Abstract: A thin glass substrate, as well as a method and an apparatus are provided. The glass substrate has a glass having first and second main surfaces and elongated elevations on one of the main surfaces. The elevations rise in a normal direction, have a longitudinal extent that is greater than two times a transverse extent, and have a height, on average, that is less than 100 nm, and with a transverse extent of the elevation smaller than 40 mm. The method includes melting a glass, hot forming the glass, and adjusting a viscosity of the glass so that for the viscosity ?1 for a first stretch over a first distance of up to 1.5 m downstream of a flow rate control component and y1 indicating a second distance to a location immediately downstream the flow rate control component the equation lg ?1(y1)/dPa·s=(lg ?01/dPa·s+a1(y1)) applies.

Abstract: Thin glass substrates are provided. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for the production thereof and provides a thin glass substrate of improved optical quality. The method includes, after the melting and before a hot forming process, adjusting the viscosity of the glass that is to be formed or has at least partially been formed is in a defined manner for the thin glass substrate to be obtained. The apparatus includes a device for melting, a device for hot forming, and also a device for defined adjustment of the viscosity of the glass to be formed into a thin glass substrate, and the device for defined adjustment of the viscosity of the glass to be formed into a thin glass substrate is arranged upstream of the device for hot forming.

Abstract: Methods of producing a glass article include melting a first glass composition and feeding a second glass composition into the melter. Both glass compositions include the same combination of components but at least one component has a concentration that is different in each. At least three glass articles may be drawn from the melter, including: a first glass article formed from the first glass composition; at least one intermediate glass article composed of neither the first nor the second glass composition; and a final glass article not composed of the first glass composition. The concentration of the at least one component in the intermediate glass article may be between the concentration in the first and second glass compositions. The first glass article and final glass article may have differing values for certain properties, and the intermediate glass article may have an intermediate set of values for the same properties.

Abstract: A glass for chemical strengthening is a glass sheet containing, as expressed by mass percentage based on oxides, 60 to 75% of SiO2, 3 to 12% of Al2O3, 2 to 10% of MgO, 0 to 10% of CaO, 0 to 3% of SrO, 0 to 3% of BaO, 10 to 18% of Na2O, 0 to 8% of K2O, 0 to 3% of ZrO2, 0 to 0.3% of TiO2, 0.005 to 0.2% of Fe2O3, and 0.02 to 0.4% of SO3. The glass has a sheet thickness of 0.2 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. A value of ?-OH measured without polishing both front and back surfaces of the glass sheet is lower than a value of ?-OH measured after polishing surface layers of both the front and back surfaces of the glass sheet by 50 ?m or more each.

Abstract: A glass forming system (200) and a method are described herein for forming a glass sheet (230). In one example, the glass forming system and method can use a glass composition with a liquidus viscosity less than 1000 poises to continuously form a glass sheet.

Abstract: Ion transport membranes are integrated with a glass melting furnace and a float glass bath. Only feeds of air, steam and hydrocarbon are necessary for producing hot oxygen for the melting furnace and a mixture of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen for the float glass bath.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for producing a sheet glass, including: a forming device that forms a glass ribbon by allowing molten glass continuously supplied onto molten metal in a bath to flow on the molten metal; a rotary roll disposed in an outer vicinity of the bath and configured to draw the glass ribbon obliquely upward from the molten metal; and a supporting device supporting the rotary roll from below.

Abstract: An etchant is stored in a treating tank; a glass substrate is transported with transport rollers into the treating tank; the etchant is discharged from below the substrate to raise the substrate to a position above the transport rollers and below the surface of the etchant; the discharge of the etching liquid is stopped and the glass substrate is lowered to a position for contacting the transport rollers; the etchant is drained from the treating tank; and the glass substrate is unloaded with the transport rollers out of the treating tank. The disclosed method and apparatus can treat both front and back surfaces of the substrate uniformly.

Abstract: An layout for a glass manufacturing system may include a hot process part having a batch plant for storing a glass raw material, a tank for melting the raw material and storing a molten glass, a float bath for forming the molten glass into a glass of a ribbon shape, an annealing lehr for cooling the glass ribbon, and a cold end connected to the annealing lehr, and an etching process part having a final cutting sector for cutting the glass provided from the cold end into sheet glasses of a preset final size, a beveling and etching sector for bevel the edges of the cut sheet glasses and etching the beveled sheet glasses, and a first inspection sector for inspecting the etched sheet glasses, and the hot process part and the etching process part may be connected by a single conveyor to form a continuous line.

Abstract: A chamber for floating glass on a bath of molten metal including: an upstream wall, a downstream wall, and two lateral walls; rolls for driving the glass in a direction of travel from upstream to downstream; a lateral wall including a shoulder resulting in a reduction in width of the chamber in the direction of travel of the glass, the shoulder starting at a first point and terminating at a second point of the lateral wall, the first and second points being in contact with a surface of the bath of metal, the vertical plane passing through the first and second points forming with the vertical plane, parallel with the direction of travel of the glass and passing through the first point, an angle inside the chamber greater than 150°. Geometric features of the shoulder reduce lateral reciprocal motion of a ribbon emerging from the chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a float bath which allows easy temperature control according to an internal position, and a glass manufacturing apparatus and glass manufacturing method including the float bath. The float bath includes a plurality of heaters provided at an upper portion of the float bath to supply heat into the float bath, and a shield provided between predetermined heaters among the plurality of heaters to block heat transfer therebetween.

Abstract: A glass forming system (200) and a method are described herein for forming a glass sheet (230). In one example, the glass forming system and method can use a glass composition with a liquidus viscosity less than 1000 poises to continuously form a glass sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing the compaction of glass formed by a down draw process. The glass may be a glass sheet or a glass ribbon. Once the glass is formed, it is thermally treated on a molten metal bath for a time and at a temperature effective to reduce the fictive temperature of the glass below a predetermined level. In one embodiment, a glass ribbon is formed in a fusion process and the glass ribbon redirected onto a molten metal bath where the ribbon is thermally treated.

Abstract: In order to provide a particularly homogeneous pressure and temperature profile in a gas cushion for the levitating support of glass or glass ceramic, the invention provides a device (19) for transporting or supporting glass ceramic or glass, which comprises at least one diaphragm (1, 2) that has at least one continuous bearing surface (3) and at least one gas feed chamber (51-55) and at least one gas discharge chamber (71-75), the gas feed chamber (51-55) and the gas discharge chamber (71-75) having a gas-permeable connection to the bearing surface (3).

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a float glass, including a float bath for strong a molten metal on which a molten glass flows, wherein the molten metal flows in the float bath, comprises a plurality of discharge slits formed through a wall of a downstream end of the float bath to discharge a molten metal crashing against the wall and dross floating on the molten metal; a flow-back channel formed in a widthwise direction of the float bath and communicated with the discharge slits; and a dross collecting member for collecting the dross flowing through the flow-back channel.

Abstract: The float glass apparatus has a glass melt producing unit including a melting tank and a refining tank for the glass melt, a float tank including a metallic basin and metal bath contained in the basin, conducting devices for conducting the glass melt from the glass melt producing unit to the metal bath and auxiliary devices as needed. In order to minimize bubble defects and extend service life of apparatus parts made from platinum or a platinum alloy, the apparatus includes a device for minimizing direct current flowing between the glass melt producing unit and the float tank, which includes an auxiliary electrode connected with ground and located in the glass melt producing unit in electrical contact with the glass melt and a direct electrical connection between the metallic basin of the float tank and ground.

Abstract: A float bath for manufacturing glass includes a slot formed in a bottom block of the float bath in which a molten metal is to be filled, a barrier member capable of being inserted into the slot, a receiving portion formed in at least one side block that connects with the bottom block so as to communicate with the slot, and a placing member placed in the receiving portion to be connected to one end of the barrier member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal member that is used so that there is a portion that is exposed to the atmosphere in a float bath, and with which diffusion of Fe into the float bath is inhibited and thereby preventing the defect from being generated on the surface of a plate glass. The present invention relates to a metal member with a film for a float glass manufacturing equipment that has a portion exposed to the atmosphere in a float bath in which the film has a mean thickness of from 50 to 500 ?m and contains Ni and/or Co, Cr and Al2O3 as main components; the Al2O3 content in the film is from 5 to 40% by volume; the Al2O3 is present in a thin film state in the surface direction of the metal member, inside the film; and the metal member contains Fe in an amount of from 40 to 98% by mass and has the film on the exposed portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to production of a flat glass, which can improve the surface smoothness of a flat glass in the moving direction and which prevents formation of stripes on the flat glass. A fixed bed 15 comprising a plurality of supports 12 arranged in such a state that they will not move at least in a direction in parallel with the moving direction of a glass ribbon 13, and having grooves 12B to let loose the steam generated by vaporization of a steam film forming agent formed between the respective supports 12, is used, and the amount of the steam let loose from the grooves is adjusted in accordance with the glass temperature distribution in the moving direction of the glass ribbon 13 which moves on the fixed bed 15.

Abstract: Thin substrates, such as flat glass panels, are levitated on a porous media air bearing creating a pressurized film of air and preloaded against the air film by negative pressure areas. The pressure can be distributed most uniformly across the pressure areas by defusing the pressure through a porous medium. Such a bearing can be used for glass flattening by holding the glass such that the unevenness is migrated to the side opposite the side to be worked on.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a monolithic float glass forming chamber and its method of construction. The forming chamber being of the type that includes a bottom wall; side walls and a roof wall to form an elongated chamber, the elongated chamber including a forming section and a cooling section for a desired thickness and ribbon width of molten glass, wherein each type of wall comprises: a first refractory structure with a mixture of a castable and pumpable refractory material and an insulation material; and a second refractory structure with a castable and pumpable refractory material, the first and second refractory structures being formed at the same construction site.

Abstract: The gas cushion serves to support a preheated glass sheet and is produced by a chamber, which is connected to a source (21) of compressed gas. The upper wall (10) of the chamber is adapted to the shape of the glass sheet and has a plurality of apertures for the passage of gas in the form of nozzles (14), which comprise an entry bore (22) and, following thereupon, a progressively widening exit hole (16) with a nozzle exit area (15). The upper wall (10) of the chamber has a greater degree of perforation (sum of the nozzle exit areas (15) in relation to the total area of the respective zone) in its edge zone (12, 13) than in its central zone (11). The nozzles ensure that no jet marks can arise. The gas of the gas cushion can also flow out undisturbed at the side, so that no cooling edges are present and the occurrence of cooling shadows is accordingly avoided.

Abstract: The invention disclose a convection glass heating furnace, which includes upper and lower furnace bodies, at least one gas-collection box are set in the upper and lower furnace bodies respectively, glass inlets and outlets are setup in the gas-collection box, and a jet-flow plate is set at the gas outlets. The gas inlets of gas-collection box are connected with the exhaust port of a blower fan through pipelines. Gas heating devices are setup in the gas-collection boxes. The gas inlets of the blower fan and its upstream gas routes along with the exhaust port of the blower fan and its downstream gas route form a gas circulation loop together. Glass is heated in the heating furnace of the invention by the hot gas sprayed on its surfaces, so the deficiencies of low heating efficiency and long heating time can be effectively avoided when heating the glass with high reflectivity and transmission ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus for working a glass plate includes: a transporting device for bending a glass plate in a concave shape in a cross-sectional view in a transporting direction and transporting the glass plate from a cutting section to a bend-breaking section; a cutting device for forming cut lines on the glass plate in the cutting section; and a bend-breaking device for bend-breaking the glass plate in the bend-breaking section.

Abstract: A method for reducing surface defects during production of float glass having a transformation temperature Tg of at least 600° C. is provided. A method for removing impurities from the surface of the glass band in the floating chamber by molten metal flowing over the glass band is also provided. The undesired spreading of the molten metal on the glass band is limited in a contactless manner. A device is also provided for carrying out the method, in addition to a floating glass having a transformation temperature of at least 600° C., which has a maximum of 3 surface defects (top specks) having a size greater than 35 ?m per m2 when it leaves the floating chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a float bath comprising a transport assembly and/or an adaptor for producing glass by a float-forming process.

Abstract: A glass handling system and method are described herein where an enhanced robot is used to engage and hold a glass sheet in a manner that minimizes the motion of the glass sheet as it is moved from one point to another point in a glass manufacturing facility. The enhanced robot engages and holds the glass sheet by using one or more suction cups and one or more aero-mechanical devices.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for supporting a horizontal guided, continuous glass strand; with a number of supporting blocks, which each exhibits a supporting area, facing the glass strand; the individual supporting block in the area of the supporting area is made from a porous, gas-impermeable diaphragm body; the diaphragm body is connected to a source of compressed gas for conveying gas through the supporting area.

Abstract: For bending a glass sheet so that the glass sheet has a compound curvature, an apparatus comprises a furnace including hearth beds on a bed support and a quenching unit provided with upper and lower air blowers. The final hearth bed may have a top surface with a simple curvature, be provided with one upstream corner cut away thereby defining a cut surface section and arranged in such a manner that the cut surface section is nearly parallel to the hearth bed adjacent to the final hearth bed. Alternatively, the final hearth bed may have a top surface with a compound curvature, so that the glass sheet is bent under the conditions set by controlling a temperature in a downstream part of the furnace, adjusting the inclination of the lower air blower and/or rotating final hearth bed so as to reverse the upstream and downstream ends thereof.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a glass gob, a down-flowing molten glass is received on a molding die. The molding die is moved down at a speed higher than a down-flowing speed of the molten glass so as to cut the molten glass. The molten glass is remained with a predetermined weight on the molding die. The molten glass is sprayed with gas in order to form the glass gob under such a condition that the molten glass is floated or slightly floated. The receiving step is carried out by spraying the molten glass with gas having a flow rate lower than the gas used in the spraying step, or the receiving step is carried out without performing the gas spraying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a float bath comprising a transport assembly and/or an adaptor for producing glass by a float-forming process.

Abstract: A method of floating glass gobs by means of a gas flow. A method of manufacturing glass gobs by floating a molten glass gob and simultaneously cooling it. A method of manufacturing glass spheres by floating a softened glass gob and simultaneously rendering it spherical. These methods employ a device having a depression for floating and holding a glass gob or the like, with a gas flow being supplied along all or part of the inner surface of the depression from the opening side of the depression toward the bottom. A manufacturing method comprising the steps of adjusting a glass gob to a temperature suited to press molding while floating said glass gob by means of a gas flow injected along part or all of the depression-shaped forming surface of a lower mold from the opening side of the lower mold toward the bottom of the lower mold; and a step of press forming the glass gob.

Abstract: A pressure pad array is used to float glass sheets from a glass heating furnace to a ring mold in a press bending station. The pressure pads have transversely spaced, longitudinally-extending slotted nozzles angled towards one another to provide a static pressure area for floating the glass sheet. The slotted nozzles are aligned with the direction of glass sheet travel and the space between adjacent pressure pads is covered by a spacer baffle to generate additional static pressure flotation areas. The static pressure areas formed by the slotted nozzles generally produce uniform pressure profiles extending longitudinally and transversely against the sheet's underside to stably float the glass sheets on a heated gas cushion.

Abstract: A heat-resistant pipe is arranged so as to traverse below a glass ribbon in a float bath of molten tin, and bubbles emanate from the heat-resistant pipe, thereby making the bottom surface (which is in contact with the tin) uneven. Alternatively, the bottom surface is made uneven with a roller for lifting the glass ribbon out of the float bath into an annealing furnace. In addition to these operations for making the glass surface uneven, a film can be applied to the top face of the glass ribbon (i.e. the surface that is not in contact with the tin) by CVD, supplying a mixed gas of raw material from coaters. Thus, the invention makes it possible to manufacture a glass sheet having an uneven surface efficiently, using a technique for processing the surface of a glass sheet that is suitable for a production line for float glass.

Abstract: A method of producing flat glass in which foam which appears on the surface of molten glass melted using oxy-fuel burners is dispersed by directing a diffuse, luminescent flame onto the surface of the glass carrying the foam.

Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a furnace (12) having a heating chamber (14) in which a topside transfer device (20) has a downwardly facing surface (22) to which vacuum and pressurized air are supplied to receive and support a heated glass sheet from a conveyor (16) without any direct contact. A forming station (24) located externally of the furnace has a vertically movable upper mold (28) whose temperature is not greater than 500° C. The upper mold (28) cooperates with a horizontally movable lower ring (34) that transfers the heated glass sheet from the topside transfer device (20) to the forming station under the control of a first actuator (40). A second actuator (42) moves the upper mold (28) downwardly to cooperate with the lower ring (34) in forming the glass sheet. The external forming station (24) includes heat loss reducing apparatus (43) for reducing heat loss of the hot glass sheet during the forming.

Abstract: A method for forming glass sheets is performed by a system (10) that includes a furnace (12) having a heating chamber (14) in which a vacuum platen (20) has a downwardly facing surface (22) to which a vacuum is supplied to support a heated glass sheet received from a conveyor (16). A forming station (24) located externally of the furnace has a vertically movable upper mold (28) whose temperature is not greater than 500° C. The upper mold (28) cooperates with a horizontally movable lower ring (34). A first actuator (39) moves the vacuum platen (20) vertically to transfer a heated glass sheet from the conveyor (16) to the lower ring (34) which is then moved by a second actuator (40) to the forming station (24). A third actuator (42) then moves the upper mold (28) downwardly to cooperate with the lower ring (34) in forming the glass sheet. The forming station (24) includes apparatus (43) for reducing heat loss of the glass sheet during the forming.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a glazing panel comprising a transparent substrate (1) especially one made of glass, provided with at least one functional, conductive and/or low-emissivity, transparent thin film (3). In order to improve the optical and especially the calorimetric appearance of the glazing panel, at least one intermediate film (2) is placed between the substrate (1) and the functional film (3), this at least one intermediate film having a refractive index gradient decreasing through its thickness. The invention also relates to the device intended for manufacturing this type of glazing panel.

Abstract: A process for forming a glass sheet, which is a process for continuously forming a glass sheet, and which comprises a step of introducing a vapor film-forming agent, which is not vapor at least around room temperature and which is vapor at a temperature above the glass transition point of the glass, into a support composed of a structure or a material capable of internally containing liquid, and a step of sliding the support and the glass of which temperature is above the glass transition point against each other via a thin layer of a vaporized vapor film-forming agent.

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).

Abstract: A block assembly for a lehr includes a plurality of blocks extending longitudinally, each of the blocks having a seal surface for mating and overlapping with an adjacent one of the blocks.

Abstract: Apparatus (32) for handling hot glass sheets includes a roll conveyor (14) and a topside transfer platen (18) that overlap to provide assistance in the initial support of heated glass sheets by the topside transfer platen through the use of a vacuum and pressurized air respectively applied to first and second sets of holes (40, 42) in a downwardly facing surface (38) of the topside transfer platen.