INSULATING GLAZING AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract

An insulating glazing includes a first a second pane, a circumferential spacer between the first and second pane that is fixedly connected to the first and second pane in a water-vapor-tight manner in each case, which spacer has two parallel pane contact walls, an outer wall, and a glazing interior wall and an interior, and a water-tight sealant strip running around the outer wall between the first and second pane. A pressure-equalizing element is inserted into the sealant strip and the spacer, which pressure-equalizing element is open to the surrounding atmosphere and to the interior of the spacer or to the glazing interior between the first and the second pane and is implemented such that it provides a gas connection having a pressure-equalizing function between the atmosphere and the interior of the spacer or the glazing interior which gas connection is temporally limited due to aging and/or atmospheric influences.

Claims

1. An insulating glazing that comprises: a first pane and a second pane, a circumferential spacer between the first pane and the second pane that is fixedly connected to the first and second pane in a water-vapor-tight manner in each case, which spacer has at least two parallel pane contact walls, an outer wall, and a glazing interior wall as well as an interior, and a water-tight sealant strip running around the outer wall of the spacer between the first and second pane, wherein at least one pressure-equalizing element is inserted into the sealant strip and the spacer, which pressure-equalizing element is open, on the one hand, to the surrounding atmosphere and, on the other, to the interior of the spacer or to the glazing interior between the first and the second pane and is implemented such that the pressure-equalizing element provides a gas connection having a pressure-equalizing function between the atmosphere and the interior of the spacer or the glazing interior which gas connection is temporally limited due to aging and/or atmospheric influences, wherein the pressure-equalizing element contains, in a main body, an initially gas-permeable substance, which ages and/or degenerates under the influence of humidity in the atmosphere and progressively reduces the gas permeability of the pressure-equalizing element until its complete closure.

2. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the degenerating substance together with a water-tight and gas-permeable membrane, which, however, retards the passage of water vapor, is filled into the pressure-equalizing element.

3. The insulating glazing according to claim 2, wherein the degenerating substance is a polyethylene glycol powder or granulate and the water-tight membrane is a PTFE membrane.

4. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the aging substance is inserted into the main body as a membrane.

5. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the degenerating substance together with a water-tight and gas-permeable membrane, which, however, retards the passage of water vapor, is inserted into the pressure-equalizing element, wherein the water-tight membrane is a PTFE membrane, and the degenerating substance is a substance that swells under the influence of humidity, which is present as an insert that is initially porous or is provided with openings.

6. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the glazing interior wall of the spacer is gas permeable and the pressure-equalizing element protrudes into the interior of the spacer and connects the interior to the atmosphere in a pressure-equalizing manner.

7. The insulating glazing according to claim 5, wherein the glazing interior wall of the spacer has a plurality of small openings that are, distributed over the entire length of the spacer, and the interior of the spacer is filled with a desiccant.

8. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-equalizing element pierces the spacer and protrudes into the glazing interior and connects the interior to the atmosphere in a pressure-equalizing manner.

9. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein a main body section of the pressure-equalizing element is embedded in the sealant strip and is open on its outer side and is fixed to the outer wall of the spacer.

10. The insulating glazing according to claim 9, wherein the main body section embedded in the sealant strip is surrounded by a separate watertight seal and is provided at the pierced opening in the outer wall of the spacer with another separate water-vapor-tight seal.

11. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the pressure-equalizing element essentially has a stepped cylindrical shape.

12. The insulating glazing according to claim 10, wherein the separate water-tight seal has a hollow cylindrical or annular shape and the other separate water-vapor-tight seal is annular.

13. A method for producing an insulating glazing according to claim 1, comprising: forming the insulating glazing by parallel arrangement of the first and second pane and connecting them in a water-vapor-tight manner to the first and second pane contact wall of the spacer, respectively, applying the sealant strip circumferentially on the outer wall of the spacer, forming an opening at at least one point of the sealant strip and at least in the outer wall of the spacer, gas-tightly inserting the/each pressure-equalizing element, which contains, in a main body, an initially gas-permeable substance that ages and/or degenerates under the influence of humidity in the atmosphere and progressively reduces the gas permeability of the pressure-equalizing element until its complete closure, into the/each opening in the sealant strip and the outer wall of the spacer.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the pressure-equalizing element is provided with the separate water-vapor-tight seal before insertion into the opening of the sealant strip.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the opening in the sealant strip is dimensioned larger than the outer dimensions of the pressure-equalizing element, and after insertion of the pressure-equalizing element, the gap between its outer contour and the inner wall of the opening is filled by injecting a sealing compound to form the separate water-tight seal.

16. The insulating glazing according to claim 3, wherein the degenerating substance is a stretched or sintered PTFE membrane.

17. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is based on PTSMP.

Description

[0029] Advantages and functionalities of the invention are also apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures. They depict:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective, partially sectional detailed view of a known insulating glazing,

[0031] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a pressure-equalizing element for use in an insulating glazing according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 2A through 2C schematic sectional representations of embodiments of the pressure-relief element in embodiments of the insulating glazing according to the invention, and

[0033] FIG. 3A through 3D schematic sectional views for illustrating manufacturing steps of an embodiment of the insulating glazing according to the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts, in a partially sectional, perspective view, an insulating glazing 1 comprising a first and second glass pane 2a, 2b, which are held at a distance from one another in a parallel position and with aligned edges by a spacer 2. The two pane contact surfaces 3a, 3b of the spacer 3 are provided with butyl strips 4a, 4b, realizing a vapor-diffusion-tight connection between the spacer 3 and the glass panes 2a, 2b. A sealant strip 5, pressed into the gap between the panes 2a, 2b by means of an applicator roll W outside the spacer 3, establishes a material, water-tight connection between the panes and completes the insulating glazing 1. The spacer 3, which has the cross-section of a rectangle and a trapezoid joined to one another on the long sides, is filled with beads of a desiccant 6 and has a glazing interior wall 3c provided with small openings 3d. The wall of the spacer 3 covered by the sealant strip 5 is referred to in the following as its outer wall 3e. The filling of the interior 3f of the spacer 3 with the desiccant 6, in conjunction with the openings 3d, ensures that any moisture penetrating into the glazing interior 2c is absorbed and cannot result in fogging of the panes.

[0035] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective exterior view of a pressure-equalizing element 7, which is intended for insertion into an insulating glazing 1 according to FIG. 1; and FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict exemplary design configurations of such a pressure-equalizing element.

[0036] According to FIG. 2A, the pressure-equalizing element 7 has the basic shape of a stepped cylinder with a first main body section 7a with a larger diameter and a second main body section 7b with a smaller diameter, which is provided here with an outside thread 7c but can, however, also be plugged or clipped in. How such a pressure-equalizing element 7 is placed in the insulating glazing 1 is depicted in FIG. 3D and is described below. In addition to a first opening 7d, which can already be seen in FIG. 2, the pressure-equalizing element 7 has a second opening 7e, which can be seen in FIG. 2A.

[0037] FIG. 2A through 2C show possible design configurations of the pressure-equalizing element 7 with largely identical housing structure. The representations are to be understood as principle sketches and do not claim to depict all parts to be reasonably used to realize the respective function. It goes without saying that the housing structure and the basic shape of the housing can deviate from the representation given in FIG. 2 through 2C.

[0038] FIG. 2A depicts equipping of the pressure-equalizing element 7 with a membrane 7f that is ultra-permeable in the initial state but that, due to aging of the material, is converted in a predetermined period of time into a film that is vapor-diffusion-tight and also prevents gas exchange, made, for example, of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) or a similar material. The exact composition, structure, and thickness of the membrane is selected as a function of the specific application, depending in particular on the period of time to be assumed from completion of the insulating glazing until its arrival at the final site of use, during which pressure equalization between the respective environment and the glazing interior should be possible.

[0039] FIG. 2B depicts, as another variant, a pressure-equalizing element 7, in which a vapor-diffusion-tight, but gas-permeable PTFE membrane 7f is placed at the bottom of the first main body section 7a; and, above this, a plastic material 7g that is initially readily permeable to gas, for example, a PEG powder, granulate, or molded body is poured or placed. With this, gas permeability is significantly reduced over time under the influence of atmospheric humidity. Depending on the intended use, this material can be selected in its chemical composition and form of introduction such that the reduction of gas permeability takes place over a predetermined period of time (see above) and, optionally, results in a completely gas-tight closure of the pressure-equalizing element.

[0040] FIG. 2C depicts, as another variant, a pressure-equalizing element 7, in which a water-tight PTFE membrane 7f, which retards the passage of water vapor, but is gas-permeable, and a molded body 7g made of a material that swells as a result of aging or under the influence of components of the ambient air (for example, humidity) are arranged one atop another. In the figure, the molded body 7g is depicted with a central through-opening 7h, which closes progressively due to swelling. The molded body can, however, also have multiple smaller through-openings or initially have relatively large pores that similarly decrease in size over time and possibly finally close completely. As with the aforementioned embodiments, the specific material and the design configuration of these components of the pressure-equalizing element are selected as a function of the specific intended use, in particular the desired time-dependent reduction in gas permeability.

[0041] FIG. 3A-3D depict, in sketch-type cross-sectional representations of an insulating glazing 1 according to the invention, essential steps of its production. The structure of the insulating glazing 1 corresponds largely to that of the insulating glazing 1 in FIG. 1, and corresponding or functionally similar parts are identified with the same reference numbers as there and not explained again here. FIG. 3A-3D depict a spacer 3 with a rectangular cross-section without desiccant filling; however, it can be assumed in the context of the present invention, that a spacer 3 with the geometric configuration and desiccant filling depicted in FIG. 1 is preferably used. It is also to be assumed that the spacer 3 can be provided with the butyl strip 4a, 4b depicted in FIG. 1.

[0042] FIG. 3A depicts the insulating glazing 1 after completion of the edge seal by application of the sealant strip 5 and its curing. As can be seen in FIG. 3B, an opening 5a or 3g adapted to the outer shape of a pressure-equalizing element to be inserted is made in the sealant strip 5 and in the outer wall 3e, respectively. The opening 5a in the sealant strip 5 is dimensioned larger than the corresponding dimensions of the pressure-equalizing element, whereas the opening 3g in the spacer 3 is adapted exactly to the corresponding dimensions of the pressure-equalizing element, for example, to screw a pressure-equalizing element provided, in sections, with a thread into the opening 3g.

[0043] According to FIG. 3C, the pressure-equalizing element 7, provided with a butyl cord 8, is then brought to the location of the openings 5a, 3g and inserted into the openings (for example, by screwing into the opening 3g) such that it is firmly seated there and the butyl cord 8 is elastically deformed such that it a vapor-diffusion seal at the opening 3g of the spacer 3. This state is depicted in FIG. 3D and it can also be seen there that a sealant ring 9 for the complete elastic filling of the opening 5a and for restoration of the watertight seal of the insulating glazing edge has been injected around the inserted pressure-equalizing element 7. This completes the production of the embodiment of the insulating glazing 1 depicted.

[0044] Moreover, the embodiment of the invention is also possible in a number of variations of the examples depicted here and aspects of the invention highlighted above.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0045] 1, 1 insulating glazing [0046] 2a, 2b glass pane [0047] 2c glazing interior [0048] 3, 3 spacer [0049] 3a, 3b pane contact wall [0050] 3c glazing interior wall [0051] 3d small openings [0052] 3e, 3e outer wall [0053] 3f interior of the spacer [0054] 3g, 3g opening of the spacer [0055] 4a, 4b butyl strip [0056] 5 sealant strip [0057] 5a opening of the sealant strip [0058] 6 desiccant [0059] 7 pressure-equalizing element [0060] 7a, 7b main body section [0061] 7c thread [0062] 7d, 7e opening of the pressure-equalizing element [0063] 7f membrane [0064] 7g plastic granulate or plastic molded body [0065] 7h opening in the molded body [0066] 8 butyl cord [0067] 9 ring of sealing compound [0068] W applicator roll