Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass ribbon can comprise flowing a glass-forming ribbon along a travel path. The glass-forming ribbon can comprise a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. A thickness can be defined between the first major surface and the second major surface. The method can comprise heating the first major surface of the glass-forming ribbon at a target location of the travel path while the glass-forming ribbon is travelling along the travel path. The heating can increase a temperature of the glass-forming ribbon at the target location to a heating depth of about 250 micrometers or less from the first major surface. The method can comprise cooling the glass-forming ribbon into the glass ribbon. Prior to the heating, the glass-forming ribbon at the target location can comprise an average viscosity in a range from about 1,000 Pascal-seconds to about 1011 Pascal-seconds.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing a glass ribbon includes a forming vessel including an upper portion including a pair of outside surfaces and a forming wedge portion including a pair of downwardly inclined forming surfaces converging along a downstream direction to form a bottom edge. An edge director is provided that includes a flow directing portion formed from a portion of a frustoconical or conical shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusion draw glass manufacture, including: at least one isopipe having at least one weir; and a fluid discharge member in proximity to the at least one weir of the at least one isopipe, the fluid discharge member is in fluid communication with a remote fluid source. Methods of making and using the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes an overflow distributor (200) including a weir (245, 247). The system further includes a thermal exchange unit positioned in proximity to the weir. The thermal exchange unit (300) includes a tubular focusing member (310) and a thermal member (330) disposed at least partially within a lumen of the focusing member. The focusing member extends distally beyond a distal end of the thermal member by a distance It. In an embodiment the thermal exchange unit comprises several focusing members and thermal members to control a thermal profile of a glass stream flowing over the weir, particularly of a portion of the glass stream in contact with the weir.

Abstract: Glass forming devices can comprise a first outer surface of a first wall, a second outer surface of a second wall, and a heater. Glass forming methods can comprise flowing a first stream of molten material over a first outer surface of the first wall and flowing a second stream of molten material over a second outer surface of the second wall. Methods can further comprise drawing a glass ribbon. Methods can also comprise heating the first wall with the heater to heat an inner portion of the first stream of molten material contacting the first outer surface of the first wall to maintain a viscosity of the inner portion of the first stream of molten material below the liquidus viscosity of the first stream of molten material.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus can include a conduit connected to a delivery vessel and an inlet of a forming vessel. The conduit includes a closed sidewall surrounding a channel extending in a flow direction of the conduit. The closed sidewall is continuous from the delivery vessel to the inlet of the forming vessel to define a closed atmosphere from the delivery vessel, through the conduit, and through the inlet of the forming vessel. The glass manufacturing apparatus can include a heating enclosure including a heating wall and a first heating element. The heating wall surrounds a chamber within which the conduit extends. The first heating element is positioned within the chamber between the heating wall and the conduit to increase a temperature within the channel. Methods for manufacturing a glass ribbon with a glass manufacturing apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus can comprise a containment device including a surface defining a region extending in a flow direction of the containment device. A support member positioned to support a weight of the containment device can comprise a support material with a creep rate from 1×10?12 l/s to 1×10?14 l/s under a pressure of from 1 MPa to 5 MPa at a temperature of 1400° C. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise a ceramic material. In some embodiments, the support material can comprise silicon carbide. In some embodiments, a platinum wall can be spaced from physically contacting any portion of the support member. In some embodiments, methods can comprise flowing the molten material within the region in the flow direction while supporting a weight of the containment device with the support member.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a thickness of a substrate, such as a glass ribbon. The control apparatus comprises a laser assembly and a shielding assembly. The laser assembly generates an elongated laser beam traveling in a propagation direction along an optical path. The shielding assembly comprises at least one shield selectively disposed in the optical path. The shield is configured to decrease an optical intensity of a region of the elongated laser beam. The shielding assembly is configured to change an intensity profile of the elongated laser beam from an initial intensity profile to a targeted intensity profile. A desired targeted intensity profile can be dictated by an arrangement of the shield(s) relative to the optical path, and can be selected to affect a temperature change at portions of the substrate determined to benefit from a reduction in thickness.

Abstract: A glass article with a length equal to or greater than about 880 mm, a width orthogonal to the length equal to or greater than about 680 mm and a thickness T defined between first and second major surfaces is described. A total thickness variation TTV across the width of the glass article equal to or less than about 4 ?m. A maximum sliding interval range MSIR obtained from a predetermined interval moved in 5 mm increments across a width of the glass article is equal to or less than about 4 ?m. A method of making the glass article, and an apparatus therefor are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing a glass ribbon includes a forming vessel including an upper portion including a pair of outside surfaces and a forming wedge portion including a pair of downwardly inclined forming surfaces converging along a downstream direction to form a bottom edge. An edge director is provided that includes a flow directing portion formed from a portion of a frustoconical or conical shape.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for drawing sheet glass. More particularly, one or more sets of edge rolls can be configured to have a rotation axis angled away from a line orthogonal to the direction of flow of a ribbon of glass and positioned so as to contact the glass in the viscous region of the draw. Through control over the orientation and position of the one or more sets of edge rolls, sheet width attenuation may be eliminated, thickness of the beads that form along the edges of the glass sheet may be reduced, and instabilities associated with sheet width variation may be eliminated.

Abstract: A glass article with a length equal to or greater than about 880 mm, a width orthogonal to the length equal to or greater than about 680 mm and a thickness T defined between first and second major surfaces is described. A total thickness variation TTV across the width of the glass article equal to or less than about 4 m. A maximum sliding interval range MSIR obtained from a predetermined interval moved in 5 mm increments across a width of the glass article is equal to or less than about 4 m. A method of making the glass article, and an apparatus therefor are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusion draw glass manufacture, including: at least one isopipe having at least one weir; and a fluid discharge member in proximity to the at least one weir of the at least one isopipe, the fluid discharge member is in fluid communication with a remote fluid source. Methods of making and using the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for drawing sheet glass. More particularly, one or more sets of edge rolls can be configured to have a rotation axis angled away from a line orthogonal to the direction of flow of a ribbon of glass and positioned so as to contact the glass in the viscous region of the draw. Through control over the orientation and position of the one or more sets of edge rolls, sheet width attenuation may be eliminated, thickness of the beads that form along the edges of the glass sheet may be reduced, and instabilities associated with sheet width variation may be eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for fusion draw glass manufacture, including at least one isopipe (110) having at least one weir (114); and a fluid discharge member in proximity to the at least one weir (114) of the at least one isopipe (110), the fluid discharge member is in fluid communication with a remote fluid source. The fluid source can be a source of a gas, liquid, solid or radiation. The fluid can be heated or cooled. At least one of the temperature properties, flow properties and thickness properties of the molten glass can be locally changed with the discharged fluid. A method of forming a glass-glass laminate sheet and uses of the laminate sheet are disclosed.

Abstract: A forming body of a glass forming apparatus is disclosed having an upper portion, a first forming surface, and a second forming surface extending downward from the upper portion to converge at a root. The upper portion of the forming body includes a trough for receiving molten glass, the trough including a first weir, a second weir, and a base extending between weirs. Each weir has a reinforcing portion extending upward from the base towards the tops of the weirs. A width of the base of the trough at a may be less than a top width of the trough. One or more of the top width, width of the base, or angle between an inner surface of the first or second weir and a vertical plane may be constant along a trough length of the trough.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for drawing sheet glass. More particularly, one or more sets of edge rolls can be configured to have a rotation axis angled away from a line orthogonal to the direction of flow of a ribbon of glass and positioned so as to contact the glass in the viscous region of the draw. Through control over the orientation and position of the one or more sets of edge rolls, sheet width attenuation may be eliminated, thickness of the beads that form along the edges of the glass sheet may be reduced, and instabilities associated with sheet width variation may be eliminated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for drawing sheet glass. More particularly, one or more sets of edge rolls can be configured to have a rotation axis angled away from a line orthogonal to the direction of flow of a ribbon of glass and positioned so as to contact the glass in the viscous region of the draw. Through control over the orientation and position of the one or more sets of edge rolls, sheet width attenuation may be eliminated, thickness of the beads that form along the edges of the glass sheet may be reduced, and instabilities associated with sheet width variation may be eliminated.

Abstract: A system includes an overflow distributor (200) including a weir (245, 247). The system further includes a thermal exchange unit positioned in proximity to the weir. The thermal exchange unit (300) includes a tubular focusing member (310) and a thermal member (330) disposed at least partially within a lumen of the focusing member. The focusing member extends distally beyond a distal end of the thermal member by a distance It. In an embodiment the thermal exchange unit comprises several focusing members and thermal members to control a thermal profile of a glass stream flowing over the weir, particularly of a portion of the glass stream in contact with the weir.

Abstract: An apparatus for downwardly drawing a glass ribbon includes a forming vessel including an upper portion including a pair of outside surfaces and a forming wedge portion including a pair of downwardly inclined forming surfaces converging along a downstream direction to form a bottom edge. An edge director is provided that includes a flow blocking portion. In some embodiments, the edge director also includes a flow directing portion.