Patents by Inventor Hans-Werner Kuster
Hans-Werner Kuster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6574992Abstract: During a process for bending and quenching a window pane, the latter is bent to the desired shape using a forming frame. Next, by means of this same forming frame, the entire surface of both sides of the bent window pane is rapidly cooled, in a quenching station which follows the bending station, by blowing cold air using blowing boxes provided with blowing nozzles. While the entire surface is being rapidly cooled, the edge regions of the window pane which rest on the forming frame are subjected to a blast of additional cold air by the suitable supply of compressed air to the openings passing through the forming frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass FranceInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Werner Diederen, Knut Dahlhoff, Karl-Josef Ollfisch, Wilfried Korsten
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Patent number: 6082141Abstract: Glass sheets are bent in stages into the final shape in a horizontal position in two successive bending stations. The glass sheets heated to bending temperature are laid on a fabric carrier arranged resiliently on a rigid support frame. The glass sheets are conveyed stepwise with the fabric carrier and the support frame through the bending system, and are bent together with the fabric carrier which adapts to the shape of the glass sheets.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Saint-Gobain VitrageInventor: Hans-Werner Kuster
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Patent number: 5992178Abstract: Glass sheets are bent in stages into the final shape in a horizontal position in two successive bending stations. The glass sheets heated to bending temperature are laid on a fabric carrier arranged resiliently on a rigid support frame. The glass sheets are conveyed stepwise with the fabric carrier and the support frame through the bending system, and are bent together with the fabric carrier which adapts to the shape of the glass sheets.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: Saint-Gobain VitrageInventor: Hans-Werner Kuster
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Patent number: 5830253Abstract: A straight-through furnace for the heating of glass sheets to their bending and/or toughening temperature is provided with a conveying system bringing the glass sheets (2) in a horizontal position through the furnace (1). The conveying system includes a series of support plates (6). The support plates (6) are each formed of a rigid frame, which is equipped in the manner of a drum skin with a heat-resistant membrane (8) as the support surface for the glass sheet (2).Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1995Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage S.A.Inventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Werner Diederen, Carsten Bremer, Wilfried Korsten, Hans-Josef Promper, Reiner Zanders
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Patent number: 5713976Abstract: Process for bending glass sheets, particularly in pairs, in which the glass sheets undergo a pre-bending under the effect of gravity in a horizontal position on a concave annular bending ring (3) whose profile corresponds to the desired final profile of the glass sheets, until the edges of the glass plates are applied entirely to the bending block (3). A monolithic convex bending block (31) is then applied over the whole surface and acts from above on the glass sheets (21). The inner part of the sheets then undergoes supplementary bending which gives it the desired final shape, the glass sheets being pressed by suction, against the monolithic convex bending block, at the edge of the monolithic convex bending block (11).Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Saint Gobain VitrageInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Karl-Josef Ollfisch, Georgios Hariskos, Herbert Radermacher, Marco Muller
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Patent number: 5660609Abstract: A method and device for the bending, on a frame, at least one glass sheet by gravity includes two bending steps. The glass sheets are first supported at their periphery along a first peripheral line by a rough bending device during the first step and along a second peripheral line by a definitive bending device during the second step. Transfer of the glass sheets from the first peripheral line to the second peripheral line is performed by positively and continuously regulating a position of at least one of the rough and definitive bending devices in reaction to forces generated on the at least one of the rough and definitive bending devices by contact with the glass sheet.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1995Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: Saint-Gobain VitrageInventors: Marco Muller, Karl-Josef Olfisch, Hans-Werner Kuster, Claude Didelot
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Patent number: 5651805Abstract: In a method and apparatus for bending glass plates, the glass plates are heated in a horizontal position in a continuous furnace (1) to the bending temperature and in a following bending chamber (5) are pressed by an upwardly flowing hot gas stream against a convex bending mold (7) positioned above the conveying plane. The bent glass plates (3') are placed on a displaceable shaping ring (13) and transferred with the latter into a following cooling station (16). The glass plates (3) are raised from the conveying roller train (2) of the continuous furnace (1) by a suction plate (3) are positioned relative to the transfer ring (28) on the latter. With the aid of the transfer ring (28) the glass plates (3) are transferred into the bending chamber, where in the end position of the transfer ring (28) they assume the desired end position relative to the bending mold (7).Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1994Date of Patent: July 29, 1997Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Luc Vanaschen
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Patent number: 5441551Abstract: A device for pressing and bending glass panes comprises an upper, solid-faced bending mold and a lower frame-shaped mold. The lower frame mold is mounted horizontally traversable and serves at the same time as a support ring for transferring the bent glass pane into a cooling station. The frame-shaped mold is provided with an electrical heating resistor. In addition, a temperature sensor is disposed in the frame-shaped mold. The temperature of the frame-shaped mold can be regulated to a predetermined temperature by way of a power regulator, which is governed by the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1994Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Karl-Josef Ollfisch, Hans-Werner Kuster, Hans-Werner Nowoczyn, Horst Mucha, Eberhard Taubert
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Patent number: 5387270Abstract: A production installation for the contact toughening of glass sheets comprises a horizontal furnace for heating the glass sheets, a press containing two liquid-cooled pressing plates, a feed apparatus for transferring the heated glass sheets into the press and a removal apparatus for removing the toughened glass sheets out of the press. To the lower pressing plate, a solids-transmitted sound pick-up is coupled which, if a glass sheet breaks in the press, supplies an electrical signal. From this signal, after suitable processing of the signal, the control device is triggered, and as a result thereof interrupts the process sequence.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1993Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Carsten Bremer, Hans-Werner Nowoczyn, Horst Mucha, Werner Diederen, Hans-Werner Kuster
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Patent number: 5380575Abstract: A vertically adjustable glass pane for automobiles, especially a door window pane, is of laminated glass consisting of two thermally toughened single glass sheets, each 1.5 to 3 mm thick, and of a thermoplastic intermediate layer. Both the glass sheets have, in their edge region, tensile stresses in the core having a value from 27 to 57 MN/m.sup.2 for a sheet thickness of 1.5 mm and 20 to 47 MN/m.sup.2 for a sheet thickness of 3 mm. In the middle area within the peripheral region the glass sheets have tensile stresses in the core which, in the case of a glass sheet of 1.5 mm thickness, have values of 25 to 42 MN/m.sup.2 and, with a glass thickness of 3 mm, values of 17.5 to 33 MN/m.sup.2. Laminated glass panes of this type have a comparatively high strength in the peripheral region and low strength in the middle area. They possess excellent properties both from a structural design standpoint and also from the standpoint of safety in case of accident.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Franz Kramling, Friedrich-Wilhelm Berndsen
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Patent number: 5352263Abstract: In a method for bending glass plates, the glass plates are heated in a horizontal position in a continuous furnace (1) to the bending temperature and in a following bending chamber (5) are pressed by an upwardly flowing hot gas stream against a convex bending mold (7) positioned above the conveying plane. The bent glass plates (3') are placed on a displaceable shaping ring (13) and transferred with the latter into a following cooling station (16). The glass plates (3) are raised from the conveying roller train (2) of the continuous furnace (1) by a suction plate (3) are positioned relative to the transfer ring (28) on the latter. With the aid of the transfer ring (28) the glass plates (3) are transferred into the bending chamber, where in the end position of the transfer ring (28) they assume the desired end position relative to the bending mold (7).Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1993Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Luc Vanaschen
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Patent number: 5330550Abstract: An installation for the bending of glazings (6) includes a continuous furnace (1), a station for bending by pressing (10) with a lower shape (11) and a suction shape (15), a plate-suction device (50) that can be displaced longitudinally to transport the glazings (6) from the roller conveyor (7) to the station for bending by pressing (10), and an annular frame (35) that can be displaced horizontally to transport the bent glazings (61) to the cooling station (4). Lower shape (11) is mounted stationary lengthwise and a transfer station (30) is provided between the station for bending by pressing (10) and the cooling station (4). The upper shape can be displaced between the station for bending by pressing (10) and the transfer station (30), in synchronism with the plate-suction device (50).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1993Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Werner Diederen, Karl-Josef Ollfisch
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Patent number: 5290999Abstract: A continuous furnace (straight-through furnace) for heating glass panes to their curving and/or toughening temperature is constructed as a circular furnace and comprises an annular, horizontal hot gas support bed (3). On this annular hot gas support bed (3) the glass panes are carried, each by means of a template (56) of heat-resistant metal plate, also floating on the hot gas support bed (3), in a circuit from the feed station (6) to the discharge station (7). The templates (56) are each mounted on the arms (17) of a star-type turntable (16) concentrically to the support bed (3). At the discharge station (7) the glass panes, heated to bending and/or toughening temperature, are removed from the furnace by means of a radially traversable suction plate (42) and transferred into a bending and/or toughening device disposed laterally alongside the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1992Date of Patent: March 1, 1994Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Jean-Pierre Lacoste, Luc Vanaschen
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Patent number: 5203905Abstract: A holding device for glazing panes heated in a horizontal position to a deformation temperature comprises a downwardly facing contact surface, to which the glazing pane is held by suction action. The contact surface is formed of a tensioned fabric of highly heat-resistant fibers. As the glazing panes are sucked on, the fabric yields and bulges upwards. The amount of the bulge of the fabric is dependent upon the tension in the fabric. By the bulging of the fabric the glazing pane undergoes a bending opposite to the succeeding bending of the glazing pane under the effect of its self-weight. This counter-bending compensates an undesired transverse bending during the later bending process.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1991Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Werner Diederen, Werner Kahlen
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Patent number: 5203904Abstract: In the manufacture of bent or curved car glass plates or panes with more markedly bent areas, the latter are additionally locally heated with acetylene--oxygen, or acetylene--air, flames. An apparatus suitable for this includes a continuous furnace (1) and a bending station (3) with a bending mold (41) positioned above the conveying plane of the glass plates (9), as well as a ring mold (45) which serves as a countermold and a conveying ring and which is located on a movable carriage (44). In the areas of more marked bending below the ring mold (45) are provided burner tubes (42), which are supplied via flexible hoses with the acetylene gas and the combustion air or oxygen. Alternatively, the plates are locally heated in a transition zone (7) located between the furnace and the bending station by a gas burner (8), and thereafter pressed in the bending station by an upper bending mold (14) and a lower ring mold (16).Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1991Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Luc Vanachen, Hans-Werner Kuster, Hubert Havenith, Wilfried Korsten
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Patent number: 5131937Abstract: A roller conveyor has an aligning device for glazing panes. The conveyor includes a plurality of aligned rollers forming a roller bed and driven for advancing glass panes in a conveying direction. The aligning device includes a rail disposed above the rollers and mounted such that it extends at a small horizontal angle to the conveying direction. The rail is disposed relative to the rollers such that an edge of a pane being conveyed on the rollers engages the rails so as to align the pane. The aligning device also includes a ring disposed in the roller bed downstream of the rail in the conveying direction. The ring has an external diameter larger than that of the rollers and is positioned relative to the rail such that the ring can engage a lower surface of a pane conveyed on the rollers at a position spaced from the center of gravity of the pane, and so rotate the pane.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1991Date of Patent: July 21, 1992Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Werner Kuster, Werner Diederen, Heinz-Gunter Zilgens
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Patent number: 5114454Abstract: A bending furnace for glazings comprises several heating cells, a station for bending by pressing, at least one cooling cell and a system for intermittent transport of glazings. The glazings are laid on bending rings (2), mounted on mobile carriages (3), coupled to one another in a train. The train is pulled by a pulling machine installed at the end of the furnace and outside the latter. The point of application of the pulling machine which moves carriages (3) and the length of the travel of this pulling machine are controlled as a function of the temperature to take into account the variation of length of the train. The precise positioning of the carriage in the pressing station is obtained by a detector (27) joined to pivoting stops (28, 36).Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1991Date of Patent: May 19, 1992Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Hans-Josef Promper, Benoit D'Iribarne, Hans-Werner Kuster, Hans-Werner Nowoczyn, Luc Vanaschen
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Patent number: 5069703Abstract: A device for air-tempering, optionally associated with bending of glass plates includes a covering made of a metal fabric and exhibiting a thermal conductivity less than 3 and preferably less than 0.2 W.M.sup.-1.K.sup.-1. It has utility for coverings of frames intended to carry glass plates during their tempering and/or their bending and/or their transport.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1989Date of Patent: December 3, 1991Assignee: Saint-Gobain VitrageInventors: Benoit d'Iribarne, Hans-Werner Kuster, Luc Vanaschen
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Patent number: 5059235Abstract: In an apparatus for bending glass panes in a horizontal position, comprising an upper bending mold and a lower frame-shaped mold, the bending force exerted by the bending mold is determined by the self-weight of the bending mold. In order that a uniform pressure shall be exerted by the upper bending mold on the entire periphery of the lower frame-shaped mold, the upper bending is mounted displaceable on its guide rods relative to them in a vertical direction and variable in its angular position relative to the guide rods. To achieve the desired relief of weight of the bending mold, the guide rods are suspended by cables from a frame which can be lowered. On the frame, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are disposed, which each exert, via a pulling cable acting on a guide rod, an adjustable force in the opposite direction to the self-weight of the bending mold.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1990Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Benoit D'Iribarne, Luc Vanaschen, Hans-Josef Promper, Hans-Werner Kuster
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Patent number: 5053069Abstract: Glazings are preshaped before putting them through a step of tempering by contact. In a preferred variant, tempering by contact is applied only the central area of the glazing and the marginal zone thereof is tempered by blowing cold air.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1990Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Luc Vanaschen, Hans-Werner Kuster, Benoit D'Iribarne, Hans-Josef Promper, Rene Gy