Float glass method and apparatus for supplying modifying material to the glass surface

Claim 2

A method according to claim 1, wherein the body of molten material is maintained against the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass by causing said body to cling to a locating member adjacent the upper surface of the glass.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use in the manufacture of float glass having desired surface characteristics, comprising a molten metal support For an advancing ribbon of glass, means for maintaining a protective atmosphere over the support, heaters associated with the support for thermally conditioning the advancing glass, a locating member mounted transversely of the support and just above the path of travel of the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, means for supplying molten material to a body of molten material which clings to said locating member on the glass surface, and means for controlling ionic migration from said body of molten material into the upper surface of the ribbon of glass, said supplying means including a replenishing duct terminating just above the path of travel of the upper surface of the ribbon upstream of said locating member, and through which replenishing material is fed onto the said upper surface, so that said material melts at the ribbon surface and is incorporated in said body as the ribbon advances.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end of the replenishing duct is shaped so as to feed a pellet of replenishing material onto the ribbon surface upstream of said body so that the pellet melts onto the ribbon surface as the ribbon advances.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the end of the replenishing duct is spaced from said ribbon so as to hold a pellet of a replenishing material against the ribbon surface until the pellet melts onto the ribbon and thereby releases itself from the duct.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the support for the ribbon of glass is an elongated bath of molten metal contained in a tank structure, and the replenishing duct passes through a sidewall of the tank structure and is mounted in that sidewall by means for selectively positioning the end of the duct transversely of the path of travel of the ribbon of glass.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said locating member is a bar-shaped member mounted transversely of and just above the path of travel of the upper surface of the ribbon of glass.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the replenishing duct is a stainless steel tube terminating in a head with an underneath mouth, which tube is held so that the mouth is spaced from the path of travel of the upper surface of the glass by a distance less than the diameter of the pellets of replenishing material to be fed down the tube.