US3997310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming glass beads
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1975-09-02
•
Granted: 1976-12-14
•
Expires: 1995-09-02
Abstract
Abstract Glass beads are formed with a high rate of production by jetting an array of molten glass streams arranged around a central zone. The beads which are formed are caught in a quench bath, where they are immediately dispersed by a high-velocity radial stream of fluid from a nozzle located within the central zone. A secondary, low-velocity fluid stream is provided in the quenching bath to prevent localized over-heating.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene J. Cone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:36
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/10; C03B19/1095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of producing glass beads comprising the steps of: a. forming molten glass into a stream of falling beads; b. catching said beads in a bath of quenching fluid while said beads are in a heated, softened state; c. imparting sufficient acceleration to said beads in a direction transverse to the direction with which they enter the bath by means of a first fluid stream closely adjacent to the region of the bath into which the beads fall, so as to substantially prevent collisions between beads; and d. enhancing fluid circulation around said region in which the beads enter the bath by means of a second fluid stream so as to avoid overheating the quenching fluid by heat transfer from the beads.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of producing glass beads comprising the steps of: a. forming molten glass into a stream of falling beads; b. catching said beads in a bath of quenching fluid while said beads are in a heated, softened state; c. imparting sufficient acceleration to said beads in a direction transverse to the direction with which they enter the bath by means of a first fluid stream closely adjacent to the region of the bath into which the beads fall, so as to substantially prevent collisions between beads; and d. enhancing fluid circulation around said region in which the beads enter the bath by means of a second fluid stream so as to avoid overheating the quenching fluid by heat transfer from the beads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of streams of beads are provided which fall in an array around a central zone, and said first fluid stream emanates radially from a nozzle located within said central zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said second fluid stream emanates from an annular opening centered around said nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said quenching fluid is a quenching oil.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of producing glass beads, comprising the steps of: a. forming molten glass into a plurality of streams of beads falling in an array around a central zone; b. catching said beads in a bath of quenching fluid while said beads are in a softened state;
Claim 7
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of producing glass beads, comprising the steps of: a. forming molten glass into a plurality of streams of beads falling in an array around a central zone; b. catching said beads in a bath of quenching fluid while said beads are in a softened state;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
c. dispersing said beads outwardly, away from said central zone by means of a stream of fluid directed radially outward from said central zone closely adjacent the region of the bath into which the beads fall, so as to substantially prevent collisions between beads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
c. dispersing said beads outwardly, away from said central zone by means of a stream of fluid directed radially outward from said central zone closely adjacent the region of the bath into which the beads fall, so as to substantially prevent collisions between beads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said quenching fluid is a quenching oil.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for producing glass beads comprising: a glass melting vessel having an orifice through which molten glass may be projected to form glass beads; a quenching bath beneath said melting vessel for catching the beads as they fall; first fluid flow means including a nozzle in said quenching bath oriented to direct a first fluid stream transversely across the path of the falling beads; and second fluid flow means including an outlet for a second fluid stream in said quench bath oriented to induce generalized fluid circulation in the region around said first fluid stream.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for producing glass beads comprising: a glass melting vessel having an orifice through which molten glass may be projected to form glass beads; a quenching bath beneath said melting vessel for catching the beads as they fall; first fluid flow means including a nozzle in said quenching bath oriented to direct a first fluid stream transversely across the path of the falling beads; and second fluid flow means including an outlet for a second fluid stream in said quench bath oriented to induce generalized fluid circulation in the region around said first fluid stream.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for producing glass beads comprising: a. a glass melting vessel having a plurality of glass bead forming orifices in the bottom, said orifices arranged in an array around a central area; b. a quenching bath beneath said melting vessel for catching the beads as they fall; c. fluid flow means, including a nozzle located in said quench bath directly below said central area and having a fluid outlet oriented for directing a flow of fluid transversely across the path of each stream of beads being caught in the quenching bath so as to disperse the beads radially outwardly from the center of the array pattern.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
107 words
An apparatus for producing glass beads comprising: a. a glass melting vessel having a plurality of glass bead forming orifices in the bottom, said orifices arranged in an array around a central area; b. a quenching bath beneath said melting vessel for catching the beads as they fall; c. fluid flow means, including a nozzle located in said quench bath directly below said central area and having a fluid outlet oriented for directing a flow of fluid transversely across the path of each stream of beads being caught in the quenching bath so as to disperse the beads radially outwardly from the center of the array pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a second fluid flow means which includes an outlet for a second fluid flow in said quench bath oriented to induce generalized fluid circulation in the region around said transverse fluid flow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said outlet for the second fluid flow is an annular opening centered around said nozzle.
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) | 1979-12-14 | 1980-06-14 | 1980-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-14 | 1984-06-14 | 1984-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-14 | 1988-06-14 | 1988-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |