Patent · US Expired

Glass sheet heating system including cradled roll conveyor

US4725300A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 1987
Grant dateFeb 16, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B35/18
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A glass sheet heating system (10) is disclosed as including a cradled roll conveyor (48) incorporated with a furnace (12) having roll contacting seals (58) that directly engage conveyor rolls (60) to prevent heat loss from the furnace. Each roll contacting seal (58) preferably includes a pair of rigid refractory seal holders (64,66) and a pair of soft blanket seals (68,70) made of refractory fibers. Sets of cradle rolls (72) on each side of the furnace have high traction drive elements (78) and cooperate in pairs to rotatably support the conveyor rolls (60) in planarity with each othe to convey glass sheets. A drive mechanism (80) provides driving of the cradle rolls 72 with sufficient friction to overcome the friction generated between the roll contacting seals (58) and the conveyor rolls (60). The drive mechanism (80) preferably includes an elongated drive shaft (82) extending along one side of the furnace (12) and coupled through gear units (90) to alternate cradle rolls (72) on the adjacent side of the furnace, with the other alternate cradle rolls (72) on the adjacent side of the furnace and the other set of cradle rolls on the other side functioning as idlers that interconnec…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.