Reforming mandrel geometry for flatness control
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsThierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Mickaël Mabrut, Ronan Tanguy
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Abstract
A reforming mandrel and a method of use reforming mandrel to reform glass are described. The reforming mandrel comprises an upstream portion, a downstream portion and an at least partially hollow interior. The upstream portion may have an intake inlet for fluid flow. The downstream portion may be axially spaced from the upstream portion. The downstream portion may have a flattened cross-section defined by flattened peripheral portions joined by curved peripheral portions. At least one curved peripheral portion may be made of porous material resistant to a temperature of at least 1000° C. The at least partially hollow interior may communicate with the intake inlet and the porous material.
Claims20
A reforming mandrel comprising:
- an upstream portion having an intake inlet for fluid flow;
- a downstream portion axially spaced from the upstream portion, the downstream portion having a flattened cross-section defined by flattened peripheral portions joined by curved peripheral portions, at least one curved peripheral portion made of porous material resistant to a temperature of at least 1000° C.;
- and
- an at least partially hollow interior communicating with the intake inlet and the porous material;
- wherein the at least one curved peripheral portion comprises at least one passage that extends alongside the at least partially hollow interior.
A method for producing a glass sleeve with a flattened portion comprising:
- a. providing a substantially cylindrical glass tube made of glass, the substantially cylindrical tube having a longitudinal axis and an inner curved surface enclosing a space;
- b. heating at least a portion of the substantially cylindrical tube to a temperature within the softening range of the glass;
- c. moving the softened substantially cylindrical tube over a reforming mandrel to reform the glass tube into a glass sleeve with a flattened portion;
- wherein the reforming mandrel comprises an upstream portion having an intake inlet for fluid flow, a downstream portion axially spaced from the upstream portion, the downstream portion having a flattened cross-section defined by flattened peripheral portions joined by curved peripheral portions, at least one curved peripheral portion made of porous material resistant to a temperature of at least 1000° C., and an at least partially hollow interior communicating with the intake inlet and the porous material;
- wherein the at least one curved peripheral portion comprises at least one passage that extends alongside the at least partially hollow interior.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.