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.