Abstract: A glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device and related methods of its operation are disclosed. The glass melter batch inlet and cleaning device includes an outer tubular housing including a side inlet, an inner tubular chopper including a side inlet relief in registration with the side inlet of the outer tubular housing, and at least one actuator extending alongside the outer tubular housing and coupled to the inner tubular chopper to move the chopper with respect to the outer tubular housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear conveyor (21) for transporting glass panels (3) in the vicinity of grinding stations (9, 13) or a washing station (15) of a system for producing glass panel blanks including a linear conveyor (23), for example, a driven toothed belt, and opposite the driven toothed belt a beam (25), from which a fluid, in particular water, is discharged. The glass panel (3) is pressed against the linear conveyor (23) in a non-positive manner and reliably conveyed by water discharged from the beam (25). Such linear conveyors (21) can be arranged at the upper or lower edge of a glass panel (3) in order to trim the glass panel using at least one grinding disk (27), for example.

Abstract: A facility for manufacturing a hollow glass article, including: a finishing mold intended to receive a blank of the hollow glass article and defining a cavity for forming the hollow glass article, at least one gas source, and a blowing head connected to the gas source and adapted for achieving at least one injection of the gas into the inside of the blank contained in the cavity. The facility further includes: at least one reservoir of coloring powder, and a system for injecting the coloring powder into the inside of the blank while the blank is located in the finishing mold and into the inside of the hollow glass article while the hollow glass article is located in the finishing mold, so that the injection of the coloring powder takes place before, during, after, before and during, during and after, or before, during and after the gas injection.

Abstract: A feeding device for introducing particulate feedstock into glass melting installations, comprising pushing conveyors supplied by storage containers via guiding channels and directed onto the melt surface, and comprising a slide for advancing the feedstock on the melt surface. To largely avoid asymmetric material and temperature distribution and movements transverse to a feedstock transporting direction, and exposure of the installation mineral construction materials to changing thermal loads, a) at least three pushing conveyors are arranged alongside one another and, in the region of the guiding channels, are arranged so closely alongside one another that they can be supplied by a common distributing device, and are separated from one another in the intermediate region between two guiding channels by a dividing edge, and b) a linkage for the drive of a slide that can be introduced into the glass melt is led through the spacing between each two guiding channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an installation for preparing a final glass, comprising a main furnace with electrodes and/or overhead burners, which is fed with main batch materials generating a main molten glass, and a submerged-combustion auxiliary furnace, said auxiliary furnace being fed with auxiliary batch materials, the auxiliary molten glass feeding the main furnace toward its upstream end in the first third of its length, the auxiliary glass being substantially of the same composition as the main glass. The downstream zone of the main furnace is thus used to remove both gases coming from the main glass and gases coming from the auxiliary glass, in order to finish melting the batch stones and impurities contained in the auxiliary glass and to homogenize the two glass streams from their redox standpoint, when this is necessary.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing successive spherical glass articles in each of which is accommodated a three-dimensional object of figuring, which method comprises the following steps, to be performed in a suitable sequence of: (a) providing a container with a mass of molten glass, which container comprises a discharge opening through which liquid glass can be delivered; (b) providing thermally resistant figurines; (c) wholly enclosing successively at least one figurine by molten glass by feeding molten glass thereto from at least two sides; (d) portioning the molten glass before or after step (c) such that molten glass masses are formed, in each of which a figurine is embedded; and (e) modeling these masses to a spherical form by substantially omnidirectional rolling for a time with simultaneous cooling so that the glass solidifies.

Abstract: Apparatus to amalgamate a paste of vitreous material in the molten state with an additive material in the form of granules, scales, slivers or filaments, made of metal, of other types of glass or other material in order to obtain a vitreous compound. The apparatus comprises containing means (11) to contain the paste of vitreous material, mixing means (15) to convey the vitreous compound downwards, in its molten state, towards rolling means (12) to produce manufactured articles. The mixing means (15) comprise at least a first pair of mixing cylinders (19a, 19b) having the respective axes of rotation (20a, 20b) arranged substantially horizontal, parallel to each other and substantially parallel, or slightly inclined, with respect to the direction in which a rolling force is applied by said rolling means (12).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing patterned and/or textured glass by applying a material onto at least a portion of a glass substrate, e.g., a float glass ribbon, at or above a softening point of the material and/or the glass substrate. The material is configured to affect the surface of the glass substrate to scatter light rays. An apparatus of the invention for forming patterned glass in a float glass process includes an applicator extensible into and out of a float bath chamber above a molten metal bath. A glass article of the invention includes a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface. The second surface includes a patterned portion configured to scatter light rays.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a cased glass stream having an inner core glass surrounded by an outer casing glass includes a first orifice for receiving core glass from a first source, and an orifice ring forming a second orifice vertically spaced beneath and aligned with the first orifice. A chamber surrounds the second orifice and communicates with the second orifice through a metering gap between the first and second orifices. Casing glass is delivered from a second source to the chamber, such that glass flows by gravity from the first and second sources through the orifices to form the cased glass stream. A heater ring of refractory material is disposed beneath the orifice ring, and includes at least one electrical heater embedded in the refractory material of the heater ring. The electrical heater is thus disposed external to the casing glass chamber for adding heat to casing glass flowing through the chamber to the metering gap.

Abstract: Gradient refractive index elements are fabricated from the melt, using two or more molten glass compositions, to prevent bubble formation in the elements. The individual glass compositions are melted in separate containers, and then added as appropriate to a single crucible. The more dense glasses settle to the bottom of the crucible, while the less dense glasses float on top of the melt layer. As a consequence of using molten glass, no bubbles appear. Batching of the process can be done by the level of the free melt surface, which means that one can control the batched volume of the melted glass by controlling the level of the free melt surface in the crucible.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a sequential bending furnace for bending glass sheets. According to the method, carriages are advanced in the furnace into a section downstream in the traveling direction of the carriages for a subsequent bending cycle essentially by using at least two transfer assemblies, providing a transfer mechanism and including first and second locking elements which are in a transfer-force transmitting relationship during the course of a transfer. This is followed by disengaging the locking elements and then transfer and locking rods included in the transfer assemblies are returned to a transfer commencing position in such a manner that at least one transfer assembly is in a locking position during transfers.

Abstract: An adjustable vibrating plate cullet feeder for feeding recycle glass to melting furnaces. Independent control of the rate of cullet feed is obtained by adjustment of at least one of: the angle of the feeder plate, the intensity of the vibration, and the frequency of the vibration. The vibrating plate cullet feeder may be positioned to feed over a batch charger or may feed directly into the melting furnace and may be controlled by the batch charger or independently by a furnace level or composition controller.

Abstract: A gas distributor beam includes a plenum and distribution slot surrounded by a generally V-shaped cooling fluid chamber. The circulation of a suitable cooling fluid tends to maintain the plenum and distribution slot at a temperature below four hundred degrees Fahrenheit for the distribution of diborane gas to an upper surface of a heated glass ribbon. Carbon blocks are utilized to stabilize the glass temperature above nine hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit for the proper deposition of boron on the surface of the glass. Insulation between the carbon blocks and the outer walls of the cooling fluid chamber minimize heat transfer and the shape of the cooling chamber minimizes the exposure of the glass to the lower temperatures of the cooling chamber.

Abstract: An improved article made of foamed glass or similar materials and method of manufacture is disclosed. Thus, a construction panel may be formed to bear weight, withstand weather and take reasonable impact and abuse, because of a tempered outer skin supported inside by a skeletal network of solid poreless material formed about low density pockets of substantially constant size and frequency.These panels are made by continuous pulling of the panels through a heat controlled mold in contact with the surface skin from a continuously fed molten mass into which is injected from the bottom size and frequency controlled foaming agents or gaseous bubbles which rise in the molten mass to a position where they are frozen in place.

Abstract: A glass melting furnace, especially fully electrically heated glass melting furnace, comprising a wall of refractory material, said wall being circular or having the configuration of a regular polygon, and wherein a supporting frame is provided at the exterior side thereof, comprising a cover or roof of refractory material being supported by overlying tierods or beams including wheels travelling on an annular or circular track rail and permitting said roof to be rotated in a horizontal plane; bin means and conveyor means for feeding the batch material into at least one hopper positioned on said roof; and bin means and conveyor means for the controlled supply of the batch material from said hopper or hoppers into a slot or into openings formed in the refractory material of said roof with different radial spacings from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for making films, sheets or plates of a transparent plastics material of high optical quality comprises means for depositing a solution, molten mass or reaction mixture which yields the solid plastics on drying or hardening on a moving glass ribbon having a smooth upper surface. The ribbon may be made by the float glass process. The plurality of plastics layer may be deposited one on another.

Abstract: The attenuation in a dielectric optical waveguide can be reduced by the following techniques:1. Surrounding the double crucible during the drawing operation by a non-oxidizing atmosphere.2. Feeding glass rod into the melt at a slow rate.3. Guiding glass rod into the melt so that movement of the glass rod transverse to the melt surface is inhibited.4. Melting the glass in the double crucible under vacuum.