Patent US3637362A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3637362A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for heat-treating glass sheets
Assignee: Pilkington North America Inc
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Filing: 1968-09-16
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Granted: 1972-01-25
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Expires: 1988-09-16
Abstract
Abstract This application discloses a method and apparatus for heating glass sheets to an elevated temperature while they are supported, preferably in a substantially vertical plane, with one surface against a cushion of air and moved in a generally continuous manner through a substantially enclosed tunnel. The apparatus includes apertured panels located within the tunnel at either side of the path of travel of the glass, and through which panels heating and supporting gases are directed toward the glass surfaces; aspirating means for recovering and recirculating the gases; and special designs and patterns of apertures for the panels, at least one of which has improved heat reflecting characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Waldemar W Oelke
- 👤 Thomas B O'connell
- 👤 Richard A Herrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:39
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B29/00; C03B29/04; C03B29/06; C03B29/08; C03B29/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which said sheet is positioned in and moved through a substantially enclosed tunnel, one wall of which is defined by a series of said panels on a series of said cells, and a stream of said high-pressure air is aspirated into the cavity of each of said cells through a chamber which communicates with said tunnel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A method as defined in claim 2, in which said sheet is a sheet of glass positioned in a substantially vertical plane, the opposite wall of said tunnel is defined by a second series of apertured cover panels for the cavities of a second series of cells, said sheet is heated to substantially the point of softening of the glass by streams of hot gas directed against opposite surfaces thereof from the working faces of said first and second series of apertured cover panels and by heat radiated thereto from at least said second series of panels, and said sheet is further processed while in said heated condition as it moves out of and beyond said substantially closed tunnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
In apparatus for supporting and heat treating a glass sheet and which includes a cell having a cavity, an apertured panel covering said cavity means for introducing air into said cavity from a primary source, to discharge streams of air from said cell cavity through the apertures in said panel at a pressure to support said glass sheet in spaced substantially parallel relation to said panel; the improvement comprising separate means for supplying and directing a stream of aspirating air into said cell cavity at a point and at a pressure to draw ambient air from the space between said glass sheet and said panel into said stream of aspirating air to return it to said cell cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said cell is one of a series of such cells arranged by side-by-siDe relation with the panels thereof at a slight angle to the vertical and defining the lowermost sidewall of a tunnel, a second series of similar cells is positioned in opposed relation to said first series and with their apertured cover panels defining the uppermost sidewall of said tunnel, means are provided for closing the top and bottom walls of said tunnel and for creating chambers in open communication with the interior of said tunnel and with the cavities of each said first series of cells, and said air aspirating means is one of a series of such means similarly associated with each of said first mentioned series of cells for directing streams of said aspirating air into the cavities of the same through said chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the cover panels for said second series of cells are of heat reflective material, and the cells of both series include burner tubes extending into the cavities thereof toward said cover panels and having flame ports adjacent their inner ends, and means for providing a combustible gas to said burners at controlled pressures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said cells also include inner pans in said mold cavities and spaced from the walls thereof and in surrounding relation to the port areas of said burners and with the open sides of said pans facing said cover panels and closed sides thereof being provided with openings therein, and said air aspirating means are positioned to direct the airstreams therefrom into the space in said cell cavities outside said inner pans.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 which also includes conveyor means for supporting glass sheets on edge within said tunnel and for moving the same therethrough, means for resiliently clamping said cover panels on said cells, and means for supplying cooling air to said burner tubes outwardly of said port area thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
In apparatus for heat-treating glass sheets including means for moving said sheets along a defined path and a treating cell located along said path and having a cavity, an apertured panel closing said cavity and having a working face positioned to direct gases from said cavity toward the surface of a glass sheet moving along said path, the apertures in said panel comprising passages leading into the panel from the surface thereof opposite said working face, elongated slots cut arcuately into said working face and intersecting and curving outwardly from said passages toward said working face whereby the depth of said slot decreases outwardly from said passages and toward said working face to provide curved bottoms in said slots at either side of said passages, and said slots being arranged in spaced vertical rows across said panel and in spaced horizontal rows inclined upwardly in the direction of said path with the slots in adjacent rows in overlapping relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
In apparatus for heat treating glass sheets, the combination, with a burner tube contained within a chamber having a forward face constructed with spaced ports for applying gas between said forward face and a glass sheet to be treated at a pressure sufficient to support and heat said sheet, of aspirating means mounted in a manner relative thereto to attain a return flow of the exhaust gasses to said burner chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |