US4617041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for continuously manufacturing elongated bodies starting from unmolten solid starting material
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1985-07-16
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2005-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for continuously melting a glass by means of a high-frequency electromagnetic field in a melting tube is provided. In this technique, the electromagnetic field is coupled in the melt by means of a coil present within a cooling jacket surrounding the melting tube. A grounded screen and a tube of insulating material are present between the wall of the melting tube and the coil. The melt traverses a heating zone and a refining zone, and a solid elongated body is withdrawn from the bottom of the melting tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelmus C. P. M. Meerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:21
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/01; C03B37/012; C03B37/0128; C03B37/01291; C03B37/01294; C03B17/00; C03B17/04; C03B19/00; C03B19/01; C03B3/00; C03B5/00; C03B5/02; C03B5/021; C03B2201/00; C03B2201/06; C03B2201/30; C03B2201/32; C03B2201/40; C03B2201/50; C03B2201/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for continuously manufacturing elongated bodies of glass comprising the steps of continuously supplying starting material to a melt of glass material present in an upper part of a vertically arranged tube, said tube having cooled walls, heating said melt in a heating zone by a high-frequency magnetic field, blowing dry gas into said melt from below said heating zone to mix and dry said melt, lowering said melt into a first zone of lower temperature to refine said melt by adjusting oxygen content, solidifying said melt in a subsequent lower zone of said tube below said first zone, and withdrawing solidified material of said melt from said tube at a speed corresponding to the rate of supplying said starting material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for continuously manufacturing elongated bodies of glass comprising the steps of continuously supplying starting material to a melt of glass material present in an upper part of a vertically arranged tube, said tube having cooled walls, heating said melt in a heating zone by a high-frequency magnetic field, blowing dry gas into said melt from below said heating zone to mix and dry said melt, lowering said melt into a first zone of lower temperature to refine said melt by adjusting oxygen content, solidifying said melt in a subsequent lower zone of said tube below said first zone, and withdrawing solidified material of said melt from said tube at a speed corresponding to the rate of supplying said starting material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said tube is conically widened below said heating zone, and said melt separates from said tube at this point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a constriction at a point below said heating zone to prevent partially unmelted material from forming on the elongated bodies of glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said starting material is supplied to said melt at a rate to achieve reaction between components of said glass material at a high reaction rate without forming vaporous glass components in said melt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said dry gas blown into said melt is one of dry helium and dry oxygen.
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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) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |