Patents by Inventor Wright M. Welton

Wright M. Welton 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).

  • Method of vacuum refining of glassy materials with selenium foaming agent
    Patent number: 4886539
    Abstract: In a method of vacuum refining molten glass or the like, selenium is provided in the molten glass to serve as a foaming agent, which yields improved refining. Alternatively, colored glass compositions that include selenium as a colorant are refined at higher than normal pressures to retain selenium in the glass without sacrificing refining performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Gerutti, David R. Haskins, Robert B. Heithoff, Ronald L. Schwenninger, Wright M. Welton
  • Foam control method for vacuum refining of glassy materials
    Patent number: 4794860
    Abstract: In a process for refining molten glass or the like by vacuum, the collapse of foam is accelerated by contacting the foam with foam breaking substances. The foam breaking substances include water, alkali metal compounds such as sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, and solutions of such compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wright M. Welton
  • Vacuum refining of glass or the like with enhanced foaming
    Patent number: 4780122
    Abstract: Foaming of molten glass or the like as it enters a vacuum refining vessel is enhanced by altering the incoming stream so as to increase its surface area and/or retarding the passage of the stream through the vacuum headspace so as to increase its exposure to the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Schwenninger, Wright M. Welton, Boyd S. Dawson, Joseph M. Matesa, Larry J. Shelestak
  • Melting and vacuum refining of glass or the like and composition of sheet
    Patent number: 4738938
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for refining glassy material or the like by vacuum. The material is first melted and then introduced into a vacuum chamber, preferably into space above liquid held in the chamber. Other aspects involve a two-step melting process preparatory to the vacuum refining, in which the material is initially liquefied in one stage and dissolution of particles is substantially completed in a second stage. The molten material is preferably foamed immediately upon entry into the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, Wright M. Welton, Ronald L. Schwenninger
  • Measuring glass surface temperature during annealing
    Patent number: 3957475
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for continually monitoring the surface temperature of a moving glass ribbon at a given distance from the edge of the ribbon where the ribbon moves through a critical portion of an annealing lehr where the rate of cooling determines whether the ribbon may be cut easily after annealing and whether the ribbon is subjected to spontaneous breakage during annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest N. Schwenninger, Wright M. Welton, Jr.
  • Method and apparatus for making molten glass with batch guiding means
    Patent number: 3941576
    Abstract: In a continuous glass melting furnace, a pair of substantially horizontally and longitudinally extending barrier rods are provided just beneath the surface of the molten glass closely adjacent to the sides of the floating batch blanket so as to maintain the batch blanket spaced from the sidewalls of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wright M. Welton, Jr.