Heating Plane Heat Footprint for Edge Director Devitrification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Excess cooling of molten material on edge directors in fusion draw processes leads to devitrification, resulting in glass deposits that cause imperfections and premature pulling away of the molten material, affecting the quality and width consistency of the glass ribbon.
Innovation Solution
Targeting radiative heat directly at the surface of the edge directors in contact with the molten material, reducing devitrification and minimizing unnecessary heat application to other parts of the molten material, using a heating plane with a heat footprint that intersects the edge director surface, often positioned below the root of the forming wedge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiative heat is applied to the edge director surface, then devitrification is prevented, but heat may be unnecessarily applied to other portions of the molten material
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plane is positioned and oriented to provide localized radiative heating specifically to the edge director surface where molten material contacts it. This targeted approach heats only the critical area needed to prevent devitrification without unnecessarily heating other portions of the molten material, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing devitrification and avoiding energy waste.
2Manufacturing precision
If the heating plane targets the edge director surface, then fusion quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating plane's position, orientation, and temperature parameters are optimized to achieve uniform heat distribution across the edge director surface. By carefully controlling these parameters, high fusion quality is achieved while avoiding the need for complex multi-zone heating systems or sophisticated control mechanisms, thus balancing manufacturing precision with device simplicity.
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 prevents devitrification and reduces unwanted attenuation of the glass ribbon's width by ensuring precise heating of the edge directors, enhancing the fusion quality and consistency of the glass ribbon's outer edge.
Implementation Method 1
target radiative heat to be directly applied to the surface of the edge directors
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for making a glass ribbon can include a heating plane including a heat footprint facing the surface of an edge director. A projection of the heat footprint in a resultant direction of the heating plane within the heat footprint can intersect the surface of the edge director. In further embodiments, a fusion draw method of making a glass ribbon can include radiating heat within a heat footprint of a heating plane toward a surface of an edge director. At least a portion of the heating plane within the heat footprint can face the surface of the edge director so that the surface of the edge director is intersected with heat radiating from the heat footprint of the heating plane.