Sonic cleaning of optical fiber draw furnace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069758-A1
Application number	US-202016937052-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2020
Priority date	Aug 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for cleaning particulate matter from the interior of a muffle of an optical fiber draw furnace includes propagating sound waves through the interior of the muffle at a frequency of from about 75 Hz to about 5000 Hz and an intensity of from about 110 dB to about 160 dB.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for cleaning an optical fiber draw furnace comprising:
directing sound waves into the interior of a muffle of the optical fiber draw furnace, the muffle having particles adhered to a surface thereof, the sound waves having a sonic force sufficient to dislodge the particles from the surface of the muffle.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves have a frequency in the range from 75 Hz to 5000 Hz.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves have an intensity greater than 95 dB at the interior surface of the muffle.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves have an intensity greater than 110 dB at the interior surface of the muffle.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves have an intensity in the range from 110 dB to 160 dB at the interior surface of the muffle.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves are directed into the interior of the muffle for a time period of at least 10 sec.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves are directed into the interior of the muffle for a time period in the range from 10 sec to 10 min.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the muffle comprises graphite.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein a temperature in the muffle is greater than about 1000° C.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein a temperature in the muffle is greater than about 1500° C.

11 . The process of claim 1 , wherein a temperature in the muffle is in the range from about 1500° C. to about 1900° C.

12 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise silicon.

13 . The process of claim 12 , wherein the particles comprise silicon carbide.

14 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a size greater than 0.5 μm.

15 . An apparatus for cleaning a draw furnace for optical fiber production, comprising:
a draw furnace, the draw furnace having a muffle; and a sonic device operably coupled to the muffle, the sonic device configured to direct sound waves into the interior of the muffle.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the muffle comprises graphite.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sonic device is operably coupled to an inlet of the muffle with an adaptor, the adaptor configured to form a seal between the sonic device and the inlet.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Chen Xiaoming
• Li Yun Gang
• Liu Zhi Ming

Classifications

• C03B37/029

  Furnaces therefor · CPC title

• C03B37/02

  by drawing or extruding, {e.g. direct drawing of molten glass from nozzles; Cooling fins therefor (C03B37/04 takes precedence; sizing of the fibres C03C25/00)} · CPC title

• B08B7/026 Primary

  Using sound waves · CPC title

• B08B7/028 Primary

  Using ultrasounds · CPC title

• C03B37/032

  for glass optical fibres · CPC title