With Agitator For Molten Or Soft Glass Patents (Class 65/178)
  • Patent number: 3938981
    Abstract: A method of removing undesirable gaseous inclusions also known as seeds and bubbles, from seed containing unrefined molten glass by introducing this unrefined molten glass into a rapidly rotating contained glass mass, subjecting the unrefined molten glass mass to centrifugal forces substantially greater than gravity and developing static pressure differences in the glass mass resulting in pressure gradients in the molten glass and causing the gaseous inclusions to migrate to areas of lower static pressure and to the atmosphere from the molten glass. The introduced stream of unrefined molten glass is directed by a plurality of diverters into many paths, downwardly and outwardly toward the chamber wall, to provide a favorable force on the entrapped inclusions to increase both number and sizes of inclusions removed from the molten glass, and delivering refined molten glass from the contained glass mass, having reduced numbers and sizes of gaseous inclusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas F. St. John