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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016193818-A1
Application number	US-201615064001-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

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.

First claim

1 - 22 . (canceled)

23 . A method of making a vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window unit, the method comprising:
having first and second substantially parallel glass substrates, a plurality of spacers and a seal provided between the first and second substrates, a cavity to be evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure located between the glass substrates, and at least one getter provided in the cavity; activating the getter via at least radiation from an inductive coil, said coil being located outside of the cavity, during and/or substantially at an end of an evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure; wherein the cavity to be evacuated is located between opposing substantially parallel major surfaces of the first and second substrates respectively, and wherein a pump-out tube for evacuating the cavity extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major surfaces of the first and second substrates, and wherein the pump-out tube extends through at least part of one of the substrates, the pump-out tube being elongated so that the pump-out tube has a length longer than its width.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said activating the getter is performed at least during the evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said activating the getter is performed at least substantially at an end of the evacuation process in which the cavity is evacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said activating is performed only after an evacuation process causes pressure in the cavity to reach less than or equal to about 1×10 −3 mbar.

27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the getter is located directly below the pump-out tube, and the getter is located between the coil and the pump-out tube, when the VIG unit is viewed in cross section.

28 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the VIG window unit has a visible transmission of at least about 50%.

Assignees

• Guardian Industries

Inventors

• Hogan John P
• Pantke Andrew W
• Petrmichl Rudolph H

Classifications

• E06B3/6775

  Evacuating or filling the gap during assembly · CPC title

• B32B37/10

  characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure · CPC title

• E06B3/6612 Primary

  Evacuated glazing units · CPC title

• B32B37/14 Primary

  characterised by the properties of the layers · CPC title

• B32B3/18

  characterised by an internal layer formed of separate pieces of material {which are juxtaposed side-by-side (B32B5/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title