With Annealing, Tempering, Or Fire-polishing Patents (Class 65/104)
  • Patent number: 6341502
    Abstract: A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Ampolletas, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Jose-De-Jesus Delgado-Carranza, Teodoro Rivas-Guzman, Armando Medina-Garcia
  • Patent number: 6321570
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for bending and tempering a sheet of glass heated to a formable state provides an improved rigid mold and pressing member for pressing the heated sheet against the rigid mold which cools and bends the sheet. The pressing member includes a conformable pressing element which permits a manifold to be positioned between the rigid mold and the pressing member to direct a gas to cool the heated sheet of glass during bending. The conformable pressing element is pressurized into a convex shape for initially pressing on a portion of the heated sheet and for rolling the heated sheet onto the rigid mold. The rigid mold and the conformable pressing element may each include a cover to increase the heat transfer from the heated sheet to the bending and tempering apparatus. Furthermore, the covers may have increased thermal conductivity in their peripheral regions for increased cooling of the edge of the sheet of glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Martin De Vries, Jr., Donald L. Bareman, Mervin Dirkse, Niels Alfred Olesen, James M. Beebe
  • Publication number: 20010037660
    Abstract: A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: JOSE-DE-JESUS DELGADO-CARRANZA, TEODORO RIVAS-GUZMAN, ARMANDO MEDINA-GARCIA
  • Patent number: 6295842
    Abstract: A glass sheet quench unit (22) and method for quenching formed glass sheets by quench gas jets (40) that define a uniformly repeating gas jet impingement pattern (44) that is an equilateral triangular pattern providing uniformly repeating quench cells (46) distributed over the formed glass sheet to be quenched as equilateral hexagonal quench cells. The resultant product is a formed and quenched glass sheet (G) that has oppositely facing surfaces between which glass stresses are uniformly distributed. A method for making the quench unit (22) is performed by initially forming nozzle openings (38) in an elongated nozzle strip (36′), thereafter forming the nozzle strip with a curved cross section, thereafter forming the nozzle strip with a curved shape along its elongated length to provide a curved nozzle cap, subsequently securing the curved nozzle cap to planar sides (30) of an associated nozzle feed row (28), and securing the sides (30) of the nozzle feed row to a plenum housing (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. McMaster
  • Patent number: 6279347
    Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for producing a bent glass sheet. A heated glass sheet (4, 24, 24*) conveyed from a heating furnace (1, 21) is bent by pressing with at least one belt (5, 9, 25) made of a heat-resistant material against a bending member (6, 10, 26, 28). The bent glass sheet is further conveyed and cooled for quenching or annealing in a cooling apparatus (3, 23). The bent glass is cooled after separating the belt. According to this invention, the bent glass sheets having surfaces on which defects, such as marks of rolls, are suppressed can be produced efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 6240746
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming glass sheets is provided wherein in a furnace structure of a heating furnace where molds with glass sheets carried thereon are intermittently conveyed, the staying period in the heating zone just before an annealing zone is variable, and the annealing zone includes a lifting device to separate a mold from a conveying device. By such arrangement, glass sheets having different shapes can be successively produced with a period for job change being greatly shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Maeda, Toshimi Yajima, Katsuki Saito, Yasuichi Ueno, Masaaki Konishi, Hiroshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6182472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: a method of bending the perimeter of at least one opening (2) provided in a glass-ceramic precursor plate (1), said perimeter describing a closed curve without sharp angles; a method of manufacturing a glass-ceramic plate (10′, 10″) in which at least one opening (2) is provided, whose perimeter describing a closed curve without sharp angles is bent; novel glass-ceramic plates (10′, 10″), obtainable by implementing said manufacturing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eurokera
    Inventors: Allan M. Fredholm, Claude Gille, Michel Grassi, Pablo Vilato, Jean-Louis Viron
  • Patent number: 6181469
    Abstract: In a method for evaluating the homogeneity of the refractive index of an optical member, the refractive index distribution of the optical member is measured, the measured refractive index distribution is separated into a rotationally symmetric element and a non-rotationally symmetric element in the optical axis direction before or after correction of the power element, and the rotationally symmetric element is further subjected to 2nd/4th-order element correction. Upon execution of such comprehensive evaluation, a photolithography optical member, which can realize a fine, sharp exposure-transfer pattern (e.g., a line width of 0.3 &mgr;m or less) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hiraiwa, Issey Tanaka, Katsuya Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 6099765
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical component wherein imperfections in molding the optical component, such as a lens, are removed by: heating an optical material to its plastic state; forming the optical material into the desired shape by employing a mold apparatus and applying a molding pressure; releasing all pressure from the shaped optical material by separating sections of the mold in order to relieve internal stress in the optical material while the optical material is at its plastic state temperature; slowly and controllably reducing the temperature of the optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Yamanaka, Yasuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 6094943
    Abstract: A toughened glass sheet for use as a windowpane of an automotive vehicle. The toughened glass sheet has a thickness ranging from 2.5 mm to 3.1 mm and has a first characteristic that a number of fragments is not less than 40 within an area of 50 mm.times.50 mm in a fragmentation test in which an impact is applied to a predetermined position of the glass sheet with a hammer or a punch, and a second characteristic that a specified height is not less than 2 m in an impact resistance test in which the specified height is a value at which the glass sheet is broken upon dropping a steel ball having a weight of 227 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuji Okuda, Shinichi Kita, Masahide Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 6079227
    Abstract: In a quenching apparatus for quenching a glass sheet that has been heated and bent in a heating furnace, a cooling gas blows onto the glass sheet to provide a distribution of a temperature and/or a distribution of a static pressure in at least one section in the quenching apparatus. The distribution of a temperature provides different temperatures between the both surfaces of the glass sheet, while the distribution of a static pressure is nonuniform in a part of at least one surface of the glass sheet. The distributions can modify a shape of the glass sheet given in the heating furnace so that a degree of freedom in shape for manufacturing a bent and tempered glass sheet by utilizing its self-weight can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Toru Futagami, Kazushi Shinozaki, Mamoru Takimura, Takeshi Yabuno
  • Patent number: 6053011
    Abstract: A system for tempering glass plates has preheating zone (1) in which several glass plates (7) stacked vertically in compartmented car (6) are heated together to a temperature below the tempering temperature of for example 650.degree. C. (for example 300.degree. C.). Preheated glass plates (7) are moved individually from preheating zone (1) into heating zone (2). In heating zone (2) glass plates (7) are heated to the tempering temperature, their being inclined to the vertical at an acute angle and being held by air cushions between two heating plates. On the lower edge of the two heating plates of heating zone (2) there is transport device which supports glass plates (7) simultaneously to the bottom. Glass plates (7) heated to the tempering temperature are moved into cooling zone (3) which has cooling plates aligned parallel to the heating plates and between which glass plate (7) is pushed for quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 6041623
    Abstract: The smoothness of refractory dielectric bodies, particularly silica sol-gel bodies, is substantially improved by a relatively straightforward treatment. In particular, the surface of the body is treated with a plasma fireball, such as induced by a plasma torch. The treatment is able to reduce the roughness, as measured by RA, in overcladding tubes formed by a sol-gel process by at least a factor of 2, typically at least a factor of 5. It is also possible to improve the smoothness of silica tubes that are drawn from a billet. Typically, the process reduces the roughness of silica bodies to an RA of about 1 microinch or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: James William Fleming, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6032489
    Abstract: A gas is supplied to the surface of the glass sheet transferred between a heating furnace and a cooling apparatus for tempering the glass sheet. The gas is supplied from the upstream side with respect to the direction of transfer of the glass sheet by an air curtain device. This gas runs along the glass sheet surface (upper surface) downstream with respect to the direction of transfer to obstruct the flow of cooling gas from the cooling apparatus in the upstream direction. The gas prevents cooling air from the cooling apparatus from invading the heating furnace so that the difference of the curvature of the glass sheet on the front and rear part can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshizawa, Toru Futagami, Norihiro Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6014873
    Abstract: A process for bend-shaping a glass plate by heating the glass plate to a softening temperature of the glass plate, while the glass plate is transferred along a transferring surface in a shaping furnace. The glass plate is transferred along a complex bending transferring surface having a complex curved face which is upwardly projected with predetermined radius of curvatures along both the axis of the transferring direction and the axis perpendicular to the transferring direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hirotsu, Kazuyoshi Ohtani, Teruji Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6009726
    Abstract: Process for bending the outer glass pane and the inner glass pane of laminated safety glass panes bend with predefined curvature geometry. The press-bending system incorporates a bending station, a discharge station, as well as between bending station and discharge station, a conveyor shuttle. The glass panes to be bent, heated to bending temperature, are introduced singly into the bending station with the aid of a transfer line and are bent in it, taking account of the predefined curvature geometry of the laminated safety glass panes. The outer glass pane and the inner glass pane are subjected to optimizing bending at a temperature, which is in the lower bending temperature range, in the discharge station assigned to them. To carry out optimizing bending, the glass panes are lifted off the conveyor shuttle with the aid of a take-off device, which take-off device possesses an optimizing contour at least in the edge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Flachglas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Funk
  • Patent number: 5974834
    Abstract: For a method for bending and tempering glass which has an opening, the glass is bent in the horizontal position using a bending frame (9) and is tempered on the bending frame (9). The bending frame in respect of its contour and of its geometric shape corresponds to the desired shape of the bent glass. During the bending operation and during the tempering operation the glass is supported, in the region around the edge of the opening, by an additional internal bending frame (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Ludwic Johan Rijkens, Hans Josef Thevissen, Franz Stiel, Juergen Schmitz, Alwin Timmermann
  • Patent number: 5970745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for stopping a glass panel conveyed from a furnace into a tempering station or a bending and tempering station. In the method, a glass panel is carried upon rolls and pressed by means of overhead press rollers, as the conveying speed of the rollers is decelerated for stopping the glass panel. Over a deceleration distance, the rate of deceleration is within the range of 0.6-3 m/s.sup.2. By virtue of the overhead press rollers, the rate of deceleration can be increased, such that the glass exit speed from a furnace can be raised and, at the same time, the glass cooling time can be minimized prior to a tempering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Tamglass Ltd. Oy
    Inventor: Esko Lehto
  • Patent number: 5968220
    Abstract: A process and apparatus (26) for quenching a heated glass sheet by directing modulated cryogenic flows (36) that is initially completely liquid (42) toward the oppositely facing surfaces (38) of the glass sheet to quench the glass sheet. The modulated cryogenic flows (36) can be started and fully stopped to provide flow pulses and can also be continuous and have periodic increased flow pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. McMaster, Kenneth R. Kormanyos
  • Patent number: 5968219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making glass-ceramic plates which are bent at a radius of curvature especially suitable in the manufacture of cooking plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Claude Gille, Michele Marie-Louise Meyer, Paul Leon Netter, Sophie Peschiera, Pablo Juan Luis Vilato Gailloud
  • Patent number: 5939175
    Abstract: Diclosed is a plate glass wherein surfaces (3a) of plate glass (3) are formed flat and finished with a maximum surface ruggedness not exceeding 0.05 mm, and boundaries (3c) between end surfaces (3a) and front and back surfaces (3b) of the plate glass (3) are finished with a maximum surface ruggedness not exceeding 0.007 mm. Thus, though the plate glass is treated with heat reinforcement by the method simpler and more convenient than the prior art, the plate glass maintains performance as fire glass. It is now possible to provide quality improvement as plate glass, a reduction in running cost of heat reinforcing treatment equipment, and a reduction in working stress due to the weight of the plate glass itself in time of fitting the plate glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiminari Sugiura
  • Patent number: 5928398
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending and tempering glass sheets includes a roll conveyor for supporting a glass sheet, the glass sheet having a top and a bottom surface. The roll conveyor includes a plurality of vertically movable rolls for arching the conveyor to a curvature corresponding to a desired degree of bending in the glass sheet. The rolls each have two opposed ends, and at least some of the rolls being deflectable such that at least mid-sections thereof are movable relative to a vertical position of ends thereof. The apparatus further includes a plurality of movable press rollers disposed above the rolls. The press rollers are movable in a vertical direction to apply a pressing force to the top surface of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Tamglass Engineering OY
    Inventor: Esko Lehto
  • Patent number: 5910620
    Abstract: A fire-rated glass 28 is comprised of a low-E glass which has been subject to a supertempering treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: O'Keefe's, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. O'Keeffe, Mason Scott Foote
  • Patent number: 5903097
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a side glass for a vacuum fluorescent display is provided wherein a glass is cut to a predetermined length in accordance with the size of the vacuum fluorescent display. The glass is then bent to coincide two ends of the glass in accordance with the shape of the vacuum fluorescent display, and the two ends of the glass are adhered to one another. A sealing frit is applied on the upper side of the glass, and is plasticized and cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Display Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 5902367
    Abstract: A method for transferring mould-carrying wagons in a bending furnace for glass sheets as well as to a bending furnace for glass sheets, comprising preheating stations (1.3, 1.4, 1.5) and more than two bending stations (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) in succession and therebelow a number of cooling stations (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4), a first number of mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) on an upper track (1) and a second number of mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) on a lower track (2), an end wall (4) of the mould-carrying wagons defining said preheating, bending and cooling stations when the mould-carrying wagons (3, 4) are stationary. After a bending, the mould-carrying wagon (3, 4) is transferred under one or more bending stations (2.3, 2.2) to a location directly below the first bending station (2.1) or the final preheating station (1.5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Tamglass Engineering Oy
    Inventor: Tapio Salonen
  • Patent number: 5893941
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for bending and tempering of a glass sheet is disclosed. The means to be used in the method for supporting the glass sheet is a supporting device in two parts, wherein the first supporting device forms a substantially planar supporting surface for the margin of the glass sheet and the second supporting device forms, in a manner known as such, a supporting device for the margin of the glass sheet corresponding to the bending configuration. In the method, the first supporting device supports the glass sheet to maintain its planar configuration at the heating stage required for tempering, wherein the glass sheet is being heated to the tempering temperature. During heating, the glass sheet is further supported by a pressure difference imposed on the opposite surfaces of the glass sheet. After heating, the glass sheet is moved to the second supporting device to bend to the bending configuration determined by the second supporting device, followed by the tempering stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Risto Nikander
  • Patent number: 5888263
    Abstract: A mesh belt is stretched in an annealing lehr and a plurality of fine mesh elements, which constitute a fine mesh having gas-permeability and elasticity, formed by weaving a heat-resistant wire, are fixed onto the mesh belt so as to be arranged along the moving direction of the mesh belt with predetermined spaces in the direction of the width of the mesh belt whereby a flaw which may be produced in a glass product to be annealed when it is placed on the mesh belt in the annealing lehr, is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Nakata
  • Patent number: 5865866
    Abstract: A cooling ring assembly (20) and method for controlling stresses in a bent glass sheet G produce a strengthened bent glass sheet after the cooling is completed. The cooling ring assembly includes a cooling ring (22) that supports the glass sheet edge (24), an insulator (30) juxtaposed inboard of the cooling ring to reduce the cooling rate, and a cooler (34) for providing increased cooling by pressurized air to at least one localized area (36,40,58) of the glass sheet edge. The cooler (34) is preferably embodied by a pressurized air supply (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Schnabel, Jr., Donivan M. Shetterly, Robert E. Malby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5858047
    Abstract: An apparatus for shaping heat softened glass sheets includes a shaping station to receive a heat softened glass sheet to be shaped, first and second transfer stations positioned along opposing sides of the shaping station, and first and second cooling stations positioned adjacent a corresponding transfer station. An upper vacuum mold having first and second downwardly facing, shaped sheet engaging surfaces moves between the transfer stations and within the shaping station. The sheet engaging surfaces of the vacuum mold each have a shaped configuration generally corresponding to a final desired shaped of a glass sheet to be shaped. Heat softened glass sheets are positioned within the shaping station and moved into engagement with one of the sheet engaging surfaces to shape the sheet. Vacuum is drawn along the sheet engaging surface to hold the shaped sheet thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Frank, Mark A. Cancilla
  • Patent number: 5843199
    Abstract: During the fire-polishing of a lengthwise extended glass body (3), for example a preform for drawing optical fibers, the glass body (3) is held by a holding device (5, 7), and is heated by a burner (23) moving at a variable advancing speed parallel to the lengthwise axis (19). The surface temperature of the glass body (3) is determined with a temperature measuring device (25). The mechanical stress condition of the glass body (3) is detected with an optical device (29) and can be controlled by varying the burner temperature and/or the advancing speed of the burner. The invention makes it possible to counteract the occurrence of high mechanical stresses in the glass body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Kabel AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse, Robert Fenner
  • Patent number: 5837026
    Abstract: Air is blowed before an annealing step to corner portions in an inner face portion of a glass panel which has been press-formed in a mold to cool that portions to be stronger than the other portion whereby a temperature difference between the corner portions and the other portion is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Sugawara, Toshikazu Ikezawa, Naoya Shimizu, Hiroshi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5833729
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement for shaping multiple sheets of heat softenable material which includes a shaping station and a conveying system to deliver a plurality of heat softened sheets into the shaping station. The shaping station includes an upper vacuum mold having a plurality of downwardly facing sheet shaping surfaces each generally conforming to a desired shape of a sheet to be shaped and a plurality of stops positioned below the upper mold such that each of the sheets is aligned below a corresponding one of the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces when the sheet contacts selected stops. Lower molds are positioned below the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to lift and press the aligned sheets against the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to shape the sheets. A vacuum is drawn along the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to secure the sheets to the upper mold and shape the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Meunier, Philippe Scandella, Michael T. Fecik, Robert G. Frank, William B. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5827345
    Abstract: A method for heating, forming and tempering a glass sheet including the steps of heating at least one glass sheet to at least a first predetermined temperature, applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature, forming the glass sheet to a predetermined configuration, and cooling an outer surface of the glass sheet to at least a third predetermined temperature to temper the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Premakaran Tucker Boaz, Gary W. Sitzman
  • Patent number: 5827343
    Abstract: A method for the controlled bending of anodically bonded two-dimensional composites of glass and metal or semiconductor materials. The composite is heated after bonding, for up to 200 hours to a temperature of from 250.degree. C. to Tg-10 K. As a result of this heating, controlled compaction of the glass body and, hence, bending of the composite, are achieved to reduce or reverse any distortion that has occurred during bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventors: Heinrich Engelke, Michael Harz
  • Patent number: 5820650
    Abstract: A glass substrate is positioned between a chamber with a reduced pressure and a chamber filled with a heated helium, and the glass substrate is forcibly bent by the pressure difference and the heated helium gas into a uniform shape. The irradiation of laser light is carried out in this state to compensate the difference of annealing effects due to fine difference of deformation of the respective glass substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5782947
    Abstract: A method for heating a glass sheet includes the steps of heating a glass sheet to a first predetermined temperature and applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature to allow the glass sheet to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Premakaran Tucker Boaz
  • Patent number: 5772717
    Abstract: A method of tempering an article is disclosed in which an article is heated so that the material making up the article is in an essentially stress-free state and the article thereafter is quenched and cooled. At the conclusion of the quenching, a stress pattern in initiated through the thickness of the article in which the midplane layer is in tension and the surface layers are in compression. This stress pattern is further developed during the cooling stage. The article is quenched by spraying the surfaces with a coolant, preferably comprising either liquid nitrogen or liquid air in the form of a two phase flow of liquid and vapor. The liquid is sprayed so that the surface tensile stress of the surface layers are not exceeded and the liquid does not accumulate on the surface layers as a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Kirschner, Hamdi Kozlu, Michael K. Sahm
  • Patent number: 5762677
    Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin. The apparatus includes at least one gas burner for producing hot combustion gases to be distributed toward and into contact with the top and/or bottom surfaces of a glass sheet within the apparatus housing. The temperature of the hot combustion gases which is distributed to the top surface of the glass sheet is adjustable independently of the temperature of the hot combustion gases being distributed to the bottom surface of the glass sheet to, in turn, enable independent control of convection heat transfer to both surfaces of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Kormanyos
  • Patent number: 5755845
    Abstract: The invention relates to the press bending and tempering of glass sheets, especially for use as glazings in vehicles. When the press bending system is not located in a heated environment such as a furnace, it is important to maintain the glass sheets at a sufficiently high temperature for an adequate degree of temper to be achieved on quenching the sheet. The present invention provides a method of bending and tempering a thin glass sheet comprising pressing the substantially horizontal sheet between moulds having opposed complementary shaping surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being heated, and subsequently quenching the surfaces of the sheet characterised in that the heated shaping surface is maintained at a temperature in the range from 200.degree. C. to 350.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: Pilkington Glass Limited, Flachglas Aktiengesellschaft, Libbey-Owens-Ford Company
    Inventors: Alan Charles Woodward, Han-Dieter Funk, Richard A. Herrington
  • Patent number: 5746799
    Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin. The apparatus includes at least one gas burner for producing hot combustion gases which is to be distributed to the top and/or bottom surfaces of a glass sheet within the apparatus housing. Spent hot working fluid, which has impinged the top and bottom surfaces of the glass sheet, is drawn into a mixing chamber operably positioned about a gas burner. The spent hot working fluid and newly produced hot combustion gases from the gas burner are mixed within the mixing chamber and then distributed toward and into operable contact with at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Kormanyos
  • Patent number: 5735923
    Abstract: A glass plate is cooled and strengthened by placing the glass plate on a cooling ring in a substantially horizontal state and jetting out cooling air at upper and lower sides of the glass plate by upper and lower cooling air jetting-out devices arranged at the upper and lower sides of glass plate. The pressure of cooling air jetting out from the lower side of the glass plate is higher than that from the upper side to thereby raise the glass plate against a contact ring located below the upper jetting out device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Hisaeda
  • Patent number: 5735922
    Abstract: Glass sheets are press bent and tempered, especially for use as glazings in vehicles. Such glazings are required to be accurately bent to a complex shape while meeting high standards of optical quality and fracture safety at an acceptable cost. A method of bending and tempering a glass sheet is provided comprising heating the sheet in a furnace, including heating at least one portion of the sheet to a higher temperature than another portion, conveying the sheet out of the furnace and into a press bending station, shaping the sheet by pressing it between opposed complementary upper and lower press members, at least one of the members being internally heated, transferring the bent glass sheet onto a shuttle carrier ring conforming to the periphery of the sheet, and tempering the sheet while supported on the carrier ring. A corresponding apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignees: Pilkington Glass Limited, Flachglas Aktiengesellschaft, Libbey-Owens-Ford Company, Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Limited
    Inventors: Alan Charles Woodward, Hans-Dieter Funk, Richard A. Herrington, Kazunori Yuki
  • Patent number: 5735924
    Abstract: A forced convection heating apparatus and process for heating glass sheets therewithin. The apparatus includes at least one gas burner for producing hot combustion gases which is to be distributed toward and into contact with the top and/or bottom surfaces of a glass sheet within the apparatus housing. The velocity of the distributed hot combustion gases which eventually impinges upon the top surface of the glass sheet is controllable independently of the impingement velocity of the hot combustion gases being distributed, and, in turn, directed toward and into contact with the bottom surface of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Kormanyos
  • Patent number: 5713975
    Abstract: When blank-molded optical glass bodies are manufactured according to known methods based on blank-molding technology, the product exhibits rings in the glass and folds as well as an impression that precisely coincides with the contact surface of the parison inside the pressing die before the pressing operation. These defects are not permissible in blank-molded lenses, however, because they cause an undesirable optical effect such as changing the glare value in automobile headlights. Such defects are process-dependent and are caused by the fact that the transfer of the parison to the pressing die and the pressing itself are two separate operations that are performed with different tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Deutsche Spezialglas AG
    Inventors: Gunter Schonfeld, deceased, Thomas Schonfeld, executor
  • Patent number: 5711781
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating an elongated glass body, which, for example, may be used as a pre-form for the drawing of glass fibers, includes a rotatable first chuck wherein the first end of the elongated glass body may be rotatably secured. In addition the apparatus includes a second rotatable chuck whereat the second end of the elongated glass body is introduced into a quartz tube and this quartz tube is clamped into the rotatable second chuck. A burner, which is adapted to slide parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated glass tube, heats the elongated glass body in such a manner, that a so called fire polish of the elongated glass body for the improvement of its surface quality occurs. A method for heating the elongated glass body is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kabel Rheydt Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse
  • Patent number: 5697999
    Abstract: Glass sheet bending apparatus (20) including at least one deformable mold (22) has a linkage (26) that extends between mold members (24) and includes connector links (28) fixed to the mold members and having pivotal connections (32) to each other about axes that extend parallel to the glass sheet throughout the bending, and the linkage also has control links (34) that have pivotal connections (36) about axes that extend perpendicular to the glass sheet throughout the bending as well as having universal connections (38) to each other such that the linkage moves the mold members for bending with a constant radius of curvature. The bending apparatus (20) preferably has a pair of the deformable molds (22,44) that are arranged in lower and upper locations and have respective linkages (26,48) as well as having the mold members (24,46) thereof provided with quench openings (66) through which quenching gas is supplied to quench the bent glass sheet for heat strengthening or tempering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventor: Pauli T. Reunamaki
  • Patent number: 5697998
    Abstract: A sapphire window is laser edge annealed using a CO.sub.2 laser spot illuminating along a path following the edge of the window so as to heat the edges to remove or reduce sub surface defects which can cause stress fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel H. Platus, Richard P. Welle, Paul M. Adams
  • Patent number: 5676722
    Abstract: Glass plates are thermally or chemically tempered to increase flexural bending strength. The tempered plates are subsequently subjected to a heat treatment in order to lower the possibility of spontaneous breakage of the glass plates. According to the method according to the invention the glass plates are tempered at least twice and again heat-treated. At least the second heat treatment takes place at higher temperatures than were used previously. The treated glass plates have increased flexural bending strength and reduced tendency to spontaneous breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Vetrotech AG
    Inventors: Horst Seidel, Chrisoph Schmalt
  • Patent number: 5669950
    Abstract: A spout forming assembly for glassware and a method therefor in which the assembly includes a spout forming device for forming a pour spout on the edge of a piece of glassware, an actuation device for actuating the forming device, and a control device for controlling the actuation device. The method generally includes the steps of: (a) moving a piece of glassware having an edge along a predetermined path; (b) heating the edge; and (c) engaging the edge with forming means to form a spout on the edge of the glassware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Libbey Glass Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Dickens
  • Patent number: 5662723
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a decorative pattern on glassware having an edge that includes a base, a forming tool, actuation means and control means. The forming tool is mounted on the base. The tool is moveable between a first position and a second position. The tool engages the edge of the glassware at the second position to form the decorative pattern on the edge. The actuation and control means move the tool from the first position to the second position. The method of the invention includes the steps of (a) moving the glassware along a predetermined path; (b) heating the edge; and (c) engaging the edge with a forming tool as the tool is being moved along the predetermined path to form the decorative pattern on the edge of the glassware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Libbey Glass Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Dickens