Libbey-owens-ford Co.

Flachglas Aktiengesellschaft

Pilkington Glass Limited

Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited

Pilkington Plc

Richard A Herrington

Waldemar W Oelke

Thomas G Kleman

Ermelinda A Apolinar

Jeffrey R Flaugher

Alan Charles Woodward

Hans W Boehm

Eberhard R Albach

Gerald A Callies

John F Conour

Robert G Revells

Allan T Enk

Geoffrey Greenhalgh

Donald D Rahrig

John W Borer

Norman K Gladieux

Kazunori Yuki

John N Eggert

Harold R Hall

Jeffrey Ronald Flaugher

Hans-Dieter Funk

Martin Huizinga

Kevin L Widman

Robert P Bamford, Deceased

Han-Dieter Funk

The invention relates to the press bending and tempering of glass sheets, especially for use as glazings in vehicles. When the press bending system is not located in a heated environment such as a furnace, it is important to maintain the glass sheets at a sufficiently high temperature for an adequate degree of temper to be achieved on quenching the sheet. The present invention provides a method of bending and tempering a thin glass sheet comprising pressing the substantially horizontal sheet between moulds having opposed complementary shaping surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being heated, and subsequently quenching the surfaces of the sheet characterised in that the heated shaping surface is maintained at a temperature in the range from 200.degree. C. to 350.degree. C.

Method and apparatus for bending and tempering glass sheets

Glass sheets are press bent and tempered, especially for use as glazings in vehicles. Such glazings are required to be accurately bent to a complex shape while meeting high standards of optical quality and fracture safety at an acceptable cost. A method of bending and tempering a glass sheet is provided comprising heating the sheet in a furnace, including heating at least one portion of the sheet to a higher temperature than another portion, conveying the sheet out of the furnace and into a press bending station, shaping the sheet by pressing it between opposed complementary upper and lower press members, at least one of the members being internally heated, transferring the bent glass sheet onto a shuttle carrier ring conforming to the periphery of the sheet, and tempering the sheet while supported on the carrier ring. A corresponding apparatus is also described.

Method of bending and tempering glass sheets

An improved support structure for an upper press member that broadens the bending capabilities of a conventional press bending apparatus. The support structure is carried on the upper platen frame of the bending apparatus and is adapted for providing reciprocating movement between the upper press member and the upper platen frame. The support structure comprises a base plate which is attached to the platen frame and a subplate which is adapted for supporting the upper press member. Fluid activated cylinders are mounted on the base plate, with the free end of their piston rods affixed in a supporting manner to the subplate whereby actuation of the cylinders will provide relative movement between the subplate and base plate and therefor the upper press member and the platen frame.

Support mechanism for a glass sheet press bending mold

Method of and apparatus for bending glass sheets

An apparatus for processing glass sheets includes a furnace and a bending station traversed by a conveyor for carrying the glass sheets. A plurality of heaters mounted in the furnace each heat associated areas of the glass sheets in accordance with setpoint temperature signals representing desired values of temperatures for heating associated areas of the glass sheets. One or more parameters of the glass sheets, such as thickness and color, are sensed and the setpoint signal values are changed accordingly. The parameter values are also utilized to change the spacing between the upper and lower mold members in the bending station to adjust the bending pressure applied to the glass sheets. Furthermore, the parameters are utilized to change the speed of the conveyor sections in order to vary the time that the glass sheets are in the furnace and thus the amount of heat imparted to the glass sheets.

Apparatus for processing glass

A manufacturing line for tempering glass sheets includes a furnace, an oven, a bending station, and a chilling section positioned in order along a generally horizontally extending conveyor for the glass sheets. The oven extends between the furnace and the bending station to maintain the glass sheets at a predetermined temperature. The oven has sidewalls formed of a plurality of brushes and is selectively extensible along the path of travel of the glass sheets. The oven includes controlled heating devices. The chilling section includes a plurality of tubes positioned above and below the path of travel of the glass sheets and connected to a source of air under pressure. The tubes are arranged in rows generally perpendicular to the path of travel and columns generally parallel to the path of travel in order to cause the glass sheets to meet predetermined fragmentation specifications.

Apparatus and method for tempering glass sheets

A continuous, chemical vapor deposition method for producing a coated glass article is disclosed. A glass substrate is advanced continuously, while hot, past first and second treating stations. A non-oxidizing atmosphere is maintained in the vicinity of the first treating station, while an oxidizing atmosphere is maintained in the vicinity of the second station. A non-oxidizing gas which contains a silane, e.g., SiH.sub.4, is directed from the first treating station against a surface of the glass to form a silicon coating on that surface. An oxidizing gas which includes a metal compound in the vapor phase is directed from the second station against the silicon-coated surface of the article. The process is controlled so that the silane-containing gas forms a reflective silicon coating on the glass surface, the oxidizing gas which includes a metal compound forms a coating of an oxide of the metal, and oxidation before the article reaches the second treating station forms a silicon oxide layer on the silicon which is of sufficient thickness that the metal oxide layer is substantially free of pinholing.

Continuous vapor deposition method for producing a coated glass article

Producing a radius or curved edge in cutting glass by means of a high pressure abrasive fluid jet. Abrasive particles are aspirated in carefully controlled amounts into a fluid stream which is directed through a nozzle tube having an elongated passageway of small diameter, and the fluid is discharged against and closely adjacent the surface of the glass as a highly collimated jet carrying the abrasive particles. The passageway gradually increases in diameter, or flares outwardly, at the discharge end of the nozzle tube, allowing the collimated stream to diverge within confined limits immediately prior to impinging upon the glass surface. The abrasive particle-containing conical fluid jet cuts through the glass along the path followed by the axis of the nozzle tube, while the glass to either side of the cut is abraded by progressively decreasing amounts toward the lateral extremities of the fluid jet. The glass cut is thus formed with a curved edge on the entrant side of the cut. The glass may be similarly treated from the opposite direction by the abrasive jet to produce a completely rounded edge.

Abrasive fluid jet radius edge cutting of glass

A system adapted to readily cut intricate interior patterns from, as well as make simple cuts across, glass blanks of various thicknesses at increased speed by means of an ultra-high pressure abrasive fluid jet. A highly collimated fluid stream or jet, into which abrasive particles are aspirated, is directed against the glass from a pressurized source. For initial penetration of the glass within the interior of the blank, the pressurized source is maintained at a first pressure level, so that the glass is initially penetrated without fracturing or undue chipping at the point of penetration and whereby the abrasive fluid stream may be advanced along the desired path relative to the glass at a first speed such as to sever the glass. After initial penetration by the abrasive jet the pressure level of the pressurized source of fluid is significantly increased, enabling the line speed of the fluid jet relative to the glass to be likewise significantly increased while still severing the glass and producing cut edges of high quality.

Ultra-high pressure abrasive jet cutting of glass

Cutting strengthened glass by means of a high velocity fluid jet. A suitable fluid is placed under high pressure and directed against the surface of the glass in a highly collimated stream of small diameter at high velocity. Very fine abrasive particles are aspirated into the high velocity stream prior to its impingement upon the glass to serve as a cutting medium for the strengthened glass. The pressure of the fluid is reduced when starting the cut to avoid venting of the glass during initial penetration, and the pressure is then increased for movement of the fluid jet along the desired line of cut. The relationship between fluid pressure, line speed and abrasive grit size is carefully controlled to produce a smooth cut free from vents and chips so as to avoid failure of the strengthened unit.

Cutting strengthened glass

A support apparatus for supporting a workpiece in a high velocity fluid jet cutting operation. The apparatus has particular utility in the Abrasive cutting of frangible sheet material, such as glass, and especially in the cutting of a predetermined pattern from the sheet thereof. The support apparatus comprises a pair of independent support members that cooperate to provide uniform support to the entire area of the sheet during cutting. A first support member, comprising a plate which is relatively large with respect to the sheet, includes a central opening therein conforming to and slightly larger than the pattern being cut. The plate member provides support to the peripheral portion of the sheet while the central portion thereof is supported by a second support member positioned within the opening. The second support member includes a plurality of vacuum heads disposed inwardly of the edges of the opening for securely gripping the sheet, with each of the vacuum heads being independently adjustable to facilitate alignment with the first support member.

Abrasive fluid jet cutting support

A method of and apparatus for thermally severing thick glass sheets by applying an energized electrical resistance wire element against the glass surface coincident with the intended line of cut and providing mechanical means adjacent the starting end of the cut to spread the glass portions on opposite sides of the line apart as the cut begins to run from the starting end. A glass spreading arrangement also can be provided at the trailing end of the cut to assure a straight cut along the intended path from end to end.

Apparatus for thermally severing glass

A transfer apparatus in a glass heat treating operation for removing a horizontally disposed sheet from a horizontal glass processing line and reorienting it into a substantially vertical plane for final processing in a vertically oriented quench operation. The transfer apparatus constitutes a pivotal end section of a horizontal conveyor system and is adapted to be equipped with glass bending fixtures.

Method of and apparatus for shaping and heat treating glass sheets

A furnace for heat treating vertically depending sheet material moving through an enclosed heating chamber, the furnace having entrance and exit openings in opposed end walls and a slot in the roof extending between the openings. The depending sheet material moves through the heating chamber suspended from a trolley supported above the slot, which trolley has hanger rods projecting through the slot. The entrance and exit openings are closed by doors, and an air curtain directed across the slot provides a pressure barrier which, together with the doors, prevents the flow of heated gases from and within the heating chamber.

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Walbridge, OH, United States of America

Richard A Herrington