Load bearing laminates
Laminates comprising at least two glass plys surrounding at least one interlayer having at least one bore extending through the laminate are produced by excluding the interlayer from the area surrounding the bore(s) and positioning a load bearing insert around the bore. The insert may be positioned before or after the laminating process. The invention reduces the tendency for delamination around the area of the bore when the laminate is placed under load.
1. A method for producing a laminated panel comprising a first glass ply having a first glass ply inner face, a second glass ply having a second glass ply inner face, and a bonding interlayer, the method comprising laminating the first glass ply inner face to the second glass ply inner face with the bonding interlayer therebetween, said laminated panel having at least one bore extending through the panel wherein a sealing member is placed between the glass plies so as to surround the bore and form a seal with the inner faces of the glass plies thereby excluding the bonding interlayer from an area in between the first glass ply inner face and the second glass ply inner face that surrounds the bore and a load bearing insert is positioned in the area in between the first glass ply inner face and the second glass ply inner face that surrounds the bore from which the interlayer has been excluded.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member comprises a disc of a compressible material.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising removing the sealing member from the laminated panel after laminating the first glass ply inner face to the second glass ply inner face.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member comprises a ring of a compressible material.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the load bearing insert is positioned after the lamination process.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the load bearing insert is positioned by injecting a fluid into the area surrounding the bore and allowing the fluid to set to form the load bearing insert.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein air is withdrawn from the area surrounding the bore at the same time that the fluid is introduced.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sealing member comprises a ring of compressible material which extends around the perimeter of an annulus formed from a load bearing material and which is positioned prior to the lamination step.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein thickness of the sealing member, prior to lamination, is greater than that of the annulus.
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the ring of compressible material is compressed so that its thickness is substantially the same as that of the disc during the lamination process.
11. A laminated panel comprising a first glass ply having a first glass ply inner face, a second glass ply having a second glass ply inner face and a bonding interlayer therebetween, the first glass ply inner face being laminated to the second glass ply inner face by the bonding interlayer, the laminated panel having at least one bore passing through said panel, wherein the bonding interlayer is excluded from an area in between the first glass ply inner face and the second glass ply inner face that surrounds the bore and a load bearing insert is positioned in the area in between the first glass ply inner face and the second glass ply inner face that surrounds the bore and from which the interlayer has been excluded.
12. The panel according to claim 11 further comprising a sealing member positioned so as to surround the bore.
13. The panel according to claim 12 wherein said seal is formed by a ring of compressible material positioned so as to surround the bore.
14. The panel according to claim 13 wherein said insert comprises a load bearing disc which was positioned prior to producing the laminate.
15. The panel according to claim 13 wherein the insert comprises a load bearing annulus formed by a fluid that has been allowed to set, said fluid having been introduced into the area from which the interlayer has been excluded after the first glass ply has been laminated to the second glass ply.
16. A glass assembly comprising at least one laminated panel according to claim 11 .
17. The assembly according to claim 16 comprising at least two laminated panels lying in the same plane and jointed to one another by means of fixing assemblies which pass through a bore in each panel.
18. The assembly according to claim 17 wherein the fixing assemblies comprise a bolt passing through a bore and acting on a plate which bridges the two panels.
19. The assembly according to claim 16 which is attached to or part of a glass façade or a glass roof.