Pilkington Brothers P.l.c.

Malcolm J Rigby

Peter Ward

Brian Marsh

John Evason

Hot glass is thermally toughened by generating a stream of closely-packed, aerated particles, and projecting that stream towards the glass. A plurality of such streams are projected from an array of nozzles, and the velocity of projection of each stream is sufficient to ensure that the integrity of the stream is preserved in its trajectory towards the glass.

Thermally toughening glass

The invention provides apparatus and a method for thermally toughening glass by quenching the glass with a particulate material. A body of mobile aerated particulate material is created and gas extraction means and gas supply means are located in a region of the body through which a flow of the particulate material towards the glass is to be engendered. Regulation of the gas supply and extraction means regulates the mobility of the particulate material and permits the flow to be switched on and off.

Growing community of inventors

St. Helens, United Kingdom

Malcolm J Rigby