Glass Delivery Vessel Offset Axis and Conical Top
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass manufacturing processes face challenges in delivering molten material efficiently, leading to stagnant flow areas and undesirable glass imperfections due to uneven elevations and conical taper angles in delivery vessels.
Innovation Solution
The glass manufacturing apparatus incorporates a delivery vessel with a cylindrical inner surface and a conical top having a taper angle from 0° to 20°, along with a stand pipe to equalize pressure, and a delivery pipe with an offset central axis to facilitate smooth molten material flow, reducing stagnation and imperfections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional delivery vessel with uneven elevation and conical taper is used, then the structure is simple, but stagnant flow areas and glass imperfections occur
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery vessel is divided into distinct sections: a body portion with substantially uniform elevation and a conical top portion. This segmentation allows each section to serve a specific function - the uniform body portion prevents stagnant flow areas while the conical top facilitates smooth material transition, resolving the contradiction between flow continuity and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the delivery vessel are given different geometric properties - the body portion has substantially uniform elevation to prevent stagnation, while the top portion has a conical taper to facilitate flow. This local differentiation of geometric quality optimizes flow characteristics in each region while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Productivity
If the delivery vessel upper end is at high elevation, then material delivery is facilitated, but stagnant flow areas occur
Solution Approach 1:
The body portion of the delivery vessel is designed with substantially uniform elevation, creating an equipotential flow path that prevents stagnant areas. This uniform elevation zone ensures consistent material flow while the conical top portion, positioned at higher elevation, facilitates gravity-driven delivery to the forming vessel without creating stagnation in the main delivery path.
3Speed
If a conical top with large taper angle is used, then material flow is accelerated, but glass imperfections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conical top portion uses a controlled taper angle parameter that balances flow acceleration with glass quality. By optimizing this geometric parameter, the design achieves sufficient flow speed to maintain material mobility while preventing the excessive turbulence and stagnation that would cause glass imperfections, thus resolving the contradiction between flow speed and manufacturing precision.
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
This configuration enhances the delivery of molten material, minimizing stagnation and imperfections in glass articles by ensuring a consistent flow path and effective pressure equalization, resulting in higher quality glass production.
Implementation Method 1
The stand pipe can be configured to equalize a pressure within the delivery vessel
Implementation Method 2
a conical top having a taper angle from 0° to 20°... facilitating smooth molten material flow
Implementation Method 3
a cylindrical inner surface extending along a central axis of the body portion... ensuring a consistent flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A glass manufacturing apparatus including a delivery vessel including a body portion with a cylindrical inner surface extending along a central axis of the body portion. In one embodiment, an upper end of the body portion is substantially equal to or lower than an uppermost portion of a travel path in a downstream end of a conduit connected to the delivery vessel. In another embodiment, a central axis of a delivery pipe is offset a distance from the central axis of the body portion of the delivery vessel. In still another embodiment, the delivery vessel includes a conical top including a taper angle from greater than 0° to about 20°. In further embodiments, methods include manufacturing glass with one or any combination of the above-referenced embodiments of glass manufacturing apparatus.