US3231353A

US3231353A - Glass treatment tempering nozzle arrangements and method of tempering

Info

Publication number: US3231353A
Application number: US433541A
Authority: US
Inventors: James P Julio
Original assignee: Chrysler Corp
Current assignee: Old Carco LLC
Priority date: 1965-02-10
Filing date: 1965-02-10
Publication date: 1966-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-25

Description

Jan. 25, 1966 J P. JULIO- 3,

GLASS TREATMENT TENPERING NOZZLE ARRANGEMENTS AND METHOD OF TEMPERING Filed Feb. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jarwes 7. W770 MW Q H Jan. 25, 1966 J. P. JULIO 3,231,353

GLASS TREATMENT TEMPERING' NOZZLE ARRANGEMENTS AND METHOD OF TEMPERING' Filed Feb. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i v. \I fl V I f a? W K \7 I i /i I INVENTOR. E- 747,765

United States Patent GLASS TREATMENT TEMPERING NOZZLE AR- RANGEMENTS AND METHOD OF TEMPERING James P. Julio, Oak Park, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 433,541 15 Claims. (Cl. 65-114) This application is a continuation-in-part of the application of James P. Julio, Serial No. 160,758 filed December 20, 1961, now abandoned.

The present invention relates broadly to the tempering and/ or treating of sheet material and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for tempering and/ or treating glass sheets or plates.

It is common practice in the tempering of glass sheets to first heat the sheets to substantially the point of softening the glass and then to suddenly chill the heated sheets to place the outer surfaces thereof in compression and the interiors thereof under tension. By this means, the mechanical and heat resistance properties of the sheets may be increased.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novel nozzle apparatus and method for evenly tempering glass sheets or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved nozzle means for the application of a treatment fluid to sheet material.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tempering nozzle with a flexible tip that is adjustable both rotatively and vertically of the nozzle base and free to bend with respect to the nozzle base. Not only can the tip portion bend to cushion any impact with the sheet material being treated, but also the tip can be spaced at any desired distance from the sheet and the direction of of oscillation of the tip can be controlled by the position of the tip baffle.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved nozzle means for obtaining a more eflicient use of the cooling medium so as to impart greater tempered strength thin glass sheets than has heretofore been possible by previous methods and apparatus.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide for adjustable arrangement of the nozzle tips through which the cooling fluid is directed so that the tip outlets through which the cooling fluid is emitted conform as nearly as possible to the shape of the bent glass sheet to be tempered to thereby achieve a more uniform tempering effect.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved nozzle means for the application of heating, cooling or coating fluids to sheet material which nozzle means and its associated method lends itself to control of the spray pattern emitted by the nozzle so that the most eflicient sheet treatment can be achieved.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for treatment of sheet material with either hot or cold fluids wherein the manner of application of the treatment fluid can be varied and controlled as a result of the vertically and rotatably adjustable treatment nozzle structure.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide 3,231,353 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 ice a tempering nozzle tip formed from a flexible coil spring or other resilient element which nozzle tip can be screwed or otherwise frictionally attached to a nozzle base portion to provide for ready adjustment of the nozzle tip relative to the base portion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a flexible nozzle tip portion that is able to oscillate relative to the nozzle base portion and to have its direction of oscillation controlled as a result of the passage of cooling medium through the flexible tip portion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an adjustable, oscillatable tip on a tempering nozzle tube to cause an improved, controlled dispersion of the nozzle air spray over the object to which the cooling spray is applied.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a tempering nozzle having a tip portion connected to a base portion by a flexible linkage with said tip portion including baffle means such that air currents applied to the nozzle baflle will effect an oscillation of the nozzle tip so as to distribute the air spray over a greater area than is the case with a rigid nozzle unit.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a spray nozzle for sheet treatment having baflie means interiorly thereof that can control the direction of oscillation and spray pattern of the nozzle when a pressurized fluid is passed through the nozzle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a tempering nozzle with resilient tubular intermediate section and an air current deflector portion such that the nozzle tip will be forced to vibrate by the air-flow through the nozzle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of treatment of sheet material, such as glass, with a nozzle applied fluid, such that the manner of application of the fluid to the sheet can be controlled through the use of a baflle means carried by the nozze tip and the adjustability of the nozzle tip with respect to its base portion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the following description and a consideration of the related drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of tempering equipment for carrying out this invention and showing the general arrangement of the various components thereof;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the tempering apparatus taken along the line of and looking in the directin of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the tempering apparatus with the view being taken along the line of and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of a tempering nozzle assembly with the view being taken along the line of and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3; I

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along the line of and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of tempering nozzle arrangement embodying this invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the nozzle form shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of still another modified form of tempering nozzle embodying this invention;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the nozzle form shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of still another modified form of tempering nozzle embodying this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the nozzle form shown in FIG. 10.

While the present invention is not restricted to the treating of any particular type or shape of material with any particular type of fluid, still, it is Well adapted to carry out the difficult job of tempering curved glass sheets of the type used by the automotive and aircraft industries and will be described in that connection primarily. However, this invention is equally well applied to the heating, coating or tempering of vertically suspended glass panels by a fluid spray. Some typical uses of the disclosed method and apparatus would be in the fabrication of side window and vent window glass panels for automobile vehicle bodies where there is a tendency for the suspended window panels to oscillate during the fluid treatment operation and to be thrown in contact with the associated tempering nozzle elements. Also, the treatment of backlights while supported on bending molds lends itself to the application of this invention In the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 through 3, bending molds of the type indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3 carry relatively thin glass sheets to be bent and tempered. These originally flat glass sheets S are to be bent and tempered. These originally flat glass sheets S are suspended across the bending molds prior to starting the molds 10 along a conveyor 11 which extends through a furnace or heating chamber 12. The molds 10 with the flat glass sheets S thereon enter the heating chamber 12 through the inlet end 51 thereof. As a result of heating of the glass in the chamber 12 to appropriate g-lassbending temperature, the flat glass sheets S sag upon the bending molds 10 and conform to the shape thereof. The molds 10 with the bent glass sheets thereon leave the heating chamber 12 through the discharge end 52 thereof and pass onto the

chain conveyors

13, 14. The

chain conveyors

13, 14 carry the molds 10 into the tempering station 15 where the heated glass sheets will be quickly cooled by the application of a cooling medium such as air or some similar gaseous or liquid fluid. After passing through the tempering section or station 15, the molds 10 are transferred to another conveyor section 16 leading to a semi-circular conveyor section 17 which reverses the direction of travel of the molds and leads them to a return and unloading conveyor 18 extending parallel to and alongside of the heating chamber 12. The bent glass sheets S have had sufficient time to cool when the molds reach the unloading conveyor 18 and at this section of the conveyor line the bent glass sheets S are removed from the molds and the empty molds pass on to the turnaround section 19 and then to the loading section 11 for a repeat operation.

Referring now particularly to the tempering or air quenching system at the tempering station 15. It will be found that the tempering system includes an upper blast-head manifold 20 and a lower blast-head manifold 21 through which a suitable cooling medium such as air may be directed and discharged upon the glass sheets S as the molds 10 pass betweenthe upper and lower manifolds 20, 21 as shown in FIG. 2. The upper blast-head manifold 20 is supported above the path of the molds 10 by a frame structure which includes the spaced uprights 22 and the cross beam structure 23. The lower blast-head manifold 21 is mounted on suitable I-beams or base sup- .ports 24 which are located beneath the

mold conveyor belts

13, 14.

Looking specifically at the lower blast-head 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) it will be seen that the manifold 21 comprises one or more hollow boxlike structures that extend between and are supported on the I-beams 24. Extending upwardly from the manifold 21 are a plurality of spaced nozzle bases 26. These nozzle bases 26 (see FIG. 4) are essentially short lengths of tubing that is preferably a high temperature metal alloy. Each nozzle base 26 has attached to its upper end a tubular resilient conduit element 27 that provides a flexible conduit section for supporting the tip 28 on the outer end of the nozzle element. The intermediate conduit section 27 is sufliciently flexible that it can oscillate with respect to the base sect-ion 26. The inside diameter of the flexible coil spring 27 is such that it may be telescopically arranged on and frictionally applied to the outer surface of the upstanding nozzle base section 26 so that the nozzle tip can be readily adjusted to various extended lengths with respect to the nozzle base 26. At the same time the nozzle tips 28 can be rotated relative to their base portions 26. While a coil spring is shown as the flexible intermediate section 27, still, it is within the scope of this invention, as it set forth in the appended claims, to form this flexible intermediate conduit section 27 from rubber, plastic, coiled wire or any similar materials that will flex transversely as well as cushion impact with the glass sheet S which impact may occur as the glass sheet is passed between the opposed ends of the upper and lower spaced tempering nozzles.

The invention disclosed in this application represents an improvement over the invention disclosed in the copending application of Raymond Johnston, Serial No. 460,757, filed December 20, 1961. Both of these applications are owned by the common assignee, Chrysler Corporation. This improvement involves the use of an air baffle or deflector plate or vane 28a that extends partially across the tip tube 28. The baffle plate 28a extends at an angle to the horizontal so that the air stream passing through the nozzle, as indicated by the arrows 29, will, on striking the angularly positioned deflector plate 28a, develop a reaction force that causes the nozzle tip 28 to oscillate in a direction as indicated by the arrowed are 30. By rotating the nozzle tip 28 it is possible to control the direction of oscillation of the nozzle tip and thus control the spray pattern. It is thought to be obvious that the nozzle tip deflector plate 28a cooperates with the resilience of the coil spring intermediate conduit section 27 to provide an oscillatable fluid spray jet that will distribute the emitted fluid over a selected area rather than directing it towards a single spot. The direction of tube tip oscillation can be controlled by the position of the deflector plate 28a and different tubes can have the plates at different relative positions to give any desired spray pattern.

The upper blast-head 20 is similar in design to the lower blast-head 21. The upper blast-head 20 includes vertically extending, downwardly directed, nozzle base portions 36 that are formed of metal tubing. Connected to and extending downwardly from the ends of the nozzle base sections 36 are coil spring intermediate conduit sections 37 and vertically and rotatably adjustable tip sections 38 that are identical to the tip sections 28 utilized with the lower blast-head tempering nozzle elements. Glass treatment fluid used as a cooling medium, such as air, or a similar gas, is supplied to each of the blast-heads 20, 21 by means of supply conduits 33.

With the upper and lower blast-head arrangements as shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle elements of the two manifolds may be displaced with respect to one another such that the air jets applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the glass sheet S extending between the upper and lower nozzles will have the cooling fluid more or less evenly spread out across the entire surface of the sheet S. Furthermore, the tip sections 28 and 38 of the several tempering nozzles may be vertically and rotatably adjusted on their associated nozzle base sections 26, 36 because of the friction fit telescopic connection between the intermediate spray sections 27, 37 and their base sections 26, 36 respectively, so that the discharge ends of the several nozzles can be spaced above or below the adjacent glass sheet S in any desired arrangement. The facility with which the coil spring intermediate sections 27, 37 can be vertically adjusted on the supporting nozzle base sections 26, 36 respectively is a prime advantage of this arrangement because it permits the same blast-head units 20, 21 and associated nozzle tip sections 28, 38 to be used for greatly varying shapes of bent glass by merely adjusting the sections 27, 37 on the ends of the nozzle base sections 26, 36. Not only is the vertical adjustability of the coil spring tip sections an advantage in matching the curvature of the glass to be tempered thereby, but the flexibility of the resilient tip sections also has several advantages. First, the flexible tip sections 28, 38 can vibrate or oscillate in a pre-selected pattern as a result of the air blast being forced therethrough and this tends to spread the air jet across a relatively large surface area of the associated glass sheet rather than applying it in a single spot. Secondly, because of the rotatability of the tip sections 28, 38 the oscillatory spray pattern of the nozzles can be varied so that adjacent nozzles can oscillate in different directions and thus permit selective control of the spray patterns. Thirdly, the amplitude of oscillation can be varied by the vertical adjustment of the tip section baflle plates. Fourthly, because the tip sections are flexible there is little danger of the glass sheet being broken or the nozzles being permanently bent out of position in the event there should be an accidental striking of the nozzles by the glass S during its passage through the blast-heads 20, 21.

In moving the mold with its glass sheet S through the tempering or air quenching station 15, the molds are carried by the chain type conveyor means 13 and 14. Each of the

conveyors

13, 14 is driven by a sprocket (not shown) mounted on a cross shaft 39 that is journaled on the upright support 49. The shaft 39 at its outer end carries a sprocket 41 over which is passed a drive chain 42 connected to a suitable power source not shown. The

conveyor chains

13, 14 are guided during their travel in an endless circuit by a channel-like trough composed of the spaced angle irons 43 that are supported by a base plate 44 that rests on the upper ends of the associated supports 49.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modified form of this invention wherein the nozzle base tube 126 has an oscillatable tube tip section 128 connected to the outer end of base tube 126 by a pivoted linkage 127. The linkage 127 includes side links 127c that are connected at their ends to pivot pins 127a and 127b. Pins 127a and 12717 are anchored in the base nozzle 126 and tip 128 respectively. The pivot pins 127a and 127b provide baffle structures that deflect the nozzle air flow currents 129 so that the tubular tip section 128 oscillates between its two broken line positions 131 to cover the arcuate path 139. This oscillation of the nozzle tip 128 creates a greater dispersion of the spray fluid than would be the case with a rigid tube nozzle. It is thought to be apparent that the linkage means 127 will restrict the oscillation of the nozzle tip portion 128 to a single vertical plane. However, different nozzles can be arranged to oscillate in different vertical planes in order to achieve any desired fluid distribution design or pattern.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another modified form of this invention wherein a linkage supported, pivotally mounted, deflector plate 132 is carried by the outer end of the fixed nozzle base tube 133 so as to provide a means to disperse the fluid jet spray emitted from the tube 133. In this form of the invention a pair of links 134 are pivotally connected by pivot pins 135 to the opposite sides of the outer end of nozzle tube 133. The links 134 may have a slot-and-pin connection 136 to the tube 133 to limit the amount of oscillatory movement of the links about the pivot pin 135. Links 134 carry a pair of spaced pins or fingers 139 that are arranged to contact and limit the oscillatory movement of the deflector plate 132 with respect to the links 134. The oscillatable deflector plate 132 pivots in a single vertical plane but it gives a very even distribution of fluid spray over a relatively wide surface area.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show still another form of this invention wherein a tubular nozzle tip section 141 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the base tube 142 by means of a dumbbell type link 143 that permits a universal pivoting movement of the tip 141 with respect to the base tube 142. The base tube 142 and the tip tube 141 each have a diametrically

disposed cross bar

146 and 145 respectively to which the ball-shaped ends of the connector link 143 are anchored. These cross bars 145 and 146 provide battles to deflect the fluid currents 147 that are emitted by the base tube 142 and cause the tube tip 141 to rotate and/or oscillate in a circular path as indicated by the reference numeral 148. The prime distinction between the FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 form and the FIG. 6 and 7 form is that the linkage 143 permits rotation of the tube tip to give a circular fluid distribution pattern Whereas the FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 form restricts the tubular nozzle tip to oscillation in a single, vertically disposed, plane.

It is believed that it is apparent from the preceding description of the several forms of this invention that novel simplified means have been provided for improving the distribution of the sheet treatment fluid over the area of the sheet or plate to which the fluid is applied. This improved distribution pattern can give a more evenly stressed or coated final product that is of highest quality and has improved life. Furthermore, each of the forms of the invention gives a nozzle tip that is movably connected to the base nozzle so that any possible impact between the nozzle tip and the adjacent sheet or plate will be cushioned so as to prevent damage to both the nozzles and the material sheets or plates.

While this invention has been specifically described with relation to a cooling fluid application for glass tempering, still, it is contemplated that heating, cooling or coating of sheet material by the apparatus and methods herein disclosed and claimed is Within the scope of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method for tempering a surface of a sheet of glass comprising first heating said glass surface to a predetermined temperature depending on the particular glass composition, secondly positioning said glass surface adjacent to but spaced from the discharge ends of a plurality of spaced, flexible, spray nozzles arranged substantially normal to said glass surface, said nozzles having a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to each other and said glass surface and certain of said nozzles including means to individually control the direction of transverse movement of the nozzle discharge ends when a pressurized fluid is passed through and discharged from said nozzles whereby the pattern of fluid spray application to said glass surface is predetermined and controlled and thirdly, while the glass sheet is at said predetermined temperature, pas-sing a pressurized cooling fluid through said nozzles at such a rate as to effect said predetermined spray application to said glass surface in a pattern determined by the positions and directions of transverse movement of the several individually controlled nozzles.

2. A method for tempering a surface of a sheet of glass comprising first heating said glass surface to a predetermined temperature depending on the particular glass composition, secondly positioning said glasssurface adjacent to but spaced from the discharge ends of a plurality of spaced, flexible, spray nozzles arranged substantially normal to said glass surface, said nozzles having a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to each other and said glass surface and certain of said nozzles including fluid deflector means to individually control the direction of transverse movement of the nozzle discharge ends when a pressurized fluid is passed through and discharged from said nozzles whereby the pattern of fluid spray application to said glass surface is predetermined and controlled and thirdly, while the glass sheet is at said predetermined temperature, passing a pressurized cooling fluid through said nozzles at such a rate as to effect said predetermined spray application to said glass surface in a pattern determined by the positions and directions of transverse movement of the several individually controlled nozzles.

3. A method -for tempering a surface of a sheet of glass comprising first heating said glass surface to a predetermined temperature depending on the particular glass composition, secondly positioning said glass surface adjacent to but spaced from the discharge ends of a plurality of spaced, flexible, spray nozzles arranged substantially normal to said glass surface, said nozzles having a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to each other and said glass surface and certain of said nozzles including discharge ends individually rotatable and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the nozzle base portions and having interiorly positioned fluid deflector means to control the direction of transverse movement of the individual nozzle discharge ends when a pressurized fluid is passed through and discharged from said nozzles whereby the pattern of fluid spray application to said glass surface is predetermined and controlled and thirdly, while the glass sheet is at said predetermined temperature, passing a pressurized cooling fluid through said nozzles at such a rate as to effect said predetermined spray application to said glass surface in a pattern determined by the directions of transverse movement of the several individually controlled nozzles.

4. A method for treating a surface of a sheet of glass with a spray of treatment fluid comprising first conditioning said glass surface for application of the spray fluid by heating the sheet to a predetermined temperature, secondly positioning said glass surface adjacent 'to but spaced from the discharge ends of a plurality of spaced, flexible spray nozzles arranged substantially normal to said glass surface, said nozzles including a base section, a flexible tubular, intermediate section and a discharge end with said nozzles having a preselected Spaced arrangement with respect to said glass surface and certain of said nozzles including interiorly positioned fluid deflector means individually adjustable and arranged to give the associated nozzle discharge end a predetermined transverse path of movement when a pressurized fluid is passed through the nozzle whereby the pattern of treatment fluid sprayed onto said glass surface is predetermined and controlled and thirdly, while the glass sheet is at said predetermined temperature, passing a pressurized treatment fluid through said nozzles at such a rate as to effect said predetermined spray application to said glass surface in a pattern determined by the positions and directions of movement of the several individually controlled nozzle discharge ends.

5. In a method for treating a glass surface as set forth in claim 4 wherein the treatment fluid comprises a heating fluid.

6. In a method for treating a glass surface as set forth in claim 4 wherein the treatment fluid is a cooling fluid.

7. In a method for treating a glass surface as set forth in claim 4 wherein the treatment fluid is a coating fluid.

8. Apparatus for treating glass surfaces with jet sprays of treatment fluid adapted to be applied to said glass surfaces in a predetermined pattern comprising a pressure fluid manifold having a plurality of fluid spray nozzles projecting therefrom and arranged in a predetermined spaced apart pattern, said nozzles each comprising a tubular base section, a connected flexible tubular intermediate section and a discharge end connected to said intermediate section for rotational and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, said discharge end including interiorly positioned fluid deflector means arranged to control the direction of movement of the discharge end when pressurized fluid is passed therethrough whereby the pattern of the fluid spray applied to a glass surface can be predetermined and controlled.

9. Apparatus for treating glass surfaces with jet sprays of treatment fluid adapted to be applied to said glass surfaces in a predetermined pattern comprising a pressure fluid manifold having a plurality of fluid spray nozzles projecting therefrom and arranged in a predetermined spaced apart pattern, said nozzles each comprising a tubular base section, a connected flexible tubular intermediate section and a discharge end connected to said intermediate section for rotational and longitudinal adjustment relative thereto, said discharge end including interiorly positioned fluid deflector means arranged to control the direction of movement of the discharge and when pressurized fluid is passed therethrough whereby the pattern of the fluid spray applied to a glass surface can be predetermined and controlled by rotational adjustment of the nozzle tips to determine the directions of transverse movement of the several nozzle discharge ends and by longitudinal adjustment of the nozzle discharge ends with respect to their associated base sections to determine the amplitude of transverse movement of the nozzle discharge ends.

10. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said nozzles each include a coil spring intermediate section and a tubular discharge end having a deflector plate positioned interiorly thereof to react with the pressurized fluid passed through the nozzle to control the direction of transverse movement of the nozzle discharge ends.

11. Apparatus for treating glass surfaces with jet sprays of treatment fluid adapted to be applied to said glass surfaces in a predetermined spray pattern comprising a pressure fluid manifold having a plurality of fluid spray nozzles projecting therefrom and arranged in a predetermined spaced apart pattern, said nozzles each comprising a tubular base portion, a flexible intermediate link element connecting said base portion to an outwardly disposed discharge end and rotatively adjustable relative to base portion in a manner to permit controlled transverse movement of the discharge end with respect to the base portion, and a pressure fluid deflector means arranged on each of said discharge ends and disposed in such a position that it reacts with pressurized fluid passed through said discharge ends at such a predetermined date so as to cause said discharge ends to oscillate in a predetermined path of movement to accomplish the predetermined spray pattern.

12. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said intermediate link element is a coil spring.

13. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said intermediate link element is a pair of pivot levers having a pivotally mounted deflector plate at the outer ends thereof.

14. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said intermediate linkage is a dumbell shaped link having the ball ends thereof pivotally connected to the base section and the discharge end respectively.

15. A method for treating a surface of a sheet of temperature sensitive material with a spray of treatment fluid comprising first conditioning said sheet surface for application of a temperature controlled spray fluid by application of heat transfer means to said sheet to achieve a predetermined temperature for said sheet, secondly positioning said sheet surface adjacent to but spaced from the discharge ends of a plurality of spaced, transversely flexible spray nozzles arranged substantially normal to said sheet surface, said nozzles including a base section, a flexible, tubular, intermediate section and a discharge end with said nozzles having a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to said sheet surface and at least certain of said nozzles including an interiorly positioned fluid deflector means arranged to give the associated nozzle discharged end a predetermined transverse path of con trolled movement when a pressurized fluid is passed through the nozzle whereby the pattern of treatment fluid sprayed onto said sheet surface is controlled and thirdly while the sheet is at said predetermined temperature passing a pressurized temperature controlled treatment fluid through said nozzles at such a rate as to effect said predetermined spray application to said sheet surface in a pattern determined by the relatively positions and directions of movement of the several nozzle discharge ends.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1958 Great Britain.

DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD FOR TEMPERING A SURFACE OF A SHEET OF GLASS COMPRISING FIRST HEATING SAID GLASS SURFACE TO A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR GLASS COMPOSITION SECONDLY POSITIONING SAID GLASS SURFACE ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM THE DISCHARGE ENDS OF A PLURALITY OF SPACED, FLEXIBLE, SPRAY NOZZLES ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID GLASS SURFACE, SAID NOZZLES HAVING A PRESELECTED SPACED ARRANGEMENT WITH RESPET TO EACH OTHER AND SAID GLASS SURFACE AND CERTAIN OF AIS NOZZLEX INCLUDING MEANS TO INDIVIDUALLY CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE NOZZLE DISCHARGE ENDS WHEN A PRESSURIZED FLUID IS PASSED THROUGH AND DISCHARGED FROM SAID NOZZLES WHEREBY THE PATTERN OF FLUID SPRAY APPLICATION TO SAID GLASS SURFACE IS PREDETERMINED AND CONTROLLED AND THIRDLY, WHILE THE GLASS SHEET IS AT SAID PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE, PASSING A PRESSURIZED COOLING FLUID THROUGH SAID NOZZLES AT SUCH A RATE AS TO EFFECT SAID PREDETERMINED SPRAY APPLICATION TO SAID GLASS SURFACE IN A PATTERN DETERMINED BY THE POSITION AND DIRECTIONS OF TRNSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALLY CONTROLLED NOZZLES.

8. APPARATUS FOR TREATING GLASS SURFACES WITH JET SPRAYS OF TREATMENT FLUID ADAPTED TO BE APPLIDE TO SAID GLASS SURFACES IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN COMPRISING A PRESSURE FLUID MANIFOLD HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLUID SPRAY NOZZLES PROJECTING THEREFROM AND ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED SPACED APART PATTERN, SAID NOZZLES EACH COMPRISING A TUBULAR BASE SECTION, A CONNECTED FLEXIBLE TUBULAR INTERMEDIATE SECTION AND A DISCHARGE END CONNECTED TO SAID INTERMEDIATE SECTION FOR ROTATIONAL AND LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID DISCHARGE END INCLUDING INTERIORLY POSITIONED FLUID DEFLECTOR MEANS ARRANGED TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE DISCHARGE END WHEN PRESSURIZED FLUIDS IS PASSED THERETHROUGH WHEREBY THE PATTERN OF THE FLUID SPRAY APPLIED TO A GLASS SURFACE CAN BE PREDETERMINED AND CONTROLLED.