Glass conditioning
AssigneeCorning Glass Works
InventorsBihari Bansal, George B. Boettner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an apparatus for conditioning a supply of molten thermoplastic material, preferably glass, a chamber in flow communication with the supply of glass is mounted for rotation about an axis. The chamber has a flow control surface having at least two regions, each uniquely oriented for influencing the flow of the molten glass therealong. In one region the glass experiences delayed flow to enable it to give up heat and in a region downstream of the first, the glass experiences accelerated flow to enable it to counteract changes in viscosity resulting from previous heat loss. The chamber is rotated so that a fresh supply of glass at an elevated temperature is deposited circumferentially on the flow control surface in order to moderate the influence of heat loss as the glass flows through the chamber.
Claims25
Apparatus for conditioning a supply of molten viscous material to at least one of a plurality of desired temperature and viscosity characteristics, wherein a delivery means conveys a stream of said material from the supply comprising:
- a chamber in flow communication with the delivery means being mounted for rotation about an axis and having an inlet for receiving said stream of material therein;
- an outlet remotely located from and in flow communication with the inlet for allowing the material to flow from said chamber at a relatively uniform temperature and viscosity;
- and a flow control surface having a profile including at least two regions, each uniquely oriented for influencing the flow of material therealong such that in one region the material experiences delayed flow to enable it to give up heat to ambient and in the other region the material experiences accelerated flow to enable it to counteract changes in viscosity resulting from heat loss in the first mentioned region;
- and
- means operatively coupled to the chamber for rotating same, such that, a fresh supply of material at an elevated temperature is deposited circumferentially on the flow control surface, said fresh supply of material being relatively evenly distributed about the inlet to the chamber in order to moderate the heat loss in respect to the material under the influence of the flow control surface, whereby the material reaches the outlet at a desired temperature and viscosity.
A method for conditioning molten viscous material from one of a plurality of selected temperature and viscosity conditions to a desired temperature and viscosity condition comprising the steps of delivering said material to a formed surface, dwelling said material on said formed surface to delay flow thereof, allowing said material to thereafter accelerate towards an outlet, heat exchanging said material as it flows from the dwell to the outlet, rotating said surface about an axis, continuously supplying additional material at an elevated temperature as said surface is rotated and moderating the temperature of said flowing material by virtue of the continuously supplied material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.