Abstract: Apparatus (20,120) for forming a heated glass sheet G is disclosed as including a vacuum mold (22,22a,122,122a) having a full surface (24,24a,124,124a) against which a peripheral mold (26,26a,126,126a) presses the glass sheet periphery and with which at least one vacuum reservoir (32,33) is communicated within the interior of the sealed glass sheet periphery to form the glass sheet to the shape of the vacuum mold surface. Valving (38) of a vacuum system (28) is preferably operable to provide the vacuum impulse in two stages with an initial limited extent of vacuum and a subsequent greater extent of vacuum by communication first with one vacuum reservoir (32) and subsequently with another vacuum reservoir (33). Different embodiments of the vacuum mold have the vacuum mold surface facing upwardly and downwardly with convex and concave shapes.

Abstract: A mold assembly (34) for cyclically forming heated glass sheets includes a lower mold (36) having an upwardly oriented mold face (356) and an upper mold face having a downwardly oriented mold face (56) that opposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other. Alignment guides (122,124) align the molds (36,38) with each other as necessary during movement of the molds toward each other. Detachable connectors (362) detachably connect the molds to each other for installation and are disconnectable to permit the molds to be used for glass sheet forming. In one embodiment, the detachable connectors (362) are latches that include a latch member (364) and a keeper (366), and in another embodiment the detachable connectors are retainers (370) engageable and disengageable from the molds to provide their detachable securement.

Abstract: A forced convection furnace (20) and method for heating glass sheets includes a forced convection heater (42) having lower hot gas distributors (44) located below alternate conveyor rolls (38) to provide upward gas flow both upstream and downstream thereof along a direction of conveyance to provide heating from below of the glass sheets being conveyed within a heating chamber (32) of a housing (22) of the furnace. The forced convection heater (42) also includes upper hot gas distributors (52) for providing heating from above of the glass sheets being conveyed within the heating chamber (32).

Abstract: A method and furnace for heating a glass sheet by lower electric resistance elements (50) supported by a furnace housing (12) below a roll conveyor (40) and by supplying a gas burner heated hot gas flow from a forced convection heater (56) that provides a dominant mode of external heat for heating the conveyed glass sheet from above. The furnace can also be manufactured by retrofitting an electric resistance heater type glass sheet furnace.

Abstract: A glass sheet quench station loader (42) and method for installing a quench module set (44) of lower and upper quench modules (46,48) includes a quench carriage (440) of a horizontally opening U shape that receives the quench modules for the loading. Mounts (446,454) mount the quench modules for movement to the quench station (40) and for subsequent movement from the quench station to permit installation of another quench module set for another production run. The quench loader (42) includes an overhead crane (447) and an overhead railway (448) along which the crane moves to move the quench carriage (440) and the quench modules mounted thereby to and from the quench station.

Abstract: A forced convection furnace (20) and method for heating glass sheets includes a forced convection heater (42) having lower hot gas distributors (44) located below alternate conveyor rolls (38) to provide upward gas flow both upstream and downstream thereof along a direction of conveyance to provide heating from below of the glass sheets being conveyed within a heating chamber (32) of a housing (22) of the furnace. The forced convection heater (42) also includes upper hot gas distributors (52) for providing heating from above of the glass sheets being conveyed within the heating chamber (32).

Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin includes a housing (200) having an interior region, a conveyor for conveying the glass sheets through the interior region of the housing (200), a gas burner (204) operably associated with the housing (200) for producing hot combustion gases, thereby providing a heat input to the apparatus. An adjustor (210) is operably connected to, and controls, the inputs to the gas burner (204) to vary the heat input, and, thereby, maintain the temperature of the working fluid at a preselected set point. At least one velocity control for controlling the impingement velocity of the working fluid onto the top and/or bottom surfaces of the glass sheet is also provided. The impingement velocity, and thereby the rate of convective heat exchange between the working fluid and the glass sheet, is controlled independently of the heat input to the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for forming glass sheets includes a topside transfer platen (44) that releases a heated glass sheet onto a mold supported in an upper position by a mold support frame assembly (62) which then moves the mold vertically downward and rotationally to a lower position for movement horizontally on a track (66) from below the topside transfer platen for continuation of the forming. The apparatus includes an elevator mechanism (84) having a pair of elevators (86) and an associated pair of actuators (88) that are movable different extents in order to provide the vertical and rotational movement of the mold frame support assembly (62).

Abstract: A mold support frame assembly including a pair of mold support frames between which a connector extends and cooperates with to provide a thermally stable center. Each mold support frame includes a linkage extending between a pair of spaced legs and having a connection to a mold positioning member adjacent a centering location thereof so that thermal expansion and contraction takes place about the centering location. The connector includes a second mold positioning member that extends between the pair of mold support frames and has a second mold centering location. A second linkage extends between the pair of mold support frames and has a connection to the second mold positioning member adjacent its second mold centering location to provide thermal expansion and contraction of the second mold positioning member about its second mold centering location.

Abstract: A forming station (26) for roll forming a heated glass sheet include a forming conveyor (62) including forming rolls (66) that are moved upwardly between horizontal rolls (46) of a horizontal conveyor (44) on opposite sides of a centerline (C/L) of the horizontal conveyor to rollingly engage the heated glass sheet above a plane of conveyance of the horizontal conveyor at its centerline to roll form the glass sheet in cooperation with a forming press (80) having rotatable forming members (82) that rollingly engage the heated glass sheet from above. A second set of forming rolls (68) cooperates with the first set of forming rolls (66) to provide the roll forming. First and second sets of roll cradles (76,90) are mounted by pivotal supports (128,142) on associated first and second carriages (154,156) and moved by first and second actuators (78,92). Lateral movement of the carriages (154,156) provides versatility in the glass sheet shapes that can be formed.

Abstract: Apparatus (32) and a method for heated mold changing at a forming station (24) in a heated chamber (22) where heated glass sheets are cyclically formed. A switching station (318) is located adjacent the forming station (24). An unloading station (320) and a mold preheating station (322) are each located adjacent the switching station. An unloading cart (324) is initially movable from the loading station (320) to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station (24) to receive one or more heated molds from the forming station and is subsequently moved from the forming station back through the switching station to the unloading station to permit unloading of each heated mold. A loading cart supports a second mold or a pair of molds for heating within the mold preheating station (322) and is movable from the mold preheating station to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station for mold loading.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly (10) and method for providing combustion air flow and gas fuel flow in linear proportion to a control signal. A blower motor (18) is driven by the control signal and drives a blower (14) whose output (16) has a static pressure proportional to the square of the blower speed. A gas fuel controller 28 is responsive to the static pressure of the blower output (16) to meter fuel in proportion to the square root of that static pressure.

Abstract: A cooling ring assembly (20) and method for controlling stresses in a bent glass sheet G produce a strengthened bent glass sheet after the cooling is completed. The cooling ring assembly includes a cooling ring (22) that supports the glass sheet edge (24), an insulator (30) juxtaposed inboard of the cooling ring to reduce the cooling rate, and a cooler (34) for providing increased cooling to at least one localized area (36,40,58) of the glass sheet edge. The cooler (34) is preferably embodied by a pressurized air supply (42).

Abstract: Forming apparatus (22) and a method for forming a glass sheet ribbon G delivered from a float tank (44) to a topside support device (74) having a downwardly facing surface to which a vacuum and pressurized gas are supplied to support the glass sheet ribbon (G) at its upper surface (52) while a coater (78) applies a coating (80) to its lower surface (54). Another coater (86) applies a coating (88) to the upper surface (52) of the glass sheet ribbon G. A coated glass sheet (32) cut from the glass sheet ribbon G has at least one surface, and as disclosed both of its surfaces (52,54), coated so as to be protected from deterioration caused by exposure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A process and apparatus (26) for quenching a heated glass sheet by directing modulated cryogenic flows (36) that is initially completely liquid (42) toward the oppositely facing surfaces (38) of the glass sheet to quench the glass sheet. The modulated cryogenic flows (36) can be started and fully stopped to provide flow pulses and can also be continuous and have periodic increased flow pulses.

Abstract: Glass sheet forming apparatus (12) and a glass sheet forming method utilize a mold (20) having a curved forming face (22) with holes (26) in which a vacuum is drawn to form a glass sheet. A vacuum distributor (48) of the apparatus distributes a vacuum impulse of at least 0.1 atmospheres of vacuum from a valved vacuum reservoir (52) through a plurality of tubes (58) to a limited number of the holes (26) to provide additional forming of the glass sheet. The vacuum impulse distributor (48) is located within a vacuum chamber of the mold (20) that draws the vacuum by a gas jet pump in the holes (26) to which the vacuum impulse is not distributed.

Abstract: A glass sheet strip annealing method utilizes a housing (18) along which a conveyor (26) including a gas support (28) supports a glass sheet strip G by pressurized gas for movement between entry and exit ends (22,24) of the housing before a conveyor drive (32) engages the strip after the surfaces thereof are cooled below the strain point. Best results are achieved when the glass sheet strip is supported only by the gas support (28) until its surfaces are placed in compression. Lower and upper manifolds (34,36) respectively support and convey the glass sheet strip within the housing (18) preferably by a recirculating gas flow supplied by gas burner (76) and associated gas jet pumps (78).

Abstract: A process for quenching a heated glass sheet is performed by apparatus (26) that includes a pair of quench units (28) between which the glass sheet is located with each quench unit having nozzles (34) for directing cryogenic flows (36) including a liquid (42) toward the oppositely facing surfaces (38) of the glass sheet so that the liquid completely vaporizes before penetrating the gas boundary layer (40) on each surface of the glass sheet. The cryogenic flows (36) can be initially completely liquid (42) or can be a two phase as the liquid (42) and a gas (44) with the latter preferably being done by spraying the two phase cryogenic flows as liquid droplets and the gas.

Abstract: A process for quenching heated glass sheets is performed by locating a glass sheet between a pair of spaced quench units (28) and directing from first and second arrays of nozzles (34, 64) cryogenic flows (36) interspersed with pressurized air flows (66) so as to cooperate with each other in providing the quenching. In one practice the interspersed cryogenic flows (36) and the pressurized air flows (66) are provided at the same time as each other. In another practice, the interspersed cryogenic flows (36) and pressurized air flows (66) are provided at different times.

Abstract: A mold support assembly (28) includes a support (164) located within a heated chamber (22) and having a construction that reduces thermal expansion. A vertical guide (170) located externally of the heated chamber has a vertically movable connection (172) to the support (164) to permit vertical movement thereof at a horizontally fixed location. A mold support (174) for supporting a mold that provides forming of heated glass sheets is supported on the support (164) by support mounts (176) and is positioned by positioners (178,180) that provide a thermally stable center. The support (164) is constructed as a tubular support having fluid inlet (166) and a fluid outlet (168) through which a liquid coolant flows to reduce thermal expansion.