Guardian Glass, LLC

Guardian Industries Corporation

Andrew W Pantke

Timothy A Dennis

Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl

John P Hogan

Jeffrey A Jones

A method for making a vacuum insulated glass window assembly is provided in which an amount of wet frit material is applied to a lower portion of a pump-out tube prior to insertion of the tube into a hole formed in a glass substrate of the VIG window assembly. The tube is then inserted into the hole, frit paste end first. An amount of frit may overflow the hole and form a bump/shoulder of frit material proximate the area of the hole on an outer surface of the glass substrate. Applying the fit to the tube prior to insertion and at a lower portion thereof reduces the amount of and/or avoids residual frit being deposited in an area of the tube that might significantly interfere with subsequent sealing processes, such as, for example, laser sealing of the pump-out tube.

Method and apparatus for making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including pump-out tube

A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window assembly and method for making same is provided in which a variation in the final edge seal height is preferably 0.20 mm or less, more preferably about 0.15 mm or less. Controlling final edge seal height variations substantially reduces breakage of the glass substrates of the VIG window assembly during vacuum pump-down of the cavity between the glass substrates. Edge seal height variation may be controlled, for example, by controlling initial dispensing of green frit material, controlling temperature variations during firing, and/or controlling cycle times during firing.

Vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit with reduced seal height variation and method for making same

Methods of making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window units are provided, including activating getters in a process of making VIG window units. In certain example embodiments, at least one getter is activated during and/or at the end of a pump-out/evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated. In certain example embodiments, the getter(s) may be activated (e.g., by at least a laser beam that is directed through a pump-out tube) during and/or at the end of the evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated to a low pressure that is below atmospheric pressure.

Method of making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including activating getter

A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window assembly and method for making same is provided in which dimensions of a hole formed in a glass substrate in which a pump-out tube is to be inserted is selected such that it provides sufficient clearance for efficient insertion and accommodates sufficient adhesive material (e.g., frit inclusive paste), while at the same time providing sufficient support to resist substantial tilting or tipping of the pump-out tube when inserted in the hole. In addition, a length of the pump-out tube is selected so that a distance between a top of the pump-out tube (which is later subjected to heat sealing, e.g., by a laser or the like) and an interface between the pump-out tube and the fit material proximate the hole exiting the glass substrate is in a range that reduces the likelihood of heat conduction sufficient to cause cracking of the pump-out tube at the pump-out tube/frit interface caused, for example, by thermal shock due to a temperature differential between the glass of the pump-out tube and the frit material.

A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window assembly and method for making same is provided in which dimensions of a hole and/or pump-out tube inserted therein are selected to provide sufficient clearance for efficient insertion and accommodate sufficient adhesive material, while at the same time providing sufficient support to resist substantial tilting/tipping of the pump-out tube. A length of the pump-out tube may be selected so that a distance between a top of the pump-out tube (which is subjected to heat sealing) and an interface between the tube and frit material proximate the hole reduces the likelihood of tube cracking at the tube/frit interface.

A method and apparatus for cleaning a cavity of a vacuum insulated glass window assembly is provided in which a cleaning gas mixture of or including ozone is introduced into the cavity of the vacuum insulated glass assembly and allowed to react with residual materials, such as, for example, hydrocarbons and/or polymers. Reacted hydrocarbons and/or polymers are then removed from the vacuum cavity along with any residual cleaning gas mixture. The cleaning method is preferably performed at substantially ambient temperatures or at least temperatures below about 250&#xb0; C. The ozone cleaning cycle may be repeated multiple times and followed by additional purges with other gases, such as for example nitrogen. Additional energy may be provided by heating, RF plasma; corona discharge, UV lamp, and/or the like.

Method and apparatus for making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit including cleaning cavity thereof

A method for making a vacuum insulated glass window assembly is provided in which an exposed end of a pump-out tube of a vacuum insulated glass window assembly is sealed using a laser that is applied to the end of the pump out tube in controlled sequential manner as opposed to a short duration, high-powered application of a laser. In particular, a method is disclosed in which a multiphase sequential variable power application of laser energy to an exposed end of a pump-out tube for controlled exposure times and decreasing laser trace diameters produces a more controlled melting of the tube glass to reduce or eliminate undesirable outgassing that may occur during a high-power short duration exposure of laser energy to the end of the pump-out tube to seal the tube.

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Belleville, MI, United States of America

Andrew W Pantke