Improvements in or Applicable to the Manufacture of Cylindrical and Tubular Articles of Glass and of Sheet Glass.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Manufacture of Cylindrical
and Tubular Articles of Glass and of Sheet Glass.
T, WILLIAM AMBLER, of Bradford, in the County of York, Commission Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to the manufacture
of cylindrical and tubular articles of glass and of sheet glass.
The Invention consists essentially in the formation of cylindrical and tubular
articles of glass and of sheet glass by moulding molten glass into cylindrical or
tubular forms by the agency of centrifugal force caused to operate within a mould of
the required form and dimensions and to which a rotary motion is imparted by
suitable means, sheet glass if required being obtained from such cylindrical or
tubular forms by cutting, opening and flattening the same substantially as hitherto
practiced when obtaining sheet glass from blown cylinder glass.
In carrying the Invention into effect I employ a mould of suitable form and
dimensions mounting the same vertically on a spindle to which rotary motion is
suitably imparted.
The mould may be made entire, or in parts so that it may be laterally opened apart
and closed; it is made with an open top and with a convex, conical or equivalently
shaped bottom so formed as to cause the molten glass when dropped into the mould
to run towards the circumference or side thereof up and over the inner surface of
which it is caused to spread in even thickness by the rotation of the mould to
which a rapid and if required a gradually decreasing speed is given until the glass
has sufficiently hardened to maintain its form after which the moulded article may be
removed from the mould either by inverting the latter, by raising the article within
and out of the mould, or by opening the mould apart.
In the event of the mould being inverted it may be carried by a vertically disposed
plate to which at the proper time a semi-rotation would be imparted. In the event of
the formed article being raised out of the mould the latter may be formed with a false
bottom which at the required time may be raised within the mould sufficiently to
raise the moulded article above the top edge of the latter; and in the event of the
mould being opened apart it would he adapted with suitable means for opening, closing
and clamping the parts of the mould together at the respective proper times for
releasing the formed article and enclosing the molten glass dropped thereinto.
In an advantageous arrangement of mechanism for using a closed reversible mould,
the latter is secured to a vertical spindle working in a bracket bolted to a vertical
plate fast on a horizontal tubular shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings, and is
adapted with a worm-wheel or other suitable means by which it can be slowly rotated
so as when the article being made is moulded and set to cause the desired reversal of
the mould to allow of the contained article falling out or being removed.
Longitudinally within and throughout the length of such tubular shaft there is
disposed a solid shaft on the front end of which is keyed a friction wheel adapted to
operate a similar wheel keyed on the spindle of the mould, the rear end of such shaft
being fitted with fast and loose pulleys so that during the formation of the cylindrical
or tubular article a rapid rotary motion may be imparted to the mould. The means
causing the rotation of the mould around its axis may be so arranged in any suitable
manner as to cause a differential or slowly decreasing speed of rotation to be imparted
to the mould, the speed at first being sufficient to cause the molten glass to fly to and
spread in even thickness about the inner circumference of the mould, and then
sufficient to cause it to retain such position until it has sufficiently set to permit of its

page_text: If the cylindrical or tubular article formed by such improved process of treatment
is intended to be made into sheet glass it is after leaving the mould cut in the direction
of its axis in any usual or suitable nanuor and is opened, flattened and otherwise
treated as in the usual process of treating blown cylinder glass for the manufacture of
sheet glass.
Dated this 13th day of December 1888.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Manufacture of Cylindrical
and Tubular Articles of Glass and of Sheet Glass.
I, WILLIAM AMBLER, of Bradford, in the County of York, Commission Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to the manufacture
of cylindrical and tubular articles of glass and of sheet glass.
The Invention consists essentially in the formation of cylindrical and tubular
articles of glass and of sheet glass by moulding molten glass into cylindrical or
tubular forms by the agency of centrifugal force caused to operate within a mould of
the required form and dimensions and to which a rotary motion is imparted by
suitable means, sheet glass if required, being obtained from such cylindrical or tubular
forms by cutting, opening out, and flattoning the same substantially as hitherto
practiced when obtaining sheet glass from blown cylinder glass.
In carrying the Invention into effect I employ a mould of suitable form and
dimensions mounting the same vertically on a spindle to which rotary motion is
suitably imparted.
The mould may be made entire or in parts, so that it may be laterally opened apart
and closed; it is made with an open top and with a convex, conical or equivalently
shaped bottom so formed as to cause the molten glass when dropped into the mould
to run towards the circumference or side thereof up and over the inner surface of
which it is caused to spread in even thickness by the rotation of the mould to which
a rapid and if required a gradually decreasing speed is given until the glass has
sufficiently hardened to maintain its form after which the moulded article may be
removed from the mould either by inverting the latter, by raising the article within
and out of the mould, or by opening the mould apart.
In the event of the mould being inverted it may be carried by a vertically disposed
plate to which at the proper time a semi-rotation would be imparted. In the event
of the formed article being raised out of the mould the latter may be formed with a
false bottom which at the required time may be raised within the mould sufficiently
to raise the moulded article above the top odge of the latter; and in the event of the
mould being opened apart it would be adapted with suitable means for opening,
closing and clamping the parts of the mould together at the respectivo proper
times for releasing the formed article and enclosing the molten glass dropped
thereinto.
A specially advantageous arrangement of mechanism for carrying the Invention
into effect is illustrated on the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1. representing a side
elevation thereof and Fig. 2. an end elevation. Fig. 3. represents a method of dis-
charging the formed cylinder from a closed mould.
On the accompanying drawings, 4, represents a closed reversible mould which is
secured to a vertical tubular spindle, 5, working in a bracket, 6, bolted to a vertically
disposed plate, 7, fast on a horizontal tubular shaft, 8, which is mounted in suitable
bearings, 9, and is adapted with a worm wheel, 10, in gear with an actuating wheel, 11,
or with other suitable means by which it can be slowly rotated so as (when the article

page_text: being made is moulded and set) to cause the desired reversal of the mould, 4, to allow
of the contained article falling out or of its being pushed out or removed (vide
Fig. 3.) by the false bottom, 22, which is fast on a spindle, 23, working within the
tubular shaft, 5, and may be inoved endwise by a lever screw hydraulic press or by
any other suitable means. The upper surface of the false bottom, 22, is made of a
conical formation for the purpose aforesaid. It revolves together with the molten
glass and the containing mould by reason of its frictional contact therewith.
Longitudinally within and throughout the length of the tubular shaft, 8, there is
disposed a solid shaft, 12, on the front end of which is keyed a friction wheel or
disc, 13, adapted to operate a similar wheel or disc, 14, keyed on the spindle, 5, of the
mould, the rear end of the shaft, 12, being fitted with fast and loose pulleys, 15, 16, so
that during the formation of the cylindrical or tubular article a rapid rotary motion may
be imparted to the mould. The spindles, 12, and, 5, may be connected by bevil gearing,
or the rotation of the mould around its axis may be caused by other suitable means and
such may be so arranged in any suitable manner as to cause a differential or slowly
decreasing speed of rotation to be imparted to the mould, the speed at first being
sufficient to cause the molten glass to fly to and spread in even thickness about the inner
circumference of the mould, and then sufficient to cause it to retain such position
until it has sufficiently set to permit of its removal.
In order to keep the molten glass in the mould in a sufficiently fluid state to
obtain a thin cylinder or for any other purpose, if desired, there may be combined
with the apparatus a blower, 17, actuated by a band, 18, from the shaft, 12, and
forcing a combined blast of air and gas through a jet or nozzle, 19, directing the
same into the mould, the blast being ignited at the nozzle and yielding a sufficiently
intense heat for the purpose desired. 20, 21, represent stop cocks for controlling
the air and gas supply as required. And further in order to determine the thickness
of the cylinder of glass to be spun or the depth of such cylinder a snugly fitting
ring. 24, of the thickness required may be fitted in the open end or in any required
part of the mould and will gange the thickness and length of the cylinder formed
as the superfluous glass will escape past such ring.
If the cylindrical or tubular article formed by such improved method is intended
to be made into sheet glass, it is, after leaving the mould, cut in the direction of its
axis by a diamond or in any usual or suitable manner and is opened out flattened and
otherwise treated as in the usual process of treating blown cylinder glass for the
manufacture of sheet glass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the samo is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The formation of cylindrical and tubular articles of glass by moulding molten
glass into cylindrical or tubular forms by the agency of centrifugal force caused to
operate within a mould of the required form and dimensions and to which a rotary
motion is imparted by suitable means, substantially as herein before described.
2. The formation of sheet glass by moulding molten glass into cylindrical or
tubular forms by the agency of centrifugal force caused to operate within a mould of
the required form and dimensions and to which a rotary motion is imparted by
suitable means substantially as herein before described and by subsequently cutting,
opening ont and flattening the same as herein before referred to.
3. In apparatus used for the purpose of the Invention a vertically disposed mould
made entire or in parts with an open top and with a shaped bottom formed to cause
the molten glass poured thereinto to run towards the circumference of the mould
in combination with means for imparting a rapid rotation to the mould substantially
as hereinbefore described.
4. In apparatus used for the purpose of the invention a vertically disposed mould
made entire or in parts with an open top and with a shaped bottom formed to caused
the molten glass poured thereinto to run towards the circumference of the mould in
combination with means for imparting a rapid rotation to the mould and with means

page_text: for inverting the mould for facilitating the removal of the formed article, substantially
as heroinbefore described.
5. In apparatus used for the purpose of the Invention and operating substantially
in the manner herein before described the application and use of un ignited gas blasi
for keeping the molten glass in a sufficiently fluid state for as long as desired while
being spun.
6. The arrangement of apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings and the application thereof for the purpose of the
Invention.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1889.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.