US3881906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat treating glass sheets
Assignee: Pilkington North America Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-20
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for bending and tempering thin glass sheets while supported horizontally and conveyed along a predetermined path, which involves moving the sheets after they have been heated to bending temperature over contoured rolls to preliminarily bend the glass, then into position above a bending mold where they are bent to the desired final curvature, thereafter supporting the bent sheets and moving them into the tempering section on rolls that fit their bent contour, initially chilling the bent sheets in the tempering section with blasts of air directed toward their surfaces and angled in the direction of sheet travel and subsequently with air directed thereagainst from trap-free surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr George F Ritter
- 👤 Frank J Hymore
- 👤 Donald D Rahrig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:51
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B27/00; C03B27/04; C03B27/0404; C03B23/00; C03B23/02; C03B23/023; C03B23/025; C03B23/0252; C03B23/0254; C03B23/0256; C03B27/0408; C03B27/044; C03B27/0442; C03B27/0445; C03B35/00; C03B35/14; C03B35/16; C03B35/165; C03B35/18; C03B35/181; C03B35/182; C03B35/186; C03B35/187; C03B40/00; C03B40/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In a method of bending and tempering glass in which a succession of flat glass sheets are supported in substantially horizontal position and moved along a predetermined path through a heating area in which the glass is heated to substantially its point of softening, a bending area in which the heated sheets are shaped to a final desired contour, and a chilling area in which streams of cooling fluid are directed against opposite surfaces of the heated and bent glass sheets to temper them; the improvements which comprise providing a passageway for bent glass sheets between said bending and said chilling areas, opening said passageway during movement of heated and bent sheets from the former to the latter area, and maintaining said passageway closed at all other times; and angling certain of said streams of cooling fluid that are at the entrance end of said chilling area by directing the same through tubes toward and in the direction of travel of said glass sheets, and directing subsequent streams of cooling fluid from openings in trap-free surfaces toward and against the surfaces of said sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a method of bending and tempering glass in which a succession of flat glass sheets are supported in substantially horizontal position and moved along a predetermined path through a heating area in which the glass is heated to substantially its point of softening, a bending area in which the heated sheets are shaped to a final desired contour, and a chilling area in which streams of cooling fluid are directed against opposite surfaces of the heated and bent glass sheets to temper them; the improvements which comprise providing a passageway for bent glass sheets between said bending and said chilling areas, opening said passageway during movement of heated and bent sheets from the former to the latter area, and maintaining said passageway closed at all other times; and angling certain of said streams of cooling fluid that are at the entrance end of said chilling area by directing the same through tubes toward and in the direction of travel of said glass sheets, and directing subsequent streams of cooling fluid from openings in trap-free surfaces toward and against the surfaces of said sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which said heated sheets are supported for movement from said heating area into said bending area on a series of rolls the supporting surfaces of which are of progressively increasing transverse curvature to preform said sheets toward said final desired contour.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of bending glass in which a succession of flat glass sheets are supported in substantially horizontal position and moved along a predetermined path first through a heating area in which the glass is heated to bending temperature, next over a series of rolls the supporting surfaces of which are of progressively increasing transverse curvature to prebend said heated sheets, and then into a bending area in which said heated and prebent sheets are shaped to a final desired curvature.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of bending glass in which a succession of flat glass sheets are supported in substantially horizontal position and moved along a predetermined path first through a heating area in which the glass is heated to bending temperature, next over a series of rolls the supporting surfaces of which are of progressively increasing transverse curvature to prebend said heated sheets, and then into a bending area in which said heated and prebent sheets are shaped to a final desired curvature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 3, in which said sheets are shaped to said final desired curvature on a bending mold, and are supported in said substantially horizontal position after said shaping on a series of spaced rolls that fit said final desired sheet contour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
In apparatus for bending and tempering glass comprising means for supporting a succession of flat glass sheets in substantially horizontal position and for moving the same along a predetermined path through a heating area which includes means for heating the glass to substantially its point of softening, a bending area which includes means for shaping heated sheets to a desired final contour, and a chilling area which includes upper and lower blast heads for directing cooling fluid against opposite surfaces of heated and bent sheets moving along said path; the improvement in which said blast heads include means adjacent the entrance end of said chilling area comprising a plurality of tubes that vary in length from side to side of said path in substantial conformance with the transverse curvature of the glass sheets being tempered for directing said fluid in a plurality of streams angled toward a surface and in the direction of travel of said heated and bent sheets to direct and draw said sheets into the space between said upper and lower blast heads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
In apparatus for bending and tempering glass comprising means for supporting a succession of flat glass sheets in substantially horizontal position and for moving the same along a predetermined path through a heating area which includes means for heating the glass to substantially its point of softening, a bending area which includes means for shaping heated sheets to a desired final contour, and a chilling area which includes upper and lower blast heads for directing cooling fluid against opposite surfaces of heated and bent sheets moving along said path; the improvement in which said blast heads include means adjacent the entrance end of said chilling area comprising a plurality of tubes that vary in length from side to side of said path in substantial conformance with the transverse curvature of the glass sheets being tempered for directing said fluid in a plurality of streams angled toward a surface and in the direction of travel of said heated and bent sheets to direct and draw said sheets into the space between said upper and lower blast heads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said blast heads comprise a series of plenum chambers, apertured plates slidable onto and off of said plenum chambers, and means for securing said plates in position on said chambers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said blastheads further include apertured plate means beyond said tubes which provide trap-free means for directing streams of cooling fluid toward said heated and bent sheets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
In apparatus for bending and tempering glass conprising means for supporting a succession of flat glass sheets in substantially horizontal position and for moving the same along a predetermined path through a heating area which includes means for heating the glass to substantially its point of softening, a bending area which includes means for shaping heated sheets to a desired final contour, and a chilling area which includes means for directing cooling fluid against opposite surfaces of heated and bent sheets moving along said path; the improvement which includes means associated with the exit end of said heating area and the entrance end of said bending area for prebending said heated glass sheets toward a final desired contour.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
In apparatus for bending and tempering glass conprising means for supporting a succession of flat glass sheets in substantially horizontal position and for moving the same along a predetermined path through a heating area which includes means for heating the glass to substantially its point of softening, a bending area which includes means for shaping heated sheets to a desired final contour, and a chilling area which includes means for directing cooling fluid against opposite surfaces of heated and bent sheets moving along said path; the improvement which includes means associated with the exit end of said heating area and the entrance end of said bending area for prebending said heated glass sheets toward a final desired contour.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said prebending means is a series of rolls the supporting surfaces of which are of progressively increasing transverse curvature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which a series of spaced rolls shaped to fit said final desired sheet contour are provided in and beyond said bending area for supporting said glass sheets in and for movement out of said bending area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, in which at least some of the rolls in said series are spring type rolls arched to provide curved supporting surfaces thereon.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |