Gas filling device and method

Abstract

A gas filling wand for quickly filling insulated glass with Argon is provided. The insulated glass may include at least a first sheet of glass and a second sheet of glass with a spacer in between, forming an internal cavity in between the sheets of glass. At least one entry port may be formed within the spacer. The gas filling wand may be inserted into the least one entry port and inject a gas, provide a vacuum within the internal cavity, and gauge the pressure within the internal cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas filling wand comprising:
 a housing;   a vacuum connected to the housing;   a gas input connected to the housing;   a vacuum tube protruding from the housing and connected to the vacuum;   a gas tube protruding from the housing and connected to the gas input; and   a pressure sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The gas filling want of  claim 1 , wherein the gas input delivers Argon. 
     
     
         3 . The gas filling wand of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensing port connected to the housing, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to the pressure sensing port. 
     
     
         4 . The gas filling wand of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure sensor is within a pressure sensor tube protruding from the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The gas filling wand of  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises at least one exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor protrude from the at least one exit port. 
     
     
         6 . The gas filling wand of  claim 5 , wherein the gas tube, the pressure sensor tube, and the vacuum tube at least partially overlap one another. 
     
     
         7 . The gas filling wand of  claim 6 , wherein the gas tube protrudes from the exit port, the pressure sensing tube protrudes from the exit port and partially overlaps the gas tube, and the vacuum tube protrudes from the exit port and partially overlaps the pressure sensing tube. 
     
     
         8 . The gas filling wand of  claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises a first exit port and a second exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube and the pressure sensor tube each protrude through at least one of the first exit port and the second exit port. 
     
     
         9 . The gas filling wand of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensor tube protrudes from the first exit port and a first vacuum tube partially overlaps the pressure sensor tube and protrudes from the first exit port, wherein the gas tube protrudes from the second exit port and a second vacuum tube partially overlaps the gas tube and protrudes from the second exit port. 
     
     
         10 . The gas filling wand of  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum tube protrudes from the first exit port, the gas tube protrudes from the second exit port and a pressure tube comprising the pressure sensor partially overlaps the gas tube and protrudes from the second exit port. 
     
     
         11 . A method of injecting Argon into an insulating glass unit comprising:
 providing a gas filling wand comprising a vacuum tube, a gas tube, and a pressure sensor;   providing an insulated glass with an opening leading into an internal cavity of the insulated glass;   vacuuming air out of the internal cavity and injecting Argon into the internal cavity using the gas filling wand; and   monitoring the pressure of the internal cavity using the pressure sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring the volume amount of Argon within the internal cavity; and   stopping the injection of Argon once a threshold percentage has been achieved.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gas filling wand comprises at least one exit port, wherein the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor tube protrude from. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the gas filling wand comprises a first exit port and a second exit port, wherein each of the vacuum tube, the gas tube, and the pressure sensor tube protrude from. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insulated glass comprises two openings leading into the internal cavity.