EP0425256A2 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Einbringen von Trocknungsmaterialien in Fensterabstandsrahmen - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Einbringen von Trocknungsmaterialien in Fensterabstandsrahmen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0425256A2
EP0425256A2 EP90311632A EP90311632A EP0425256A2 EP 0425256 A2 EP0425256 A2 EP 0425256A2 EP 90311632 A EP90311632 A EP 90311632A EP 90311632 A EP90311632 A EP 90311632A EP 0425256 A2 EP0425256 A2 EP 0425256A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
desiccant material
frame member
accordance
desiccant
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90311632A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0425256A3 (en
Inventor
Dennis J. Ekren
Kenneth C. Seaton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tools for Bending Inc
Original Assignee
Tools for Bending Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tools for Bending Inc filed Critical Tools for Bending Inc
Publication of EP0425256A2 publication Critical patent/EP0425256A2/de
Publication of EP0425256A3 publication Critical patent/EP0425256A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/66—Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together
    • E06B3/673—Assembling the units
    • E06B3/67304—Preparing rigid spacer members before assembly
    • E06B3/67317—Filling of hollow spacer elements with absorbants; Closing off the spacers thereafter

Definitions

  • This invention relates to dispensing com­minuted granular materials, such as, a desiccant material; and more particularly relates to a method and apparatus for introducing desiccant materials under pressure into window pane spacers, such as, hollow aluminum spacer frames employed in the fabrication of insulated glass units.
  • Desiccant materials are utilized in fine, granular form to fill hollow frames, such as, the hollow spacer frames for insulated glass units in order to minimize the formation of condensation on the inside surfaces between the window panes.
  • hollow frames such as, the hollow spacer frames for insulated glass units
  • Representative of approaches which have been followed in the past is U.S. letters Patent No. 3,183,560 to E. Brichard where a dehydrating agent is introduced under vacuum into a tube.
  • a silica gel is introduced into hollow frame sections for a window; and in U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,151,696 to R. N.
  • Knights et al the material is a viscous sealing material which is injected under pressure by means of a pumping unit through a series of injection nozzles.
  • Other patents of interest are U.S. Letters Patent Nos. 2,037,893 to Greenan; 3,280,523 to C. E. Stroud et al; 4,261,145 to H. Brocking; 4,660,271 to K. Lenhardt and 4,698,891 to R. Borys.
  • an apparatus for depositing a desiccant material in particle form into an open-ended hollow frame member characterised in that the apparatus comprises a normally sealed chamber containing a desiccant material; a fill head including a discharge port in communication with the interior of said chamber and having means on said fill head for releasably clamping at least one open end of said frame member in alignment with said discharge port; and means for pressurizing said chamber thereby forcing said desiccant material through said discharge port into said open end of said frame member.
  • a method of dispensing a desiccant material in particle form into an open-ended hollow elongated frame member characterised in that the method comprises the steps of depositing the desiccant material into a normally sealed chamber; positioning said open end of said frame member in communication with the interior of said chamber; and pressurizing said chamber with a gaseous fluid thereby forcing said desiccant material under pressure into said frame member.
  • a method of dispensing particulate desiccant materials into the open-ended adjacent legs of a window spacer frame member characterised in that the method comprises the steps of depositing the desiccant material into a chamber; positioning the open ends of said legs of said frame member in communication with the interior of said chamber; and pressurizing said chamber with air to simultaneously force the desiccant material into each of said legs of said frame member for a predetermined time period.
  • a desiccant filling apparatus 10 which is broadly comprised of a base 13, a support stand 12 having a telescoping standard 14 and upon which is mounted a control housing 16.
  • a fill head 18 is rotably mounted in one sidewall 19 of the housing 16 for the purpose of receiving adjacent free legs of a rectangular spacer frame member F and filling the legs F with a desiccant material represented at D which is supplied from a chamber 20 mounted on top surface 21 of the control housing 16.
  • a supply tube 22 extends from the lower end of the chamber 20 for the purpose of delivering desiccant particles from the chamber 20 into the fill head, and the chamber 20 is pressurized by selectively admitting air under pressure from line 23.
  • the legs of a spacer frame are perforated along their inner edges, and accor­dingly, a moisture-absorbing or desiccant material is inserted into at least a pair of the legs to absorb any moisture that would condense on the inside surfaces between the two parallel sheets of glass of an insulated glass unit, not shown.
  • a suitable type of desiccant material is an insu­lating glass absorbent material manufactured and sold by W. R. Grace & Co. of Baltimore, Maryland and is characterized by being a fine bead-like substance.
  • One problem in handling this material, particularly in forcing the material into limited spaces or openings for insulation purposes is its tendency to create dust and to the extent that it can become a health hazard.
  • a pick-up tube 25 extends from the reser­voir upwardly into a filter bowl or separator 26 which is mounted on a platform 27 above the chamber 20.
  • a vacuum is established in the reservoir 24 by directing air under pressure through an air line 28 into air amplifiers at the lower ends of the tube 25 and the filter bowl 29.
  • This vacuum or negative pressure will operate to induce the flow of desiccant material from the reservoir through the pick-up tube 25 into the filter 26.
  • the filter 26 will prevent any of the larger desiccant particles from passing through the connecting tube 30 between the filters 26 and 29.
  • the larger particles of the desiccant material D will therefore be free to advance by gravity into the chamber 20, and any air will pass through the filter 29 and be exhausted to the atmosphere.
  • the fill head 18 comprises an elongated, inverted V-shaped body 40 and a circular mounting plate 38 at the rearward end of the body 40 which is secured to the end of a bolt 41 projecting through the wall panel 19 of the control housing 16.
  • the mounting plate 38 is releasably secured against rotation to the surrounding edge of an opening in the panel 19 by clamping screws 39 which extend through the plate and threadedly engage clamping plates 39′ behind the panel 19 to tighten or lock the plate 38 against rotation.
  • clamping screws 39 When the clamping screws 39 are loosened, the fill head body and the plate 38 can be rotated for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
  • the body 40 has inclined surfaces 42 on opposite sides which slope or diverge downwardly and away from an upper feed area 44 which receives the lower end of the supply tube 22.
  • a fixed guide block 46 and movable block 47 are disposed on each of the inclined surfaces 42 to define a common entrance 48 for insertion of a leg or side of a spacer frame F.
  • the fixed block 46 has an extension plate 49 which extends across the entrance in spaced parallel relation to each inclined surface 42 so as to define a substantially rectangular space or opening at the entrance for insertion of the spacer frame, as best seen from Figure 6.
  • Each movable guide block 47 is attached with shoulder bolts 47′ slidable in an elongated slot 50 under the control of a double-acting cylinder 52.
  • Each cylinder 52 includes a piston rod 53 pivotally connected to a slide bar 54 which rides beneath each inclined surface 40 and is con­nected by the shoulder bolts 47′ to the block 47 to control its movement along the slot 50 toward and away from the fixed block 46 in response to air under pressure directel into one of the pressure lines L3 and L4.
  • the block 47 is selectively movable into a closed position, as shown in Figure 3, to clamp a spacer frame between the blocks 46 and 47 with the upper end of the spacer frame in communication with a discharge port 56 extending downwardly from the feed area 44.
  • the tube 22 is movable lengthwise of the feed tube 44 into and out of alignment with the supply ports 56 under the control of a double-­acting cylinder 62 having air pressure lines L1 and L2.
  • a piston rod 63 is pivotally connected to a slide bar 64 with the lower end of the tube 22 affixed to the slide bar for advancement under the control of the piston rod 63.
  • Spring-loaded steel balls 65 yieldingly engage the undersurface of the plate 44 to apply a controlled clamping force to the mating surfaces of the slide valve 64.
  • the lower end of the pick-up tube 25 has an air flow amplifier 70.
  • the air amplifier 70 includes a generally conical plug 71 which is centered within the throat region 72, and air is delivered under pressure through the line 28 to flow through the circumferential inlet 73 and upwardly across the venturi formed between the throat 72 and plug 71 in order to induce upward flow of the desiccant material from the reservoir 24 through the lower open end 74.
  • a bracket 75 is disposed across the opening 74 for the purpose of mounting the plug 71 in centered relation to the throat 72.
  • the desic­cant material is drawn with the air through the tube 25 and is fed tangentially into the separator 26 so that the air will follow a circular path tending to draw the desiccant from the air against the wall of the separator and will roll downwardly by gravity through funnel 78 into the desiccant chamber 20.
  • a butterfly valve 80 is positioned across the lower end of the funnel and is controlled by a pneumatic actuator 81, illustrated in Figure 1, to seal off the separator 26 from the chamber 20 during desiccant fill operations when dessicant is being discharged under pressure from the chamber 20 through the fill head 18.
  • the butterfly valve 80 is opened by the actuator 81 which in turn is energized by directing air under pressure by a line 82 from a pilot operated valve, not shown, in the housing 32.
  • a manually operated push button valve 84 on the side of the valve housing 32 provi­des pilot pressure for operation of the valve for the actuator 81 as well as a valve, not shown, which opens the inlet line L to initiate the air conveyor operation for refilling of the chamber 20.
  • a second fluid flow amplifier 86 is disposed at the lower end of the filter 29 having a frustoconical plug 87 centered within a generally venturi-shaped throat region 88 and receives air under pressure via the pressure line 28 from the control housing 32. This air is directed into a circumferential recess and caused to pass down­wardly through the venturi region 88 to create a negative pressure inducing the air to flow through the filter 29 and overcome any pressure loss across the filter medium 29′.
  • a minimum velocity of air must be maintained in the pick-up tube 25 in order to carry the largest particles from the desiccant reservoir 25 upwardly into the desiccant chamber; otherwise, lower velocities will transport only the smaller particles or not at all. Accordingly, a minimum outlet pressure from the fluid amplifier 70 is required to overcome the maximum pressure head which will develop as a result of lifting the desiccant through the ver­tical distance into the desiccant chamber 20.
  • a cyclone separator is employed to separate the desiccant material from the air.
  • the air flow will follow a circular path through the separator in order to encourage the desiccant to advance out­wardly against the wall of the separator and to roll downwardly through the funnel-shaped area 78.
  • a filter screen is mounted in the center of the separator which is coarse enough to allow air and dust particles to exit the top of the separator 26 while blocking the larger desiccant particles.
  • a cloth bag 29′ may provide filtra­tion down to 40 microns.
  • a filter paper can be inserted to filter out particles down to the order of 5 microns.
  • the air amplifier 86 is mounted at the lower end of the filter 29 to overcome the pressure drop across the filter and to increase the pressure differential across the pick-­up tube 25.
  • one suitable form of air amplifier for the amplifiers and 86 is that sold under the trademark "TRANSVECTOR” by the Vortec Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • the foot valve 34 includes pressure and return lines designated at 35 into the main housing 16 for controlling the desiccant fill operation.
  • air is directed under pressure from an external compressed air source, not shown, via the inlet line L through a separate pressure line 23′ to the control housing 16.
  • the actuation of the foot valve 34 will permit air under pressure to be directed from the pressure line 23′ through the upper tube 23 into the top of the chamber 20 in order to pressurize the desiccant the chamber 20.
  • a fill timer control T on the side of the control housing may be set to regulate the time of each fill; also, a clamping pressure regulator C permits adjustment of the degree of clamping pressure by controlling the amount of air pressure directed into the double acting piston 52 for the slide block 47.
  • a spacer frame F is of generally rec­tangular cross-sectional configuration with upper inclined sides or legs terminating in free ends, such as, illustrated in Figure 6. In accordance with well-known practice, it is necessary only to fill two sides of a spacer frame in order to effi­ciently dry or remove moisture along the window surfaces when installed.
  • the fill timer T will be set to assure introduction of a specific volume or quantity of desiccant which can be loaded under pressure into the two legs of the frame.
  • the legs of the frame are inserted into the entrances 48 on opposite sides of the end 18 followed by depressing the foot valve 34.
  • the foot valve when the foot valve is activated, it will cause the clamp or slide blocks 47 to be urged against the ends of the spacer frame, advance the fill tube 22 to a position aligned with the ports 56, followed by introduction of air under pressure into the desiccant chamber D to positively force desiccant material through the fill tube 22 into the legs of the spacer frame and for a time period as determined by the fill switch T.
  • the sequence is reversed to interrupt the flow of air under pressure to the chamber 20, retract the supply tube 22 to a closed position, and release the clamping blocks 47.
  • the spacer frame is then removed and a corner splice or plug is inserted into the free ends of the legs of the spacer frame to retain the desiccant within the frame.
  • the butterfly valve 80 remains in a closed position to seal the chamber 20.
  • the valve 80 is opened by the pneumatic actuator 81 and air under pressure is then intro­duced through the pressure line 28 to refill the chamber 20 in the manner described.
  • the air con­veyor sequence for refilling the chamber is ini­tiated by the conveyor button 84 on the valve housing 32.
  • the desiccant chamber may be filled manually without the assistance of the air conveyor as described.
  • the fill head 18 can be rotated within the face plate 19 by loosening the clamps 39, for example, to faciliate handling extended lengths of spacer frames without interference from the floor surface.
  • one side of the fill head 18 may be plugged or blocked off so that the desiccant material is directed only through the raised or upper port 56.
  • the adjustable telescoping standard 14 enables suitable height adjustment of the machine according to the size of the spacer frame to be filled.
  • the described embodiment of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing desiccant materials and in particular for their introduction under pressure into spacer frames of the type employed in insulated glass units.
  • the method and apparatus described enables desiccant material to be injected in a minimum amount of time at a predetermined pressure and remains flexible enough to be used in filling a wide range of lengths and sizes of spacer frames.
  • the described embodiment provides a means for conveying the desiccant material from a bulk packaging container into a chamber which can be pressurized in such a way as to minimize distribution of dust or of wasting or spilling the desiccant material.
  • the described apparatus is both modular and transportable while requiring a minimum amount of maintenance.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Securing Of Glass Panes Or The Like (AREA)
EP19900311632 1989-10-23 1990-10-23 Method and apparatus for dispensing desiccant materials into window spacer frames Withdrawn EP0425256A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42500689A 1989-10-23 1989-10-23
US425006 1989-10-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0425256A2 true EP0425256A2 (de) 1991-05-02
EP0425256A3 EP0425256A3 (en) 1992-03-04

Family

ID=23684751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900311632 Withdrawn EP0425256A3 (en) 1989-10-23 1990-10-23 Method and apparatus for dispensing desiccant materials into window spacer frames

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0425256A3 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992010635A1 (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-06-25 Skovgaard & Co. A/S A method and an apparatus for filling a closed spacer frame with a drying agent
EP0600240A1 (de) * 1992-12-02 1994-06-08 Norsk Hydro A/S Verfahren zur Verbesserung der Wärmedämmung an Rahmen aus wärmegedämmten Verbundprofilen
EP0698718A1 (de) * 1994-08-11 1996-02-28 Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH Abstandhalterrahmen für Isolierglasscheiben und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
EP3447230A1 (de) * 2017-08-23 2019-02-27 Rottler und Rüdiger und Partner GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von abstandhalterahmen für isolierglasscheiben

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3710694A1 (de) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-13 Karl Lenhardt Verfahren und vorrichtung zum befuellen von geraden hohlprofilstaeben fuer abstandhalterrahmen in isolierglasscheiben mit einem koernigen trockenmittel
DE3740922A1 (de) * 1987-12-03 1989-06-22 Bayer Isolierglasfab Kg Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung eines abstandhalter-rahmens

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992010635A1 (en) * 1990-12-05 1992-06-25 Skovgaard & Co. A/S A method and an apparatus for filling a closed spacer frame with a drying agent
EP0600240A1 (de) * 1992-12-02 1994-06-08 Norsk Hydro A/S Verfahren zur Verbesserung der Wärmedämmung an Rahmen aus wärmegedämmten Verbundprofilen
EP0698718A1 (de) * 1994-08-11 1996-02-28 Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH Abstandhalterrahmen für Isolierglasscheiben und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
EP3447230A1 (de) * 2017-08-23 2019-02-27 Rottler und Rüdiger und Partner GmbH Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von abstandhalterahmen für isolierglasscheiben

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0425256A3 (en) 1992-03-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4369084A (en) Apparatus for producing insulating glass filled with a gas other than air
JPH0840754A (ja) 内室に重質ガスを充填した絶縁ガラス板の組立方法及び絶縁ガラス板に重質ガスを充填するための装置
US5762739A (en) Process and apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes which are filled with a gas other than air
US4219054A (en) Method and apparatus for filling valve bags
US20030006248A1 (en) Apparatus and system for atmospherically controlling the removal of a bulk bag from an unloader
US4753060A (en) Method and apparatus for filling bags
JPS583727B2 (ja) 可動型真空収集装置
US20040251182A1 (en) Flow diverter and exhaust blower for vibrating screen separator assembly
US5253683A (en) Method and apparatus for dispensing desiccant materials into window spacer frames
EP0425256A2 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Einbringen von Trocknungsmaterialien in Fensterabstandsrahmen
US5819509A (en) Bag shouldering and deaerating apparatus
US3570716A (en) Fluidizer and dispenser
US3212671A (en) Method and system for dispensing hygroscopic materials from a vacuum container
US4574851A (en) Apparatus for filling a valve bag
AU1045288A (en) Apparatus for shifting filter plates in a filter press
US3840966A (en) Apparatus for inserting pressfit cups into can bodies
US4158943A (en) Method and apparatus for placing a valve bag on a filling spout
JP2542159B2 (ja) 吸着装置
EP1724063A1 (de) Sandstrahlvorrichtung
US2915338A (en) Conveying apparatus
US4471820A (en) Valve bag filling nozzle
US5741093A (en) Apparatus for collecting lightweight objects
CN112357227A (zh) 筒子纱包装用撑袋装袋单元
JP3393481B2 (ja) 袋切断口開口装置
US4773796A (en) Air slide conveyer

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920610

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19940921

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19960629