Apparatus and method for molten glass flow control along an isopipe weir

• US 10,421,682 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Golyatin, Vladislav Yuryevich, Shay, George Clinton, Whedon, William Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Lisa L
• Application Number:
  US14/784,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/06 comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/00 Buildings or parts thereof walls, panels B32B2607/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/00 Electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/08 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 17/02 Forming molten glass coated with coloured layers; Forming molten glass of different compositions or layers; Forming molten glass comprising reinforcements or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 17/064 by the overflow downdraw fusion process; Isopipes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 40/57 Improving the yield, e-g- reduction of reject rates

Abstract

An apparatus for fusion draw glass manufacture, including at least one isopipe (110) having at least one weir (114); and a fluid discharge member in proximity to the at least one weir (114) of the at least one isopipe (110), the fluid discharge member is in fluid communication with a remote fluid source. The fluid source can be a source of a gas, liquid, solid or radiation. The fluid can be heated or cooled. At least one of the temperature properties, flow properties and thickness properties of the molten glass can be locally changed with the discharged fluid. A method of forming a glass-glass laminate sheet and uses of the laminate sheet are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for fusion draw glass manufacture, comprising:

at least one isopipe having a first weir and a second weir;

a first plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members in proximity to an overflow surface of the first weir of the at least one isopipe; and

a second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members in proximity to an overflow surface of the second weir of the at least one isopipe,

wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members are in communication with a remote source,

wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members discharge a fluid, radiation, or both,

wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members are independently operable to locally change at least one of;

the temperature of a molten glass overflowing the first or second weir;

the flow properties of a molten glass overflowing the first or second weir;

the thickness properties of a molten glass overflowing the first or second weir;

or a combination thereof; and

wherein the first plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members comprise a first configuration different from a second configuration of the second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the remote source comprises at least one of a gas, a solid, radiation, or combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members deliver a heated fluid, a cooled fluid, or combinations thereof, to the surface of the molten glass overflowing the first and second weirs.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members discharge fluid from the remote source to a plurality of locations on the surface of molten glass overflowing the first and second weirs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members discharge a fluid, radiation, or both, in a plurality of locations on the surface of molten glass overflowing the first and second weirs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members discharge a fluid stream comprising a cross-sectional shape selected from at least one of:

a point;

a spot or circle;

an oval, a non-symmetrical ellipsoid or egg shape profile;

a parabola, a hyperbola, a triangle or wedge shaped profile, a rectangle, or combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members comprise a tube, a pipe, an air knife, an air curtain, or combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure that substantially surrounds the at least one isopipe and the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members are independently adjustable to a plurality of different orientations.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plurality of orientationally adjustable discharge members independently operate to provide a first thickness of molten glass overflowing the first weir that is different from a second thickness of molten glass overflowing the second weir.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one isopipe is a clad isopipe producing first and second clad glass streams, wherein the apparatus further comprises a core isopipe producing a core glass stream, wherein the core isopipe is surmounted by the clad isopipe, and wherein the core glass stream is fused between the first and second clad glass streams.