US4231777A — Methods of and apparatus for heating a glass tube

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A method of heating a glass tube, said method comprising the steps of: heating an outer surface of the tube by directing a flow of combustible gases through a plurality of passageways in a housing toward a portion of the length of said tube; cooling at least those portions of the housing and the walls that define end portions of the passageways which are adjacent the tube and from which the combustible gases exit without cooling said tube, said cooling being sufficient to inhibit degradation of the material forming said housing and said walls, and to thereby prevent contamination of the tube; controlling the temperature profile along said portion of the length of said tube which includes providing a variable confinement of the heat to said portion of the length of the tube; and causing relative motion between the tube and the housing along the tube to cause successive portions of the length of the tube to be heated while rotating said tube about an axis which extends along the length of the tube.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 174 words

A method of heating a glass tube, said method comprising the steps of: heating an outer surface of the tube by directing a flow of combustible gases through a plurality of passageways in a housing toward a portion of the length of said tube; cooling at least those portions of the housing and the walls that define end portions of the passageways which are adjacent the tube and from which the combustible gases exit without cooling said tube, said cooling being sufficient to inhibit degradation of the material forming said housing and said walls, and to thereby prevent contamination of the tube; controlling the temperature profile along said portion of the length of said tube which includes providing a variable confinement of the heat to said portion of the length of the tube; and causing relative motion between the tube and the housing along the tube to cause successive portions of the length of the tube to be heated while rotating said tube about an axis which extends along the length of the tube.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the housing is cooled by a coolant which is circulated through said housing adjacent said end portions of the passageways while said walls of said passageways are cooled by the gases which are flowed therethrough and which are at a temperature sufficient to cool said passageways, said walls being further cooled conductively by the cooled housing.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of heating successive portions of a glass tube while controlling the temperature profile along said tube, said method comprising the steps of: rotatably supporting a glass tube; confining a portion of the length of the tube at least partially with an arcuate surface of a housing which is spaced from the tube; mounting said housing so that said surface may be moved toward or away from said tube; directing a plurality of combustible gas flows through a plurality of passageways which extend through said housing and open to said arcuate surface; cooling at least those portions of the housing and walls which define the passageways adjacent to said arcuate surface to prevent oxidation thereof without cooling said tube; and moving the housing reciprocally along the length of the tube to cause a heating of successive portions of the length of the tube while rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; and spacing said surface a predetermined distance from the tube to control the temperature profile along each successive portion of the length of the tube.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of heating successive portions of a glass tube while controlling the temperature profile along said tube, said method comprising the steps of: rotatably supporting a glass tube; confining a portion of the length of the tube at least partially with an arcuate surface of a housing which is spaced from the tube; mounting said housing so that said surface may be moved toward or away from said tube; directing a plurality of combustible gas flows through a plurality of passageways which extend through said housing and open to said arcuate surface; cooling at least those portions of the housing and walls which define the passageways adjacent to said arcuate surface to prevent oxidation thereof without cooling said tube; and moving the housing reciprocally along the length of the tube to cause a heating of successive portions of the length of the tube while rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; and spacing said surface a predetermined distance from the tube to control the temperature profile along each successive portion of the length of the tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of heating successive portions of a length of a glass tube as set forth in claim 3, wherein a first combustible gas is premixed with a second combustible gas prior to the gas flows being directed through said passageways.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 3, which also includes assembling a plurality of arcuate surfaces contiguous one another along the length of the tube and mounting the surfaces for selective individual movement toward or away from the tube.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 3, which also includes mounting said passageways so that they may be disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said tube.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 220 words

A method of heating successive portions of a length of glass tube, said method comprising the steps of: rotatably supporting a glass tube along an axis which extends along the length of the tube; enclosing at least partially a portion of the length of the tube with an arcuate surface of a housing, said surface being spaced from the tube a predetermined distance; mounting said surface so that the distance between it and the tube is capable of being varied; directing a flow of a first combustible gas through each of a plurality of nozzles which are mounted in said housing and which open to said surface; directing a flow of a second combustible gas between said plurality of nozzles to mix with said first combustible gas along said arcuate surface to produce a flame which heats said tube; cooling the housing and walls of the nozzles at least adjacent the arcuate surface to prevent oxidation of the material forming the housing and the nozzles without cooling said tube; moving the arcuate surface reciprocally along the rod to cause a heating of successive portions of the length of the tube while rotating the glass tube; and spacing the surface a predetermined distance from the tube to control the temperature profile along each successive portion of the length of the tube.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 220 words

A method of heating successive portions of a length of glass tube, said method comprising the steps of: rotatably supporting a glass tube along an axis which extends along the length of the tube; enclosing at least partially a portion of the length of the tube with an arcuate surface of a housing, said surface being spaced from the tube a predetermined distance; mounting said surface so that the distance between it and the tube is capable of being varied; directing a flow of a first combustible gas through each of a plurality of nozzles which are mounted in said housing and which open to said surface; directing a flow of a second combustible gas between said plurality of nozzles to mix with said first combustible gas along said arcuate surface to produce a flame which heats said tube; cooling the housing and walls of the nozzles at least adjacent the arcuate surface to prevent oxidation of the material forming the housing and the nozzles without cooling said tube; moving the arcuate surface reciprocally along the rod to cause a heating of successive portions of the length of the tube while rotating the glass tube; and spacing the surface a predetermined distance from the tube to control the temperature profile along each successive portion of the length of the tube.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 7, which also includes the step of scaling the gas flows in and about the nozzles to further control the temperature profile along successive portions of the length of the tube.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the housing is cooled by circulating a coolant therethrough and the walls of the nozzles are cooled by said first combustible gas flowing therethrough and by the second combustible gas flowing along outside surfaces of the nozzles and by the cooled housing.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus for heating a glass tube, which includes: means for supporting a tube for rotation about its longitudinal axis; means for including a plurality of passageways for directing a flow of combustible gases toward said tube; means for cooling at least those portions of the passageways which are adjacent the tube to inhibit contamination of the passageways and thereby prevent contamination of the tube; means for providing a variable confinement of the heat to said portion of the length of the tube to control the temperature profile along said portion of the length of said tube, said means for providing a variable confinement including an arcuate surface spaced equidistantly from the tube for confining at least partially the tube, said means for controlling the temperature profile including means for mounting the arcuate surface for movement toward or away from the tube; means for causing relative motion between the tube and the confining means along the tube to cause successive portions of the length of the tube to be heated; and means for rotating the tube about an axis which extends along the length of the tube.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus for heating a glass tube, which includes: means for supporting a tube for rotation about its longitudinal axis; means for including a plurality of passageways for directing a flow of combustible gases toward said tube; means for cooling at least those portions of the passageways which are adjacent the tube to inhibit contamination of the passageways and thereby prevent contamination of the tube; means for providing a variable confinement of the heat to said portion of the length of the tube to control the temperature profile along said portion of the length of said tube, said means for providing a variable confinement including an arcuate surface spaced equidistantly from the tube for confining at least partially the tube, said means for controlling the temperature profile including means for mounting the arcuate surface for movement toward or away from the tube; means for causing relative motion between the tube and the confining means along the tube to cause successive portions of the length of the tube to be heated; and means for rotating the tube about an axis which extends along the length of the tube.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for causing relative motion between the tube and the means for providing a variable confinement includes means for moving the means for providing a variable confinement reciprocally along the length of the tube.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the annular segment has an arc which is greater than 180° but less than 360°.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the annular segment is semicircular.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for providing a variable confinement includes two semicircular segments which substantially confine circumferentially a portion of the length of the tube.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for directing a flow of combustible gases toward said tube includes a plurality of nozzles which are mounted in a housing that includes said arcuate surface and disposed radially of the tube, said nozzles opening to said arcuate surface, and wherein a first combustible gas is flowed through each of said nozzles and a second combustible gas is flowed between said nozzles and walls of said housing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 193 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for providing a variable confinement includes a housing which comprises an annular segment having a center section and two cover plates, said center section having an arcuate rear wall extending between two end portions and a bridge wall spaced from said rear wall and extending between said end portions, the assembly of the cover plates and the center section forming a first cavity between said rear wall and said bridge wall, one of said cover plates including a depending annular lip and a conduit extending between a rear wall thereof and said bridge wall and opening to said first cavity, said housing further including a plurality of radially disposed nozzles each having one end extending through and supported in said bridge wall and another end opening to said arcuate surface, the opposing depending lips engaging said nozzles to clamp said nozzles within said housing, and wherein a first combustible gas is flowed through each of said nozzles and a second combustible gas is flowed between the nozzles and said lips, said first and second combustible gases mixing and producing a flame adjacent said arcuate surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the nozzles are arranged in two rows.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 105 words

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cooling means includes an entrance conduit for a coolant, an arcuately extending channel in each of said cover plates adjacent the other ends of the nozzles and adjacent the arcuate surface and a coolant exit conduit, said exit and entrance conduits communicating with said arcuately extending channels, and said cooling means further including means for causing a coolant to be circulated through said conduits and said channels to cool said housing and to cool conductively said nozzles which are supported between said depending lips and said bridge wall, said nozzles cooled by said gases flowing therethrough and therepast.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for providing a variable confinement includes a housing which includes a center segment in which are disposed said plurality of radially disposed passageways, said passageways opening to said arcuate surface adjacent the tube, and an arcuately configured chamber into which premixed combustible gases are fed from a supply.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a predetermined plurality of individually moveable center segments are assembled together along the length of the tube.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 10 which also includes means for mounting the confining means so that the passageways can be angled to the axis of said tube.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-11-04	1984-05-05	1984-11-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-11-04	1988-05-05	1988-11-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-11-04	1992-05-05	1992-11-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods of and apparatus for heating a glass tube

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