Patent ID: 6216751
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: E06B,G01M

Abstract:
A method for detecting seal failures during manufacture of an insulated glass unit, comprising:a) placing a partially assembled glass unit within an enclosure, the partially assembled glass unit having a first and second spaced glass panes and a peripheral spacer, an unsealed interpane space being defined therebetween;b) sealing the enclosure with the partially assembled glass unit therein;c) flowing an insulating gas into and exhausting insulating gas/air mixture from the enclosure until the concentration of insulating gas within the enclosure reaches a predetermined value;d) adjusting the pressure within the interpane space to a predetermined ambient gauge pressure, the ambient gauge pressure representing a predetermined offset from ambient atmospheric pressure;e) pressing the panes against the spacer and sealing the interpane space to yield a sealed insulated glass article; andf) measuring surface profiles of the first and second panes of the sealed insulated glass article to determine a thickness profile and generating a fault indicator if the thickness profile does not show at least a predetermined deviation from a predetermined baseline profile.