EP0060202A2 - Multiple glazing with plastic joints - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to multiple glazing with plastic seals. To reduce the cost of manufacturing such glazing, it proposes to let the plastic material of the outer seal polymerize alone at room temperature, while the glazing is stored in stacks, provided that the spacers of the type staples, thumbtacks or coils of spring, capable of maintaining the distance between the sheets of glass while waiting for the polymerization, but not disturbing the normal functioning of the seals when the polymerization is acquired. The invention makes it possible not to alter the aesthetics of the seals, their sealing and elasticity properties.

Description

The present invention relates to multiple glazing with plastic seals.

Such multiple glazing with plastic seals are known from French patent publications No. 1,439,844, 1,527,165, 2,211,413, 2,287,278, 2,288,069, 2,294,314, 2,294,313, 2,294,140 , 2 317 465. They consist of several sheets of glass arranged parallel to one another, separated from each other by a peripheral plastic intermediate cord and held together by an external assembly joint also made of plastic. The intermediate cord may be a mixture of butyl rubber and polyisobutylene, and the assembly joint may be of polysulfide. To manufacture such multiple glazing, double glazing for example, we proceed as follows: the intermediate bead is deposited over the entire periphery of a first sheet of glass, the two ends of the bead are joined together to ensure the continuity of this intermediate bead , we apply on this bead, parallel to the first sheet, a second sheet of glass, we press lightly, we inject between the edges of the glass sheets thus separated, outside the interlayer bead, on the entire periphery, the putty of the assembly joint, the glazing thus formed is introduced into an oven and allowed to remain there until polymerization of the sealant of the assembly joint. At the exit of the oven, the multiple glazing is finished.

The glazing obtained is of good quality, the intermediate cord and the outer seal are perfectly bonded to each other on the one hand and to the glass sheets on the other hand, and they complement each other to ensure perfect sealing of the enclosed air space and good resistance to compression, qualities which keep well with aging.

In addition, these plastic seals give the glazing flexibility and elasticity which results in a capa cited of said glazing to collect significant stresses, even poorly distributed, to withstand vibrations and to accept deformations due for example to expansion.

But the manufacture of such glazing is expensive. First of all, the polysulphide polymerization oven represents a significant investment, it consumes energy and a certain number of glass breakages occur there. Then, the polysulphide used must be rapidly polymerized to limit the residence time in the oven and so that, as soon as they leave, the glazing produced has sufficient compressive strength to be able to be stored stacked. This fast-curing polysulfide is also expensive.

To reduce these manufacturing costs, it is possible to omit the polymerization oven, use a polysulphide with a non-accelerated polymerization time, provided that the spacers are incorporated into the glazing, at least during the polymerization time. will keep the glass sheets separate until the polysulfide is polymerized and thus capable of playing its role. To do this, it would be possible to place, on the edge of the glazing units manufactured, the polysulphide of which is not yet polymerized, only during the time of polymerization, spacers in a rigid material, having, straightened outside their main plane intended to be pressed against the edge of the glazing of the tongues of the width of the space between the glass sheets, intended to be inserted between said glass sheets. However, such spacer jumpers require a double operation of positioning, then of removal.

It would also be possible, as described in US Pat. No. 3,940,898, to incorporate rigid spacers into the glazings, formed from a cylindrical head with a diameter equal to the distance between the sheets of glass and from a narrower, anchored portion. in the joint sealant. These spacers effectively guarantee the spacing of the glass sheets while waiting for the joint sealant to cure, but when the cure is made, they remain in place and constitute a nuisance. Indeed, on the one hand they are visible and unsightly, and on the other hand they remove all the flexibility of the glazing.

To preserve the flexibility of the glazing provided by the plastic seals, as described in US Pat. No. 2,275,812, rubber blocks could be used as spacers drowned in the sealants of the joints. But these rubber blocks are relatively large, so that they cause protrusions of the joints towards the interior of the glazing, protrusions which are unsightly, and that they introduce within the mastics air bubbles which are detrimental to the good sealant putty one on the other and on the glass sheets.

The present invention aims to reduce the manufacturing costs of multiple glazing with plastic seals and more particularly of glazing comprising a polysulfide seal, by eliminating in the production line of said glazing, the polymerization oven, by using a polysulfide and generally plastics polymerizing at room temperature, with non-accelerated speed, therefore less expensive, but by introducing into said glazing, at the time of their manufacture, spacers of low cost, which preserve the qualities of glazing with joints made of plastics, intended to maintain the spacing between the glass sheets until the polymerization is done.

For this, it proposes to introduce in a standing position, in the plastic seals, a reduced number of spacers, practically without thickness, of height equal to the spacing between the glass sheets, of short length compared to dimensions of the glazing, having a sufficient crushing resistance to maintain the spacing between the glass sheets, as long as the joint or joints are not polymerized, but nevertheless deformable under high pressures.

Each spacer is in contact with each glass sheet of the glazing by a reduced number of points, and preferably by only one or two points, so as to preserve the flexibility of the glazing and the ability to absorb vibrations and deformations.

In a first embodiment, these spacers are staples embedded in the plastics of the legs, arranged in said plastics so that the joints of said staples are perpendicular to the plane of the glass sheets.

Advantageously, there is then provided an intermediate cord having on the outside, a tongue, in which the staples are stitched; they thus remain perfectly in place pending the application of the second glass sheet and the injection of the assembly putty. These staples can be put in place by an automatic staple gun, located immediately after the installation of the interlayer bead on the first sheet of glass, said gun advantageously being controlled by a logic system.

In a second embodiment, these spacers are push pins with a crown head and preferably a plurality of points, said push pins being stitched laterally in the joints and being advantageously placed pressed against and between the two joints.

In another alternative embodiment, these spacers are spring turns with an axis parallel to the glass sheets.

These spacers are in small numbers, with reduced overall dimensions, practically without thickness, with limited crushing resistance, so that they do not modify the characteristics of the finished glazings, in particular the characteristics of flexibility, tightness and appearance.

Advantageously, each spacer will have a sufficiently low crush resistance to be able to deform under a reduced weight which will not be greater than 3 kg.

• - Figure 1 : une coupe d'un vitrage à joints doubles en matières plastiques,
• - Figure 2 : une vue schématique éclatée en perspective d'une portion de vitrage double comportant des agrafes,
• - Figures 3A et 3B : deux modèles d'agrafes utilisables,
• - Figure 4 : un schéma illustrant la mise en place des agrafes dans le renflement latéral du cordon intercalaire,
• - Figure 5 : un schéma montrant la section modifiée du cordon intercalaire et la position des agrafes,
• - Figure 6 : une punaise utilisable comme pièce d'espacement,
• - Figure 7 : un schéma illustrant la position d'une punaise à l'interface des deux joints,
• - Figure 8 : un ressort disposé entre deux feuilles de verre et pouvant servir de pièce d'écartement.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures which represent:

• - Figure 1: a section of a glazing with double plastic seals,
• - Figure 2: a schematic exploded perspective view of a portion of double glazing comprising clips,
• - Figures 3A and 3B: two models of staples that can be used,
• - Figure 4: a diagram illustrating the installation of the staples in the lateral bulge of the intermediate cord,
• - Figure 5: a diagram showing the modified section of the intermediate cord and the position of the staples,
• - Figure 6: a pushpin usable as a spacer,
• - Figure 7: a diagram illustrating the position of a pushpin at the interface of the two seals,
• - Figure 8: a spring arranged between two sheets of glass and which can serve as a spacer.

Figure 1 shows in section a double glazing gaskets my _- Plastic C on which the invention is particularly suitable. This glazing consists of two sheets of glass 1 and 2 kept assembled at a certain distance from each other by peripheral seals, namely an intermediate bead 3 and an outer seal 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the spacers are staples 5 in the shape of a U, with legs whose height is equal to the spacing between the sheets of the glass of the multiple glazing. These clips 5 are arranged upright between the two sheets of glass, preferably parallel to their sides and at the interface of the intermediate bead 3 and the outer seal 4, to remain invisible, to remain protected from corrosion by the seals and to avoid to alter said seals in their shape, their properties or their functions.

By way of example, these staples may have one of the shapes shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, namely a general U shape with two legs 6 and 7 and a bridge 8 connecting them, preferably of short length, or even better in rounded form to have only a reduced number of contact points or even a single point. contact with the glass sheets. This preserves the flexibility of the glazing and the possibilities of movement of the glass sheets relative to each other so that vibrations, poorly distributed stresses, deformations due for example to expansions during sun exposure continue to be well cashed, without breaking the glass sheets and without detaching the seals. These staples will have sufficient crushing resistance to keep the glass sheets 1 and 2 apart, even in the case of storage in a stack, pending the polymerization of the outer seal 4.

This resistance may be relatively low since during this short period when the seal 4 does not play any role in terms of maintaining the glass sheets 1 and 2, the intermediate cord 3 is in its final state, and that it opposes then some resistance to crushing. The staples 5 therefore constitute only a supplement during this short period which follows the manufacture. Thus each clip 5 must be deformable under a load of the order of a kilo or which must not exceed 3 kg.

When the joint 4 is polymerized and able to play its role and the staples 5 are no longer useful, they will nevertheless not constitute a discomfort because care will have been taken to put only a reduced number of them, because '' they are compact and therefore do not change the shape and appearance of the seals 3 and 4 and do not introduce air bubbles likely to lead to the separation of said seals, because they have practically no thickness and can thus tilt trapped between the two seals 3 and 4 if necessary instead of rubbing on the glass sheets as could make the spacers of the prior art, and finally because they can deform if necessary by folding their legs 6 and 7 or by flattening their bridge 8 when the latter is rounded to leave the joints 3 and 4 freedom to play their role without hindrance.

There will thus be at least one clip 5 per side of glazing, but given their low cost, the absence of disturbance which they introduce into the seals it will not be embarrassing to put a little more up to one every 15 cm. However, the number of staples per glazing and the resistance of each staple may be adapted to the type of manufacture of the glazing and to the method of stacking the glazing, the main thing being that the glazing after manufacture, before polymerization of the outer seal 4, can be handled and stored without crushing their internal space and that after polymerization of said seal, the staples do not alter the "flexibility" of the glazing, the seals 3 and 4 then being sufficient to maintain the consistency of the thickness of this internal space.

To manufacture a double glazing with clips 5 maintaining the spacing between the glass sheets 1 and 2 while waiting for the polymerization of the sealant of the outer seal 4, the procedure is carried out as described below.

First place the intermediate bead 3 over the entire periphery of a first sheet of glass, for example sheet 1, then place the staples 5, step by step along the bead 3, against its outer side , a second sheet of glass is applied, for example sheet 2, parallel to the first on the bead 3, the sealant of the outer seal 4 is pressed and injected between the edges of the two glass sheets, outside the bead interlayer 3. After injection of the sealant of the joint 4, the staples are well kept upright and they can therefore fully play their role. Small dimensions, they do not alter the properties of the seals and put in place after the intermediate bead and before the joint 4, during a completely separate step of the beading of the bead 3 and the injection of the joint 4, they do not interfere neither sausage, nor injection. To better ensure that the staples stand upright before injecting the sealant 4 and prevent their displacement during said injection, they can be stitched into the bulge of the outer edge of the intermediate cord 3 during their installation, as shown in FIG. 4 But by pricking them well, there is a risk of deforming the cord 3, of crushing it step by step which could lead to a reduction in the tightness of the glazing, there is also a risk during pressing of the glazing before the injection of the seal 4, of seeing them lie down, which would deprive them of all utility.

This is why it is preferred to slightly modify the shape of the section of the intermediate cord 3, to add to it as shown in FIG. 5 over its entire length, preferably on the side facing outwards from the glazing and intended to be in contact with the seal. outside 4, a slight protuberance, or tab 20 in which the staples 5 will be stitched.

Thus the essential portion of the cord 3, which provides the seal between the glass sheets is absolutely not injured by the stitching of the staples 5 and it can deform during pressing without modifying the orientation of the tongue 20 and at the same time staple time 5.

This particular shape is obtained from the section of the intermediate cord 3 by giving the nozzle of the extruder which produces it an appropriate shape.

The staples can be put in place using a pneumatic stapler, preferably automatic, placed after the cord extrusion device 3.

Advantageously, this stapler is fixed to the head of the extruder, so when in the corners of the glazing, the glazing on the one hand and the extruder head on the other hand are raised to facilitate the laying of the cord and the rotation of the glazing ( see French patent publication no. 2 294 140 already mentioned) the stapler is also lifted at the same time as the extruder and therefore does not hinder the movements of the glazing.

Advantageously, the triggering of the stapler is controlled by means of a logic system. A cell for detecting the presence of glazing normally exists in a multiple glazing production line, just before the extruder (see French publication No. 2,294,140). On the arrival of a sheet of glass, possibly with a certain adjustable delay thanks to a timer relay to take account of the cell-nozzle distance of the extruder and the speed of movement of the glass sheets, this cell triggers the extrusion; it interrupts the passage of the rear edge of the glass sheet, possibly with a certain delay. This same cell can in the same way initiate the operation of the system logic that controls the stapler, another timer relay then being inserted between the cell and the logic system to adjust the start of stapling according to the position of the cell and the stapler and the speed of movement of the glass .

In another embodiment, a detection cell, independent of that which controls the extrusion, can be specially provided for controlling stapling. The logic system can be designed to operate the stapler at regular time intervals, for example every 1/2 seconds, which corresponds to a staple every 15 cm in the case where the sheets of glass run at 30 cm / second.

The logic system is designed to stop stapling while the glazing is stopped during rotation operations.

Thanks to the adjustment, either of the time delay between the cell and the logic system, or of the cell-stapler distance, the position of the first staple is determined on each side of the glazing.

You can also program the logic system so that a staple is emitted just before each corner of the glazing, even if the distance or the time elapsed since the installation of the previous staple is less than the preset stapling frequency.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, the spacers are thumbtacks 9 with a circular head 10, hollowed out in its center, so as to resemble a crown, practically without thickness, of diameter equal to l 'desired spacing between the glass sheets 1 and 2, and with points such as 11, for example three in number, perpendicular to the head 10, of sufficient length to allow a stitching in the thickness of the joints 3 or 4, but despite everything less than the thickness of said joints 3 or 4. Thus a length of the order of 2 mm will be very suitable when the thickness of the joints 3 or 4 is of the order of 3 or 4 mm.

As shown in FIG. 7, these thumbtacks 9 will be stitched laterally in the thickness of the intermediate cord 3 by their points 11, then then covered with the sealant of the joint 4.

Thus stitched into the bead 3 they will remain in place pending the installation of the second glass sheet, the injection of the sealant 4 and then the polymerization of the said sealant.

Although more difficult to implement, the installation with points 11 facing outward from the glazing, or even the installation of a simple head 10 of thumbtack 9 without points can be practiced. It suits then, to keep said thumbtack 9 or the simple head 10 upright, heat it before being put in place so that it adheres to the intermediate cord 3.

These thumbtacks 9 will have the same resistance to deformation as the staples 5, and under load they can mainly deform by ovalization.

They can be put in place with the same frequency as staples 5. They can be placed by hand, or preferably with an automatic machine, stitching or tacking them laterally on the cord, machine of the same type and ordered by the same way that the automatic stapler.

In another alternative embodiment illustrated by FIG. 8, the spacers are coiled spring turns 12, arranged in the joints 3 and 4 with the axis 13 of the spring parallel to the plane of the glass sheets.

One to two turns of such a spring 12, heated and then pressed laterally against the intermediate cord 3, embedded in the sealant of the joint 4 play the same role as a staple 5 or a push pin 10.

The resistance to crushing of these spring turns in the direction perpendicular to the axis 13 must be of the same order of magnitude as that of the staples or push pins.

Thus equipped with spacers, multiple glazing with plastic seals can be handled and stacked as soon as they are manufactured, even before the polymerization of said plastics without damage and without altering the future qualities and the planned dimensions of said glazing.

The spacers may remain in the glazing after polymerization of the plastics of the joints, they will no longer be useful, but they will not alter the qualities of the glazing either.

The invention has been described by taking as an example multiple glazing having two seals in two different plastics, namely one being a mixture of butyl rubber and polyisobutylene, the other being polysulfide, but it also applies in the case of glazing having a single joint or having more than two joints, whatever the nature of the plastic material which constitutes each joint.

We have planned to fix the spacers in the joint 3, that is to say in one which has definitive properties as soon as it is put in place.

But supposing that it is the joint 4 which has these final properties, and the joint 3 which requires a certain time before it can play its role, it would then be advisable to fix the spacers in the joint which would have, from the start, final properties, i.e. joint 4.

Claims (17)

1. Multiple glazing consisting of glass sheets (1 and 2) assembled at a certain distance from each other by plastic seals, comprising spacers (5, 9, 12) of height equal to the distance between the glass sheets inserted between the glass sheets and embedded in the joints, characterized in that each spacer (5, 9, 12) is a practically thicknessless piece, of reduced length compared to the dimensions of the glazing , deformable in the direction of its height under a load of maximum 3 kg. 2. Glazing according to claim 1, characterized in that a spacer (5, _9,. 12) is deformable under a load of about 1 kg. 3. Glazing according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacers (5, 9, 12) have their plane parallel to the edge of the glazing near which they are placed. 4. Glazing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers (5, 9, 12) have a reduced number of points of contact with each glass sheet, preferably one or two. 5. Glazing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seals being two in number, an intermediate bead (3) surrounded by an outer seal (4), the spacers (5, 9, 12) are arranged at the interface of the two seals (3 and 4.) 6. Glazing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacers are staples (5) U-shaped stitched perpendicular to the planes of the glass sheets. 7. Glazing according to claim 6, characterized in that the joints being two in number, an intermediate bead (3) surrounded by an outer joint (4), the staples (5) are stitched in the bulge of the intermediate bead ( 3). 8. Glazing according to claim 6, characterized in that the joints being two in number, an intermediate bead (3) surrounded by an outer seal (4), the staples (5) are stitched in a tongue (20) bordering the intermediate cord (3) over its entire length, on the outside of the glazing. 9. Glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spacers are thumbtacks (9) with head (10) circular and in crown. 10. Glazing according to claim 9, characterized in that each thumbtack has points (11) of length less than the thickness of the joint in which it is stitched laterally. 11. Glazing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spacers are coil springs (12) with one or two turns arranged with their axis parallel to the planes of the glass sheets. 12. Glazing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises from a spacer (5, 9, 12) per side to a spacer every 15 cm on each side of the glazing. 13. Method for manufacturing a double glazing with plastic joints in which a plastic bead is placed on a first glass sheet, near its edges, a second sheet of glass is applied to the bead, press, an external seal is injected, on the outside of the intermediate bead, between the edges of the glass sheets, characterized in that after the installation of the intermediate bead there are staples standing, from place to place, along said bead , stitched in a tongue bordering it over its entire periphery or in its bulge. 14. Method for manufacturing a double glazing with plastic seals in which a plastic bead is placed on a first glass sheet, near its edges, a second sheet of glass is applied to the bead, press, an external seal is injected, on the outside of the interlayer bead, between the edges of the glass sheets, characterized in that after the installation of the interlayer bead, pins are placed sideways in the interlayer bead (3), from place to place along said cord (3). 15. Method for manufacturing a double glazing with plastic seals in which a plastic bead is placed on a first sheet of glass near its edges, a second sheet of glass is applied to the bead, press, an external seal is injected, on the outside of the intermediate bead, between the edges of the glass sheets, characterized in that after the installation of the intermediate bead, the parts are pressed spacer (5, 9, 12) previously heated against the intermediate cord (3). 16. Device for manufacturing multiple glazing units, as defined in claims 1 to 12, comprising a conveyor on which the glass sheets are brought, a extruder extruding the intermediate cord and the start of which is triggered by a detection cell the presence of a glass sheet under the extruder, characterized in that it further comprises a stapler, or an apparatus of the same type adapted to the nature of the spacers, disposed downstream of the extruder, controlled by a logic system put into service by a cell for detecting the presence of a sheet of glass under the stapler, or the device of the same type, said logic system being programmed to eject the staples or the spacers to be determined time intervals. 17. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the logic system is programmed to further control the installation of a spacer at each corner of the glazing, at the end of the straight part of the cord.

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