Patent US4093358A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3792986A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3792986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of fabricating, using and reconditioning apparatus for forming optical quality articles from molten glass and forming elements for use therein
Assignee: Scott-Browne Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract The overall process of manufacturing molded articles, and particularly optical quality articles from molten glass is greatly enhanced, and the cost thereof is greatly reduced, by an improved glass mold element and process of making, using and reconditioning glass mold elements. A hard heat conductive mold element core is formed and shaped undersize by at least about .010 inches relative to an ultimate desired shape and then is built up to beyond this shape by a heavy layer of electroplated nickel of roughly 0.050 to 0.100 inches in thickness, which layer is then machined and polished down to desired size and finish. The electroplating process is one which results in stress-free electroplated deposit which avoids warping and microcracking of the nickel layer. An electroplating process which results in a lamilar crystalline structure of the plated layer is suitable, and of these processes a conventional sulfamate nickel plating process has been found highly successful and is therefore preferred. After continued use and repolishing to remove oxidation, scratches, etc., the mold is reconditioned by stripping the nickel layer and replating the mold as before. The repeated reconditionability provided by the process and mold element of the present invention reduces costs, and the mold elements formed thereby are found to be better and longer lasting than those of the prior art.
Inventors
- 👤 J Scott
- 👤 W Browne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:56
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B11/00; C03B11/06; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50; Y02P40/57; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49718; Y10T29/49746
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
An improved method of using and reconditioning apparatus for forming optical quality glass articles from molten glass, said apparatus including a mold having a glass forming element having a predetermined shape, said method comprising the steps of, in order: a. utilizing said glass forming element to manufacture optical quality glass articles from molten glass until the glass contacting surface of said element no longer has a suitable finish for further manufacture of glass articles of optical quality; b. then repolishing said surface to restore said surface to a suitable finish; c. reusing said repolished glass forming element until said glass contacting surface again no longer has a suitable finish for further manufacture of optical quality glass; d. returning to step (b) if said surface is capable of being repolished to within said given tolerances of said predetermined shape and capable of further use thereafter; e. stripping said surface of said mold so that it is undersized with reference to said predetermined shape by at least about 0.010 inches less than said shape; then f. electroplating a layer of nickel onto said surface to build up said surface so that it is oversized with reference to said predetermined shape to replace material removed through stripping and wear; then g. removing nickel from said surface until said surface approximately conforms to said predetermined shape; then h. polishing said nickel layer to a given finish and to within given tolerances of said predetermined shape; then i. repeating at least once steps (a) through at least step (c).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An improved method of using and reconditioning apparatus for forming optical quality glass articles from molten glass, said apparatus including a mold having a glass forming element having a predetermined shape, said method comprising the steps of, in order: a. utilizing said glass forming element to manufacture optical quality glass articles from molten glass until the glass contacting surface of said element has worn to beyond given tolerances from said predetermined shape; then b. stripping said surface of said mold so that it is undersized with reference to said predetermined shape by at least about 0.010 inches less than said shape; then c. electroplating a layer of nickel onto said surface to build up said surface so that it is oversized with reference to said predetermined shape to replace material removed through stripping and wear; then d. removing nickel from said surface until said surface approximately conforms to said predetermined shape; then e. polishing said nickel layer to a given finish and to within given tolerances of said predetermined shape; then f. repeating step (a).
Claim 3
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of fabricating and reconditioning a mold element for use in the manufacture of optical quality glass articles from molten glass, said method comprising the steps of: forming a metallic core from a hard heat conductive material which is suitable for electroplating with nickel; then shaping the surface of said core so that it is undersized with reference to a predetermined shape by at least about 0.010 inches less than said shape; then electroplating a layer of nickel onto said surface to build up said surface so that it is oversized with reference to said predetermined shape; then removing nickel from said surface until said surface approximately conforms to said predetermined shape; then polishiNg said nickel layer to a given finish and to within given tolerances of said predetermined shape, then using the element for molding optical quality glass articles until mold reconditioning is needed, reconditioning the mold by the said shaping, electroplating, removing and polishing steps set forth above, and again using the mold element for molding optical quality glass articles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of making and reconditioning a mold element for use in the manufacture of optical quality glass articles from molten glass, said method comprising the steps of: preparing the surface of a hard heat conductive metallic core for electroplating including shaping the surface of said core so that it is undersized with reference to a predetermined shape by at least about 0.010 inches less than said shape; then electroplating a layer of nickel onto said surface to build up said surface so that it is oversized with reference to said predetermined shape; then removing nickel from said surface until said surface approximately conforms to said predetermined shape; then polishing said nickel layer to a clean optical quality finish and to within given tolerances of said predetermined shape, using said element for molding optical quality glass articles until reconditioning is needed, then stripping the nickel from said surface and repeating the electroplating, removing and polishing steps, and reusing the mold so reconditioned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein: said electroplating step is performed by a process which results in an essentially stress-free deposit of nickel onto said core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein: said electroplating step is performed by a process which results in a nickel deposit which has a lamilar crystalline structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein: said electroplating step is performed by a sulfamate nickel plating process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the electroplating is performed by a process which results in an essentially stress-free deposit of nickel onto said core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the electroplating is performed by a process which results in a nickel deposit which has a lamilar crystalline structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the electroplated nickel layer is plated to a thickness of at least 0.050 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the electroplated nickel layer is plated to a thickness which builds up said surface to at least 0.010 inches beyond said predetermined shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the undersized dimension is at least 0.020 inches less than said predetermined shape and not more than approximately 0.050 inches less than said predetermined shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the forming step includes the substeps of: cutting said core to a shape which is within about .003 inches of a surface which is parallel to said predetermined shape; reducing said core by an electric discharge process to within 0.003 inches of the undersized dimension; and finishing said surface by approximately a 400 grit grinding to approximately a 20 rms finish.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the nickel removing step includes the substeps of: cutting said core to within about 0.003 inches of a surface which is parallel to that of said predetermined shape; reducing said core by an electric discharge process to within about 0.003 inches of the undersized dimension; and finishing said surface by approximately a 400 grit grinding to approximately a 20 rms finish.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein: the shaped undersized dimension is not less than 0.010 inches at any point on said surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |