KR102147510B1 - Laminate Fusion Draw Apparatus and Method of Use Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The lamination fusion drawing machine includes: a core isopipe having a first core melter; A clad isopipe equipped with a clad melter; A first core down comer positioned between the core melter and the core isopipe; And a second clad down comer positioned between the clad melter and the clad isopipe, and as disclosed herein, the second clad down comer is independent with respect to a fixed horizontal position of the first down comer. It has an adjustable linear and horizontal position, and the core melter and the clad melter are linearly movable for relative movement in the same or opposite horizontal direction. In addition, the method of using a device in which the first core downcomer is substantially centered or concentric at the first inlet tube, and the second clad downcomer is substantially centered or concentric at the second inlet tube. Is initiated.

Description

Laminate Fusion Draw Apparatus and Method of Use Thereof}

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/822,464 filed on May 13, 2013, the contents of which are all incorporated herein for reference.

In addition, the contents of all patent documents mentioned in this specification are incorporated herein for reference.

The present application is disclosed in US Patent No. 8,007,913, issued on August 30, 2011 to inventors Coppolar et al. under the name of the present applicant's "Laminated Glass Articles and Methods of Making Thereof"; "Apparatus and Method for Control of Glass Streams in Laminate Fusion" is the name of the invention and the inventor is Coppolar et al. US Patent Application No. 13/479,701 filed May 24, 2012; US Patent Application No. 61/676,028 filed July 26, 2012, where "Refractory Liner Structure and Use in Glass Fusion Draw" is the name of the invention and the inventor is Kersting et al.; "Method and Apparatus for Laminate Fusion" is the name of the invention and the inventor is Coppolar et al., US Patent Application No. 61/678,218 filed on Jul. 08, 2012; And "Methods and Apparatuses for Fabricating Continuous Glass Ribbons" is the name of the invention and the inventor is Aburada, filed on November 16, 2012, related to U.S. Patent Application No. 13/679,263; and these patent documents have priority here Although claims may not be made, the contents of the patent documents are all incorporated herein by reference for reference.

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of glass sheets in a laminate fusion draw machine (LFDM).

The present invention provides a glass melting machine for use in LFDM, which glass melting machine enables continuous and correct flow distribution of glass on a clad isopipe. The glass melting machine maintains the core down comer and core isopipe in a fixed position and concentric relationship, while maintaining the concentricity of the clad down comer in relation to the inlet of the clad isopipe to achieve and maintain concentricity. By selectively adjusting the position, it is possible to compensate for the movement of the fusion draw machine (FDM), for example by thermal expansion or mechanical adjustment.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus and method using an apparatus capable of controlling or adjusting the quality characteristics of a molten glass stream, for example in a lamination fusion apparatus. The instrument can adjust and determine the quality of the flow characteristics of molten glass, such as the concentricity of the glass flow from the glass source to the isopipe. This improved control of the flow properties of the molten glass can provide improved properties to the final laminated glass ribbon. The present invention provides a downcomer concentric flow control that provides operational and product quality advantages as described herein.

In an example, the present invention presents an apparatus and process provided for the modification of LFDM that allows adjustment of the clad glass during production. The muffle suspension control system compensates for a large number of movements of the core isopipe and clad during production, e.g., so that the clad down comer keeps the core down comer in a fixed position while maintaining a continuous correct glass flow. Can be spatially adjusted to

1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a laminated fusion drawn glass manufacturing machine with two isopipes and downward drawing zones.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary stacked fusion draw melting system of the present invention including the isopipe of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a more detailed illustration of the second movable melting unit or clad melter unit of FIG. 2 with a movable housing or frame.
4A and 4B are views showing in more detail the associated concentricity of a connection between a fixed or “stationary” core down comer and the core isopipe inlet tube shown in FIG. 2;

Various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings as needed. The various embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Additionally, any of the embodiments described herein do not describe, but are not limited to, some of the many possible embodiments of the claimed invention.

In embodiments, the device disclosed herein and the disclosed device and methods of using the device provide one or more advantageous features or characteristics, for example, as described below. Features or features mentioned in any claim of the claims are generally applicable to all facets of the invention. Any described single or multiple features or features in any one claim may be combined with or modified from any other detailed feature or feature in the claims or in any other claim.

Definition of Terms

"Down comer" or "down comer" refers to a clad glass isopipe down comer, a core glass isopipe down comer, or of an isopipe, such as the clad glass isopipe down comer and the core glass isopipe down comer. It means a structural member, such as a conduit, supplied from a source or supply of molten glass to a special isopipe, such as a vertical tube that conveys the molten glass to the inlet.

The terms "comprising", "comprising", or such terms are meant to encompass, by way of example only, ie, including and not excluding.

For example, the amount, concentration, volume, treatment temperature, treatment time, yield, flow rate, pressure, viscosity, and similar values and ranges of values of the composition components used in describing examples of the present invention, Or the dimensions of a component and such values, and the expression "approximately" to modify the range of these values, are used, for example, in the preparation of materials, compositions, compounds, condensates, component parts, articles of manufacture. Through established typical measurement and adjustment procedures or formulation of use; Through careless mistakes in these procedures; Through differences in purity, manufacture, or source of the starting materials or ingredients used in the practice of the method; It refers to a change in numerical quantities that can occur and take into account the same. The term “approximately” also encompasses different amounts due to formulation or aging of the composition at a particular initial concentration or blend, and different amounts due to formulation or composition blending or processing at a particular initial concentration or blend.

The term "optional" or "optionally" means that the sequentially described events or circumstances may or may not occur, and that such description includes the moments when the event or situation occurs and the moments that do not occur. do.

Even though the constituent elements (members, etc.) described in the present specification are described in the singular, they may mean at least one or one or more, unless otherwise specified.

Abbreviations well known to those skilled in the art can be used (eg, "h" or "hrs" for time, "g" or "gm" for grams, "mL" for millimeters, and indoor It is used as "rt" for room temperature and "nm" for nanometers).

The specific and preferred values disclosed for components, ingredients, additives, dimensions, conditions, and such features and ranges thereof are for illustrative purposes only; They do not exclude other defined values or other values falling within a defined range. The apparatus and methods of the present invention are described herein as any value or combination of values, specific values, more specific values, and ranges, including explicit or implicit intermediate values and ranges. May contain any desired value.

The device of the present invention and the method of using the device of the present invention may include the components or steps described in the claims, and in addition, special device configurations, special additives or ingredients, special agents, special structural materials or Components, special irradiation or temperature conditions, or similar structures, materials, or selected and variable processes of the present invention that do not significantly affect the basic and novel properties of the method, device, article, or composition of the invention. Other components or steps may be included.

U.S. Patent Document 4,734,250 discloses a concentric pipe loop arrangement for a pressurized water nuclear reactor. The low temperature leg pipe 19 is concentrically mounted within the high temperature leg pipe 13. Thus, the cooled reactor coolant, when leaving the high pressure discharge portion 29 of the coolant pump 17, within the low-temperature leg pipe 19, through the slip-fit transition portion 20, and Flowing into the reactor vessel downcomer, the reactor vessel downcomer comprises an annular portion 53 between the pressure vessel 11 and the core barrel 34 for sequential passage through the nuclear core 10. The slip-fit transition portion 20 is welded to the other end 35 of the low temperature leg pipe 19. 4 shows the inner surface 38 of the reactor vessel outlet flange or nozzle 12, which helps to maintain the concentricity of the high temperature leg pipe 13 and the low temperature leg pipe 19 in a horizontal direction, and a transition portion ( 20) is a diagram showing the spacer bar 37 between. Transition portion 20 comprises two outlet ends 39 forming a "Y"-shaped configuration. Each outlet end slip fits within an opening 40 in the wall of the outlet nozzle 12 between the reactor vessel 11 and the core barrel 34. The relationship between the opening 40 and the leg portion 39 provides concentricity between the high temperature leg portion pipe 13 and the low temperature leg portion pipe 19 in the vertical direction. It is important that the core barrel flange 41 fits against the reactor vessel outlet nozzle 12 in a conventional technical manner.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a lamination fusion drawing device, the lamination fusion drawing device:

A core isopipe having a first core melter operative to provide molten glass to the core isopipe and to be in flow communication;

A clad isopipe positioned above the core isopipe and having a clad melter operative to provide molten glass to the clad isopipe and to be in flow communication;

A first core down comer positioned between the core melter and the core isopipe and having an adjustable and fixable horizontal position and a fixed vertical position; And

A second clad down comer positioned between the clad melter and the clad isopipe and having an independently adjustable linear and horizontal position related to the fixed horizontal position of the first down comer; and the core melter And the clad melter is linearly movable for associated linear movement in the same or opposite horizontal direction, i.e. co-linear, parallel, or coaxial and parallel, and during operation , The first core down comer is fixed and maintained substantially centered on the first inlet tube of the core isopipe, and the second clad down comer is on the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe It remains practically centered.

In an embodiment, the device may further include, for example, a sensor for monitoring the concentricity of the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe and the second clad down comer.

In an embodiment, the device may further include a mechanism for adjusting the concentricity of the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe and the second clad down comer, for example.

In an embodiment, the device is, for example, a sensor that monitors the concentricity of the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe and the second clad down comer, and in response to the sensor signaling deviation from the clad isopipe, the clad iso It may further include a mechanism for adjusting the concentricity of the second inlet tube and the second clad down comer of the pipe.

In an embodiment, the core melter and the clad melter may be placed together, for example in the same linear path, for example a co-linear track or two parallel tracks.

In an embodiment, the core melter and the clad melter may each be housed in separate movable carriages, for example.

In an embodiment, the clad isopipe may be, for example, a plurality of stacked isopipes.

In an embodiment, the clad melter (see Figs. 2 and 3), for example

Batch filling machine 101;

Melting vessel 110;

A pre-melt fluidly coupled transport (PMFCT) purification container 115; And

It may include a transport system;

The transfer system:

A finer to stir chamber (FSC) conduit 122 to the stir chamber;

Agitation chamber 120;

A stir chamber to bowl (SCB) conduit 127 to a bowl;

A transfer container or receiving portion 125; And

Downcomer (131a); includes.

In an embodiment, the basic components of the clad melter or the core melter are described in the above-referenced US Patent Application No. 13/679,263 (for example, paragraphs [0021] to [0026]; [0028] to It is disclosed in more detail in the wind; and see FIG. 1).

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of using the aforementioned device, the method comprising:

Selecting a batch glass composition for each of the clad melter and the core melter;

The clad melter and the core, e.g. from ambient temperature to an elevated temperature, until expansion of the clad melter, the core melter, and the glass seal seals the formation between the glass-bonded components. Independently preheating the melter;

Forming a seal and establishing a gap between adjacent melter components in each of the core melter and the clad melter by adjusting the separation between the clad melter and the core melter and their relative linear position;

Fixing the relative positions of the clad melter and the core melter;

Filling an individual clad melter and the core melter with a selected batch glass composition;

Initiating flow of the molten glass in each of the respective clad melter and the core melter;

Combining the fixed down comer associated with the core melter and the core isopipe inlet, i.e., placing both the clad melter and the core melter or melter system in a working or operating position in the machine. Or “hot coupling”; And

Dispensing molten glass from each of the clad isopipe and the core isopipe to form a laminated glass ribbon;

Checking a centeredness, that is, concentricity, of the inlet of the clad isopipe and the clad down comer; And

And adjusting a movable clad melter to ensure that a substantial concentricity is substantially maintained between the inlet for the clad isopipe and the clad down comer.

The separation between the clad melter and the core melter and adjusting their relative linear position may include, for example, movement towards another melter; Movement from the other melter; Or by the relative movement of the clad melter, on a common path or vector, with the core melter, prior to fixing with at least one of these combinations.

In an embodiment, the method of use of the present invention may further comprise adjusting the core melter to ensure that substantial concentricity is maintained between the inlet for the core isopipe and the down comer, for example.

In an embodiment, the adjusting step is, for example, by at least one of linear translation of the clad melter, tilting of the clad melter, axial rotation of the clad melter, or a combination thereof. Can be achieved.

In an embodiment, the steps of independently preheating the first core melter and the second clad melter may be continued until, for example, thermal equilibrium is achieved.

In an embodiment, independently preheating the clad melter and the core melter to an elevated temperature may be carried out at about 1,200 to about 1,600° C., including, for example, intermediate values and ranges, and the elevated temperature is selected. It depends on the glass composition.

In an embodiment, the step of fixing the position of the clad melter and the core melter with a common path or vector (e.g., the same direction and size but not necessarily coaxial) is, for example, a single fastener or multiple Can be achieved with a fastener of.

In embodiments, the substantial concentricity may have a deviation from 0.01 to approximately 20% for 100% concentricity, for example.

In embodiments, the present invention provides a method of use and a device that is advantageous in many features, for example: the disclosed device and method of use include changing a sheet shape; Change of settings during operation; And sheet breakage due to changes in the flow profile or thickness; thereby providing glass flow stability and control.

Example

The embodiments described below are used to describe more fully in more detail in a manner using the above-described substrate, and to further describe the best mode contemplated to implement the various features of the invention. It will be appreciated that these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention, and are for illustrative purposes only. The working examples also describe the device of the present invention and methods of using the device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a laminated fusion drawn glass manufacturing apparatus and a downward drawing region. 1 shows, through background art, with a clad glass stream 120 from an upper isopipe 113 flowing over a core glass stream 140 from a lower isopipe 130 across a gap 150 (e.g. For example, it is an exemplary side view of a prior art dual fusion device and process) as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 61/729,805, entitled "Thermal Control Of The Bead Portion Of A Glass Ribbon" of the present applicant as the name of the invention . Figure 1 is additionally, the clad dam-to-dam dimension (160, clad dam-to-dam dimension), which can be changed if necessary, can maintain a constant or attenuation of the width dimension of the core stream or core glass sheet An optional edge roll or pair of edge rollers (ER) 170 that can prevent the stacking thickness, and an optional pull roll or puller (pull roll) that can maintain the consistency of the stacking thickness and further adjust the speed of the stacking process. A puller) roller pair (PR) 180 or a tractor roll is additionally shown.

2 is a transfer roller for linear movement in a plane on a rigid structure, such as railing, race, or track 210 in which any one movable melting unit 205 is provided in a common path. A diagram showing an exemplary stacked fusion draw melting system 200 with 202 or a first movable melting unit 201 applied as a caster. The movement is, for example, with a ball screw 217 and an encoder 219 connected to a movable melting unit 201 via a connector 220, such as a rod or a connector similar to the rod, It may be controlled by a linear drive motive power unit 215, for example of a servo motor or similar device. A movable down commer 131a or a “moving” clad down comer is attached and present in the movable melting unit 201. A “moving” clad down commer 131a is applied to convey the molten glass stream from the clad melting source to the clad inlet tube 134 and then to the clad isopipe 113. One or more position sensors 232 and such sensors are, for example, a reference point on the clad down comer 131a, a reference point on the clad inlet tube 134, or a reference point on the clad down comer and the clad inlet tube. It can be located at a point, so that the position is continuously monitored, the relative position is adjusted or monitored to adjust. The position sensor 232 may have a state in which electricity is communicated with the control unit 230, and the clad down comer 131a and the clad (second) "moving" with respect to the position of the clad inlet tube 134 Adjustment of the relative position of the movable melter unit can be operated. The motive power unit 215 and the encoder 219 may be in a state in which electricity is communicated with the control unit 230. Additionally, FIG. 2 shows a plan view on a rigid structure 210 such as a railing, race, or track, where the disclosed laminar fusion draw melting system 200 provides other movable melting units 201 in a common path. It is a diagram showing that it has one or more casters for intra-linear movement or any one moveable (first) melter 205 unit similarly applied as a transfer roller. The movement can be controlled, for example, by a linear drive motive power unit (not shown), for example, the linear drive motive power unit is a melting unit that is movable through a connector (not shown), such as a rod or similar connector. Connected to 205, for example, a servo motor or similar device with an encoder (not shown) and a ball screw (not shown). A fixed down comer 131b or a “stationary” core down comer is attached and positioned within the movable melting unit 205. A “stationary” core down commer 131b is applied to convey the molten glass stream from the core melting source to the core inlet tube 133 and then to the core isopipe 130. The fixed or “stationary” core down comer 131b and the inlet tube 133 are preferably for the purpose of achieving or satisfying concentricity between the core down comer 131b and the core inlet tube 133 , Share a coaxial center line or axis 207, see also FIG. 4. A position sensor (not shown) and a sensor similar thereto are, for example, the relative position of any one of the core downcomer 131b and the core inlet tube 133, or the relative position of both the core downcomer and the core inlet tube. It may be positioned on a core down comer 131b, a core inlet tube 133, or a reference point on the core down comer and the core inlet tube to adjust the position, to continuously monitor the position. The position sensor 232 may be in a state in which electricity is in communication with the control unit (not shown), and the down comer 131b and the first movable melter 205 fixed in relation to the position of the core inlet tube 133 ), the relative position can be adjusted. The motive power unit and encoder may be brought into electrical communication with the control unit to adjust the position of the movable unit 205. The enclosure 132 provides a surround for individually heating and insulating the pair of isopipes 113 and 130, such as muffles and kennels.

FIG. 3 is a further detailed view of the second movable melting unit 201 or clad melter unit of FIG. 2 with a movable housing or frame 201a. As shown in FIG. 3, the glass making machine 200 of FIG. 2 is an unheated batch filling unit including, for example, a drive motor, a screw drive, and a controller for transferring the batch components to the melting vessel 110. 101 (not shown), a purification container 115, a mixing container 120, and a transfer container 125 may be included, for example. The thermal barrier 102 or partition separates the heated melting facility on the right side of the barrier 102 and the unheated batch filling unit 101 on the left side of the barrier 102. The melting vessel 110 is coupled in fluid communication with the purification vessel 115. The purification container 115 is coupled in fluid communication with the mixing container 120 by a connection tube 122. As a result, the mixing vessel 120 is coupled in fluid communication with the transfer vessel 125 by means of a connecting tube 127. The transfer container 125 is coupled in fluid communication with the lower fusion draw area (not shown) and the clad isopipe through the clad down comer 131a. In embodiments, the device may preferably include one or more glass seals 118 positioned between the heated components, which seals allow dimensional expansion of one or more heated components and allow adjacent heating. Provides a physical seal between the components.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, during or during operation of the glass making machine, the glass batch material is guided to the melting vessel 110, as indicated by arrow 112. The batch material is melted in the melting vessel 110 to form the molten glass 126. The molten glass 126 flows from the melting vessel 110 to the refining vessel 115. The refining vessel 115 contains molten glass 126 in a high temperature treatment area where bubbles are removed from the molten glass 126. After the molten glass 126 is processed in the refining vessel 115, it flows to the mixing vessel 120 through the connecting tube 122 to which the molten glass 126 is mixed. After the molten glass 126 is mixed in the mixing vessel 120, it flows through the connecting tube 127 to the transfer vessel 125.

The transfer container 125 supplies the molten glass 126 through the downcomer (131a) member to the clad inlet 134 (not shown) of the FDM, and the molten glass 126 is formed through the port. It is supplied to the container 135 (not shown).

One or more of the listed melting unit components may be supported by a support member 301 and also one or more transfer rollers 302 may be installed on the component. The conveying roller is, for example, the lateral direction of the melting unit component (e.g., left and right in a plane) when the melting unit component is heated and equalized at the operating temperature with the molten glass or to an approximate operating temperature. Allow position adjustment. The melting unit components include, for example, a second linear drive motive force unit 315 attached to the housing or frame 201, with a ball screw 317 and an encoder 319, and an associated control unit ( Can be adjusted to be positioned using (not shown). The brake or connector member 330 may be attached to one or more of the listed melting unit components 110 (shown), which member allows the individual melting unit components to be positioned relative to the movable housing or unit 201a. It can be used to adjust or fix in position. Positioning and positioning of the melting unit components can be achieved for the purpose of dimensionally compensating for the thermal expansion of the component and for positioning the clad flow down comer 131a in close alignment with the clad inlet tube 134. have. Additional positioning and positioning can be achieved with the motive power system described with respect to FIG. 2, for example using a race, railing, or conveying roller 202 on the surface of the track 210.

4A and 4B are also more detailed views of a fixed or “stationary” core down comer 131b with the core isopipe inlet tube 133 described in FIG. 2 and their couplings. 4A is a detailed view of a fixed or “stationary” core down comer 131b coupling with the core isopipe inlet tube 133. In operation, the molten glass 131c flows from the core down comer 131b and passes smoothly into the inlet tube 133. The molten glass flow rate is preferably directed to the core isopipe and to the inlet tube to ensure that the instantaneous level of molten glass in the inlet tube is approximately maintained in the predetermined “fill” line 131d. It is maintained to ensure adequate flow 131e and pressure of the entering molten glass. The clad down comer 131b and the clad inlet tube 133 are preferably aligned or shared with a common axis 207 or center line. The alignment of the clad down comer 131b and the clad inlet tube 133 can be achieved, for example, during or during operation of the device such as a production run, instantaneously in real time or during initial setup. The positioned and secured core downcomer and the positioned and secured core inlet tube may be aligned during initial setup to share a common axis or centerline. Aligning the downcomer and the corresponding isopipe inlet tube with a common axis provides 100% concentricity of the inlet tube and downcomer. Fig. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the relevant details of section 4B of Fig. 4a. The concentric connection between the clad down comer 131b with the clad isopipe inlet tube 133 provides preferably the same or approximately equal gaps 133a, 133b, 133c, 133d between the down comer and the inlet tube. One or more sensors may be positioned to monitor the gap or equivalent measure, and the resulting value may be used to manually, mechanically, or automatically maintain or adjust the one or more gaps concentrically. In embodiments, it may be desirable to deliberately deviate from the concentric state in order to affect certain properties or non-consistency in the final laminated glass sheet. Sensors and associated adjustment mechanisms will optionally be provided to monitor and selectively adjust the degree of penetration of the downcomers 101a, 131b to the inlet tubes 134, 133 rising or falling, i.e. for z-axis vertical adjustment. I can.

The coordinate axes are included in FIG. 2 to provide a frame of reference for the various components of the continuous glass ribbon manufacturing apparatus and method described herein. As used herein, the "lateral" or "across-the-draw" direction is defined as the positive or negative x direction of the coordinate axes shown in the figure. The "downstream" or "drawing" direction is defined as the negative y direction of the Cartesian coordinate axis shown in FIG. 2. The "upstream" direction is defined as the positive y direction of the coordinate axis shown in FIG. 2.

Clad For supporting the melting system LFDM Moveable Carriage

In an embodiment, carriage movement may be interlocked with LFDM clad muffle adjustment. In an embodiment, the downcomer of the core melting system is held in a set position or placed in a fixed state during normal operation. The downcomer remains centered or concentric with the LFDM's core inlet. The down comer of the clad melting system can be moved in synchronization with the absolute movement of the clad inlet of the LFDM to maintain centering of the down comer.

For LFDM Melting system configuration

In embodiments, the core melter and clad melter melting systems may be adjacent to each other, for example, and may be horizontally aligned to correspond to the flow of their corresponding isopipes. This location is important to avoid problems with glass quality in the final product. Each downcomer delivers a continuous flow of glass to each individual clad and core inlet of the isopipe.

In an embodiment, the clad melting system may consist of, for example, a filling machine, a melter, a refiner, and a conveying system. The clad melting system can be supported, for example, by a movable carriage or trolley 201. Such a carriage may be coupled with a frame 201a having a rigid structure, for example, a ball screw, a gearbox reducer, and a track having a 1 HP motor. The carriage can move in one axial way from one side-to-side, e.g., front and rear, left and right, or up and down.

In an embodiment, in a single LFDM (laminate fusion draw machine) configuration, two melting systems may be used. A first melting system is provided for forming the core glass, and a second melting system is provided for forming the clad glass. Typically, core glass has a greater flow rate or throughput (eg, pounds per hour) compared to the clad glass flow rate or throughput. The core glass flow rate (or throughput) can be fixed or set at the beginning of the production run, and can determine other characteristics of the process. The clad glass flow rate (or throughput) typically has a smaller flow rate or throughput compared to the core, and the clad glass flow rate can be adjusted according to the core glass flow rate. In an embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus and method capable of regulating and maintaining a continuous constant glass flow in a core and clad isopipe.

Suspension system-control component

The core and clad muffles can each be supported independently by separate suspension systems. 4 verticals from each muffle Support rods can be mounted on twin I-beams of two horizontal sets. Each support rod can be manually or mechanically adjusted, for example each support rod can be mechanically adjusted using a separately controlled 1 horsepower electric motor. Each muffle can be moved horizontally in the direction of the glass sheet (inlet-to-compression end), for example with two motors. Each muffle can be manually moved horizontally in a right-to-left direction. A variable differential transformer (VFD) can be used for all 12 motors.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide additional or alternative control components, for example as described below:

Contactors (one for each motor, with 12 contactors for example);

Outer brakes (with one brake for each z-axis motor and for example eight outer brakes);

An incremental rotation encoder, such as 12 incremental rotation encoders, with one encoder on the input of each z-axis and x-axis;

Axial jackscrew;

Linear variable differential transformers such as four linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) with a range of +/- 100 mm;

A first limit switch (eg, one low limit switch, one high limit switch and 16 limit switches mounted on each jackscrew to provide overrun protection in z-axis motion); And

A second limit switch (e.g., eight limit switches, i.e. one compression limit switch and one inlet limit switch mounted on each jackscrew to provide overrun protection in motion of the motion X-axis).

LFDM Control logic to raise or lower

Raising or lowering the FDM may include simultaneous and synchronized raising or lowering of both muffles. All z-axis motors will run in the same direction (up or down) and at the same speed. The driving parameter for speed ramping may be the same for all driving units so that the motor speed is all the same as the motor accelerates and decelerates. The encoder on the jackscrew can provide feedback to ensure that the running of both muffles is exactly the same. LVDT can indicate that the distance between the muffles remains substantially constant through movement.

In an embodiment, for example, two operating speeds can be selected, either fast or slow. These speeds can be configured, for example, by the PanelView Plus graphics terminal (sold by Rockwell Automation) and iFix industrial control software (sold by General Electric Intelligent Platforms).

The system can operate in "jJog mode" until the desired position is reached, or the specified travel distance or final position can be entered using the PanelView. The programmed exercise can be stopped at any time using a Stop or E-Stop operation. Combining a high or low limit switch will stop all system motion and trigger an alarm.

down Comer Process for alignment

In an embodiment, the core inlet tube is secured to the space. If the core melter expands away from the FDM isopipe, then the FDM expands towards the clad melter. If the clad melter expands away from the FDM, then the clad melter is moved to align with the clad down comer and the clad inlet tube. The entire clad melting system can be moved or manipulated on the track using, for example, a 1 horsepower motor and mounted on the carriage.

Control systems for FDM and clad melters can be integrated and synchronized. For example, both muffles can be moved together for vertical alignment.

The invention has been described with reference to various specific embodiments and techniques. However, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

As a lamination fusion drawing machine,
A core isopipe having a first core melter through which molten glass is provided and in flow communication during operation;
A clad isopipe positioned on the core isopipe, having a clad melter through which molten glass is provided and brought into flow communication during operation;
A first core down comer positioned between the core isopipe and the core melter, having an adjustable and fixable horizontal position and a fixed vertical position; And
Including; a second clad down comer between the clad melter and the clad isopipe,
The second clad down comer has an independently adjustable linear and horizontal position with respect to the fixed horizontal position of the first down comer, and the core melter and the clad melter move relative to the same or opposite horizontal direction. And, during operation, the first core down comer remains substantially centered on the first inlet tube of the core isopipe, and the second clad down comer is Laminated fusion draw device, maintained substantially centered on the second inlet tube of the pipe. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a sensor for monitoring the concentricity of the second inlet tube and the second clad down comer of the clad isopipe. The method according to claim 1,
The lamination fusion drawing machine further comprising a mechanism to adjust the concentricity of the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe and the second clad down comer. The method according to claim 1,
A sensor for monitoring the concentricity of the second clad down comer with respect to the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe; And a mechanism for adjusting the concentricity of the second clad down comer in relation to the second inlet tube of the clad isopipe in response to a sensor signaling a deviation from concentricity. The method according to claim 1,
The clad melter:
Batch filling machine;
Melting vessel;
A pre-melt fluidly coupled transport (PMFCT) purification container; And
Including; transfer system;
The transfer system:
Purifier-to-stir chamber conduit;
Stirring chamber;
Agitation chamber conduit to the receiving portion;
Transfer container; And
Laminated fusion drawing device containing; down comer. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete

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