Continuous flexible spacer assembly in the shape of a ribbed tube

This invention relates to a combined spacing and sealing assembly, which can be used in particular for the manufacture of laminated elements for thermal insulation, for example windows.

In general, the process of mounting a window assembly involves placing one sheet of glass structure over another, in a fixed spacing ratio, and then injecting a sealing composition into the space between the two glass structures, at and along the two glass structures, thus forming a superimposed structure which has a sealed air bag between the respective structures. In practice, window structures usually include glass, but they can also be made of plastic. To keep the glass structures adequately spaced, a spacer is often inserted between the two structures to maintain a proper distance, while injecting a sealing composition at the respective spot. The spacer and sealing bar can also be prefabricated in the form of an insulated assembly and, after manufacture, are placed in the space between the glass structures to form a window structure.

Often, as a result of the manufacturing process of the window assembly, organic materials and moisture are trapped inside the sealed air space. In order to minimize the effects of moisture and organic matter trapped in the air bag, dehydration agents can be used as an environment designed to absorb these elements. However, typically, at least a certain amount of humidity will enter the respective air bag, during the period of time when the window assembly is in operation. This use of dehydrating agents keeps the moisture concentration low and thus prevents the respective humidity from condensing and steaming the inner surface of the glass sheets when the window assembly is in operation. Dehydration agents may be incorporated into the spacer bar, sealant or the whole assembly, when said sealant / spacer assembly is a single component. An additional amount of dehydration agents, in addition to the amount required to absorb the contents. Of initial moisture, is introduced into the spacer / sealant assembly, in order to absorb the additional moisture that enters the window assembly during the operating period.

The thermal conductivity on the edge of the window assemblies is typically higher than in the center of it because the thermal energy will pass less easily from one glass structure to another glass structure through the air contained in the airtight bag, than through the materials that make up the sealing / spacer assemblies, known in the art.

The various practices of the prior art, applied to the manufacture of windows, are laborious, involve a large consumption of labor and require expensive equipment. An answer to the disadvantages analyzed above is provided by the patent US 4431691, granted to Greenlee, in which there is presented a spacing and sealing tape having a spacing means, folded or contoured, to maintain the relative distance under the compression of the sheets. glass, wherein said strip comprises a folded or contoured spacer, incorporated or wrapped in a deformable sealing substance. This spacer strip has the advantage that it is flexible in the direction of the longitudinal axis, to allow it to be rolled for storage. Thus, Greenlee's assembly is an isolated component in which the sealant contains the dehydrating agent.

while Greenlee's assembly addresses some of the disadvantages presented above, it does not provide a tangential line of sight, since the window assembly is built, and this occurs because of the corrugations in that distance after the glass structure is compressed on its mounting position. Target line in one

EN 122158 Β1 window represents that portion of the spacer / sealing assembly which is seen through 1 sheets of glass but is not in contact with these sheets. This tangential targeting line is desirable to improve the aesthetic parameters of the installed windows. Also, solution 3 disclosed by Greenlee uses large quantities of sealing material, necessary for the spacing of the spacer, and the folded assembly can be stretched during application, as well as along the 5 longitudinal axis. This stretch can also lead to problems maintaining a flat line of sight. 7

Thus, there remains the need to ensure a continuous, improved spacing assembly, which eliminates the longitudinal extension and allows a window with a smooth line of sight to be produced more easily. Moreover, it is desirable that such a spacing assembly continues to provide structural stability and the benefits of Greenlee's 11 construction. It is also intended that such an assembly allows a narrower radius when the spacing assembly is bent at the corners. 13

Thus, the spacer assembly, according to the present invention, provides advantages by eliminating the amount of sealing material required, while maintaining the performance of the spacer 15 and spacer; the tendency of elongation of the material along its longitudinal axis is eliminated; the thermal conductivity of the insulated window structure is reduced by reducing the thermal conductivity of the remote assembly 17 and the necessary capacity to form tighter corners is ensured. 19

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing and spacing assembly, rollable for easy storage, distribution and application on laminated structures 21 such as glass assemblies.

WO 97/06332 A2 discloses a flexible spacer assembly, in accordance with the preamble of independent claim 1.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a spacer assembly is provided comprising a flexible spacer, with the cross-section varying repetitively along the longitudinal axis, and an adhesive sealing material, which encapsulates at least partially 27 the flexible spacer, characterized in that the flexible spacer is a ribbed tube. 29 according to a second aspect of the present invention, a window is provided comprising: 31

- a flexible spacer, which is tubular and has a variable cross-section repeatedly along the longitudinal axis; 33

- an adhesive sealing material which encapsulates at least partially the flexible spacer and which has a first surface coupled with a first glass structure and a second surface 35 coupled with a second glass structure, opposite the first surface;

- a wet vapor barrier, which is joined with said adhesive sealing material 37 and / or with said flexible spacer; and

- a top coat containing a dehydrating agent, which is joined 39 with said adhesive sealing material.

Advantageous embodiments of the spacer assembly and respectively the window 41 according to the invention are set out in the attached claims, appended.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following 43 detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings, which represent:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts in the section, showing an example of a window made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plan view of a ribbed or corrugated tube according to an embodiment of the present invention;

RO 122158 Β1

- Fig. 2A, a horizontal plan view of a ribbed or corrugated tube, bent in a corner-type configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3, a cross section of the spacer assembly from the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts in the section showing another embodiment of a window made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal plan view of a ribbed or corrugated tube according to the example of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5A, a horizontal plan view of a ribbed or corrugated tube according to the example in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, a cross-section of the spacer assembly from the embodiment according to FIG. 4.

Referring now to the attached drawings, it can be seen that FIG. 1 illustrates a combined structure 10, for example a window, but not limited to it, comprising a first element 12 and a second element 14, having surfaces generally parallel to each other. Elements 12.14 are generally glass structures, for example, glass mesh. The glass structures 12, 14 are joined together to form a closed space 16 which is sealed by means of a combined band structure, namely the spacer / sealing assembly 18, which includes a sealing material 20, which covers the slightly spacer 22. The structures 12, 14, as illustrated, are made of glass. It should be appreciated that the invention has applicability in the sphere of an unrestricted range of construction or structural materials, including, for example, cement, concrete, brick, stone, metals, plastics and wood.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and 4, for the purposes of this patent, interior means oriented to the space 16, air, sealed, of the window assembly 10. Also, FIG. 3 and 6 illustrate the orientation of the x, y and z axes.

In one embodiment, according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it can be seen that the invention comprises a spacer tube 22 and a sealing material 20, adhesive. In another embodiment, a wet vapor barrier 24 is provided inside the sealing material 20, adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the tube 22 is encapsulated at least partially by means of the adhesive sealing material 20, provided with a moisture vapor barrier 24 carried inside the respective adhesive sealing material 20. Adhesive sealing material 20 may also contain a dehydrating agent. The present invention may also include a top cover 26, made to adhere to an interior facing surface of the adhesive material 20. the upper shell 26 actually runs along the line of sight and is often used to improve the aesthetic appearance of the window assembly 10, while also containing a dehydrating agent. the upper casing 26 may contain a dehydrating agent or, alternatively, both the sealing material, adhesive and the upper casing 26 may contain a dehydrating agent.

The spacer 22 represents an elongated structure that can be bent to form a corner and has a cross-section that repeatedly repeats along the longitudinal axis of the elongated structure. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer 22 is a tube. As shown in FIG. 1,2,4, 5 and 6, the spacer tube 22 is preferably corrugated or ribbed, ie having grooves and ridges at least on its outer surface. For the purposes of this patent application, the terms ribbed or wavy may be used interchangeably. Also, a person skilled in the art will readily understand that an inner surface of the ribbed tube may have a surface, either smooth, ribbed or an alternating combination of the two.

RO 122158 Β1

The ribs 28 of the tube 22 help form the corners, allowing greater flexibility when applying a bending force to the tube 22, while eliminating the looping of the tube.

Thus, the outer dimension of the area of ​​a cross-section of the tube 22 remains effectively 3 the same when a corner is formed. Also, the ribs 28 of the tube 22, corrugated, may help to maintain the corner shape once the tube 22 is bent in that position. However, it is considered that a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other types of tube can be used within the present invention. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area 7 of the spacer 22 is the one that varies repetitively along a longitudinal axis. An annular configuration is a common one for a spacer 22, which has such a cross-sectional area. An annular configuration will typically have ribs 28, at least partially circumferential. Fig. 2 and 2A illustrate 11 an embodiment of the present tube having differing rib size and rib-free portions of the tube. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that 13 such different rib configurations can be used to make a tube that bends more easily into the corners. Furthermore, differently configured ribs can be used as locking ribs.

In another embodiment, namely, the circular section is one that varies repetitively along the longitudinal axis. A helical configuration is typical for a spacer 22 having such a cross-section. A helical configuration will typically have a single rib that rotates around the spacer over its entire length. A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other 21 rib configurations 28 may still be a helical configuration.

Fig. 4-6 illustrate embodiments according to the present invention, having a spacer 23 with cross-section configuration, generally rectangular. However, a skilled person in this field will readily appreciate that in fact any polygonal configuration, 25 of regular or irregular shape, can be used, as well as any combination of straight lines and arcs that give rise to a closed figure. As illustrated in Fig. 4, while the cross-sectional configuration is generally rectangular, the corners are slightly inclined giving this example an eight-sided cross-section, which in general is rectangular.

The ribbed tube 22 can have any closed configuration in cross section, 31 including circular, round, oval, elliptical, rectangular or polygonal, but not limited to them. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment having a generally circular section 33. Also, the example in FIG. 3, as best seen in FIG. 2 and 2A, show individual ribs 28 that extend around the entire cross section. In this embodiment, the ribs 28 are preferably annular.

In a further embodiment, according to the present invention, the ribs 28 of 37 of a corrugated tube 22 extend only partially around the tube 22. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the ribs 28 generally extend only around a three sides of a tube 22, wavy, 39 generally configured in rectangular form. In FIG. 5A, the surface free of ribs, the surface 32 of the sight line is preferably the surface of the sight line, oriented towards 41 inside the window assembly. In addition, the adhesive sealing material and / or the top cover may be removed from this surface. This allows the smooth surface 43 of the corrugated, rectangular tube 22 to provide the desired smooth line of sight. When the sealing material 20, the adhesive, and the cover 26 above, are removed, it is preferable that the dehydrating agent 45 be contained in the material forming the tube 22.

RO 122158 Β1

The ribbed tube 22 can be constructed of any suitable material, including plastics, elastomers, metals, paper pulp or thin sheets in the form of any combination of these materials. The ribbed tube 22 can be formed by any variety of well-known methods, including continuous casting or blowing. The ribbed tube 22 may also include reinforcing wires.

Due to the ribbed construction, the tube 22 is resistant to crushing, ie it is able to withstand forces that tend to reduce the space between the glass structures during use.

Moisture vapor barrier 24 can be made of aluminum foil, plastic material, thin sheets of plastic material, paper / foil, metallic plastic material or any combination of the above with a thin sheet of plastic / aluminum material. be preferred. In other applications, the wet vapor barrier 24 can be chosen for different barrier properties in relation to the type of application desired. For example, the vapor barrier 24 may be chosen to maintain the present concentration of a gas contained within the sealed air space of the composite structure.

The wet vapor barrier 24 may be joined to the ribbed tube 22, and may also come into contact with the sealing material, adhesive, and / or the upper casing 26, may be incorporated into the material 20, by sealing, adhesive, without coming into contact with the tube 22, ribbed, or it may be made to adhere to the inner facing surface of the sealing material 20, having the cover 26, from above, joined to the inner surface of the barrier 24, by wet vapors. The vapor barrier 24 may be joined to the corrugated tube 22 by any suitable means, for example through welding, thermal fusion or adhesives.

The sealing material 20 may subsequently be applied to the tube 22, ribbed, whether or not a barrier 24 is provided, of wet vapors, for example by immersion, brushing, injection or extrusion of the sealing material that joins the surfaces. of the ribbed tube. A dehydrating agent is preferably carried in the sealing material, and the sealing material / dehydrating agent is applied in a single phase to the surfaces that are joined to the sealing material and to the inner surface of the spacer 22.

The sealing material 20 seals the gap between the tube 22 and the structures 12.14, with glass. The connection formed between the spacer / sealing material and the glass structure is referred to as the connecting line. Thus, at least two ribbed sealing surfaces of the tube 22, ribbed, include strips of sealing material, which extend longitudinally and come into contact with the structure provided by the glass, obtaining a connection line.

The appropriate dimensions of the assembly 18, spacer / sealing material, will depend on the construction of the window, they having a length which generally corresponds to the length of the perimeter of the window. The width, ie the z direction, generally corresponds to the space between the respective elements, to which is added the adhesive sealing material 20. The ribbed tube 22 will, however, often be smaller than the desired distance between the glass structures 12.14. When the sealing material 20 is added to the ribbed tube 22, then a width greater than the desired distance is made. The desired distance is obtained during manufacture, when the glass structures 12.14 are pressed together to obtain the desired final distance. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be manufactured to continuous lengths, for any desired length, while obtaining flexibility for any application.

The term deformable, as used herein, is intended to characterize a sealing material 20, which, regardless of whether it refers to a thermoplastic, thermorigid or thermoplastic-thermorigid material, which, when used in the manufacture of composite structures for example, he is, at least at first, unable to withstand forces

RO 122158 Β1 deformation exerted on it. In this way, the term deformed is meant to 1 characterize a material that resists deformation or flow under the action of reduced forces applied on the window assembly 10, during the service life, but is slightly 3 deformable under the action of larger forces. that appear during the manufacture of a 10 window assembly. 5

A wide range of materials can be used as a basis for the adhesive material, including polysulfide polymers, urethane polymers, acrylic polymers and butadiene-styrene polymers. 7

Included among the latter are a series of thermoplastic resins, which form a class, which under the flow temperature manifest elastic properties of vulcanized polymers. Thus 9 resins are sold by Shell Chemical Co. under the brand name Kraton. A preferred class of sealing materials 20 is that of butyl rubber. However, the sealing material 20, 11 is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive. If a coating is applied to the top, said coating 26 is preferably a deformable material, loaded with 13 dehydrating agent.

Often, as stated above, window assemblies 10 require a 15 dehydrating agent to reduce the concentration of moisture and organic materials in the air space between the two window structures 12, 14 of window assembly 10. Conveniently, according to the present invention, the dehydrating agent may be incorporated into the sealing, adhesive, deformable material 20 and may be applied to the inner face of the sealing material 20 or, alternatively, a different material, which contains dehydrating agent, can be used and co-extruded or otherwise applied to the target line of the 21-spacing means. A particularly suitable class of dehydrating agent is a synthetic crystalline zeolite produced and sold by UOP Corporation as 23 Molecular Sieves. Another dehydrating agent that can be used is silica gel. Combinations of different dehydrating agents are also envisaged. 25 The sealing and spacing assembly is then passed through a calibration mold to obtain a sealing material and a spacer having the desired outer dimensions 27 and the appropriate thickness of the sealing material extending beyond the spacer 22. , the assembly 18 made of sealing and spacer material, according to 29 of the present invention, is rollable (coilable) for easy storage and rapid distribution during application. A liner or loose paper is contacted longitudinally, in the direction of the line of sight, for easy rolling (winding). When the assembly 30, sealing / spacing is applied to form a window assembly 10, the release lining is removed 33 and discarded.

In one embodiment, the ribbed tube 22 is fabricated and then wrapped either 35 completely or partially with adhesive, sealing material 20. the casing 26 above may also be applied simultaneously with the sealing material 20, or thereafter, if desired. 37 While the patent description discloses the best embodiment and a preferred embodiment, the scope of the invention is not limited to 39 but is determined by the appended claims.