Method for the manufacture of glass
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Industries
InventorsFrancois E. Chevallier, Jean M. P. Fenouillet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the manufacture of fused glass, suitable for molding, wherein the total time of manufacture is reduced to about one hour. The process accelerates the homogenization and refining of glass by eliminating unfused particles and gas bubbles which are the main factors limiting the production rate of industrial glass. This is accomplished by increasing the temperature of the molten glass to produce foaming throughout its mass while maintaining its viscosity below 1,000 poises.
Claims22
A process for the manufacture of glass from a foamable vitrifiable material which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material to form a molten mass having a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (b) heating at an increased rate to rapidly foam the molten mass throughout its volume to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume while maintaining its viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (c) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (d) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass from a vitrifiable material containing a foaming and refining agent which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material to form a molten mass having a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (b) foaming the molten mass throughout its volume while maintaining its viscosity below about 1000 poises by heating the molten mass to increase its temperature at the rate of at least about 20.degree. C per minute from a temperature just below the foaming temperature;
- (c) continuing the foaming until the material has been expanded to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (d) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (e) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass from a foamable vitrifiable material which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material to form a molten mass having a viscosity below about 1000 poises and wherein said molten mass contains a number of solid or gaseous nuclei favoring foaming;
- (b) heating at an increased rate to rapidly foam the molten mass throughout its volume to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume while maintaining its viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (c) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at at viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (d) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass from a vitrifiable material containing a foaming and refining agent which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material in less than 10 minutes at a temperature below the foaming temperature to form a molten mass having a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (b) foaming the molten mass throughout its volume by rapidly heating the molten mass to increase its temperature at a rate of at least about 20.degree. C per minute while maintaining its viscosity below about 1000 poises and until the material has been expanded to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (c) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (d) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass from a vitrifiable foamable material which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material to form a molten mass at a temperature just below the foaming temperature;
- (b) heating at an increased rate to rapidly foam the molten mass throughout its volume to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (c) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam;
- and
- (d) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass comprising:
- (a) forming a vitrifiable mixture of materials having distributed therethrough a foaming and refining agent;
- (b) rapidly melting the vitrifiable material at a temperature below the foaming temperature thereof to form a molten vitreous mass having visible nuclei distributed therethrough and a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- (c) foaming the molten mass throughout its volume by rapidly heating the molten mass to increase the temperature above the foaming temperature at a rate sufficient to produce rapid thermal convection and expansion throughout the molten mass to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (d) controlling the heating until the foamed glass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (e) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A process for the manufacture of glass from vitrifiable material which comprises:
- (a) melting the vitrifiable material to form a molten mass having a temperature just below the foaming temperature;
- (b) continuously flowing the molten mass along a predetermined path;
- (c) heating at an increased rate to rapidly foam the flowing molten mass throughout its volume until the material has been expanded to at least about 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (d) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam;
- and
- (e) recovering the fused liquid glass.
A continuous process for the manufacture of glass from a granular vitrifiable material having distributed therethrough a foaming and refining agent which comprises:
- (a) rapidly melting the vitrifiable material to form a flowing molten mass having foam producing nuclei distributed therethrough;
- (b) foaming the flowing molten mass throughout its volume by rapidly heating it to about 1500.degree. C and above to produce rapid thermal convection and expansion throughout the flowing molten mass to at least 1.5 times its initial molten volume;
- (c) controlling the heating until the foamed mass subsides to dissipate the foam while maintaining it at a viscosity below about 1000 poises;
- and
- (d) recovering the fused liquid glass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.