| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090142521 | Embedded vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or method of making the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit surrounded by two glass substrates, with at least one spacer element being disposed adjacent to and/or cradling the VIG and with a sealant sealing the entire unit at each end of the VIG, thereby reducing the chances of the VIG being damaged and/or improving the insulating features of the entire window unit. In certain example embodiments the spacer may be substantially U-shaped, whereas two pillar-like spacers may be used in connection with certain other example embodiments. The spacer element(s) may be butyl-based, foam-based, warm-edge spacer element(s), etc. The sealant may be polysulfide based, one- or two-part silicone based, polyurethane based, a dual seal equivalent sealant product, a hot melt butyl based sealant product, etc. The R-value of the window unit may be at least about 11, but typically is about 15-16, when measured at the center of the lite. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090151853 | Evacuation and port sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass units, and/or vacuum oven for accomplishing the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to evacuation and sealing techniques for VIG units, and/or multi-chamber vacuum ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a VIG assembly is inserted into a multi-chamber apparatus to successively reduce the chamber pressure and thus the pressure between substrates comprising the VIG assembly until a final evacuation pressure is reached. Once the final evacuation pressure is reached, a pump-out port or tube of the VIG assembly is sealed forming a VIG unit while the VIG assembly is still in the vacuum chamber. After sealing, chamber pressures are gradually increased to atmospheric while the gap between the substrates of the VIG unit remains at a pressure less than atmospheric which is close to the final evacuation pressure. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090151854 | Localized heating of edge seals for a vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or unitized oven for accomplishing the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating (e.g., from one or more substantially linear focused IR heat sources) is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090151855 | Localized heating via an infrared heat source array of edge seals for a vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or unitized oven with infrared heat source array for accomplishing the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating via at least one substantially two-dimensional array of heat sources is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155499 | Metal-inclusive edge seal for vacuum insulating glass unit, and/or method of making the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to metal-inclusive edge seal designs for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or methods of making the same. First and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, including edge portions thereof, are provided. At least one metal-inclusive edge-sealing strip is located proximate to the edge portions of the first and second substrates, getter being applied to at least a portion of at least some of the edge-sealing strips, and the at least one edge-sealing strip being selected so as to have a coefficient of thermal expansion over a temperature range of interest within about 25% of a coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second substrates, the temperature range of interest being from about −40° C. to about 50° C. The first and second substrates are sealed together proximate to the edge portions thereof with the at least one edge-sealing strip via an edge-sealing material provided to the at least one edge-sealing strip and/or the first and second glass substrates. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090155500 | Vacuum insulating glass unit with large pump-out port, and/or method of making the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, and/or methods of making the same. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to VIG units having large pump-out ports, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit is provided. First and second spaced-apart glass substrates are provided, and a gap is provided between the spaced-apart substrates. A pump-out port has a size (e.g., diameter) of at least about 30 mm. A cover seals the pump-out port. A getter is in communication with the gap. The pump-out port is sealed using the cover, in making the vacuum insulating glass unit, via a sealing material provided proximate to the cover and/or proximate to the pump-out port. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20100330308 | Non-toxic water-based frit slurry paste, and assembly incorporating the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a frit slurry paste for use in assemblies (e.g., a vacuum insulated glass unit or a plasma display panel), and methods of making the same. Frit powder, binder material, and a water-based solvent are mixed together to form an intermediate mixture. The frit powder is substantially lead free, and the water-based solvent is provided at a first temperature. Additional water-based solvent is added to the intermediate mixture to form a frit slurry paste. The additional water-based solvent is provided at a second temperature, with the second temperature being lower than the first temperature. The binder material is provided at a concentration of 0.001%-20% by weight with respect to the frit slurry paste or the frit slurry paste absent the frit powder. The frit slurry paste has a bulk viscosity of 2,000-200,000 cps. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100330309 | Frit or solder glass compound including beads, and assemblies incorporating the same - Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to frits or solder glass compounds that include beads, and/or assemblies such as, for example, vacuum insulated glass (VIG) units or plasma display panels (PDPs) including the same. In certain example embodiments, the beads may be hollow glass beads of any suitable shape (e.g., substantially spherical, substantially eye shaped, substantially oblong, substantially square shaped, etc.) with or without evacuated cavities. The inclusion of such beads in a frit material may improve the thermal properties of the bulk fired frit in certain example instances. Additionally, the inclusion of such beads in a frit material may take the place of other more expensive materials in the frit, thereby reducing the costs associated with the fabrication of the assemblies. | 12-30-2010 |
