초록 ▼

A multipane window assembly has first and second panes of glass separated by a spacer frame that is constructed of joined tubular members. The tubular members are glass tubes, each of which has a first and second side adjacent the glass panes and a third side that bridges the first and second sides

A multipane window assembly has first and second panes of glass separated by a spacer frame that is constructed of joined tubular members. The tubular members are glass tubes, each of which has a first and second side adjacent the glass panes and a third side that bridges the first and second sides and is adjacent the airspace between the glass panes of the multipane window assembly. A plurality of holes is formed in the third side of the glass tube to allow airflow between the interior of the spacer tube and the airspace defined by the glass panes. The third side of the glass tube includes a reduced-thickness portion in which the holes are formed. The holes are preferably formed by exposing the reduced-thickness portion to a focused laser beam with sufficient energy to melt the holes in the glass. Capture of energy from the laser beam is enhanced by treating the surface of the reduced-thickness portion to make it opaque to the laser beam, either by etching or by coating with paint or ink. Alternatively, the laser beam could be matched to the composition of the glass such that the laser beam is of a frequency that the glass is opaque to the particular frequency of light used. An apparatus to form the glass tube includes a laser beam source, a focusing means to focus the laser beam on the glass tube, and a conveyor means to move the glass tube through the path of the laser beam in a controlled fashion to allow the surface to be exposed to the laser beam sufficiently to melt the hole in the tube and then move on so that a succession of spaced holes are formed in the glass tube. The apparatus can also include a means for modifying the surface of the glass tube that is exposed to the laser beam, either by coating or frosting the surface.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of forming a spacer tube for use as a spacer between first and second glass panes of a multipane window including the steps of:extruding a tube from molten glass, the tube having first and second sides for positioning adjacent the first and second glass panels and a third

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of forming a spacer tube for use as a spacer between first and second glass panes of a multipane window including the steps of:extruding a tube from molten glass, the tube having first and second sides for positioning adjacent the first and second glass panels and a third side follow bridging the first and second sides positionable to face inwardly toward a space defined between the first and second sides;cooling the glass tube to the non-molten state; andforming a plurality of holes in a longitudinal sequence in the third side of the cooled glass tube.