Libbey-owens-ford Co.

Bishop, Roger B.

Herliczek, Siegfried H.

Ash, Charles E., Jr.

Siegfried H Herliczek

Charles E Ash

David R Jenkins

Roger B Bishop

Scott W Chambers

Edward W Curtze

Paul T Mattimoe

Stephen P Bartus, Jr

Theodore J Motter

Lazarus D Thomas

Ronald L Toth

David M Ginter

John J Hofmann

The present invention concerns a unique method for producing an anti-lacerative glass assembly wherein a plastic composite anti-laceration sheet is to be bonded to a glass substrate sheet. The plastic anti-laceration sheet includes an inner layer of polyvinyl butyral adpated to abut the glass substrate sheet, an intermediate layer of polyester, and an outer layer of abrasion resistant material. A glass cover sheet having substantially the same curvature as the glass substrate sheet is utilized to press the anti-laceration sheet into bonding engagement with the glass substrate sheet. In accordance with the present invention, the bonding operation is accomplished by heating the laminated glass assembly to a predetermined temperature in the range of 285.degree. F. to 305.degree. F. The present invention also concerns the use of a unique vacuum ring construction which is mounted about the periphery of the laminated assembly and it utilized to de-air the assembly. The vacuum ring is provided with a check valve to maintain the vacuum within the ring during periods wherein it is disconnected from a vacuum source. Further, the method of the present invention includes the step of removing a selected portion or portions of the anti-laceration sheet after it has been bonded to the glass substrate sheet to provide an exposed glass surface for use in mounting the glass assembly into an associated frame. In an alternate method, positioning gasket means can be provided on the glass cover sheet to define a boundary for the anti-laceration sheet and contact the glass substrate sheet to provide an exposed glass surface on the glass assembly.

Method for applying an anti-lacerative plastic layer to glass

A method for prepressing an assembly of stacked, superimposed glass and plastic sheets for subsequent autoclave lamination to provide a glazing. The apparatus includes a frame positioned between a delivery conveyor and a discharge conveyor and carrying prepress and support rollers. An assembly arrives on the delivery conveyor and is aligned and rotated ninety degrees before entry into the frame. The prepress rollers are rotatably mounted in pairs and attached to air cylinders which retract the rollers during entry to clear a vacuum ring which extends about the peripheral edge of the assembly such that a vacuum can be drawn on the assembly during the application of pressure and then extend the rollers into contact with an upper surface of the assembly to apply pressure thereto. The assembly is supported from its bottom side by the support rollers which are rotatably attached to the frame are located on either side of a plurality of drive rollers which are rotatably attached to the frame in pairs. The drive rollers are of different diameters and are adjustably mounted on an axis of rotation which is tilted from the horizontal path of the assembly. The drive rollers are driven to move the assembly through the frame while the prepress rollers apply pressure to the assembly. The different diameters and the tilted axis of rotation compensate for different lengths of the paths of travel of the drive rollers along the surface of assemblies of curved or bent sheets.

Prepress apparatus and method

A vaccum ring is coupled to a vacuum source and utilized to de-air a laminated glass assembly while it is positioned within a pressurized and heated autoclave unit. The vacuum ring has a channel for receiving the edge of the glass assembly and is fabricated to minimize the extrusion of the laminating material during the autoclave operation. The walls of the channel each have a single longitudinally extending groove approximately centered between the edges of the wall, and the floor of the channel includes a single longitudinally extending groove positioned to be adjacent the edge of a laceration shield layer of the glass assembly. All three grooves interconnect with the vacuum source. The channel generally conforms to the outer edge of the glass assembly with or without applied vacuum of pressure, and the provision of grooved walls greatly enhances the sealing of the ring to the glass.

Vacuum ring for producing laminated glass

A movable window assembly includes a transparent sheet having a retention shield formed of a plastic material. An edge support is formed about at least a predetermined periphery of the transparent sheet and is adapted to cooperate with a channel formed in a vehicle window opening frame to retain the window assembly in the frame when pressure is applied to the window assembly tending to force it out of the frame. The edge support can have a reinforcing core and can be molded in situ on the transparent sheet. In an alternate embodiment, the edge support and the retention shield can be molded on a transparent glass sheet at the same time.

Retention shield window assembly and method of making the same

An apparatus for prepressing an assembly of stacked, superimposed glass and plastic sheets for subsequent autoclave lamination to provide a glazing includes a frame positioned between a delivery conveyor and a discharge conveyor and carrying prepress and support rollers. The prepress rollers are rotatably mounted in pairs and attached to air cylinders which retract the rollers during entry of an assembly in order to clear a vacuum ring which extends about a peripheral edge of the assembly and then extend the rollers into contact with an upper surface of the assembly to apply pressure thereto. The assembly is supported from its bottom side by the support rollers which are rotatably attached to the frame and are located on either side of a plurality of drive rollers which are rotatably attached to the frame in pairs. The drive rollers are of different diameters and are adjustably mounted on an axis of rotation which is tilted from the horizontal path of the assembly. The drive rollers are driven to move the assembly through the frame while the prepress rollers apply pressure to the asssembly. The different diameters and the tilted axis of rotation compensate for different lengths of the paths of travel of the drive rollers along the surface of the assemblies of curved or bent sheets.

Prepress apparatus for an assembly of stacked sheets

The present invention relates to a unique vacuum ring construction which can be utilized to de-air a laminated glass assembly while it is positioned within a pressurized and heated autoclave unit. The vacuum ring is constructed to minimize the amount of plastic material which can flow outwardly of the marginal edges of the glass sheet during the heating and pressurizing operation of the autoclave. The ring is provided with a channel formed therein for receiving the peripheral edge of the laminated assembly. In accordance with the present invention, at least a first length of the channel defines an inner surface having a cross-sectional configuration which generally conforms to the cross-sectional configuration defined by the outer edge surface of the laminated assembly when the ring is mounted on the laminated assembly and coupled to a vacuum source. At least a second length of the channel is provided with a recess which is positioned adjacent the juncture of the edges of the individual laminae when the ring is mounted on the laminated assembly. The recess is defined by a wall at least a portion of which is maintained in spaced apart relationship with the laminated assembly when the ring is coupled to the vacuum source.

A glazing unit comprised of a glass substrate and a laceration inhibiting shield supported by and extending over what would otherwise be an exposed surface of the substrate. A gasket or frame member composed of a synthetic polymer extends around a major portion of the periphery of the glass substrate and shield and is adhered to the marginal edge surfaces of each, such gasket having been polymerized in situ adjacent the said periphery and having assumed through the autogenous mechanism incident to its polymerization and cure, while confined intimate contact with the portions to which it is adhered.

Encapsulated glazing product

An electrically heated laminated aircraft glazing including at least two sheets of glass and an interposed non-brittle thermoplastic interlayer. A bus bar and an electrically conducting film are located on the inwardly disposed surface of one of the sheets and the bus bar covered with a thin layer of polyisobutylene resin. Additional layers of polyisobutylene resin are provided between the interlayer material and selected glass areas to prevent delamination and cold chipping of the glazing with subsequent moisture ingress and bus bar failure.

Glazing unit

Methods of restoring or repairing damaged areas in the coating of high performance reflective glass composed of a thin, transparent film such as a metal and/or a metal oxide deposited on a vitreous substrate. Damages to the film such as scratches, abrasive rubs and the like are covered with a compatible filler to substantially restore the light transmittance characteristics. The repaired areas are covered with a protective coating to increase their durability.

Method of restoring or repairing reflective glass

An automobile glazing structure that includes at least one sheet of glass, that incorporates a multi-layer protective laceration inhibiting shield bonded to its inboard glass surface to present an exposed inboard surface, and that has areas of at least one surface of a layer of the shield treated with the reaction product of a film forming resin and a compound capable of hydrolysis followed by condensation as an adhesion promoting primer.

Growing community of inventors

Petersburg, MI, United States of America

Siegfried H Herliczek