Patent Description:
A thermally insulating glass panel unit is obtained by hermetically sealing up an inner space between a pair of glass panels that are arranged to face each other while maintaining a reduced pressure in the inner space.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a technique, according to which an exhaust pipe of glass is joined to a glass panel so as to communicate with a hole provided through the glass panel, and the pressure in the inner space of the glass panel unit is reduced through the exhaust pipe before the exhaust pipe is heated and sealed up.

This conventional method leaves traces of the heated and sealed exhaust pipe on the glass panel unit manufactured. This makes it difficult to make a portion, surrounding the exhaust port, of the glass panel unit sufficiently flat, and requires a new exhaust pipe every time evacuation is carried out, thus causing some problems in practice.

Another conventional method is described in <CIT> describing a glass panel manufacturing method in which a glass panel is formed by sealingly connecting, with a sealant, the peripheral edge parts of two opposing glass plates. Gas is removed through an exhaust hole in the upper plate from the inner space between the two plates by heating the upper plate and sealingly closing the exhaust hole by melting a sealant on the upper side of the upper plate.

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a method of manufacturing a glass panel unit with reduced pressure in the inner space between the glass panels of the glass panel unit in a simpler and more cost-efficient way.

This object is solved by the independent claim. Specific embodiments result from the dependent claims.

A configuration for a glass panel unit according to an exemplary embodiment will be described.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a glass panel unit according to this exemplary embodiment includes a first glass panel <NUM>, a second glass panel <NUM>, a sealing member <NUM>, a plurality of (or multiple) spacers <NUM>, and a getter <NUM>.

The first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM> are arranged to face each other. The first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM> are parallel to each other. Between the first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM>, located are the sealing member <NUM>, the plurality of spacers <NUM>, and the getter <NUM>.

The first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM> may be configured as any of various types of glass panes made of soda lime glass, high strain point glass, chemically tempered glass, alkali-free glass, quartz glass, Neoceram, thermally tempered glass, or any other suitable glass.

In the glass panel unit according to this exemplary embodiment, an exhaust port <NUM> is formed through the second glass panel <NUM>, out of the two glass panels (namely, the first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM>) (see <FIG>). The exhaust port <NUM> penetrates through the second glass panel <NUM> in the thickness direction thereof. The exhaust port <NUM> is closed with a closing member <NUM> in the shape of a cap.

The sealing member <NUM> includes a rectangular frame <NUM> made of a thermal adhesive such as a glass frit and an arc-shaped partition <NUM> also made of a thermal adhesive such as a glass frit. The material for the frame <NUM> and the material for the partition <NUM> have mutually different melting temperatures.

The frame <NUM> is bonded to respective peripheral portions of the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM>. The peripheral portions of the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM> are hermetically bonded together with the frame <NUM>.

The partition <NUM> separates the inner space <NUM>, surrounded with the frame <NUM>, into a space 501a communicating with the exhaust port <NUM> and the other space 501b. The plurality of spacers <NUM> and the getter <NUM> are located in the space 501b. The space 501b may be a thermally insulated space, of which the pressure has been reduced to a degree of vacuum of <NUM> Pa or less, for example.

The plurality of spacers <NUM> are dispersed so as to be spaced apart from each other. Each of the spacers <NUM> is arranged in contact with both of a facing surface <NUM>, facing the second glass panel <NUM>, of the first glass panel <NUM> and a facing surface <NUM>, facing the first glass panel <NUM>, of the second glass panel <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first glass panel <NUM> includes an infrared reflective film <NUM>, and has its facing surface <NUM> constituted of the surface of the infrared reflective film <NUM>.

The plurality of spacers <NUM> are arranged so as to be surrounded with the frame <NUM>. The plurality of spacers <NUM> has the capability of keeping a predetermined gap between the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM>. The plurality of spacers <NUM> are suitably either transparent or semi-transparent. The material, dimensions, shape, arrangement pattern, and other parameters of the plurality of spacers <NUM> may be determined appropriately.

The getter <NUM> is a member configured to adsorb molecules of a gas, and is spaced from each of the plurality of spacers <NUM>. The getter <NUM> is arranged on the facing surface <NUM> of the second glass panel <NUM>.

Next, respective steps for manufacturing the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a method for manufacturing the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment includes a bonding step S1, an exhausting step S2, and a sealing step S3.

These steps S1, S2, and S3 will be described sequentially.

The bonding step S1 includes arranging the first glass panel <NUM>, the second glass panel <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM>, the plurality of spacers <NUM>, and the getter <NUM> at their respective predetermined locations as shown in <FIG>.

Specifically, the sealing member <NUM>, the plurality of spacers <NUM>, and the getter <NUM> are arranged on the second glass panel <NUM>, and the first glass panel <NUM> is arranged to face the second glass panel <NUM>.

A material for the frame <NUM> and partition <NUM> included in the sealing member <NUM> is applied, with an applicator such as a dispenser, onto an outer periphery of the facing surface <NUM> of the second glass panel <NUM> and then dried and pre-baked. The bonding step S1 includes forming an air passage <NUM> through the partition <NUM>. In the bonding step S1, the spaces 501a and 501b communicate with each other through the air passage <NUM>.

In this exemplary embodiment, the partition <NUM> is split into two halfway to form the air passage <NUM> as a gap between the two split portions. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, an air passage <NUM> may also be formed between the partition <NUM> and the frame <NUM> by making at least one of the two ends of the partition <NUM> out of contact with the frame <NUM>. Still alternatively, an air passage <NUM> may also be formed by decreasing the height of a portion of the partition <NUM> with respect to the rest of the partition <NUM>.

The first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM> are loaded into a bonding furnace with the sealing member <NUM>, the plurality of spacers <NUM>, and the getter <NUM> sandwiched between them, and heated in the furnace. This allows the first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM> to be hermetically bonded together with the frame <NUM> that melts under the heat.

The exhausting step S2 includes reducing the pressure in the inner space <NUM> using a highly heat-resistant exhaust pipe <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The exhaust pipe <NUM> may be made of a metal such as stainless steel, for example. The exhaust pipe <NUM> has a tip portion <NUM> with a larger diameter than any other portion thereof. There is an opening <NUM> penetrating through a center portion of the tip portion <NUM>. An annular groove <NUM> is provided so as to surround the opening <NUM> of the tip portion <NUM>. A highly heat-resistant O-ring <NUM> is fitted into the groove <NUM>. When fitted into the groove <NUM>, the O-ring <NUM> partially protrudes with respect to the tip portion <NUM> of the exhaust pipe <NUM>. Between the groove <NUM> and opening <NUM> of the tip portion <NUM>, provided is a deformation reducing portion <NUM> for reducing an inward deformation of the O-ring <NUM>. The deformation reducing portion <NUM> is an annular projection provided to protrude from the bottom of the groove <NUM>.

In the exhausting step S2, the exhaust pipe <NUM> may be used in the following manner.

First of all, the exhaust pipe <NUM> is placed in position with the tip portion <NUM> (i.e., opening <NUM>) thereof facing the exhaust port <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, the O-ring <NUM> of the exhaust pipe <NUM> is pressed against an area, surrounding the exhaust port <NUM> entirely along the circumference, of an outer surface <NUM> of the second glass panel <NUM>.

At this point in time, a clip <NUM> made of a highly heat-resistant metal (e.g., a nickel-base superalloy) is put on to pinch the tip portion <NUM> of the exhaust pipe <NUM> and the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM>. The clip <NUM> has elasticity. This allows the O-ring <NUM> to be kept pressed, with biasing force, against the outer surface <NUM> of the second glass panel <NUM>. According to this exemplary embodiment, a plate member <NUM> of a highly heat-resistant material (such as mica) is interposed between the clip <NUM> and the tip portion <NUM> of the exhaust pipe <NUM>.

In the state shown in <FIG>, interposing the O-ring <NUM> between the second glass panel <NUM> and the exhaust pipe <NUM> allows the opening <NUM> of the exhaust pipe <NUM> and the exhaust port <NUM> to hermetically communicate with each other.

Sucking the air in the exhaust pipe <NUM> with an appropriate vacuum suction device in such a state evacuates the inner space <NUM> (including the spaces 501a and 501b) between the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM> through the exhaust port <NUM>.

The sealing step S3 includes heating and melting the partition <NUM> at a predetermined temperature, thus deforming the partition <NUM> to close the air passage <NUM>. This allows the space 501b, forming a major part of the inner space <NUM>, to be sealed up while maintaining a reduced pressure (a degree of vacuum).

That is to say, the sealing step S3 includes sealing the inner space <NUM> up at the reduced pressure by heating, melting, and thereby deforming, the sealant (i.e., the partition <NUM>) located in the inner space <NUM>.

According to this exemplary embodiment, setting the melting temperature of the partition <NUM> at a value higher than the melting temperature of the frame <NUM> prevents the partition <NUM> from being deformed and closing the air passage <NUM> during the bonding step S1. However, as long as the air passage <NUM> is not closed during the bonding step S1 or the exhausting step S2 but is closed during the sealing step S3, the respective melting temperatures of the frame <NUM> and the partition <NUM> may be set at any of various other values.

For example, even if the respective melting temperatures of the frame <NUM> and the partition <NUM> are equal to each other (or even if the melting temperature of the partition <NUM> is lower than the melting temperature of the frame <NUM>), setting the temperature of a bonding furnace at a value higher than the melting temperature(s) of the frame <NUM> and the partition <NUM> in the bonding step S1 allows the first and second glass panels <NUM> and <NUM> to be hermetically bonded together with the frame <NUM> before the partition <NUM> is deformed to the point of closing the air passage <NUM>. After the glass panels <NUM> and <NUM> have been bonded together, the exhausting step S2 may be performed with the temperature of the bonding furnace kept lower than the melting temperature of the frame <NUM> and the partition <NUM>. Thereafter, the sealing step S3 may be performed with the temperature of the bonding furnace set at a value higher than the melting temperature of the partition <NUM> to allow the partition <NUM> to be deformed to the point of closing the air passage <NUM>.

After the sealing step S3 is finished, the clip <NUM> and the plate member <NUM> are removed, and the exhaust pipe <NUM> is removed. The exhaust pipe <NUM> removed is reused over and over again.

Thus, a glass panel unit manufactured through these steps S1, S2, and S3 exhibits excellent thermal insulating properties because of the presence of the inner space <NUM> (among other things, the space 501b that has had its pressure reduced to a vacuum). Furthermore, there are slim chances of the exhaust pipe <NUM> leaving traces on the glass panel unit manufactured through these steps S1, S2, and S3. This makes the sealing traces much less noticeable and reduces the chances of the sealing traces causing damage to the glass panel unit.

In the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment, a single exhaust port <NUM> is provided for the second glass panel <NUM>. Alternatively, a plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be provided for the second glass panel <NUM>, or a single or a plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be provided for the first glass panel <NUM>. Still alternatively, a single or a plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be provided for the first glass panel <NUM> and a single or a plurality of exhaust ports <NUM> may be provided for the second glass panel <NUM> as well. In any of these cases, the air in the inner space <NUM> may be sucked up through the exhaust port(s) <NUM> with the exhaust pipe(s) <NUM> and clip(s) <NUM> described above, the inner space <NUM> may be sealed up, and then the exhaust pipe(s) <NUM> and the clip(s) <NUM> may be removed.

Also, the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment includes only one arc-shaped partition <NUM>. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the partition <NUM> may have any other shape and any other number of partitions <NUM> may be provided instead. For example, a plurality of partitions <NUM> may be provided for the region surrounded with the frame <NUM> such that when sealed, the space inside the frame <NUM> will be separated into three or more spaces. Furthermore, in the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment, the inner space <NUM> (i.e., the inner space 501b) is sealed up by deforming the partition <NUM>. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the inner space <NUM> may also be sealed up in any other manner. Examples of alternative methods for sealing the inner space <NUM> up include sealing the exhaust port <NUM> up with a sealing member such as a thermal adhesive.

Next, a glass panel unit according to a modified example will be described with reference to <FIG>. This glass panel unit is a modified example of the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment that has been described with reference to <FIG>. Thus, in the following description, any constituent member of the glass panel unit according to this modified example, having the same function as a counterpart of the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment described above, will be designated by the same reference numeral as that counterpart's, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

In a glass panel unit according to this modified example, a third glass panel <NUM> is stacked over the glass panel unit shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and a second inner space <NUM> is formed between the third glass panel <NUM> and the first glass panel <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The glass panel unit according to this modified example includes: a hollow frame member <NUM> interposed between the respective peripheral portions of the third glass panel <NUM> and the first glass panel <NUM>; a desiccant <NUM> filling the hollow of the frame member <NUM>; and a second sealing member <NUM> formed in the shape of a frame surrounding the outer periphery of the frame member <NUM>. The second inner space <NUM> is a space surrounded entirely with the frame member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

The frame member <NUM> is made of a metallic material such as aluminum and has through holes <NUM> on the inner perimeter thereof. The hollow of the frame member <NUM> communicates, via the through holes <NUM>, with the second inner space <NUM>. The desiccant <NUM> may be a silica gel, for example. The second sealing member <NUM> may be made of a highly airtight resin such as a silicone resin or butyl rubber.

The second inner space <NUM> surrounded with the frame member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> between the first glass panel <NUM> and the third glass panel <NUM> is a space hermetically sealed out from the outside. The second inner space <NUM> may be filled with a dry gas (e.g., a dry rare gas such as argon gas or dry air).

Next, respective steps for manufacturing the glass panel unit according to this modified example will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, the method for manufacturing the glass panel unit according to the modified example includes not only the bonding step S1, exhausting step S2, and sealing step S3 described above but also a second bonding step S4 as well.

The second bonding step S4 includes hermetically bonding the first glass panel <NUM> and the third glass panel <NUM> together with the second sealing member <NUM>, i.e., with the frame member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> interposed between them. Thus, a triple-layer glass panel unit is formed.

In the glass panel unit according to this modified example, the third glass panel <NUM> is arranged to face the first glass panel <NUM>. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the third glass panel <NUM> may also be arranged to face the second glass panel <NUM>. In that case, the second sealing step S4 includes bonding respective peripheral portions of the second glass panel <NUM> and the third glass panel <NUM> with the second sealing member <NUM>, with the frame member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> interposed between the second glass panel <NUM> and the third glass panel <NUM>. This allows a second inner space <NUM>, filled with a dry gas, to be formed between the second glass panel <NUM> and the third glass panel <NUM>.

Next, a building component including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment will be described.

<FIG> illustrates a building component including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment. This building component is obtained by fitting a building component frame <NUM> into the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment.

The building component frame <NUM> may be a window frame, for example. The building component shown in <FIG> is a window including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment and the building component frame <NUM> (window frame). However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. Examples of other building components including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment include an entrance door and a room door, to name just a few.

A method for manufacturing a building component including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment includes not only the respective steps of the method for manufacturing the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment (see <FIG>) but also an assembling step S5 as well, as shown in <FIG>.

The assembling step S5 is the step of fitting a rectangular building component frame <NUM> into a perimeter of the glass panel unit manufactured through the respective steps S1, S2, and S3 of the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment described above.

A building component (e.g., a window) manufactured by performing these steps S1, S2, S3, and S5 includes a glass panel unit in which the inner space <NUM> has been formed, and therefore, exhibits an excellent thermal insulation property.

Likewise, the building component frame <NUM> may also be fitted into the glass panel unit according to the modified example shown in <FIG> in the same way through the assembling step S5. In that case, a building component manufactured by performing these steps S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 includes a glass panel unit in which the inner space <NUM> and the second inner space <NUM> have been formed, and therefore, exhibits an excellent thermal insulation property.

As can be seen from the foregoing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, a glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof includes a bonding step S1, an exhausting step S2, and a sealing step S3.

The bonding step S1 includes bonding together, with a sealing member <NUM> in a frame shape, a first glass panel <NUM> and a second glass panel <NUM> that are arranged to face each other and thereby forming, between the first glass panel <NUM> and the second glass panel <NUM>, an inner space <NUM> surrounded with the sealing member <NUM>.

The exhausting step S2 includes exhausting air from the inner space <NUM> through an exhaust port <NUM> that at least one of the first glass panel <NUM> or the second glass panel <NUM> has. The sealing step S3 includes sealing the inner space <NUM> up at a reduced pressure.

The exhausting step S2 includes exhausting the air through the exhaust port <NUM> and an exhaust pipe <NUM> detachably connected to the exhaust port <NUM>.

Thus, the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof allows a glass panel unit with excellent thermal insulation properties to be manufactured in such a way that reduces the chances of leaving traces of the exhaust pipe <NUM>, and also makes the exhaust pipe <NUM>, used in the exhausting step S2, reusable.

In the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof, the exhaust pipe <NUM> includes: an opening <NUM> located at a tip portion <NUM> thereof; an O-ring <NUM> provided to surround the opening <NUM>; and a deformation reducing portion <NUM>. The deformation reducing portion <NUM> is provided between the opening <NUM> and the O-ring <NUM> and configured to reduce inward deformation of the O-ring <NUM>.

Thus, the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof allows the air to be exhausted with the exhaust port <NUM> and the exhaust pipe <NUM> hermetically communicating with each other via the O-ring <NUM>, and also makes the exhaust pipe <NUM> easily attachable and detachable.

In the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof, the exhaust pipe <NUM> further includes an annular groove <NUM> to which the O-ring <NUM> is fitted, and the deformation reducing portion <NUM> is a projection provided between the opening <NUM> and the groove <NUM>.

Thus, the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof allows a projection, serving as the deformation reducing portion <NUM>, to reduce the deformation of the O-ring <NUM> due a difference in atmospheric pressure between the inside and outside of the O-ring <NUM>.

In the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof, the exhaust pipe <NUM> is kept connected to the exhaust port <NUM> throughout the exhausting step S2 and the sealing step S3, and then is removed after the sealing step S3 is finished.

Thus, the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof allows the inner space <NUM> to have its pressure reduced by the use of the exhaust pipe <NUM> and to be hermetically sealed up with the reduced pressure maintained, and also allows the exhaust pipe <NUM> to be removed and reused after the sealing.

In the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the invention, the exhaust pipe <NUM> is detachably connected to the exhaust port <NUM> with a highly heat-resistant clip <NUM>.

Thus, the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment and modified examples thereof allows the exhaust pipe <NUM> to be connected, with the clip <NUM>, to the exhaust port <NUM> only during a step that requires the exhaust pipe <NUM>, and to be easily removed after the step is finished.

The glass panel unit manufacturing method according to a modified example further includes a second bonding step S4. The second bonding step S4 includes bonding a third glass panel <NUM>, via a second sealing member <NUM> in a frame shape, onto either the first glass panel <NUM> or the second glass panel <NUM> to form a second inner space <NUM> surrounded with the second sealing member <NUM>.

A glass panel unit manufactured by this manufacturing method has the second inner space <NUM> as well as the inner space <NUM>, and therefore, exhibits even better thermal insulation properties.

A building component manufacturing method includes an assembling step S5 of fitting a building component frame <NUM> into the glass panel unit manufactured by the glass panel unit manufacturing method according to the exemplary embodiment or a modified example thereof. That is to say, a method for manufacturing a building component including the glass panel unit according to the exemplary embodiment includes not only the bonding step S1, exhausting step S2, and sealing step S3 described above, but also the assembling step S5 as well. A method for manufacturing a building component including the glass panel unit according to a modified example thereof includes not only the bonding step S1, exhausting step S2, sealing step S3, and second bonding step S4 described above, but also the assembling step S5 as well.

Claim 1:
A glass panel unit manufacturing method comprising:
a bonding step of bonding together, with a sealing member (<NUM>) in a frame shape, a first glass panel (<NUM>) and a second glass panel (<NUM>) that are arranged to face each other and thereby forming, between the first glass panel (<NUM>) and the second glass panel (<NUM>), an inner space (<NUM>) surrounded with the sealing member (<NUM>);
an exhausting step of exhausting air from the inner space (<NUM>) through an exhaust port (<NUM>) that at least one of the first glass panel (<NUM>) or the second glass panel (<NUM>) has; and
a sealing step of sealing up the inner space (<NUM>) with a reduced pressure,
characterized in that:
the exhausting step including exhausting the air through the exhaust port (<NUM>) and an exhaust pipe (<NUM>) detachably connected to the exhaust port (<NUM>); and
the exhaust pipe (<NUM>) is detachably connected to the exhaust port (<NUM>) with a highly heat-resistant clip.