Door for a refrigerated cabinet

Abstract

Door for a refrigerated cabinet, formed by multiple glazings that join a spacer frame, peripheral joints, and a reinforcement that makes it possible to do away with frame elements. The door comprises transparent vertical joints that connect the glass sheets of the glazing to transparent spacers.

Claims

1. A door of a refrigerated chamber cabinet comprising: a. at least one insulating multiple glazing formed of at least one first glass sheet and one second glass sheet which are joined together by a spacer frame which holds them at a certain distance from one another, said frame extending along horizontal and vertical edges of the glazing, b. between said at least two glass sheets, at least one internal space comprising an insulating gas, that is closed by at least one first peripheral seal and one second peripheral seal on the horizontal edges and at least one peripheral seal on the vertical edges, said peripheral seals being positioned around said internal space, the spacer frame comprising at least two vertical spacers and at least two horizontal spacers, at least one vertical spacer being made of transparent resin, at least one vertical peripheral seal being transparent, the horizontal spacers being composed of at least one profile, wherein: a) the spacers are connected together in order to form said spacer frame, b) at least one fastening system attaching the door to the chamber cabinet, the fastening system being at least partially inserted in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, c) the door comprises a reinforcement, attached to the fastening system and inserted at least partially in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, d) the spacer frame, the peripheral seals and the reinforcement hold the glass sheets together, and e) the door does not have a framework on a perimeter of the glass sheets.

2. The door according to claim 1, wherein the vertical spacers are connected to the horizontal spacers by at least one stiffening element.

3. The door according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening element is attached to at least one reinforcement.

4. The door according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement and the stiffening element are the same element.

5. The door according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening element is in contact with at least the second horizontal peripheral seal.

6. The door according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system extends into at least one of the following parts: a. a stiffening element, or b. a horizontal spacer.

7. The door according to claim 1, wherein the second peripheral seal is a mastic having a structural function, selected from the group consisting of silicones, polyurethanes, polysulfides and modified silicones.

8. The door according to claim 1, wherein the transparent resin comprises a polymethyl methacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, a polyvinyl chloride, a polyamide, a polyetherimide, a polyethylene terephthalate, a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, copolymers thereof or a mixture of one or more of these compounds.

9. The door according to claim 1, wherein the transparent vertical peripheral seal is: a. a double-sided tape: i. made of acrylic polymer, ii. made of rubber, or iii. made of silicone, b. a polyisobutylene-based adhesive, or c. an adhesive of crosslinkable acrylic or crosslinkable epoxy type.

10. The door according to claim 1, wherein the first horizontal peripheral seal is formed of a polyisobutylene-based mastic or of a double-sided tape made of acrylic polymer, of rubber or of silicone, or of a combination of the two.

11. The door according to claim 1, wherein the fastening system is formed of at least one screw.

12. The door according to claim 1, wherein the glazing has a heat transfer coefficient Ug ranging from 0.3 to 1.8 W/m.sup.2.

13. The door according to claim 1, wherein a primer layer is positioned between at least: a. the transparent seal and the vertical spacer, or b. the transparent seal and the glass sheet.

14. The door according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening element is connected to the vertical spacers and/or horizontal spacers by at least one of the following elements: a. a screw made of steel, of zinc-coated steel, of stainless steel or of bronze, or b. an adhesive selected from polyisobutylene-based mastics, crosslinkable acrylic polymer glues, crosslinkable epoxy glues, double-sided adhesive tapes made of acrylic polymer.

15. The door according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement has a form of a profile and is, at least partly, inserted in the second peripheral seal.

16. The door according to claim 1, wherein one of the glass sheets is stepped relative to the other glass sheet.

17. The door according to claim 1, wherein at least one glass sheet is partially covered with a decorative layer selected from the group consisting of ceramic inks and organic inks.

18. The door according to claim 17, wherein the fastening system is masked by the decorative layer deposited on the glass sheet.

19. The door according to claim 1, wherein the glass sheets are tempered and/or laminated.

20. The door according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening element has a form of a profile extending over the entire length of at least one horizontal spacer.

21. The door according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is an integral part of the horizontal spacer.

22. The door according to claim 1, wherein a second transparent vertical peripheral seal is contiguous with the following elements: a. the transparent vertical peripheral seal; b. the transparent vertical spacer; and c. the two glass sheets.

23. A door of a refrigerated chamber cabinet comprising: a. at least one insulating multiple glazing formed of at least one first glass sheet and one second glass sheet which are joined together by a spacer frame which holds them at a certain distance from one another, said frame extending along horizontal and vertical edges of the glazing, b. between said at least two glass sheets, at least one internal space comprising an insulating gas, that is closed by at least one first peripheral seal and one second peripheral seal on the horizontal edges and at least one peripheral seal on the vertical edges, said peripheral seals being positioned around said internal space, the spacer frame comprising at least two vertical spacers and at least two horizontal spacers, at least one vertical spacer being made of transparent resin, at least one vertical peripheral seal being transparent, the horizontal spacers being composed of at least one profile, wherein: a) the spacers are connected together in order to form said spacer frame, b) at least one fastening system attaching the door to the chamber cabinet, the fastening system being at least partially inserted in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, c) the door comprising a reinforcement, attached to the fastening system, and inserted at least partially in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, and the door is devoid of a framework of a traditional door which is replaced by the spacer frame, the peripheral seals and the reinforcement that fulfil the functions of opening, holding and supporting of the insulating multiple glazing of a traditional door.

24. A door of a refrigerated chamber cabinet comprising: a. at least one insulating multiple glazing formed of at least one first glass sheet and one second glass sheet which are joined together by a spacer frame which holds them at a certain distance from one another, said frame extending along horizontal and vertical edges of the glazing, b. between said at least two glass sheets, at least one internal space comprising an insulating gas, that is closed by at least one first peripheral seal and one second peripheral seal on the horizontal edges and at least one peripheral seal on the vertical edges, said peripheral seals being positioned around said internal space, the spacer frame comprising at least two vertical spacers and at least two horizontal spacers, at least one vertical spacer being made of transparent resin, at least one vertical peripheral seal being transparent, the horizontal spacers being composed of at least one profile, wherein: a) the spacers are connected together in order to form said spacer frame, b) at least one fastening system directly attaching the door to the chamber cabinet, the fastening system being at least partially inserted in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, c) the door comprises a reinforcement, attached to the fastening system and inserted at least partially in at least one horizontal peripheral seal, d) the spacer frame, the peripheral seals and the reinforcement hold the glass sheets together, and e) wherein the at least one vertical spacer is connected to the horizontal spacers by at least one stiffening element and the reinforcement and the stiffening element are the same element.

Description

5. LIST OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description of one preferred embodiment, given by way of simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and from the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates the refrigerated chamber cabinet (2) comprising doors (1) in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the door (1) of a refrigerated chamber cabinet (2) comprising an insulating multiple glazing (3), the associated spacer frame (6) and the fastening system (13) of the door (1) according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along AA in the vertical edge of a multiple glazing of the door from FIG. 2. This cross-sectional view represents the following elements: the glass sheets (4, 5), the internal space (7), the double transparent vertical peripheral seal (10) and the transparent vertical space (11).

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along BB in a horizontal edge of a multiple glazing of the door from FIG. 2. This cross-sectional view represents the following elements: the glass sheets (4, 5), the internal space (7), the first horizontal peripheral seal (8), the second horizontal peripheral seal (9), the horizontal spacer (12), the reinforcement (14) and the stiffening element (15) which here is a profile of rectangular cross section.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the spacer frame (6) of the glazing of the door according to one embodiment of the invention. The figure depicts the following elements: the transparent vertical spacers (11), the horizontal spacers (12), the stiffening elements (15) and the screws (17) making the connection between the transparent vertical spacers (11) and the stiffening elements (15).

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates the spacer frame (6) according to another embodiment of the glazing of the door according to the invention. The figure depicts the following elements: the transparent vertical spacers (11), the horizontal spacers (12), the stiffening elements (15) and the reinforcements (14). In this embodiment, the stiffening elements (15) are connected to the vertical spacers (11) by means of a polyisobutylene-based mastic. It is also possible to add screws (not represented in the figure) in order to perfect the connection.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates the same spacer frame according to yet another embodiment of the invention. The figure depicts the following elements: the transparent vertical spacers (11), the horizontal spacers (12), the stiffening elements (15) that also take on the role of reinforcements (14) and the screws (17) making the connection between the transparent vertical spacers (11) and the stiffening elements and reinforcements (15, 14).

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of a glass sheet (4) or (5) with a decorative layer made of enamel (16) according to one particular embodiment of the invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a figure analogous to FIG. 3 where a second transparent vertical peripheral seal (18) sits on top of the first seal (10). This figure is a cross-sectional view along AA in the vertical edge of the door from FIG. 2. It is seen that this seal (18) is contiguous with the first double seal (10) and also with the transparent vertical spacer (11) and with the two glass sheets (4, 5).

6. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Example 1

(11) A door (1) according to the invention was produced which could be mounted on the refrigerated cabinet (2).

(12) The door (1) is a double glazing (3) comprising a first sheet (4) and a second sheet (5) of soda-lime-silica type glass with dimensions of 1700 mm×600 mm and each having a thickness of 4 mm. The glass sheets (4) and (5) were then tempered.

(13) These glass sheets (4, 5) were joined by means of a spacer frame (6) which holds them at a certain distance from one another. The spacer frame (6) was formed of two Super Spacer® horizontal spacers (12) from Edgetech and of two transparent vertical spacers (11) made of PMMA as illustrated in FIG. 5 The sizing of the horizontal spacers (12) is the following: length 580 mm×thickness 14 mm×height 7 mm. The sizing of the vertical spacers (11) is the following: length 1700 mm×thickness 12 mm x height 10 mm. The desiccative material is incorporated into the matrix of the Super Spacer® spacer.

(14) At each glass sheet (4, 5)/horizontal spacer (12) interface, a 1 mm thick bead of polyisobutylene was placed over the entire length of the horizontal spacers (12) as FIG. 4 illustrates. This bead of polyisobutylene takes on the role of first double horizontal peripheral seal (8). Similarly, at each glass sheet (4, 5)/transparent vertical spacer (11) interface, a seal in the form of 3M VHB® 4918 double-sided acrylic adhesive tape having a thickness of 2 mm and a height of 10 mm was deposited over the entire length of the vertical spacers (11) as FIG. 3 illustrates. In order to increase the adhesion between the acrylic adhesive and the glass sheet, a 3M® AP 115 silane-type primer was deposited at each interface.

(15) Two polymer profiles, used as stiffening elements (15), were glued to the upper portion of each horizontal spacer (12) (see FIG. 5) using a 1 mm thick 3M VHB® double-sided acrylic adhesive tape. The sizing of each profile was the following: length 580 mm, thickness 8 mm, height 8 mm. The distance between the end of the transparent vertical spacers (11) and the upper edge of the stiffening element (15) was 10 mm. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the screws (17) make the connection between the transparent vertical spacers (11) and the stiffening elements (15).

(16) Between the two glass sheets (4, 5), an internal space (7) comprising an insulating gas of argon type is closed off by the spacer frame (6). The concentration of argon is 85%.

(17) As FIG. 4 illustrates, a second horizontal peripheral seal (9) of Dow Corning® 3362 silicone (referred to in the remainder of the text as “silicone seal”), was placed along the horizontal edges, and is contiguous with the horizontal spacers (12), with the first horizontal peripheral seal (8) and with the two glass sheets (4, 5). The stiffening element (15) was also immersed in the silicone seal (9).

(18) As FIG. 4 also illustrates, a U-shaped profile, having the role of reinforcement (14), is inserted in the silicone seal (9). The reinforcement (14) is made of stainless steel and extends along the horizontal spacer (12). A fastening system (13) was partly inserted in the second horizontal peripheral seal (9) and also in the reinforcement (14). The fastening system (13) was composed of the following elements: two 5 mm diameter screws, and a pivot part contiguous with the silicone seal (9) and equipped with two holes where the two screws are inserted. The screws are also inserted into the silicone seal (9) and the U-shaped profile (14). This fastening system (13) has made it possible to attach the door (1) to the refrigerated cabinet (2).

Example 2

Effect of a Primer

(19) Materials:

(20) Rectangular plates of soda-lime-silica float glass with a thickness of 4 mm and with dimensions of 65 mm×25 mm. 3M VHB® 4918 double-sided transparent-type tape manufactured by 3M. 3M® AP 115 transparent silane-type primer sold by 3M.
Test Specimens with Primer:

(21) Two test specimens were produced, each from two rectangular plates of soda-lime-silica float glass, one of which had previously been coated (on one face) with a TopN+T low-e layer.

(22) One of the two faces of the non-precoated plate and the precoated face of the second plate are cleaned using isopropanol. The primer is then applied to the cleaned surfaces under a controlled atmosphere at a temperature of 25° C. and 50% relative humidity (RH). The primer dries for 2 to 3 minutes before applying a 25×10 mm strip of tape transversely to one of the glass plates so as to cover its entire width in a central position of the plate while avoiding the formation and trapping of any air bubble between the tape and the glass plate. The second glass plate is then glued in its central position to the other face of the tape already glued to the first glass plate so that the glass plates together form an angle of 90°. A glass/low-e layer/primer/double-sided tape/primer/glass stack was thus produced.

(23) Reference Test Specimens:

(24) Two reference test specimens were produced in a similar manner, omitting the step of applying the primer. A glass/low-e layer/double-sided tape/glass stack was thus produced.

(25) Evaluation

(26) One reference test specimen and one test specimen with primer were placed in a chamber under a controlled atmosphere at a temperature of 70° C. and 100% RH for 336 hours.

(27) One reference test specimen and one test specimen with primer were not subjected to this conditioning.

(28) The 4 test specimens were then subjected to a mechanical test consisting in placing the two glass plates of each test specimen under tension. The test was carried out under controlled atmosphere at a temperature of 25° C. and 50% RH. The tension was exerted in a direction perpendicular to the surface of each of the 2 glass sheets and the tensile force needed to give rise to the tearing-off and the complete separation of the two plates was measured.

(29) The results obtained are given in Table 1:

(30) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Tear-off force (N) Test Without With specimen conditioning conditioning Reference >30 0 (adhesive failure) With primer >30 >20

(31) The failure is of cohesive type within the material of the tape, except in the case of the sample without primer that underwent conditioning. The latter has a delamination phenomenon of the adhesive starting from the conditioning phase and gives rise to adhesive failure at the interface between the glass coated with the low-e layer and the tape.

(32) The test specimen produced according to the particular variant of the invention has an increased aging resistance performance relative to a reference test specimen.