Patent ID: 6094942
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
In a method of making a flat glass ribbon by a float process wherein molten glass is delivered onto a pool of molten metal containing tin within an enclosed chamber and formed into a glass ribbon, the glass ribbon having opposed edges as it moves through the chamber in a predetermined direction with the edges of the ribbon spaced from walls of the enclosed chamber such that the space between the edge of the ribbon and the adjacent wall of the chamber defines an uncovered portion of the pool of molten metal, wherein oxygen gas dissolved in the pool of molten metal combines with the tin in the pool of molten metal to form tin oxide which vaporizes and collects within the chamber above the molten glass and glass ribbon resulting in defects in the glass ribbon, the improvement comprising:positioning an elongated member having porous and nonporous portions, a longitudinal axis and an elongated hollow passageway extending through the elongated member and along the longitudinal axis in the pool of molten metal within the enclosed chamber such that the longitudinal axis of the elongated member generally parallels an adjacent edge of the glass ribbon and extends along the predetermined direction of the glass ribbon, wherein the porous portions permits gas passing into the passageway to flow into the pool of molten metal through the porous portions and the non-porous portions prevent gas passing into the passageway from flowing into the pool of molten metal; andmoving hydrogen gas through the passageway and the porous portions of the elongated member directly into the pool of molten metal to react the hydrogen with the tin oxide within the pool of molten metal to form water and elemental tin to reduce the amount of tin oxide within the pool of molten metal.