Glass or metal forming mold of adjustable shape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10538451-B2
Application number	US-201715694327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 2, 2015
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

A system for shaping glass or metal sheets or panels for use in solar collectors or microwave antennae may include an oven and an adjustable mold. The adjustable mold may comprise a molding surface located within the oven. The molding surface may be coupled to position actuators located outside of the oven via coupling elements. A sheet or panel may be placed in the oven and heated until the sheet or panel softens and takes the shape of the molding surface. The molding surface may be adjusted to achieve different shapes for glass or metal sheets or panels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an oven comprising an insulated perimeter;
a molding surface located within an interior of the oven;
a plurality of coupling elements each having a contact segment, collectively making up a plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of contact segments form the molding surface and define a molding surface shape, wherein the molding surface shape defines a molded shape of a panel heated within the oven, wherein the molding surface is configured to support the molded shape of the panel, wherein the plurality of coupling elements extend through the insulated perimeter, and wherein the panel comprises at least one of glass or metal; and
a plurality of position actuators coupled to the plurality of coupling elements and configured to move the plurality of coupling elements and the plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of position actuators are located exterior of the oven.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contact segments are discrete components from the plurality of coupling elements, wherein each of the plurality of coupling elements is coupled to at least one of the plurality of contact segments.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of contact segments are hexagonal.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a positioning plate associated with each contact segment of the plurality of contact segments, wherein the positioning plate is movable by position actuators, and an insulating block positioned between a contact segment in the plurality of contact segments and its associated positioning plate.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a rigid reference structure external to the oven, wherein the rigid reference structure supports fixed ends of the position actuators.

6. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of blades coupled to each contact segment of the plurality of contact segments and the positioning plate associated with each contact segment, wherein the plurality of blades form the plurality of coupling elements.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein each contact segment of the plurality of contact segments comprises a quartz tube having a rounded end, and the rounded ends of the plurality of contact segments form the molding surface.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first plurality of cooling jets configured to direct cooling air to the molding surface, and a second plurality of cooling jets configured to direct cooling air to the panel in contact with the molding surface, and wherein the first plurality of cooling jets and the second plurality of cooling jets are configured to rapidly cool and strengthen or temper the panel.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling jet located at least partially within an interior of a contact segment in the plurality of contact segments.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the molding surface comprises a metal panel, wherein the metal panel is cut by a plurality of slits configured to increase a flexibility of the metal panel.

11. A method comprising:
adjusting a plurality of coupling elements to form a molding surface shape of a molding surface, wherein each of the plurality of coupling elements comprises a contact segment, collectively making up a plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of contact segments form the molding surface and define the molding surface shape, wherein the coupling elements extend through a perimeter of an oven;
positioning a panel above the molding surface, wherein the panel comprises at least one of glass or metal;
heating the panel;
causing the panel to deform into a molded shape and contact the molding surface, wherein the molded shape is defined by the molding surface shape, wherein the molded shape of the panel is supported by the molding surface; and
cooling the panel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
measuring a shape of the panel;
adjusting at least one of the coupling elements to modify the molding surface shape; and
shaping a new panel using the molding surface, wherein the shaping the new panel comprises:
positioning the new panel above the molding surface;
heating the new panel;
causing the new panel to deform and contact the molding surface, forming a new panel shape that is defined by the molding surface shape, wherein the new panel shape of the new panel is supported by the molding surface; and
cooling the new panel.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising iteratively adjusting the coupling elements until a desired molding surface shape of the molding surface is achieved.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the the plurality of coupling elements are coupled to a plurality of position actuators located exterior to the oven, wherein the oven is configured to heat the panel.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising cooling the panel with a cooling jet, wherein the cooling jet passes through an interior of a coupling element.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising shaping a plurality of replica panels without further adjusting the coupling elements.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of contact segments are discrete components from the plurality of coupling elements, wherein the plurality of contact segments are coupled to the plurality of coupling elements.

Assignees

• Univ Arizona

Inventors

• Angel Roger P
• Stalcup Jr Thomas E

Classifications

• C03B40/005

  Fabrics, felts or loose covers · CPC title

• C03B27/0447

  the quench unit being variably adaptable to the bend of the sheet · CPC title

• C03B23/0258

  Gravity bending involving applying local or additional heating, cooling or insulating means · CPC title

• C03B23/0252 Primary

  by gravity only, e.g. sagging (C03B23/035 takes precedence) · CPC title