US 12,006,762 B2
Vacuum insulated glazing, valve, flexible seal, and method for making vacuum insulated glazing
Mahabir Bhandari, Knoxville, TN (US); Ahmed A. Hassen, Knoxville, TN (US); Bipin Shah, Fairfax, VA (US); and Derek Byrd, Knoxville, TN (US)
Assigned to UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed by UT-BATTELLE, LLC, Oak Ridge, TN (US)
Filed on Jan. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/570,931.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/138,948, filed on Jan. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0228426 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. E06B 3/66 (2006.01); E06B 3/663 (2006.01); E06B 3/673 (2006.01); E06B 3/677 (2006.01); F16K 15/04 (2006.01)
CPC E06B 3/6612 (2013.01) [E06B 3/66333 (2013.01); E06B 3/67326 (2013.01); E06B 3/6775 (2013.01); E06B 3/66342 (2013.01); F16K 15/04 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vacuum insulated glazing, comprising:
first and second spaced apart glass panes having perimeter portions, the glass panes defining a vacuum space between the glass panes;
a vacuum valve positioned at the perimeter portions of the glass panes, the vacuum valve comprising:
i) a valve body, a portion of the valve body extending between the perimeter portions of the glass panes, the valve body having first and second ends and an elongated fluid conduit having corresponding first and second ends and extending from the first end to the second end of the valve body, the first end of the fluid conduit being in fluid communication with the vacuum space, wherein the elongated fluid conduit comprises a conical portion and at the first end is smaller in cross section than at the second end;
ii) a one-way valve in the valve body positioned between the first end and the second end of the elongated fluid conduit, the one-way valve permitting fluid flow in the fluid conduit from the first end to the second end, and preventing fluid flow from the second end to the first end of the fluid conduit, wherein the one-way valve comprises a movable valve member in the fluid conduit, the valve member having first and second positions in the fluid conduit, the valve member in the first position preventing fluid flow through the conduit, and in the second position permitting fluid flow through the conduit, wherein the valve member is a spherical ball, and further comprising a restricting member for preventing movement of the spherical ball from the fluid conduit;
iii) a suction fitting for connecting the valve body to a suction device in fluid communication with the second end of the fluid conduit;
a flexible metallic end seal having opposing free ends between the perimeter portions of the glass panes for non-permeability and hermetically sealing the vacuum space for increased durability, the valve body comprising channel members for receiving and securing the free ends of the end seal; and,
whereby suction when applied to the suction fitting will draw a gas from the vacuum space through the first end of the fluid conduit, through the one-way valve and the second end of the fluid conduit to create a vacuum in the vacuum space, and the one-way valve will prevent the passage of the gas into the vacuum space so as to maintain the vacuum in the vacuum space such that the vacuum insulated glazing is capable of maintaining a vacuum of 10−3 Torr.