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US 5,394,910 AGranted
Glass gob drop guide funnel assembly
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorJames E. Sweetland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A graphite funnel inserted into a metal funnel support sleeve guides hot glass gobs from a furnace to the glass blowing mold. The graphite insert is adjustable by set screws and is easily repositioned. The graphite insert has an outer diameter slightly less than the metal retainer to allow ambient air to pass upwardly past it.
Claims35
A graphite glass gob funnel liner comprising:
- a monolithic piece of graphite having (a) a top collar portion terminating in a bearing ledge having a ridge-mating groove, and (b) a bottom tubular portion having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the collar portion with an internal passageway being defined by the collar portion and the tubular portion wherein said piece of graphite is capable of being supported by a holder having a ridged surface to mate with said bearing ledge.
A graphite glass gob funnel assembly comprising:
- an outer cylindrical support sleeve having an outer diameter and a ridge member on its top edge and;
- an inner, substantially tube-shaped, monolithic piece of graphite having a collar portion having an outer diameter between 110% and 95% the outer diameter of the support sleeve outer diameter, the collar portion resting on the upper edge of the support sleeve
- and wherein the graphite has a plurality of grooves in the collar portion that matingly engage the ridge member of said support sleeve.
A graphite article comprising:
- a substantially tubular body defined on the exterior by (a) a top collar portion having an outer diameter and a length, said top collar portion terminating at the bottom of its length in a ledge having a ridge-mating groove, and (b) a bottom conical portion;
- said body further defining an interior surface forming a tubular passageway from the top end of the top collar portion to the bottom end of the bottom conical portion defined by an interior diameter greater at the top end than at the bottom end.
An apparatus for handling formable glass at a temperature of at least about 800.degree. C. comprising:
- an internal passageway extending from an entry to a second location, wherein said passageway is capable of handling said formable glass from said entry location to said second location distal from said entry location;
- an exterior surface substantially free of cooling protrusions;
- and
- wherein said apparatus is substantially composed of a material capable of handling said formable glass in the absence of a cooling fluid flow driven by mechanical means and wherein said apparatus is also capable of being supported in a plurality of adjustable positions by a holder having a non-planar surface.
1 more element
An apparatus for handling formable glass at a temperature of at least about 800.degree. C. comprising:
- an internal passageway extending from an entry to a second location, wherein said passageway is capable of handling said formable glass from said entry location to said second location distal from said entry location;
- an exterior surface substantially free of cooling protrusions;
- and
- wherein said apparatus is substantially composed of a material capable of handling said formable glass in the absence of a cooling fluid flow driven by mechanical means and wherein said apparatus is also capable of being supported in a plurality of adjustable positions,
- wherein said passageway narrows in a substantially continuous manner from a location proximate to said entry location to said second location, forming a funnel,
- wherein said funnel is substantially composed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 50 BTU-ft/ft.sup.2 -hr-.degree.F.,
- wherein said funnel is assemblable into a funnel assembly which also comprises:
- means for deforming the shape of said passageway;
- and
- means for supporting said funnel, and
- wherein said means for supporting and said means for deforming comprise a plurality of adjustable position supports.
8 more elements
The process of molding glass which comprises:
- heating said glass in a furnace;
- releasing at least a portion of said heated glass from said furnace to a funnel;
- funnel diverting said released glass from a vertical path in the absence of a cooling fluid stream having a velocity of greater than 2 feet per second in thermal contact with said funnel;
- discharging said funnel diverted glass to a molding machine;
- and
- rotatably repositioning said funnel with respect to said molding machine after said discharging step.
3 more elements
A monolithic graphite funnel having an internal passageway, said funnel comprising:
- a top collar portion terminating in a lower bearing ledge having an outer top collar diameter;
- a bottom tubular portion attached to said top collar portion and having an outer diameter less than said outer top collar diameter, wherein said graphite funnel is capable of contacting a molten glass gob within said passageway in the absence of a cooling liquid contacting the exterior portion of said funnel;
- and
- ridge and groove means for supporting said graphite funnel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.