Patent ID: 6427488
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
A method for heating glass sheets to be tempered or heat strengthened comprising:transporting a glass sheet into a preheating station; preheating said glass sheet using convection warming by directing a heated air flow upon a surface of said glass sheet, said glass sheet having a first temperature when said glass sheet is first transported into said preheating station; selecting a first air flow velocity at which said heated air flow is directed upon said surface of said glass sheet, said first air flow velocity selected to achieve optimized heat transfer from said heated air flow to said glass sheet and simultaneously avoid breakage of said glass sheet at said first temperature; and increasing said air flow velocity at which said heated air flow is directed upon said surface of said glass sheet as a temperature of said glass sheet escalates from said first temperature during said preheating process for increasing the efficiency of heat transfer into said glass sheet.