Containerless Glass Levitation Apparatus with Gas Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containerless levitation techniques are limited in producing large-sized glass materials due to difficulties in maintaining the glass melt levitated and preventing contact with the forming member or other surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a forming member with gas jet holes for levitating glass raw materials vertically, a cover member with a controlling surface to manage gas flow, and a heating device to melt and cool the glass, ensuring the glass melt is contained within a gas wall to prevent displacement and enable larger sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional containerless levitation techniques are used, then glass materials can be produced without contact with container walls, but the size of the glass material is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A gas wall is introduced as an intermediary medium between the glass melt and the environment. The gas wall acts as a protective barrier that confines the glass melt during levitation, enabling larger sizes without contact with container walls. The gas flow rate is controlled to maintain this protective barrier while supporting the glass material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes gas flow through multiple gas holes to create aerodynamic levitation and form a gas wall. By controlling the gas flow rate, the system achieves stable suspension of glass materials while preventing contact with surrounding surfaces, thus enabling production of larger glass materials.
2Volume of moving object
If gas flow rate is increased to support larger glass materials, then larger sizes can be achieved, but displacement of the glass melt increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply system is segmented into multiple gas holes distributed across the levitation surface. This segmentation allows the gas flow to be distributed uniformly, creating a stable gas wall that supports larger glass materials while minimizing displacement through balanced aerodynamic forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes parameters including gas flow rate, number of gas holes, and hole distribution to achieve stable levitation of larger glass materials. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system maintains positional stability while supporting increased material sizes.
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 approach allows for the production of large-sized glass materials by effectively controlling gas flow to prevent displacement, enabling the creation of larger glass materials that conventional methods cannot produce.
Implementation Method 1
heating a block of glass raw material to melting while holding the block of glass raw material levitated in substantially a vertical direction by gas
Implementation Method 2
heating the block of glass raw material to melting
Implementation Method 3
a controlling surface controlling, near the peripheral portion of the gas jetting surface, a flow of gas jetted through the gas jet holes
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for producing a glass material by a containerless levitation technique, which enables production of a large-sized glass material. The method includes the steps of: preparing a forming member and a cover member 20, the forming member including a gas jetting portion 11 in which a plurality of gas jet holes 12 for use in levitating a block of glass raw material are formed, the cover member 20 which is capable of covering a peripheral portion of a gas jetting surface 13 of the gas jetting portion 12 and in which a controlling surface 21 controlling, near the peripheral portion of the gas jetting surface 13, a flow of gas jetted through the gas jet holes 12 is formed and an opening 25 capable of releasing the gas to outside is formed; placing the block of glass raw material on top of the gas jetting surface 13 and covering the peripheral portion of the gas jetting surface 13 with the cover member 20; and heating the block of glass raw material to melting while holding the block of glass raw material levitated by jetting the gas through the gas jet holes 12 and then cooling the melted block of glass raw material.