Abstract: The spacer member being disposed at each of support points set at predetermined intervals on opposing faces of a pair of glass sheets opposing to each other when a gap formed between the pair of glass sheets is maintained under a depressurized state, wherein the spacer member includes: at least one contacting member having a first planar part on one side and a second planar part on the other side coming into contact with the respective opposing faces of the glass sheets, and a projecting piece extending integrally from the contacting member, and on the assumption that an imaginary column that circumscribes the spacer member with its height direction being vertical to the first planar part is provided, the total area of the first planar part or the total area of the second planar part is equal to or smaller than one half of a circular cross section of the column.

Abstract: A panel comprises two confronting glass sheets 12, 14 that are hermetically sealed together by a solder glass 10, with the hermetic seal 18 comprising remelted solder glass.

Abstract: A glass panel comprising: a pair of glass sheets (1), (2) disposed in opposition to each other via a gap (V) therebetween, peripheral edges of the two glass sheets (1), (2) being bonded with low melting glass (4) for sealing the gap (V); wherein in a cross section substantially normal to faces of the two glass sheets, (1), (2), an adjacent face (4a) of the low melting glass (4) adjacent the gap (V) has a center portion thereof between the two glass sheets (1), (2) bulging toward the gap (V).

Abstract: In order to provide a method of manufacturing a glass panel which, in time of a baking process, restrains an internal stress generated in both of glass plates (1, 2) to prevent a decline in strength, and restrains inorganic and organic substances remaining within a void (V) defined between the glass plates (1, 2) to prevent deterioration in quality, a method of manufacturing a glass panel comprises the steps of executing a joining process for joining the pair of glass plates (1, 2) opposed to each other across the void (V) at peripheries thereof by using a low melting point glass (4) in a melted condition, executing a baking process for suctioning gas from said void (V) through a suction portion disposed in said glass plates while heating said void (V) defined between the glass plates (1, 2), and sealing said suction portion to seal said void (V), wherein the gas is suctioned from said void (V) with said low melting point glass (4) being in a softened condition in which a coefficient of viscosity thereof is 1

Abstract: A glass panel comprising a pair of glass sheets (1, 2) disposed with respective faces thereof confronting each other in face-to-face relationship with a gap (V) therebetween and with peripheral edges of the glass sheets (1, 2) being bonded with a bonding sealant (4) to be sealed thereby; an evacuating port (5) for evacuating gas present within said gap (V) to the outside; and a getter (7) for coming into contact with the gas within said gap (V), wherein said evacuating port (5) includes a getter-retaining space (6) for retaining said getter (7) therein, said port (5) being formed in one (1) of said pair of glass sheets (1, 2), said getter (7) being retained within said getter-retaining space (6), said evacuating port (5) being closed and sealed by means of a lid (8).

Abstract: A method of constructing a glass panel which comprises two confronting edge sealed glass sheets, the method comprises the steps of providing a solder glass band around the margin of one surface of each glass sheet, forming, at a first temperature, an hermetic bond between the solder glass band and the associated surface of each glass sheet, positioning the glass sheets in spaced-apart confronting relationship, forming, at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature, an hermetic seal between the two solder glass bands whilst maintaining the spaced apart relationship between the glass sheets.

Abstract: A glass panel comprising a pair of glass sheets (1, 2) disposed with respective faces thereof confronting each other in face-to-face relationship with a gap (V) therebetween and with peripheral edges of the glass sheets (1, 2) being bonded with a bonding sealant (4) to be sealed thereby; an evacuating port (5) for evacuating gas present within said gap (V) to the outside; and a getter (7) for coming into contact with the gas within said gap (V), wherein said evacuating port (5) includes a getter-retaining space (6) for retaining said getter (7) therein, said port (5) being formed in one (1) of said pair of glass sheets (1, 2), said getter (7) being retained within said getter-retaining space (6), said evacuating port (5) being closed and sealed by means of a lid (8).

Abstract: A glass panel comprising: a pair of glass sheets (1), (2) disposed in opposition to each other via a gap (V) therebetween, peripheral edges of the two glass sheets (1), (2) being bonded with low melting glass (4) for sealing the gap (V);

Abstract: In order to provide a method of manufacturing a glass panel which, in time of a baking process, restrains an internal stress generated in both of glass plates (1, 2) to prevent a decline in strength, and restrains inorganic and organic substances remaining within a void (V) defined between the glass plates (1, 2) to prevent deterioration in quality, a method of manufacturing a glass panel comprises the steps of executing a joining process for joining the pair of glass plates (1, 2) opposed to each other across the void (V) at peripheries thereof by using a low melting point glass (4) in a melted condition, executing a baking process for suctioning gas from said void (V) through a suction portion disposed in said glass plates while heating said void (V) defined between the glass plates (1, 2), and sealing said suction portion to seal said void (V), wherein the gas is suctioned from said void (V) with said low melting point glass (4) being in a softened condition in which a coefficient of viscosity thereof is 1

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for evacuating a chamber, for example in vacuum glazing, that is enclosed in part by a glass wall that includes an evacuation port. An evacuating head is employed and is arranged to cover the port and a portion of the glass wall that surrounds the port. The evacuating head has a first cavity that communicates with the port and at least one further cavity that surrounds the first cavity. The first and further cavities are connected by conduits to respective vacuum pumps, which apply differential negative pressure to the first and further cavities, and the chamber is evacuated by way of the first cavity. Evacuation of the chamber may be effected whilst the glazing is subjected to high temperature out-gassing.

Abstract: A method of constructing a glass panel which comprises two confronting edge sealed glass sheets, the method comprises the steps of providing a solder glass band around the margin of one surface of each glass sheet, forming, at a first temperature, an hermetic bond between the solder glass band and the associated surface of each glass sheet, positioning the glass sheets in spaced-apart confronting relationship, forming, at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature, an hermetic seal between the two solder glass bands whilst maintaining the spaced apart relationship between the glass sheets.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced-apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a glass solder edge seal and an array of support pillars, wherein the glass sheets are sized or configured, or both, such that their edges are not in registration, and, at any point around the periphery of the panel, the edge of one of the sheets extends beyond the edge of the other in order to provide a peripheral stepped cavity in which solder glass material for forming the edge seal is deposited prior to being melted and fused.

Abstract: Vacuum glazing comprising two sheets of glass, hermetically sealed around the edge, with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars placed between the glass sheets to be in contact therewith, wherein the pillars are one piece elements consisting of a core or central body, made of a material of higher compressive strength, and at least one contact layer, made of a softer metallic or carbon material, the contact layer being arranged to provide an integral interface between at least one of the ends of the central body and the adjacent glass sheet, the contact layer being arranged to absorb shear forces.

Abstract: A vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass hermetically sealed around the edge with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars placed between the glass sheets, wherein one of the sheets of glass is laminated, after the vacuum glazing has been manufactured.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a glass solder edge seal and an array of support pillars, and further comprises a pump-out tube which penetrates one of the glass sheets and has a radial flange which is cemented to the inner surface of that glass sheet. A method of constructing a thermally insulating glass panel includes the step of installing a pump-out tube through one of the glass sheets of the panel with the pump-out tube having a radial flange that is sealed to the interior surface of the glass sheet.

Abstract: The inventions described in this specification concern a number of improvements to the design of thermally insulating glass panels (10, 11). The first improvement concerns the support pillars (12), and in particular a method of designing the pillar radius and spacing, and a panel (10, 11) constructed in accordance with the design constaints of the method. The second improvement concerns the edge seal (13), and in particular a method of constructing a thermally insulating glass panel (10, 11) with a superior edge seal (13), and a panel (10, 11) incorporating the superior seal (13). The third improvement concerns the evacuation of the panels (10, 11), and in particular method of improving the evacuation of the panels (10, 11) during construction, and a panel (10, 11) produced by the improved method. The fourth improvement concerns the pump-out tube, in particular a panel (10, 11) incorporating the improved pump-out tube, and a method of constructing such panels (10, 11).

Abstract: Vacuum glazings and methods of manufacture thereof are described; the glazings provide improved shear stress resistance in that the vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass (2, 3), hermetically sealed around the edge (4), with a thermally insulating internal vacuum, and an array of support pillars (5) placed between the glass sheets (2, 3), wherein the pillars (5) consist of a core (13), made of a material of higher compressive strength, with at least one end covered by a layer of softer material (14). Alternatively, the vacuum glazing comprises two sheets of glass (2, 3), hermetically sealed around the edge (4), with a thermally insulating vacuum, and an array of support pillars (5) placed between the glass sheets (2, 3), wherein the array includes a small number of fused solder glass pillars located over the surface of the glazing, between pillars of higher compressive strength.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprising two spaced-apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space, and interconnected by a peripheral joint of fused solder glass and an array of pillars transversely between the glass sheets. The pillars may be made entirely of metal. Alternatively, the array may be made of a combination of solder glass-containing pillars and non-solder glass-containing pillars. Additional support pieces may be arranged between the glass sheets before the peripheral joint of solder glass is fused.

Abstract: A thermally insulating glass panel comprises two spaced apart sheets of glass enclosing a low pressure space and interconnected by a peripheral joint of fused solder glass and an array of support pillars, and a pump-out tube used to provide communication between the low pressure space and the exterior of the panel during the creation of the low pressure space. The support pillars each comprise a preformed core of a selected geometry and a selected material and a coating of solder glass at least in the areas between the preformed core and the sheet glass. Preferably the preformed core is spherically shaped and completely coated by solder glass. The preformed core serves to separate the glass sheets during the heating process of the panel's fabrication when the solder glass is in its molten state, and the solder glass serves as a mechanical joint to support the glass sheets after solidification.