Patents by Inventor Jukka Vehmas

Jukka Vehmas 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: 11852413
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tempering furnace for a glass sheet, which has a conveyor for the glass sheet, first convection blow means over the conveyor to heat the glass sheet by hot air jets blown on its top and/or bottom surface, and second convection blow means to help lead pressurized air from outside the tempering furnace to second blow nozzles from which air is discharged as jets towards the top and/or bottom surface of the glass sheet. The heating effect of the air jets on the glass sheet is adjustable by adjusting the feeding of electric current to electric elements inside blowing channels. Blow nozzles of the second convection blow means form blow zones. The heating effect on the glass sheet of the jets discharged from the second blow nozzles inside the blow zones is adjustable by adjusting the blowing pressure of feed pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Kyösti Keto
  • Patent number: 11584676
    Abstract: A method for heat strengthening or tempering glass sheets of a glass load containing several glass sheets, in which the glass sheets are heated in a furnace to a tempering temperature and the glass load is transferred at a transfer speed (W) away from the furnace into a tempering unit, in which the actual quenching is conducted by blasting cooling air onto both surfaces of the glass sheets. By an initial blasting unit, located between the furnace and the quenching unit and divided into initial blasting zones in the direction transverse to the motion of the glass, is blasted compressed air onto the surface of the leading and trailing edges of a glass sheet, to the direction of which normal it is desired to straighten the end in order to decrease end-edge kink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Pekka Lyytikäinen, Jukka Vehmas
  • Publication number: 20220315471
    Abstract: A tempering furnace for a glass sheet has a conveyor for the glass sheet, and first convection blow means over the conveyor to heat the glass sheet by hot air jets blown onto its top surface. With second convection blow means, pressurized air external to the tempering furnace may be led to second blow nozzles from which air is discharged as jets towards the bottom surface of the glass sheet. The heating effect of the air jets of the first convection blow means onto the glass sheet is adjustable by adjusting the feeding of electric current to electric elements inside blow enclosures, and the heating effect onto the glass sheet of the jets discharging from the second blow nozzles is adjustable by adjusting the blow pressure of feed pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Glaston Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jukka VEHMAS, Kyösti KETO
  • Publication number: 20220146201
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tempering furnace for a glass sheet, which has a conveyor for the glass sheet, first convection blow means over the conveyor to heat the glass sheet by hot air jets blown on its top and/or bottom surface, and second convection blow means to help lead pressurized air from outside the tempering furnace to second blow nozzles from which air is discharged as jets towards the top and/or bottom surface of the glass sheet. The heating effect of the air jets on the glass sheet is adjustable by adjusting the feeding of electric current to electric elements inside blowing channels. Blow nozzles of the second convection blow means form blow zones. The heating effect on the glass sheet of the jets discharged from the second blow nozzles inside the blow zones is adjustable by adjusting the blowing pressure of feed pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Glaston Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jukka VEHMAS, Kyösti KETO
  • Publication number: 20200131070
    Abstract: A method for heat strengthening or tempering glass sheets of a glass load containing several glass sheets, in which the glass sheets are heated in a furnace to a tempering temperature and the glass load is transferred at a transfer speed (W) away from the furnace into a tempering unit, in which the actual quenching is conducted by blasting cooling air onto both surfaces of the glass sheets. By an initial blasting unit, located between the furnace and the quenching unit and divided into initial blasting zones in the direction transverse to the motion of the glass, is blasted compressed air onto the surface of the leading and trailing edges of a glass sheet, to the direction of which normal it is desired to straighten the end in order to decrease end-edge kink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Glaston Finland Oy
    Inventors: Pekka LYYTIKÄINEN, Jukka VEHMAS
  • Patent number: 9617181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating a glass sheet for tempering. It comprises conveying the glass sheet on top of rollers in a roller-hearth furnace, heating the glass sheet in the roller-hearth furnace to a transfer temperature at which the glass sheet is transferred into an air support furnace. The glass sheet, while resting on an air cushion, is carried on an air support table and the glass sheet is heated in the air support furnace to a tempering temperature. The transfer temperature is not lower than 620° C. and not higher than 675° C. and the tempering temperature is not lower than 650° C. and not higher than 720° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Harri Kylväjä, Mikko Rantala
  • Publication number: 20170029314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating a glass sheet for tempering. It comprises conveying the glass sheet on top of rollers in a roller-hearth furnace, heating the glass sheet in the roller-hearth furnace to a transfer temperature at which the glass sheet is transferred into an air support furnace. The glass sheet, while resting on an air cushion, is carried on an air support table and the glass sheet is heated in the air support furnace to a tempering temperature. The transfer temperature is not lower than 620° C. and not higher than 675° C. and the tempering temperature is not lower than 650° C. and not higher than 720° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Jukka VEHMAS, Harri KYLVÄJÄ, Mikko RANTALA
  • Patent number: 9493373
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying glass sheets on an air support table, which is included in a heating furnace and provided with blast apertures and exhaust apertures, and in which the blast apertures are connected to a plenum chamber present underneath the air support table. The exhaust apertures are connected to exhaust passages present inside the table. The exhaust passages have at least one of their ends provided with a gate/gates capable of being opened and closed, by means of which the flow of air from the exhaust passages' ends adjacent to the gate/gates can be completely or partially blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Mikko Rantala, Harri Kylväjä, Jukka Vehmas
  • Publication number: 20160289112
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying glass sheets on an air support table of a heating furnace, the table having blast apertures and exhaust apertures. The blast apertures are connected to a plenum chamber under the air support table. The exhaust apertures are connected to exhaust passages inside the table, the first end of the passages opening into the furnace or being provided with a closable and openable closing gate. The second end of the exhaust passages opens into a suction duct or is provided with a closable and openable barrier gate. The suction duct of the blower is on the opposite side of the air support table to the conveyor which is in contact with the glass. In the suction duct between the exhaust passages and the blower is at least one adjustable bypass gate which is used for adjusting the air support of the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: GLASTON FINLAND OY
    Inventors: Mikko RANTALA, Harri KYLVAJA, Jukka VEHMAS, Kyosti KETO
  • Publication number: 20150096331
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying glass sheets in an air support table, which is included in a heating furnace and provided with blast apertures and exhaust apertures, and in which the blast apertures are connected to a plenum chamber present underneath the air support table. The exhaust apertures are connected to exhaust passages present inside the table. The exhaust passages have at least one of their ends provided with gate/gates capable of being opened and closed, by means of which the flow of air from the exhaust passages' ends adjacent to the gate/gates can be completely or partially blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Mikko RANTALA, Harri Kylväjä, Jukka Vehmas
  • Patent number: 8997521
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting and heating glass sheets for tempering or bending on a hot gas cushion. One edge of the glass is supported on transport rollers and the rotation axes of the rollers are transverse relative to the plane of the glass. The glass sheet is supported by means of gas pressure on a planar surface which has an angle of inclination of 2-20° relative to horizontal plane. The angle of inclination is sloping towards that edge of the glass which is supported by the transport rollers. Gas is expelled through the planar surface by way of gas outlet slots or holes. As the glass is moving, a gas is drawn or blown by fans from a certain part of the glass through the planar surface more than from the rest of the area by adjusting the rotating speed of the fans or by changing the suction pressure or delivery side pressure of the fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Glaston Services Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Mikko Rantala
  • Publication number: 20150082834
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tempering glass sheets. The glass sheets are heated to a tempering temperature in a furnace, in which the glass sheets are moved back and forth while supported upon rolls. The heated glass sheets are fed into a quench unit which is divided into two quenching zones with separately controlled blasting pressures. The glass sheets are driven without stopping through the first quenching zone into the second quenching zone, in which the glass is moved back forth upon the rolls. In the first quenching zone, cooling air is blasted onto glass sheet surfaces with slit nozzles. In the second quenching zone, cooling air is blasted onto glass sheet surfaces with hole-type nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Glaston Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jukka VEHMAS, Tarmo PESONEN
  • Patent number: 8650911
    Abstract: Glass is heated from above and below while the glass resides on rolls (3) in a tempering furnace (1). The upper surface of the glass (4) is heated by hot air jets formed by sucking air from inside the furnace (1) and pressurizing the hot air and recycling it back to the upper surface of the glass. Air which has been taken from outside the furnace (1) and pressurized by a compressor (17) and heated is blown to the lower surface of the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Uniglass Engineering Oy
    Inventor: Jukka Vehmas
  • Publication number: 20130291600
    Abstract: Glass is heated from above and below while the glass resides on rolls (3) in a tempering furnace (1). The upper surface of the glass (4) is heated by hot air jets formed by sucking air from inside the furnace (1) and pressurizing the hot air and recycling it back to the upper surface of the glass. Air which has been taken from outside the furnace (1) and pressurized by a compressor (17) and heated is blown to the lower surface of the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: UNIGLASS ENGINEERING OY
    Inventor: Jukka VEHMAS
  • Patent number: 8479540
    Abstract: Glass is heated from above and below while the glass resides on rolls (3) in a tempering furnace (1). The upper surface of the glass (4) is heated by hot air jets formed by sucking air from inside the furnace (1) and pressurizing the hot air and recycling it back to the upper surface of the glass. Air which has been taken from outside the furnace (1) and pressurized by a compressor (17) and heated is blown to the lower surface of the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Uniglass Engineering Oy
    Inventor: Jukka Vehmas
  • Publication number: 20110167871
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting and heating glass sheets for tempering or bending on a hot gas cushion. One edge of the glass is supported on transport rollers and the rotation axes of the rollers are transverse relative to the plane of the glass. The glass sheet is supported by means of gas pressure on a planar surface which has an angle of inclination of 2-20° relative to horizontal plane. The angle of inclination is sloping towards that edge of the glass which is supported by the transport rollers. Gas is expelled through the planar surface by way of gas outlet slots or holes. As the glass is moving, a gas is drawn or blown by fans from a certain part of the glass through the planar surface more than from the rest of the area by adjusting the rotating speed of the fans or by changing the suction pressure or delivery side pressure of the fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: GLASTON SERVICES LTD. OY
    Inventors: Jukka VEHMAS, Mikko Rantala
  • Publication number: 20100251773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of heating a glass panel. The method comprises conveying the glass panel through a tempering furnace, in which tempering furnace the glass panel is heated with radiation heaters and overhead convection blasting means extending crosswise of the tempering furnace. Hot air is drawn from inside the furnace and delivered back onto the glass panel's top surface. The glass panel is heated with overhead convection blasting means extending lengthwise of the tempering furnace and capable of pressurizing air outside the tempering furnace, heating the air by directing it into the tempering furnace, and that the heated air is delivered onto the glass panel's top surface. In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus applying the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Uniglass Engineering Oy
    Inventor: Jukka Vehmas
  • Publication number: 20080072625
    Abstract: Sheets of glass (3) are heated in a tempering furnace. The furnace comprises rollers (2) to carry and transfer the glass sheets (3). During the heating, the glass sheets (3) are oscillated, i.e. they are moved back and forth, by means of the rollers (2). The rollers (2) are controlled by a control device (6). The control device (6) is used for configuring a first turning point of oscillation (t1) to take place more than 20 seconds after a starting time of heating (t0).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Uniglass Engineering Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Olli Jarvinen
  • Patent number: 7059155
    Abstract: A method of bending glass, in which glass (5) is heated in a bending furnace (1). After the heating, the glass (5) is transferred onto a mold (7). The glass-bending mold (7) is at at least one point arranged to be bent substantially in its entirety when the mold (7) is transferred from the position it had during the initial heating of the glass (5) into a position where the glass (5) is arranged upon the mold (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Uniglass Engineering OY
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Juha Paavola, Antti-Jussi Numminen
  • Patent number: 6881931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating glass, in which glass (4) is heated upon rollers (3) in a tempering furnace (1) from above and below of the glass (4). At least the upper surface of the glass (4) is heated with hot air jets directed substantially perpendicularly relative to the surface of the glass (4). The air jets have been provided by sucking air mainly from the inside of the furnace and by pressurizing the air taken from the inside of the tempering furnace (1) to an overpressure of over 0.1 bar relative to the pressure in the tempering furnace (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Uniglass Engineering Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Vehmas, Jorma Valkama