Patents by Inventor Earnest Iddings

Earnest Iddings has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11919799
    Abstract: A method of of fining low-density submerged combustion glass includes introducing unfined molten glass produced in a submerged combustion melter into a fining chamber of a fining tank and, further, introducing additive particles into the fining chamber that comprise a glass reactant material and one or more fining agents. The one or more fining agents are released into the molten glass bath upon consumption of the additive particles in the molten glass bath to chemically fine the molten glass bath and the glass reactant material includes one or more materials that integrate into the molten glass bath upon melting. Additionally, the method includes discharging fined molten glass out of the fining chamber of the fining tank. The discharged fined molten glass has a volume percentage of gas bubbles that is less than the volume percentage of gas bubbles in the unfined molten glass introduced into the fining chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Earnest Iddings, Nicholas A. Schoenrock
  • Publication number: 20220267184
    Abstract: A method of of fining low-density submerged combustion glass includes introducing unfined molten glass produced in a submerged combustion melter into a fining chamber of a fining tank and, further, introducing additive particles into the fining chamber that comprise a glass reactant material and one or more fining agents. The one or more fining agents are released into the molten glass bath upon consumption of the additive particles in the molten glass bath to chemically fine the molten glass bath and the glass reactant material includes one or more materials that integrate into the molten glass bath upon melting. Additionally, the method includes discharging fined molten glass out of the fining chamber of the fining tank. The discharged fined molten glass has a volume percentage of gas bubbles that is less than the volume percentage of gas bubbles in the unfined molten glass introduced into the fining chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Earnest Iddings, Nicholas A. Schoenrock
  • Patent number: 11370686
    Abstract: A method of fining low-density submerged combustion glass is disclosed. The method involves introducing unfined molten glass produced in a submerged combustion melter into a fining chamber of a downstream fining tank. Additionally, additive particles are also introduced into the fining chamber to release one or more fining agents into the molten glass bath contained in the fining chamber to accelerate the removal of bubbles from the molten glass bath. The fining of the molten glass bath as assisted by the one or more fining agents allows for fined glass to be discharged from the fining tank that has fewer bubbles and a greater density than that of the unfined molten glass introduced into the fining tank. Additive particles that include a physical mixture of a glass reactant material and the fining agent(s) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Earnest Iddings, Nicholas A. Schoenrock
  • Patent number: 11001519
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of refining molten glass are disclosed. An upstream vessel contains molten glass, a downstream vessel is arranged downstream of the upstream vessel, and vacuum refining vessels are located between the upstream vessel and the downstream vessel and are in separate, alternating fluid communication with the upstream vessel and in separate, alternating fluid communication with the downstream vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Nicholas A Schoenrock, Ya-Cheng Lin, Udaya K Vempati, Earnest Iddings
  • Publication number: 20210094861
    Abstract: A method of fining low-density submerged combustion glass is disclosed. The method involves introducing unfined molten glass produced in a submerged combustion melter into a fining chamber of a downstream fining tank. Additionally, additive particles are also introduced into the fining chamber to release one or more fining agents into the molten glass bath contained in the fining chamber to accelerate the removal of bubbles from the molten glass bath. The fining of the molten glass bath as assisted by the one or more fining agents allows for fined glass to be discharged from the fining tank that has fewer bubbles and a greater density than that of the unfined molten glass introduced into the fining tank. Additive particles that include a physical mixture of a glass reactant material and the fining agent(s) are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Earnest Iddings, Nicholas A. Schoenrock
  • Publication number: 20190284077
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of refining molten glass are disclosed. An upstream vessel contains molten glass, a downstream vessel is arranged downstream of the upstream vessel, and vacuum refining vessels are located between the upstream vessel and the downstream vessel and are in separate, alternating fluid communication with the upstream vessel and in separate, alternating fluid communication with the downstream vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Zhongming Wang, Nicholas A. Schoenrock, Ya-Cheng Lin, Udaya K. Vempati, Earnest Iddings