Method and apparatus for pressure control of glass-making thickness-control zone

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296635-B2
Application number	US-201414204161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 30, 2009
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

Managing pressure within a thickness-control-zone (muffle door) housing relative to pressures in a glass-making machine enclosure and an upper chamber that is disposed outside the enclosure so as to minimize or control undesired airflows that would adversely affect thickness of glass ribbon. According to one pressure management technique, the pressure at a location in the housing is managed so as to be less than the pressure at a location that is within the enclosure as well as both outside and adjacent to the housing. In the event of a leak, as by a crack or unintended opening in the housing, for example, this pressure difference reduces or prevents airflow toward the ribbon and, thereby, undesired thickness variation in the ribbon. According to a second pressure-management technique, the pressure at the location is managed so as to be greater than the pressure in the upper chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, for making glass, comprising:
a forming body having an end from which the glass is drawn;
a housing having a front wall, the front wall facing the end of the forming body;
a first fluid comprising a first pressure at a location in the housing and adjacent to the front wall;
a tube including an outlet disposed within the housing;
a fluid source coupled to the tube so as to deliver fluid through the outlet to control the a temperature of the front wall;
an enclosure surrounding the forming body and the housing; and
a second fluid comprising a second pressure at a second location in the enclosure as well as both outside and adjacent to the housing;
a chamber disposed around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber; and
a second tube coupled for fluid communication between the housing and the chamber one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the second tube and configured to move fluid from the housing to the chamber
wherein the second pressure of the second fluid is greater than the first pressure of the first fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chamber disposed around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber; and
a second tube coupled for fluid communication between the housing and a space outside the chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third fluid.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising: one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the second tube and configured to move fluid from the housing to the space outside the chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: one of a vacuum, pump, blower, fan, or compressor, disposed in fluid communication with the housing and configured to remove fluid from the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a chamber disposed around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber, wherein the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising;
a chamber disposed around a portion of the enclosure in which is disposed the housing,
a third fluid comprising a third pressure in the chamber, wherein the first pressure of the first fluid is greater than the third pressure of the third fluid.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Chalk Paul Gregory
• El Kahlout Ahdi
• Markham Shawn Rachelle

Classifications

• C03B17/064 Primary

  by the overflow downdraw fusion process; Isopipes therefor · CPC title

• C03B17/067 Primary

  combined with thermal conditioning of the sheets · CPC title