Back to results
US 8,074,473 B2Granted
Method for quenching formed glass sheets
AssigneeGlasstech, Inc.
InventorsDavid B. Nitschke, Dean M. Nitschke, Cristin J. Reinhart, Donivan M. Shetterly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three step method and apparatus for quenching a formed glass sheet in a manner that reduces cycle time without excessive temporary surface tension that can cause excessive breakage.
Claims30
A method for quenching formed glass sheets comprising:
- moving a quench ring into a bending station to receive a formed glass sheet that is heated to a quenching temperature;
- moving the formed glass sheet on the quench ring from the bending station into a quench to a quench location where the entire formed glass sheet is between lower and upper quench heads that are operable to supply upward and downward gas flows for quenching the formed glass sheet;
- initially supplying through the lower and upper quench heads upward and downward initial gas flows for about 0.5 to 1.3 seconds at initial pressures to provide initial cooling power that quenches the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring while in the quench location;
- then supplying, through the same lower and upper quench heads through which the initial gas flows are supplied, upward and downward subsequent gas flows for 0.5 to 4 seconds at increased pressures at least 25% higher than the initial pressures to further quench the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring while still in the quench location without any conveyance therefrom after the initial quenching;
- and
- thereafter supplying upward and downward gas flows to the formed glass sheet with decreased cooling power that is less than the initial cooling power to eventually provide a tempered and formed glass sheet upon cooling throughout to ambient temperature.
3 more elements
A method for quenching formed glass sheets comprising:
- moving a quench ring into a bending station to receive a formed glass sheet that is heated to a quenching temperature;
- moving the formed glass sheet on the quench ring from the bending station into an open quench to a quench location where the entire formed glass sheet is between lower and upper quench heads that are operable to supply upward and downward gas flows for quenching the formed glass sheet, and the quench then being moved to a closed position;
- initially supplying through the lower and upper quench heads upward and downward initial gas flows for about 0.5 to 1.3 seconds at initial pressures to provide initial cooling power that quenches the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring in the quench location;
- then supplying, through the same lower and upper quench heads through which the initial gas flows are suppled, upward and downward subsequent gas flows for 0.5 to 4 seconds at increased pressures 50 to 100% greater than the initial pressures to further quench the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring while still in the quench location without any conveyance therefrom after the initial quenching;
- thereafter supplying upward and downward gas flows to the formed glass sheet with decreased cooling power that is no greater than 60% of the initial cooling power to eventually provide a tempered and formed glass sheet upon cooling throughout to ambient temperature;
- and
- opening the quench and delivering the quenched glass sheet from the quench.
4 more elements
A method for quenching formed glass sheets comprising:
- moving a quench ring into a bending station to receive a formed glass sheet that is heated to a quenching temperature;
- moving the formed glass sheet on the quench ring from the bending station into a quench to a quench location where the entire formed glass sheet is between lower and upper quench heads that are operable to supply cooling power by upward and downward gas flows for quenching the formed glass sheet;
- initially supplying through the lower and upper quench heads upward and downward initial gas flows for about 0.5 to 1.3 seconds at initial conventional quench pressures to initially quench the formed glass sheet on the quench ring while in the quench location;
- then supplying, through the same lower and upper quench heads through which the initial gas flows are supplied, upward and downward subsequent gas flows for 0.5 to 4 seconds at increased pressures at least 25% greater than the initial conventional quench pressures to further quench the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring while still in the quench location without any conveyance therefrom after the initial quenching;
- and
- thereafter supplying upward and downward gas flows to the formed glass sheet with decreased cooling power, that is less than the cooling power provided by the quench at minimum conventional quench pressures, to eventually provide a tempered and formed glass sheet upon cooling throughout to ambient temperature.
3 more elements
A method for quenching formed glass sheets comprising:
- moving a quench ring into a bending station to receive a formed glass sheet that is heated to a quenching temperature;
- moving the formed glass sheet on the quench ring from the bending station into an open quench to a quench location where the entire formed glass sheet is between lower and upper quench heads that are operable to supply cooling power by upward and downward gas flows for quenching the formed glass sheet, and the quench then being moved to a closed position;
- initially supplying through the lower and upper quench heads upward and downward initial gas flows for about 0.5 to 1.3 seconds at initial conventional quench pressures to initially quench the entire formed glass sheet on the quench ring while in the quench location;
- then supplying, through the same lower and upper quench heads through which the initial gas flows are supplied, upward and downward subsequent gas flows for 0.5 to 4 seconds at increased pressures 50 to 100% greater than the initial conventional quench pressures to further quench the entire formed glass sheet while still in the quench location without any conveyance therefrom after the initial quenching;
- thereafter supplying upward and downward gas flows to the formed glass sheet with decreased cooling power, that is no greater than 70% of the cooling power provided by the quench at minimum conventional quench pressures, to eventually provide a tempered and formed glass sheet upon cooling throughout to ambient temperature;
- and
- opening the quench and delivering the quenched glass sheet from the quench.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.