Control of thermal convection in a float glass forming chamber

摘要

Thermal convection currents in the headspace above a body of glass being formed into a continuous sheet of glass while supported on molten metal are controlled to prevent the development of surface distortion patterns in the upper surface of the glass being formed. This is accomplished by establishing a series of small convection cells at least adjacent the upper surface of the glass so that the characteristic convective cooling rate for the glass in the forming chamber is substantially diminished, particularly near the inlet end of the forming chamber.