# US 2018/0002214 A1 · Process and Apparatus for Refining Molten Glass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0002214 A1 - Document ID: US20180002214A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/702,896 - Filed: 2017-09-13 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-06 - Assignees: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. - Applicants: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. - Inventors: Tilak Gullinkala; Desikan Sundararajan; Terence J. Clark; Witold Mastek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180002214A1 ## CPC - C03B 5/2257: {by thin-layer fining} - C03B 5/2252: {under reduced pressure, e.g. with vacuum refiners} - C03B 5/2356: {Submerged heating, e.g. by using heat pipes, hot gas or submerged combustion burners (bubblers C03B5/193)} - C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES ## Abstract An apparatus for refining molten glass that includes a housing having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Molten glass is received at an upper end of the housing and is discharged from a lower end of the housing. A guide extends at least partway across the housing and directs molten glass in a generally downward direction through the housing and in a parallel or oblique direction relative to the transverse axis of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for refining molten glass that includes: a housing having a vertically oriented longitudinal axis, a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a length measured along the longitudinal axis, and a width measured along the transverse axis, wherein the length is greater than the width, and a transverse cross-sectional area between 0.5 square meters and 20 square meters; an inlet at an upper end of said housing to receive unrefined molten glass; an outlet at a lower end of said housing to discharge refined molten glass from said housing; and a guide positioned within said housing having a flow surface upon which molten glass can flow between said inlet and said outlet of said housing, said flow surface having a surface area between 50 square meters and 500 square meters, such that the surface area of the flow surface is 2.5 to 1,000 times greater than the surface area of the transverse cross-sectional area of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide directs molten glass to flow in a parallel or oblique direction relative to the transverse axis of said housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow surface of said guide continuously extends from said upper end to said lower end of said housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said flow surface of said guide follows a helical path from said upper end to said lower end of said housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide includes a series of guides having flow surfaces that are spaced apart from one another along said longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said series of guides are alternately arranged on opposite sides of said housing such that said flow surfaces of said guides overlap one another along said longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one of said guides includes a slot between an upstream end and a downstream end thereof through which molten glass can flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide includes a barrier along said flow surface to maintain a generally uniform level of molten glass thereon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow surface of said guide extends partway across said housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said flow surface of said guide extends radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said flow surface of said guide extends radially inwardly from said housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 that also includes: a vacuum pump and evacuation system to draw off gases that are released from molten glass flowing through said housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 that also includes: vibrators for adding vibration energy to molten glass that is flowing through said housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 that also includes: a heating system for controlling the temperature of molten glass flowing through said housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide includes a series of guides that direct molten glass through said housing such that the molten glass cascades over said guides in succession. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said guide includes a series of guides that are arranged such that molten glass flowing from said upper end to said lower end of said housing repeatedly intersects said longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide is configured such that molten glass flowing from said upper end to said lower end of said housing repeatedly passes from one side of said longitudinal axis of said housing to another, without intersecting said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide is configured such that molten glass flowing from said upper end to said lower end of said housing repeatedly revolves around said longitudinal axis of said housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has a circular transverse cross section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An apparatus comprising: the refining apparatus set forth in claim 1; and a glass melting furnace having a body of molten glass with a free surface above the inlet of the refining apparatus such that molten glass can flow by gravity from the furnace into the inlet of the refining apparatus.