Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Andrew C. Siminerio
  • Electrical lead arrangement for a heatable transparency
    Patent number: 4918288
    Abstract: A heated transparency is provided with first and second bus bars along opposing edges of a transparency interconnected by an electroconductive coating. The bus bars and coating are applied to the same surface of the transparency. Electrical leads are spaced from the coated surface and are electrically insulated from the coating and bus bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Carter, Harold S. Koontz
  • Belt assisted press bending
    Patent number: 4904294
    Abstract: A heat softened glass sheet is conveyed directly from a heating furnace onto an advancing conveyor belt which is supported on a scissor table. The glass sheet is advanced on the belt to a position below an upper press face. The scissor table increases the sag of the belt and the corresponding curved configuration of the supported glass sheet as it lifts the glass sheet into pressing engagement with the upper press face. During pressing, the glass sheet and belt generally conform to the shaping surface of the press face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, INc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Schultz, Terry L. Wolfe, Richard E. Wilhelm
  • Power discontinuity sensor for a dual feed heatable windshield
    Patent number: 4902875
    Abstract: A power discontinuity sensor for a heatable windshield with bus bars having a double lead configuration. Sensor lines extend around the perimeter of the windshield in close proximity to adjacent bus bars or leads. The sensor lines are provided with current from an upper bus bar through a connecting bridge along the upper bus bar. Voltage in the sensor lines is monitored and current to the bus bars is interrupted in response to predetermined variations in the measured voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold S. Koontz
  • Aircraft bilayer appendage
    Patent number: 4902879
    Abstract: A heated bilayer appendage is provided for mounting outboard of an existing non-heated aircraft window. The appendage prevents moisture or frost accumulation on the outboard surface of the appendage so that a clear viewing area is maintained through that portion of the windshield over which the appendage is mounted. The appendage may be provided with an anti-static coating to prevent static charge accumulation on the appendage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia B. Walters, Connie J. Parvin, Gary M. Cribbs, Radford French, Joseph T. Mueller
  • In-lehr glass sheet press bending using pressurized gas
    Patent number: 4894080
    Abstract: Glass sheets are positioned on a shaping rail of an outline shaping mold form movement through a heating lehr and subsequent preliminary sag bending. The mold with the glass sheet supported thereon is positioned between a pair of vertically aligned pressing molds. The lower mold includes a full surface press face corresponding to the final desired curvature of the glass sheet to be shaped. The upper mold includes a peripheral shaping surface and a chamber defined by the shaping surface. After the lower mold lifts the glass sheet off the outline mold and into engagement with the upper mold, gas in the chamber is pressurized to urge those portions of the glass not contacted by the upper mold against the press face of the lower mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Reese, Joseph J. Fisher
  • Heatable windshield temperature control
    Patent number: 4894513
    Abstract: A temperature control device for a heatable windshield which includes a temperature sensitive resistance member that extends into critical areas of the windshield to monitor the windshield temperature and prevent overheating. The voltage drop across the member is compared to a set voltage drop value as the windshield is powered and becomes heated. When the member's voltage drop exceeds the set value, the power to the heatable windshield is automatically interrupted to prevent overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry S. Koontz
  • Method for cutting hot glass
    Patent number: 4891054
    Abstract: A glass sheet is cut while at a temperature at about its annealing point temperature by scoring the glass sheet along a line of cut and imparting a bending moment to the glass along the scored line to open the glass. The glass sheet remains at its elevated temperature throughout the cutting operation to reduce or eliminate additional heating required for subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack A. Bricker, Earl L. May, Donald P. Michelotti, John R. Dahlberg, James J. Oravitz, Jr., William R. Siskos
  • Refractory clad lid for heating vessel
    Patent number: 4874313
    Abstract: A refractory clad lid for heating vessel is disclosed. The lid includes a plurality of refractory blocks supported from a hollow metal paney by an interlocking dovetailed joint configuration at the panel/block interface. Coolant is circulated through the panel to control lid temperature and reduce block water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Schwenninger
  • Air cooled rotary kiln collar
    Patent number: 4836775
    Abstract: An air cooled rotary kiln collar for use in improving the delivery of preheated charge material from the rotary kiln to the second stage of a multi-stage heating process. Adjustable rate fans circulate air through an annular collar at the discharge end of the rotary kiln to remove heat from the charge material and prevent it from agglomerating and sticking to the kiln.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Heithoff, John K. Groetzinger
  • Flexible ring mold and method of use
    Patent number: 4830650
    Abstract: A heat softened glass sheet is shaped between a contoured upper mold and a flexible lower ring mold. The flexible shaping surface of the lower mold has a generally flat surface configuration as it initially contacts and lifts the peripheral portions of the glass sheet off a series of conveying rolls. The lower mold continues to bias the glass sheet against the upper mold and deforms to substantially compliment a corresponding peripheral portion of the contoured upper mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Kelly
  • Windshield moisture sensor
    Patent number: 4831493
    Abstract: A moisture sensor to sense rain on a windshield. The sensor members on the outboard surface of the windshield are uncoated and directly exposed to any moisture accumulation on the sensor. Leads connect the sensor to an electrical signal generator and receiver and are insulated from each other to prevent direct electrical interconnection therebetween and subsequent shorting of the sensor circuitry. When moisture is on the sensor, the nature of a monitorable electrical signal passing through the sensor changes and is detected. In response to the altered signal, the windshield wipers are actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Wilson, Harry S. Koontz, William E. Wagner, John J. Everhart, Glen E. Freeman, Harold E. Donley, deceased
  • Precipitative static drain strip system
    Patent number: 4831491
    Abstract: A device for dissipating static charge collected on the surface of an aircraft window having a plurality of electroconductive film elements on the outboard surface of the aircraft window. The elements are electrically interconnected and grounded such that charges accumulated by the film elements passed there along to the ground. An electrical window heating system may be incorporated into the plies of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph T. Mueller, William W. Hornsey
  • Discrete glass cutting and edge shaping
    Patent number: 4828900
    Abstract: Glass shapes and sheets are cut directly from a heated glass ribbon while maintaining the optical quality of the cut glass. A float glass ribbon is removed from a glass forming chamber and prior to annealing, a line of cut is heated to its softening temperature. A blade arrangement thereafter penetrates the glass along the heated line of cut to sever the glass. The cut glass edge is shaped after cutting while the edge is still at the softening temperature. Duuring the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond J. Mouly
  • Aircraft windshield
    Patent number: 4810583
    Abstract: An aircraft windshield having an outer glass ply and an inner antilacerative liner. The liner preferably includes a sheet of polyether urethane and polycaprolactone urethane. The polyether urethane is sandwiched between the glass ply and polycaprolactone urethane and the assembly is laminated to form the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Theresa S. Brown, Connie J. Parvin, Patricia B. Walters, Wolfram F. Rothe, Radford French
  • Lid construction for a heating vessel and method of use
    Patent number: 4808205
    Abstract: A multilayered, cooled metal lid for a heating vessel has a main support plate fabricated from low carbon steel and a chromium steel overlay that is exposed to the hot interior portions of the vessel. The chromium steel overlay has a chromium content by weight of approximately 10 to 25 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary N. Hughes, George A. Pecoraro
  • Adjustable press face
    Patent number: 4806140
    Abstract: An adjustable shaping mold is provided with an externally positioned adjusting arrangement. All adjustments to the curved configuration of the shaping surface of the mold are done without having to adjust any portion of the adjusting mechanism that is positioned between the flexible shaping member and rigid mounting plate of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Krug, Donald J. Beeler, David C. Plank, Robert W. Sitman, Walter F. Shauf, Robert F. Pike
  • Capacitive coupled moisture sensor
    Patent number: 4805070
    Abstract: A rain sensor for a windshield having two sets of electroconductive coatings on opposing major surfaces of the outer glass ply of a windshield. The first set of coatings on the outer major surface of the ply are electrically insulated from but in close proximity to each other. The second set of electroconductive coatings are positioned within the windshield between the glass plies and are electrically connected to a signal generator and receiver. Water contacting the outer surface of the glass ply changes the nature of an electrical signal passing through the first pair of electroconductive coatings. In response to the altered signal, a controller actuates a windshield wiper arrangement to clear the viewing area of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry S. Koontz, James F. Wilson
  • Partial press in gravity bending furnace and method of use
    Patent number: 4804397
    Abstract: A partial press for shaping heat softened glass sheets as they are supported on a bending mold and conveyed through a lehr includes a press member that contacts selected portions of the glass sheet. The press member moves with the glass sheet so that there is no relative horizontal movement between the press member and the glass sheet as the glass sheet is conveyed through the lehr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Stas, Robert G. Frank, James H. Schwartz
  • Batch melting vessel lid cooling construction
    Patent number: 4789390
    Abstract: A lid of a glass batch melting vessel is subjected to corrosive and thermal degradation. The lid is cooled and the temperature of the exploded inner surface of the lid is controlled such that particulate and molten materials entrained in exhaust gas circulating within the vessel adhere to the lid surface forming a protective, insulating coating that prolongs the service life of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, George A. Pecoraro, Henry M. Demarest, Jr.
  • Adjustable radius conveyor roll
    Patent number: 4787504
    Abstract: An adjustable radius conveyor roll for shaping and conveying heat softened glass sheets. Interconnected glass sheet engaging members are rotatably mounted along a flexible shaft of the conveyor roll. The ends of the roll are pivotally connected to pivoting support arms. A roll flexing arrangement includes a collar positioned at the center of the roll and a roll flexing drive to move the center of the roll in a vertical direction to adjust the curved configuration of the conveying roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Schultz