Covering element for bus bar

Abstract

A spacer for an insulating glazing, includes a main body, which is a main body A including a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface, a glazing interior surface, and an outer surface, or which is a main body B including a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface, a first glazing interior surface, a second glazing interior surface, a first inner lateral surface, a second inner lateral surface, and an outer surface, wherein the two inner lateral surfaces, together with the two glazing interior surfaces and the outer surface, form a groove for receiving a pane. The spacer has a screen panel made of an opaque material arranged on the glazing interior surface of the main body A or a screen panel arranged on one of the two glazing interior surfaces of the main body B and extending parallel to the two pane contact surfaces.

Claims

1. An insulating glazing, comprising: at least two panes; at least one spacer comprising a main body, wherein the main body is a main body A comprising a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface extending parallel thereto, a glazing interior surface, and an outer surface, or wherein the main body is a main body B comprising a first pane contact surface and a second pane contact surface extending parallel thereto, a first glazing interior surface, a second glazing interior surface, a first inner lateral surface, a second inner lateral surface, and an outer surface, wherein the first and second inner lateral surfaces extend between the first and second pane contact surfaces and parallel thereto and, together with the first and second glazing interior surfaces and the outer surface, form a groove for receiving a pane, wherein the spacer has a single flange forming a single screen panel made of an opaque material arranged on the glazing interior surface of the main body A or at least one flange forming at least one screen panel arranged on at least one of the first and second glazing interior surfaces of the main body B and extending parallel to the first and second pane contact surfaces, and a concealed element that is a bus bar, a connection line or an electrical connection element, wherein the at least two panes form, together with the spacer, at least one glazing interior, wherein the concealed element is arranged on an interior-side pane surface such that the concealed element is located between the screen panel and the interior-side pane surface so that the screen panel of the spacer obscures the concealed element when viewed from the outside, at least from certain viewing angles, wherein the single screen panel of the main body A or the at least one screen panel of the main body B is arranged at an edge at a lateral surface of the spacer, which is in contact with the pane on which the concealed element is attached, and has a screen panel surface that faces the concealed element, said screen panel surface being arranged such that the screen panel surface is flush with said lateral surface of the spacer, wherein the lateral surface of the spacer is selected from the first pane contact surface or the second pane contact surface for the spacer with the main body A or is selected from the first pane contact surface, the second pane contact surface, the first inner lateral surface, or the second inner lateral surface for the spacer with the main body B.

2. The spacer insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the at least one screen panel has a height h in the range from 2 to 50 mm.

3. The insulating glazing according to claim 2, wherein the height h in the range from 4 to 15 mm.

4. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the screen panel has, in cross-section, a rectangular basic shape, or the screen panel tapers, in cross-section, at least partially from bottom to top.

5. The spacer insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the main body is formed in one piece with the screen panel, or the main body and the screen panel form separate parts that are connected to one another.

6. The spacer insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the main body is made of metal or plastic, and/or the main body and the screen panel are made of the same material.

7. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, comprising a first pane and a second pane, wherein the interior-side pane surface of the first pane or the second pane has, at least partially, an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating or an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive functional element, as well as at least two bus bars for contacting the coating or the functional element, the spacer with the main body A surrounding the first and second pane, wherein the first pane is connected to the first pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the second pane is connected to the second pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, a glazing interior formed between the glazing interior surface of the spacer and the first and the second pane, an outer interpane space adjacent the outer surface, in which an outer seal is inserted, and one or a plurality of electrical connection elements for connecting to a power supply and one or a plurality of electrical contact elements for the electrical connection of the bus bars to the electrical connection elements, wherein at least one bus bar is situated in the glazing interior and forms the concealed element, and when viewed from the outside, at least from certain viewing angles, the single screen panel of the spacer obscures the view of the bus bar.

8. The insulating glazing according to claim 7, wherein the electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating or the electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive functional element is an electrochromic coating, a transparent electrically conductive coating, or one or a plurality of photovoltaic elements.

9. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, comprising a first pane, a second pane, and a third pane, wherein the third pane is arranged between the first and second pane and parallel thereto, wherein the interior-side pane surface of the first pane or the second pane or a surface of the third pane has, at least partially, an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating or an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive functional element as well as at least two bus bars for contacting the coating or the functional element, the spacer with the main body A as a first spacer and a second spacer, wherein the second spacer is likewise a spacer with the main body A or a spacer that has a first pane contact surface, a second pane contact surface extending parallel thereto, a glazing interior surface, and an outer surface, wherein the spacer with the main body A surrounds the first and third pane, wherein the first pane is connected to the first pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the third pane is connected to the second pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the second spacer surrounds the second and third pane, wherein the second pane is connected to the second pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the third pane is connected to the first pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, or the spacer with the main body B surrounding the first and second pane, wherein the first pane is connected to the first pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the second pane is connected to the second pane contact surface of the spacer directly or via a sealant, and the third pane is received in the groove of the spacer, a first glazing interior formed between the first and the third pane and the glazing interior surface of the first spacer with the main body A, and a second glazing interior formed between the second and the third pane and the glazing interior surface of the second spacer, or a first glazing interior formed between the first and the third pane and the first glazing interior surface of the spacer with the main body B, and a second glazing interior formed between the second and the third pane and the second glazing interior surface of the spacer with the main body B, a first outer interpane space adjacent the outer surface of the first spacer with the main body A, in which an outer seal is inserted, and a second outer interpane space adjacent the outer surface of the second spacer, in which an outer seal is inserted, or an outer interpane space adjacent the outer surface of the spacer with the main body B, in which an outer seal is inserted, and one or a plurality of electrical connection elements for connecting to a power supply and one or a plurality of electrical contact elements for the electrical connection of the bus bars to the electrical connection elements, wherein at least one bus bar is situated in the first or second glazing interior and forms the concealed element, and when viewed from the outside, at least from certain viewing angles, the at least one screen panel of the spacer obscures the view of the bus bar.

10. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first pane, the second pane, and, if present, the third pane is a float glass pane, a composite pane, a textured glass, or a colored or satin glass.

11. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the concealed element and the screen panel are spaced apart from one another.

12. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the concealed element and the screen panel, and the gap has a width from 1.4 mm to 3 mm.

13. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the concealed element is a bus bar.

14. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the concealed element is a bus bar or a connection line that has a height that is less than a height of the panel so that the screen panel obscures the bus bar or the connection line when viewed from the outside, at least from certain viewing angles.

15. The insulating glazing according to claim 1, wherein the lateral surface of the spacer is in contact with the pane on which the concealed element is attached via a sealant.

16. A method comprising utilizing an insulating glazing according to claim 1 as building interior glazing, building exterior glazing, and/or facade glazing.

Description

(1) They depict:

(2) FIG. 1 a cross-sectional representation of an insulating glazing with an electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating on one side of the pane,

(3) FIG. 2 a cross-sectional representation of an insulating glazing according to the invention with an electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating on one side of the pane,

(4) FIG. 3a a cross-sectional representation of a spacer according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 3b a cross-sectional representation of another spacer according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 4 a cross-sectional representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 5 a cross-sectional representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(8) FIG. 6 a cross-sectional representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(9) FIG. 7a a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(10) FIG. 7b a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(11) FIG. 8a a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention,

(12) FIG. 8b a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention.

(13) FIG. 1 depicts a representation of an insulating glazing in cross-section. The insulating glazing comprises a first pane 19 and a second pane 20, which are connected via a spacer 5. The spacer 5 is mounted between the first pane 19 and the second pane 20 arranged parallel thereto. The spacer 5 has a main body, which has a first pane contact surface 7.1, a second pane contact surface 7.2 that extends parallel to the first pane contact surface, an outer surface 9, and a glazing interior surface 8. The outer surface 9 is connected to the two pane contact surfaces 7.1, 7.2 in each case via a connecting surface. The main body has a hollow space 10 that contains a desiccant 11. A glazing interior 3 is defined by the first pane 19, the second pane 20, and the glazing interior surface 8 of the main body. The first pane 19 is connected to the first pane contact surface 7.1 via a sealant 4, and the second pane 20 is connected to the second pane contact surface 7.2 via a sealant. An outer interpane space 13 is delimited by the first pane 19, the second pane 20, and the outer surface 9 of the main body and is filled with an outer seal 6.

(14) The second pane 20 has an electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating 1 on the interior-side surface. The coating 1 extends almost completely over the interior-side surface of the pane, minus an edge decoating of the pane edge. The coating 1 is contacted by a bus bar 22. The insulating glazing has electrical connection elements 14, e.g., ribbon cables or cables, which are arranged below the outer surface 9 of the spacer and can be connected to a voltage source (not shown). Connection element 14 and bus bar 22 are electrically conductively connected to one another via an electrical contact element 2. The electrical contact between the electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating 1 and bus bar 22 as well as between bus bar 22 and the contact element 2 can be established by soldering or gluing with an electrically conductive adhesive. The contact element 2 can consist of a flexible cable. The cable can be T-shaped and have two metallic contact surfaces on its two side arms, which are provided for contacting with the bus bar 22.

(15) The bus bar 22 was produced by printing a conductive paste and electrically contacted on the electrically conductive coating 1. The conductive paste, also referred to as silver paste, contains silver particles and glass frits. The layer thickness of the baked conductive paste is, for example, roughly 5 μm to 20 μm. Alternatively, thin and narrow metal foil strips or metal wires containing or made of copper, a copper alloy, or aluminum can also be used as bus bars 22. The bus bar 22 runs on the second pane in the glazing interior 3 and parallel to the glazing interior surface 8 of the main body.

(16) The first pane is provided on its outside with an opaque coating 23 which is a black coating. The coating is applied in the form of a strip and is situated roughly in a region at the height between the glazing interior surface 8 and the upper and of the bus bar 22. The opaque coating 23 can be approx. 15 to 30 mm wide (from the glass edge). The coating 23 restricts the through-vision region of the insulating glazing and completely obscures the bus bar 22 when viewed from the outside within a certain viewing angle range.

(17) FIG. 2 depicts a representation of an insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section. The insulating glazing corresponds to the insulating glazing depicted in FIG. 1, except that the spacer depicted in FIG. 1 is replaced by a spacer according to the invention, and the opaque coating 23 depicted in FIG. 1 is not present. Apart from these differences, the information for FIG. 1, to which reference is made, also applies to FIG. 2.

(18) The spacer 5 has a main body, which comprises a first pane contact surface 7.1, a second pane contact surface 7.2 that extends parallel to the first pane contact surface, an outer surface 9, and a glazing interior surface 8. The main body has a hollow space 10, which contains a desiccant 11. The spacer 5 further has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface 8, which is arranged at the edge toward the first pane contact surface 7.1.

(19) The electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating 1 is an electrochromic coating.

(20) The main body is formed in one piece with the screen panel 12 and can be produced in one step by extrusion. The main body and the screen panel are made of the same material, which is opaque and can be any color, preferably black, gray, white, or brown. The main body has, for example, a height of approx. 6 mm and a width of approx. 15 mm. The dimensioning must, of course, be adapted to the respective requirements; for example, the width must be adapted to the requirements of good thermal insulation. The screen panel is rectangular and has a height of approx. 10 mm. The width of the screen panel is approx. 1 mm.

(21) The first pane 19 can be a float glass, optionally as single-plane safety glass ESG, partially tempered safety glass TVG, or laminated safety glass VSG. The thickness is approx. 4 mm. The second pane 20 is a float glass and has a thickness of approx. 4 mm.

(22) The main body and the screen panel are made of styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), which is opaque and has any color, preferably black, gray, white, or brown. The distance from the plane of the glazing interior surface 8 to the upper end of the bus bar 22 is approx. 9 mm. Butyl was used as the sealant 4, and silicone was used as the outer sealant 6.

(23) When viewed from the outside within a certain viewing angle, the bus bar 22 is completely obscured by the screen panel 12 of the spacer. The spacer according to the invention saves a production step since it is no longer required to apply an opaque coating to one of the panes, which is necessary according to FIG. 1. Another advantage consists in that the main body and the screen panel are the same color, whereas, as depicted in FIG. 1, the opaque coating 23 and the spacer usually have different colors for production engineering reasons, thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the insulating glazing according to the invention.

(24) Eliminating the outer covering (screen print) results in uniform appearance of the entire pane since the reflection behavior of the pane is identical over the entire surface.

(25) FIG. 3a depicts a representation of a spacer according to the invention in cross-section that was used in the insulating glazing of FIG. 4. Reference is made to the information there about the spacer.

(26) FIG. 3b depicts a representation of a spacer according to the invention in cross-section, which is suitable for a triple glazing. The spacer comprises a main body (main body B), which has a first pane contact surface 7.1 and a second pane contact surface 7.2 extending parallel thereto, a first glazing interior surface 8.1, a second glazing interior surface 8.2, a first inner lateral surface 7.3, a second inner lateral surface 7.4, and an outer surface 9. The two inner lateral surfaces run between the two pane contact surfaces and parallel thereto and form, together with the two glazing interior surfaces and the outer surface, a groove 15 for receiving a pane. A screen panel 12 is arranged on the first inner lateral surface 7.3 at the edge toward the first inner lateral surface 7.3. A second screen panel 12 is arranged on the second inner lateral surface 7.4 at the edge toward the second inner lateral surface 7.4.

(27) The main body is formed in one piece with the two screen panels 12 and can be produced in one step by extrusion. The main body and the screen panel are made of the same material, such as SAN, which is opaque and is any color, preferably black, gray, white, or brown.

(28) FIG. 4 depicts a representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section. The insulating glazing basically corresponds to the insulating glazing depicted in FIG. 2, except that in the spacer according to the invention depicted in FIG. 4, the spacer 5 has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface 8, which is arranged at the edge toward the second pane contact surface 7.2. In this manner, the screen panel 12 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the bus bar 22 attached to the second pane 20.

(29) For reasons of clarity, electrical connection elements and contact elements are not shown.

(30) The spacer corresponds to the spacer depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3a, except that in the arrangement according to FIG. 4, it has been positioned reversed compared to FIG. 2. The information concerning the spacer in FIG. 2 or 3a applies mutatis mutandis.

(31) The advantages mentioned in relation to FIG. 2 with regard to saving a production step and improved aesthetic appearance of the insulating glazing according to the invention also result from this variant. In addition, further improved concealment of the bus bar is can be noted: it is not visible from the outside even when viewed at a very oblique viewing angle.

(32) FIG. 5 depicts a representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which is a triple insulating glazing. Here, two spacers per FIG. 2 or 3a are used. The information concerning the spacer in FIG. 2 or 3a applies mutatis mutandis.

(33) The insulating glazing comprises a first pane 19, a second pane 20, and a third pane 21, wherein the third pane 21 (inner pane) is arranged between the first and second pane and parallel thereto. Both sides of the third pane are in each case partially provided with an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating 1, such as an electrochromic coating, which is in each case contacted by a bus bar 22 that was produced by screen printing with a silver paste and baking.

(34) A first spacer 5 with the main body A is arranged circumferentially between the first and third pane. A second spacer with the main body A is arranged circumferentially between the second and third pane. The first pane contact surface of the first spacer is connected to the first pane via a sealant 4. The second pane contact surface of the first spacer is connected to the third pane via a sealant 4. The first pane contact surface of the second spacer is connected to the third pane via a sealant 4. The second pane contact surface of the second spacer is connected to the second pane via a sealant 4. A first glazing interior 3.1 is formed between the first and the third pane 19, 21 and the glazing interior surface 8 of the first spacer, and a second glazing interior 3.2 is formed between the second and the third pane 20, 21 and the glazing interior surface of the second spacer. Furthermore, there is a first outer interpane space 13.1 adjacent the outer surface of the first spacer, in which an outer seal 6 is inserted, and a second outer interpane space 13.2 adjacent the outer surface of the second spacer, in which an outer seal 6 is inserted. For reasons of clarity, electrical connection elements and contact elements are not shown.

(35) The first spacer has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface at the edge toward the second pane contact surface such that the screen panel 12 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the bus bar 22 that is arranged at the side of the third pane 21 that is opposite the first pane. The second spacer has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface at the edge toward the first pane contact surface such that this screen panel 12 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the bus bar 22 that is arranged at the side of the third pane 21 that is opposite the second pane.

(36) The advantages mentioned for FIG. 4 are also noted here. The variant of the spacer depicted in FIG. 5 is, for aesthetic reasons, also useful for an analogous embodiment in which, instead of both sides, only one side of the third pane is partially provided with an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating 1, such as an electrochromic coating that is contacted in each case by a bus bar 22.

(37) FIG. 6 depicts a representation of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which depicts a triple insulating glass. The structure essentially corresponds to the structure of FIG. 5; however, here, the two electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coatings 1 and the bus bars 22 associated therewith are arranged on the inner side of the first pane 19 and on the inner side of the second pane 20.

(38) Also, here, the first spacer has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface at the edge toward to the first pane contact surface such that the screen panel 12 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the bus bar 22 that is arranged on the first pane 19. Furthermore, the second spacer has a screen panel 12 on the glazing interior surface at the edge toward the second pane contact surface such that this screen panel 12 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the bus bar 22 that is arranged on the second pane 20.

(39) The advantages mentioned for FIG. 4 are also noted here. Optionally, it can additionally be useful to maintain an outer opaque coating as depicted in FIG. 1 as 23 by means of screen printing on the first pane 19, in order to prevent viewing the bus bar from the outside. The same applies to the interior-side face of the pane 20. As long as the electrochromic coating is applied to the middle pane 21, as shown in FIG. 5, the screen print can be applied either on the inner or the outer sides of the panes 19 or 20.

(40) FIG. 7a depicts a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which depicts a triple insulating glass. In this structure, a spacer with a main body B is incorporated, which corresponds to the spacer depicted in FIG. 3b. The information provided there applies mutatis mutandis.

(41) The insulating glazing comprises a first pane 19, a second pane 20, and a third pane 21, wherein the third pane 21 (inner pane) is arranged between the first and second pane 19, 20 and parallel thereto. The side of the third pane 21 opposite the first pane is partially provided with an electrically switchable and/or electrically conductive coating 1, such as an electrochromic coating, which is contacted by a bus bar 22.

(42) The first pane contact surface 7.1 of the spacer is connected to the first pane 19 via a sealant 4. The second pane contact surface 7.2 of the spacer is connected to the second pane 20 via a sealant 4. The third pane 21 is received in the groove 15 of the spacer. This arrangement forms a first glazing interior 3.1 between the first and third pane and a second glazing interior 3.2 between the first and third pane. Moreover, there is an outer interpane space 13 adjacent the outer surface 9 of the spacer, in which an outer seal is inserted. For reasons of clarity, electrical connection elements and contact elements are not shown; only the electrical connections 17 leading out of the insulating glass are indicated schematically.

(43) The screen panel 12 on the first glazing interior surface 8.1 at the edge toward the first inner lateral surface 7.3 of the spacer and the screen panel 12 on the second glazing interior surface 8.2 at the edge toward the second inner lateral surface 7.4 of the spacer are situated in the vicinity of the bus bar 22 and can largely obscure it.

(44) FIG. 7b depicts a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which depicts a triple insulating glass. This structure is a variant of the structure per FIG. 7a. The only difference consists in that the screen panels do not have a rectangular shape, but, instead, a shape tapering from the bottom to the top. The side of the screen panel that is flush with the first or second inner lateral surface 7.3, 7.4, is planar, whereas the opposite side tapers conically upward. This has advantages in terms of the stability and the production of the spacer in one piece. Furthermore, this can result in even more attractive optics.

(45) FIG. 8a depicts a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which depicts a triple insulating glass. This structure is a variant of the structure per FIG. 7a. The difference consists in that, here, the spacer is designed in two parts relative to the longitudinal direction. A separate spacer end piece 16 is provided for feeding the cabling and is also provided with openings to enable easier routing of the cabling.

(46) FIG. 8b depicts a perspective view of another insulating glazing according to the invention in cross-section, which depicts a triple insulating glass. This structure is a variant of the structure per FIG. 7b. The difference consists in that, here, the spacer is designed in two parts relative to the longitudinal direction. A separate spacer end piece 16 is provided for feeding the cabling and is also provided with openings to enable easier routing of the cabling.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(47) 1 electrically conductive and/or electrically switchable coating 2 electrical contact element 3 glazing interior 3.1 first glazing interior 3.2 second glazing interior 4 sealant 5 spacer 6 outer seal 7.1 first pane contact surface 7.2 second pane contact surface 7.3 first inner lateral surface 7.4 second inner lateral surface 8 glazing interior surface 8.1 first glazing interior surface 8.2 second glazing interior surface 9 outer surface 10 hollow space 11 desiccant 12 screen panel 13 outer interpane space 13.1 first outer interpane space 13.2 second outer interpane space 14 cable or ribbon cable 15 groove 16 spacer end piece 17 electrical connection lines 19 first pane 20 second pane 21 third pane 22 bus bar 23 opaque coating h height of screen panel b width of screen panel,