Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Bratton
Kenneth L. Bratton 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).
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Publication number: 20230120137Abstract: A change system for changing an orifice plate that is registered with an orifice ring is provided. The orifice plate change system includes a guide arrangement, a plurality of orifice plates, and an actuator. The guide arrangement has a charging plate region and an operating plate region. Each orifice plate is configured to be slidably carried by the guide arrangement between the charging plate region and the operating plate region in which the orifice thereof is registered with the orifice ring orifice. A first orifice plate has a first orifice and a second orifice plate has a second orifice that is different than the first orifice such that a stream of molten glass that passes through the second is different than a stream of molten glass passing through the first orifice. The actuator translates the orifice plates from the charging plate region to the operating plate region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Paul Stargardter, Kenneth L. Bratton
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Patent number: 9212078Abstract: A vertical individual section (I.S.) machine for manufacturing glass containers is disclosed in which parisons made in parison molds are lowered into blow molds located under the parison molds without being inverted, where they are blown into glass containers. Optionally, reheat shrouds may be located vertically intermediate the blank molds and the blow molds to reheat the parisons prior to them being blown. The vertical I.S. machine may have multiple sections that are located close adjacent each other, with each section potentially having multiple blank and blow molds.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Kenneth L. Bratton, F. Alan Fenton, Matthew R. Hyre, Paul Stargardter, Jonathon S. Simon, Stephen A. Austin, Steven J. Pinkerton
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Patent number: 9133051Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling shroud in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling shrouds being used to cool the outer surfaces of the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Jarmo Kammonen, Kenneth L. Bratton, Timothy A. Ringuette, Pierre S. Lankeu Ngankeu
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Cooling tube mechanism operation in a post-manufacture glass container thermal strengthening station
Patent number: 8893528Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube mechanism in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube mechanism being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Timothy A. Ringuette, Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton -
Patent number: 8857218Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube nozzle in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube nozzles being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton, Pierre S. Lankeu Ngankeu, Paul Stargardter
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Patent number: 8839644Abstract: A method of manufacturing of strengthened glass containers, and more particularly a method of thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are subjected to a unique rapid thermal strengthening cooling process in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Timothy A. Ringuette, Kenneth L. Bratton, Steven J. Pinkerton, Matthew R. Hyre
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Patent number: 8833107Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Timothy A. Ringuette, Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton
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Publication number: 20140090420Abstract: A vertical individual section (I.S.) machine for manufacturing glass containers is disclosed in which parisons made in parison molds are lowered into blow molds located under the parison molds without being inverted, where they are blown into glass containers. Optionally, reheat shrouds may be located vertically intermediate the blank molds and the blow molds to reheat the parisons prior to them being blown. The vertical I.S. machine may have multiple sections that are located close adjacent each other, with each section potentially having multiple blank and blow molds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Kenneth L. Bratton, F. Alan Fenton, Matthew R. Hyre, Paul Stargardter, Jonathon S. Simon, Stephen A. Austin, Steven J. Pinkerton
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Patent number: 8650908Abstract: A method of manufacturing of strengthened glass containers, and more particularly a method of thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line while they are on a conveyor intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers while being transported on a conveyor are subjected to a unique rapid thermal strengthening cooling process in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton, Timothy A. Ringuette
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Publication number: 20110289977Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Timothy A. Ringuette, Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton
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Publication number: 20110289974Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube nozzle in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube nozzles being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton, Pierre S. Lankeu Ngankeu, Paul Stargardter
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Cooling Tube Mechanism Operation in a Post-Manufacture Glass Container Thermal Strengthening Station
Publication number: 20110289978Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling tube mechanism in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling tube mechanism being used to cool the inner surfaces of the glass containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Timothy A. Ringuette, Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton -
Publication number: 20110289972Abstract: A method of manufacturing of strengthened glass containers, and more particularly a method of thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line while they are on a conveyor intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers while being transported on a conveyor are subjected to a unique rapid thermal strengthening cooling process in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Kenneth L. Bratton, Timothy A. Ringuette
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Publication number: 20110289975Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing strengthened glass containers, and more particularly the construction and operation of a cooling shroud in an apparatus for thermally strengthening glass containers in a glass container manufacturing line at a location intermediate the hot end and the cold end. Glass containers formed at an I. S. machine are conveyed through a special tempering Lehr that heats them uniformly to a high temperature that is short of temperatures at which they may become deformed. Subsequently, the glass containers are rapidly thermally strengthened in a cooling station in which the outer and inner surfaces including all areas of the glass containers are simultaneously cooled to a temperature below the Strain Point of the glass used in the glass containers, with the cooling shrouds being used to cool the outer surfaces of the glass containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Steven J. Brown, Jarmo Kammonen, Kenneth L. Bratton, Timothy A. Ringuette, Pierre S. Lankeu Ngankeu
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Patent number: 5277296Abstract: A ware transfer mechanism is disclosed which includes equally spaced pockets which have a fixed rear wall and a side wall advanceable from a retracted position to an advanced position as the pockets are displaced along an arcuate path across the transfer plate overlapping a first conveyor and transverse cross conveyor. Containers will be displaced by the side wall to locate the container in line with the containers on the cross conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1993Date of Patent: January 11, 1994Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.Inventors: Douglas J. Roberts, Kenneth L. Bratton, Gary R. Voisine
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Patent number: 5019147Abstract: A pivotally mounted mold support has a cylindrical roller extending parallel to the pivot shaft. A pivotal lever arm is connected to the mold support via a link which is connected to the pin supporting the cylindrical roller. The lever arm has a cam surface which engages the roller to close the mold support and establish a line of force extending between the axis of the roller and the axis of the pivot shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1990Date of Patent: May 28, 1991Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventors: Gary R. Voisine, Kenneth L. Bratton
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Patent number: 4793849Abstract: A molten glass feeder includes a feeder bowl and a rotating refractory tube. Molten glass is discharged through openings in an orifice plate which are controlled by vertically displaceable needles. To reduce heat loss through the refractory tube, a heat shield is provided which is made up of two mirror imaged parts. Each part has a semicylindrical pan having a lip at the bottom for supporting a semi-circular support plate. Located on this plate is an insulation retainer which has a semi-circular base and a vertical wall at its diameter. This wall forms an insulation receiving bin with the pan.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1988Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth L. Bratton
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Patent number: 4740227Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1987Date of Patent: April 26, 1988Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth L. Bratton, Richard W. Cronkhite
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Patent number: 4581055Abstract: A heat shield for the refractory tube in a molten glass feeder has an annular metal shell with semi-circular insulating segments stacked therein. The shell is made in half sections to permit easy removal and the segments are provided in sets with relieved areas to accommodate the reciprocating refractory plungers.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1985Date of Patent: April 8, 1986Assignee: Emhart CorporationInventor: Kenneth L. Bratton
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Patent number: 4579572Abstract: One or more jigs or frameworks are provided at a location remote from the glass feeder so several different plunger assemblies can be made up for ready installation in the feeder. Each jig is made up with the help of an alignment tool having characteristics peculiar to that feeder and to the orientation of the plungers relative to the feeder. The extensive downtime now required to repair or replace the refractory plungers in the feeder can be minimized by following the method detailed herein for use of the alignment tool and subsequent fabrication and assembly of the jig or framework in which the plungers are assembled away from the feeder.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1985Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Duga, Robert J. Douglas, Robert L. Doughty, John E. Suomala, Constantine W. Kulig, Kenneth L. Bratton