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US 12,709,564 B2Granted
Glass manufacturing apparatus comprising a delivery conduit system with a low impedance drain assembly
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsGilbert De Angelis, Juan Camilo Isaza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery conduit system for a glass manufacturing apparatus, the conduit system including a drain assembly configured to allow draining molten glass from the delivery conduit system. The drain assembly includes heating means and cooling means that can open a drain flow of molten glass from components of the conduit system and shut off flow to the forming body by selectively modifying the fluid impedance presented to the molten glass by the drain assembly.
Claims16
A glass manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
- a delivery conduit system configured to convey a flow of molten glass from a delivery vessel to a forming body, the delivery conduit system comprising:
- an exit conduit extending from the delivery vessel;
- an inlet conduit extending from the forming body;
- a drain assembly coupled between the exit conduit and the inlet conduit, the drain assembly comprising a downward-extending drain tube comprising an inlet end and an outlet end, and comprising a first curved conduit section configured to direct the flow of molten glass from a first direction to a second direction different from the first direction;
- a first cooling device disposed adjacent the delivery conduit system between the drain tube and the forming body;
- and
- a heating device configured to heat the outlet end of the drain tube,
- wherein the first curved conduit section comprises a first curved conduit portion and a second curved conduit portion, each of the first curved conduit portion and the second curved conduit portion configured to direct the flow of molten glass through a change in direction of 90 degrees,
- wherein the first curved conduit section comprises a first straight conduit portion coupled between the first curved conduit portion and the second curved conduit portion, and
- wherein the drain assembly further comprises a second curved conduit section connected to the first curved conduit section and disposed between the first curved conduit section and the inlet conduit.
7 more elements
A glass manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
- a delivery vessel, a forming body, and a delivery conduit system configured to convey a flow of molten glass from the delivery vessel toward the forming body, the delivery conduit system comprising:
- an exit conduit extending downward from the delivery vessel;
- an inlet conduit extending from the forming body;
- a drain assembly coupled between the exit conduit and the inlet conduit, the drain assembly comprising a first curved conduit section and a second curved conduit section disposed downstream of the first curved conduit section relative to a flow direction of the molten glass;
- a drain tube extending downward from the drain assembly, the drain tube comprising a proximal end attached to the drain assembly and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
- a first cooling device disposed downstream from the first curved conduit section and configured to cool the at least a portion of the delivery conduit system downstream from the first curved conduit section;
- and
- a heating device configured to heat the distal end of the drain tube,
- wherein the first curved conduit section is configured to direct the flow of molten glass from a first direction to a second direction opposite the first direction, and
- wherein the second curved conduit section is configured to direct the flow of molten glass from the second direction to a third direction intermediate the first direction and the second direction.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.