Method for making float glass, implementing device and resulting products
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Glass France
InventorsChristophe Quentin, Michel Bellettre, Robert Germar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a float process for manufacturing glass sheets, in which molten glass is poured onto a liquid support denser than the glass and then the continuous ribbon which forms is advanced toward the downstream end, this process being characterized in that the thickened edges of the ribbon are trimmed continuously in the forming zone. This process makes it possible to obtain thin glass sheets, such as sheets of film glass, with good flatness, particularly in small plants. The invention also relates to a plant for implementing the process and to the products obtained. FIG. 1.
Claims19
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- and
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon in a forming zone at a temperature well above the softening point of the glass while said thickened lateral edges are in contact with said liquid support.
A device comprising:
- a liquid support denser than glass;
- a glass pouring unit configured to pour molten glass onto said liquid support;
- a glass ribbon forming unit configured to form a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- and
- at least one trimming device placed in the forming zone configured to continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon at a temperature above the softening point of the glass while said thickened lateral edges are in contact with said liquid support.
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- and
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon in a zone where the glass has a viscosity of between 104 and 105.5 poise.
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- and
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon just after the ribbon reaches its maximum width while said thickened lateral edges are in contact with said liquid support.
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon in a forming zone at a temperature well above the softening point of the glass;
- directing a jet of gas toward a trimming point at a same time as trimming is being carried out.
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- lifting the glass ribbon at a point where the trimming step is performed so as to break contact between the glass ribbon and the liquid support;
- and
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon in a forming zone at a temperature well above the softening point of the glass.
A float process for manufacturing glass sheets comprising:
- pouring molten glass onto a liquid support denser than the glass;
- forming a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- advancing the continuous glass ribbon toward a downstream end;
- stretching the glass ribbon laterally over a surface of the liquid support in the forming zone;
- providing continuous and flexible guiding elements made of a solid material capable of adhering to and moving with the glass ribbon;
- spreading out the ribbon using two spreader fingers;
- and
- continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon in a forming zone at a temperature well above the softening point of the glass using a trimming instrument or instruments placed just after the spreader fingers.
A device comprising:
- a liquid support denser than glass;
- a glass pouring unit configured to pour molten glass onto said liquid support;
- a glass ribbon forming unit configured to form a continuous glass ribbon from the molten glass;
- and
- at least one trimming device placed in the forming zone configured to continuously trimming thickened lateral edges of the glass ribbon at a temperature above the softening point of the glass while said thickened lateral edges are lifted so as to break contact between the glass ribbon and the liquid support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.