Abstract: A glass melter 30 having a mixing impeller 34 for converting a feed stream 38 supplied to a vessel 32 into a vitrified glass melt 50. Heating means such as electrodes 36 or a gas burner 58 are used to heat the glass melt 50. Electrode 36 arrangements are proposed for minimizing current flow through the impeller 34. Current flow through a special continuous circular impeller or conical pump 70 is disclosed. A cylindrical vessel 98, triangular vessel 94, square vessel 32, and hexagonal vessel 96 are disclosed. Methods of processing particular waste streams are disclosed including coated mineral fibers, fly ash, radioactive material, chemical waste and the like.

Abstract: An optical roller wave gauge for inspecting glass sheets processed on a horizontal roller hearth to determine roller wave distortion thereon includes a light source mounted to direct two parallel beams of light separated by a predetermined first distance onto the glass sheet, light detection means mounted to receive the two beams reflected from the surface of the glass sheet, first logic for determining the second distance between the beams at the light detection means, memory for storing a preselected number of second distances determined by the first logic, and second logic for retrieving the preselected number of stored second distances and generating a quality value representing the surface distortion on that portion of the glass sheet over which the preselected number of second distances was determined.

Abstract: A mold assembly support (10) is disclosed for providing a self-aligning thermally stable mold support in a glass sheet forming system (12) wherein a reference point within the glass sheet heating furnace (14) is connected to a geometric frame of reference outside the furnace (14). The mold assembly support (10) includes a frame (40) including mold registering members (52,54) which define a stable thermal reference point within the furnace which is maintained in an unchanging relationship with respect to the geometric frame of reference outside the furnace (14) along a glass sheet heating furnace substructure (16).

Abstract: A glass sheet strip annealing lehr (16) is disclosed as including 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 glass sheet forming apparatus (20) for continuously forming a heated glass sheet includes a roller conveyor (30) defined by a plurality of interposed first and second conveyor rolls (32,34). The first conveyor rolls (32) are mounted in a plane defined by X and Y axes for conveying the glass sheet. The second conveyor rolls (34) include independent first and second roll portions (36,38). At least one of the roll portions (36) is movable in the plane to establish rotation of the roll portion (36) with respect to a Z direction. The second conveyor rolls (34) are mounted in a plane defined by X' axis. A first actuator (44) moves the movable roll portions (36) so that part of the movable rolls (36) are elevated above the X' axis and above the first conveyor rolls (32) whereby the roller conveyor (30) becomes non-planar and a heated glass sheet is formed as a result of the non-planar conveyor shape and upward action of the second conveyor rolls (34).

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for delivering a newly formed floating glass sheet from a molten metal bath container (22) includes a topside support device (45) located adjacent the delivery end of the bath container and having a downwardly facing surface (80) with a first set of openings (82) through which a vacuum is drawn and a second set of openings (84) through which pressurized gas is supplied to support the glass sheet strip upon delivery from the molten metal bath (24). The bath container (22) with which the apparatus is disclosed as being used has a linear induction motor (24) that permits horizontal delivery without bath overflowing. The apparatus (20) also includes a gas support (34) and a drive roll (42) that cooperate with each other. The gas support (34) supports the horizontally delivered glass sheet strip by upwardly directed pressurized gas delivered between lateral edge portions (38) of the strip at a location immediately adjacent the bath container (22).

Abstract: A variable pressure gas jet system for lifting and forming glass sheets including a controller (32) for providing an electrical signal corresponding to a preselected pressure to an electrical-to-pressure converter (34) which converts the received signal to a corresponding pressure. A remotely operated gas flow regulator (36) receives a small volume of the pressurized gas from the converter and transmits a large volume of gas at a corresponding pressure through the system to a series of gas jets (42) comprising an array of nozzles (24) which direct the pressurized gas onto the lower surface of the heated glass sheet to lift the glass sheet from a conveyor to the downwardly facing surface of an upper mold (22).

Abstract: A system (10) for changing a cloth covering ring (12) in a glass sheet heating furnace (18) includes an apparatus (26) operable for removing and replacing the cloth ring, a cloth ring changing furnace section (28) that provides access by apparatus (26) into the furnace (18) and a sensor (46) in communication with a controller (50) to sense broken glass and position a shaping mold (16) in position for a cloth ring (12) change.

Abstract: A glass melter 30 having a mixing impeller 34 for converting a feed stream 38 supplied to a vessel 32 into a vitrified glass melt 50. Heating means such as electrodes 36 or a gas burner 58 are used to heat the glass melt 50. Electrode 36 arrangements are proposed for minimizing current flow through the impeller 34. Current flow through a special continuous circular impeller or conical pump 70 is disclosed. A cylindrical vessel 98, triangular vessel 94, square vessel 32, and hexagonal vessel 96 are disclosed. Methods of processing particular waste streams are disclosed including coated mineral fibers, fly ash, radioactive material, chemical waste and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed for treating a glass sheet (22) including a substantially enclosed chamber (14) containing a chamber atmosphere (24) in which the glass sheet (22) may be treated. Apparatus (10) also includes gas turbine engine (12) which generates heated pressurized exhaust gases which are provided to chamber (14) to treat glass sheet (22). In one embodiment, conveyor (26) is used to support glass sheet (22) in the chamber atmosphere (24). Air bed plate (72) is used to support the glass in an alternate apparatus embodiment (68).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recycling scrap mineral fibers (42) having an organic binder coating in a highly stirred glass melter (16) wherein the organic binder coating is decomposed by applying heat. Carbon from the organic binder coating is oxidized on the surface of the glass melt (17). After oxidizing the carbon, the glass fibers are dispersed into the melt. Residual carbon may be oxidized after inclusion in the melt. Purified glass suitable for forming glass fibers is further processed by conventional glass fiber forming equipment. The method may also include the step of pre-processing the glass fiber scrap by shredding or pulverizing to facilitate feeding the glass fiber scrap to the highly stirred glass melt. The apparatus according to the present invention is preferably a stirred melter (16) having electrical joule effect heating. An impeller (22) in the glass melt stirs the melt at a high rate of speed to provide a draw down effect pulling fibers into melt.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for conveying a glass sheet (12) disclosed includes an air floatation glass sheet heating furnace (14) having a downwardly sloping heating bed (15). The furnace (14) includes an endless conveyor means (18) revolvable in situ and a plurality of restraining bars (20) supported by the conveyor means (18) and revolving with the conveyor means (18). The restraining bars (20) are movable sequentially adjacent the heating bed (15) and away from the heating bed (15) while revolving with the conveyor means (18).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for cooling a glass sheet (G) formed on an upwardly facing full face male glass sheet shaping mold (12) disclosed includes a glass sheet press ring (14) mounted on a press ring enclosure (16). A freeze plate (18) having first and second surfaces (20,22) is mounted in the press ring enclosure. A cooling means (24) mounted adjacent the freeze plate (18) cyclically cools the freeze plate (18) between a heated ambient temperature and a temperature significantly below the glass sheet (G) whereby the freeze plate (18) radiatively cools the glass sheet (G) formed on the full face glass sheet shaping mold (12) by the press ring (14) sufficiently so that the formed glass sheet (G) shape does not change upon further processing.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending apparatus (10) for bending glass sheets about a thermally stable reference is disclosed as including a mold shuttle (20) having a receptical member (22) providing a thermally stable reference point or center with respect to a glass sheet heating furnace (14) and an upper mold support including pin (62) cooperable with the first receptical member (22) so that a glass sheet can be accurately bent between molds (34, 32) mounted on the mold shuttle (20) and upper mold support (26) respectively. An upper mold support actuator (40) includes a second registering member (42) engaging a first registering member (28) of the upper mold support (26) for raising and lowering the upper mold support (26) and disengaging the upper mold support to allow relative movement between the actuator (40) and upper mold support (26) so that the same thereby realign and engage in a newly established registration during subsequent lifting of the upper mold support (26).

Abstract: A method for bending glass sheets is disclosed in which a heated glass sheet (12) is introduced between spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18). The glass sheet (12) is moved in one direction between the spaced lower and upper bending platens (16,18) during deformation of the platens (16,18) which forms the bent shape in the glass sheet (12). Movement of the glass sheet (12) in the said one direction is continued for at least 1/2 second during a subsequent cooling phase to initiate a freeze in the surfaces of the glass sheet (12) which thereby eliminates mechanical distortion in the formed glass sheet associated with interrupting the movement of the glass sheet (12) prior to cooling.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for orienting a glass sheet (12) on a glass sheet shaping mold (16) is disclosed as including a plurality of air actuated cylinders (32) mounted on the mold (16). Each cylinder (32) includes a glass sheet nester (34) that is actuable by cylinder (32) between a raised position, above the mold (16) for locating the glass sheet (12) with the cooperable operation of backgate assembly (24) as the glass sheet (12) moves along a topside support device (14), and a lowered position, below the mold surface (26) whereby the glass sheet (12) can be deposited on the mold (16) for forming.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for delivering a newly formed floating glass sheet from a molten metal bath container (22) including a linear induction motor (24) that permits horizontal delivery without bath overflow is disclosed as including a gas support (34) and a drive roll (42) that cooperate with each other. The gas support (34) supports the horizontally delivered glass sheet strip by upwardly directed pressurized gas delivered between lateral edge portions (38) of the strip at a location immediately adjacent the bath container (22). The drive roll (42) is located downstream from the molten metal bath (24) and has spaced drive portions (44) that rotatively drive the lateral edge portions (38) of the glass sheet strip without the drive roll engaging the strip between the spaced drive portions. Gas support (34) preferably includes a first manifold (46) that supplies an upwardly directed inert gas and also preferably includes a second manifold (50) that supplies products of combustion from a gas burner.

Abstract: A drive mechanism (32) for a roller conveyor (28) of a furnace (12) for heating flat glass sheets includes a primary drive loop (34) received by primary drive wheels (36) and also includes a plurality of secondary drive loops (50) each of which is associated with a pair of conveyor rolls (30). Internal teeth (42) of the primary drive loop (34) and external teeth (52) of the secondary drive loops (50) are engaged to provide a driving relationship therebetween, while internal teeth (54) of the secondary drive loops (50) drive gears (56) secured to the conveyor rolls (30). A plurality of idler gears (64) mesh with the external teeth (54) of the secondary drive loops (50) to maintain tensioning that prevents backlash and provides uniform reversal of all conveyor rolls as the driving changes from one direction to the other as well as allowing the conveyor rolls to be positioned with their high sides aligned so as to maintain planarity during the conveyance.

Abstract: A glass sheet transferring device (20) is disclosed as including a movably driven frame (30), a glass sheet lifting mechanism (32) and a walking beam mechanism (28) connected to the movably driven frame (30) to provide indexed transfer of a glass sheet G during its movement from a glass sheet forming station (22).

Abstract: A preheater (12) preheating flat glass sheets prior to further heating to a higher temperature is disclosed as including a conveyor (18) and a pair of opposed forced convection heaters (20) that each include a plurality of elongated housings (22) having a baffle (30) that extends diagonally between the housing ends (26) and is spaced from outlets (28) of the housing to provide a mixing chamber (32) that results in mixing of hot gas supplied from opposite directions to plenum of the housing. This mixing provides a uniform flow of hot gas through the outlets (28) between the housing ends and thereby provides uniform preheating of the glass sheet over its entire extent.