Vacuum insulated glass units system

摘要

Vacuum systems comprising vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units are provided. The vacuum spaces within the VIG units are connected to one another and to one or more vacuum pumps that are configured to operate during the service lives of the VIG units.

主权项

1. A vacuum system comprising:
multiple vacuum insulated glass units, each unit comprising a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet with a vacuum space in between, wherein each vacuum space is connected to one or more other vacuum spaces via one or more conduits; and at least one vacuum pump in communication with the vacuum spaces and configured to maintain a vacuum in all or most of the vacuum spaces indefinitely when the vacuum insulated glass units are in service in a building structure; wherein the vacuum to be maintained is defined by the mean free path of an air molecule in the vacuum being greater than the distance between the first and second glass sheets or the distance between obstructions within a vacuum space as measured perpendicular to the glass sheets.