Transparent material, bird strike protection method

ES 2 635 888 T3

DESCRIPTION

Clear glass, bird strike protection procedure

The invention relates to a transparent glass and a method of protection against bird impact according to the preamble of the independent claims.

It is hardly possible for birds to recognize transparent obstacles and avoid them, since these obstacles are a by-product of modern-day inventions and birds have not adapted to these modified circumstances. Due to this lack of recognition of the obstacles, impacts of birds or the death of the bird and / or the destruction of the crystals frequently occur.

An aid can be created here by providing the glazed surfaces with optically perceptible structures, which is often done in the form of silhouettes of birds of prey, to represent not only a recognizable obstacle, but also still a danger. Figure 1 represents this schematically. On a transparent surface 11 a silhouette 12 is adhered. In this case it is, in general, black sheets and, therefore, not transparent, which are perceived by birds and people. A disadvantage of this solution principle is that transparency as an essential function of glazed surfaces as well as aesthetics is impaired.

Another device for protecting birds is known from DE 199 61 506 A1. There, a transparent substance is applied to the glass, which due to the UV-vision of the birds is better visible to birds than to people. Figure 1B shows the absorption or reflection spectrum of such a known bird protection device. It absorbs or reflects light in the area not visible to man.

Finally, Figure 1C shows schematically a crystal 11 known from the earlier application DE 101 61 336.9, on which a linear structure 14, an elliptical structure 15 and as a special case of the elliptical structure a structure have been applied. 16 circular. The principal dimension designated by H defines in this case the minimum distance of two edges of a structure from each other, that is, for example, the width of lines or the minimum diameter of an ellipse or the diameter of a circle. It can be less than 1 mm or an even smaller limit value.

Furthermore, a safety glass is known, in which electrically connected fine metal wires are embedded. But this serves for the detection of the break with the help of the evaluation of the electrical values ​​(resistance) of the embedded wires.

WO 97/07069 describes self-cleaning glass with certain layers of materials, which are provided with photoactive additives.

DE 19918811 A1 describes safety glass, which is provided with an anti-reflection layer of Si02.

The object of the invention is to indicate a material that can be easily used for protection against bird impact on glass.

This task is solved by the characteristics of the independent claims.

A crystal of a transparent substance is coated with a kind of pattern with a substance, which has in a wavelength range below wavelength 500 a maximum of radiation absorption and / or reflection of the radiation t / o of the scattering of the radiation. The substance is a metallic oxide or has metallic oxide.

A bird protection device can be or have with or in the transparent substance also an optically effective structure, the main dimension of which is less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm, still more preferably less than 0.1 mm, still more preferably less than 0.05 mm.

In the case of linear structures, the width of the line and in the case of elliptical structures the minimum diameter is the main dimension mentioned above. This defines, in general, the minimum distance of two edges of a structure from each other, that is, for example, the width of lines or the minimum diameter of an ellipse or the diameter of a circle. In the case of irregular structures of the spot type, the diameter of a circle of the same surface can be the main dimension. In the case of distributed values, their mean value can be, if necessary, the main dimension.

The optically active structure can have a different refractive index and / or a different transparency to light and / or a different scattering behavior than the transparent substance.

The optically active substance exhibits a regular and / or randomly generated and / or irregular and / or amorphous pattern.

ES 2 635 888 T3

Furthermore, it can be or present glass and / or plastic and / or metal, which is not electrically connected.

The birds' extended wavelength visibility can be exploited through one or more of the following measures:

(1) According to an aspect that does not fall under the patent claims, light in the range of corresponding wavelengths, in particular UV light (wavelength <500 nm, preferably < 450 nm, more preferred <400 nm) actively from corresponding sources, which is then manipulated again by centers of scattering or reflection or absorption in or next to the transparent substance, in such a way that the transparent substance appears as UV-illumination and can thus be recognized as an obstacle. Light can be radiated, for example, from the edge of a crystal (glass) into it and then radiated through it again from the surface. The light source (s) can be applied to the edge of the glass and / or to the frame of the glass.

(2) In the case of double glazing, which includes a fluid, in particular a gas, preferably in a gas-tight manner, according to an aspect that does not fall under the patent claims, the manipulation of light -UV (absorption, reflection) can also be carried out by filling the intermediate space between the double crystals with a fluid, in particular gas with corresponding absorption or reflection properties.

(3) Furthermore, the desired absorption or wavelength-selective reflection behavior can be generated by the evaporation of certain substances on a glass, optionally this again following certain patterns. The substances have one or more metal oxides.

(4) Finally, the desired behavior of absorption or selective reflection of wavelengths can be generated through the non-durable application of these substances on a glass, for example by spraying suitable dissolved substances on a glass and then evaporating the solvent.

UV-manipulation, especially absorption or reflection or radiation, takes place especially in the UV-zone (wavelength <500 nm, preferably <450 nm, more preferably <400 nm) at one or more wavelengths. wave 17 or wavelength zones 18. On the other hand, in the visible area> 500 nm, preferred> 450 nm, more preferred> 400 nm, and wavelength <800 nm) there is little or no reflection or absorption, especially in such a way that the reduction to minimum intensity in the mentioned area is less than 20%, preferred less than 8%, more preferred less than 3%.

The transparent substance provided with the bird protection device can be glass or plastic. This transparent substance is either configured as flat glass, so that the bird protection device is configured or applied on at least one surface of the flat glass, or as multilayer glass, where the bird protection device it can then be provided between at least two layers.

With reference to the drawings, individual embodiments of a bird protection device are described below, which by themselves do not necessarily describe the patented intention. In this case:

Figure 1 shows known bird protection devices.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a fine structure.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment with UV radiation.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment with filling of a volume.

Figure 5 shows a coated embodiment.

A crystal of a transparent material is coated in a pattern with a substance, which has a maximum of radiation absorption and radiation reflection and / or radiation in a wavelength range below 500 nm wavelength. a scattering of radiation. The substance is a metal oxide or has metal oxide.

One technique uses the fact that many birds have a higher visibility resolving ability and in this way, at a given distance, they can optically perceive fine structures, which a person can barely or not optically perceive at all. This is shown schematically in figure 2.

Another technique shown in Figures 3 to 5 uses additionally or instead, in a configuration described below, the fact that many birds have another and especially wider wavelength zone, which they can perceive. This wavelength zone can hardly or cannot be received optically at all by a person. A glass sheet that is prepared correspondingly, will appear in this way to

ES 2 635 888 T3 birds other than transparent and can therefore be recognized as an obstacle.

Figure 2 shows other different embodiments of the structure of a bird protection device, which do not fall by themselves under the patent claims.

FIG. 2A schematically shows a glass sheet 20 in section, in which a countersink has been made as an optically effective structure 21 by means of laser machining. It is represented in section along its principal dimension H. In the case of a linear structure, this can be its width. The countersink may appear, for example, due to its rough background as matte against the surrounding transparent material (glass, plastic), so that it can be perceived by birds.

Figure 2B shows a variation with respect to the embodiment of Figure 2A, in the sense that a countersink has not been made in the (glass) sheet, but only the surface and the rough area have become roughened acts as a matte, so that also in this way a fine line with main dimension H can be generated.

Instead of machining by means of a laser beam, machining can also be carried out with a fine sandblast, which generates optically active structures, as described above.

Figure 2C shows the structures generated in the top plan view. They can be short lines 23 or solid lines 26 or patterns 24, 25 in the form of points or in the form of ellipses. Its parent dimension defined above can meet the conditions mentioned above.

Structures can be machined into glass, for example after fabrication, by suitably guiding a laser beam (path, intensity, speed) onto the glass surface, for example over a mirrored deflection optics or through movement of the laser source itself, to machine the structure (s). This is possible after glazing, so that already fitted glazing can also be "retrofitted" with this type of procedure.

Figure 3 shows a technique of a bird protection device, which takes advantage of the improved visibility of wavelengths of the birds. It shows the section through a (glass) sheet 20, which can be held in a frame 30 indicated schematically with sealing means 35, 36. A lighting installation 31 is provided, which illuminates the glass 20 with a light determined. The wavelength of the light has its intensity maximum preferably below 500 nm, preferably below 450 nm, preferably below 400 nm. It is predominantly or exclusively UV-light. The lighting installation can be UV-lamps and / or UV-LEDs. Correspondingly, electrical connections 34, etc. are present.

By illuminating a crystal 20 of a transparent material with light having a length of a wavelength as described above, or below 500 nm, a procedure for preventing bird strike results in this way. transparent crystals. The light source can be arranged in such a way that the light strikes only in the area of ​​the edge 33 (in particular, distance to the edge &lt;10% of the dimension to the opposite edge) of the pane 20 or in an area of ​​the pane perpendicular to the glass, or in such a way that the light is radiated predominantly at an angle.

Light can also be radiated - as shown - from edge 32 of the crystal on the crystal. The glass may have been provided in advance, for example already during manufacture, with scattering centers 37, which scatter the irradiated light in particular or predominantly and exclusively. Therefore, in this respect also a transparent glass 29 with a lighting fixture 31, arranged at the edge of the glass, for illuminating the glass with light, as described above, is part of the invention. The same applies for a glass 20 with scattering centers 37 effective for UV light and for a window or a door with a transparent glass 20 and a frame 30, which surrounds the glass completely or in sections, and with a lighting installation 31 described above, preferably arranged together or in the frame. Also a frame only for a transparent glass with a lighting installation 31 described above is part of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a technique of a bird protection device in section. It has a double pane 20 (for example insulated pane) with two panes 40a, 40b and a space 41 between them, which can be closed gas-tight. It contains a fluid, preferably a gas, which absorbs and / or reflects light of certain wavelengths. The reflection or absorption curve of the fluid has its maximum preferably below 500 nm, preferably below 450 nm, more preferably below 400 nm, in particular in the UV-zone. The fluid may also have liquid droplets, which have the mentioned properties. The droplets can appear naturally or can be generated through a suitable installation, for example ultrasound installation, for example piezoelectric.

ES 2 635 888 T3

The crystal 20 of a transparent material is covered in sections, as shown schematically in Figure 5, with a metal oxide 50 that absorbs and / or reflects and / or scatters wavelengths and / or wavelength zones , as mentioned above, and essentially does not influence other wavelength ranges. The application is made with a certain pattern. It can be provided on one of the two surfaces of a pane or on both. In the case of double glazing, it can be provided on the inside of one or both of the glazing.

Instead of a fixedly applied reflection or absorption layer, bird strike prevention can be performed on transparent glass 20 also by repeatedly applying a non-durable substance to the glass, as mentioned above, which absorbs and / or reflects and / or scatters wavelengths, as mentioned above. The substance can be applied with a solvent, which evaporates after application. It can be provided in a window cleaning agent or separate from it, but in the latter case it can be provided and can be sold as a package with a conventional cleaning agent.

In general, the zone of visible light for man is approximately between 400 and 800 nm. Above is the infrared (IR) zone, below the ultraviolet (UV) zone. The wavelength selectivities described above in absorption, reflection, emission or scattering can have a line or a zone maximum, particularly in the wavelength zone between 50 and 450 nm. Such characteristics excite the UV-visibility of birds, so that the (glass) sheet treated in this way appears darker-UV or lighter-UV to birds and thus becomes visible. Preferably, the absorption line and / or the maximum is in the range of wavelengths between 420 and 200 nm, more preferably between 420 and 360 nm. Several absorption lines or absorption maxima can also be provided, as indicated above, these can then be on different wavelengths in the areas mentioned above. If appropriate, the absorption lines or absorption maxima can also be in the infrared range, there for example in the range of wavelengths between 750 and 3000 nm, preferably between 780 and 1500 nm.

The bird protection device is attached in a certain pattern on the transparent material. If a pattern is foreseen, it may, however, be the silhouette of a predator. It can also be other patterns, for example a stripe, grid, dots or the like. In such embodiments, then these patterns are optically better perceptible to at least one type of bird than to a man. In particular, they would not be noticeable or barely noticeable to men.

When it speaks of perception by birds or men, it can refer to average values. If a bird protection device has been described as not optically perceptible, this can be understood as a reduction in intensity in the zone visible to man of less than 5%, preferably less than 1%. If we speak of a barely perceptible bird protection device, this can be understood as a reduction in intensity in the visible area of ​​less than 20%, preferably less than 10%. The visible zone can be considered here to extend from 400 nm to 800 nm.

Preferably, in the consideration of absorption and reflection capacity relative values ​​(eg%, dB) are used.

In a technique of a bird protection device, the device can have several optically active structures, which extend parallel to each other, with a distance from each other less than 10 cm, preferably less than 3 cm, more preferably less than 1 cm, still more preferred less than 1mm, more preferred less than 0.5mm.

In another technique, first optically active structures extending parallel to each other, with the aforementioned distance, may intersect with second optical structures extending parallel to each other, with the aforementioned distance, preferably at a right angle. The main dimension of the optically active structure can in this case be, as mentioned above.