Abstract:
An insulating glass unit may be fabricated by filling the space between opposed panes of glass with multiple types of gases and then sealing the gases in the space. A spacer containing a gas adsorption material may be positioned between the panes of glass to seal the gases in the space. In some examples, the gas adsorption material is configured to selectively adsorb one of the gases introduced into the space but substantially none of another of the gases introduced into the space. As a result, the gas pressure in the insulating glass unit may reduce below the initial filling pressure after fabrication of the unit due to adsorption. Such gas pressure reduction may be useful, for example, if the insulating glass unit is going to be used at a higher elevation location where the air pressure is lower.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for masking a planar surface and providing information at the point of use of an assembly (200) including the planar surface are disclosed. In one advantageous method in accordance with the present invention, a masking material comprising a substrate (232) and an adhesive (234) disposed over a first face of the substrate is provided. One or more strips of masking material are applied to a planar surface, and an information bearing sheet is applied over the one or more strips of masking material.
Abstract:
The invention provides improved masking for monolithic panes, insulating glass units, and other substrates. In some embodiments, the protective covering comprises a plurality of strips of masking material. In some embodiments, the protective covering (which may take the form of a single masking sheet or of multiple masking strips) is sized, shaped, and positioned such that an oversized masked portion of a pane surface has a lesser area than the pane surface itself but has a greater than an exposed central region of the pane surface that remains exposed (i.e., is left uncovered) by a frame when the pane is mounted in the frame. In some embodiments, a pane is mounted to a frame such that at least one edge of the pane is received in the frame. The pane has a protective covering disposed over a masked portion of a major surface of the pane. This major surface has an unmasked apron between an outer periphery of the protective covering and an outer periphery of the pane. The protective covering is sized, shaped, and positioned such that at least one peripheral side portion of the protective covering extends at least somewhat beneath a confronting surface of the frame.
Abstract:
A heat formable mirror is formed by sputter depositing upon a sheet such as glass a reflective coating utilizing a base layer of silicon or a combination of silicon and stainless steel films, a reflective layer formed of a reflective metallic film such as niobium, titanium or aluminum, and a protective layer comprising preferably silicon nitride. The resulting mirror can be heat formed at elevated temperatures to form a curved mirror having a reflective coating free of objectionable defects.
Abstract:
A heat-resistant transparent glass article is formed with a film stack deposited on a glass substrate, the film stack comprising one or more infrared reflective films (20) each bearing on its surface facing away from the substrate a barrier film of niobium metal (18, 22) having a thickness of up to 25 ANGSTROM and preferably in the range of about 7 ANGSTROM to 20 ANGSTROM . A barrier film of niobium metal (18, 22) or, preferably, a metal oxide may be formed on the other surface (facing the substrate) of each infrared reflective film (20). Metal nitride films (16, 24) such as silicon nitride may be employed between neighboring infrared reflective films (20), and as an outer protective film.
Abstract:
Transparent articles comprising transparent, nonmetallic substrate and a transparent film stack is sputter deposited on the substrate. The film stack is characterized by including at least one infrared reflective metal film, a dielectric film over the metal film, and a protective silicon nitride film of 10 ANGSTROM to 150 ANGSTROM in thickness over the said dielectric film. The dielectric film desirably has substantially the same index of refraction as does silicon nitride and is contiguous with the silicon nitride film.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a stain-resistant glass and a method of making such a glass. In accordance with the method of the invention, SO3 is applied to the upper surface of a sheet of float glass in an amount sufficient to reduce staining of the glass. In a preferred embodiment, the oxygen-containing gas and SO2 gas are supplied in a lehr adjacent the float bath at a temperature of at least about 800 DEG F (about 425 DEG C). In one aspect of the invention, a hood (30) having a gas delivery system (40) is provided, with the hood defining a downwardly open enclosure and enclosing a portion of the delivery system. The hood is optimally disposed above a ribbon of float glass (25) in an annealing lehr (20) and the delivery system may include a sparge pipe for delivering either SO2 or SO3 gas to the hood.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a high transmittance, low emissivity film stack having an overcoat of an oxide of a metal chosen from the group of zinc, tin, indium, or bismuth, or an alloy including one or more of these metals, the oxide being applied in a thickness sufficiently low as to have no significant affect upon the optical properties of the coated substrate. That is, if the overcoat is lost through abrasion or chemical attack, the loss will not significantly affect the optical properties of the coating. The resulting film stack exhibits significantly enhanced durability as compared to a film stack without such an overcoat. In a preferred embodiment, a film stack of the invention includes at least one reflective metal layer, an outer, scratch-resistant metal oxide overcoat, and a metal oxide layer between the silver layer and the overcoat which is less scratch resistant than the overcoat.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a coating for a transparent substrate which exhibits a neutral color through a wide range of angles of incidence of light. The coating employs a base coat (20) adjacent to the transparent substrate (10) having a thickness of no more than about 275 Angstroms and may include two reflective metal layers (30, 50) having an intermediate layer of an anti-reflective metal oxide therebetween (40) and an outer anti-reflective layer of metal oxide (60) over the second reflective metal layer (50). If so desired, the coating of the invention may include an abrasive-resistant overcoat as its outer most layer (70). This overcoat is desirably formed of an abrasive-resistant metal oxide, such as zinc oxide, applied at thickness which does not significantly affect the optical properties of said coated substrate.
Abstract:
A power transfer assembly includes a window balance assembly, a pivot bar, and an electrically conductive pathway. The window balance assembly includes a first portion configured to be fixed in place and a second portion configured to be movable relative to the first portion. The pivot bar is conductively coupled to the second portion of the window balance assembly. And, the electrically conductive pathway extends between the window balance assembly and the pivot bar.