US1032238A - Machine for drawing sheet-glass. - Google Patents

Description

J. PLAYER.

uh D

1T GLASS,

J Miu.

A PPLICATON YELE Patented July 9, 1912.

l1/lannion FISSI.,

J. PLAYER.

MACHINE POR DRAWWG SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION YILBD AUG, 2@ l'U. 1,032,238. Patented July 9,19l2.

J. PLAYER.

Mmmm iw DRAW/m6 SHEET GLASS.

AFYLICAION FILED AUG.20,1DOS.

Patented July 9. 1912.

FWGE

J. PLAYER.

MAGHENB PGR DRAWING SHEET GLASS.

1\FPL!L`=A'1`IONFILEDAULLZGJDOHA 1,032,238. atented July 9, 1912 @ulm Stmnufl MT M Q gli il NITED STAIES Pi TENT OFFICE.

JOHN PLAYER, F RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

iMACHINE FOR. DRAWING SHEET-GLASS.

To frl/ wlw/n if muy .foncer/1 -lie it known that I. Jonx lmrifu, of Hiver l `orest, illinois. have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Machines t'or Drawing Sheet-(Hass, which improvement is fully-set forth in the following specification.

l`his invention relates to the art of drawing sheet glass. and more particularly to apparatus designed for the continuons production ot' sheet glass in which the glass is drawn in a long unbroken sheet in an upward direction` after which its direction is changed, preferably to a horizontal direction. and the continuous sheet passes slowly through an annealing leer.y from which it emerges fully annealed and is preferably cut into sections as it emerges.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and etlicient means for drawing a sheet of glass and changing its direction of movement, the particular construction of the leer forming no essential part of the present invention.

The invention will be. best understood in connection with the :woompanving drawings constituting one mechanical ,expression of the inventive idea. though it will pounderstoodthat the invention is capableiof being embodied in numerous other mechanical structures.

In said drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through the forw'ard end of the machine: Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line Il--ll of Fig. l. parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of that part of the machine shown inllfigfl: and ltigs. 4 and .'i are elevational details illustratingl the bearings4 for the drawing rolls and the connecting lfearA ing t'herefcr.

lithin a working chamber l.y there is provided a mass- 2 ot' molten glass heated in an)v suitable manner. as b v burners 3. or b v the fases passing from the melting fnrnacmnot shown. 'lhe working chamber l is covered bv suitable tiles two of which. l. si, Fig. l7 extend downward to within close proximity to the surface of the molten mass and are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29,

l sl iaft'.

Patented July 9, 1912.

190s. semi No. 450,806.

stparated so as to leave a slot 5 between them through which the sheet of glass 6 is drawn. At a suitable distance abo e the. top of the working' chamber' 1 is the forward end 7 of the annealing leer within which the temperature of the glass is gradually reduced for the purpose of properly annealing the same. Within this forward end of 'the chamber Y, there are mounted means for nealing leer, there are provided, adjacent to cach edge of 'the sheet as itis drawn, and within the chamber 7, two coperating revoluble surfaces 8 and 9, one of which, and preferablyv both of which, are roughened. As here shown, these surfaces consist of a roll 8 with the end portions thereof roughened and the intermediate portion 8', which is of substantially the same diameter as the end portions. smooth. This roll 8 is mounted in fixed bearings. and immediately above the roughened end portions thereof are corresponding coperating roughened portions, here shown as the end portions of a roll 9, which roll is mounted upon bearings hereina fter described. b v means of which it may be adjusted toward and from the roll 8. \\'hilc as here shown` the Toughened end portions of the roll 8 and the smooth inter mediate portions thereof are shown as formed integral. it will be manifest that, if desired the roughened portions could be termed separate and distinct from the smooth portion` said rough portions being ltr-.vcd to the driving shaft, While the smooth portion S is left free to turn idly upon said ln like manner, as here shown the ioughened portions 9 cooperating with the roughened portions of the roll 8, are shown as connected h'vin intermediate portion 1() ot' reduced diameter. said portion 10 and the i'migliened portions 9 constituting one integral structure. This intermediate connecting portion, however, is merely employed tor convenience of construction, and it' desired may be entirely omitted. lVithin the dhamber 't' and to the rear of the roll 8,there is also mounted a second roll 11, which reterably is in every way a duplicate o the roll 8 and cooperating therewith is a roll 12 which is a duplicate of roll 9. \Vhile it is preferred to thus employ the duplicate rolls lland 12. I may, and in some cases do, omit these rolls, bu-t the best results are secured when the duplicate rolls are employed. Preferably, there is provided an idler roll 13 between the rolls 8 and 11, with the upper portion of` its periphery in the same plane the upper portions of Vthe peripheries of said rolls 8 and 11.

As before stated, the rolls 8 and 11 are mounted in fixed bearings. The- rolls 9 and 12, however, are mounted in movable bearings, to the end that the position of said rolls 9 and l2 may be properly adjusted with ,relation tothe rolls 8 and 11 to suit the same for drawing sheets of glass of different thicknesses, and also to provide an opportunity for said rolls 8 and, 11 to yield.

for the purpose ot ermitting the bait to enter therebetween. txtir example, or for the purpose of permitting lumps or other things that might cause an abnormal thickness of the sheet of glass being drawn to readily pass between the rolls.

The fixed bearings for the rolls 8 and 11 and the yielding or movable bearings for the rolls 9 and 12 are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. 1t will be understood that each of said rolls is mounted upon a hollow shaft through which a suitable fluid, as waterfmay be circulated; that the ends of these shafts project outwardthrough the walls of the chamher'T 'and that the bearings are mounted 0n the exterior walls of the chamber one on nuts are downwardly projecting, sleeves` 18, 18,y secured to the bearings 19 for the shafts 2O of the roll 9 or 12. as the case may be. By adjusting the nuts 17. 17, it will be perceived that the distance intervening be tween thc roughened portions of the rolls 8 and 9 may be readily adjusted, that is. the roll 9 can approach no nearer to the roll 8 than ".t is permitted to do by the adjustment of the nuts 17, 17. The movable bearing 19, however, is free to move upward or have its weight remove from the nuts 17, 17. It is not desirable that the total weight of the the sheet of glass being drawn, and for the purpose of partially supporting the weight of the roll 9 or the roll 12, means are provided for yieldingly supporting the mov able bearings 19. As here shown, this is accomplished by means of links 21, 21, suitably secured at .one end to eye- bolts 22, 22, attached to the movable bearings 19 andat the other end to a ring 23 which is attached to one end of `a cable 24, the other end of which passes around and is secured to a drum 25 mounted on a sleeve shaft 26 turning in bearings 27, 27. suitably supported on the upperframework of the machine. This sleeve shaft 26 has a ratchet-wheel 28 rigidly secured thereto, and a pawl plate 29 is mounted to turn loosely `around the sleeve shaft, carrying a pawl 30 to cooperate with the ratchet-wheel 28. 'A lever 31 is secured to the plate 29 for the purpose of operating the same', and has a counterweight 32 mounted to 'slide thereon. For the purpose of to adjust it upon the lever 31, and to secure it in such adjusted position, a screw 33 is mounted to turn in suitable bearings 34, 34, on the lever, and is engaged by a nut 35 to 'which the weight hanger 36 is secured. By revolving the handle 37 on the screw 33, the weight 32 may be adjusted along the lever 31, as may be desired, to the end that the said weight may be so positioned as to coluiter-balance so Inuchbf the weight of the roll 9 or the roll'12-as ma be desired.

Each of the shafts 15 o the rolls 8 or 11 is positively drive'n by means of a worm 38 actuated by any suitable source of power and engaging a worm gear 39 fast on the shaft as the case may be, is driven in the following manner: A miter gear 40 on the shaft 15 engages a miter gear 41 on a squared shaft 42 on the upper end -of which there is' slidably mounted a miter gear 43 engaging ar miter gear 44 keyed to the shaft 20. The miter gear 41 has a hub portion turning in a fixed bearing 44 mounted on the fixed bearing 14, and miter gear 43 has a hub. portion turning in a bearing 45 secured to and moving with the movable bearings 19. the miter gear` 43 sliding on the squared shaft 42 to permit this movement.

In some cases, it is desirable to remove the upper tiles 46 and 47 of the chamber 7. either entirely, for the purpose of removing the rolls 9 and 12 or inspecting the same; or it may be desirable to slightly elevate said tiles 46 or 47 or both, for the purpose of assisting in adjusting the temperature ot' effecting this sliding motion of the-weightroll 9 or the roll 12 should be supported by 15. The shaft 20 of the upper roll 9 or 12,

-of the shaft 48 is provided with a ratchet Wheel 53, and a weighted pawl 54 is pivoted at 55 so as to engage the ratchet-wheel 53. By inserting a suitable wrench or tool over the squared end of the shaft 48 and revolving the same, thecable 51 may be wound upon the drum""50 and the tile 4G lifted as desired.`

Any suitable means may be employed for overcoming the tendency which the drawn `s heel. `has tof-draw to a string or thread. As .herein shown, such means consists of sideh'olding, fingers 56, 56, of the construction shown, described and claimed in my application Serial No. 459,805, liled on thc 29th day-of August, 1908, but as the same form no specific part of the present-invention, it Vis'not deemed necessary to further describe themherein. y

Operationz-The mass of molten glass 2 in the working 'chamber 1` having been brought l' to the desired temperature and worklng condition, the sheet of glass is started in any suitable -way known to the art, as for example, .by lowering a bait 57 through an opening 58 in the top of the chamber 7 andJ passin it between the rolls rllfand 12, and 8 an 9, respectively, the rolls 9vv and 12 having been'previously elevated a suitable height topermit the bait to readily ass between the rolls, and the baitis th'en -ropped down into the mass of molten "glass 2. vWhen the bait has become sutliciently heated for -the molten glass to adhere Aliftkteretov, the bait is slowly elevated byY any itable means and passed upward over the rolls- 8 and 11 and on tothe carrier table 59,

may be of any suitable construction ,-fo"1eceiving and advancing the drawn Kali-eet GOt-hrough the leer. 'The bait may be either separated from the sheet and removed lthrou h the opening 58, or it may-be permjtte lto rest upon the table to pass outtifardthronghv the leer and be severed from ,the sheet as it em rges at the cutting ytable The qbilit trthe farther, en4 o f the leer. having been passe between the rolls 8 and 9,'A and 11 and 12, respectively,'the rolls 9 and 12l are adjusted so as yto bring them into 'proper 4'cooperative relation with the sheet. This adjustment should be such as to permit;V

the roughenedends ofthe rolls to properly engage the sheet to elevate the same into fand advance it through the chamber 7 on to thc` i table 59. At the same time, care should be exercised not to .permit too great a portion ot the weight of the roll 9 or the roll 12 to rest upon t-he sheet. This desired adjustment is secured through the. medium ot the lever 31 and the'pawl 30 and ratchet 28, and.. when secured, is maintained with the desired pressure of the rolls 9 and 12 upon the sheet byadjusting the counter-balancing weightV 32 along the lever 31, as will be readily understood.Y

In drawing sheets of glass, itwill be understood that the glass may be', and iii-practice is, drawn of various thicknesses, and it is essential that the rolls 9 and 12 should he free to approach nearer the rolls 8 and l1' when drawing a thin sheet of glass than would be 'the case when drawing a thick sheet. lt is for the purpose of determining the nearest approach of these upper rolls to the lower rolls that the nuts 17 are provided upon the' screw -threaded portions oi' the pins 16. With these nuts 17 adjusted in the proper position, it will be seen that the rolls 9 and 12 can approach no nearer to the rolls 8 and 11 than they are permitted to do by the nuts 17, while atthe same time the rolls will b'e f free to yield upwardly to permit irregular thicknesses of glass at the edge portions ofthe sheet to pass between the rolls 8 and 9, or

11 and 12, without bringing undue pressure to bear thereon. After 'the sheet of glass is drawn from the molten mass of glass 2, 'and 'as it advances upward .between the tiles 4, 4,y

and on its way to the bending roll 8, itis essential that its temperature should vbe maintained at such a degree that it may be safely bent or turned over the bending roll- 8 without breaking, while at the same time the glass should be suiiciently'hard so that the tine fire finish of the drawn sheet will not bemarred by its contact with theibending roll. As'the drawn sheet of glass passes from the opening between the tiles 4, 4, and

sheet to'keep it suthcientlyngar the plastic state, so that this bending action 'can take place withoutbreaking, means are provided for preventing the sheet from cooling below i the desirddegree.` s here shown, these@A meansV eons'istflof burners 61, 61, located 'in ,any suitable position above the drawing pointl 62, and directing hotV gases of comrblistion against-,the sheet as it passes to the Y .dravlng roll. 1f By this means, l am enabled to'retam'asuflicient amount of the initial 'heat of the drawn sheet to maintain it in a the edge portions of. the sheet.

2. In a machine for drawing sheet glass, a. pair of cooperating revoluble surfaces engaging the opposite faces of the edge portion of the sheet, one of said surfaces being roughened, and engaging only the edge portion of the sheet.

3. In a machine Afor drawing sheet glass, a pair ofl positively driven coacting drawing rolls, one of which is a bending roll be neath theQsheet and the other of which is above the sheet, and means tending to coun- Vterbalance the upper rollwhereby its pressure upon the sheet is partially relieved.

4. In a machine for drawing sheet glass,

the combination of a pair of vertically ali'ned positively d'I'iven drawing rolls, a bending roll between said drawing rolls and the drawing point, and gravity actuated means tending'to counterbalance one of said drawing roll.

5. In a 'nachine for drawing shee't glass, a series of pairs of drawing rolls, said rolls being horizontally alined as to pairs, the rolls of said pairs being vertically alined as to each other, and gravity-actuated means for regulating 'the pressure between the'two rolls of the respective pairs. l

(i. In a machine for drawinfr sheet glass, a bending roll over which' the s- )eet is drawn and is turned from an upwasd to ahori'- zontal position and a second roll cofperating with the bending roll to draw the' sheet.

7. In a machine for drawing sheet glass having cooperating rolls for advancing the sheet, one of which is a bending roll, the combination of a fixed bearing furthe bending roll and a movable bearing for theI other roll, means for adjusting the movable bearing, and meansl for maintaining'the relative position of said bearings.

8. In a sheetI glass drawing machine having coperating revolvingmeans for advancing the sheet, a fixed bearing forone of said l'neans, and a movable bearing for the co-acting means, a supporting means carried by said stationary bearing -for said movable bearing, and adjusting means for adjusting the supporting bearing.

9. In a sheet glass drawing machine having. cooperating, rolls adapted to advance the sheet, the combination of a fixed beat ing for one of said rolls with a movable bearing for the co-acting roll, means `upon said fixed bearing for maintaining the relative alinement of said bearings, and a counter-balancing means for one of said bearings.

10. In a sheet glassdrawing machine, the combination of a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, a leer chamber having its end portion projecting over-said receptacle with an intervening space between the receptacle and said chamber ex osed to the open atmosphere, and a pair ci? revoluble' sheet-drawing surfaces located in said leer chamber and grasping the edge portions only of the sheet 'during tlie drawing operation.

11. In a s heet glass drawing machine, the

combination of a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass, with a leer chamber whose end projects over said receptacle, z pair of revoluble sheet-drawing surfaces lo cated in said leer chamber` and grasping the edge portions only of the sheet, roe. of said surfaces being roughened.

l 19. In a sheet glass drawing machin the combination of a receptacle containini: a mass of molten glass and having a cover with an opening therethrough, va leer chamber whese end projects over said recap-- tacle with an intervening air space open to the external atmosphere between said re ceptacle and chamber, said chamber having an opening in its bottom above the opening in he cover to said receptacle, a sheet glass carrier located Yin said leer chamber and moving in an approximately horizon` tal direction, a smooth bending roll located in' said leer chamber and over which roll the sheet is bent into substantially horizontaldirection, roughened sheet-drawing surfaces on th'e ends of said roll, and revolving surfaces coperating with the -roughened surfaces'on the bendinggroll and engaging the edge portions only of "thesheet.

13. In a sheet glass drawing machine," the combination of a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass and having a cover with an opening therein, a'leer chamber located above said receptacle' withan intervenng space openf to the atmosphere and having an opening -in its bottom above. the opening in the cover to said receptacle` revoluble ronghened'sheet-drawing means located in said chamber and engaging the edge portions only of the sheet. and a bending roll intermediate said roughened sheet; drawing means. y i j 14. In a. machine for drawing sheet glass', the combination of a receptacle containing a mass of molten glass having a cover with an opening therein, a leer chamber whose, 'end portion projects above said receptacle and having an opening in its bottom over the opening Yin the cover of said receptacle Hifi with un interveningr nir space open iwfthe between the drawing point in said reeel'itacle 10 external atmosphere between the opening in t and said howling roll.

the ('Uver (if the receptacle und the Opening In tentinlnny whereof I have signed this in the bottoni of the leer chamber, two pairs f purification in the presence of twn sub of ronghened drawing rnlls engaging the l serihing witnesses.

opposite edge portions only of the sheet, a l JOHN PLAYER. bending rll, a carrier device for receiving the sheet after it has been bent, and means for regulatingy the temperature o`f the :sheet Yitnessem J. D. \0AKLEY,

l l l S. T. CAMERON.

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