An overflow brick, apparatus and method for stabilizing production of a substrate glass

Abstract

The application discloses an overflow brick, a device and a method for stably producing a substrate glass, and belongs to the technical field of liquid crystal substrate glass manufacturing. The overflow brick provided by the application adopts a split type arched overflow brick structure, which weakens the influence of the gravity of the overflow brick on the production stability. Meanwhile, a supporting and clamping device with an L-shaped structure is introduced, and a horizontal clamping force is applied to offset the negative influence caused by creep. By designing the fixed connection surface of the first brick body and the second brick body as an arched curved surface and combining the clamping force provided by the supporting and clamping device, the overall structural stability of the overflow brick is enhanced, and the overflow brick can inhibit the creep phenomenon that may occur in the high-generation substrate glass production process and effectively resist deformation in a high-temperature and long-time working environment. The glass liquid can be overflowed and drawn in a stable and uniform state, so that the uniformity of the overflow glass thickness is improved, and the production quality of the substrate glass is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of liquid crystal substrate glass manufacturing technology, and specifically to an overflow brick, apparatus and method for stabilizing the production of substrate glass. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of liquid crystal substrate glass manufacturing technology, such as thin-film transistor displays (TFT-LCDs) and plasma display panels (PDPs), the overflow pull-down process is widely used. The core of this process lies in supplying molten glass from a glass melting furnace to a molten overflow pull-down forming device to complete the forming process. As a key technology in substrate glass production, the basic principle of the overflow pull-down method is that molten glass enters the overflow channel from the feeding section and then flows downwards along the overflow trough. The lower part of the overflow trough is usually designed as a wedge shape; the molten glass flows down the two wedge surfaces and finally converges at the bottom edge of the wedge to form a glass ribbon. This glass ribbon undergoes subsequent treatments such as annealing to produce high-quality substrate glass. Compared to float glass and slot drawing processes, the overflow pull-down method can create glass sheets with excellent surface flatness and smoothness, and eliminates the cumbersome secondary forming steps.

[0003] The overflow brick, a core component of the overflow downflow method, is used to support and guide the molten glass. The molten glass flows within the overflow brick and eventually overflows from both sides, forming a continuous glass ribbon. The shape and dimensional accuracy of the overflow brick significantly impact the uniformity of the glass ribbon's thickness. Deformation or wear of the overflow brick can lead to uneven glass flow, affecting the uniformity of the glass ribbon's thickness. However, in the high-temperature environment of a muffle furnace (up to 1300°C), prolonged high-temperature operation can cause the overflow brick to deform, compromising its shape and dimensional accuracy. This is primarily because, traditionally, overflow bricks are supported and fixed at both ends. During deformation, the middle section tends to sink, creating a depression along the groove edge. This increases the overflow flow of molten glass in the middle, increasing the thickness of the glass substrate in the middle, leading to defects such as warping and stress, and reducing yield. Furthermore, with the development of higher-generation glass production lines, the quality requirements for substrate glass are becoming increasingly stringent. Although the overflow method has become the mainstream process in the industry due to its excellent surface quality and the convenience of not requiring secondary processing, the continuous increase in glass size has led to a continuous increase in the size of the overflow brick, a core component, which exacerbates the creep problem of the overflow brick under high-temperature environments. High-temperature creep not only directly interferes with the flow distribution of molten glass and affects the uniformity of glass thickness, but in severe cases, it may also significantly reduce the service life of the entire overflow equipment.

[0004] Therefore, how to effectively solve the creep problem of overflow bricks under high temperature environment has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an overflow brick, apparatus and method for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, so as to overcome the deformation problem caused by the overflow brick operating in a high-temperature environment for a long time in the prior art.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0007] An overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass includes an overflow brick body and a support clamping device.

[0008] The overflow brick body consists of a first brick and a second brick from top to bottom. The first brick is provided with a concave overflow groove with an inclined upper surface to contain molten glass. The first brick is fixedly connected to the second brick, which has a V-shaped structure for overflowing and pulling down molten glass. The fixed connection surface between the first brick and the second brick is an arched curved surface.

[0009] The support clamping device has an L-shaped structure. The horizontal section of the support clamping device is provided with a recessed groove that is adapted to the V-shaped structure. It is symmetrically arranged at both ends of the second brick body. The vertical section of the support clamping device is clamped at both ends of the overflow brick body. The end face of the vertical section is higher than the highest horizontal section of the arched surface and lower than the bottom surface of the inner groove of the concave overflow groove.

[0010] Furthermore, the arch height H1 of the arched surface is specifically as follows:

[0011] The arch height H1 of the arched surface is greater than ×W×t,

[0012] in, Let W be the creep rate of the overflow brick, W be the span of the overflow brick's support, and t be time.

[0013] Furthermore, the creep rate of the overflow brick At 1300℃, less than 10×10 -5 mm / hr.

[0014] Furthermore, the distance H2 from the arched curved surface to the bottom surface (11) of the inner channel of the concave overflow channel is at least 30 mm.

[0015] Furthermore, the overflow brick body is made of refractory material.

[0016] Furthermore, a positioning pin is vertically installed above the horizontal section of the supporting clamping device. The positioning pin is used to fix the first brick and the second brick.

[0017] Furthermore, the locating pin is made of the same refractory material as the overflow body.

[0018] Furthermore, the horizontal section of the supporting clamping device is provided with a horizontal through hole, and a displacement sensor is installed inside the horizontal through hole to monitor the span W of the overflow brick.

[0019] The present invention also provides an overflow device for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, comprising an overflow brick, wherein the overflow brick is the overflow brick described above for stabilizing the production of substrate glass.

[0020] The present invention also provides a method for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, which uses the above-mentioned overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, applies a force F to the overflow brick body, and controls the creep of the overflow brick by adjusting the force F applied to the overflow brick body.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the positive and progressive effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0022] The overflow brick provided by this invention for stabilizing the production of substrate glass adopts a split arched overflow brick structure. The overflow brick body is designed as a first brick and a second brick connected together, which reduces the impact of the overflow brick's own weight on production stability. At the same time, an L-shaped support and clamping device is introduced to counteract the negative effects of creep by applying a horizontal clamping force. By designing the fixed connection surface of the first brick and the second brick as an arched curved surface, combined with the clamping force provided by the support and clamping device, not only is the overall structural stability of the overflow brick enhanced, but the overflow brick can also suppress creep phenomena that may occur during the production of high-generation substrate glass under high-temperature and long-term working environments, effectively resisting deformation; ensuring that the molten glass overflows and flows down in a stable and uniform state, thereby improving the uniformity of the overflow glass thickness and the production quality of the substrate glass.

[0023] Furthermore, the arch height H1 of the arched surface is precisely calculated based on the creep rate of the overflow brick, the span of the fulcrum, and time, to ensure that the impact of creep on the performance of the overflow brick is minimized during long-term use.

[0024] Furthermore, the overflow brick body is made of refractory material to ensure sufficient strength and stability under high-temperature conditions. In addition, the positioning pins are also made of the same refractory material as the overflow body, ensuring reliable connection between the upper and lower parts of the overflow brick body, without misalignment, and with smooth, gap-free mating surfaces, thereby enhancing the high-temperature resistance of the overall structure.

[0025] Furthermore, the horizontal section of the support clamping device is equipped with a displacement sensor, which can monitor the span W of the overflow brick in real time, providing data support for timely adjustment of the force F and creep control, making monitoring and adjustment during the production process more convenient and accurate.

[0026] Furthermore, by adjusting the force F applied to the overflow brick body, creep can be precisely controlled, thereby improving production stability and product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the invention and constitute a part of this invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overflow brick structure in the prior art;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Cross-sectional view;

[0030] Figure 3 A simplified stress analysis diagram of overflow bricks in existing technologies that do not undergo creep;

[0031] Figure 4 A simplified force analysis diagram of creep in overflow bricks in existing technology;

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overflow brick structure of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Cross-sectional view;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a simplified stress analysis diagram of the overflow brick of the present invention.

[0035] Wherein, 11 is the bottom surface of the inner trough; 12 is the overflow brick cofferdam; 13 is the original support clamping device; 111 is the bottom surface of the inner trough after creep; 121 is the overflow brick cofferdam after creep; G is gravity; g1 and g2 are the components of gravity G; F is the force; f1 and f2 are the components of the force F; 21 is the first brick; 22 is the second brick; 23 is the support clamping device; 24 is the positioning pin; 25 is the displacement sensor; and 211 is the arched curved surface. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0037] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0038] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "horizontal," or "inner" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0040] Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. This is an explanation of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

[0042] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The overflow brick body is placed vertically on the original support clamping devices 13 at both ends, see [reference]. Figure 3 A horizontal force F is applied to clamp the overflow brick body, and the vertical force is the sum of the weight of the overflow brick body itself and the weight of the molten glass, G.

[0043] creep variables ,in, W represents the span of the overflow brick support, and t represents time. See also Figure 4 Over time, the creep will increase, and the overflow brick cofferdam 12 and the bottom surface 11 of the inner channel will gradually bend and deform. Figure 1 The creeped overflow brick cofferdam 121 and the creeped inner tank bottom surface 111 are located at this point; at this time, the molten glass along the cofferdam will no longer overflow evenly, and the tendency of the glass plate to be thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges will become more and more obvious. Under the action of gravity G, it will produce Figure 4As shown in the downward bending deformation diagram, with the continuous increase of deformation m, traditional technology would increase the clamping force F to control the increase in creep. However, once creep occurs, increasing the force F will actually exacerbate the creep. Generally, for overflow bricks with a length of 2 m to 2.5 m (corresponding to G6-G7.5 products), the creep will exceed 15 mm after 2 to 3 years of production, and the thickness uniformity will no longer meet the requirements, leading to the replacement of the entire overflow device and severely impacting production or enterprise efficiency. Higher generation (G8.5 and above) overflow bricks are even longer, with a larger span W, reaching 3 m to 3.5 m. Based on the creep rate of the same material, the creep of the overflow device with this structure will exceed 20 mm after 2 years, severely impacting production.

[0044] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this invention, the first brick body 21 and the second brick body 22 of the overflow brick are processed separately to ensure the same matching arched surface 211, wherein the arch height H1 of the arched surface is greater than the creep variation. (Unit: mm) The distance H2 from the arched curved surface to the bottom of the inner groove of the concave overflow groove is greater than 30 mm (minimum strength thickness). The upper and lower parts of the overflow brick are provided with pin holes at the same position and are connected by positioning pins 24. After further assembly and processing, all mating surfaces 211 are ensured to be smooth and flat.

[0045] See Figure 7 Based on the characteristics of the overflow brick arch structure, the span of the arch surface is W. At its two ends, the support is subjected to gravity G, which generates component forces g1 and g2 along the arch direction. It is also subjected to clamping force F. Force analysis of force F produces component forces f1 and f2. Among them, the component force f1 along the tangent of the arch is opposite to the component forces g1 and g2 of its gravity, which can suppress the increase of the arch curvature H1.

[0046] Therefore, the present invention provides an overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, comprising an overflow brick body and a support clamping device 23;

[0047] The overflow brick body consists of a first brick 21 and a second brick 22 from top to bottom. The first brick 21 is provided with a concave overflow groove with an inclined upper surface to accommodate molten glass. The first brick 21 is fixedly connected to the second brick 22, which has a V-shaped structure for overflowing and pulling down molten glass. The fixed connection surface between the first brick 21 and the second brick 22 is an arched curved surface 211.

[0048] The support clamping device 23 has an L-shaped structure. The horizontal section of the support clamping device 23 is provided with a recessed groove adapted to the V-shaped structure and is symmetrically arranged at both ends of the second brick body 22. The vertical section of the support clamping device 23 is clamped at both ends of the overflow brick body. The end face of the vertical section is higher than the highest horizontal section of the arched curved surface 211 and lower than the bottom surface of the inner groove of the concave overflow groove, and is used to apply a force F to the overflow brick body.

[0049] The overflow brick provided by this invention for stabilizing the production of substrate glass adopts a split arched overflow brick structure. The overflow brick body is designed as a first brick and a second brick connected together, which reduces the impact of the overflow brick's own weight on production stability. At the same time, an L-shaped support and clamping device is introduced to counteract the negative effects of creep by applying a horizontal clamping force. By designing the fixed connection surface of the first brick and the second brick as an arched curved surface, combined with the clamping force provided by the support and clamping device, not only is the overall structural stability of the overflow brick enhanced, but the overflow brick can also suppress creep phenomena that may occur during the production of high-generation substrate glass under high-temperature and long-term working environments, effectively resisting deformation; ensuring that the molten glass overflows and flows down in a stable and uniform state, thereby improving the uniformity of the overflow glass thickness and the production quality of the substrate glass.

[0050] Specifically, the arch height H1 of the arched surface 211 is as follows:

[0051] The arch height H1 of the arched surface 211 is greater than ×W×t,

[0052] in, Let W be the creep rate of the overflow brick, W be the span of the overflow brick's support, and t be time.

[0053] Specifically, the creep rate of the overflow brick At 1300℃, less than 10×10 -5 mm / hr.

[0054] The arch height H1 of the arched surface is precisely calculated based on the creep rate of the overflow brick, the span of the support point, and time to ensure that the impact of creep on the performance of the overflow brick is minimized during long-term use.

[0055] Specifically, the distance H2 from the arched curved surface 211 to the bottom surface 11 of the inner channel of the concave overflow channel is at least 30 mm.

[0056] Specifically, the overflow brick body is made of refractory material.

[0057] Specifically, a positioning pin 24 is vertically arranged above the horizontal section of the support clamping device 23. The positioning pin 24 is used to fix the first brick 21 and the second brick 22.

[0058] Specifically, the positioning pin 24 uses the same refractory material as the overflow body.

[0059] The overflow brick body is made of refractory material to ensure sufficient strength and stability in high-temperature environments. Furthermore, the locating pins are also made of the same refractory material as the overflow brick body, ensuring reliable connection between the upper and lower parts of the overflow brick body, preventing misalignment, and ensuring smooth, gap-free mating surfaces, thereby enhancing the overall structure's high-temperature resistance.

[0060] Specifically, the horizontal section of the support clamping device 23 is provided with a horizontal through hole, and a displacement sensor 25 is installed inside the horizontal through hole to monitor the span W of the overflow brick support.

[0061] The horizontal section of the support clamping device is equipped with a displacement sensor, which can monitor the span W of the overflow brick in real time, providing data support for timely adjustment of the force F and creep control, making monitoring and adjustment during the production process more convenient and accurate.

[0062] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention provides an overflow device for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, comprising an overflow brick, wherein the overflow brick is the aforementioned overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass.

[0063] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention provides a method for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, which uses the above-mentioned overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, applies a force F to the overflow brick body, and controls the creep of the overflow brick by adjusting the force F applied to the overflow brick body.

[0064] As a specific embodiment of the present invention, see Figure 5 The overflow brick body is divided into two parts: an upper first brick 21 and a lower second brick 22. The first brick 21 has a concave overflow groove with a sloping upper surface to hold the molten glass. The second brick 22 has a V-shaped structure for overflowing and pulling the molten glass downwards. The fixing connection surface between the first brick 21 and the second brick 22 is an arched curved surface 211. The upper and lower parts are connected as one unit by a positioning pin 24. Support clamping devices 23 are provided at both ends, and a horizontal clamping force F is applied to the overflow brick body to ensure that the clamping mechanism and the overflow brick are in close contact without gaps.

[0065] The support clamping device 23 has an L-shaped structure. The second brick 22 is placed on the horizontal section of the support clamping device 23. The vertical section covers the joint surface of the second brick 22 and the support clamping device 23. That is, the end face of the vertical section is higher than the highest horizontal section of the arched curved surface 211. At the same time, the end face of the vertical section is lower than the bottom surface of the inner groove of the concave overflow groove, so that the clamping force F is applied horizontally to the outside of the L-shaped support structure.

[0066] Meanwhile, the horizontal section of the clamping device 23 is equipped with a horizontal through hole, inside which a displacement sensor 25 is installed to monitor the span W of the overflow brick's fulcrum, reflecting changes in the overflow brick's creep in real time. The creep of the overflow brick is controlled by adjusting the force F. During high-temperature production, the displacement sensor 25 is monitored in real time. When creep occurs, the span W changes, dynamically reflected in the sensor. At this point, the clamping force F is increased to ensure that W remains within a very small fluctuation range (generally ±0.5mm). Under this condition, the creep of the overflow brick is prevented from fluctuating significantly, thus enabling the overflow brick to suppress creep phenomena that may occur during the production of high-generation substrate glass under high-temperature, long-term working conditions, effectively resisting deformation; ensuring that the molten glass overflows and flows down in a stable and uniform state, thereby improving the uniformity of the overflow glass thickness and the production quality of the substrate glass.

[0067] Finally, it should be noted that the embodiments listed above are merely one or more specific manifestations of the technical solution of this invention. Their purpose is to clearly illustrate the concept, principle, and application of this invention through specific examples, and is by no means intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention to these specific embodiments. In fact, the true value of this invention lies in its proposed technical ideas and innovations, rather than its manifestations or implementation methods.

[0068] For those skilled in the art, after thoroughly reading and understanding the technical solution of this invention, they are fully capable of making various changes, modifications, or equivalent substitutions to the specific implementation of the invention based on their own professional knowledge and skills. These changes may include, but are not limited to: adjusting the range of technical parameters, optimizing the algorithm flow to improve efficiency, and replacing some technical components to achieve better compatibility or reduce costs. As long as these modified technical solutions substantially retain the technical features claimed by the original invention, that is, they can still achieve the core functions and effects of this invention, then these changes should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the pending claims of this invention.

[0069] Furthermore, with the continuous progress and development of technology, new technical means and methods are constantly emerging, which provides ample space for further improvement and perfection of this invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of this invention should also include reasonable and foresightful improvements and extensions based on existing technology. As long as these improvements and extensions do not depart from the basic principles and core concepts of this invention, they should be considered equivalents of this invention and are equally protected by patent rights.

Claims

1. An overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, characterized in that, Including the overflow brick body and the support clamping device (23); The overflow brick body consists of a first brick (21) and a second brick (22) from top to bottom. The first brick (21) is provided with a concave overflow groove with an inclined upper surface to accommodate molten glass. The first brick (21) is fixedly connected to the second brick (22). The second brick (22) has a V-shaped structure for overflowing and pulling down molten glass. The fixed connection surface between the first brick (21) and the second brick (22) is an arched curved surface (211). The support clamping device (23) has an L-shaped structure. The horizontal section of the support clamping device (23) is provided with a recessed groove adapted to the V-shaped structure, which is symmetrically arranged at both ends of the second brick body (22). The vertical section of the support clamping device (23) is clamped at both ends of the overflow brick body. The end face of the vertical section is higher than the highest horizontal section of the arched surface (211) and lower than the bottom surface of the inner groove of the concave overflow groove. The arch height H1 of the arched surface (211) is as follows: The arch height H1 of the arched surface (211) is greater than ×W×t, in, Let W be the creep rate of the overflow brick, W be the span of the overflow brick's support, and t be time.

2. The overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance H2 from the arched curved surface (211) to the bottom surface (11) of the inner channel of the concave overflow channel is at least 30 mm.

3. The overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The overflow brick body is made of refractory material.

4. An overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, A positioning pin (24) is vertically installed above the horizontal section of the support clamping device (23). The positioning pin (24) is used to fix the first brick (21) and the second brick (22).

5. An overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass according to claim 4, characterized in that, The positioning pin (24) is made of the same refractory material as the overflow body.

6. An overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass according to claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal section of the support clamping device (23) is provided with a horizontal through hole, and a displacement sensor (25) is provided inside the horizontal through hole to monitor the span W of the overflow brick.

7. An overflow device for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, characterized in that, Includes overflow bricks, wherein the overflow bricks are the overflow bricks for stabilizing the production of substrate glass as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for stabilizing the production of substrate glass, characterized in that, The overflow brick for stabilizing the production of substrate glass as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 is used. A force F is applied to the overflow brick body, and the creep of the overflow brick is controlled by adjusting the force F applied to the overflow brick body.

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