Internally Positioned Patents (Class 65/356)
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Patent number: 5735925Abstract: Apparatus for forming a cased glass stream having an inner core glass surrounded by an outer casing glass includes a spout for receiving core glass from a first source and delivering such glass through a first orifice. A second orifice is vertically spaced beneath and aligned with the first orifice, and is surrounded by an annular chamber that communicates with the second orifice through the gap between the first and second orifices. A tube delivers casing glass from a second source to the annular chamber in such a way that glass flows by gravity from the first and second sources through the orifices to form the cased glass stream. The core glass delivery spout includes a reservoir for receiving and holding the core glass, and having at least one lower opening of a first diameter. An orifice ring is positioned beneath the reservoir, and has at least one opening of second diameter less than the first diameter aligned with the first opening and forming the first orifice.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: Garrett L. Scott
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Patent number: 5718741Abstract: A forehearth (20) for cooling glass from a melting furnace as it flows to a feeder bowl (28) from which it is discharged to a forming machine. The forehearth is in the form of an elongate, horizontally extending insulated trough (26) with a roof formed by a longitudinally extending series of roof block elements (30), each of which is of one-piece construction and extends completely across the width of the insulated trough. The downwardly facing surface of each roof block element is contoured to incorporate concave portions (30a, 30b) near the edges of the forehearth, a concave portion (30c) above the center of the forehearth and convex portions (30d, 30e) separating the center concave portion from the side concave portions to substantially impede heat transfer between the side concave portions and the center concave portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1995Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: James D. Hull, Philip D. Perry, Roland F. Pimm
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Patent number: 5711777Abstract: A parallel shear apparatus (20) for simultaneously shearing a plurality of streams of molten glass (A, B, C) into gobs comprising opposed carriages (22, 24) which are repetitively moved along rectilinear opposed paths toward and away from one another. Each of the carriages carries a plurality of shear blades (40a, 40b, 40c/42a, 42b, 42c) which cooperate with one another to shear the glass streams into gobs when the carriages are positioned close to one another. The shear blades carried by each of the carriages have internal flow passages (66) to permit the blades to be internally liquid cooled by liquid entering the carriages from inlet lines (52, 56), and the blades carried by one of the carriages (22) are biased by compression springs (82) into contact with the blades carried by the other carriage (24) to prevent excessive contact loads between the blades in their shearing positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventors: George A. Nickey, Ronald T. Myers, John M. Slifco, Richard W. Craig, Robin L. Flynn
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Patent number: 5672189Abstract: Press-bending station for bending sheets of glass during the course of automated production of identical motor vehicle windows within specified batch sizes, where the glass sheets to be bent are heated in a continuous furnace to a specified bending temperature and directly after leaving the continuous furnace are fed in horizontal position with the aid of a horizontal conveyor into the press-bending station. It incorporates a male press mold and a female press mold. The male press mold is a cast full mold and consists of an aluminum alloy. The male press mold possesses heating passages for fluid heating with the aid of a liquid heat transfer medium and can be heated with sufficiently homogeneous temperature distribution to a thermal expansion temperature which is below the bending temperature. The temperature of the male press mold can be controlled and/or regulated by means of the liquid heat transfer medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1995Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Flachglas AktiengesellschaftInventors: Dieter Funk, Dieter Bruns, Rolf Wenning, Walter Brans
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Patent number: 5656051Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling method and a mold arrangement for the manufacture of glass articles or similar materials. The mold arrangement of this type includes a plurality of cooling passageways distributed independently and longitudinally around of the periphery of said mold, for the flow of a cooling fluid. A fluid distribution chamber coupled in coincidence with the cooling passageways, for the flow of the cooling flow, independently for each one of said passageway of the mold. A fluid regulating plate is coupled with the fluid distribution means, to regulate independently the flow of cooling in each one of the passageways of the mold, to regulate and control the cooling curve of said mold.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1996Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: Vidriera Monterrey, S.A.Inventor: Rafael Mares-Benavides
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Patent number: 5643350Abstract: A glass melter for vitrifying material including radioactive and hazardous materials. In one embodiment, the melter comprises an inner vessel or container having a solidified glass skull, at least one pair of vertically-oriented, retractable electrodes, a first wall spaced apart from said inner vessel to define a dry annulus therebetween for radiatively cooling the inner vessel, and a second wall spaced apart from said first wall to define a second annulus that serves as a water jacket when filled with water. Each electrode has a protective sleeve therearound with means formed therebetween for passing a purging gas therethrough. A central access nozzle allows waste material and glass formers to be fed into the inner vessel while simultaneously venting the off-gas generated in the inner vessel. Also, the dry annulus can have fluid circulating therethrough for regulated cooling or leak detection.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1994Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: VECTRA Technologies, Inc.Inventors: J. Bradley Mason, Mark Alan Hall
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Patent number: 5632794Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for forming glass articles from molten glass involving differentially cooling a plunger for press forming glass articles in a cooperative forming mold. More specifically, the method involves introducing cooling fluid into an inlet cooling cavity located in the upper portion of the plunger and causing the cooling fluid to flow from the inlet cooling cavity into a cooling passage located along the periphery of the nose portion and thereafter to flow into a outlet cooling cavity located in the upper portion of the plunger and thereafter exhausting the spent cooling fluid from the plunger.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1995Date of Patent: May 27, 1997Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Zung-Sing Chang, Albert M. Gossie, Katherine W. Hughes, Michael W. Matt, Jason S. Watts
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Patent number: 5588978Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of colored glass includes the steps of diverting a stream of clear molten glass from at least one glass melting furnace through one or more transport channels to a color treatment chamber. Recycled cullet and color additive are added to a charging end of the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber is heated to melt the cullet and further heat the remaining feedstock to form a molten bath of colored glass which is thermally and chemically homogenized in the treatment chamber. Refractory rotary paddle wheels positioned in the transport channels regulate the flow rate and level of the molten glass and provide for selective shut off of individual glass streams.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1994Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: IMTECInventors: Ronald D. Argent, James A. Bolin
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Patent number: 5588981Abstract: A method and apparatus for making wide-mouth glassware providing a solid blank mold, providing a split blow mold, providing a split neck ring, providing a plunger carrier having a movable plunger therein, moving the blank mold upwardly to position for receiving a gob of glass, positioning the neck ring on the blank mold, delivering a gob of glass to said blank mold, positioning plunger carrier into engagement with said neck ring, extending the plunger into said blank mold to deform the glass and force the glass into the neck ring to form a parison, thereafter retracting the plunger and moving the plunger carrier away from the neck ring, lowering the blanks, moving the neck ring with the parison thereon to a position between the open blow mold halfs while maintaining the parison in vertical upright position, closing the blow mold about the parison, opening the neck ring to release the parison in the blow mold, returning the neck ring to its original position adjacent the blank mold, blowing the parison into aType: GrantFiled: July 28, 1994Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.Inventor: Wayne E. Eilers
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Patent number: 5567218Abstract: Device for the extraction by pouring at a regulatable flow rate a molten material in a cold structure melter. The melter has at least one part of a floor around a pouring orifice cooled by a flow of water and a heat source able to melt the material to be melted. An orifice is provided in the floor of the melter, whose diameter D is equal to or larger than the thickness H of the wall forming the melter. A metal sleeve is provided, whose base has a shoulder which can be adapted to the side walls of the orifice. The sleeve has a central passage forming the pouring tube for the molten material and a clearence is provided between the side walls of the orifice and the base of the sleeve in order to receive an insulating material between the sleeve and the cold floor of the melter. A device is provided beneath the floor of the melter having a cooled, sliding blade, equipped with an actuator controlling its movement in translation along the orifice, thus determining its more or less large opening or closing state.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1994Date of Patent: October 22, 1996Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Compagnie Generale des Matieres NucleairesInventors: Christian Ladirat, Henri Pilliol, Jean-Pierre Gnilka
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Patent number: 5540746Abstract: A glass rod used as a molding material is inserted into a cylinder, pressed and heated with a temperature gradient in which the tip side of the glass rod is at a higher temperature. The glass rod is melted on the tip side thereof, and it is solidified on the rear side in the vicinity of the inlet of the cylinder, the solid portion functioning as a plunger when the rear side is pushed. When the glass rod is forwardly moved, the molten glass on the tip side is injected from an injection nozzle and is filled in the cavity of a forming mold. Since the glass rod itself is made of a molding material and functions as a plunger, when the tip side is melted and consumed, the solid portion on the rear side is forwardly moved and melted. It is thus possible to perform continuous mold forming without complicating the mechanism and steps and to improve the quality of the molded product.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1994Date of Patent: July 30, 1996Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Sasaki, Shuhei Maeda
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Patent number: 5516352Abstract: Each neck tool half is mounted on a neck tool holder and together they are movable from the illustrated initial position in a parison mold station to a finishing mold station. On each neck tool holder is secured a movable part of a distribution device for cooling air. A stationary part of the distribution device transfers cooling air from a stationary supply device having a valve. Between the stationary and movable parts there is a jointing gap which is inclined to the vertical. The cooling air is blown through nozzle apertures against the outside of the neck tool half.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1993Date of Patent: May 14, 1996Assignee: The firm Hermann HeyeInventors: Hermann Bogert, Wilhelm Schneider, Heinrich Uhe
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Patent number: 5441551Abstract: A device for pressing and bending glass panes comprises an upper, solid-faced bending mold and a lower frame-shaped mold. The lower frame mold is mounted horizontally traversable and serves at the same time as a support ring for transferring the bent glass pane into a cooling station. The frame-shaped mold is provided with an electrical heating resistor. In addition, a temperature sensor is disposed in the frame-shaped mold. The temperature of the frame-shaped mold can be regulated to a predetermined temperature by way of a power regulator, which is governed by the temperature sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1994Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage InternationalInventors: Karl-Josef Ollfisch, Hans-Werner Kuster, Hans-Werner Nowoczyn, Horst Mucha, Eberhard Taubert
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Patent number: 5427599Abstract: An optical storage disk consists of a glass substrate (1) into which guide tracks (3) for servo-controlling the focussed light beams are directly stamped by a hot stamp process. After stamping, the glass substrate is thermally quenched in the stamping device to increase its breaking resistance through thermal curing. In order to achieve uniform guide tracks over the entire surface of an optical storage disk, flexible stamp stencils (35) in a flexible holder (34) are used whose curvature can be changed by applying hydro-static pressure. Suitable stamp stencils consist of monocristalline silicon disks with surface hardening, or of metal disks, structured in photolithographic processes. The stamp lands are made with bevelled edges to facilitate the separating of stamp and glass substrate after cooling.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1994Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Johann Greschner, Gerhard Schmid, Werner Steiner, Gerhard Trippel, Olaf Wolter
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Patent number: 5383949Abstract: A glass forehearth is disclosed which is made up of upstream and downstream zones each having a roof structure which divides the channel into opposed side channels separated by a central channel. The glass in the central channel is heated for at least a portion of its length enabling the flow rate of the forehearth to be decreased.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1994Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.Inventors: Frank J. Bubon, Kenneth J. Paul, Steven J. Pinkerton
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Patent number: 5364437Abstract: A glassware forming machine includes a pair of carriers movable toward and away from each other between an open and a closed position and at least one mold member carried by each carrier. Each mold member has a bottom-facing surface and air passages extending upwardly from the bottom-facing surface for passage of air therethrough for cooling. Air is supplied to each mold half by a plenum, and the plenum has a spring feature such as to provide for an airtight seal between the bottom-facing surface of the mold member and the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: I.M.T.E.C. Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James A. Bolin
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Patent number: 5358542Abstract: A cooling system for neck ring molds in a glass molding machine having retractable parison-forming molds engageable with the neck rings employs air jets directed at exposed portions of the neck ring molds. The neck ring molds are configured to extend out of the bottom of the main parison mold and to engage with neck ring hangers. The neck ring molds are configured sufficiently long that a space is created between the bottoms of the main parison molds and the hangers to permit direct access to portions of the neck ring mold. Air supplied in the form of air jets from a pair of cooling air plenums is directed at the exposed portions of the neck ring molds to provide cooling.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1992Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Assignee: American National Can CompanyInventors: Robert S. Johnson, Robert D. Hall, Sr., Roger L. Erb
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Patent number: 5346526Abstract: A method of and apparatus for establishing a predetermined thermal profile in a glass sheet immediately prior to press bending outside the heating furnace. The press bending members are provided with arrays of heating elements that are individually or zone regulated to assist in establishing an optimum temperature profile in the glass sheet conducive to proper bending. The temperature profile established in the heated sheet by the arrays of heating elements is coordinated with that established in the furnace and subsequently, modified by heat dissipation as the glass sheet advances to the bending station to achieve the proper bending temperature. The heating elements can also be utilized to create a temperature profile in the glass sheet generally higher than that originally established in the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1993Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.Inventors: Jeffrey R. Flaugher, Timothy A. Nissen, Vincent N. Procaccini, Sugato Deb
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Patent number: 5334233Abstract: A forming plunger mechanism for glass container manufacturing of the type used in an I.S. machine and having at least one vertically-oriented cylinder containing a reciprocally-driven piston for repeatedly driving a plunger upwardly into parisons contained by a blank mould, wherein a saddle plate is provided for supporting one or more vertically-oriented cylinders. The saddle plate is adapted to accommodate on its upper surface a plurality of repositionable port blocks. Each port block has internal conduit channels with generally laterally-facing ports which operatively register with ports at the lower end of the cylinder. The conduit channels have substantially upwardly-facing openings for connection thereto with ends of hoses which serve to conduct a pressurized air stream through the port block and into the cylinder for driving the cylinder's piston in a reciprocal action and for conducting a cooling air flow through the mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1993Date of Patent: August 2, 1994Inventor: Joseph W. Kozora
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Patent number: 5332413Abstract: Vented plunger cooling exhaust air is directed downwardly through the lower cylinder through suspended tubing to isolate the hot exhaust air from the lower cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Emhart Glass Machinery Investments Inc.Inventors: Albert J. Trahan, Vaughan Abbott, Michael J. Stankosky
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Patent number: 5330551Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet in the base of the machine via a lower section of flexible corrugated metal tubing, a rigid tube having a sliding sealing fit in the upper end of the lower section, and an upper section of flexible corrugated sheet metal tubing connected to the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1992Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: I.M.T.E.C. Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James A. Bolin
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Patent number: 5318615Abstract: A heated sheet of glass discharged from a heating furnace is lifted by a ring mold until it is held against a fully continuous lower molding surface of a bent shape of an upper mold. After the sheet of glass is held against the lower molding surface by the ring mold, a vacuum is developed in the upper mold to attract the sheet of glass to the lower molding surface through suction holes defined in the lower molding surface. Thereafter, the ring mold is lowered away from the upper mold to allow the sheet of glass to be bent by the lower molding surface while the sheet of glass is being attracted thereto only under the vacuum developed in the upper mold. The sheet of glass is continuously attracted under the vacuum to the lower molding surface until the sheet of glass is annealed.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1992Date of Patent: June 7, 1994Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuyuki Nagai, Kazunori Yuki
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Patent number: 5312473Abstract: A cooling system for at least one mold of a IS type machine for the production of hollow glass articles has a connecting casing connected on the intake side to a cooling air supply pipe and on the outlet side to the axial cooling passages of the mold when the mold is closed and traversed by a vacuum pipe leading outwards from the bottom of the mold. In order to create such a cooling system wherein the conditions at the station enclosure cooling unit have no influence upon the cooling air action in the connecting casing, and thereby on the mold cooling of the IS type machine, the cooling air supply pipe of the connecting casing is connected directly with a cooling supply source of the IS type machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1992Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: Ruhrglas GmbHInventor: Norbert Emrath
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Patent number: 5304229Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet in the base of the machine via a tubular air dust having its lower end axially slidable in a part-spherical knuckle mounted for universal movement in an annular bearing in the air outlet having an internal part-spherical surface, and its upper end externally formed with a part-spherical formation mounted for universal movement in a part-spherical annular bearing at the bottom of the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1991Date of Patent: April 19, 1994Assignee: I.M.T.E.C. Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Edward R. Swanfeld
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Patent number: 5302178Abstract: The invention relates to a hardening furnace, in particular for sheets of glass (2) and the like. In the furnace, the glass sheets (2) are sustained and transported by a conveyor plane (1) of the roller type above and beneath which plane an upper radiating surface (3) and a lower radiating surface (4) are arranged. The upper radiating surface (3) is composed of a plurality of longitudinal strips (31) arranged side-by-side and parallel to the movement direction of the plane (1), while the lower radiating surface (4) is constituted by a plurality of transversal strips (41) arranged transversally to the said movement direction. Each of the strips (31 and 41) is separated from the contiguous strips and represents the lower and upper walls of chambers (32 and 42) separated one from the other. In each said chamber (32 and 42) there is a device which confers regulatable thermal energy, for example, a radiating tube (15).Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1992Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Assignee: Poppi S.p.A.Inventor: Alberto Severi
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Patent number: 5271032Abstract: A glass melter having a lid electrode for heating the glass melt radiantly. The electrode comprises a series of INCONEL 690 tubes running above the melt across the melter interior and through the melter walls and having nickel cores inside the tubes beginning where the tubes leave the melter interior and nickel connectors to connect the tubes electrically in series. An applied voltage causes the tubes to generate heat of electrical resistance for melting frit injected onto the melt. The cores limit heat generated as the current passes through the walls of the melter. Nickel bus connection to the electrical power supply minimizes heat transfer away from the melter that would occur if standard copper or water-cooled copper connections were used between the supply and the INCONEL 690 heating tubes.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1992Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Inventor: Terrance D. Phillips
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Patent number: 5269828Abstract: A Shearing apparatus for forming molten glass gobs from a continuous flow of molten glass provided by a feeder, has a single shear blade mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of feeding of the flow of molten glass; and a drive for imparting a rotatory movement to the blade in coincidence with the flow of molten glass in order to cut the flow into separate molten glass gobs.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1992Date of Patent: December 14, 1993Assignee: Vitro Crisa Cristaleria, S.A. de C.V.Inventor: Victor Tijerina-Ramos
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Patent number: 5198010Abstract: The present invention provides a molten glass conveying apparatus comprising a channel (4) along which molten glass may flow, a roof structure (6) over the channel (4) and extending between the two sides thereof and at least one nozzle (28) in the roof structure (6) through which a heating fluid may be passed, wherein in use the direction of the output of the heating fluid from the nozzle (28) is substantially along the channel (4) whereby at least one side portion of the molten glass is heated.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1991Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Inventor: Clive Ward
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Patent number: 5178660Abstract: The present invention relates to a female press bending ring for use in the press bending of glass sheets outside of a furnace, and more particularly to a female press bending ring which is suitably heated during the bending cycle to regulate the transfer of heat between the peripheral margin of the glass and the female bending ring with which it is in contact. By so doing, near-edge tension and edge stresses are greatly reduced, thereby reducing chill cracking and glass breakage during and after production. The female ring may be covered by a layer of fiberglass cloth or the like to provide a smooth resilient surface for engaging the glass sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1991Date of Patent: January 12, 1993Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.Inventors: David M. Wampler, Raymond L. Brandeberry, Ermelinda A. Apolinar, Timothy C. Holt
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Patent number: 5169424Abstract: A forehearth for the conveyance and temperature maintenance of molten glass includes a longitudinal cooling zone over a laterally-extending cooling tile panel which is spaced above and spans an elongated trough supporting the molten glass. Roof structure of the forehearth has a pair of spaced-apart projections jutting downwardly and defining a central cooling area over the molten glass, and the central cooling area is flanked by longitudinally-extending firing chambers. Linear parallel grooves, recessed within at least one broad surface of the cooling tile panel, increase the rate of heat transfer to a longitudinally-extending air flow cavity above the cooling tile panel. The cavity has spaced air inlets along its sides that communicate with the parallel grooves of the panel and direct pressurized cooling air in laterally converging paths through the grooves and thence outwardly through a centrally located exhaust opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1990Date of Patent: December 8, 1992Inventors: Kent F. Grinnen, Michael S. Arnold
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Patent number: 5167688Abstract: A mold cooling arrangement includes a plurality of closed bores vertically disposed in the mold between the molding surface and the mold exterior. A manifold positioned vertically above the mold communicates with the interior of each bore and a condenser is disposed vertically above and communicates with the manifold. The bores and manifold are at least partially filled with a phase change liquid such as distilled water which during operation of the mold is partially vaporized. The vapor rises to the condenser where it is converted back to liquid and returns by gravity to the manifold and mold bores. The rate of heat transfer from the mold to the liquid is controlled by developing an electrical signal proportional to mold temperature and using the difference between that signal and a set reference temperature signal to control the rate of flow of a secondary coolant into the condenser of the system in order to vary the pressure in the system, in turn, to control the rate of mold cooling.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1989Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Inventor: Guillermo Cavazos
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Patent number: 5125945Abstract: In a mold apparatus, the receiving molding surface and the opposing molding surface are each mounted coaxially and in sliding fashion within an alignment means. Both of these alignment means have an equal number of spaced apart alignment pads which are positioned such that opposing pads will be in cooperable engagement with each other during pressing.Utilizing the disclosed apparatus, a method for molding precisely shaped articles, such as magnetic memory disc substrates which require precisely parallel, opposite molded surfaces, is described. Simply stated, the method utilizes the alignment pads' thermal expansion characteristics to induce a controlled level of thermal distortion to obtain pad lengths which result in parallel opposing molding surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1991Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Robert M. Menihan, Richard B. Pitbladdo, Jackson P. Trentelman
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Patent number: 5069046Abstract: A ball bearing type roller cylinder assembly is disclosed comprising a center shaft having a free end. The shaft may, for example, be held in a mounting fixture. A spindle concentric with the center shaft is fixed on its free end. A roller cylinder housing the spindle comprises a cylindrical outer skirt, a first end cap which cooperates with a first end surface of the spindle to form a first ball bearing race, and a second end cap which cooperates with the second end of the spindle to form a second ball bearing race. The roller cylinder is freely rotatable and contacts the spindle only indirectly through the ball bearings. Preferred emobodiments of the roller cylinder assembly are suitable for use alone or in sets in high temperature applications, particularly in glass fabrication systems for hot press forming heated sheets of glass.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1990Date of Patent: December 3, 1991Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Frank E. Moulding
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Patent number: 5059236Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a blank mold in a glass receptacle forming machine which can adjust the amount of cooling air to be supplied to a blank mold. The apparatus for cooling a blank mold includes a blank mold for forming a glass receptacle, a plurality of passages for cooling air provided in the circumferential wall of the blank mold and piercing through the circumferential wall in a vertical direction. The apparatus further includes a plenum chamber provided adjacent to said passages for temporarily storing cooling air to be supplied to the passages and having at least one inner partition wall therein to define a plurality of cavities and a damper device provided in or adjacent to the plenum chamber for adjusting the amount of cooling air to be supplied to the cavities and having at least one damper, wherein opening degree of the damper is variable so as to adjust the amount of cooling air to be supplied to the passages through the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1990Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Assignee: Toyo Glass Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshifumi Ito
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Patent number: 5057139Abstract: A plunger mechanism assembly where cooling air to and hot exhaust air from the plunger passes through the base plate which supports the mechanism. The hot and cool air is horizontally separated in a laminated base and insulated one from the other by a plate of heat resistant material.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 1990Date of Patent: October 15, 1991Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Stankosky, Vaughan Abbott, Albert J. Trahan
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Patent number: 5055123Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for equalizing the temperature of molten glass (2) over the cross-section of a stream thereof advancing through a refractory forehearth from a glass furnace to a glass working machine. To this end, cooling air is blown downwardly to strike the mid-line of the stream, and is then evacuated upwardly from locations on either side of the mid-line, in such manner that substantial side regions of the stream surface are preserved from cooling contact with the cooling air. Apparatus for this purpose comprises refractory blocks (4a, 4b) which can be assembled to form a forehearth superstructure or roof, the blocks having hollow formations which unite on assembly thereof to form feed (11) and return (12, 13) channels for the cooling air, as well as inlet (8) and exhaust (9, 10) ducts for directing it at the molten glass and recovering it thereafter.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1990Date of Patent: October 8, 1991Assignee: Ardagh Glass LimitedInventor: Thomas Meacle
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Patent number: 5032163Abstract: A horizontal flame burner (30) is disclosed for heating a glass sheet furnace floor (22) to provide radiant heat within a furnace (10) heated thereby. The burner (30) includes a combustion air and fuel inlet (54) located beneath the floor (22). A vertical intermediate portion (56) extends upwardly from the inlet (54) into the floor (22) and a horizontally extending outlet (58) extends from the vertical intermediate portion (56) into a heating passage (28) extending horizontally between upper and lower floor surfaces (24,26). The combustion air and fuel are mixed and ignited within the horizontally extending outlet (58) to propagate a horizontally extending flame within heating passage (28) to heat furnace (10).Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1990Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventor: Ben M. Balestra
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Patent number: 5022911Abstract: A radiant heater (12) is disclosed for heating a glass sheet heating furnace (10) and includes a base (40) having a horizontally extending heating passage (28) therein and a cover plate (42) mountable over said base (40). A horizontal flame burner (30) supplies a horizontal flame in heating passage (28) to heat radiant heater (12) and furnace (10) thereby.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.Inventor: Ben M. Balestra
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Patent number: 4995892Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to an improved method for controlling an industrial glass fiber-forming process. More particularly, it involves a method for controlling the thermal environment of several fiber glass bushing assemblies by the utilization of fin cooler assemblies in which a coolant is passed through the fins as part of a closed-loop pressurized system to remove heat radiated to the fins by the molten glass that emerges from the bushing. In the preferred embodiment, this liquid coolant is demineralized water operating at a pressure of somewhere between 18 and 100 psi.The use of a programmable logic controller to monitor various system parameters such a pressure, temperature and flow rate is also disclosed. The controller is programmed to take corrective action automatically upon the detection of certain triggering events in order to maintain a constant flow of coolant throughout the entire system.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: February 26, 1991Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Garrett, Harry Makitka, Richard J. Sanchez, Gregory W. Shepler
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Patent number: 4990172Abstract: The invention relates to the moulding of glass articles.It concerns an automatic machine for moulding glass articles by means of pressing, comprising a single split mould (1), means for opening and closing the mould, means (9, 10) for introducing a metered batch of molten glass into the said mould, pressing means (12) in order to shape the batch of molten glass introduced into the said mould, and means for taking away the shaped glass article, characterized in that the mould has means (16) for periodically cooling using a pulse of cooling fluid, and in that it additionally comprises a plurality of mould bases (13) capable of being brought successively into a position in which they complete the said mould, the said mould bases additionally serving to take away the still malleable glass article having just been moulded.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1990Date of Patent: February 5, 1991Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Gilbert D. Pujol, Ian F. Rae
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Patent number: 4983202Abstract: The invention comprises a tunnel-type heating furnace of modular construction for heating glass sheets carried therethrough in succession on a series of aligned rollers. The furnace enclosure includes a lower section of generally rectangular cross-section beneath the rollers and an upper section, which is of generally elliptical configuration in cross-section, above the rollers. The upper enclosure section is vertically retractable by means of a jack mechanism to facilitate maintenance and changing of the rollers. The rollers include shafts at their opposite ends having bearings adapted to be received and supported in upwardly opening recesses in roll support plates extending along either side of the furnace. A toothed gear or sprocket is affixed to the end shaft at one end of each roller. The rollers are driven in groups by timing belts whose upper flights extend over and engage the toothed gears.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1990Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.Inventors: Sugato Deb, John C. Hovis, Michael L. Pollock
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Patent number: 4983203Abstract: An air cooling mechanism for a machine for molding glass objects from molten glass. The mechanism comprises a mold (14) including mold halves each having a plurality of air passages (20). A fixed plenum (22) includes a slot (24) for the passage of air from that plenum into the air passages of that mold half. Pivot means (26) are provided for pivoting the mold halves from a first position where the mold defines an article cavity, to a second position away from the article to be molded. In this second position, one end of the air passages are in registry with the slot to effect the transport of air from the plenum and through the air passages.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1990Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Assignee: American National Can CompanyInventors: Roger Erb, Robert Johnson, Richard Smith
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Patent number: 4983198Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for melting glass having high reducing activity when melted, a glass raw material charged into a melting vessel having a wall formed of platinum or alloy thereof is heated and melted. Oxygen gas is supplied to an outer surface of the melting vessel to raise oxygen partial pressure within an atmosphere surrounding the melting vessel. The oxygen gas is caused to penetrate through the wall of the melting vessel, thereby supplying the penentrated oxygen to a layer of the molten glass which is in contact with an inner surface of the wall of the melting vessel, so that the layer of the molten glass is formed into a protective glass layer rich in oxygen, for protecting the wall of the melting vessel from the molten glass.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1989Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Assignee: Hoya CorporationInventor: Kazuo Ogino
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Patent number: 4973347Abstract: A cooling apparatus for one or more molds on an IS or RIS machine for the production of hollow-glass articles has a cooling chamber below the or each mold subdivided into upper and lower parts at a horizontal planar point with the upper part being detachable from the lower part to allow replacement. The suction pipe can extend through the upper part and form a unit therewith. A valve plate can engage the intake opening of the chamber from its underside and can be displaced by a piston guided in a cylinder housing on both axial sides of that piston.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1989Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: Ruhrglas GmbHInventors: Peter Schommartz, Joachim Wolter
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Patent number: 4940480Abstract: Disclosed is a glassware forming mold of three-layer construction including first and third bodies, one of which is to be in contact with a portion of molten glass fed, for controlling the heat transference in a glassware forming process. A second central body is located between said first and third bodies and is comprised of a metallic alloy which melts approximately at temperature between about 375.degree. C. and 550.degree. C. corresponding to a working temperature of the molten glass, provides a solid-liquid state, to control the heat transference from the molten glass to the first or third bodies and from these to the environment during the glass forming process, whereby the glass distribution within the mold is improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1989Date of Patent: July 10, 1990Assignee: Vitro Tec FideicomisoInventors: Alfredo Martinez-Soto, Jorge Loredo-Murphy, Benito Becerril-Ortega
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Patent number: 4909823Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct. The inlet end of each duct is mounted for pivoting and universal lateral sliding movement over an area in communication with the air outlet on the base, and the outlet end of the duct is mounted for pivoting movement in an opening in the respective plenum.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1989Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: Liberty Glass CompanyInventor: James A. Bolin
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Patent number: 4842637Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct having a horizontal section, an inlet section extending down from one end of the horizontal section into a hole in an oscillable disk closing the outlet and an outlet section extending up from the other end of the horizontal section into a hole in the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1988Date of Patent: June 27, 1989Assignee: Glass Technology Development Corp.Inventors: James A. Bolin, Irving Powers
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Patent number: 4838921Abstract: A plunger assembly is provided wherein the precise centering of the perforated section of the cooling tube within a plunger of an I.S. type glass forming machine is achieved by securing the cooling tube to the plunger. The base of the plunger has a recess which wedgingly receives a plurality of equally spaced wedge elements secured to an annular collar fixed to the cooling tube. The wedge elements are sufficiently tall that they will extend beyond the plunger base, thereby defining exit openings through which plunger cooling air can be discharged.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1988Date of Patent: June 13, 1989Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.Inventor: Albert J. Trahan
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Patent number: 4824457Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a glass fiber forming environment is disclosed. A fin cooler having a plurality of hollow cooling fins, each provided with a coolant liquid flow passage and further having a header block provided with separate coolant liquid inflow and outflow channels, is placed in a closed loop coolant liquid circulation network. Water may be employed as the coolant, but preferably a heat transfer liquid having a boiling point higher than water, low vapor pressure, and a high specific heat value, is used as the coolant liquid. The heat transfer liquid takes on heat from the glass fibers as it passes through the cooling fins, and gives up this heat in a heat exchanger which may use plant process water or forced air as the secondary heat transfer medium. By regulating fluid flow, fin temperature can be manipulated to improve process control and product uniformity.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1988Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.Inventor: Thomas H. Jensen
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Patent number: RE34048Abstract: .[.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly therethrough for flow of air for cooling said members, and first and second conduit members for delivery of air to a plenum associated with each arm, the first being oscillable on a fixed vertical axis and the second being slidably and sealably associated with the first and pivotally interconnected with a respective plenum..]. .Iadd.A glassware forming machine having swinging arms carrying mold members with passages extending upwardly through the mold members for flow of air for cooling the mold members. Air enters the passages from the plenums in proximity to the bottom of the mold cavity. A plenum is associated with each arm, and first and second conduit members are provided for delivery of air to each of the plenums.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1990Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: I.M.T.E.C. Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James A. Bolin