Fluid Support Wall Layout for Uniform Glass Sheet Edge Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices supporting sheets of glass with fluid films face insufficient support force at the edge areas due to fluid flow-out, making it challenging for working, cutting, or dividing glass sheets effectively.

Innovation Solution

A device with feed and drain openings on the support wall allows the support fluid to enter and recirculate between the support wall and the glass sheet, maintaining uniform pressure across the surface, including the edges, by arranging these openings uniformly over the support surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the support fluid flows out laterally between the support wall and the glass sheet, then the device structure is simple, but the support force in the edge area becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoidsupport force in edge area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall is segmented with multiple feed openings and drain openings distributed across its surface. This segmentation allows the support fluid to be supplied at multiple locations and drained systematically, creating sufficient support force in the edge areas without requiring complex additional structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support fluid acts as an intermediary between the support wall and the glass sheet. By controlling the fluid flow through feed and drain openings, uniform pressure distribution is achieved across the entire glass sheet surface, including edge areas, resolving the support force insufficiency without structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stress or pressure

If feed openings and drain openings are uniformly distributed over the support wall, then uniform support pressure is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport fluid pressure uniformityVSAvoidopening arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall is divided into multiple zones with feed and drain openings distributed throughout. This segmentation approach achieves uniform pressure distribution across the glass sheet by providing multiple fluid supply and drainage points, while the openings themselves remain simple circular features that do not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feed openings and drain openings are integrated directly into the support wall structure as simple perforations. This merging of functions (fluid supply and drainage) into the existing support wall eliminates the need for separate complex fluid management components, achieving uniform pressure without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of substance

If the support fluid is drawn off through drain openings near the feed openings, then fluid losses are reduced, but the pressure build-up becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport fluid lossVSAvoidpressure build-up in support space

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The support wall is segmented with feed and drain openings positioned close to each other in multiple locations. This segmentation allows the support fluid to be supplied and drained in localized zones, reducing overall fluid loss while maintaining adequate pressure build-up in each zone through the coordinated action of nearby feed and drain openings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each feed opening is paired with drain openings in its local vicinity, creating localized fluid management zones. This local quality approach ensures that pressure builds up effectively in each local area while fluid losses are minimized locally, and the collective effect across all zones achieves both reduced overall fluid loss and adequate overall pressure support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 ensures consistent support force across the entire glass sheet, enabling precise guidance and support during transport and processing, such as roughening or cutting, by minimizing fluid loss and maintaining desired pressure levels.

Implementation Method 1

For supporting sheets of glass, keeping them supported on an air cushion film or between liquid films (water films) and moving them in the direction of their plane are known.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir cushion: Air Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

the fluid which supports the sheets of glass (gas, especially air, or liquid, especially water) must flow out laterally between the support wall and the supported sheet of glass so that the support force in the edge area is not sufficient due to the lower pressure in the fluid which prevails there

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20060180140A1Device for transporting and supporting sheet-shaped articles, especially sheets of glass

Publication Date: 2006.08.17 PETER LISEC PRIVATSTIFTUNG

AI summary

To ensure that the support force which is dependent on the pressure of a support fluid is essentially the same also in the edge area of an article (9), especially sheets of (flat) glass, which is to be held or transported, as the support force in the middle area of the surface of the article (9), the device (1) as claimed in the invention on at least one support wall (3 or 5) provides for feed openings (21) to which drain openings (23) are directly assigned.