Abstract: A roll (4) for conveying sheets of glass at a heat-tempering temperature horizontally through a heat-tempering furnace enclosure includes a core (10) of refractory metal and a shell (20). The shell (20) is formed of a refractory material composed of a calcium silicate base agglomerate having a specific mass of from 200 to 800 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: An end cap (18) for use with a conveyor roll (12) of the thermally low expansive ceramic type used to convey hot glass sheets includes a metal sleeve (20) that receives an end (16) of the roll to provide rotational support and/or driving and also includes a retention spring (22) interposed between and engaged with both the roll end and the sleeve in order to retain the sleeve on the roll. The retention spring (22) preferably includes a plurality of leaf springs (44) that are sufficiently deflected at room temperature so as to remain partially deflected upon heating in order to provide the end cap retention.

Abstract: A glass ribbon conveying roll includes cylindrical outer tubular end portions having a plurality of high temperature thermal insulating discs secured thereon and an intermediate tubular portion. The hollow interior of the roll is filled with thermal insulating material. The thermal insulating material within the roll reduces heat transfer through the center of the ribbon and the discs prevent heat loss from the ribbon edges to maintain a relatively flat temperature profile across the ribbon as it advances through an annealing lehr.

Abstract: This invention relates to shaping glass sheets by roll forming to either simple or complex curvatures about a single axis of bending or to compound curvatures comprising components of curvature about mutually perpendicular axes of bending by a controlled, repeatable program of roll forming without causing the glass sheets to stop their forward movement during their shaping. The apparatus used to perform this process has a minimum of moving parts, thus minimizing maintenance problems and reducing downtime for maintenance and repair.

Abstract: A high temperature furnace chamber includes a roller hearth for supporting and transporting workpieces to be heated. The rollers are supported at each end by a rotary sleeve having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the rollers. Rotary movement of the sleeves transmits rotational forces to the rollers. Clearance provided between the rollers and the sleeves allows for roller dimensional variation during various furnace operating conditions.

Abstract: A roll for use under high or low temperature conditions, for example a conveyor roll in a flat glass annealing lehr, comprises a tire of a different material from collars on the roll between which the tire is held. The tire and at least one collar have matching frusto-conical surfaces which are designed so that differential thermal expansion between the tire and the retaining collars causes sliding movement only of frusto-conical surfaces relative to each other.

Abstract: Tempered flat glass sheets produced by the gas hearth process tend to become warped and/or kinked. Grooving the surface of the gas hearth bed at its exit portion only in the vicinity of supply passages not interspersed with exhaust passages reduces the warping and kinking to a significant degree.

Abstract: A non-asbestos millboard refractory composition useful for the manufacture of lehr and glass tempering rolls and useful at temperatures above about 650.degree. C. comprises on a dry weight basis 10-30 percent ceramic fiber, 0-10 percent organic fiber, 35-60 percent pyrophyllite and 20-35 percent inorganic binder. This composition is particularly useful in the manufacture of a non-asbestos millboard sheet which is formed by preparing an aqueous slurry of the components of this composition, adding flocculant and developing the flocculated composition into sheet form by placing the slurry on a rotating screened cylinder to effect formation and dewatering, transfering the dewatered and formed slurry to a synthetic felt and then to an accumulator roll, where layers of the slurry are accumulated upon one another to a desired thickness. The accumulated layers are then slit, removed and formed into flat sheets of desired dimensions for subsequent use.

Abstract: The flat glass sheet to be curved, which is at softening temperature, is advanced in a horizontal position on a curved bed formed by a series of flexible shaping rolls including coiled springs having progressively increasing degrees of curvature such that as the sheet moves thereon it will be caused to bend under its own weight to gradually assume the curvature of the shaping rolls. The shaping rolls are provided with end sections which are angularly adjustable to independently alter the degree of curvature of the rolls. The shaping bed is followed by a second bed formed of flexible rolls having a constant curvature on which the curved sheet is supported and subjected to a tempering and or cooling procedure. Means is also provided for driving the rolls of the shaping bed and the rolls of the second bed to move the glass sheets forwardly at a constant speed.

Abstract: A roll for conveying flat glass at elevated temperatures over extended periods of time without material damage to the supported surface of the glass, and a procedure for preparing such rolls. The roll is built up of thin asbestos discs compressed endwise upon a mandrel. The asbestos is impregnated with a solution of potassium sulfate and then thoroughly dried before the roll is put into use. The potassium sulfate crystals provide lubricity to the roll surface and bind the asbestos fibers together so as to improve the durability of the roll while minimizing damage to the heated glass.

Abstract: An automatic system and process of shaping and tempering glass pieces comprising reception of a flow of heated glass pieces between upper transverse drive rollers and lower transverse drive rollers, driving and shaping the heated glass pieces between the upper rollers and lower rollers, circulating and deforming the glass pieces alternately between upper and lower positions of the upper and lower rollers, directing an air current upon the glass pieces at the moment the glass pieces circulate in the space between the upper and lower rollers, and discharging the shaped pieces from between the upper and lower rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing between edge control machines and forming chamber sidewalls is disclosed. The invention comprises collar means mounted surrounding the barrel of the edge control machine, alignment means fastened to the edge control machine for maintaining the collar aligned with the barrel of the edge control machine, and a flexible sleeve between the collar and the forming chamber sidewall.

Abstract: Heat-softened glass sheets are shaped to either simple or compound bends while being continuously conveyed by means of forming rolls having transverse curvature, wherein, in at least the first portion of the bending station, the force of gravity alone causes the glass sheets to sag into substantial conformity with the transverse curvature of the forming rolls. Support for each glass sheet is gradually transferred from straight conveyor rolls to curved forming rolls without vertically reciprocating the rolls. Optionally, at the exit end of the forming station, a set of upper forming rolls having transverse curvature complementary to that of the lower forming rolls may be provided to assure close conformance to the desired curvature. Compound bends may be formed by providing the path defined by the lower forming rolls with a concave curvature in the direction of glass travel.

Abstract: At least two differently colored components of glass are heated to a molten, viscous state and then combined in a channel shaped forehearth to form a confluent of molten glass in which the starting components remain in discrete domains, delineated by abrupt color transitions at the interfaces between such domains. The confluent flows by gravity to a discharge end of the forehearth, at which the molten glass is fed between a pair of forming rollers which press it into a continuous, elongate sheet of variegated glass. While flowing toward the discharge end of the forehearth, the molten glass is subjected to controlled, limited stirring to break up relatively large domains of homogeneous color into a multitude of smaller randomly dispersed domains characterized by streaks, swirls and waves of individually identifiable colors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling deviations from desired shape of a glass sheet shaped by roll forming, wherein a critical portion of the shaped glass sheet is either lifted or twisted momentarily during or immediately following the roll forming operation.

Abstract: In the roll forming method of shaping glass sheets, glass defects are reduced by employing a mild stream of cooling gas in the vicinity of the lower forming rolls and/or the underside of the glass sheet.During continuing mass production runs at high rates of production extending over long periods, the heated glass sheets heat the surfaces of the lower rotating forming rolls to a significantly higher temperature than that of the upper rotating forming rolls. The present invention reduces the detrimental effects that have been determined by the present invention to be due to this temperature differential between the surface temperature of the upper forming rolls and that of the lower forming rolls.

Abstract: In forming heat-softened sheets by the roll forming method, continuously moving sheets of heat-softenable material, such as glass sheets, are conveyed continuously along a conveyor into a roll forming station, where a pair of sets of rotating shaping rolls move relatively toward one another to provide rolling engagement against the opposite surfaces of each moving glass sheet in succession in spaced relation to the conveyor for sufficient time to shape the sheets. The sets of rotating shaping rolls then move relatively away from one another to redeposit the shaped sheet onto the conveyor. The sheets are flat entering the roll forming station and shaped to a curved configuration on leaving the roll forming station. The present invention relates to a system of conveyor rolls capable of supporting heat-softened sheets that enter the roll forming apparatus in a flat condition and that leave the roll forming apparatus in shaped condition after they have been shaped by roll forming.