# US 8,464,554 B2 · Method for stabilizing a column of molten material

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- Number: US 8,464,554 B2
- Document ID: US8464554B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/031,685
- Filed: 2011-02-22
- Published: 2012-02-23
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-25
- Assignees: Corning Incorporated
- Applicants: Allan M. Fredholm; Laurent Joubaud
- Inventors: Allan M. Fredholm; Laurent Joubaud
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464554B2

## CPC

- C03B 17/04: Forming tubes or rods by drawing from stationary or rotating tools or from forming nozzles
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES

## Abstract

An apparatus for stabilizing a flow of a viscous material, such as a molten glass or glass ceramic material in a tube or rod forming process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a stabilization member through which the molten glass is passed after leaving the nozzle of a forming vessel. The stabilization member is positioned a finite distance below the nozzle. The column of viscous material is supported by a wall of the stabilization member, or by a gaseous film disposed between the column and the stabilization member. A method of stabilizing the flow of viscous material after it leaves the nozzle during a drawing process is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of stabilizing a column of a viscous liquid material comprising:
a. flowing a viscous liquid material from an opening in a vessel to form a column of the viscous liquid material, wherein the viscous liquid material is a precursor material for forming a glass or glass ceramic;
b. drawing the column of viscous liquid material vertically downward through an atmosphere;
c. drawing the column of viscous liquid material into a passage defined by a stabilizing member and including an inlet orifice and an exit orifice, the channel being disposed about the column of viscous liquid material; and
d. wherein a viscosity of the viscous liquid material at the opening is less than 30 kP and a viscosity of the column at the exit orifice of the stabilizing member is at least 1013 Poise.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising injecting a gas into an interior of the column of viscous liquid material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising contacting the column of viscous liquid material with at least a portion of the stabilizing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising separating the column of viscous liquid material from the stabilizing member with a gas film.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling a temperature of the column of viscous liquid material in the stabilizing member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the column of viscous liquid at the inlet orifice is less than a diameter of the inlet orifice.

### Claim 7

A method of stabilizing a column of viscous material flowing from a nozzle comprising:
flowing a viscous material from a nozzle to form a column of viscous material, wherein the viscous liquid material is a precursor material for forming a glass or glass ceramic and a viscosity of the viscous molten material exiting the nozzle is less than 30 kP;
passing the column of viscous material through a hollow stabilization member disposed below the nozzle; and
wherein a viscosity of the column of viscous material exiting the stabilization member is greater than about 1013 Poise.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising contacting the column of viscous material with at least a portion of an interior of the hollow stabilization member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising separating the column of viscous material from an interior surface of the stabilization member with a gas film.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the stabilization member comprises a porous stabilizing tube and the column of viscous material passes through a hollow interior of the stabilizing tube.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the stabilization member comprises a cooling element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising flowing a cooling fluid through the cooling element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, further comprising injecting a gas into the column of viscous material so that the column of viscous material comprises a hollow interior.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the column of viscous material passes through an ambient atmosphere before entering the stabilization member.