US3884665A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat glass manufacturing apparatus and method
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-27
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A flat glass manufacturing apparatus is disclosed which comprises a glass melter and molten glass conditioner connected to a forming chamber which contains molten metal on which a continuous sheet of flat glass may be formed. The molten glass conditioner is connected to the forming chamber by a molten glass delivery means which includes a convex threshold over which the molten glass flows onto the molten metal. Molten glass contact with the threshold member is minimized in that most of the glass entering the forming chamber has not contacted the threshold member and that which has moves relatively slowly in comparison to the general flow of molten glass over the threshold member.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles K Edge
- 👤 Gerald E Kunkle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:00
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B5/00; C03B5/16; C03B5/26; C03B5/265; C03B5/267; C03B18/00; C03B18/02; C03B18/04; C03B5/18; C03B5/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A THRESHOLD MEMBER OVER WHICH MOLTEN GLASS MAY FLOW EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACORSS THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY-FACING, CONVEX UPPER SURFACE HAVING A HIGHEST PORTION LOCATED AT LEAST AT THE
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A THRESHOLD MEMBER OVER WHICH MOLTEN GLASS MAY FLOW EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACORSS THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY-FACING, CONVEX UPPER SURFACE HAVING A HIGHEST PORTION LOCATED AT LEAST AT THE
Claim 3
Independent Claim
94 words
AN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLAT GLASS COMPRISING: A. A GLASS MELTER, B. A GLASS CONDITIONER CONNECTED TO SAID GLASS MELTER; C. MEANS FOR FORMING A CONTINOUS, DIMENSIONALLY STABLE SHEET OF GLASS INCLUDING A POOL OF MOLTEN METAL UPON WHICH GLASS FLOATS DURING FORMING SAID POOL OF MOLTEN METAL HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE; AND D. MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GLASS CONDITIONER AND TO SAID FORMING MEANS FOR DELIVERING MOLTEN GLASS FROM SAID GLASS CONDITIONER ONTO SAID POOL OF MOLTEN METAL OF SAID FORMING MEANS; WHEREIN SAID DELIVERY MEANS IS AN ENCLOSED CHANNEL COMPRISING:
Claim 4
Independent Claim
94 words
AN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLAT GLASS COMPRISING: A. A GLASS MELTER, B. A GLASS CONDITIONER CONNECTED TO SAID GLASS MELTER; C. MEANS FOR FORMING A CONTINOUS, DIMENSIONALLY STABLE SHEET OF GLASS INCLUDING A POOL OF MOLTEN METAL UPON WHICH GLASS FLOATS DURING FORMING SAID POOL OF MOLTEN METAL HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE; AND D. MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GLASS CONDITIONER AND TO SAID FORMING MEANS FOR DELIVERING MOLTEN GLASS FROM SAID GLASS CONDITIONER ONTO SAID POOL OF MOLTEN METAL OF SAID FORMING MEANS; WHEREIN SAID DELIVERY MEANS IS AN ENCLOSED CHANNEL COMPRISING:
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM BOTH ENDS OF SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING THRESHOLD MEMBER, AND
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM BOTH ENDS OF SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING THRESHOLD MEMBER, AND
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said delivery means further comprises a metering member extending transversely across said channel and extending downwardly from said roof member such that its bottom surface is disposed substantially in alignment with the transverse dimension of said threshold member substantially along its highest portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
side members extending upwardly from both ends of said transversely extending threshold member; and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
side members extending upwardly from both ends of said transversely extending threshold member; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
9 words
AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE TOP OD SAID CHANNEL.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE TOP OD SAID CHANNEL.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
8 words
A ROOF MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
8 words
A ROOF MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE MEMBERS
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
a roof member extending between said side members and extending transversely across the top of said channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
a roof member extending between said side members and extending transversely across the top of said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said upwardly facing, convex upper surface of said threshold member is partially immersed in said pool of molten metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly facing, convex upper surface of said threshold member is a curved surface of generation of a line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said upwardly facing, convex upper surface of said threshold member is substantially a section of a cylinder having its axis parallel to the transverse dimension of said threshold member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly facing, convex upper surface of said threshold member is substantially a series of planar surfaces having rounded regions of intersection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein one of said series of planar surfaces is substantially horizontal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the surface of said upwardly facing surface closest said conditioner intersects a substantially vertical upstreaM face of said threshold at an elevation for establishing a neutral flow plane within a pool of molten glass contained in said conditioner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said delivery means further comprises a metering member extending transversely across said channel and extending downwardly from said roof member and having its bottom, glass engaging surface, substantially in alignment with the transverse dimension of said threshold member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said threshold comprises a substantially pure alumina or silica.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said threshold comprises fused cast silica.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making flat glass comprising a melting glass; a. melting glass; b. conditioning molten glass to prepare it for forming; c. delivering molten glass over a threshold member having an upwardly facing, convex upper surface onto a pool of molten metal having an upper surface maintained at an elevation substantially at or below a highest portion of the upwardly facing, convex surface of the threshold member; d. cooling the delivered molten glass on the pool of molten metal to form a continuous, dimensionally stable sheet of glass; and e. withdrawing the continuous sheet of glass from the pool of molten metal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making flat glass comprising a melting glass; a. melting glass; b. conditioning molten glass to prepare it for forming; c. delivering molten glass over a threshold member having an upwardly facing, convex upper surface onto a pool of molten metal having an upper surface maintained at an elevation substantially at or below a highest portion of the upwardly facing, convex surface of the threshold member; d. cooling the delivered molten glass on the pool of molten metal to form a continuous, dimensionally stable sheet of glass; and e. withdrawing the continuous sheet of glass from the pool of molten metal.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making flat glass comprising the steps of: a. establishing a pool of molten glass in a container; b. withdrawing a stream of molten glass from the pool of molten glass along a substantially horizontal path, the stream of glass having greater width than depth, by flowing molten glass through an opening in a wall of the container, the opening being defined by a threshold having an upwwardly facing, convex upper surface, side members and a top member, at least one member being movable for varying the size of the opening; c. delivering the stream of molten glass onto a pool of molten metal while maintaining its bottom surface elevation substantially at the elevation of the bottom of the opening to form a body of glass on the pool of molten metal; d. conveying the body of glass along the surface of the pool of molten metal; e. cooling the body of glass from its molten state to form a continuous, dimensionally stable sheet of glass; and f. withdrawing the continuous sheet of glass from the pool of molten metal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making flat glass comprising the steps of: a. establishing a pool of molten glass in a container; b. withdrawing a stream of molten glass from the pool of molten glass along a substantially horizontal path, the stream of glass having greater width than depth, by flowing molten glass through an opening in a wall of the container, the opening being defined by a threshold having an upwwardly facing, convex upper surface, side members and a top member, at least one member being movable for varying the size of the opening; c. delivering the stream of molten glass onto a pool of molten metal while maintaining its bottom surface elevation substantially at the elevation of the bottom of the opening to form a body of glass on the pool of molten metal; d. conveying the body of glass along the surface of the pool of molten metal; e. cooling the body of glass from its molten state to form a continuous, dimensionally stable sheet of glass; and f. withdrawing the continuous sheet of glass from the pool of molten metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the width of the body of glass on the pool of molten metal is maintained substantially the same as the width of the stream of molten glass withdrawn from the pool of molten glass.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the glass is a soda-lime-silica glass, the threshold is fused cast silica, and the viscosity of the glass in the stream of molten glass is from about 103 to about 104 poises.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the pool of molten glass is cooled to establish a flow toward the threshold in an upper portion of the pool and a flow away from the threshold in a lower portion of the pool and wherein the cooling is controlled to establish a boundary between the flows at an elevation substantially at the elevation of an intersection of the upwardly facing surface of the threshold and a substantially vertical face of the wall through which the glass flows by way of the opening defined by the threshold, the side members and the top member.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |