Process and apparatus for refining molten glass

摘要

A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass by introducing, a stream of unrefined molten glass into a controlled environment distributing the stream of molten glass over a flow surface, and collecting the stream of molten glass from a downstream end of the flow surface to form a body of molten glass having a free surface exposed to the controlled environment. The controlled environment, may have a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure, such that introducing the stream of molten glass into the controlled environment causes gaseous inclusions in the stream of molten glass to rise to a surface thereof and escape.

主权项

1. A process for refining molten glass including:
(a) introducing molten glass into a controlled environment; (b) distributing the molten glass over and down a downward sloping flow surface having a length extending in a flow direction of the molten glass and a width extending transverse to the flow direction of the molten glass, wherein the width of the flow surface expands along at least a portion of the length of the flow surface such that a surface area of the molten glass is increased as the molten glass flows over and down the flow surface; (c) collecting the molten glass from a downstream end of the flow surface to form a body of molten glass having a free surface exposed to the controlled environment; and (d) discharging molten glass from the controlled environment at a location below the free surface of the body of molten glass.