Process and apparatus for manufacturing a glass ingot from synthetic silica
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Quartz S.A.S.
InventorsIan George Sayce, Peter John Wells
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic vitreous silica ingots involves the production of a melt of synthetic vitreous silica in a crucible (35) within a refractory furnace (31), and the continuous withdrawal of an ingot (43) through an orifice (40) in the wall of the crucible. The silica may be deposited in the crucible by a synthesis burner (33), which may also serve to maintain the silica above its sintering temperature. The emerging ingot is supported by an arrangement of moveable clamps (44).
Claims14
A furnace for the continuous manufacture of synthetic vitreous silica glass ingot, the furnace comprising:
- a furnace enclosure housing a refractory container, the container being adapted to hold a melt of synthetic vitreous silica;
- a die disposed within a wall or base of the container, the die including an orifice through which the glass ingot is extruded;
- moveable support means downstream of the orifice, adapted to support and facilitate withdrawal of the ingot;
- and
- one or more burners adapted to maintain said melt of synthetic vitreous silica in said refractory container above its sintering temperature, at least one burner being a synthesis burner for depositing synthetic vitreous silica by vapour deposition onto a surface of the melt and having associated means for supplying silica precursor and combustion gases;
- said die and moveable support means being arranged to enable continuous withdrawal of synthetic vitreous silica as an ingot of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions, defined by dimensions of said die orifice, at a rate substantially similar to that at which silica is deposited by said synthesis burner.
A method of continuously forming synthetic vitreous silica glass ingot, comprising the steps of:
- generating a melt of silica contained in a refractory container, part of a boundary of which defines a die orifice;
- maintaining the melt in a molten state by heating the melt with one or more burner including a synthesis burner;
- depositing synthesis vitreous silica form said synthesis burner by vapor deposition onto a surface of the melt;
- and
- withdrawing synthesis vitreous silica as an ingot of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions, defined by dimensions of said die orifice, at a rate substantially similar to that at which silica is deposited by said synthesis burner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.