Patent ID: 6594958
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: B32B,B64C,B64G,C03C

Abstract:
A building for containing human occupants in an adverse Arctic or Antarctic environment, said building comprising:at least one covering element to provide at least one roof portion, at least one wall portion, and at least one floor portion, to provide an interior space to contain and protect occupants from an adverse environment about said building; said at least one covering element being configured to provide protection to occupants in an adverse Arctic or Antarctic environment; an opening to permit occupants to ingress into and egress from said building; an apparatus to close said opening from the outside environment; a window comprising a frame and at least one pane disposed in said frame; said window being configured to protect occupants from an adverse Arctic or Antarctic environment; said at least one pane comprising at least one outer pane disposed to contact the adverse environment about said building and at least one inner pane disposed toward said interior space of said building; said at least one outer pane comprising an outer surface disposed to contact the adverse environment and an inner surface facing toward said at least one inner pane; said pane exposed to the environment about said building comprising a transparent glass material; said transparent glass material comprising glass ceramic; said glass ceramic comprising a crystallized and ceramicized glass; said glass ceramic having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is minimized such that said glass ceramic of said at least one outer pane is configured to withstand extreme temperature gradients from said outer surface to said inner surface of said at least one outer pane; said glass ceramic being configured to resist abrasion; said abrasion-resistance being configured to minimize pitting and chipping of said at least one outer pane; at least said outer surface of said at least one outer pane being configured to have a surface roughness which is minimized, thus providing a view through said at least one pane having a distortion which is minimized and providing an easy-to-clean outer surface; said glass ceramic being substantially free of pits and pores on at least said outer and said inner surfaces; insulation being configured to protect occupants from adverse temperature conditions from an Arctic or Antarctic environment about said building; said insulation being disposed with said at least one covering element to provide protection for occupants from adverse temperature conditions about said building; and a heating apparatus to provide heat to said space provided by said at least one covering element, said window, and said insulation in an adverse Arctic or Antarctic environment.