Abstract:
Method and apparatus for edge control of glass in the forming chamber. The invention utilizes a blade that is cushioned by gas discharged from its lower edge. The gas cushioned blade does not directly contact the glass thereby minimizing cooling and wear problems common to such control devices.
Abstract:
In order to produce sheet glass of a thickness less than normal equilibrium thickness from a layer of molten glass deposited on a fluidic support, a solid structure with a plenum chamber is positioned above the support while air or other gas under pressure is discharged from the plenum chamber, through a peripheral slot, in a downwardly converging gas curtain which builds up a pressure head in the space between the support and the flat underside of the structure. This pressure head may be utilized to balance the weight of the overlying structure for floatingly maintaining same above the support in spaced relationship with the glass layer deposited thereon. By providing several generally concentric peripheral slots through which the gas is discharged in successive stages, starting with the innermost slot, or by making the structure adjustable to allow a shifting of its slot-forming gap, the air curtain may be expanded laterally or possibly omnidirectionally to reduce the width of the beads bounding the thinner central portion.
Abstract:
In order to produce sheet glass of a thickness less than normal equilibrium thickness from a layer of molten glass deposited on a fluidic support, a solid structure with a plenum chamber is positioned above the support while air or other gas under pressure is discharged from the plenum chamber, through a peripheral slot, in a downwardly converging gas curtain which builds up a pressure head in the space between the support and the flat underside of the structure. This pressure head may be utilized to balance the weight of the overlying structure for floatingly maintaining same above the support in spaced relationship with the glass layer deposited thereon.
Abstract:
An installation for making sheet glass comprises a fluidics support onto whic molten glass is spread to form a layer, a plate located above the support, spaced from the layer of glass thereon, and guide means for forming along the plate edges an inwardly and downwardly converging peripheral air curtain which serves to build up a pressurized air mattress between the plate and the layer. The compressive action of this mattress serves to reduce the thickness of the glass sheet to less than the equilibrium thickness that would otherwise be obtained.