Glass or metal forming mold of adjustable shape
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
InventorsRoger P. Angel, Thomas E. Stalcup, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for shaping glass or metal sheets or panels for use in solar collectors or microwave antennae may include an oven and an adjustable mold. The adjustable mold may comprise a molding surface located within the oven. The molding surface may be coupled to position actuators located outside of the oven via coupling elements. A sheet or panel may be placed in the oven and heated until the sheet or panel softens and takes the shape of the molding surface. The molding surface may be adjusted to achieve different shapes for glass or metal sheets or panels.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- an oven comprising an insulated perimeter;
- a molding surface located within an interior of the oven;
- a plurality of coupling elements each having a contact segment, collectively making up a plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of contact segments form the molding surface and define a molding surface shape, wherein the molding surface shape defines a molded shape of a panel heated within the oven, wherein the molding surface is configured to support the molded shape of the panel, wherein the plurality of coupling elements extend through the insulated perimeter, and wherein the panel comprises at least one of glass or metal;
- and
- a plurality of position actuators coupled to the plurality of coupling elements and configured to move the plurality of coupling elements and the plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of position actuators are located exterior of the oven.
A method comprising:
- adjusting a plurality of coupling elements to form a molding surface shape of a molding surface, wherein each of the plurality of coupling elements comprises a contact segment, collectively making up a plurality of contact segments, wherein the plurality of contact segments form the molding surface and define the molding surface shape, wherein the coupling elements extend through a perimeter of an oven;
- positioning a panel above the molding surface, wherein the panel comprises at least one of glass or metal;
- heating the panel;
- causing the panel to deform into a molded shape and contact the molding surface, wherein the molded shape is defined by the molding surface shape, wherein the molded shape of the panel is supported by the molding surface;
- and
- cooling the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.