Abstract: An apparatus (1) serves to bend a hollow section (2) with which a spacer frame for insulating glass sheets is to be manufactured. For this purpose, the hollow section (2) can already be filled with drying agent during bending or, however, still be empty. The bending apparatus also has, in addition to a bending tool (11) and an abutment (13), a hold-down clamp (17) for impinging upon a side band (6) and/or a flange (10) whose cross section continues internally, and parallel thereto a support (16), so that the external proportions of the hollow section (2) remain precisely preserved even in the bending area (4). In order to support thereby the bending motion and the deformation, as well as the flow of the material of the hollow section (2) and its side bands (6)/flanges (10), the hold-down clamp (17) is subdivided and has an element (171) co-rotatable with the bending motion in the bending direction, which supports the change of direction of the side band (6)/flange (10) during the bending operation.

Abstract: That wall of a hollow metallic spacer frame between two spaced-apart parallel window panes separates a supply of partly granular and partly pulverulent desiccant in the interior of the frame from the space which is surrounded by the frame and is flanked by the panes. The wall is formed with a row of nipples extending from its outer side and having tips provided with holes for penetration of vapors from the space between the panes into contact with desiccant. The tips of some or all of the nipples are upset as a result of engagement by a roller so that the cross-sectional areas of the corresponding holes are reduced for the purpose of preventing penetration of pulverulent desiccant into the space while permitting the vapors to escape from the space into the interior of the spacer frame. The nipples are formed by deep drawing the ductile material of the wall prior to upsetting by the roller, and the tool which performs the deep drawing action can also serve to make holes in the tips of the nipples.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting tubular blanks of ductile material into substantially L-shaped bodies which can constitute parts of spacer frames for use between the panes of multiple-pane windows has a clamping unit which can engage a first portion of a blank so as to locate the blank in a predetermined position in which an intermediate portion of the blank is located between the first portion and a second portion. At such time, one side of the intermediate portion is adjacent a roller and the other side of the intermediate portion is adjacent an anvil. A moving unit is then caused to bend the intermediate portion about the anvil while the distance between the roller and the anvil decreases so that those walls of the intermediate portion which are adjacent the roller and the anvil move nearer to each other during transformation of the intermediate portion into an elbow of the thus obtained L-shaped blank.

Abstract: Successive hollow polygonal bodies which are made of a ductile material and each of which has three corners and two straight open-ended terminal portions are converted into rectangular spacer frames for use between the panes of multiple pane windows by orienting the polygonal bodies in such a way that the terminal portions extend downwardly from their open ends, by admitting metered quantities of a flowable desiccant into selected parts of the two terminal portions, by converting one of the terminal portions into an L-shaped frame member with a section which is in register with the other terminal portion, and by inserting sealing plugs into the open ends of the two terminal portions.

Abstract: The extruded aluminum spacer frame for insertion between the light-transmitting plates of an insulating-glass pane is formed with one or more pairs of transversely extending aligned openings for admission of a gas into the space within the confines of the frame, for evacuation of a gas from such space, or for regulation of the pressure within the space. If the openings are to be sealed, a tough elastic sealing compound is introduced by way of one opening of each pair so as to form in the internal space of the frame a block which sealingly contacts the inner side of the frame all the way around both openings of the respective pair. A plug is thereupon threaded or driven into one of the openings and close to or even into the other opening in order to urge the mass of sealing compound into sealing contact with the frame around both openings as well as to be maintained in sealing contact with the adjacent material of the compound.

Abstract: Elbows in tubular blanks which are filled with a desiccant are formed by clamping a blank at one side of the intended locus of the elbow, by bending the blank at the other side of the intended locus of the elbow relative to the clamped portion of the blank, by propping the blank in the region of the inner wall of the developing elbow, and by plasticizing the material of the blank in the region of the outer wall of the developing elbow so that the material of such outer wall is less likely to exhibit cracks and/or to burst as a result of bending of the blank.

Abstract: Elbows in tubular blanks which are filled with a desiccant are formed by clamping a blank at one side of the intended locus of the elbow, by bending the blank at the other side of the intended locus of the elbow relative to the clamped portion of the blank, by propping the blank in the region of the inner wall of the developing elbow, and by plasticizing the material of the blank in the region of the outer wall of the developing elbow so that the material of such outer wall is less likely to exhibit cracks and/or to burst as a result of bending of the blank.

Abstract: A spacer for use between the panes of a multiple-pane window has two tubular components whose end faces are spaced apart from one another by two relatively small teeth of an elongated plug one half of which extends into one tubular component and the other half of which extends into the other tubular component. The plug has recesses which receive portions of the respective tubular components to hold the plug against extraction from the tubular components as well as to urge some of an adhesive sealing compound at the exterior of each half of the plug toward and into the gap between the two end faces. Such gap is only partially filled by the teeth and receives sealing compound from a depression in the external surface of the plug in response to deformation of adjacent end portions of the tubular components so that the gap is filled or practically filled with sealing compound in automatic response to proper attachment of the plug to the two tubular components.

Abstract: A shatter-, bullet- and/or soundproof laminate is assembled of two or more parallel glass panes and one or more layers of transparent synthetic plastic material, one layer between each pair of neighboring panes. The laminate is assembled while the lowermost pane is supported from below in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane, and the plastic material is admitted in a liquid state by way of one or more rigid or deformable tubes which extend from the outside into the spaces between neighboring panes. At the same time, one or more additional tubes establish one or more paths for expulsion of air from such spaces. The panes can be pivoted, tilted and/or turned in the course of admission of plastic material. The tubes extend through removable or permanently installed strip- or bead-shaped seals which are disposed between or surround the marginal portions of the panes and seal the spaces between the panes from the surrounding atmosphere.