into a U-shape. In step c), this PET piece is inserted through the openings between the retaining arm 8 and the fixing projection 9 into the two metallic side sections 2.1 and 2.2. The two retaining arms 8 are then pressed in the direction of the side walls 7 of the side sections 2.1 and 2.2 such that the U-shaped polymeric connecting piece 3 is fixed in the assembly grooves 6. Thus, manufacture of the U-shaped polymeric main body 1 is finished. In additional steps, desiccant can be introduced into the intermediate space and, following that, the cover film can be applied.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0119] I spacer [0120] II insulating glass unit, insulating glazing [0121] 1 U-shaped main body [0122] 2.1 first metallic side section [0123] 2.2 second metallic side section [0124] 3 polymeric connecting piece [0125] 3.1, 3.2 legs of the polymeric connecting piece [0126] 4 moisture-proof barrier coating/barrier film [0127] 5 cover film [0128] 6 assembly groove [0129] 7 side wall [0130] 8 retaining arm [0131] 9 fixing projection [0132] 10 desiccant [0133] 11 intermediate space [0134] 12.1, 12.2 corner regions of the U-shaped connecting piece [0135] 13 sealing means [0136] 14 adhesive [0137] 15 adhesion-promoter layer [0138] 21 first pane [0139] 22 second pane [0140] 23 middle pane [0141] 24 primary sealant [0142] 25 secondary sealant [0143] 26 inner interpane space [0144] 27 outer interpane space [0145] 28 central region on the outer side of the polymeric connecting piece [0146] 30 receiving profile [0147] 31 first inner assembly groove [0148] 32 second inner assembly groove [0149] 33 first polymeric connecting piece [0150] 34 second polymeric connecting piece [0151] 35 receiving groove [0152] 36 insert [0153] 37 first cover film [0154] 38 second cover film [0155] 39 first intermediate space [0156] 40 second intermediate space [0157] 41 first inner fixing projection [0158] 42 second inner fixing projection [0159] 43 first support protrusion [0160] 44 second support protrusion [0161] 45 V-shaped incision [0162] 46 first side of the V [0163] 47 second side of the V [0164] u width of the U-shaped main body; width of the spacer [0165] f length of the fixing projection [0166] h height of the spacer [0167] m height of the assembly groove