JP2008100879A - Heat resistant metal reinforcement tube, manufacturing apparatus of glass article and manufacturing process of glass article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing apparatus of glass articles smoothly producing a glass plate with reduced defects which is to be mounted in flat displays or the like, a manufacturing process of glass articles using the apparatus and a new heat resistant metal reinforcement tube mounted in the glass manufacturing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The heat resistant metal reinforcement tube 10 is nearly slantingly or vertically arranged and a tube made of a heat resistant metal inside of which glass melt flows. Roughly flange-shaped reinforcement members 20 are installed on outer circumference 11 of the tube within an interval of specified value L(=kD<SP>0.75</SP>×T<SP>0.25</SP>) determined by tube diameter D and tube thickness T. The manufacturing apparatus of glass articles has the heat resistant metal reinforcement tube 10. The manufacturing process of glass articles comprises continuously introducing glass melt to a molding unit through the heat resistant metal reinforcement tube 10 and molding the glass melt into glass articles by the molding unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing plate glass mounted on a flat display or the like and a heat-resistant tubular structural member used in the manufacturing apparatus.

  As a flat display such as a liquid crystal display device, a plate glass that plays a role of displaying an image is required to have high dimensional accuracy and homogeneity. However, the production of this plate glass is generally performed in the following steps. . First, glass raw materials weighed and mixed in advance so as to have a desired glass composition are put into a glass melting furnace in a high temperature state and heated there to obtain molten glass. Subsequently, the molten glass is subjected to a homogenization operation such as stirring to increase the homogeneity, and further, various molding methods are adopted according to the use, the glass composition, and the like to obtain a desired plate glass. In such a manufacturing method, reducing various defects generated in molten glass is indispensable for the production of excellent-quality plate glass. Has been done.

Among various defects in molten glass, one that has been particularly problematic in recent years is fine oxygen bubbles in the molten glass. The oxygen bubble generation mechanism is generally described as follows. When platinum is used as the container wall of the heat-resistant container that retains the molten glass, hydrogen from the moisture in the molten glass permeates through the container wall and is lost to the outside of the container. The oxygen concentration increases in the vicinity of the vessel wall. As a result, oxygen bubble nuclei are formed and grow into bubbles, and oxygen bubbles are mixed into the glass article as defects. Many improvements have been made so far to prevent the mixing of oxygen bubbles in the glass article, and one of them is as described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2. Then, glass, ceramics or the like that shields the permeation of hydrogen may be disposed outside the wall of the platinum container. In Patent Document 1, a coating material having a hydrogen shielding property is applied to the outside of the vessel wall, and in Patent Document 2, hydrogen is filled by filling a molten glass outside the vessel wall by adopting a double tube structure. This is to achieve shielding.
JP 2006-076871 A JP 2003-95663 A

  However, the inventions made so far are not sufficient to obtain glass articles having high dimensional accuracy and surface quality. When adopting a structure such as Patent Document 1, since the outer wall of the vessel wall is covered with a thin shielding film, when the molten glass stays and flows, due to expansion and deformation of the vessel wall, It is necessary to avoid as much as possible that the film peels off or cracks. As for the expansion of the vessel wall, it is difficult to sufficiently cope with the deformation of the vessel wall even if it can be dealt with up to a certain extent by improving the coating structure and the coating composition. Moreover, when it is set as the structure filled with glass outside a vessel wall like patent document 2, in order to ensure the shielding property with respect to hydrogen, it is necessary to fully heat even the state with which the filled glass was fuse | melted. Such a heating operation causes a load that is higher than when the coating is formed on the vessel wall structure, and the vessel wall is more easily deformed. Although it depends on the arrangement state of the tube, when it is necessary to have an inclined arrangement state in which the longitudinal direction of the tube is vertical or nearly vertical, the pressure applied from the molten glass tends to increase accordingly, Accordingly, the vessel wall becomes more easily deformed. If the vessel wall is deformed, it may greatly affect the flow of molten glass, the amount of molding, etc., and it may be difficult to smoothly mold a glass article having high dimensional accuracy.

  The present invention eliminates such problems, and can provide a glass manufacturing apparatus for glass articles that can smoothly manufacture a plate glass mounted on a flat display or the like in a state in which generation of defects is suppressed, and the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a glass article to be used, and a novel refractory metal reinforcing tube mounted on the glass producing apparatus.

  A tube made of a heat-resistant metal which is disposed in a substantially inclined state or a substantially vertical state and in which a molten glass made of an inorganic oxide flows, and a reinforcing member having a substantially flange-like shape on the outer surface of the tube is provided with a tube diameter D and a tube. It is provided with an interval within a predetermined value determined by the following relational expression (k is a proportionality constant) depending on the thickness dimension T.

  Here, the tube is made of a heat-resistant metal which is disposed in a substantially inclined state or a substantially vertical state and in which molten glass made of an inorganic oxide flows, and a reinforcing member having a substantially flange-like shape is provided on the outer surface of the tube. It is as follows that it is provided at intervals within a predetermined value determined by the following relational expression (k is a proportional constant) determined by D and the tube thickness dimension T. That is, an oxide glass in a high-temperature molten state of a material whose glass composition can be displayed in terms of inorganic oxide is used for flowing inside, that is, a metal tube material having heat resistance used in a glass manufacturing apparatus, Heat resistance for the purpose of reinforcement, which has an external shape similar to a flange on the outer surface of the pipe material, which is used with the tube axis direction, that is, the long direction of the tube arranged in a substantially inclined state or substantially vertical state Represents a member in which three or more reinforcing members are attached to one pipe member at an interval within a predetermined value determined by the relational expression of Formula 1 determined by the pipe diameter D and the pipe thickness dimension T. .

  The substantially flange-like shape is a shape that exhibits a similar appearance to a flange generally called a flange, which is formed by projecting a pipe end part into a bowl shape when the pipe is joined to another pipe or the like. The substantially flange-like reinforcing member is not only responsible for coupling with other pipes and the like, but is attached to improve the high-temperature strength of the side surface of the pipe. Therefore, the substantially flange-like reinforcing member is not attached only to the pipe end, but is attached to any place other than the pipe end, that is, an arbitrary place such as the central portion of the pipe and its periphery. However, the substantially flange-like reinforcing member according to the present invention has the function of reinforcing the original tube, and the tube end portion is protruded so as to have a bowl shape when the tube is coupled to other tubes. Needless to say, it may be a flange.

  The structure, size, shape or material of the substantially flange-like reinforcing member is particularly limited as long as it has a performance capable of reinforcing a heat-resistant metal pipe and has a desired durability. There is nothing. The refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention is not limited as long as it can exhibit the necessary functions with respect to its cross-sectional shape and dimensions.

  The present inventor conducted research on a method for improving the strength of a heat-resistant tube material used when molten glass flows from one tank constituting the glass melting furnace into the other tank, and reinforced By performing the evaluation in a state where the location of the member and the shape of the member are changed, the strength at high temperature of the heat-resistant metal pipe material can be made sufficiently high, and it is necessary for the production of the heat-resistant metal pipe material. The present invention has been found as a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube having high performance that does not require a large burden as a cost.

  The locations where the substantially flange-like reinforcing members according to the present invention are attached may be provided at intervals within a predetermined value determined by the tube diameter D and the tube thickness dimension T, which are specifically as follows. It is. That is, the location where the substantially flange-like reinforcing member is attached is determined by the equivalent diameter D calculated from the thickness T of the tube and the size of the outer cross-section of the tube. The pitch width L of the attachment location is expressed by the equation (2) by both the thickness dimension T of the pipe material and the equivalent circle diameter D of the cross section of the pipe material.

  That is, the formula 2 is expressed by a value obtained by multiplying the product of the equivalent diameter D of the circle by the 0.75th power of the equivalent circle diameter D and the 0.25th power of the tube thickness by the proportional constant k. If the attachment position of the reinforcing member is determined in the tube axis direction with an interval equal to or less than the predetermined value L determined by the equivalent circle diameter D and the tube thickness dimension T, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention is used. Indicates that it is applicable.

  In addition, Expression 3 represents an expression for deriving the coefficient k in Expression 2. This proportional constant k is an anonymous number, that is, a unitless number, but since the constant 4.22 represents the head pressure difference at the deepest depth from the glass liquid surface at the position where the reinforcing member is attached, the distance from the liquid surface Is expressed in metric units and is divided by the anonymous number of the values, that is, the value P excluding the unit.

  The value of L in the equation (2) is the length of the tube of the attached interface joined to the tube of the next reinforcing member from the center of the tube axis of the attached interface joined to the tube of one reinforcing member, that is, the longitudinal direction. It represents the distance to the center position in the scale direction. The equivalent circle diameter D is obtained by calculating the diameter of a circle corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the outer cross section perpendicular to the tube axis of the pipe material, that is, the longitudinal direction. In addition, the thickness dimension T of the pipe material is obtained by measuring the average thickness dimension of the pipe material.

  Regarding the measurement of the attachment interval L of the reinforcing member, the equivalent circle diameter D, and the thickness dimension T of the pipe material according to the refractory metal reinforcing pipe of the present invention, a measuring instrument or measuring instrument having a predetermined accuracy calibrated by a method such as JIS. What is necessary is just to measure by using a tool, a measuring device, etc. suitably.

  As long as the interval is within the attachment interval L of the reinforcing member limited by the formula (1), any interval is applicable to the refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention. Narrowing the installation interval of the reinforcement members attached to the tie will require more heat-resistant metal material required to construct the heat-resistant metal reinforcement tube, so it is costly to reduce the installation interval more than necessary. It becomes unnecessary and expensive. From such a viewpoint, the interval between the reinforcing members is preferably 0.01 m or more, more preferably 0.02 m or more, and still more preferably 0.05 m or more. Preferably it is 0.07 m or more.

  The interval between the attachment portions of the substantially flange-like reinforcing members according to the present invention is not necessarily the same interval, and for the portion where a large load is applied, the interval between the attachment portions of the substantially flange-like reinforcement members is set to be the same. The structure can be narrowed. Further, the substantially flange-like reinforcing member according to the present invention does not have to have the same shape and size with respect to one pipe material, and the shape and size may be arbitrarily changed.

  For example, when the tube shaft of the refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention is used by being disposed in a substantially vertical direction, the molten glass flows inside, so that the lower tube material surface is subjected to a larger load. . For this reason, on the lower side of the refractory metal reinforcing tube, the interval between the reinforcing member attachment positions is reduced, while on the upper side of the refractory metal reinforcing tube, the interval is wider than the lower side or the reinforcing member is provided. You may make it the state which does not.

  In addition, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe of the present invention does not prevent the use of other reinforcing means in addition to the substantially flange-like reinforcing member on the outer surface of the pipe. That is, it is possible to employ a configuration that further reinforces as necessary. Here, the reinforcing member employed in addition to the substantially flange-like reinforcing member may reinforce the pipe or may further reinforce the substantially flange-like reinforcing member.

  As the reinforcing means employed as necessary, a configuration such as a plate-shaped object, a tubular object, a support, a linear object, or a film-like object can be used as appropriate.

  Moreover, if the reinforcing member has a bent portion in addition to the above, the reinforcing tube made of the heat-resistant metal according to the present invention has higher reinforcing properties than a simple bowl-shaped structure, and is high even at a high temperature of 1000 ° C. or higher. It can be set as the heat resistant metal reinforcement pipe | tube which can implement | achieve structural durability.

  Here, the reinforcing member has a bent portion means that a part of the reinforcing member has a folded appearance, a folding angle and a folding position of the part that exhibits the folded appearance, and the number of foldings. Although it does not specifically limit about, Care is required so that the intensity | strength of a bending location may not become weak.

As a method for forming the bent portion, R surface processing or C surface processing having an arbitrary curvature radius may be performed by adopting various methods such as die bending by press, bending, roll bending, or roll forming. Is possible. Further, the bent portion only needs to have a curved appearance, and is not necessarily formed by bending. That is, the bent portion may be formed by other forming methods such as welding and pressing. As the bent portion of the strength-retaining member, for example, a flange-like shape disposed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing pipe This corresponds to the case where the center of the heel or the vicinity thereof is bent at a predetermined angle such as 90 degrees, 60 degrees, and 30 degrees.

  In addition to the above, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention can be further improved in strength as long as the reinforcing member is provided with another reinforcing component.

  In addition, the provision of another reinforcing component to the reinforcing member means that a reinforcing component that further reinforces the reinforcing member attached to the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe is directly disposed. This arrangement method is not particularly limited, and any shape and size of the reinforcing component may be used as long as a desired effect can be obtained.

  In addition, if the reinforcing member according to the present invention has a through hole in addition to the bent structure, the glass is formed by using the through hole when the glass is filled outside the heat resistant metal reinforcing tube. It can be filled without.

  The through hole is not particularly limited in terms of its size, shape, and number unless the structural strength of the reinforcing member is extremely weak. A well-known processing method can be arbitrarily employ | adopted also about the formation method of a through-hole.

  As the through hole of the reinforcing member, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are formed in one flange-like shape portion at equal intervals on a flange-like ridge disposed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement pipe. Or the substantially circular through-hole etc. which were attached to about eight places correspond.

  Furthermore, the reinforcing member according to the present invention can be provided with a protruding structure or a hollow structure in addition to the above-described bending structure or through hole. As for the protrusion structure and the recess structure, the number, the attachment position, the size and the shape thereof are not limited as long as they do not significantly affect the strength of the reinforcing member, similarly to the bent structure and the through hole.

  Various methods can be employed for the method of forming the protrusion structure and the recess structure, and it is possible to use a single method or a combination of a plurality of methods as necessary.

  Regarding the method of attaching the substantially flange-like reinforcing member according to the present invention to the outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe, various joining methods such as TIG welding (laser welding, laser welding, plasma welding, gas welding or diffusion welding) are used. Methods can be employed as needed. However, when performing such various types of welding, sufficient care is required so that the surface shape of the welded part or its vicinity is not deformed and does not greatly affect the structural strength.

  In addition to the above, the refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention can have a structure having high chemical durability in addition to high high-temperature strength if the refractory metal is a platinum group metal or a platinum alloy. It is possible to contribute to the production of a stable glass article over a period of time.

  Here, the refractory metal is a platinum group metal or a platinum alloy means that all or a part of the refractory metal reinforcing tube is made of platinum (that is, Pt) or an alloy containing platinum.

  Any additive may be used as long as it is a platinum group metal or a platinum alloy. For example, in addition to ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, hafnium, yttrium, zirconium, calcium, magnesium, gold, tungsten, alumina, zirconia, silica, magnesia, calcia, and the like can be used in appropriate amounts.

  The purity of the platinum group metal or platinum alloy used here can be selected arbitrarily depending on the glass to be melted and its application. That is, an extremely high purity metal material may be used, or a metal material having a large impurity content may be used.

  In addition to the above, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention is provided with a heat-resistant coating disposed on the outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube, even if there is a restriction on the location, Since high performance can be realized by securing a minimum structural volume without increasing the equipment volume, an efficient equipment can be constructed. In addition, oxygen can be effectively shielded by appropriately selecting the coating.

  Here, a heat-resistant coating is provided on the outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube means that a heat-resistant film material having a thickness of several microns to several mm is attached to the outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube. It means that it is in a state. The structure of the film is made of glass, ceramics, metal or glass ceramics, etc. The structure may be a single layer or multiple layers, and various shapes of aggregates, nets, etc. can be used in combination. is there.

  In addition to the above, the refractory metal multiplex tube of the present invention can be incorporated into a glass article to be produced as long as the refractory metal reinforcement tube is disposed in the refractory metal outer tube so as to exhibit a multiple tube structure. It is possible to efficiently suppress the mixing of fine oxygen bubbles.

  Here, the heat-resistant metal multiple tube is arranged in the heat-resistant metal outer tube so that the heat-resistant metal multiple tube has a multi-tube structure. By arranging as described above, it means that the structure is a multiple structure.

  Any other refractory metal pipes constituting the multi-pipe structure may be used as long as they are made of different materials. Further, by arranging bricks such as ceramics and refractory materials at appropriate positions on the outside of the metal pipe, it is possible to improve heat storage and strength.

  In addition to the above, the refractory metal reinforced tube of the present invention protects the refractory metal reinforcing tube if any of glass, glass ceramics and ceramics is disposed in the gap between the refractory metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube. In addition to the function to perform, functions such as maintaining the temperature of the molten glass and suppressing foaming can be provided.

  Here, any one of glass, glass ceramics and ceramics is arranged in the gap between the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube, so that the molten glass or solid glass surrounds the outside of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube, Furthermore, the presence of crystallized glass means that the structure is filled with an appropriate amount of a ceramic material. Of course, this does not prevent the addition of additives other than glass, glass ceramics and ceramics in addition to these glasses, glass ceramics and ceramics.

  Various methods such as filling, coating, spraying, pressure bonding, and pouring can be employed as a method for arranging the above various materials in the gap between the heat resistant metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube.

  For example, when glass is filled in the gap between the refractory metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube, a method of filling the gap formed into a double-pipe structure with glass cullet previously melted, cooled and pulverized may be adopted. In addition, by using a spraying device or the like, a film material having a desired composition such as glass or glass ceramic coating is formed on the outer periphery of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube, and as a result, the structure is filled. May be.

  In addition, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention includes a temperature measuring device such as a thermocouple, a molten glass flow rate measuring device, a contained gas measuring device, a molten glass sampling device, a molten glass stirring device, and a raw material input as necessary. Various auxiliary devices such as a device, a generated gas exhaust device, a bubbling device, a molten glass discharge device or a molten glass mixing device can be provided alone or in plural.

  The glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes any one of the above-mentioned heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipes and a constituent tank in which molten glass in which the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipes are disposed is retained.

  Having any one of the above-mentioned heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipes or heat-resistant metal multiple pipes, and a constituent tank in which molten glass in which the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipes or heat-resistant metal multiple pipes are disposed is an inorganic oxide A tube made of a heat-resistant metal in which a molten glass made of the material flows, and a reinforcing member having a substantially flange-like shape is provided on the outer surface of the tube at intervals within a value determined by the relational expression of the number 1 of the tube diameter. It shows that it consists of a refractory metal reinforcing tube and a constituent tank in which the molten glass in which the refractory metal reinforcing tube is disposed stays.

  The constituent tank in which the molten glass in which the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe or the heat-resistant metal multiple pipe is disposed may have any function. For example, a melting tank, a clarification tank, a molding tank, a homogenization tank, or the like is considered as a specific example of the constituent tank.

  About the number of the heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipes or the heat-resistant metal multiple pipes mounted on the glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the size, the arrangement state, etc., depending on the size of the glass article, the scale of the glass manufacturing apparatus, etc. Can be determined arbitrarily.

  The glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a raw material charging device, a heating device, an exhaust device, a purifying device, a cooling device, a temperature measuring device, a gas analyzing device, and a temperature measuring device in addition to a refractory metal reinforcing tube or a refractory metal multiple tube. , Flow rate measuring device, furnace pressure measuring device, energizing device, bubbler, melting tank (or melting tank), homogenization tank, clarification tank, feeder, spout, riser, fore bay, etc. The glass raw material thrown in by the apparatus is made to react and vitrify using various heat sources such as gas combustion and electric heating, and the physical operation to remove fine bubbles during the vitrification reaction existing in the molten glass is enabled. It has equipment such as a bubbler and a stirring device. A refractory metal reinforcing tube or a refractory metal multiple tube is a member in which molten glass flows and stays inside, and houses components that connect the above-mentioned tanks or a device specialized for a specific function such as stirring. It can be used as a member.

  The glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention can manufacture various glass articles. For example, flat glass mounted on liquid crystal display devices, flat glass mounted on plasma displays, window glass for building materials, cover glass for housing solid-state image sensors such as CCD and CMOS, optical filter glass, X fibers and γ rays Medical glass materials that shield various electromagnetic waves such as, glass tube materials for backlights mounted in liquid crystal display devices, various functional powder glass materials, reed switches, diodes, mercury switches, thermist glass, etc., Glass materials for optical parts such as microlenses used in the information and communication field, glass components for building materials such as glass blocks, crystallized glass base materials, various glass fiber materials for composite materials used for FRP, GRC, etc. Can be manufactured.

  Further, in the glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the above, the reinforcing member of the refractory metal reinforcing tube or the refractory metal multiple tube is connected to the constituent tank via the connecting portion with the adjacent constituent tank. For example, the refractory metal reinforcing pipe or the refractory metal multiple pipe can be firmly connected to the constituent tank, and even when used in a high temperature state, the connecting portion is difficult to weaken for a long time.

  The flange attached to the outer periphery of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe means that the reinforcing member of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe or the heat-resistant metal multiple pipe is connected to the constituent tank through the connecting portion with the adjacent constituent tank. Reinforcing member made of heat-resistant metal by having a structural part connected to the above-described constitution tank of the glass manufacturing apparatus directly or indirectly, in which a reinforcing member having a shape or a multi-tube structure is formed It shows that it is in the state which strengthened the connection of No ..

Having a structure part directly connected to the above-described configuration tank of the glass manufacturing apparatus,
This shows that the flange-like reinforcing member attached to the outer periphery of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe is structured to be welded to the constituent tank.

  Moreover, having the structure part indirectly connected with the above-mentioned constituent tank of the glass manufacturing apparatus means that the reinforcing member of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe or the heat-resistant metal multiple pipe is connected with the reinforcing member of the constituent tank. This indicates that a structure in which the metal reinforcing pipe or the refractory metal multi-pipe and the constituent tank are firmly connected to each other is obtained without being directly connected. In this case, various methods can be adopted as a method of connecting the reinforcing member of the metal reinforcing pipe or the refractory metal multi-pipe and the reinforcing member of the constituent tank. You may give means, such as a screw stop.

  The method for producing a glass article of the present invention is characterized in that molten glass is continuously led out from a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube to a molding apparatus by the glass article production apparatus, and the glass article is molded by the molding apparatus. To do.

  With the above glass article manufacturing apparatus, the molten glass is continuously led out from the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube to the molding apparatus, and when the glass article is molded by the molding apparatus, the molten glass made of inorganic oxide flows inside. Mounted with heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe, which is made of heat-resistant metal, and has a substantially flange-like reinforcing member attached to the outer surface of the pipe at intervals within the value determined by the relational expression of the above-mentioned equation (1). The molten glass is caused to flow into the inside of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube using the glass manufacturing apparatus, and the glass in the molten state is continuously guided to the molding apparatus, and the desired shape is formed by the predetermined molding apparatus. It represents forming as a glass article.

The glass manufacturing method for a glass article of the present invention can be applied to the glass article, the glass material, the amount of the glass article required for the manufacturing, etc., if the molding apparatus is either a downdraw molding apparatus or a float molding apparatus. It is possible to select an optimal molding method according to the above, and it is suitable for producing a plate glass of particularly excellent quality.
Down-draw molding device Here, the molding device is either a down-draw molding device or a float molding device. The device for molding molten glass into a glass article is melted by drawing the glass downward. Either a down-draw molding device that cools the glass to a solid glass and molds it, or a float molding device that casts the molten glass above the metallic tin melted at a high temperature and molds it into a plate shape. It means that there is. The downdraw molding apparatus can be a molding apparatus such as an overflow downdraw or slot downdraw, and can be used particularly when a sheet glass is molded.

  Further, the glass material produced by the glass production method of the glass article of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, if it is a plate glass, alkali-free glass, borosilicate glass, aluminosilicate glass, alkaline earth-containing material Glass or the like is preferable.

(1) As described above, the refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention is disposed in a substantially inclined state or substantially vertical state, and is a refractory metal tube material in which molten glass made of an inorganic oxide flows,
Since a substantially flange-like reinforcing member is attached to the outer surface of the pipe at intervals within a predetermined value determined by the following relational expression (k is a proportional constant) based on the pipe diameter D and the pipe thickness dimension T, Even when the longitudinal direction is vertical or nearly vertical, the tube is not easily deformed by the pressure applied to the tube, and a stable molten glass flow rate can be secured.

  (2) Moreover, if the reinforcing member has a bent portion, the reinforcing tube made of a heat-resistant metal according to the present invention has higher reinforcement than a simple ridge-shaped structure, and has a high temperature of 1000 ° C. or higher. In particular, since it can realize high structural durability, it is particularly preferable as a member made of a refractory metal for manufacturing a glass material that requires high-temperature melting.

  (3) Furthermore, if the heat-resistant metal is a platinum group metal or a platinum alloy, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention exhibits high performance in terms of chemical durability at high temperatures in addition to strength performance. is there.

  (4) The heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention has a structure that suppresses the generation of oxygen bubbles in the molten glass as long as a heat-resistant coating is disposed on the outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube. It can be used as a constituent member of an apparatus for manufacturing a glass article.

  (5) The refractory metal multiplex tube of the present invention has high stability even at high temperatures as long as the refractory metal reinforcing tube is disposed in the refractory metal outer tube so as to exhibit a multiple tube structure. It becomes possible to continue maintaining the effect of suppressing the generation of oxygen bubbles over a long period of time.

  (6) The refractory metal reinforced tube of the present invention is a refractory metal reinforcing tube as long as any one of glass, glass ceramics and ceramics is arranged in the gap between the refractory metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube. It is possible to cope with not only the strength of the glass but also the cracks on the tube surface and the weakening of the connecting part, which are related to the thermal performance such as animal heat and expandability, and stabilize the manufacturing conditions of the glass article Is possible.

  (7) A glass article manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a molten glass in which any one of the above-mentioned heat-resistant metal reinforcing tubes or heat-resistant metal multiple tubes and a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube or heat-resistant metal multiple tubes are provided. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture glass articles for various uses under stable manufacturing conditions, and it is possible to improve manufacturing efficiency by suppressing troubles during manufacturing.

  (8) Further, in the glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the reinforcing member of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube or the heat-resistant metal multiple tube is connected to the constituent tank through a connecting portion with the adjacent constituent tank. If so, the problems that occur due to the connecting parts between the tanks constituting the manufacturing apparatus are reduced, the flow rate of the molten glass is stabilized when the molten glass is flowed, and defects such as bubbles are included in the molten glass. It is possible to reduce the risk of being damaged.

  (9) The method for producing a glass article of the present invention is a method in which molten glass is continuously led out from a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube to a molding apparatus using the glass article production apparatus, and the glass article is molded by the molding apparatus. Therefore, since glass articles are manufactured in a situation in which the flow rate of the molten glass is less likely to change, the molding quality such as the molding dimensions of the glass article is less likely to change, and the number of glass defects generated due to flow rate fluctuations is suppressed. Is possible.

  (10) Further, in the method for producing a glass article of the present invention, if the molding apparatus is either a downdraw molding apparatus or a float molding apparatus, the glass sheet used in various applications is smoothly molded. It is possible to supply abundantly high-quality plate glass to customers.

  Hereinafter, a heat resistant metal reinforcing tube of the present invention, a glass article manufacturing apparatus on which the heat resistant metal reinforcing pipe is mounted, and a glass article manufacturing method using the glass article manufacturing apparatus will be described based on examples.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a refractory metal reinforcing tube of the present invention. This refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 is used to flow and supply molten glass to be formed as a glass composition used as a glass article for a flat panel display from a melting tank to a homogenizing tank. It is. In FIG. 1, substantially flange-like platinum rhodium alloy reinforcing members 20 are spaced at intervals of L ₁ and L ₂ perpendicular to the tube axis at five locations around the outer surface 11 of a platinum rhodium alloy refractory metal reinforcing tube 10. , L ₃ and L ₄ are attached by plasma welding. The equivalent circle diameter D of the outer cross section perpendicular to the tube axis of the refractory metal reinforcing pipe 10 is 200 mm, the thickness dimension T of the refractory metal reinforcing pipe 10 is 0.8 mm, and its long dimension is 1000 mm. 1 m.

Since the long dimension is 1 m, P is 1, and the coefficient k is 4.22 in the formula (2). Therefore, from the value of the equivalent circle diameter D and the value of the thickness dimension T of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10 When the upper limit value of the reinforcing member attachment interval L is calculated by the equation (1), the value is 212.3 mm. Therefore, in order for the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 to have a sufficiently high strength, the interval between the reinforcing members of 212.3 mm or less may be set. Therefore, the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 has the intervals L ₁ and L _2. , L ₃ and L ₄ are each attached to the outer periphery of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10 so that the length is 200 mm.

  FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 of FIG. As can be seen from this figure, a bent portion 21 is formed in the substantially flange-like reinforcing member 20 attached to the outer peripheral surface 11 of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 by plasma welding. The reinforcing member 20 has a shape bent at 90 ° by the bent portion 21.

  Next, a glass article manufacturing apparatus provided with the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10 and a glass article manufacturing method using the glass article manufacturing apparatus will be described.

  As described above, the glass article manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises an overflow downdraw molding apparatus for molding a glass article for a flat panel display, and a homogenization tank and a melting tank connected thereto. The refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 of the present invention is such that the longitudinal direction of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 is substantially vertical between the homogenization tank and the melting tank and between the homogenization tank and the molding apparatus. Are arranged and connected to each other, and serve to flow the molten glass from the melting tank to the homogenization tank and to flow from the homogenization tank to the molding apparatus. In the homogenization tank, a heat-resistant stirrer having a function of bringing the molten glass into a homogeneous state by physically stirring the molten glass in the heterogeneous state of the coarse molten state is provided in the center of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10. It has been.

  In the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10, the outer periphery of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10 is filled with molten glass so that fine oxygen bubbles are not generated in the molten glass on the inner surface of the side periphery. However, by adopting such a structure, a large pressure is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10, and the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10 is reinforced in a substantially flange-like shape as described above so that deformation does not occur. The members are arranged at intervals within a predetermined value determined by the tube diameter D and the tube thickness dimension T.

  A method for producing a plate glass for a flat panel display using a glass article producing apparatus having such a structure is as follows.

  First, various glass raw materials are weighed and mixed in advance so that the glass composition is determined to have various properties such as chemical durability, expansion coefficient, and density required for flat glass for flat panel displays. The mixed glass raw material is continuously fed into the melting tank of the glass production device from the glass raw material charging device.

  The glass raw material thrown into the melting tank is heated to a high temperature by a heating device disposed in the melting tank to cause a vitrification reaction, and becomes a crude molten glass containing carbon dioxide gas or the like. The coarse molten glass flows from the melting tank to the homogenizing tank by flowing through the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 10 of the present invention, and is stirred by a stirrer in the homogenizing tank to become a homogeneous molten glass.

  And the molten glass which became a homogeneous state flows in into an overflow downdraw molding apparatus continuously by flowing the refractory metal reinforcement pipe | tube 10 from a homogenization tank. The overflow down-drawing plate glass forming apparatus has a glass supply groove having a bowl shape with an upper surface opened at the top. The molten glass that has flowed into the glass supply groove temporarily stays in the glass supply groove, then overflows from the two ridges at the top of the side walls, and further has a substantially wedge shape sandwiched between the guides on the side walls. Since it flows down on the two outer surfaces each formed, and merges at the lower end, the plate glass is formed by stretching it downward. The plate glass formed in this way has high homogeneity without being mixed with non-homogeneous causes such as oxygen bubbles after being homogenized in a homogenization tank, and further, a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube Since the flow rate of the molten glass flowing through 10 is not hindered by the deformation of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 10, it is molded under stable conditions and has high dimensional accuracy and surface smoothness.

  [Embodiment 2] As another embodiment of the present invention, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 of the present invention is used as a working tank containing a stirrer used in physically homogenizing a heterogeneous portion in molten glass. An example where is used.

  In FIG. 3, a screw-type stirrer 30 as a stirrer is disposed in the center of a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 made of platinum-rhodium 10% as a working layer. Represents only. This stirring device has a glass supply pipe (not shown) on the upper side and a glass delivery pipe (not shown) on the lower side, and stirs the molten glass so that it is in a homogeneous state efficiently. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface 51 of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 should not be deformed even when used at a high temperature of 1000 ° C. or higher for a long period of time. For this reason, reinforcing members 60 and 70 are provided on the outer peripheral surface 51 of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 50. Here, among the reinforcing members 60 and 70, especially the reinforcing member 70 is arranged at the deepest position of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 made of zirconia-reinforced platinum alloy material, unlike the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50. A material having a thickness twice as thick as that of the reinforcing member 60 made of the same material as that of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 disposed at the other three locations is used.

The diameter D of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 50 used in this stirrer is 350 mm, the thickness dimension T is 1 mm, and the longitudinal dimension thereof is 2000 mm. In addition, the value of the coefficient k in the formula 2 is 2.11 because P is 2. And the attachment interval L of the reinforcing members 60 and 70 is 170.7 mm according to the formula (1). Therefore, the distance L ₅ between the reinforcing member 70 arranged at the lowermost position and the reinforcing member 60 on the reinforcing member 70 is set to 100 mm, which is smaller than the upper limit 170.7 mm of the attachment distance L. Further, the distance L ₆ between the third reinforcing member 60 from the bottom and the second reinforcing member 60 is smaller than the upper limit 170.7 mm of the attachment distance L, and the distance L ₅ between the strong member 70 and the reinforcing member 60 above it. Larger than 150 mm. Similarly, the distance L ₇ between the fourth reinforcing member 60 and the third reinforcing member 60 from the bottom is 170 mm.

Further, both the reinforcing members 60 and 70 are formed with a bent portion 61. At the bent portion 61, the reinforcing members 60 and 70 are bent 90 degrees. Since such a structure is adopted, the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 50 can realize stable stirring performance without deformation of the outer peripheral surface even when used at a high temperature for a long time. 3] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a different reinforcing member structure is employed on the outer peripheral surface of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55.

  First, FIG. 4A has a double tube structure, and has a through-hole 81 in a substantially flange-like reinforcing member 80 attached to the outer peripheral surface 56 of a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55 corresponding to the inner tube. It is what. The substantially flange-like reinforcing member 80 also has a bent portion 82. Further, it is assumed that glass is filled between the outer tube 30 having the double tube structure and the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55, and oxygen bubbles are prevented from being generated in the molten glass in the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55. It is used in the state to do.

Also, the attachment interval of the substantially flange-like reinforcing member 80 attached to the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55 is as follows.
The diameter D of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 is 550 mm, the thickness dimension T is 0.8 mm, and the longitudinal dimension thereof is 1500 mm. Therefore, in the equation (1), the value of the coefficient k is 2.81, the upper limit L of the attachment interval obtained by the equation (1) is 301.8 mm, and the actual attachment interval L ₈ is 170 mm shorter than this. It is said.

  When the glass is filled between the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55 that is the inner tube and the outer tube 30 and is used in a state of being heated to 1000 ° C. or more, the purpose is to efficiently fill the glass without a gap. Thus, the through hole 81 can be used. Since the glass is filled through the through hole 81, it is possible to reliably fill even a portion where the glass is difficult to be filled. By adopting such a structure of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55, it is possible not only to suppress the generation of oxygen bubbles, but also to deform even if the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 is held at a high temperature for a long time. And has high strength stability.

  [Embodiment 4] FIG. 4B shows a substantially flange-like reinforcing member 90 attached to the outer peripheral surface 56 of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 at a predetermined interval by plasma welding. The fragmentary sectional view at the time of employ | adopting what has the bending part 91 which exhibits the structure of a type | mold is represented. By adopting the structure of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 provided with the reinforcing member 90 as described above, an even stronger structure can be realized.

Further, the attachment interval of the substantially flange-like reinforcing member 90 attached to the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube 55 is as follows.
The diameter D of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 is 550 mm, the thickness dimension T is 0.8 mm, and the longitudinal dimension thereof is 1500 mm. Therefore, the value of the coefficient k in the formula 1 is 2.81, and the upper limit L of the mounting interval obtained by the formula 1 is 301.8 mm as in the third embodiment. interval L ₉ are shorter than this 210mm.

  [Embodiment 5] Further, with reference to FIG. 4C, a platinum rhodium reinforcing member 90 having a substantially flange-like bent portion 91 attached to the outer peripheral surface 56 of the refractory metal reinforcing tube 55 by welding, and glass The fragmentary sectional view which has the structure which has the connection part 97 joined by the reinforcement member 95 made from platinum rhodium which has the bending part 96 of the clarification tank 40 of a manufacturing apparatus mutually using plasma welding is represented. Thus, by having the connecting part 97 in which the two reinforcing members 90 and 95 are joined to each other, a stronger reinforcing structure can be realized.

The perspective view of the heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe | tube of this invention. The fragmentary sectional view of the heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe of the present invention. The fragmentary sectional perspective view of the stirring apparatus which uses the other heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe | tube of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the fragmentary sectional view of the other heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe | tube of this invention, Comprising: (A) is reinforcement of the substantially flange-like shape which reinforces the heat-resistant metal reinforcement pipe equivalent to the inner pipe of a double pipe structure. A member having a through hole, (B) having an H-shaped structure as a substantially flange-like reinforcing member, and (C) reinforcing a reinforcing member of a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube and a constituent tank of a glass manufacturing apparatus It represents a welded member.

Explanation of symbols

10, 50, 55 Heat-resistant metal reinforcing pipe 11, 51, 56 Outer peripheral surface of pipe 20, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95 Reinforcing member having a substantially flange-like shape 21, 61, 82, 91, 96 Bending of reinforcing member Part 30 Outer tube 40 Clarification tank 81 Through hole 97 Connection part L Upper limit value of the attachment interval of the reinforcing member determined by the number 1 type L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , L ₄ , L ₅ , L ₆ , L ₇ , L ₈ , L ₉ Reinforcement member installation distance D Diameter equivalent of tube t Thickness of tube

Claims (10)

A tube made of a heat-resistant metal that is disposed in a substantially inclined state or in a substantially vertical state and in which a molten glass made of an inorganic oxide flows,
A heat-resistant metal characterized in that a substantially flange-like reinforcing member is attached to the outer surface of the pipe at intervals within a predetermined value determined by the following relational expression (k is a proportional constant) based on the pipe diameter D and the pipe thickness dimension T. Reinforced pipe.
  The refractory metal reinforcing pipe according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a bent portion.   The refractory metal reinforcing tube according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refractory metal is a platinum group metal or a platinum alloy.   The heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a heat-resistant coating is disposed on an outer surface of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube.   The refractory metal multiple tube according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refractory metal reinforcing tube is disposed in a refractory metal outer tube so as to exhibit a multiple tube structure.   6. The heat-resistant metal multiple tube according to claim 5, wherein any one of glass, glass ceramics and ceramics is disposed in a gap between the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube and the outer tube.   A heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube or a heat-resistant metal multiple tube according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a constituent tank in which molten glass stays, in which the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube or the heat-resistant metal multiple tube is disposed. An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article.   6. The glass article manufacturing method according to claim 5, wherein the reinforcing member of the heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube or the heat-resistant metal multiple tube is connected to the constituent tank via a connecting portion with an adjacent constituent tank. apparatus.   A glass characterized in that molten glass is continuously led out from a heat-resistant metal reinforcing tube to a molding device by the glass article manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, and the glass article is molded by the molding apparatus. Article manufacturing method.   The method for producing a glass article according to claim 9, wherein the molding apparatus is either a downdraw molding apparatus or a float molding apparatus.