Abstract
An insulating glass element suitable for a refrigeration cabinet. The insulating glass element includes a first pane and a second pane spaced at a distance from the first pane. The first pane has two opposite parallel horizontal edges and two opposite parallel vertical edges. The second pane has two opposite parallel horizontal edges and two opposite parallel vertical edges. According to one aspect, two horizontal spacers are arranged between the first pane and the second pane. According to another aspect, two vertically arranged flat profiles are secured to the vertical edges of the first pane and to the vertical edges of the second pane. According to yet another aspect, the spacers and the flat profiles enclose an inner interpane space between the first pane and the second pane, and one of the two flat profiles is transparent.
Claims
1. An insulating glass element for a refrigeration cabinet, comprising: (a) a first pane having a first horizontal edge, a second horizontal edge opposite and parallel to the first horizontal edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge opposite and parallel to the first vertical edge; (b) a second pane having a first horizontal edge, a second horizontal edge opposite and parallel to the first horizontal edge, a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge opposite and parallel to the first vertical edge; (c) two horizontally arranged spacers between the first pane and the second pane; (d) a first vertically arranged flat profile secured to the first vertical edge of the first pane and the first vertical edge of the second pane; (e) a second vertically arranged flat profile secured to the second vertical edge of the first pane and the second vertical edge of the second pane, wherein the two spacers and the first and second flat profiles enclose an inner interpane space between the first pane and the second pane, and one of the first or second vertically arranged flat profiles is transparent.
2. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein one of the first or second vertically arranged transparent flat profiles includes one polymeric base film and one ceramic additional layer.
3. The insulating glass element according to claim 2, wherein one of the first or second vertically arranged transparent flat profiles includes one polymeric additional layer and two ceramic additional layers and/or metallic additional layers, wherein the two ceramic additional layers and/or metallic additional layers are arranged alternatingly with the one polymeric additional layer.
4. The insulating glass element according to claim 2, wherein the first and second vertically arranged flat profiles have a sealing layer facing their inner side.
5. The insulating glass element according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric base film includes one or more of polyethylene (PE), polycarbonates (PC), polyesters, polyurethanes, polymethyl methacrylates, polyacrylates, polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), PET/PC, and copolymers thereof.
6. The insulating glass element according to claim 2, wherein the polymeric base film has a thickness of 0.2 mm to 5 mm.
7. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein one of the first or second vertically arranged transparent flat profiles includes one polymeric base film and one transparent metallic additional layer.
8. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein the first vertically arranged flat profile has an inner side and an outer side, wherein the first vertically arranged flat profile is secured with its inner side to the first vertical edge of the first pane and the first vertical edge of the second pane via a transparent adhesive, the second vertically arranged flat profile has an inner side and an outer side, and the second vertically arranged flat profile is secured with its inner side to the second vertical edge of the first pane and the second vertical edge of the second pane via a transparent adhesive.
9. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein the two horizontally arranged spacers are secured via a primary sealant to the first pane and the second pane, and wherein an outer interpane space facing the external external surroundings is filled with a secondary sealant.
10. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein one of the two horizontally arranged spacers contains a desiccant.
11. The insulating glass element according to claim 1, wherein each of the two horizontally arranged spacers comprises a hollow profile, the hollow profile comprising: (a) a first side wall; (b) a second side wall arranged parallel to the first side wall; (c) a glazing interior wall arranged perpendicular to the first and second side walls, the glazing interior wall connecting the first and second side walls to each other; (d) an outer wall arranged parallel to the glazing interior wall and connecting the first and second side walls to each other; (e) a hollow space, surrounded by the first and second side walls, the glazing interior wall, and the outer wall, and (f) the hollow space being filled partially with a desiccant.
12. The insulating glass element according to claim 11, wherein the two horizontally arranged individual spacers are closed at both ends with a stopper, and wherein each stopper includes a contact surface for connecting to the first or second vertically arranged flat profile.
13. A door for a refrigeration cabinet, comprising: the insulating glass element according to claim 1; and two horizontal frame elements, wherein the two horizontal frame elements are arranged such that they obscure the view of the two horizontally arranged spacers, the two horizontal frame elements surround the first and second horizontal edges of the first pane, and first and second horizontal edges of the second pane, and a door handle is arranged on the first pane.
14. A method for producing an insulating glass element for a refrigeration cabinet, comprising: (a) providing a first pane and a second pane, (b) mounting two spacers along two opposite sides of the insulating glass element between the first and second panes by a primary sealant, (c) placing two flat profiles on the vertical edges of the first pane and on the vertical edges of the second pane such that the two flat profiles and the two spacers delimit an inner interpane space, and (d) securing the two flat profiles by heating and simultaneous pressing in the region of the vertical edges of the first pane and the the second pane.
15. A method of using an insulating glass element, comprising: providing the insulating glass unit according to claim 1; and using the insulating glass unit as a door in a refrigerated display case.
16. A method for producing an insulating glass element for a refrigeration cabinet, comprising: (a) providing a first pane and a second pane, (b) mounting two spacers along two opposite sides of the insulating glass element between the first and second panes by a primary sealant, and (c) securing two flat profiles on the vertical edges of the first pane and on the vertical edges of the second pane via an adhesive, such that the two flat profiles and the two spacers delimit an inner interpane space.
17. A method of using an insulating glass element, comprising: providing the insulating glass unit according to claim 1; and using the insulating glass unit as a door in a freezer cabinet.
Description
(1) The invention is explained in detail in the following with reference to drawings. The drawings are purely schematic representations and are not true to scale. They in no way restrict the invention. They depict:
(2) FIG. 1 a plan view of a possible embodiment of an insulating glass element according to the invention,
(3) FIG. 2 a plan view of a possible embodiment of a door according to the invention for a refrigeration cabinet,
(4) FIG. 3 a cross-section of an insulating glass element according to the invention along the sectional plane A of FIG. 1,
(5) FIG. 4 a cross-section of an insulating glass element according to the invention along the sectional plane B of FIG. 1,
(6) FIG. 5 a view of a spacer with a stopper and a flat profile intended for an insulating glass element according to the invention,
(7) FIG. 6 a cross-section of a possible embodiment of an insulating glass element according to the invention along the sectional plane C of FIG. 1,
(8) FIG. 7 a cross-section of a spacer suitable for an insulating glass element according to the invention,
(9) FIG. 8 a cross-section of a flat profile suitable for an insulating glass element according to the invention.
(10) FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a possible embodiment of an insulating glass element according to the invention. The insulating glass element I has a first pane 11 and a second pane 12 arranged parallel and congruently. The first pane 11 has two opposite horizontal edges 14.1 and 14.2 and two opposite vertical edges 17.3 and 17.4. The second pane 12 also has two opposite parallel horizontal edges 15.1 (hidden in the drawing) and 15.2 and two opposite vertical edges 18.3 and 18.4. An edge seal with spacer 13, primary sealant 27, and secondary sealant 28 is arranged between the panes 11 and 12 along the horizontal edges 15.2 and 14.2. Of the edge seal, only the secondary sealant 28 is shown in the drawing. A transparent flat profile 16.3 is secured on one vertical edge of the first pane 17.3 and on one vertical edge of the second pane 18.3. The transparent flat profile 16.3 stabilizes the insulating glass element I and seals the inner interpane space against the penetration of foreign objects and moisture. At the same time, it enables free through-vision even in the edge region of the insulating glass element I along the side of the insulating glass element I closed by the transparent flat profile 16.3. The transparent flat profile 16.3 includes a polymeric base film 19 substantially containing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a thickness of 0.4 mm and a metallic additional layer 32 made of indium tin oxide (ITO) with a thickness of 50 nm. Another transparent flat profile 16.4 is arranged on the side of the insulating glass element I opposite the transparent flat profile 16.3. The second flat profile 16.4 is secured on the vertical edges 17.4 and 18.4 of the first and second pane. Due to the likewise transparent design of the flat profile 16.4, the insulating glass element I has a maximal through-vision area. Only along the horizontal edges of the panes does an edge seal with a spacer 13 block, in each case, the view through the edge region of the insulating glass element. At the same time, the insulating glass element I is surprisingly highly stable due to the built-in flat profiles 16.4 and 16.3.
(11) FIG. 2 depicts a door II according to the invention for a refrigerated display case. The door II comprises two horizontal frame elements 30.1 and 30.2 and an insulating glass element I as depicted in FIG. 1. The two horizontal frame elements 30.1 and 30.2 obscure the view of the horizontal spacer 13.1 and 13.2 and the edge seal with primary and secondary sealants. The horizontal frame elements 30.1 and 30.2 are formed from a 0.3-mm-thick stainless steel sheet. The frame elements 30.1 and 30.2 increase the stability of the door II. The horizontal frame element 30.2, is at the top, with perpendicular installation of the door II in a refrigerated display case, or at the rear, with horizontal installation in a freezer cabinet. The horizontal stainless steel sheet 30.2 surrounds the horizontal edges of the first and second panes 14.2 and 15.2. In addition, it surrounds part of all vertical edges of the first and second panes 17.3, 17.4, 18.3, and 18.4. The frame element 30.2 also surrounds part of the two vertical flat profiles 16.3 and 16.4, resulting in a further improvement of the stability of the door II, since the corners are protected against mechanical stress, which could under certain circumstances result in partial detachment of one of the flat profiles 16.3 or 16.4. The horizontal frame element 30.1, which would be arranged at the bottom after installation in a refrigerated display case or in the front after installation in a freezer cabinet, is structured the same as the upper or rear frame element 30.2. The horizontal frame elements 30.1 and 30.2 are glued to the insulating glass element I. Attachment means, for instance in the case of installation in a refrigerated display case or rails with use as a sliding door in a freezer cabinet can be mounted on the horizontal frame elements 30.1 and 30.2. A door handle 31 that is glued onto the first pane 11 enables simple opening and closing of the door. Thanks to the use of the two flat profiles 16.3 and 16.4, the insulating glass element I is so stable that the forces acting on the insulating glass element during opening of the door II do not adversely affect the insulating glass element.
(12) FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section through an insulating glass element I according to the invention along the sectional plane A, looking at the sectional plane A, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1. The flat profile 16.4 has an inner side 22 and an outer side 23. The inner side 22 faces the inner interpane space 8 and the outer side 23 faces the external surroundings. The flat profile 16.4 is secured with the inner side 22 via a transparent acrylate adhesive 24 to the vertical edges 17.4 and 18.4 of the first and second panes 11 and 12. The flat profile 16.4 is transparent and substantially consists of a PET layer as a polymeric base film 19 and a ceramic additional layer 20 made of silicon oxides. The ceramic additional layer 20 is arranged on the inner side 22. Thus, the ceramic additional layer 20, which serves to improve the leak resistance of the flat profile, is optimally protected against damage during installation or during use.
(13) FIG. 4 depicts a cross-section through an insulating glass element I according to the invention along the sectional plane B depicted in FIG. 1. The sectional plane B runs through the spacer 13.1. A hollow profile 1 with a hollow space 5 that is filled with desiccant 21 is visible. A suitable hollow profile 1 is described under FIG. 7. The flat profile 16.4 is secured to the vertical edges 17.4 and 16.4, which is depicted in FIG. 3. The spacer 13.1 is closed on one end with a stopper 25. The contact surface 26 of the stopper is connected to the flat profile 16.4 via a transparent acrylate adhesive 24. The stopper 25 prevents the trickling out of desiccant 21 and enables stabile gluing of the flat profile 16.4. A silicone is arranged as a secondary sealant 28 in the outer interpane space 7 on the outer surface of the spacer 13.1.
(14) FIG. 5 depicts a spacer 13 with flat profile 16 suitable for installation in an insulating glass element I according to the invention. In this example, the spacer 13 has a rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, the spacer 13 can have a different cross-section, for example, as depicted in FIG. 7. The hollow space 5 of the spacer 13 is filled with a molecular sieve as a desiccant 21. The two ends of the spacer 13 are closed with a stopper 25. The stopper 25 is, for example, produced from a polyamide. The stopper 25 includes a portion that is inserted into the hollow space 5 of the spacer 13 and a contact surface 26 that faces the flat profile 16 in the insulating glass element I. The contact surface 26 is provided for the attachment of the flat profile 16. The contact surface 26 coordinates with the cross-section of the hollow profile 1, in other words, the contact surface of the stopper ends flush with the outer dimensions of the hollow profile. Thus, material costs for the stopper are saved.
(15) FIG. 6 depicts a cross-section of an insulating glass element according to the invention along the sectional plane C of FIG. 1 with the viewing direction from the side toward the sectional plane C, identified by an arrow in FIG. 1. The first pane 11 is connected to the first side wall 2.1 of the spacer 13.1 via a primary sealant 27, and the second pane 12 is mounted on the second side wall 2.2 via the primary sealant 27. The primary sealant 27 contains a cross-linking polyisobutylene. The inner interpane space 8 is situated between the first pane 11 and the second pane 12 and is delimited by the glazing interior wall 3 of the spacer 13.1. The hollow space 5 is filled with a desiccant 21, for example, molecular sieve. The hollow space 5 is connected to the inner interpane space 8 via openings 29 in the glazing interior wall. A gas exchange between the hollow space 5 and the inner interpane space 8 occurs through the openings 29, with the desiccant 21 absorbing the humidity from the inner interpane space 8. The first pane 11 and the second pane 12 protrude beyond the side walls 2.1 and 2.2 such that an outer interpane space 7 is created, situated between the first pane 11 and the second pane 12 and delimited by the outer wall of the spacer 4. The horizontal edge 14.1 of the first pane 11 and the horizontal edge 15.1 of the second pane 12 are arranged at the same level. The outer interpane space 7 is filled with the secondary sealant 28. The secondary sealant 28 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 element I. The first pane 11 and the second pane 12 are made of soda lime glass with a thickness of 3 mm.
(16) FIG. 7 depicts a cross-section of a spacer 13 suitable for an insulating glass element I according to the invention. The hollow profile 1 comprises a first side wall 2.1, a side wall 2.2 parallel thereto, a glazing interior wall 3, and an outer wall 4. The glazing interior wall 3 runs perpendicular to the side walls 2.1 and 2.2 and connects the two side walls. The outer wall 4 is opposite the glazing interior wall 3 and connects the two side walls 2.1 and 2.2. The outer wall 4 runs substantially perpendicular to the side walls 2.1 and 2.2. The sections of the outer wall 4.1 and 4.2 nearest the sidewalls 2.1 and 2.2 are, however, inclined at an angle of approx. 45 relative to the outer wall 4 in the direction of the sidewalls 2.1 and 2.2. The angled geometry improves the stability of the hollow profile 1 and enables better bonding with the barrier film 6. The wall thickness d of the hollow profile is 1 mm. The hollow profile 1 has, for example, a height h 6.5 mm and a width of 15 mm. The outer wall 4, the glazing interior wall 3, and the two side walls 2.1 and 2.2 enclose the hollow space 5. The hollow space 5 can, for example, accommodate a desiccant 21. The hollow profile 1 is a polymeric glass-fiber-reinforced hollow profile, which contains styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) with a glass fiber content of approx. 35 wt.-%. The polymeric glass-fiber-reinforced hollow profile 1 is characterized by particularly low thermal conductivity and, at the same time, high stability. A gas- and vapor-tight barrier film 6, which improves the leak resistance of the spacer 13, is applied on the outer wall 4 and approx. one half of the side walls 2.1 and 2.2. The barrier film 6 can, for example, be secured on the hollow profile 1 with a polyurethane hotmelt adhesive. The barrier film 6 comprises four polymeric layers made of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 12 m and three metallic layers made of aluminum with a thickness of 50 nm. The metallic layers and the polymeric layers are applied alternatingly in each case, with the two outer plies formed by polymeric layers.
(17) FIG. 8 depicts a cross-section of a transparent flat profile suitable for an insulating glass element I according to the invention. The transparent flat profile 16.3 includes a polymeric base film 19 made of PET with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The polymeric base film 19 is connected to a multilayer structure of ceramic additional layers 20 and polymeric additional layers 33 as well as a sealing layer 34. Included as ceramic additional layers 20 are two 50-nm-thick silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x) layers. The silicon oxide layers 20 are arranged alternatingly with two polymeric additional layers 33 made of 12-m-thick PET. The production of the flat profile can be done, for example, by bonding two 12-m-thick PET films 33 coated with two silicon oxide layers 20 with a polyurethane adhesive. The silicon oxide layer arranged next to the polymeric base film 19 improves the adhesion to the PET of the polymeric base film 19, which is bonded via a laminating adhesive. A sealing layer 34 made of a heat sealable LDPE is applied on the inner side 22 of the flat profile 16.3. Subsequently, a simple attachment of the transparent flat profile 16.3 to the vertical edges (17.3, 17.4, 18.3, 18.4) of the panes of the insulating glass element I is done via the sealable LDPE by heating.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
(18) I insulating glass element II door for a refrigeration cabinet 1 hollow profile 2 side walls 2.1 first side wall 2.2 second side wall 3 glazing interior wall 4 outer wall 4.1, 4.2 the sections of the outer wall nearest the side walls 5 hollow space 6 barrier film 7 outer interpane space 8 inner interpane space 11 first pane 12 second pane 13 spacers 13.1, 13.2 spacers along the horizontal sides of the insulating glass element I 14.1, 14.2 horizontal edges of the first pane 15.1, 15.2 horizontal edges of the second pane 16.3, 16.4 transparent flat profile 17.3, 17.4 vertical edges of the first pane 18.3, 18.4 vertical edges of the second pane 19 polymeric base film of the transparent flat profile 20 ceramic additional layer of the transparent flat profile 21 desiccant 22 inner side of the flat profile 23 outer side of the flat profile 24 transparent adhesive 25 stopper 26 contact surface of the stopper 27 primary sealant 28 secondary sealant 29 openings in the glazing interior wall 30.1, 30.2 horizontal frame elements 31 door handle 32 metallic additional layer 33 polymeric additional layer 34 sealing layer a distance between the first and the second pane b edge width of a pane/thickness of a pane c length of a flat profile
