Abstract: A method of reducing localized tensile stresses in shaped glass sheets formed by sag bending. An unperforated thermal insulating member is mounted throughout the area within a shaping rail and spaced below a heat softened glass sheet shaped on the shaping rail to thermally insulate the glass from heat reradiated from the shaping rail and reduce air circulation beneath the sheet so as to support structure during the cooling of the shaped glass sheet and provide more uniform cooling of the entire glass sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the shape of heat softened glass sheets. A pan member is positioned inboard of the shaping rails of a bending iron. The upper surface of the pan member has a curvature corresponding to the final desired shape of a selected portion of the glass sheet. As the glass sheet is heated and sags to conform with the contoured shaping rail, it also sags into contact with the pan member and conforms to its shape.

Abstract: Glass sheets are positioned on a shaping rail of an outline shaping mold form movement through a heating lehr and subsequent preliminary sag bending. The mold with the glass sheet supported thereon is positioned between a pair of vertically aligned pressing molds. The lower mold includes a full surface press face corresponding to the final desired curvature of the glass sheet to be shaped. The upper mold includes a peripheral shaping surface and a chamber defined by the shaping surface. After the lower mold lifts the glass sheet off the outline mold and into engagement with the upper mold, gas in the chamber is pressurized to urge those portions of the glass not contacted by the upper mold against the press face of the lower mold.

Abstract: Glass sheets are positioned on the shaping rail of an outline shaping mold for movement through a heating lehr and subsequent preliminary sag bending. The mold with the glass sheet supported thereon is then positioned between a pair of vertically aligned full surface pressing molds. The mold includes selected press surface areas that extend outside the perimeter of the outline mold. As the lower mold raises to lift the glass sheet off the outline mold, selected portions of the shaping rail move outwardly to allow the lower mold to pass through the outline mold. The glass sheet is then pressed between the upper and lower pressing molds.

Abstract: A mold cover for a glass sheet shaping mold having an insulating layer interposed between the shaping surface of the mold and an outer layer of knitted wire mesh. The knitted mesh is sufficiently flexible to conform to compound and/or complex shaping surface without wrinkling so as to maintain a smooth shaping surface.

Abstract: Shields tend to retain heat while shading glass sheets from a heat source. As the shield retains more heat, it loses its effectiveness to shade the glass sheet. A second shield is positioned between the glass sheet and the hot shield to maintain effective shading of the glass sheet for proper heat distribution and forming of the sheet.

Abstract: A pair of heat softened overlaying glass sheets are held by vacuum against an apertured engaging surface of a vacuum holder. The overlaying glass sheets can be shaped before, during, or after being held by the vacuum holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing tip curl caused by sag bending complicated shapes in glass sheets. A pivoting assembly with a glass edge roller contacts the edge of the glass sheet as it is conveyed through a heating lehr or a bending mold, and biases the glass against the bending rail.

Abstract: A shaping rail uses tungsten alloy inserts to support a glass sheet during sag bending. As the glass sheet is heated and sags to shape, tungsten alloy inserts provide support points over which the glass sheet can slide without scuffing the glass sheet surface or embedding particles in the glass sheet that can result in venting.

Abstract: A lightweight outline mold for shaping glass sheets comprising a shaping rail having low thermal inertia, tabs attaching said rail to a reinforcing frame through rods by welding said rods at points spaced from said shaping rail and using fastening means that do not require localized heat, such as rivets, to attach the shaping rail to the tabs in a manner that avoids localized heating of the shaping rail during mold fabrication that would distort the shaping rail if the latter were welded directly to the reinforcing frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping glass sheets to a complicated shape including a longitudinal component of bend and a complicated transverse component of bend within a tunnel-like lehr. An outline mold with guides for aligning one or more glass sheets for proper orientation and alignment thereon supports the glass while the glass is bent by gravity sagging to provide a longitudinal component of bend and to deliver the sag bent glass to a position between upper and lower pressing molds having complementary shaping surfaces conforming to a complicated bend including a complicated transverse bend component. Special alignment means are provided to orient and align the outline mold relative to said pressing molds so that the lower pressing mold can lift the sag bent glass off the outline mold into engagement with the upper pressing mold to impress the transverse bend component and return the glass with its complicated shape to the outline mold for controlled cooling and removal from the lehr.

Abstract: In bending glass sheets to a complicated shape by a combination of gravity sagging the glass to a longitudinal component of bend while supported on an upward facing shaping surface of an outline mold and then lifting the glass so shaped off the outline mold onto a solid shaping mold of continuous extent to impress a complicated transverse component of bend, glass edge engaging members are provided closely adjacent to said outline mold to the outside thereof, means is provided to support said glass edge engaging members so that the upper edges thereof are located in position to abut the edge of one or more glass sheets as the latter sag toward said outline mold and to remove said glass edge engaging members suddenly and automatically from the vicinty of the edge of the supported glass sheets just before the glass sheets are lifted from said outline mold to said solid shaping mold to reduce edge distortion of the mold supported glass sheets.

Abstract: In shaping a pair of glass sheets simultaneously to a complicated shape including a longitudinal component of bend and a complicated transverse component of bend such as one that is S-shaped in elevation or other complicated shapes, the pair is sag bent in unison on an outline mold to sag bend the sheets to a shape approximating their longitudinal component of bend, then the pair of sag bent sheets is lifted on a solid mold having a complicated shape including said complicated transverse component of bend to impress said transverse component of bend (into engagement with an upper pressing mold of complementary curvature, if needed) and supported on said solid mold for the minimum time sufficient to develop said complicated shape.

Abstract: When glass sheets are shaped by a bending method in which the glass is first shaped to a longitudinal component of bend by gravity sagging onto an outline mold followed by press bending against a solid lower shaping mold to complete the bend which includes a complicated transverse component of bend, a particular speed cycle is provided to lift and lower the lower shaping mold to minimize the duration of the shaping cycle and to minimize the chance of misaligning the glass relative to the outline mold during transfer of the glass from the outline mold to the lower shaping mold and its return to the outline mold. This speed cycle includes a rapid initial lifting speed and final lowering speed of the lower shaping mold while it is out of contact with the glass and a lower speed of lifting and lowering when the lower shaping mold contacts and supports the glass.

Abstract: This invention relates to securing a cover of flexible material such as fiber glass cloth tightly against a shaping surface of a solid mold used to shape glass sheets. The securing means is located within the outline of the solid mold to avoid having cover attachment means beyond the solid mold outline. This permits the use of a solid mold of maximum size compared to that of an outline mold when glass sheets are shaped by a process that requires the solid mold to pass through a position occupied by an outline mold.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending one or more glass sheets to a sharp bend by a combination of overall heating and localized heating using an outline glass sheet bending mold comprising one or more electroconductive heating elements in the form of a ribbon. Means is provided to tension the ribbon so that it does not wrinkle when the ribbon expands thermally due to the application of electrical energy thereacross. The ribbon is tensioned by one or more electrodes. Means is provided to maintain the electrodes attached to the mold in case the ribbon breaks.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for shaping glass sheets to V-bends along a curved line of bending.

Abstract: A method of fabricating bent laminated safety glass windshields having at least one hole through the entire thickness thereof adjacent to but spaced entirely from the marginal edge thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: Glass sheets are bent along a line which is sharply creased at one end and gently curved at the opposite end. Localized heating along the line is provided by an electrically heated ribbon mounted above the glass so as to maintain a constant spacing between the glass and the ribbon at one end of the line, while the spacing at the other end of the line gradually increases as bending progresses.

Abstract: The present invention improves the quality of glass sheets with respect to roll ripple distortion by providing criteria for selectively maintaining conveyor rolls in a critical portion of the conveyor which comprises only those rolls located within an area defined by a first location a short distance upstream of the exit of the furnace and a second location a short distance downstream of the furnace exit. Surprisingly, by maintaining adequate alignment and using relatively small diameter, closely spaced conveyor rolls in this critical conveyor portion only, roll ripple distortion has been reduced to a considerable extent. The remaining conveyor rolls in the other portions of the conveyor need not be subjected to as frequent maintenance as the rolls in the critical portion of the conveyor, thereby lessening the cost of maintaining glass sheet heat-treating apparatus in good operating condition.