Method of manufacturing heat insulating structural and/or light elements and installation for carrying out the method

Abstract

A method of manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas. The method includes conveying wall elements which have been cleaned and coated on at least one surface thereof and are intended for a structural and/or light element in a manufacturing line extending over manufacturing sections, coating with solder at least one side of each wall element at edges thereof, placing spaced-apart support elements on a wall element, positioning the wall elements opposite each other at a distance determined by the support elements, and subsequently enclosing the wall elements to form a gas-tight hollow space between the wall elements by applying a deformable metal sealing element at the coated edges of both wall elements.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas, the method comprising conveying wall elements which have been cleaned and coated on at least one surface thereof and are intended for a structural and/or light element in a manufacturing line extending over manufacturing sections, coating with solder at least one side of each wall element at edges thereof, placing spaced-apart support elements on a wall element, positioning the wall elements opposite each other at a distance determined by the support elements, and subsequently enclosing the wall elements to form a gas-tight hollow space between the wall elements by applying a deformable metal sealing element at the coated edges of both wall elements.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising applying the solder layer after placing the support elements on a wall element.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element provided with an evacuated hollow space travel through at least one evacuatable manufacturing section equipped for a specific manufacturing method.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element travel through the manufacturing sections one behind the other, next to each other, above each other or offset next or above each other.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing sections are rooms which can be separated, comprising applying a vacuum to each room in accordance with the manufacturing method being carried out.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising carrying out a pretreatment step for cleaning and/or applying a heat radiation-reflecting layer on the wall elements, wherein the pretreatment step is a manufacturing section of the manufacturing method.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the pretreatment step is connected to the subsequent manufacturing sections of the manufacturing method.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the manufacturing sections are manufacturing rooms which can be separated from each other.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising, after carrying out the edge coating of the wall elements, placing the support elements on at least one wall element, subsequently joining the wall elements intended for a structural and/or light element at a distance of the support elements, and then conveying the wall elements to an enclosing step for mounting the edge sealing element.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall elements travel through the manufacturing sections vertically and/or horizontally.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising carrying out a further evacuation of the hollow space between the wall elements after the sealing element is mounted.  
     
     
         12 . An installation for manufacturing heat-insulating structural and/or light elements composed of at least two wall elements of glass, a glass alloy or metal, wherein the wall elements are separated from each other by support elements and are provided on at least one of surfaces thereof facing each other with a layer reflecting heat radiation, and wherein the structural and/or light elements further are composed of a deformable sealing element for connecting the wall elements to obtain a hollow space between the wall elements which can be evacuated or supplied with gas, the installation comprising a conveying device for transporting the wall elements on a manufacturing line composed of several manufacturing sections, wherein the manufacturing line is connected at least over portions thereof to a vacuum source for producing a vacuum in the manufacturing line.  
     
     
         13 . The installation according to  claim 12 , comprising a manufacturing section for forming an edge coating for applying the support elements on the wall elements, a manufacturing section for joining at least two wall elements, and a manufacturing section for applying a deformable metal sealing element at an edge of the joined wall elements.  
     
     
         14 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the manufacturing section for forming an edge coating is arranged in front of the manufacturing section for placing the support elements on a wall element.  
     
     
         15 . The installation according to  claim 13 , comprising a pretreatment section for cleaning and low E-coating the wall elements in front of the manufacturing line.  
     
     
         16 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the manufacturing sections are connected to a vacuum source.  
     
     
         17 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the manufacturing sections are constructed as manufacturing rooms, wherein the manufacturing sections comprise a conveying path for the wall elements surrounded by passage openings.  
     
     
         18 . The installation according to  claim 17 , wherein the conveying path is comprised of a conveying device for conveying the wall elements.  
     
     
         19 . The installation according to  claim 17 , wherein the passage openings connecting the manufacturing rooms comprise closing flaps or slides.  
     
     
         20 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the manufacturing sections comprise automatically controlled handling and finishing devices for manufacturing the wall elements into structural and/or light elements.  
     
     
         21 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one manufacturing section has parallel subsections.  
     
     
         22 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the finishing line is configured to transport the wall elements in a timed sequence.  
     
     
         23 . The installation according to  claim 13 , wherein the manufacturing line comprises a control means actuated by a programmed computer.