Glass Bending Support Extension for Edge Cooling and Curvature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gravity bending of large, highly curved glass panes onto frames results in uncontrolled deformation and increased cycle time due to the glass collapsing outwards during the bending process, leading to insufficient or irregular curvature at the periphery, which impedes sliding and increases the risk of uncontrolled deformation.
Innovation Solution
A device with a support frame and an outwardly extending contact track allows ambient air access to the glass periphery during cooling, ensuring rapid edge cooling and development of compression stresses by maintaining the glass edge beyond the frame, using a movable or removable extension to facilitate sliding and prevent sagging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the glass extends significantly beyond the frame at the beginning of bending, then the glass can be positioned for bending, but the protruding portion collapses outwards causing uncontrolled deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame is divided into a fixed portion and a movable extension portion. The extension portion can be positioned to support the protruding glass during bending, then retracted to allow proper cooling and stress development. This segmentation allows the system to handle different stages of the process independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion is made movable rather than fixed. It can dynamically adjust its position: extending during bending to support the glass edge, then retracting during cooling to allow air circulation. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between needing support during bending and needing exposure during cooling.
2Manufacturing precision
If the glass edge slides inwards along the frame during bending, then the glass reaches correct position, but the collapsed portion impedes sliding and increases cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the support frame into fixed and movable extension portions, the system can provide localized support where needed during sliding, preventing the glass from collapsing into positions that would impede further sliding. This maintains sliding efficiency and reduces cycle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable extension portion acts as an intermediary element that temporarily supports the glass edge during the critical sliding phase, then withdraws to allow the cooling process to proceed without interference. This mediator enables the sliding action to complete efficiently.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the extension remains fixed during cooling, then the glass structure is stable, but ambient air cannot access the glass periphery for rapid cooling and stress development
Solution Approach 1:
The extension portion transitions from a fixed state during bending (providing stability) to a movable/retracted state during cooling (allowing air access). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between stability and cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion performs periodic actions: it is in place during the bending phase, then retracted during the cooling phase. This periodic behavior allows the system to optimize for different requirements at different times in the process cycle.
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 enables precise, rapid, and controlled curvature of large glass sheets with consistent edge compression stresses, reducing cycle time and improving the quality of laminated glazing by ensuring identical curvature of multiple sheets.
Implementation Method 1
This allows the edge to cool more rapidly than the glass directly above the frame, consequently experiencing greater edge compression stresses
Implementation Method 2
consequently experiencing greater edge compression stresses
Implementation Method 3
as soon as the glass begins to soften from heat
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the gravity bending of a glass sheet or a stack of glass sheets, referred to as the glass, said device comprising: a frame, referred to as the support frame, and an extension which is external relative to at least a portion of the support frame, referred to as the extended portion, said extension comprising a contact track for the glass. The extension can provide an access for ambient air to access at least a portion of the peripheral zone external to the support frame supporting the lower face of the glass, which is located opposite the extended portion of the support frame, the glass being in its final bent form. The invention also relates to a method for producing bent glass, comprising the gravity bending of a glass sheet or a stack of glass sheets, referred to as the glass, on the device according to any of the device claims, the glass sliding on the extension during bending.