Patent · US Expired

Method of bending and tempering glass sheets

US5735922A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
17References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 1997
Grant dateApr 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 28, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B2225/02
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Glass sheets are press bent and tempered, especially for use as glazings in vehicles. Such glazings are required to be accurately bent to a complex shape while meeting high standards of optical quality and fracture safety at an acceptable cost. A method of bending and tempering a glass sheet is provided comprising heating the sheet in a furnace, including heating at least one portion of the sheet to a higher temperature than another portion, conveying the sheet out of the furnace and into a press bending station, shaping the sheet by pressing it between opposed complementary upper and lower press members, at least one of the members being internally heated, transferring the bent glass sheet onto a shuttle carrier ring conforming to the periphery of the sheet, and tempering the sheet while supported on the carrier ring. A corresponding apparatus is also described.

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