Abstract: A controller, process, and glass manufacturing apparatus can be configured to minimize defects. Embodiments can be adapted to control injection of nitrogen and/or argon and a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen or nitrogen, hydrogen, and argon during glass float manufacturing to facilitate a pre-selected hydrogen concentration within a tin bath furnace while also minimizing glass surface defects that can be caused from tin condensation and tin bath impurity concentrations. Empirical use data can also be collected and provided to a pre-defined machine learning element of a host device to update a pre-defined control scheme of a controller for adapting the operational condition set points or other target values to account for furnace operation history and performance.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cooling to a part formed using high-temperature additive manufacturing process. Infrared sensors or cameras are used to measure sidewall temperatures and, optionally, top layer temperature. Coolant nozzles provide cooling to the sidewalls of the finished layers and, optionally, to the top layer. The coolant intensity of the coolant nozzles is controlled in order to reduce temperature gradients between layers and/or to maintain temperatures in each layer below preferred maximum temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for use of an alkaline reagent (e.g. sodium hydroxide, NaOH, potassium hydroxide, KOH, etc.) to facilitate removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas output from a glass melting operation. The CO2 removed from the flue gas can be in carbonates formed in the reaction of the reagent with the flue gas, which can be used in glass melting operations. A portion of the flue gas can also be liquefied in some embodiments to produce a liquefied CO2 stream for other uses. In some embodiments, a portion of the carbonate generated from the CO2 removal process can be heated (e.g. in an indirect heat exchange process) to liberate the CO2 for feeding the liberated CO2 to a liquefaction process while a resultant oxide formed via the CO2 liberation can be hydrolyzed to regenerate the alkaline reagent for subsequent use in the CO2 removal process.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling blending of a gas mixture containing known components, including first, second, and third control valves for controlling the flow of first, second, and third components, respectively, a first gas density sensor to measure the density of a first mixture of the first and second components, a second gas density sensor to measure the density of a second mixture of the first mixture and the third component, and a controller to determine based on data from the first and second gas density sensors the relative compositions of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture, and to control the first, second, and third control valves to obtain a desired relative composition of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture.

Abstract: A method of controlling defects in a glass product produced in a tin bath furnace includes measuring at least one parameter of an atmosphere associated with the tin bath furnace, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of dew point and density, correlating the measured parameter with defects in the glass product, and controlling the measured parameter in a direction corresponding to decreased defects in the glass product by controlling a flow rate of a process gas relative to the furnace wherein the process gas includes one or more of hydrogen and nitrogen.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cooling to a part formed using high-temperature additive manufacturing process. Infrared sensors or cameras are used to measure sidewall temperatures and, optionally, top layer temperature. Coolant nozzles provide cooling to the sidewalls of the finished layers and, optionally, to the top layer. The coolant intensity of the coolant nozzles is controlled in order to reduce temperature gradients between layers and/or to maintain temperatures in each layer below preferred maximum temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling blending of a gas mixture containing known components, including first, second, and third control valves for controlling the flow of first, second, and third components, respectively, a first gas density sensor to measure the density of a first mixture of the first and second components, a second gas density sensor to measure the density of a second mixture of the first mixture and the third component, and a controller to determine based on data from the first and second gas density sensors the relative compositions of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture, and to control the first, second, and third control valves to obtain a desired relative composition of the first, second, and third components in the second mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the composition of a gas mixture containing known components, including a first gas density sensor configured and arranged to measure the density of a first mixture made by combining a gaseous first component and a gaseous second component; a second gas density sensor configured and arranged to measure the density of a second mixture made by combining the first mixture with a gaseous third component; and a processor programmed to determined based on data from the first gas density sensor the relative compositions of the first component and the second component in the first mixture, and to determine based on the data from the second gas density sensor the relative compositions of the first mixture and the third component in the second mixture, and thus to determine the relative compositions of the first component, the second component, and the third component in the second mixture.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling gas atmospheres in three-dimensional laser printing and weld overlay consolidation operations using metallic powders are provided. In one or more embodiments, such systems and methods comprise a printing chamber or laser weld overlay system, a gas supply system, a feed powder system, and one or more sensors employed to control the printing or welding operation. The methods and systems of the invention employ one or more inert gases having a purity greater than or equal to 99.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for nitriding metal articles, wherein the nitriding potential of the nitriding atmosphere is controlled as a function of the molecular weights of the inlet and outlet gases from the nitriding apparatus, as measured by molecular weight sensors located outside (external to) the furnace chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the composition of a gas mixture containing known components, including a first gas density sensor configured and arranged to measure the density of a first mixture made by combining a gaseous first component and a gaseous second component; a second gas density sensor configured and arranged to measure the density of a second mixture made by combining the first mixture with a gaseous third component; and a processor programmed to determined based on data from the first gas density sensor the relative compositions of the first component and the second component in the first mixture, and to determine based on the data from the second gas density sensor the relative compositions of the first mixture and the third component in the second mixture, and thus to determine the relative compositions of the first component, the second component, and the third component in the second mixture.

Abstract: Described herein are a method, an apparatus, and a system for metal processing that improves one or more properties of a sintered metal part by controlling the process conditions of the cooling zone of a continuous furnace using one or more cryogenic fluids. In one aspect, there is provided a method comprising: providing a furnace wherein the metal part is passed therethough on a conveyor belt and comprises a hot zone and a cooling zone wherein the cooling zone has a first temperature; and introducing a cryogenic fluid into the cooling zone where the cryogenic fluid reduces the temperature of the cooling zone to a second temperature, wherein at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid provides a vapor within the cooling zone and cools the metal parts passing therethrough at an accelerated cooling rate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling gas atmospheres in three-dimensional laser printing and weld overlay consolidation operations using metallic powders are provided. In one or more embodiments, such systems and methods comprise a printing chamber or laser weld overlay system, a gas supply system, a feed powder system, and one or more sensors employed to control the printing or welding operation. The methods and systems of the invention employ one or more inert gases having a purity greater than or equal to 99.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy and repeatability of leak testing instrumentation comprises the following steps: providing a two chamber vessel having an access port and a flow controlling reference orifice associated with each chamber and a third reference orifice communicating between the two chambers, providing a leak testing device and connecting such leak testing device first to one of such ports, pressurizing the associated chamber and, with the associated orifice open, observing and recording the pressure measured by the leak testing device under test as a function of time. The second test repeats this activity with the other chamber and the other orifice. A third test is undertaken with the third orifice open. One of the chambers is smaller and incorporates a smaller orifice and the other chamber is larger and incorporates a larger orifice thus achieving leak testing under different conditions.

Abstract: A fluid spray device system (1) that maintains a resultant fluid discharge, or a material onto which the resultant fluid is discharged, within a predetermined range of a set-point temperature by regulating the flow rate of a throttling gas using a proportional valve (22). The resultant fluid has throttling gas and cryogenic fluid components. Both the throttling gas and cryogenic fluid are preferably supplied from a single tank (11) and the cryogenic fluid supply is pressure-regulated and includes a triaxial delivery hose (33) having a return line with a back-pressure regulator (54).

Abstract: A seal testing apparatus includes a clamp assembly which receives, secures and rotates a piston and seal assembly, a mandrel which extends into the seal assembly and supports a guide which carries a spring biased sensing probe or tooth which is oriented along the axis of the mandrel. In another embodiment, the components are the similar except that the probe or tooth is disposed in the mandrel and extends circumferentially. In both embodiments, data from an optical, laser or acoustic sensor is analyzed to determine the integrity of the piston seal. Yet another embodiment includes an arbor which rotates the seal and an adjacent contra-rotating cylinder having a conical mirror. As the seal, arbor and cylinder rotate, light reflected off the mirror and the seal, and returned to the mirror and a sensor provide data which is again analyzed to determine the integrity of the piston seal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging a temperature-controlled flow of a resultant fluid (32) containing a throttling gas and cryogenic fluid onto a material (14) for the purpose of maintaining the temperature of the material within a desired temperature range and below the glass transition temperature of the material during machining. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method for deburring or deflashing a machined material by discharging a temperature-controlled flow of a resultant fluid (132) onto a machined material (114) to harden the burrs (134a), then brushing the material (114) to remove the hardened burrs (143a).

Abstract: A seal testing apparatus includes a clamp assembly which receives, secures and rotates a piston and seal assembly, a mandrel which extends into the seal assembly and supports a guide which carries a spring biased sensing probe or tooth which is oriented along the axis of the mandrel. In another embodiment, the components are the similar except that the probe or tooth is disposed in the mandrel and extends circumferentially. In both embodiments, data from an optical, laser or acoustic sensor is analyzed to determine the integrity of the piston seal. Yet another embodiment includes an arbor which rotates the seal and an adjacent contra-rotating cylinder having a conical mirror. As the seal, arbor and cylinder rotate, light reflected off the mirror and the seal, and returned to the mirror and a sensor provide data which is again analyzed to determine the integrity of the piston seal.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy and repeatability of leak testing instrumentation comprises the following steps: providing a two chamber vessel having an access port and a flow controlling reference orifice associated with each chamber and a third reference orifice communicating between the two chambers, providing a leak testing device and connecting such leak testing device first to one of such ports, pressurizing the associated chamber and, with the associated orifice open, observing and recording the pressure measured by the leak testing device under test as a function of time. The second test repeats this activity with the other chamber and the other orifice. A third test is undertaken with the third orifice open. One of the chambers is smaller and incorporates a smaller orifice and the other chamber is larger and incorporates a larger orifice thus achieving leak testing under different conditions.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for providing an inerting gas during the application of soldering to a work piece. In one aspect, there is provided an enclosure for providing an inerting gas into an atmosphere above a solder reservoir during soldering of a work piece comprising: a tube in fluid communication with an inerting gas source wherein the tube comprises one or more openings for the flow of the inerting gas therethrough, a base wherein the tube resides in therein and comprises an interior volume, a neck comprising an opening and an interior volume in fluid communication with the interior volume of the base, and a cap proximal to the opening wherein the inerting gas source travels through the tube into the interior volume and into the atmosphere through the opening defined by the neck and cap.