AU2012201920A1 - Glass-darkening system which is suitable for windows and similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a glass-darkening system comprising a fluid-pumping device which can fill and empty an internal chamber between two transparent glass panes or pane segments belonging to a glazed structure. According to the invention, when the chamber fills with fluid, the glazed structure darkens and, when the chamber empties, the structure becomes transparent once again.

Description

- 1 GLASS-DARKENING SYSTEM WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR WINDOWS AND SIMILAR OBJECT OF THE INVENTION As stated in the title of this specification, the present invention relates to a glass 5 darkening system applicable to windows and similar by means of a material which will be located in a narrow chamber between pairs of panes, such that this narrow chamber will be able to be filled with the respective material, darkening the window, or the chamber can be emptied so that light can pass and the transparency that was lost is recovered. 10 The filling and emptying will be carried out using suitable means. Moreover, the material used will preferably be a simple or compound fluid, though it could also consist of other materials, such as sand or similar. With the system of the invention, the use of curtains and blinds is obviated, simplifying the structures currently provided, at both the constructional and the 15 aesthetic levels, which will help to reduce the price of certain installations and/or provide windows, doors, etc., which do not have the possibility of using blinds in order to minimise the passage of light. So, the objective of the invention is a simple system for darkening glazed surfaces reversibly as many times as is wished, replacing the classical systems of blinds 20 or curtains, as already stated. It is applicable to windows, shop fronts, partially or wholly glazed doors, etc. PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION In order to avoid the entry of light, windows currently use curtains and blinds of different kinds, the first being arranged inside the home and the latter via the outside 25 thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The glass-darkening system applicable to windows and similar is characterised in that, by using a suitable fluid, it is able to fill and empty at least one narrow chamber between a pair of panes, or portions of panes, close to each other. 30 The filling and emptying will be done by means of independent pumping equipment which incorporates among its elements at least one impeller pump, a tank for -2 the fluid, and a tubular portion which will plug into a valve fixed to the structure or frame of the window in order to permit the filling and emptying of the narrow chamber with the aim of darkening the window or leaving it free to permit the passage of light and be able to see outside from inside the home. 5 Moreover, the window preferably comprises a frame which supports a laminar structure of panes which generate at least two internal chambers, with at least one of them being sealed, specifically the one on the outer side, with this latter chamber performing the functions of insulating and protecting the other chamber of the pair located on the inner side. 10 It is precisely this latter, more internal, chamber that will be the one that is flooded with fluid with a high surface tension and low transmittance. The valve permits connection and disconnection to the tank indefinitely, as many times as is wished. Likewise, the tank can be inserted in the actual structure of the window, door, 15 shop front, etc. The return of the liquid to the tank gives the glazed structure back the transparency it has lost and can be done by simple gravity or assisted by means of the impeller pump itself. The possibility also exists of the chamber that is filled with fluid being partially 20 distributed over the glazed surface, thereby achieving the darkening of just certain zones. The advantages provided by the system of the invention are, among others, the following: - Reduction in the cost of construction due to the elimination of blinds. 25 - Easy to clean. - Multitude of colours, with the possibility of changing them according to the taste of the consumer. - Production not high. - Acoustic reduction. 30 - Possibility of variations in the production (strengthened glass, mirrors, tinted glass, plastic materials, wood, iron, etc.).

-3 - Multitude of profiles (wood, iron, aluminium, plastics, etc.), products cited above, permitting a large variety of thicknesses. Moreover, the fluid is a self-cleaning liquid owing to its high surface tension and it leaves no trace behind precisely because of that high surface tension. 5 The fluid can consist, for example, of water, an organic pigment and a viscous element, all this producing a fluid with a high surface tension in order thereby not to leave any trace on the panes when the internal chamber is emptied. Below, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this specification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are attached representing the object of the 10 invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of a window forming part of the glass darkening system, the object of the invention. Figure 2.- Shows a view in cross-section of the window forming part of the 15 system. Figure 3.- Shows a schematic view of the system of the invention including pumping equipment for a fluid for darkening windows and similar by filling a chamber between two pairs of panes close to each other, or a pair of portions of panes. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT 20 Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the invention provides for a laminar structure of panes, 2, 2a and 2b, which generate at least two chambers, an internal one 3 and another external one 4, with at least one of them, specifically the external one 4, being sealed, which will perform the functions of protecting and insulating the more internal chamber 3. 25 Said chamber 3 is the one that is flooded with a high surface tension and low transmittance liquid. This liquid is stored in a tank 5 which is connected to a valve 7 and impelled by a pump 6 towards the inside of the said internal chamber 3. The connection is made by means of a short tubular portion 9 which plugs into a complementary opening 8 in the 30 valve 7, which is fixed to the frame I in correspondence with the internal chamber 3. The said tubular portion 9 starts from the tank 5.

-4 In the case of a window, the valve 7 permits the connection/disconnection to the tank 5 indefinitely, as many times as is desired or required. Likewise, the tank can be inserted in the actual structure I of the window, door, shop front, etc. 5 Moreover, the return of the fluid to the tank gives back to the glass structure the transparency it had lost and can be carried out by simple gravity or assisted by the actual impeller pump 6. The panes are separated from each other by some narrow profiles 10 and 11 which determine the width of the two chambers 3 and 4. 10

Claims (7)

1. A window darkening system comprising: a glazed structure defining at least two transparent chambers, including an isolated sealed external chamber on an exterior side that is incapable of accepting liquids and at least one internal chamber on an interior side having an empty state containing no liquid and a filled state at least partially filled with liquid; and -a fluid-pumping device in fluid communication with the at least one internal chamber, the pumping device having a single plug-in connection to a selectively removable fluid reservoir tank external the glazing structure, for selectively filling and emptying the internal chamber with one of a plurality of types of liquids capable of being stored in the tank, each liquid having a lower light transmittance than the transparent chambers and sufficient surface tension to avoid leaving any trace on the glazed structure forming the internal chamber when emptied of the liquid, any of the plurality of liquid types capable of being stored in the tank respectively being replaced by removing the tank from the fluid-pumping device and reinstalling the tank containing a different one of the plurality of liquids.

2. The window darkening system of claim 1, further comprising: a frame structure coupled to the glazing structure and defining at least a portion of the at least one internal chamber; a valve coupled to the frame and in communication with the internal chamber and the fluid-pumping device tank for selectively recirculating the liquid within the internal chamber and the tank; and mating, selectively separable male and female plug-in 6 fittings coupling the valve and fluid pumping device tank.

3. The window darkening system of claim 1, wherein the internal chamber is emptied by gravity back into the tank.

4. The window darkening system of claim 1, further comprising: a frame structure coupled to the glazing structure and defining the at least one internal chamber; a valve selectively coupled to the internal chamber and the external tank, having selectively separable male and female plug-in portions, enabling fluid communication between the internal chamber and plug-in tank when the plug in portions are coupled and sealing the internal chamber when the plug-in portions are separated; and a pump coupled to tank for selectively transporting fluid between the coupled internal chamber and tank.

5. The window darkening system of claim 4, wherein the tank defines the male plug-in portion and the tank captures substantially all of the liquid when the chamber is empty.

6. The window darkening system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of replaceable tanks capable of being substituted for the single tank by selective plug-in removal and replacement thereof, each plug-in tank containing a different liquid having different light transmittal properties, for selectively changing darkening properties of the window when occupying the internal chamber.

7. The window darkening system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of replaceable plug-in tanks, each tank containing a different liquid having different light transmittal properties, for selectively changing darkening properties of the window when occupying the internal chamber.