Ppg Industries, Inc.

Robert A Lawhon

Ronald L Schwenninger

Robert B Heithoff

Jeffrey S Yigdall

Francis A Radecki

Wayne H Gonzalez

Bert K Krushinski

James L Karraker

In a float glass chamber, particularly in a region operating at higher than usual temperatures, integrity of the bottom structure is sustained by employing wedge shaped bottom blocks that are maintained in compression by externally applied mechanical forces. The arrangement permits the use of a bi-layer bottom construction with a high alumina upper course and a clay bottom course.

Compressed, wedged float glass bottom structure

In a material preheating and liquefying process such as in a glassmaking operation, particulates entrained in the exhaust from the preheating stage are collected and returned to the process at a location where a molten phase is present and re-entrainment is suppressed.

Method of glass batch preheating and liquefying with recycling of

An apparatus for and method of adjusting the effective length of a rotary kiln. Preheating gas enters the kiln, passes over a portion of the material to be heated and exits the kiln through an axially extending exhaust duct. Changing the length of the duct modifies the amount of time the material is subjected to direct heating by the gas so that the effective heating length of the kiln is changed.

Kiln construction

An edge roll apparatus for engaging the marginal edge portion of a hot ribbon of glass, including a body portion and circumferentially positioned teeth. The teeth are shaped to establish at least a 90.degree. angle between the surface of the glass and the leading and outwardly directed edges of the teeth during at least one half of a tooth's engagement path to improve gripping ability.

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Chehalis, WA, United States of America

Robert A Lawhon