Abstract: Apparatuses for making a laminated glass ribbon may include an upper forming body including an outer forming surface bounded by a pair of upper dams, and a lower forming body disposed downstream of the upper forming body and including an outer forming surface spaced from the outer forming surface of the upper forming body by an interior gap. An edge guide may be disposed along an interior upper dam wall and spaced apart in the interior gap from the lower forming body. Surfaces exterior to the outer forming surfaces of the upper and lower forming bodies may abut and be joined. A formed glass ribbon having a core glass layer and a pair of clad glass layers may include inner and outer portions that have substantially equal thickness ratios based on a glass core layer thickness compared to a combined glass cladding layer thickness in each portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses for making a laminated glass ribbon may include an upper forming body including an outer forming surface bounded by a pair of upper dams, and a lower forming body disposed downstream of the upper forming body and including an outer forming surface spaced from the outer forming surface of the upper forming body by an interior gap. An edge guide may be disposed along an interior upper dam wall and spaced apart in the interior gap from the lower forming body. Surfaces exterior to the outer forming surfaces of the upper and lower forming bodies may abut and be joined. A formed glass ribbon having a core glass layer and a pair of clad glass layers may include inner and outer portions that have substantially equal thickness ratios based on a glass core layer thickness compared to a combined glass cladding layer thickness in each portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses for making a laminated glass ribbon may include an upper forming body including an outer forming surface bounded by a pair of upper dams, and a lower forming body disposed downstream of the upper forming body and including an outer forming surface spaced from the outer forming surface of the upper forming body by an interior gap. An edge guide may be disposed along an interior upper dam wall and spaced apart in the interior gap from the lower forming body. Surfaces exterior to the outer forming surfaces of the upper and lower forming bodies may abut and be joined. A formed glass ribbon having a core glass layer and a pair of clad glass layers may include inner and outer portions that have substantially equal thickness ratios based on a glass core layer thickness compared to a combined glass cladding layer thickness in each portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a glass ribbon includes a forming body with opposing first and second forming surfaces. An end dam assembly includes a first forming dam wall extending in a draw direction along a first end of the first forming surface. A second forming dam wall can extend in the draw direction along a first end of the second forming surface. A first bridge dam wall can be disposed on an upper surface of the forming body and extend between and join the first forming dam wall and the second forming dam wall. Each of the forming body and the end dam assembly is formed from a refractory material. A method includes flowing a molten glass through a trench defined by forming dam walls extending in the draw direction along opposing first and second ends of the forming surface.

Abstract: A glass fusion draw apparatus for molten glass stream thermal profile control, including: a first enclosure; and a first isopipe situated within the first enclosure, the first enclosure can include at least one first heating element assembly integral with the wall of the first enclosure, and the at least one first heating element is in proximity to a portion of molten glass stream over-flowing the first isopipe within the enclosure. The apparatus can also include a proximity or temperature sensing system associated with the first enclosure that senses and controls the thermal gradient properties of the molten glass stream or streams in the first enclosure. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the fusion apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming vents (13) in glass sheets (10). The method includes repetitively performing the steps of: (I) bringing a score head (21) and a platen (31) into contact with, respectively, the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces of the glass sheet (10), (II) moving the score head (21) across the front major surface (11) along a predetermined path to form a vent (13), and (III) withdrawing the score head (21) and the platen (31) from the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces, wherein: (i) the thickness (?) of the glass sheet is less than or equal to 500 microns, and (ii) for each repetition of steps (I) through (III), the platen (31) is cleaned after step (III) and before step (I) to remove glass chips which if left on the platen (31) could cause the score head (21) to penetrate through the thickness ?.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat treating a plurality of glass substrates. The glass substrates are supported on support platform and housed in a heat treating furnace. The substrates are supported in a substantially vertical orientation by restraining pins extending through walls of the furnace, and are separated from each other by frame-shaped spacing members. The spacing members reduce convection currents between the substrates and reduce or eliminate the post-heat treating distortion of each glass substrate to less than 100 ?m over the entire surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A glass fusion draw apparatus for molten glass stream thermal profile control, including: a first enclosure; and a first isopipe situated within the first enclosure, the first enclosure can include at least one first heating element assembly integral with the wall of the first enclosure, and the at least one first heating element is in proximity to a portion of molten glass stream over-flowing the first isopipe within the enclosure. The apparatus can also include a proximity or temperature sensing system associated with the first enclosure that senses and controls the thermal gradient properties of the molten glass stream or streams in the first enclosure. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the fusion apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming laminated sheet glass and a method for forming laminated sheet glass or articles using the glass laminating apparatus, the apparatus including: a lower fusion pipe providing a first liquid stream that forms the core of the laminate; a first upper fusion pipe having a pair of adjustable baffles situated between the bottom of the upper fusion pipe and the top of the lower fusion pipe, the first upper fusion pipe provides a second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream that forms the clad of the laminate on the core of the laminate, the adjustable baffles being separated from the lower fusion pipe by a gap, and the adjustable baffles control the landing angle (?) and drop point of the second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming laminated sheet glass, including: a lower pipe providing a first liquid stream that forms the core of the laminate; an first upper pipe having a pair of adjustable baffles situated between the bottom of the upper pipe and the top of the lower pipe, the first upper pipe provides a second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream that forms the clad of the laminate on the core of the laminate, the adjustable baffles being separated from the lower pipe by a gap, and the adjustable baffles control the landing angle (?) and drop point of the second liquid glass stream onto the first liquid glass stream. Also disclosed is a method for forming laminated sheet glass or articles thereof using the aforementioned glass laminating apparatus, as defined herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming vents (13) in glass sheets (10). The method includes repetitively performing the steps of: (I) bringing a score head (21) and a platen (31) into contact with, respectively, the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces of the glass sheet (10), (II) moving the score head (21) across the front major surface (11) along a predetermined path to form a vent (13), and (III) withdrawing the score head (21) and the platen (31) from the front (11) and rear (12) major surfaces, wherein: (i) the thickness (?) of the glass sheet is less than or equal to 500 microns, and (ii) for each repetition of steps (I) through (III), the platen (31) is cleaned after step (III) and before step (I) to remove glass chips which if left on the platen (31) could cause the score head (21) to penetrate through the thickness ?.

Abstract: Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for supporting glass sheets during a thermal treatment process, such as heat treating, to maintain the physical geometry of the glass sheets. The device can comprise means for separating adjacent glass sheets to prevent them from touching. The separating means can comprise a separation comb having projections and channels configured for receiving the glass sheets, separating rods configured to be positioned between the glass sheets, or a combination of separation combs and separating rods.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for supporting glass sheets during a thermal treatment process, such as heat treating, to maintain the physical geometry of the glass sheets. The device can comprise means for separating adjacent glass sheets to prevent them from touching. The separating means can comprise a separation comb having projections and channels configured for receiving the glass sheets, separating rods configured to be positioned between the glass sheets, or a combination of separation combs and separating rods.

Abstract: Methods for heat treating glass sheets (13) are disclosed in which the sheets (13) are held in a vertical orientation in a treatment container (15) during the heat treatment. The container (15) includes a support system for the glass sheets (13) that comprises a bottom support (17), two side supports (19a, 19b), and a top support (21). The sheets (13) are slid into the container (15) without contact between their side edges (23a, 23b) and the side supports (19a, 19b). The top support (21) is then slid onto the tops of the sheets (13) without contacting the sheets' top edges (25). In certain embodiments, flushing air which has been HEPA filtered and pre-heated is passed through the container (15) during the heat treatment. Apparatus for practicing the methods of the invention are also disclosed.