ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR THE BLAST PRESSURE IN THE COOLING NOZZLES OF A GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjusting device for the blast pressure in cool­ ing nozzles (9) of a glass tempering apparatus, said device comprising at least two blowers (1, 3), each with its own vane adjuster (2, 4), blast ducts (8) between the blowers and an air-­ distribution chamber (10), and a by-­ pass duct (7) linking said blast ducts (8). Between blast duct (8) and air-­ distribution chamber (10) downstream of by-pass duct (7) there is fitted a throttle valve (5), which is in a throttle position when one blower (1) is running with its vane adjuster shut off and the other blower (3) is stopped with vane adjuster (4) partly or com­ pletely open. Thus, merely by adjust­ ing said vane adjusters (2, 4) it is possible to cover a pressure range of 5 - 7000 Pa which is sufficient for glass thicknesses of 4 - 19 mm.

Description: The present invention relates to an adjusting device for the blast pressure in the cooling nozzles of a glass tempering apparatus, said device comprising at least two blowers, each with its own vane adjuster, blow ducts between the blowers and an air distribution chamber, and a by-pass duct linking said blow ducts. With this type of prior known adjusting device, the vane adjustment may cover a pressure range that is sufficient for glass thicknesses of 4 - 12 mm. The attached figure 4 illustrates the relationship between glass thickness and required pressure in a semi-logarithmic scale. The high pressure readings required for 4 mm thick glasses are achieved when both blowers are running and the required adjustment is effected by setting the vane angle of vane adjusters. The blast pressure required for glass thicknesses of 5 - 12 mm is accomplished by keeping one of the blowers stopped with its vane adjuster shut off and by regulating the vane adjuster of a rotating blower. The adjustment ratio of a vane adjuster is in the order of 1:100. Even when shut off, said vane adjuster does not completely close the flow channel (= blower intake port), but said 1/100 of the pressure remains acting on the nozzles. As a result of this and the adjustment ratio of a vane adjuster, this prior known system cannot reach sufficiently low pressures to make it possible to anneal or temper also glasses having a thickness of 15 mm and 19 mm by using the same pressure regulation system. As seen from the curve of fig. 4, the pressure range required by these glass thicknesses cannot be reached either, even if the vane adjuster of a stopped blower were opened all the way while keeping the vane adjuster of a rotating blower shut off. It is prior known to provide the above type of apparatus with a separate propeller fan whose pressure range is suitable for tempering glass sheets having a thickness of 10 - 19 mm. This incurs extra equipment costs and operation is more complicated since different cases require the use of different blower systems. Neither is it possible to effect continuous control of blast pressure over the maximum output of a propeller fan. This would be necessary, however, if e.g. a 10 mm glass were to be cooled at a constant cooling rate. It is also prior known to employ an inverter or direct-current operation for controlling the pressure over an entire desired pressure range but such arrangements are highly expensive and sophisticated and thus also given to malfunctions. An object of the invention is to further develop this prior known pressure adjusting device so that, by means of a mere vane adjustment, it is possible to cover a pressure range (typically 7000 - 5 Pa) that is sufficient for tempering glasses having a thickness of 4 - 19 mm. This object is achieved by means of the adjusting device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments or further improvements of this adjusting device are defined in the subclaims. One embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 shows a blast assembly, associated with a glass tempering apparatus and provided with a blast pressure adjusting device of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the same as fig. 1 in plan view. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail III of fig. 1. Fig. 4 illustrates the relationship between the thickness of a glass to be tempered and the blast pressure in a semi-logarithmic scale. The blast assembly comprises two blowers 1 and 3 connected by way of blast ducts 8 to an air-distribution chamber 10, which is linked by way of distributing ducts 11 to nozzle blocks 9 with the glass sheets being tempered advancing therebetween. The adjustment of blast pressure for nozzles 9 is effected by means of vane adjusters 2 and 4 and also by means of throttles 5 of the invention, mounted on a common axis 5a and positioned between blast ducts 8 and air-distribution chamber 10 downstream of by-pass duct 7. Said ducts 8 can also have one common inlet from by-pass duct 7 into chamber 10 in which case just one throttle 5 is required. A cylinder 6 (fig. 3) provides an air spring for holding throttles 5 in a throttling position with a certain force. In the present case, the maximum throttling effect is achieved with throttles 5 pointing downwards, a certain amount of air being able to pass through between the bottom edge of throttles 5 and a wall 5b. The pressure prevailing in ducts 7, 8 seeks to turn throttles 5 and thus the pressure in chamber 10 increases. Since both throttles 5 operate together and are mounted on a common axis and thus make up a two-piece throttle valve, hereinafter a singular form is used for valve 5. The force of cylinder 6, which counteracts the turning of valve 5, is chosen so that valve 5 remains in its maximum throttle position when the pressure in chamber 10 (or generally between blast nozzles 9 and throttle valve 5) is at a desired minimum reading, e.g. 5 Pa within the adjustable pressure range. Instead of air spring 6, the constant force counteracting the turning of valve 5 can also be the own weight of throttle valve 5. This requires the proper selection of a point of suspension. The use of air spring 6 offers the advantage that cylinder 6 can be used for turning said throttle valve 5 to an open position automatically after valve 5 has turned more than a certain angle α, i.e. beyond the adjustment range of throttle valve 5, in other words the position of throttle valve 5 no longer has any effect on pressure. The cylinder space of cylinder 6 serving as an air spring is dimensioned sufficiently large, so that valve 5 is able to open as a result of a sudden pressure shock in ducts 8, 7. The adjustment of blast pressure is effected as follows. When tempering glasses having a thickness of 5 - 19 mm, one blower 1 is running with vane adjuster 2 shut off and the other blower 3 is stopped with its vane adjuster partly or completely open. With vane adjuster 2 shut off, air is flowing into blower 1 since the vane adjuster is not completely tight. Air is directed by way of by-pass duct 7 into duct 8 of blower 3 from which the air discharges through the open vane adjuster 4. When throttle valve 5 is in its maximum throttle position, said nozzles 9 will acquire a desired minimum pressure 5 Pa for thick 19 mm glasses (see fig. 4). By gradually closing vane adjuster 4, said throttle valve 5 opens automatically little by little as the pressure in by-pass duct 7 increases, the pressure also increasing on nozzles 9. When vane adjuster 4 is completely closed, said throttle valve 5 has opened through angle α and no longer has any practical effect on the level of pressure for nozzles 9. Thus, throttle valve 5 can be opened completely by means of cylinder 6. If pressure should be increased further from the reading obtained with vane adjuster 4 of blower 3 shut off, the vane adjuster 2 of blower 1 is turned towards an open position and the increase of pressure is now effected by opening said vane adjuster 2. When pressure is further increased for glass thickness 4 mm, both blowers 1 and 3 are actuated and the adjustment is effected by setting both vane adjusters 2 and 4 while throttle valve 5 is open.

Claims: An adjusting device for the blast pressure in cooling nozzles (9) of a glass tempering apparatus, said device comprising at least two blowers (1, 3), each with its own vane adjustor (2, 4), blast ducts (8) between the blowers and an air-distribution chamber (10), and a by-pass duct (7) linking said blast ducts (8), characterised in that , for adjusting the blast pressure within a sufficiently wide range for 4 - 19 mm thick glasses by means of a vane adjustment, between each blast duct (8) and the air-distribution chamber (10), downstream of the by-pass duct (7), or between the by-pass duct (7) and the air-distribution chamber (10) in the case where two blast ducts (8) are connected to the air-distribution chamber via the by-pass duct (7), there is fitted a throttle valve (5) of which the position is adjusted by the action of the pressure in the blast ducts or in the by-pass duct. An adjusting device as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that said pivoting throttle valve (5) is adapted to turn by the action of said pressure against a substantially constant force, said force being calculated to hold the throttle valve (5) in the maximum throttle position when the pressure between the blast nozzles (9) and the throttle valve (5) is at a desired minimum reading within the adjustable pressure range. An adjusting device as set forth in claim 2, characterised in that said minimum pressure is not higher than 5 Pa. An adjusting device as set forth in claim 3, characterised in that the pressure range obtainable by merely adjusting the vane adjusters (2, 4) covers 5 Pa - 7000 Pa, as measured between the blast nozzles (9) and the throttle valve (5). An adjusting device as set forth in claim 2, characterised in that said constant force is the own weight of the throttle valve (5). An adjusting device as set forth in claim 2, characterised in that said pivoting throttle valve (5) is adapted to turn against the force of an air spring (6). An adjusting device as set forth in claim 6, characterised in that said air spring (6) comprises a pneumatic cylinder whereby the throttle valve (5) can be turned to an open position. An adjusting device as set forth in claim 7, characterised in that said throttle valve (5) is adapted to be turned to an open position automatically after it has turned more than a certain angle (α). An adjusting device for blast pressure as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said throttle valve (5) is arranged to be in a throttle position when one blower (1 ) is running with the connected vane adjuster (2) being shut off and the other blower (3) is stopped with the connected vane adjuster (4) being partly or completely open. An adjusting device as set forth in claim 9, characterised in that the force counter-acting the turning of the throttle valve (5) is calculated so that the throttle valve is in a maximum throttle position when the vane adjuster (2) of the stopped blower (1) is completely open.

Inventors: REUNAMAEKI, PAULI TAPANI, YLI-VAKKURI, ERKKI PAAVO JOHANNES, Reunamäki, Pauli Tapani
Applicants: TAMGLASS OY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: C03B27
IPC codes: C03B27