Glass inlet tube environmental control
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsRobert Delia, Shawn Rachelle Markham, Brandon Thomas Sternquist, Nathan Tyler Qualls
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are described herein for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in the glass manufacturing system. More specifically, the system and method control a level of hydrogen within a humid gas mixture that flows over an exterior of the inlet tube to effectively suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions in molten glass that flows through the inlet tube.
Claims17
A system for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in a glass manufacturing system, wherein the inlet tube comprises an inlet body, an input opening, and an output opening, said system comprising:
- an electrical heating unit encompassing at least a portion of the inlet tube and having a gas inlet unit and a gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- a first seal proximate the input opening and intermediate an exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- a second seal proximate the output opening and intermediate the exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- a refractory tower encompassing the electrical heating unit and having the gas inlet unit and the gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- and,
- a control system that directs a humid gas mixture into the gas inlet unit such that the humid gas mixture flows over the inlet body and exits the refractory tower and the electrical heating unit via the gas outlet unit.
A method for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in a glass manufacturing system, wherein the inlet tube comprises an inlet body, an input opening, and an output opening, said method comprising:
- providing an electrical heating unit encompassing at least a portion of the inlet tube and having a gas inlet unit and a gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- installing a first seal proximate the input opening and intermediate an exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- installing a second seal proximate the output opening and intermediate the exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- providing a refractory tower encompassing the electrical heating unit and having the gas inlet unit and the gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- and,
- providing a control system that directs a humid gas mixture into the gas inlet unit such that the humid gas mixture flows over the inlet body and exits the refractory tower and the electrical heating unit via the gas outlet unit.
A glass manufacturing system comprising:
- an inlet tube, a forming vessel, and a plurality of heating elements, wherein the inlet tube receives molten glass, the forming vessel receives molten glass from the inlet tube and forms a glass sheet, and the heating elements emit heat around the forming vessel;
- and
- a system for controlling an environment around the inlet tube which comprises an inlet body, an input opening, and an output opening, said system comprising:
- an electrical heating unit encompassing at least a portion of the inlet tube and having a gas inlet unit and a gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- a first seal proximate the input opening and intermediate an exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- a second seal proximate the output opening and intermediate the exterior of the inlet body and the electrical heating unit;
- a refractory tower encompassing the electrical heating unit and having the gas inlet unit and the gas outlet unit each passing therethrough;
- and,
- a control system that directs a humid gas mixture into the gas inlet unit such that the humid gas mixture flows over the inlet body and exits the refractory tower and the electrical heating unit via the gas outlet unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.