Apparatus for Forming Shaped Glass
OwnerJames William MASTEN, JR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet of glass can be formed in a batch process by introducing molten glass onto a layer of molten tin within a tank. The tank may be outfitted with infrared emitters to control the amount of heat delivered to the tank while the sheet of glass is formed. A lower surface of the tank can have a three-dimensional shape, and the molten tin may be removed from the tank while the sheet of glass is ductile so that the sheet of glass is molded by the three-dimensional shape, thereby producing a shaped sheet of glass. The delivery of infrared energy to the tank may be facilitated by one or more ceramic glass surface.
Claims21
(canceled)
A heating system configured to form a sheet of glass with a three-dimensional shape, the heating system comprising:
- four side interior surfaces;
- a bottom interior surface with the three-dimensional shape;
- at least one radiant emitter configured to deliver infrared energy to an interior of the heating system;
- and
- at least one drain nozzle respectively coupled to at least one opening in the bottom interior surface.
A heating system comprising:
- four side interior surfaces;
- a bottom interior surface with the three-dimensional shape, the bottom interior comprising a ceramic glass material;
- a bottom radiant emitter configured to deliver infrared energy through the bottom interior surface;
- and
- at least one drain nozzle respectively coupled to at least one opening in the bottom interior surface.
A heating system with a tank, the tank comprising:
- a bottom assembly including at least one bottom radiant emitter and a bottom ceramic glass material, the bottom radiant emitter being configured to deliver infrared energy through the bottom ceramic glass material;
- and
- four side assemblies, each of the side assemblies including at least one side radiant emitter and a side ceramic glass material on an inner surface of the tank, the side radiant emitters being configured to deliver infrared energy through the respective side ceramic glass materials,
- wherein a bottom interior surface of the tank has a three-dimensional shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.