Glass sheet press forming and quenching ring

Abstract

A glass sheet pressing and quenching apparatus including an open center ring having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the glass sheet and a top support surface extending generally horizontally and conforming to the desired surface contour of the glass sheet. A plurality of flat insulating platelets are removably mounted on the top support surface to define an accurate glass contact surface having low thermal conductivity. The insulating platelets may include a plurality of horizontally inwardly spaced projections with passageways therebetween for communicating quench air therethrough. The ring is mounted on a support frame via a plurality of leveling assemblies, each of which include a mounting plate secured to the ring and adapted to receive a threaded connector having a spherical end portion which is mounted for limited movement within a generally spherical mounting receptacle secured to the support frame. One or more slots are cut into the threads, parallel to the center line of the connector. A spring loaded plunger is mounted in the mounting plate to interfere with the slots in the shaft, thereby providing a detent. The shape of the ring can be modified by controlled adjustment of one or more of the leveling assemblies.