GB1299384A - Improved furnace apparatus for bending glass plates for windshields or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1299384 Glass bending furnaces A ARTAMA 12 Dec 1969 [21 Aug 1969] 60881/69 Heading C1M [Also in Division F4] An electrically heated furnace through which glass plates to be bent to the shape of a form (not shown) are conveyed on wheeled form carriers 8, comprises successive preheating chambers 1, 2, main heating chamber 3, slow cooling chamber 4 and induced draught air cooling chambers 5-7, a control space 17 being provided between chambers 2 and 3. The form carriers 8 may also be provided with electrical heating means. When a form carrier 8 in preheating chamber 2 is to be loaded into main heating chamber 3, motor 21 is operated to pull the wheeled preheating chambers 1, 2 along runways in the floor towards the chamber 3 by way of crank drive mechanism 22-24 so closing the space 17. A pawl 30 mounted on the chamber 1 pushes against the form carriers in the preheating chambers 1, 2 to move them along with these chambers. The leading carrier in preheating chamber 2 eventually engages with the slidable pawl 37 of a similar lower crank drive mechanism 33-36 which transports the carriers through the fixed chambers 3-7 whilst the preheating chambers 1, 2 are pushed back to recreate the space 17 and allow a further carrier to enter the preheating chamber 1. The carrier introduced in chamber 3 pushes each carrier in the chambers 3-7 one stage further along and discharges a cooled carrier from chamber 7 past brake 44 to be unloaded and then recycled. The heating and cooling times and temperatures may be manually or programme controlled. Cooperating rolls and rails (12, Fig. 3, not shown) or grooved rails are used to guide the carriers through the chambers. An hydraulic drive may replace the crank drive mechanisms. A safety device is provided to stop movement of the chambers 1, 2 if the space 17 is obstructed. The chambers are provided with a steel framework and are covered with sheet-steel.