Edge Director Heating Device for Glass Ribbon Width Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Excess cooling of molten material contacting the surface of edge directors in glass ribbon formation leads to devitrification, resulting in glass deposits and premature pulling away of the molten material, which reduces fusion quality and causes undesired variations in the glass ribbon's width.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a heating device with heating segments encapsulated within a monolithic block within the interior cavity of edge directors, which maintains optimal temperature to prevent devitrification and ensures consistent contact with the molten material, thereby maintaining the width of the glass ribbon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If edge directors are used to minimize attenuation of glass ribbon width, then the width stability is improved, but excess cooling causes devitrification and glass deposits on the edge director surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglass ribbon width stabilityVSAvoiddevitrification and glass deposits

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a heating device that actively controls the temperature parameter of the edge director. The heating device includes heating segments arranged in a serpentine pattern within an interior cavity, allowing precise thermal regulation to maintain the edge director surface temperature above the devitrification point, thus preventing glass deposits while preserving width-stabilizing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The heating device acts as an intermediary between the cooling environment and the molten glass material. By positioning heating segments within the interior cavity that contacts the molten glass, the system mediates the thermal interaction, ensuring the edge director maintains optimal temperature to prevent harmful devitrification without interfering with the width-stabilizing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If edge directors contact molten material, then fusion quality is improved, but cooling causes premature pulling away of molten material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefusion qualityVSAvoidmolten material temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device changes the temperature parameter of the edge director to prevent premature cooling of the molten material. By maintaining the edge director surface temperature, the system ensures continuous contact between the molten glass and edge director, preserving fusion quality without causing the material to pull away

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If heating device is added to prevent devitrification, then devitrification is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevitrification preventionVSAvoidedge director structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device is nested within the interior cavity of the edge director, with heating segments arranged in a compact serpentine pattern. This nesting approach integrates the heating function within the existing edge director structure, minimizing additional space requirements and reducing overall device complexity while achieving effective temperature control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the width-stabilizing function of the edge director with the temperature-control function of the heating device. By integrating these functions into a single component system, the patent reduces the number of separate devices needed, thereby managing device complexity while achieving both width stability and devitrification prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents devitrification and maintains consistent heating, ensuring high-quality glass ribbon formation by maintaining the molten material's contact with the edge directors, thus stabilizing the width of the glass ribbon.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device positioned within an interior cavity... The heating device may include a plurality of heating segments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11440830B2Edge directors including an interior heating device

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 CORNING INC

AI summary

An apparatus can include a wedge including a pair of inclined surface portions converging along a downstream direction to form a root of the wedge. The apparatus can further include an edge director intersecting with at least one of the pair of inclined surface portions. The edge director can include an interior cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus can further include a heating device positioned within the interior cavity, wherein the heating device can include a plurality of heating segments. In further embodiments, the apparatus can further include a plurality of coils of wire positioned within the interior cavity, wherein each of the plurality of coils of wire can include windings that may be wound about a corresponding linear coil axis that extends in the downstream direction.