US3658504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Float glass manufacture apparatus
Assignee: Pilkington Group Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-03-13
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1989-03-13
Abstract
Abstract In the float process for the manufacture of glass, an alkali metal is removed from the bath of molten metal by contacting the metal with a body of material which dissolves alkali metal oxide and connecting a D.C. source across the body to establish a field therein such that alkali metal ions are drawn into the body.
Inventors
- 👤 David Gordon Loukes
- 👤 Alan Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:18
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B18/00; C03B18/02; C03B18/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for use at a temperature in the range of about 600* C to 1,000* C in the production of float glass comprising a tank structure containing a float glass supporting bath of molten metal selected from the group consisting of molten tin and molten tin alloys in which tin predominates, a solid body of siliceous material separate from said float glass, said body of siliceous material having a face in contact with said molten metal bath and said body of siliceous material containing silica in an amount sufficiently high to dissolve alkali metal ions from the bath, and a direct current source connected to the bath and to a face of the body not contacting the bath, the sense of the connection being such that the molten metal bath is anodic thereby causing alkali metal ions to be drawn into the siliceous body from the interface between the molten bath and the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for use at a temperature in the range of about 600* C to 1,000* C in the production of float glass comprising a tank structure containing a float glass supporting bath of molten metal selected from the group consisting of molten tin and molten tin alloys in which tin predominates, a solid body of siliceous material separate from said float glass, said body of siliceous material having a face in contact with said molten metal bath and said body of siliceous material containing silica in an amount sufficiently high to dissolve alkali metal ions from the bath, and a direct current source connected to the bath and to a face of the body not contacting the bath, the sense of the connection being such that the molten metal bath is anodic thereby causing alkali metal ions to be drawn into the siliceous body from the interface between the molten bath and the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the negative terminal of the source is connected to a pool of molten metal on the upper surface of the siliceous body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said body is a block of silica-rich refractory material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said body is maintained in contact with a part of the upper surface of the molten metal bath which is not covered by the glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for circulating the molten metal of the bath through a chamber communicating with the tank structure, the said body being disposed in said chamber in contact with said molten metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU183952A1
Cited
US3330637A
Cited
US3330635A
Cited
US3467508A
Cited
US3480420A
Cited
US3492107A
Cited
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 |