US3658501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for manufacture of float glass
Assignee: Pilkington Group Ltd
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Filing: 1969-03-25
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1989-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Float glass is manufactured with predetermined characteristics imparted to the glass by a body of molten material which contacts a surface of the glass and the length of the body of molten material, in the direction of relative movement between the glass and the body, is maintained constant in any section through the body in that direction. This is accomplished by forming the downstream portion of the locating member as an element which is movable with respect to an upstream portion of the locating member to compensate for different rates of erosion thereof. Alternatively, the downstream portion is formed of a material which is more erosion resistant than upstream portions of the locating member. In a further embodiment, the entire lower surface of the locating member is made movable with respect to the upper portion so as to enable the entire lower surface to be renewed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Lawrenson
- 👤 Albert Sidney Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:53
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C21/00; C03C21/001; C03C21/005; C03B; C03B18/00; C03B18/02; C03B18/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface and having a lower face for locating a body of molten glassmodifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, and wherein the downstream edge of the locating member comprises an adjustable edge portion defining a downstream portion of said lower face to which the downstream edge of the molten body clings, the edge portion being held by adjusting means for lowering the edge portion including said downstream portion of said lower face toward the molten body relative to an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face so as to renew the downstream portion of said lower face to which the molten body clings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface and having a lower face for locating a body of molten glassmodifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, and wherein the downstream edge of the locating member comprises an adjustable edge portion defining a downstream portion of said lower face to which the downstream edge of the molten body clings, the edge portion being held by adjusting means for lowering the edge portion including said downstream portion of said lower face toward the molten body relative to an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face so as to renew the downstream portion of said lower face to which the molten body clings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: said molten body comprises an electrically conductive body; and further including electric current-generating means for enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface to locate a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, the downstream edge of the locating member comprising a continuous strip-shaped insert having a lower face to which the molten body clings, and strip-feeding means to advance said strip-shaped insert along the locating member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface to locate a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, the downstream edge of the locating member comprising a continuous strip-shaped insert having a lower face to which the molten body clings, and strip-feeding means to advance said strip-shaped insert along the locating member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein: said molten body comprises an electrically conductive body; and further including electric current-generating means for enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface to locate a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, and wherein the downstream edge of the locating member comprises a face of material to which the molten body clings, the downstream edge of the locating member comprising a continuous strip-shaped insert said insert being keyed into an elongated channel formed in said locating member adjacent said downstream edge, and strip-feeding means being located outside the tank structure to continuously feed the continuous strip of insert material through the channel at a controlled rate to renew continuously said face of said downstream edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
Float glass manufacturing apparatus comprising an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal, means for advancing a ribbon of glass along the bath, a locating member extending across the tank structure just above the bath surface to locate a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, and wherein the downstream edge of the locating member comprises a face of material to which the molten body clings, the downstream edge of the locating member comprising a continuous strip-shaped insert said insert being keyed into an elongated channel formed in said locating member adjacent said downstream edge, and strip-feeding means being located outside the tank structure to continuously feed the continuous strip of insert material through the channel at a controlled rate to renew continuously said face of said downstream edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: said molten body comprises an electrically conductive body; and further including electric current-generating means for enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of manufacturing float glass comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal; advancing a ribbon of glass along the surface of said molten metal bath; locating a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, by means of a locating member extending across the ribbon surface and having a lower face to which said molten body clings, advancement of said ribbon of glass causing the doWnstream edge portion of the lower face of said locating member to erode at a more rapid rate than an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face; enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass ribbon to impart surface characteristics to the glass ribbon; and lowering the downstream edge portion of the lower face toward the molten body relative to the adjacent upstream portion of the lower face by an amount tending to compensate for said more rapid rate of erosion of said downstream edge portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of manufacturing float glass comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tank structure containing a bath of molten metal; advancing a ribbon of glass along the surface of said molten metal bath; locating a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, by means of a locating member extending across the ribbon surface and having a lower face to which said molten body clings, advancement of said ribbon of glass causing the doWnstream edge portion of the lower face of said locating member to erode at a more rapid rate than an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face; enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass ribbon to impart surface characteristics to the glass ribbon; and lowering the downstream edge portion of the lower face toward the molten body relative to the adjacent upstream portion of the lower face by an amount tending to compensate for said more rapid rate of erosion of said downstream edge portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said molten body comprises an electrically conductive body, and said step of enforcing further comprises: electronically enforcing a migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
195 words
A mehtod of manufacturing float glass comprising the steps of: advancing a ribbon of glass along the surface of a molten metal bath contained in an elongated tank structure; locating a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, by means of a locating member extending across the ribbon surface and having a lower face to which said molten body clings, the downstream edge portion of said lower face being formed as a continuous strip-shaped insert mounted for movement along said locating member; and advancement of said ribbon of glass causing said downstream edge portion of the lower face of said locating member to erode at a more rapid rate than an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face; enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass ribbon to impart surface characteristics to the glass ribbon: and advancing said strip-shaped insert along the locating member to cause advancement of the downstream edge portion of said lower face relative to the adjacent upstream portion of the lower face by an amount tending to compensate for said more rapid erosion of said downstream edge portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
A mehtod of manufacturing float glass comprising the steps of: advancing a ribbon of glass along the surface of a molten metal bath contained in an elongated tank structure; locating a body of molten glass-modifying material on the upper surface of the advancing ribbon of glass, by means of a locating member extending across the ribbon surface and having a lower face to which said molten body clings, the downstream edge portion of said lower face being formed as a continuous strip-shaped insert mounted for movement along said locating member; and advancement of said ribbon of glass causing said downstream edge portion of the lower face of said locating member to erode at a more rapid rate than an adjacent upstream portion of the lower face; enforcing migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass ribbon to impart surface characteristics to the glass ribbon: and advancing said strip-shaped insert along the locating member to cause advancement of the downstream edge portion of said lower face relative to the adjacent upstream portion of the lower face by an amount tending to compensate for said more rapid erosion of said downstream edge portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein said molten body comprises an electrically conductive body, and said step of enforcing further comprises: electronically enforcing a migration of an element from said molten body into the advancing glass surface.
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) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |