INSULATING WINDOW INCORPORATING PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS AND A PRESSURE EQUALIZATION SYSTEM
A heat insulating window comprises a pair of outer glass panes, held apart by a spacing member and surrounded by a frame enclosing at least one photovoltaic cell. In a preferred embodiment a conduit system providing gas communication to the air space between the glass panes includes a desiccant.
1 . A heat insulation window comprising:
(a) a pair of glass panes defining an interior air space therebetween;
(b) a spacing member disposed between said glass panes which maintain the panes in a spaced-apart relationship;
(c) at least one photovoltaic cell disposed between said glass panes; and
(d) a frame surrounding a perimeter of the window, wherein the frame comprises a conduit means for providing gas communication through the frame to the air space.
2 . The heat insulation window of claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises a desiccant.
3 . The heat insulation window of claims 1 or 2 wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell is laminated to one of said glass panes.
4 . The heat insulation window of claims 1 - 3 wherein said frame encloses an interior space and comprises an access means through said frame to said interior space.
5 . The heat insulation window of claim 1 or 2 wherein the spacing member defines an internal volume in gas communication with the air space between the glass panes, and further comprising a dessicant disposed within the internal volume.
6 . The heat insulation window of claim 5 wherein said at least one photovoltaic cell is electrically connected to a three pole disconnect direct current switch and an inverter.
7 . A heat insulation window comprising:
(a) a pair of glass panes defining an air space therebetween and having a photovoltaic cell disposed within the airspace;
(b) a spacing member disposed between the glass panes which maintain the panes in a spaced-apart relationship, the spacing member being hollow and defining openings permitting gas communication between the air space and the interior volume of the spacing member;
(c) a desiccant material contained within the spacing member; and
(d) a frame surrounding a perimeter of the window, wherein the frame comprises:
(i) at least one desiccant concealing member which is hollow and detachable from the frame;
ii) a desiccant cartridge removably disposed within the desiccant concealing member and
(iii) conduit means for providing gas communication between the air space and the desiccant cartridge.
8 . The window of claim 7 wherein the conduit means provides gas communication between the interior volume of the spacing member and the desiccant cartridge.
9 . The window of claim 7 wherein the desiccant cartridge comprises an elongated cylindrical tube.
10 . The window of claim 7 wherein the desiccant concealing member is elongated and has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile.
11 . The window of claim 10 wherein the cross-sectional profile comprises two linear segments joining at a substantially right angle.
12 . The window of claim 7 wherein the frame comprises an outer channel member, an inner channel member, a web member disposed between the outer and inner channel members, wherein the desiccant concealing member is detachably connected to the inner channel member.
13 . The window of claim 10 wherein the desiccant concealing member is comprised of a resilient material and comprises a first lip and a second lip which each engage an undercut groove in the inner channel member.