Manufacturing process for precision and fusion quality glass tubes

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods for making high quality glass tubes, and apparatuses for making high quality glass tubes. Because glass tubes made using the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are substantially free from the optical defect known as paneling, the glass tubes may be used in displays for consumer electronic devices. The glass tubes are made by a continuous process in which a flow of molten glass is provided on an inner surface of a hollow, rotating mandrel such that the glass coats the inner surface of the mandrel and flows downstream on the inner surface of the mandrel, during which it is cooled to provide a higher viscosity. The glass is then removed from the mandrel and drawn to obtain a glass tube. A flow of molten glass may also be provided on the outer surface of the mandrel and joined with the glass flow on the inner surface of the mandrel when the glass flows exit the mandrel. The apparatuses presented herein are configured to provide high quality glass tubes using this method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.