Process for bending glass sheets
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Vitrage
InventorClaude Didelot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for bending glass sheets. This process includes bending the glass sheet or sheets in at least two stages. The first stage employing the action of gravity leading to a shaped blank which is used in the formation of the final shape. The last stage which leads to the final shape, includes the simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, combined actions of gravity and at least one additional mechanical force. The invention also includes a bending apparatus providing at least one section including two separately useable parts with one of the parts being movable with respect to the other to permit the section to be arranged in one of two positions. In addition, the invention includes bent glazing having at least one docking angle exceeding 50.degree. and a radius of curvature below 200 mm.
Claims7
A process for bending at least one glass sheet on a frame, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing the sheet on said frame in a horizontal position;
- (b) raising the temperature of the glass sheet to its deformation temperature;
- (c) bending said sheet in at least a first stage and a final stage comprising subjecting said sheet at its deformation temperature to the force of gravity to effect the first stage of bending and subjecting said sheet to at least one additional mechanical force to effect the final stage of bending wherein the additional mechanical force is a resistance force against the upper surface of the glass sheet permitting the bending of the glass sheet;
- (d) supporting the glass sheet along a first peripheral line while carrying out the first stage of bending;
- and
- (e) supporting the glass sheet along a second peripheral line having a different curvature than said first peripheral line which takes the place of the first peripheral line while carrying out the final stage of bending.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.