Abstract: A ring mold unit for shaping and tempering a glass sheet includes a shaping ring mold for bending a glass sheet heated to a temperature close to the softening point of glass, in association with upper and lower mold members, and a cooling ring mold for supporting the bent glass sheet while the glass sheet is being quenched and tempered by a cooling medium. The shaping ring mold has a thermally insulating member on its upper surface for supporting thereon, in surface-to-surface contact, the glass sheet inwardly of a peripheral edge thereof. The cooling ring mold is disposed outwardly of the shaping ring mold and having a shape complementary to the shape of the peripheral edge of the glass sheet for supporting the peripheral edge of the glass sheet. The cooling ring mold has recesses defined in the upper surface thereof, and is covered with a punched metal.

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. During the line heating and cutting operation, the overall glass temperature is maintained above the strain point of the glass.

Abstract: Bent and/or toughened silver coated glass having high light transmission is produced by depositing layers of additional metal over, or both under and over, the silver layer. When the additional metal is used over the silver layer, it it selected from aluminium, titanium, zinc and tantalum. When the additional metal is used both under and over the silver, it is selected from aluminium, titanium, zinc, tantalum and zirconium. The additional metal is used in an amount such that the light transmission of the coated glass increases on bending and/or toughening. The bent and/or toughened coated glass is useful for architectural glazing and as vehicle windows.

Abstract: A horizontal press bending arrangement wherein heat softened glass sheets are shaped between a lower mold with a sheet shaping surface having a generally convex upward elevational configuration and an upper vacuum mold. After shaping the shaped glass sheet is deposited on an adjustable tempering ring. The ring adjusts in size from a first configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet immediately after shaping, to a second configuration corresponding to the contours of the shaped sheet after it has been cooled.

Abstract: Patterned float glass is produced without distorting patterns imparted to the surface by forming the glass by a process that avoids deformation of the glass subsequent to the pattern imparting step.

Abstract: Stirring of glass of high optical quality is effected by initiating forming of the glass, such as by the float process, at relatively high temperatures immediately after the glass has been stirred. Preferably, during and/or following the stirring operation contact between the molten glass and ceramic refractories is minimized. This is preferably accomplished by providing a layer of molton metal (e.g., tin) on the bottom of the stirring chamber.

Abstract: Glass which is heated to a softened state is bent from a generally planar state to a curved form while being transported on a moving conveyor made up of a plurality of generally parallel belts. The contour of the conveyor varies from being generally flat adjacent the apparatus inlet to being significantly curved adjacent the apparatus outlet. The softened glass sags under its own weight to conform to the varying conveyor contour.

Abstract: A sliding support table to support a continuously advancing glass ribbon during severing. The ribbon is supported by and moves over the sliding support table which moves along the direction of the glass ribbon travel between stationary upstream and downstream supports. Top and bottom line heaters supported on the table direct flames towards the major surfaces of the glass ribbon along a line cut. A blade and anvil arrangement supported on the table, sever the glass along the heated line of cut when the line of cut is positioned therebetween. The table advances along with the glass ribbon to support the ribbon during the heating and severing operation. The line heaters and blade and anvil arrangement may provide both a linear or nonlinear line of cut.

Abstract: A moving mechanism for moving a baffle (16), funnel or blowhead. A support (14) for the member is pivotally mounted on a first horizontal axis (20) on an arm (18) which is mounted to turn about a second horizonal axis (22) to move the member between operative and out-of-the-way positions. Driving means (24) is operable to turn the arm about the second horizontal axis and orientation means (42) maintains the member in a constant orientation during movement of the arm.

Abstract: A float glass forming chamber is cooled by circulation of molten metal through passages separate from the molten metal pool upon which the glass is supported.

Abstract: Delivery of molten glass to a flat glass forming operation carried out as a substantially free-falling vertical stream. The glass may be received in a first chamber in a relatively deep and narrow reservoir, from which it flows to a wider chamber, from which, in turn, it is drawn longitudinally.

Abstract: An extended surface pressing mold for a horizontal press bending arrangement. The lower mold provides a glass sheet engaging surface having a first portion which complements and generally parallels a first portion of an upper sheet engaging surface of an aligned upper mold, a wing portion which extends from the first portion of lower mold and is nonparallel to a corresponding second aligned portion of the sheet engaging surface of the upper mold, and a ring portion positioned outwardly from the wing portion and generally complementing a third aligned portion of the upper sheet engaging surface of the upper mold near a portion of the perimeter of the glass sheet. The ring portion moves from the first position wherein the ring portion is in a non-engaging position relative to the heat softened glass sheet to a second position wherein the ring portion contacts and engages a perimeter portion of the heat softened glass sheet to press the perimeter portion against the third portion of the upper mold.

Abstract: A glass bottle forming system is described in which a main glass melter is connected to a forehearth with a fairly conventional feeder provided at the delivery end of the forehearth. The feeder opening in the bottom of the forehearth is closed by a first orifice member through which a molten core glass will flow. Beneath the first orifice there is positioned a second orifice member that has an orifice that is slightly larger than the orifice in the first orifice member. A small melter contains a glass of essentially the same composition as that in the main melter, but with a coefficient of expansion slightly less than that of the core glass. This lower expansion glass is fed to the second orifice member so that it can flow out of the orifice with the core glass in surrounding relationship with respect thereto.

Abstract: A gob distributor is disclosed wherein the displacement of the gob scoops is controlled by positioned data generated by a linear displacement transducer. The transducer has an elongated tube having a free end and a screw section at the other end of the tube. The screw section is secured into a mounting bracket aperture which is secured to the drive housing. The tube (and screw portion) passes freely through an enlarged bore in the housing and the tube passes through a movable sensing head and its free end is releasably secured by a spring clamp supported by the drive housing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for refining glassy material or the like by vacuum. The material is first melted and then introduced into a vacuum chamber, preferably into space above liquid held in the chamber. Other aspects involve a two-step melting process preparatory to the vacuum refining, in which the material is initially liquefied in one stage and dissolution of particles is substantially completed in a second stage. The molten material is preferably foamed immediately upon entry into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The circulation of exhaust gas within a heating vessel is controlled to reduce the adverse effects of the abrasive and corrosive exhaust gas on exposed interior surfaces of the vessel. The firing rates of the burners in the vessel may be varied to alter the flow patterns within the vessel. Additional jet burners with high exhaust gas velocity may be used to direct their exhaust flow in a direction opposing the exhaust flow of other selected burners. Burners may also be angled so as to reduce the flow component of the exhaust gas that may pass over the exposed interior surfaces of the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a curved double sheet of glass intended for further processing into a sheet of curved laminated safety glass. In a horizontal position the glass sheets are heated successively to bending temperature in a roller oven and are successively bent in a bending station subsequent to the roller oven, in that the sheets are pressed against a bending mold (2) arranged above the transport rollers (1) by a hot gas stream directed against the glass sheets from beneath. After bending, the first glass sheet (10) of a pair of glass sheets is held in a waiting position in such a manner that its shape is supported. After the bending of the second individual glass sheet (10'), the two glass sheets (10, 10') are stacked and cooled together.

Abstract: The device comprises a three-dimensional grid of thermocouples which are immersed in a fluid, which is moving in a covered channel and has a temperature above that of its environment. Apertures in the sheathing of the channel can be progressively closed by shutters so as to control the cooling of the fluid through an outgoing radiation through the apertures. Burners with a variable intensity are placed within the channel and allow to heat up the fluid in the vicinity of each burner. The position of each shutter and the fuel flow to each burner are commanded severally, based on the values emitted by the ensemable of the thermocouples in order to obtain a homogeneous repartition of the temperature of the fluid, transversally with respect to the channel.

Abstract: A furnace (12) including a roller conveyor (18) and gas burners (20) distinct from the conveyor for supplying forced convection that is the dominant mode of heat transfer to glass sheets during a heating process. The gas burners (20) have general utility but have particular utility when utilized in a closely spaced relationship to the roller conveyed glass sheet to provide the forced convection heating. Each burner (20) includes a combustion member (38) defining an elongated combustion chamber (42) extending transversely to the direction of conveyance. Gas and air are introduced into the combustion chamber (42) in a tangential relationship with respect to its inner surface to provide a swirling motion that mixes the gas with the air for combustion prior to discharge through outlets (46) to provide the forced convection heating.

Abstract: In a pressing machine for the manufacture of glass articles, which comprises, a base; a gyratory table composed of mold supporters equidistantly laid out around the table, thereby carrying the molds from one station to the next as the table gyrates intermittently, said table comprising a number of stations, among which are stations of charging, stations for pressing and cooling articles, extracting stations and stations for the cooling of the molds, wherein such stations includes a series of mechanisms; means to drive the rotating table coupled to said table to rotate the same; and a feeder in combination with said machine which provide a gob of glass to the station of charging by each cycle of the machine, a method and an apparatus is provided to controlling the cycle of operation of the machine and the operation of the diverse mechanisms including: a sensor to determine the instant in which a gob of glass is cut from said feeder and position sensors to detecting the real position of the diverse mechanisms o