Isopipe sag control using improved end support conditions
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorEunyoung Park
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a method of preventing isopipe sag when using the overflow drawdown fusion process for making flat glass sheets. The method applies a vertical restraint on at least one end of an isopipe resting on a support to thereby reduce sage and/or the rate of sag during use of the isopipe. Using the vertical restraint block in accordance with the invention, the sag and/or rate of sag has been found to be reduced by at least 40 percent relative to an isopipe that does not use the vertical restraints of the invention or a compressive force along the sides of the isopipe.
Claims6
A method for reducing the sag rate of an isopipe used in the fusion glass-making process, said method comprising:
- providing a pipe having a longitudinal axis, a middle region and a first and second end region,
- supporting the first and second end regions by placing said end regions on top of a support to thereby prevent the downward vertical motion of said end, and
- placing a vertical restraint above and in contact with at least one of said first and second ends of said pipe to oppose sag due to gravitational forces;
- wherein said vertical restraint above and in contact with said pipe applies a force to said pipe to prevent vertical motion of said pipe and reduce sag and/or the rate of sag of said isopipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.