Patents Represented by Attorney Dennis G. Millman

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  • Method of melting raw materials for glass or the like with staged combustion and preheating
    Patent number: 4634461
    Abstract: Raw materials such as glass batch are preheated by combustion of liquid or solid fuel such as fuel oil or coal mixed with the batch material. In one embodiment the material being heated and the gaseous products of combustion are passed cocurrently through the preheating stage to avoid carbonaceous effluents. Preheated materials and any ash from the fuel are transferred to a second stage where they are liquefied. Carbon monoxide from the preheating stage may serve as fuel for the liquefying stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry M. Demarest, Jr., Gerald E. Kunkle, Clement C. Moxie
  • Induction heating vessel
    Patent number: 4633481
    Abstract: A vessel for inductively heating molten material such as glass is provided with a ceramic refractory lining bound by the electrical coil. The coil may comprise a single turn sheath. In preferred embodiments the lining comprises an inner layer of melt-compatible refractory and an outer layer of thermal insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Schwenninger
  • Method of melting raw materials for glass or the like using solid fuels or fuel-batch mixtures
    Patent number: 4632687
    Abstract: Thermally fusible material such as glass batch is liquefied using a solid carbonaceous fuel such as coal as the major energy source. In another embodiment, solid or liquid fuel is mixed with the batch material being fed to an initial liquefaction stage. Melting may be advanced further in a subsequent stage where the melt may also be re-oxidized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, Henry M. Demarest, Larry J. Shelestak
  • Method and apparatus for inductively heating molten glass or the like
    Patent number: 4610711
    Abstract: Glass or the like is melted by liquefying batch materials in a first stage by means of radiant heating, and further advancing the melting process in a second stage where the melt is heated by induction heating. Another aspect of the invention provides a residence zone at the exit of the induction heating stage to aid elimination of gaseous inclusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Matesa, Kwang J. Won, Henry M. Demarest, Jr.
  • Method of pretreating glass batch
    Patent number: 4604121
    Abstract: In a glass batch liquefying process, batch-entrained nitrogen is purged by contacting the batch with a substantially nitrogen-free gas in a pretreating stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry M. Demarest, Jr., Joseph M. Matesa, Gerald E. Kunkle
  • Metering device for molten glass and the like
    Patent number: 4600426
    Abstract: Metering a flow of molten material such as glass is provided at the exit end of a drain by means of a bulbous member in the flow path supported by a lateral arm. The bulbous member and the arm are shaped to provide reconverging flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Schwenninger
  • Pinch means for attenuating float glass and method of using same
    Patent number: 4572731
    Abstract: In a float glass process, traction of an attenuating device on the glass ribbon is enhanced by a member buoyantly engaging the underside of the ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: O. Franklin Williams, Jr.
  • Method for ablating liquefaction of materials
    Patent number: 4564379
    Abstract: Converting thermally meltable materials to a liquefied state is carried out on a lining of pulverulent material. As liquefied material is drained from the surface, additional unmelted material is fed onto the surface to maintain the lining substantially intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, Joseph M. Matesa
  • Ablating liquefaction method
    Patent number: 4559071
    Abstract: Converting thermally meltable materials to a liquefied state is carried out on a support surface of the unmelted material. As liquefied material is drained from the surface, additional unmelted material is fed onto the surface to maintain a substantially constant layer of the unmelted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, Joseph M. Matesa
  • Organic wetting of glass batch
    Patent number: 4551161
    Abstract: Energy savings are attained by employing an organic liquid such as fuel oil as a glass batch wetting agent. Also, inclusion of fuel oil in a sulfur-containing glass batch yields improved melting rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward P. Savolskis, John F. Krumwiede
  • Submerged oxygen-hydrogen combustion melting of glass
    Patent number: 4545800
    Abstract: Molten material is heated by submerged combustion of hydrogen with oxygen so that the product of combustion injected into the melt is low in volume and consists essentially of water vapor which is relatively soluble in a material such as molten glass. Preferred embodiments involve liquefying the batch materials in a first stage and subjecting the liquefied materials to submerged combustion in a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang J. Won, George A. Pecoraro
  • Ablating liquefaction employing plasma
    Patent number: 4545798
    Abstract: Converting thermally meltable materials to a liquefied state is carried out by a plasma heat source encircled by a layer of the unmelted material. As liquefied material is drained from the surface, additional unmelted material is fed onto the surface to maintain a substantially constant layer of the unmelted material, thereby maintaining the temperature of the melting vessel relatively low and eliminating the need for forced cooling of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Matesa
  • Method and apparatus for controlling currents in glass melter
    Patent number: 4544396
    Abstract: In a glass melting furnace, the beneficial effects of passing molten glass streams through the intensified heating at the surface of the "spring zone" are enhanced by the use of bubblers. In one aspect, the rate of bubbling is greater near a side wall of the furnace than in the center immediately upstream of the spring zone so as to direct side portions of the throughput stream into the spring zone. In another aspect of the invention, the rising currents of the spring zone are enhanced by bubbling a stream entering the spring zone at a first elevation and then bubbling the same stream portion at a higher elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Krumwiede, William C. Harrell, William G. Hilliard, James E. Harris
  • Enhanced pneumatic regenerator flow control
    Patent number: 4540361
    Abstract: Pneumatic control of flow patterns in regenerators is improved by the use of flow amplifier nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Gagne
  • Melting of glass with staged submerged combustion
    Patent number: 4539034
    Abstract: Glass batch materials and the like are liquefied in a first stage and the liquefied materials are subjected to submerged combustion in a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry P. Hanneken
  • Method of calcining and liquefying glass batch
    Patent number: 4539030
    Abstract: In a two stage glass batch liquefying process, calcium source material is preheated in a first stage in the absence of the major sodium source material, and the heated calcium source material and the sodium source material are combined and liquefied in a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry M. Demarest, Jr., Joseph M. Matesa
  • Method for controlling currents in glass melter
    Patent number: 4536205
    Abstract: In a glass melting furnace, the beneficial effects of passing molten glass streams through the intensified heating at the surface of the "spring zone" are enhanced by the use of bubblers. In one aspect, the rate of bubbling is greater near a side wall of the furnace than in the center immediately upstream of the spring zone so as to direct side portions of the throughput stream into the spring zone. In another aspect of the invention, the rising currents of the spring zone are enhanced by bubbling a stream entering the spring zone at a first elevation and then bubbling the same stream portion at a higher elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Krumwiede, William C. Harrell, William G. Hilliard, James E. Harris
  • Method and apparatus for feeding an ablation liquefaction process
    Patent number: 4529428
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for melting pulverulent material such as glass batch wherein liquefaction takes place on a stable layer of pulverulent material, adjustable means are provided for feeding the material in a controlled manner onto the active melting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Groetzinger
  • Regenerator checker packing with enhanced transverse flow
    Patent number: 4527617
    Abstract: Regenerator packing members are constructed and arranged to form tapered passageways interconnecting regenerator flues to induce transverse flow of gas between flues for increased heat transfer. A preferred embodiment includes parallelepiped bricks arranged in an open basketweave pattern, with spaces between brick ends and side faces defining the tapered passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gagne, Yih-Wan Tsai
  • Glass batch liquefaction
    Patent number: RE32317
    Abstract: The initial step of melting glass, converting particulate batch materials to a partially melted, liquefied state, is carried out on a support surface of batch. As liquefied batch is drained from the surface, additional batch is fed onto the surface to maintain the surface substantially constant.The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,701, filed Dec. 31, 1984 have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald E. Kunkle, Joseph M. Matesa