Patent Publication Number: US-6701681-B2

Title: Double glass system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a double glass. Particularly, the present invention relates to a double glass system in which not only the sunbeams are completely shielded, but also the firefighting is made easier at a fire accident. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, at offices and homes, there are used curtains and blinds so that the sunbeams can be shielded. 
     However, the curtains and blinds require much installation costs and installation spaces, while they are difficult to wash and replace. 
     Accordingly, a colored liquid is filled into the interior of the double glass, so that the double glass can perform the functions of the curtain or the blind. 
     However, in this conventional double glass with the colored liquid inside it, it can serve as a means for shielding the sunbeams and can serve as an interior decoration, but it cannot have any further functions. That is, they do not have other functions, and therefore, they ate limited in the applications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to overcome the above described disadvantages of the conventional techniques. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a double glass system in which a colored liquid with properties such as non-combustion, combustion resistance and the like is filled into the interior of the double glass so as to shield the sunbeams and so as to make it helpful for the firefighting at a fire accident. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a double glass system in which mercury (which is opaque) is filled into the interior of the double glass, and thus, not only the window serves as a sun beam-shielding means and as a sight shielding means, but also serves as a mirror and as a compartment wall, thereby diversifying the functions of the double glass system. 
     In achieving the above objects, the double glass system according to the present invention includes: a solution tank for containing a solution to be supplied into the interior of a double glass; a solution pipe connected between the solution tank and the bottom of the double glass, for supplying the solution from the solution tank into the double glass or for discharging the solution from the double glass to the solution tank; an air pipe connected between the solution tank and the upper portion of the double glass, for supplying the air into the interior of the double glass or for discharging the air from the interior of the double glass, a pump installed on the solution pipe, for supplying the solution from the solution tank through the solution pipe into the double glass; an electronic valve installed on the solution pipe, for discharging the solution from the double glass to the solution tank; a control means connected to the pump and the electronic valve, for controlling the pump and electronic valve; and the solution to be filled into the double glass being a non-combustible solvent with a pigment added, or being a combustion-resistant solvent with a pigment added. 
     The non-combustible solvent is an ester solvent such as trichloroethylene, ethylene, dichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, or the like. The combustion-resistant solvent is a high ignition point low fluidizing silicon oil, or a low viscosity lubricating oil. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the double glass system according to the present invention includes: a solution tank for containing a solution to be supplied into the interior of a double glass; a solution pipe connected between the solution tank and the bottom of the double glass, for supplying the solution from the solution tank into the double glass or for discharging the solution from the double glass to the solution tank; an air pipe connected between the solution tank and the upper portion of the double glass, for supplying the air into the interior of the double glass or for discharging the air from the interior of the double glass; a pump installed on the solution pipe, for supplying the solution from the solution tank through the solution pipe into the double glass, and for recovering the solution from the double glass into the solution tank; a control means connected to the pump, for controlling the pump; and the solution to be supplied into the double glass being an incombustible solvent with a pigment added therein, a combustion-resistant solvent with a pigment added therein, or mercury. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the double glass system according to the present invention includes: a solution tank containing a certain amount of mercury to be supplied into a double glass, and containing air over the mercury; a solution supply pipe connected between the solution tank and the bottom of the double glass, for supplying the mercury from the solution tank into the double glass a solution recovery pipe connected between the upper portion of the double glass and the solution tank, for recovering the mercury from the double glass (if the mercury is overfilled in the double glass) into the solution tank; a heat-generating device for generating heat to cause thermal expansions of the mercury the air within the solution tank so as to supply the mercury from the solution tank through the solution supply pipe into the interior of the double glass; a control means connected to the heat-generating device, for controlling heat generations of the heat-generating device; and a key inputting means connected to the control means, for inputting command codes into the control means. 
     The double glass system according to the present invention fiber includes: a pressure-adjusting valve installed on the solution tank, for adjusting the internal pressure of the solution tank; and a blocking valve installed in the solution recovery pipe, for preventing a reverse flow of the solution from the solution tank. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the constitution of a first embodiment of the double glass system according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  illustrate the constitutions of the double glass of FIG. 1, in which the solution internally filled within the double glass is made easily discharged; and 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the constitution of a second embodiment of the double glass system according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now the present invention will be described in detail referring to the attached drawings. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the constitution of a first embodiment of the double glass system according to the present invention. 
     The double glass system according to the present invention includes: a solution tank  20  for containing a solution to be supplied into a double glass  10 ; an air pipe  30  for discharging the air from within the double glass  10  to the solution tank  20 , or for supplying the air into the interior of the double glass  10 ; and a solution pipe  40  connected between the solution tank  20  and the double glass  10 , for supplying the solution from the solution tank  20  into the double glass  10 , or for discharging the solution from within the double glass  10  to the solution tank  20 . 
     The air pipe  30  is connected from the solution tank  20  to the upper portion of the double glass  10 , for supplying and discharging the air. 
     The solution pipe  40  is connected from the bottom of the double glass  10  to the solution tank  20 , so that the solution can be efficiently discharged from within the double glass  10 . 
     Further, a pump  50  is installed on the solution pipe  40 , for supplying the solution from the solution tank  20  through the solution pipe  40  into the double glass  10 . Further, an electronic valve  60  is installed for discharging the solution from the double glass  10 . 
     Further, a control part  70  is connected to both the pump  50  and the electronic valve  60  so as to control them. 
     Under this condition, the double glass  10  is formed by using two glass sheets in such a manner that the two sheets should form a space inside by using a sealing material such as silicon sealant. This is a general type, and therefore, a description on it will be skipped. 
     In the present invention constituted as described above, the solution tank  20  is filled with a solution, the kind of the solution being dependent on the use of the double glass  10 . 
     For example, in the case where the double glass  10  is used as office windows and compartment walls or as home windows, the following solutions can be used. 
     That is, there can be used: incombustible or combustion-resistant ethylenic solvent such as trichloroethane (C2H3Cl3), ethylene, dichloroethylene (C2H2Cl2), perchloroethylene (C2Cl4) or the like; or incombustible or combustion-resistant ester solvent such as phosphate ester or the like; a high ignition point and extremely low fluidizing extremely low viscosity silicon oil; a low viscosity lubricating oil; and other combustion-resistant solvents. Pigments are added to these solvents. 
     One of these solutions is filled into the solution tank  20 , and the pump  50  is activated through the control part  70 , so that the solution can be supplied from the solution tank  20  through the solution pipe  40  into the double glass  10 . 
     Under this condition, as the solution is supplied into the double glass  10 , the air within the double glass  10  is discharged through the air pipe  30  to the solution tank  20 . 
     In the case where the solution consisting of a combustion-resistant solvent with a pigment added therein is filled into the double glass  10 , if this double glass  10  is used for a home window, a favorite color can be selected to decorate the interior of home. 
     The ethylenic and ester incombustible solvent not only is not burned, but also if ignited, it generates a certain gas which suppress the flames. Accordingly, at a fire accident, the double glass is broken, and the solvent is spilled to contribute to quenching the flames. 
     Further, the combustion-resistant solvents such as the high ignition point extremely low viscosity silicon oil, a low viscosity lubricating oil and the like are not easily burned by fire. Accordingly, at a fire accident, the double glass is broken, and the internal solution flows out to contribute to quenching the flames to some degree. 
     Meanwhile, in the case where the double glass  10  is used for office windows or for compartment walls, the president or other executives of the company can make their windows or compartment walls shielded or see-through, and therefore, they can watch the company staff. Further, during a meeting, the windows or the compartment walls can be shielded. Further, as described above, the double glass system according to the present invention is helpful in the firefighting at a fire accident. 
     Under this condition, the firefighting laws have to be considered in using the solvent, and the solvent has to have a low solidification point so that it can be prevented from being freeze-broken. 
     Meanwhile, if the solution is to be discharged from within the double glass  10 , the electronic valve is opened through the control part  70 . Thus the solution is discharged from within the double glass  10  through the solution pipe  40  to the solution tank  20 . Under this condition, the space which is formed within the double glass  10  by the discharge of the solution is filled with the air through the air pipe  30 . 
     Under this condition, as shown in FIG. 2 a , the bottom of the double glass  10  is slightly inclined, with the bottom portion (where the solution pipe is connected) being slightly lower. Therefore, the solution can be easily discharged from within the double glass  10 . 
     Meanwhile, the two solution pipes can be formed as shown in FIG. 2 b  unlike FIG. 2 a , so that the solution can be discharged fast from within the double glass  10 . In this case, the bottom of the double glass is made convex slightly. 
     Meanwhile, in the first example of the present invention, if the pump  50  is a de pump (dc-driven pump), the driving direction can be controlled arbitrarily. That is, if the pump  50  is driven forward to supply the solution from the solution tank  20  into the double glass  10 , then the pump  50  can be driven reverse to recover the solution from the double glass  10  into the solution tank  20 . In this case, the electronic valve  60  is eliminated. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the constitution of a second embodiment of the double glass system according to the present invention. 
     In this second embodiment, the double glass system according to the present invention is constituted as follows. That is, a solution tank  120  contains mercury to be supplied into a double glass  110 . 
     A solution supply pipe  130  is connected from the solution tank  120  to the bottom of the double glass  110 , for supplying the mercury from the solution tank  120  into the double glass  110 . 
     Further, a solution recovery pipe  140  is connected from the upper portion of the double glass  110  to the solution tanks  120 , for recovering the mercury from within the double glass  110  to the solution tank  120 . 
     Further, there is installed a heat-generating device  150  on the solution tank  120 , for generating heat to cause a thermal expansion, so that the mercury can be supplied from the solution tank  120  through the solution supply pipe  130  into the double glass  110 . 
     Further, a control part  160  is connected to the heat-generating device  150 , for controlling the heat-generating degree of the heat-generating device  150 . Further, a key inputting part  170  is connected to the control part  160 , so that command codes can be inputted. 
     The heat-generating device  150  can be formed by using an electro-heating coil, and this coil can be made to surround the air above the mercury within the solution tank  120 , so that the air can be heated. 
     Or the coil can be made to surround the total of the solution tank  120 , so that the air within the solution tank  120  can be heated. 
     If the size of the double glass  110  is so small as to heat the mercury with a small amount of heat, and thus if the mercury can be expanded enough to fill the double glass  110 , then the coil can be immersed in the mercury within the solution tank  120 . However, in this case, the coil has to be electrically well insulated, so that the formation of any short circuit can be prevented. 
     Further, a pressure regulation valve  180  is installed on the solution tank  120 . If the internal pressure of the double glass  110  rises to a high level due to a rise of the temperature of the external atmospheric air, then the double glass  110  can be damaged due to the expansion of the mercury and the internal air. Therefore, in order to prevent such a phenomenon, the pressure regulation valve  180  discharges the internal air if the internal pressure rises too much, thereby adjusting the internal pressure of the double glass  110 . 
     Further, a blocking valve  190  is installed on the solution recovery pipe  140 , so that a reverse flow from the solution tank  120  to the double glass  110  can be prevented. 
     In the present invention constituted as described above, an amount of mercury sufficient to fill the whole interior of the double glass  110  is filled into the solution tank  120 , while in the vacant space of the solution tank  120 , there is filled air. Then the solution tank  120  is completely sealed. 
     Thereafter, if the mercury is to be filled into the double glass  110 , the heat-generating device  150  is activated through the control part  160  so as to generate heat. 
     Under this condition, if the electro-heating coil of the heat-generating device  150  surrounds the upper inside or outside of the solution tank  120  to heat the internal air of the tank  120 , then the internal air of the solution tank  120  is expanded to push the mercury through the solution supply pipe  130  into the double glass  110 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the case where the electro-heating coil is wound around the outside of the solution tank  120 . 
     On the other hand, if the electro-heating coil of the heat-generating device  150  surrounds the entire outside of the solution tank  120 , then both the mercury and the internal air are expanded, so that the mercury can be supplied into the double glass  110  more efficiently. 
     Further, if the electro-heating coil of the heat-generating device  150  is immersed in the mercury within the solution tank  120 , then mainly the mercury expands so as to be supplied into the double glass  110 . 
     Under this condition, when the mercury is supplied into the double glass  110 , the blocking valve  190  of the solution recovery pipe  140  is closed, so that a reverse flow of the mercury through the solution recovery pipe  140  can be prevented. 
     The blocking valve  190  can be controlled by the control part  160 . When the control part  160  activates the heat-generating device  150  to supply the mercury from the solution tank  120  into the double glass  110 , the control part  160  closes the blocking valve  190 , so that a reverse flow of the mercury from the double glass  110  into the solution tank  120  can be prevented. 
     Further, when the mercury is supplied into the double glass  110 , the heat-generating degree of the heat-generating device  150  can be adjusted with different stages such as strong, medium, weak and off, and thus the mercury height level and the mercury supply speed can be adjusted. This is done by the user through the key inputting part  170  which is connected to the control part  160 . 
     In this manner, if the mercury is completely filled into the double glass  110 , and thereafter, if the mercury is subjected to too high a pressure, then the mercury is recovered through the solution recovery pipe  140  into the solution tank  120 . That is, this is done because the blocking valve  190  of the solution recovery pipe  140  is opened, if a certain amount of the mercury is accumulated to above a certain limit load. 
     That is, the supply speed and the height level of the mercury are adjusted with the different stages such as strong, medium and weak, and therefore, the control part  160  has the time by which the mercury is completely filled into the double glass  110  at the different stage settings. Therefore, when the mercury is filled completely into the double glass  110 , the blocking valve  190  is automatically closed under the control of the control part  160 . Or the blocking valve  190  can also be closed or opened by the manual operation by the user. 
     In this manner, if the mercury is filled into the double glass  110 , then the sunbeams and the sight are completely shielded, because mercury is perfectly opaque. Therefore, the double glass  110  can be used as a compartment wall in an office, and not only so, but the double glass  110  can serve as a mirror. 
     If the temperature of the external atmospheric air rises too much so as to cause the expansions of the air and mercury too much within the solution tank  120 , then the pressure regulation valve  180  is automatically opened to discharge the compressed air of the solution tank  120 , thereby preventing any damage of the double glass  110 . 
     Meanwhile, as a measure for the case where the double glass  110  is destroyed by an external impact to make the mercury spilled, a transparent film such as acryl or vinyl film can be coated on the double glass  110 . In the case where such a coating is carried out, a heat insulating effect can be promoted. 
     Mercury is toxic to the human body, and therefore, the double glass system is completely sealed. But care has to be exercised in using it. 
     In the above, the present invention was described based on the specific preferred embodiments and the attached drawings, but it should be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be added without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which will be defined in the appended claims. 
     According to the present invention as described above, the following effects can be reaped. 
     First, an incombustible or combustion-resistant liquid with a pigment added therein is used as the solution to be supplied into the double glass. Thus the double glass can shield the sight and the sunbeams, and can serve as a compartment wall, while it is helpful to firefighting at a fire accident. Thus the functions of the double glass are diversified. 
     Second, an opaque liquid such as mercury is used in place of the solution, so that a sunbeam-shielding effect, a sight blocking effect (to the required degree) and a mirror effect can be obtained. 
     Third, in the second embodiment (second example) of the present invention, the mercury is supplied into double glass by expanding the mercury and the air by heating them, and therefore, a driving means such as pump is not required. Accordingly, the double glass system is simplified in its constitution, as well as allowing a low cost.