Refractory Tube Surface Element Tensioning for Glass Drawing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass tube drawing processes face challenges in achieving uniformity and quality control of glass tube strands, particularly in the thickness of the glass tube wall, due to imbalances and disturbances in the shaping zone.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a refractory tube with a surface element and a tensioning element, where the surface element projects over the end section of the tubular element and is connected to the tensioning element, allowing for synchronous movement and tensioning in axial or radial directions, which improves the contact surface stability and eliminates disturbances, thereby enhancing the quality of the glass tube strand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional refractory tube is used without a surface element, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the contact surface stability is insufficient leading to non-uniform glass tube strand thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The refractory tube is segmented into a tubular element and a separate surface element. The surface element can be independently tensioned and adjusted, allowing precise control of the contact surface stability without redesigning the entire refractory tube structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface element provides localized improvement to the contact surface area where molten glass runs onto the refractory tube. By enhancing only the critical contact zone rather than the entire structure, uniformity of glass tube strand thickness is improved while keeping overall device complexity low.
2Reliability
If the carrier and refractory tube are connected in a rotating manner, then the drawing process can proceed, but imbalances and disturbances occur in the shaping zone affecting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The surface element is extracted as a separate, independently tensioned component from the rotating carrier-refractory tube assembly. This allows the contact surface to be stabilized independently of the rotational motion, eliminating imbalances and disturbances in the shaping zone while maintaining the drawing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If the surface element is rigidly fixed to the tubular element, then the structure is simple, but the contact surface cannot be tensioned to improve stability
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the surface element and tubular element is made dynamic rather than rigid. The tensioning element allows the surface element to be adjusted and tensioned during operation, improving contact surface stability while maintaining ease of assembly through a modular, adjustable connection mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for use in a glass drawing process includes: a tensioning element; a refractory tube having a tubular element and a surface element, the refractory tube being configured so molten glass runs onto a contact surface area of the refractory tube during a glass drawing process, the contact surface area of the refractory tube being allocated at least in part on the surface element, the surface element covering at least one surface of an end section of the tubular element, and the surface element projects at least in part over the end section of the tubular element, at least one portion of the part of the surface element projecting over the end section of the tubular element being connected at least in part to the tensioning element; and a carrier that carries the refractory tube and is connected with the refractory tube in a non-rotating manner.