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US 11,390,552 B1Granted
Thermophysical float glass process
OwnerJames W. Masten, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel apparatus and method for producing flat glass by floating molten glass on liquid tin, significantly improving the efficiency of heating the tin and reducing or eliminating the need to anneal by eliminating the stress introduced by pulling the glass across the tin bath. The apparatus directly heats and melts the tin by exposure to high-intensity infrared energy through surfaces of the tin-containing tub, said tub made from a material that is transmissive at selected infrared wavelengths.
Claims20
A method of forming a sheet of float glass, the method comprising:
- providing a predetermined volume of tin to a tub in a tank, the tub comprising a material with a transmissivity of at least 30% in a first frequency of the infrared spectrum;
- activating a first plurality of infrared emitters to transmit infrared energy in the first frequency to heat the tin to a temperature above 600° C.;
- introducing molten glass onto an exposed surface of the heated tin;
- and
- cooling the molten glass to a solid state;
- and
- removing the solid glass sheet from the tub.
4 more elements
A method of forming a sheet of float glass, the method comprising:
- melting a pool of tin in a tub of a tank, the tub comprising a material with a transmissivity of at least 30% in a first frequency of the infrared spectrum;
- activating a first plurality of infrared emitters to transmit infrared energy in the first frequency to heat the tin to a temperature above 600° C.;
- introducing molten glass onto an exposed surface of the heated tin;
- placing a top cover over the tub, the top cover comprising a second plurality of infrared emitters;
- activating the second plurality of infrared heaters to provide heat to the molten glass;
- and
- after the molten glass has spread over the exposed surface of the heated tin, cooling the molten glass to a solid state and removing the solid glass sheet from the tub.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.