Abstract: A method for ceramming a glass article to a glass-ceramic includes placing a glass article into a heating apparatus, and heating the glass article to a first hold temperature at a first predetermined heating rate. The glass article is held at the first hold temperature for a first predetermined duration. The viscosity of the glass article is maintained within log viscosity ±1.0 poise during the first predetermined duration. The glass article is then heated from the first hold temperature to a second hold temperature at a second predetermined heating rate. The glass article is held at the second hold temperature for a second duration. A density of the glass article is monitored from the heating of the glass article from the first hold temperature through the second duration, and the second duration is ended when an absolute value of a density rate of change of the glass article is less than or equal to 0.10 (g/cm3)/min.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling vertical glass distribution are provided. A traversing pyrometer periodically measures a parison actual temperature after the parisons exit a blank mold. The thermal camera takes a thermal image of each glass container after the glass container exits the blow mold. A vertical glass signature extraction module extracts a vertical glass distribution signature. A parison temperature estimator determines a parison estimated temperature for each vertical glass distribution signature obtained based on the vertical glass distribution signature, a most recently measured parison actual temperature and a parison stretch time. A parison temperature summer compares the parison estimated temperature to a parison set point temperature to determine a parison temperature error. A parison temperature control controls a blank mold contact time based on the parison temperature error.

Abstract: A furnace, and a method of firing it, wherein part of the fuel supplied to the furnace is produced from waste plastics by a depolymerisation process, waste heat from the furnace being used to promote the depolymerisation process. The furnace is equipped with regenerators for waste heat recovery and is fired alternately in first and second opposed directions, with the direction of firing periodically reversing between the first direction and the second direction. The supply of fuel to the furnace is temporarily interrupted while the direction of firing is reversing, means being provided to accommodate the fuel produced during the temporary interruption. The furnace may be used for producing glass.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making a glass material are provided. The apparatus comprises a level sensor configured to measure a level of molten glass within a glass melter, a level controller operatively connected to the level sensor, a batch material sensor configured to measure a characteristic of a quantity of batch material, an estimator operatively connected to the batch material sensor, a batch fill rate controller configured to calculate a speed command, and a batch delivery device configured to fill the glass melter. The methods comprise the steps of controlling an actual batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter. The step of controlling further comprises estimating a batch fill rate of batch material entering the glass melter, and controlling the actual batch fill rate based on a comparison between a predetermined batch fill rate and the estimated batch fill rate.

Abstract: A process for the growth of new, and difficult-to-synthesize, metal oxide, and other mixed anion oxide-based, single crystals from a molten metal flux. Metal fluxes are new for the growth of metal oxide single crystals. Preliminary reactions proved that new phases and phases that normally require costly, extreme conditions do grow as single crystals. Batches of individual reactions are heat-treated to synthesize single crystals comprised of oxygen with one or more transition, alkaline-earth and/or lanthanide metals, and can also include other anions like chalcogens or pnictogens, or halides. The reactivity and the propensity for crystallization of charge compensated single crystals from alkaline earth fluxes have been made evident by the results presented here.

Abstract: A method comprises flowing an oxidant and a fuel into a submerged combustion burner in a glass tank furnace, the glass tank furnace receiving a feed of glass forming material and producing molten glass, the burner and furnace comprising a melting system. The melting system has a variable system vibration and/or oscillation due to the nature of submerged combustion. One method includes predicting a value of at least one property, such as viscosity, of the molten glass using the variable system vibration and/or oscillation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing display quality glass sheets are provided in which the batch materials for making the sheets are melted in a furnace whose glass-engaging surfaces comprise zirconia (ZrO2). By using molybdenum electrodes, instead of the conventional tin electrodes, to electrically heat the molten glass, the wear rate per unit area of the furnace's glass-engaging, zirconia-containing surfaces are reduced by more than 50%, thus reducing zirconia levels (solid+dissolved) in the finished glass by at least a similar amount. As a consequence of this reduction, rejection rates of finished glass sheets are lowered, which is of particular value in the production of glass sheets of large dimensions, as desired by display manufacturers and other users of such sheets.

Abstract: A support fixture for use in a directional solidification system for the production of multi-crystalline ingots having a housing with a passage that extends into an inner assembly having a crucible includes a collar, an alignment bracket, and an arm. The collar has a mounting structure for attaching the collar to the housing. A passage extends through the collar and defines a longitudinal axis. The alignment bracket is in spaced relation to the collar. The arm extends from the collar to the alignment bracket to support the alignment bracket and prevent movement of the alignment bracket with respect to the collar. The arm is shaped to allow an operator access to an area adjacent to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus includes a control device configured to modify a predetermined diameter of at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls in a first downstream equation based on a monitored actual velocity of a first edge portion of a glass ribbon such that a predetermined ribbon velocity of the first edge portion of the glass ribbon in the first downstream equation changes to substantially match the monitored actual velocity without substantially changing a first downstream angular velocity of the at least one of the first downstream pair of draw rolls. In further examples, methods of manufacturing a glass ribbon include the step modifying the predetermined diameter of at least one of a first downstream pair of draw rolls in the first downstream equation based on the monitored actual velocity of the first edge portion of the glass ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention significantly modifies “The Overflow Process”. It includes a method and apparatus for measuring glass flow rate and maintaining a constant glass flow rate. It also embodies design features and methods that support and stress the forming apparatus in a manner such that the deformation that results from thermal creep is corrected, thus minimizing the effect of the thermal creep on the thickness variation of the glass sheet. The present invention also embodies design features that change the process from a single step (combined flow distribution and cooling) to a two step process; step one being flow distribution and step two being cooling.

Abstract: A method for melting inorganic materials, preferably glasses and glass-ceramics, in a melting unit with cooled walls is provided. The method includes selecting the temperature of at least one region of the melt is selected in such a way as to be in a range from Teff?20% to Teff+20%, where the temperature Teff is given by the temperature at which the energy consumption per unit weight of the material to be melted is at a minimum, with the throughput having been selected in such a way as to be suitably adapted to the required residence time.

Abstract: A method comprises flowing an oxidant and a fuel into a submerged combustion burner in a glass tank furnace, the glass tank furnace receiving a feed of glass forming material and producing molten glass, the burner and furnace comprising a melting system. The melting system has a variable system vibration and/or oscillation due to the nature of submerged combustion. One method includes predicting a value of at least one property, such as viscosity, of the molten glass using the variable system vibration and/or oscillation.

Abstract: A method keeps the width of the manufactured sheet substantially the same by attaching edge directors for the formed sheet to the manufacturing apparatus structure instead of to the forming block. Thus, sheet glass may be manufactured to specification for a longer time with the same forming block. An additional method adjusts the width of the manufactured sheet by changing the distance between the edge directors. Thus sheet glass may be manufactured to different width specifications with the same forming block.

Abstract: Method of filling a mould (8) with a glass gob (10) through an opening (12) of the mould (8), for forming a glass product in the mould (8), by using a delivery system (14) for delivering the glass gob to the opening (12) of the mould (8). The delivery system (14) has an inlet (16), an outlet (18), and guiding means (20) for guiding the glass gob through the delivery system (14). The method includes observing the glass gob, at at least one moment and/or during at least one period after the glass gob has passed the inlet (16) of the delivery system (14), by using an optical imaging device (4). The method includes determining a glass gob observation result that includes a glass gob velocity, for predicting a glass distribution of the glass product formed in the mould (8) and/or for controlling ling a next glass gob.

Abstract: A method of feeding a pulverulent batch material into a furnace in the manufacture of glass. The pulverulent batch material is fed from a first bulk batch feeder at a first batch feed rate, and from a second trim batch feeder at a second trim batch feed rate. The trim batch feed rate is equal to or less than 10% of the total batch feed rate. The use of trim electrodes and trim burners is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control system, method and computer program product to control a process having a large dead time. An exemplary process controllable by embodiments according to the invention is the glass manufacturing process, where fuzzy logic is used to control a level of molten and melting raw materials in a furnace during a glass-manufacturing process by controlling the rate at which raw materials enter the furnace.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a glass by melting, at more than 1300° C., batch materials comprising silica and an alkali or alkaline-earth metal sulfate, characterized in that a sulfide is added to the batch materials in order to reduce the height of foam at the surface of the bath of liquid glass at more than 1300° C. The invention reduces the formation of foam at the surface of the glass and improves the heat exchanges between the overhead burners and the glass bath. The invention is particularly suitable for glass intended to be fiberized.

Abstract: A method of feeding a pulverulent batch material into a furnace in the manufacture of glass. The pulverulent batch material is fed from a first bulk batch feeder at a first batch feed rate, and from a second trim batch feeder at a second trim batch feed rate. The trim batch feed rate is equal to or less than 10% of the total batch feed rate. The use of trim electrodes and trim burners is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating concentricity of a rotatable glass flow control tube with respect to its axis of rotation on a tube support frame in a glassware forming system includes a base for securement on the tube support frame and a slide mounted on the base for radial movement toward and away from an outside surface of the glass flow control tube. A roller is positioned on the slide for rolling engagement with the outside surface of the flow control tube as it rotates on the frame, and an indicator is coupled to the slide for indicating radial movement of the slide, indicative of radial movement of the tube outside surface with respect to its axis of rotation, as the tube is rotated on the tube support frame.

Abstract: Production of a glass body provided with a glass membrane is disclosed, for a chemical sensor, in which a displaceably mounted dip tube through which a gaseous medium can flow is dipped into a mass of molten glass and pulled out again to withdraw a gob which is then put into the desired shape by supply of the gaseous medium. The dip tube is inserted into a mount, which is connected to a displaceably supported carriage which is then displaced as far as a lower end position (P1), which is defined on the basis of an adjustment device such that when the carriage moves downward the dip tube dips into the molten glass, and upon the retraction of the carriage the dip tube withdraws a gob that is suitable for processing. After one or more withdrawals of a gob, the one-piece or multiple-piece adjustment device is readjusted manually or automatically by a certain amount, to compensate for changes in the level of the molten glass caused by the withdrawal of gobs.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a micro molten glass droplet, has the steps of, colliding a molten glass droplet with a micro through hole formed in a plate-shaped member; and pushing out at least part of the glass droplet to a reverse surface of the micro through hole as a micro droplet, thereby forming a glass droplet with a diameter of not more than 5 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thin glass panes, especially glass panes with a thickness of below 1 mm, by drawing a thin glass strand vertically downwards. According to the inventive method, a glass melt is fed from a melting bath via a feed to the glass drawing tank that comprises a nozzle system with at least one slotted nozzle. The length and the diameter of the feed as well as the viscosity of the glass melt present in the feed determine the overall throughput. The throughput per length unit in the transverse direction to the glass strand (so-called line throughput) is adjusted via the geometry of the nozzle system and via the viscosity of the glass melt present in the nozzle system. These parameters are adjusted in such a manner that the glass, when leaving the nozzle system, does not wet the bottom of the slotted nozzle in the range of the tearoff edge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vitrification process for a pulverulent material and an apparatus for implementing said process. The process consists in introducing the pulverulent material into the fusion area of a furnace via injection means, where it is melted by means of at least one plasma torch to obtain a melt, and where the melt is removed from the furnace via a casting zone, the material being introduced laterally into the fusion zone in a direction comprising a horizontal component, and the melt being removed from the furnace by overflowing via the said casting zone, more or less along said horizontal component and away from the means for injecting the material into the furnace, in relation to the fusion zone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a micro molten glass droplet, has the steps of, colliding a molten glass droplet with a micro through hole formed in a plate-shaped member; and pushing out at least part of the glass droplet to a reverse surface of the micro through hole as a micro droplet, thereby forming a glass droplet with a diameter of not more than 5 mm.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling rate of molten glass flow through a forehearth that includes a flume disposed in the forehearth for restricting the width of the forehearth to glass flow, such that there is a difference in level of molten glass in the forehearth upstream and downstream of the flume. Sensors measure the level of molten glass upstream and downstream of the flume, and a controller is responsive to the sensors for determining rate of molten glass flow through the forehearth as a function of a difference in molten glass level between the sensors. Rate of glass flow through the forehearth is controlled as a function of the difference in glass level across the flume as compared with a desired flow rate set by an operator.