Vidromax has created a new system that facilitates production and transport of large glass insulation units.
The system can deal with dimensions of 6m by 3.21m, which facilitates transport and export. The mechanism is designed to control the pressure inside the glass, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of the double or triple glazing.
All double glass components were analysed to maximize the glass area of 19m2, reducing the thickness of the seal between glasses. To allow pressure adjustment inside the glass, an innovative valve is incorporated in the corner keys. The valves enable the injection of air, or another gas, to the interior of the glass, guaranteeing tightness of the assembly. The advantages are mainly related to the maintenance of glasses in which, before the final assembly, a new injection of gas may be performed, and therefore compensating for any possible losses.
Professor coordinator of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of ISEC, Luis Borrego, who developed the system in partnership with Vidromax said “the most innovative element of the system, that does not exist on the market and is likely to be patented, is the control valve pressure inside the double or triple glazing “. This solution allows pressurizing the inside of the windows, which enables that the integrity and quality of glass are not affected during transport.
Additionally, the system still has a pressure adjustment function inside the double or triple glass after installation and even during its current use. Pressure control inside the glasses can be varied due to thermal expansion and thus lead to the malfunction of the glasses. Maintenance of the units will be greatly simplified avoiding disassembly or even replacement, contributing to increased customer satisfaction and reduced after-sales guarantee costs.
The project started by conducting various studies and optimizations in order to be able to produce the system. Among others, mechanical strength tests were performed on various materials which allow the size reduction of the structural support rails “was necessary to determine the ideal glass to support the process of double and triple glazing of large dimensions as well as the type of spacer used and injecting air or argon to fill the space between the glasses ” he explained.
These studies were carried out to try to reduce the thickness of the seals, a step considered essential to allow the use of smaller height rails, thus increasing the area visible through the glass.
The results of the tests have determined the most favourable combination for manufacture. “The demands of the market and of modern architecture, ask for increasingly larger glazed areas with structural support rails with dimensions reduced to a minimum, thus increasing the area visible through the glass, were the motivations for research in this project,” said Professor Borrego.
The design includes the establishment of a new class of spacer bars that allow the absorption of moisture inside the double-glazing and promote the longevity of the seals.
Reducing the thickness of the seal allows increasing the area visible through the glass, which meets the current requirements of the construction and architecture sector.
Professor Borrego said that this innovation offers a significant boost for the sector through the significant increase in orders, especially from foreign countries, due to the versatility of the units can be applied in different climates and simultaneously present a maximized glass area.