Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1885.
Complete Left, 30th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
declare the nature of the said Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of glass, the Invention
consisting essentially in new and useful processes and apparatus for the uninterrupted
manufacture of glass.
The manufacture of glass has remained in a primitive condition for a long period.
Even at the present time the blowing of window glass is performed in a rudimentary
manner by the human lungs; and the manufacture of plate glass requires a considerable
number of operations, having in no way participated in the great march of progress
which has revolutionised so many branches of industry.
The object of the process I am about to describe is to place the manufacture of glass
on a level with the most perfect methods of manufacture generally, by rendering it
entirely methodical and continuous. A step has been made in this direction by the
realisation of the "four a bassin" or pit furnace, of which I make use, it is therefore
in a similar furnace that I treat the raw materials in order to obtain their continuous
fusion. But instead of employing the normal intermittent processes for drawing off
the glass at the end of the basin where it is refined, I cause it to be poured con-
tinuously, in the required semi-fluid condition, over the outside wall constructed
and arranged with this object, and for a breadth equal to that of the continuous sheet
of glass which I desire to obtain, or I make it pass out by a special orifice made in
this wall and in that case I direct it on to a polished inclined plane, in a manner
suitable for it to spread out in a sheet of the desired width. The pasty sheet of glass
is directed in every way; in the first place between one or two pairs of horizontal
rollers placed one above another; or nearly so and the distance apart of which is
variable and may be regulated at pleasure and which roll it while at the same time
equilising and regulating its thickness to the desired degree; in the second place on
an undetermined series of horizontal rollers, parallel to the first, placed almost in
contact with one another, and also placed almost continuous to the rolls, so that there
will be between each two only a slight space into which the semi-fluid glass will have

page_text: no tendency to penetrate. All these rolls are of small diameter, excepting the upper
live roll or rolls which may be of as large a diameter as desired, and they all constitute
together a kind of moveable table on which the sheet of glass advances. Where the
latter has acquired the desired degree of consistency, the rolls may, without incon-
venience, be set at a greater distance apart, while at the same time giving them a
larger diameter with consequently greater rigidity, and may be so arranged up to the
spot where the operation is finished. To ensure the rigidity of the lower live rolls and
that of all the other small rollers forming the table, I make each one of them rest, at
intervals, on small rollers, in such a manner that one does not interfere with another.
The entire system of rollers may be driven mechanically with a variable motion
proportioned to the speed at which it is desired to make the sheet of glass advance.*
All the rollers may be made to revolve independently one of the other by means of
spur gear, all revolving in the direction required for causing the glass sheet to advance.
Otherwise the advance is given only by the live rolls or a few other rolls, the remainder
being only set in motion by the glass sheet itself. The live rolls and those which form
the table, up to the point where the glass is still more or less pasty, may be very
smooth so as not to diminish in any way the naturally smooth surface of the glass, I
make them of wrought or cast iron, brass, gun-metal, or other ordinary metal, with
the actual surfaco polished, or covered with a coating, by electric deposit or otherwise,
of silver, platinum, or other suitable metal. Or I coat them with a glass sheathing.
These rolls may be hollow and if necessary, at times of heavy production I cause a
current of air or water to circulate through them, for preventing their temperature
from attaining such a point as would make their surface adhere to that of the glass.
As the sheet of glass is plastic during the early stages of the operation, it follows the
sinuosities of the rolls, so that there is a necessity to straighten it at a later stage,
where it has acquired sufficient consistency to definitely preserve any change of form
that may be given it. For this purpose I arrange a few rolls of a greater diameter
than that of the table rolls above mentioned, which suffices to obtain the result desired.
Where the glass has become sufficiently consistent for preserving its rigidity and
its smoothness, and in order that it may not be scratched by dust or other matters,
I cover the rolls, if necessary, with a coating more or less soft and elastic, such, for
instance as asbestos, wood, card-board, india-rubber, or cloth. If moreover, it be
considered that the natural smooth surface of the glass is not sufficiently preserved for
the purpose to which it is destined, the surface may be restored by special polishing
without detracting from the continuity of the operation. With this object, I constitute
as polishers a series of rollers on the table, coating them with the materials and
substances which are already employed for this purpose in the manufacture of plate
glass, and which I graduate as I find suitable. I cause them to revolve rapidly, some
in a direction contrary to the others, in such a manner that the tractive movement
caused by some is counterbalanced by the thrust of the others, and the advance of the
glass sheet is not retarded. At the same time I give them a reciprocating motion,
and I also exert pressure, by means of the live rolls, on the upper surface of the glass
sheet. If this upper surface itself requires a supplementary polishing, I arrange, in
the same manner, as polishers, a certain number of upper rollers which thus afford a
kind of rolling with the lower rollers of the table, working in the same manner. The
glass band thus arrives in as finished a state as may be desired, towards the end of the
system, where it is cut by the diamond in the ordinary manner, and while it advances
on the moveable table, after which it is cut up into smaller sheets, if desired, upor
tables arranged for this purpose in the immediate neighbourhood. . By inlaying o
giving variable profiles to the first rolls, goffered, or otherwise ornamented glass may
be produced; or continuous shoots, pipes or other objects may thus be continuously
moulded in glass. By exerting great pressure by means of the straightening rolls, o
by other special rolls, a continuous manufacture of compressed glass may be obtained
In the operation which I have described above, there is a point to which attention
must be especially directed. It is that the annealing of the glass sheet may be effecte
at the same time as its manufacture. With this object it is necessary to allow ih
glass sheet only to cool slowly and gradually; and for ensuring this, I surroun

page_text: 1
the whole system of rollers, up to the spot where the glass may be considered as
finished, with a casing the sides of which are composed of a non-conducting material,
and in which I form, at intervals, windows or apertures which permit of the operation
being easily watched. If necessary even, for instance when working with a reduced
production, I heat, for a certain length, the inside of this casing (the top of which is
arched in such a case) either by introducing into it the flame of a fire, or by causing
to pass into it the waste heat of al four à bassin," or otherwise. In the process for
the continuous manufacture of glass above described, instead of causing the glass
sheet to advance over the rollers, any other method of traction or "feed" may he
employed; for instance, an endless chain consisting of a single steel plate, or of a
number of metal plates forming a chain, I have given the preference to rollers because
they retain their heat and only touch the glass by tangential lines, so that they
cannot imprison the air between them and the glass sheet, which happens when an
endless chain is used. Besides, with the rollers, the glass better retains its natural
polish.
To start the operation in the first place, a thin iron plate of the width of the glass
sheet and sufficiently long is introduced between the first rolls which are distended,
the glass is then allowed to flow along the table, which is drawn in the direction of the
rolling and with the speed of advance which it is desired to give the glass. The
operation is thus started, and the iron plate may then be left, for instance when it
arrives at the end of the system of rollers.
Dated this First day of June 1886.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Glass.
I, EMILE PICARD, of 15 Rue Royale, Brussels, Belgium, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The idea of rolling glass'in order to give it an even thickness instead of blowing it,
or of passing it under rollers after having cast it upon a plate, is very old, it has,
however, not been adopted in practice, as it does not offer any material advantage
over the older systems. It has further never heretofore been proposed to make the
manufacture of glass by rolling an entirely continuous process in such a manner that
the glass issuing from a reservoir or receiver, which is continuously fed, should spread
out into a sheet of indefinite length, and be straightened, polished, tempered, cooled,
cut or trimmed and finished without any break of continuity.
This continuity of manufacture which I consider essential for the satisfactory
solution of the problem, and the processes employed for carrying the same into effect,
constitute the special features of my present Invention.
The method of continuously manufacturing glass, as hereinabove referred to, and
which is the object of the present Invention, consists in its principal features, in
the combination with and the interposition between a reservoir or tank (con-
tinuously fed with molten glass) and a special tempering gallery or furnace pro-
vided with a feed-table, of a special rolling apparatus which receives the molien glass
from the receiver or tank, and introduces it in the form of a sheet of the required
thickness into the tempering gallery where the glass is tempered in its own heat
until entirely cooled so that on issuing from the gallery it may be cut by any
appropriate means into sheets or plates of the desired size.
This method is therefore entirely different from the usual processes and those
heretofore proposed, inasmuch as the glass, in an endless sheet instead of being
cooled after being blown and afterwards tempered in a tempering furnace, is
gradually cooled after being rolled and is tempered in its own heat (without requiring
to be reheated) whilst passing through the gallery provided for this purpose. This
method, it will thus be seen, is continuous not only as regards the shaping of the glass
but also as to its treatment and this constitutes a double result which has never been
attained by means of any of the apparatus hitherto known in the glass industry.
On the annexed drawings, Fig. 1, represents a longitudinal section illustrative of
the said improved system, the tempering gallery being shown in two broken parts
brought close to one another.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the rolling apparatus on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 1, is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 5, is a horizontal section along the axes of the rollinơ-cylinders.

page_text: Fig. is a front elevation of the apparatus partly in section.
Fig. 8, is a longitudinal section of the tempering gallery, shown in four broken
portions brought close to one another, and represented on the same scale as the rolling-
apparatus in order the better to illustrate the accessories.
Fig. 9, is a transverse section of the gallery on the line 1-2, of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, shows a portion of the gallery in side-elevation illustrating the mechanism
for imparting to-and-fro motion to a polishing roller.
Fig. 11, is a part section of the gallery on an enlarged scale, showing an arrange-
ment for imparting a transverse to-and-fro motion to a polishing roller.
Fig. 12, is a horizontal section of a portion of the gallery showing a polishing
roller mounted obliquely.
Although any suitable rolling apparatus may be used in order to give to the glass
issuing from the tank its regular thickness, it is nevertheless not indifferent what con-
struction of rolling-apparatus is combined with the said tank (which preferably, is a
continuously acting melting furnace, F.) and with the tempering gallery, G; an
apparatus has therefore been devised which will practically attain the required end by
reason of the peculiar principle of construction adopted therefor, which consists in
admitting the molten glass to be rolled, vertically into the apparatus whilst it issues
therefrom horizontally in the shape of a well polished sheet after having been traversed
in a circular direction to about the extent of a quadrant.
The rolling apparatus, I, consists substantially of a regulating hopper placed over a
series of pairs of cylinders arranged in a certain manner, the whole being enclosed in
a casing of cast-iron lined with fireclay or with any suitable non-conductor of heat.
The lower lateral portions of the casing, B, form a framework or bed plate containing
the bearings in which the rolling cylinders and guide rollers work. There are a single
pair of rolling cylinders and six pairs of guide rollers. The rolling cylinders, L, are
of much larger diameter than the guide rollers and have their axes parallel and in the
same horizontal plane, and work in suitable bearings, C, at the head of the frames, B.
Immediately below the cylinders, L, is mounted at a suitable distance, and similarly
placed, the first pair of guide rollers, P; the last pair of which is in all respects
similar to the first pair, and works in similar bearings, the axes of these rollers,
however, being in the same vertical plane so that these two planes are at an angle
of 90° with one another, and as there are four intermediary pairs of guide rollers in
radial planes passing through the axes of each intermediary pair, each adjacent pairs
of rollers, P, are placed at angles of 18° apart.
Fig. 5, shows the arrangement of the rolling cylinders, I, each of which is hollow
and has passed through it a steel spindle, A, likewise hollow at its ends to a certain
depth so as to form an axial channel leading to a hole, o, passing diametrically
through the spindle and allowing the introduction into the cylinders of air, water &c.,
by pipes, t, the ends of which are packed in those of the spindles, A, by means of
suitable stuffing boxes, b, in such a manner, however, that the cylinders may turn
independently of the pipes, t. In order to enable the peripheries of the cylinders, L,
to be brought closer to, or removed farther from each other, the cylinders are made
adjustable, and to this end the bearings of the one of them are provided with screw-
threaded sleeves, d, forming nuts into which screw set screws, f, horizonially
mounted at, c, in the framing and fixed in position by the nuts, e. One end of
each of the spindles, A, carries a toothed wheel, R, the wheels, R, being of equal
diameter, gearing with one another, and imparting rotation in opposite directions to
the cylinders, L.
Fig. 6, shows a section along the axes of the upper pair of guide rollers, P, which
are likewise hollow, they however, differ from the rolling cylinders in that they are
turned in one piece with their journals, A, instead of being traversed by spindles.
Upon the ends of the journals are fitted pipes for steam, &c., by means of stuffing
boxes, b, as above described. The guide rollers are likewise mounted in adjustable
bearings, only their relative adjustment is not effected as above described by set
screws. In their case the bearings of each pair consist of square or rectangular
blocks, E, (fig. 3,) working in suitable grooves of the framing and fixed by lids or

page_text: covers, E¹, screwed upon the frame and covering the bearings E. At the bottom of
each groove or slide and between the two bearings are placed squares of sheet
iron, m, in like number for each bearing and it will be readily understood that as
the bearings are to be brought nearer together or to be moved farther apart the
squares will be added at the bottom and removed from between the bearings or vice-
versâ. In either position the whole is screwed down by the lids or covers, E', the
screws for which work in the framing.
different from
It should be understood that the rollers may be adjusted by means
those herein before described. The six upper guide rollers or some of them may also
be dispensed with if required as the glass sheet is directed chiefly by the lower
rollers.
With one of the wheels, R, there gears a pinion, 11, fixed upon a shaft, A', having
its bearings in bored bosses of the framing, B, and carrying a second wheel, R
which may be turned by hand by means of a handle, M, fixed to one of its spokes, or
by any suitable means of operation. The framing is held together by suitable
stays, e'.
The hopper, T, which may be made of any suitable material, has in section the
form of a trapeze of which the sides are bent downwards, and it extends over the
entire length of the rolling cylinders upon which it feeds the metal flowing out by
its lower opening of suitable width. The hopper is formed of four stout independent
sides, S, and is inserted into a double casing formed by the sides, S', which work in
suitable slides, e, in such a manner that they may be removed therefrom. The hopper,
which is also removable, rests freely upon the ribs, n, cast in one piece with the casing
and corresponding with the inclined sides of the hopper which, in this manner may
be renewed when required.
The entire hopper and rolling apparatus is enclosed in a casing, the sides, K, of
which are solidly bolted to one another excepting that portion which covers the
curved part of the framing in which the guide rollers are mounted. In order to
obtain ready access to such rollers this portion of the enclosing casing consists of a
flap hinged at, u, to the framing, B, and capable of being raised by a handle or
handles, p. The surface of the cylinders, L, and guide rollers, P, must be very
smooth so as not to injure the natural polish of the glass, such cylinders and rollers
may be of cast or other iron, brass, bronze, or other suitable metal or material, and
their acting surfaces may be polished or electro-plated with silver, platina or other
suitable metal, or, as may be required, they may be covered with porcelaine or even
with glass. The cylinders, L, may be maintained at a suitable température by
introducing cold water or other cooling medium by means of the pipes, t.
Supposing now that the apparatus is placed in connection with a continuously
working melting furnace as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the hopper, T, is constantly
supplied with refined molten glass, and that the rolling cylinders, L, revolve at a
suitable speed; then the cylinders, L, form a continuous sheet of glass X equal in
thickness to the distance between their peripheries, and this next passes between the
guide rollers, P, turning freely in a direction opposite to that of the issuing sheet
which entering vertically between the cylinders and gradually becoming firmer
issues horizontally after having traversed the quarter-circle and having received its
natural polish. At this time the layer of glass X is in the condition of a sheet,
and in the same state as blown glass is when in the state of a "cylinder," instead,
however, of suddenly cooling the glass, then, as is done in the old process; and
subsequently annealing it in a tempering furnace, the sheet of glass, which con-
tinues to advance by reason of the advancing motion imparted by the rolling
cylinders and still retains a considerable amount of heat, is admitted into what is here
by analogy called the teinpering or annealing gallery in which the glass advances
upon an appropriate table and cools gradually, being thus tempered by its own heat,
and not requiring a supplementary annealing furnace. The tempering gallery, G,
consists substantially of an arched passage of suitable height and of a width
corresponding to that of the rolling apparatus, and its walls, which may be made of
any suitable
masonry, cast iron, or any other convenient material, and are lined with

page_text: onconducting material so as to preserve the heat in the glass as long as possible,
nd in the most advantageous conditions for the tempering and gradual cooling,
which will also determine the length of the gallery, which is provided at suitable
listances apart with sight holes,, fitted with shutters so that the operation may lio
nspected and duly controlled. Within the gallery a feed-table is provided for the
sheet of glass. This table-(vide Figs. 1, and, 8,) consists of a scries of polished
rollers, W, placed parallel to one another in bearings, r, mounted upon the sides of
the gallery or upon a framework separately fitted in the latter. These rollers, W, of
equal diameter turn freely in their bearings and are placed nearest to one another
at the commencement of the gallery, and at gradually increasing distances apart
towards the end thereof, in proportion as the consistency of the glass increases.
Their axes are in the same plane slightly inclined towards the outlet of the gallery, G,
from the last pair of guide rollers, P, so as to facilitate the progress of the glass in
its passage through the gallery. When the sheet of glass issues from the apparatus, I,
its rigidity is not yet sufficient to allow it to lay quite straight upon the table
composed of rollers the sinuosity of which the glass might at first assume.
little further on straightened by a straightening roller, W, mounted in raised
bearings, , and having a larger diameter than the rollers of the table, the roller, W, ·
is situated above one of the rollers, W, at a distance equal to the desired thickness of
the glass so that the sheet in passing between the two rollers, W, W, will only
just pass and is consequently flattened out into a straight sheet. There may be two
or three straightening rollers according to the length and the degree of rigidity of
the sheet of glass when entering the tempering gallery, but in any case the last
straightening roller must be placed at a spot where the sheet of glass yet retains
sufficient flexibility to be straightened or flattened, as otherwise the risk of breaking
the same would be incurred.
It is a
When the sheet of glass has arrived at this stage of its manufacture, it passes upon
one or moro feed-rollers, W, also of a larger diameter than the rollers, W, and
mounted in hearings, o, at a lower level so that the periphery of these rollers is in
the same plane as the periphery of the rollers, W. As the feed rollers act only after
the glass has already cooled down and is hard, they are covered with a sheath of
India-rubber or other material capable of exerting some amount of adhesion upon the
glass when flattened thereby. These rollers are rotated at a suitable surface speed by
means of the pulleys and belts indicated in the drawings by dotted lines, see
Figs. S, 9, 11, and carry the sheet of glass to the outlet Y.
It may happen that the surfaces of the sheet, and more especially the inferior
surface at some places should suffer as regards polish by too sudden contact with
some of the rollers. To remedy this circumstance cold-polishing rollers, W³, may be
provided at the end of the tempering gallery and which rollers may act in various
ways as indicated in Figs. 10, F1, and 12.
The arrangement used according to Fig. 10, consists of a polishing roller, W³,
mounted in bearing blocks, e, working in suitable slides and receiving a to-and-fro
movement in the direction of the motion of the sheet, e, from a connecting rod, y,
actuated by an excentric, y'; this mechanism may be fitted either upon the inside or
upon the outside of the gallery and at both ends of the roller.
Another polishing arrangement, vide Fig. 11, consists in imparting to the roller, W,
a to-and-fro motion transversly of the direction of movement of the sheet, which may
which
be obtained by fitting the journal with a sleeve, y, having a volute groove
works upon a fixed stud of the bearing, e, and which causes the roller when rotated
to slide to and fro in the direction required.
A third arrangement consists in simply causing a roller, placed obliquely, to rotate
upon the surface of the glass, the roller receiving rotary motion from any convenient
mechanism.
The periphery of these rollers may be covered with emery or with any other suitable
5 polishing material.
It is not absolutely necessary that these polishing devices should be mounted within

page_text: the tempering gallery: they may be placed outside of the same if that arrangement is
more suitable for the works wherein it is used.
After having undergone this last operation the still continuous sheet of glass is
received upon a suitable table also consisting of rollers where it is by hand cut into
sheets of suitable size.
It is self evident that all these details of construction may be varied more or less in
practice as may be required without in any way departing from the principle of
continuously manufacturing glass according to the above described method.
Such method, which is equally applicable to the manufacture of thick plate glass as
to that of thin window glass, is therefore characterised by continuity in the true sense
of the word, that is to say by the manufacture of a sheet of glass of indefinite length
which is, without break of continuity, cast, rolled to uniform thickness, tempered or
annealed with its own heat, straightened or flattened, and polished, and cut into pieces
of suitable size.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In the manufacture of glass, the production of a layer or sheet of constant and
uniform thickness of indefinite length which, without break of continuity. is cast,
rolled, tempered or annealed, straightened or flattened, polished, and then cut into
suitable pieces, substantially as hereinbefore described.
a
2. The method of continuously manufacturing glass consisting in forming
continuous layer or sheet by means of a rolling apparatus, combined with a con-
tinuously fed reservoir or tank, and with an annealing or tempering gallery having
a movable table in which the sheet is tempered or annealed with its own heat received
when being molten without the addition of further heat, substantially as hereinabova
set forth.
3. In the continuous manufacture of glass, the use of a special rolling apparatus, I,
into which the molten glass is fed vertically by a regulating hopper, T, so as to
receive its condition or shape of a sheet, X, by rolling cylinders, L, being subse-
quently directed by highly polished guide rollers, P, so arranged that the sheet, X,
passes through a curve of about a quarter-circle, leaving such apparatus in a horizontal
position, the whole being enclosed by a casing consisting of non-conducting walls,
substantially as herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
4. In the continuous manufacture of glass, the use of a tempering or annealing
gallery, G, consisting of non-conducting walls fitted with sight holes provided with
shutters, in which gallery is a horizontal inclined table consisting of polished
rollers, W, surmounted by straightening or flattening rollers, W, between which are
mounted in suitable places feed rollers, W, followed if desired by cold-polishing
rollers, W³, all substantially as set forth and as shown in the drawings.
Dalal this 50th day of March 1887.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.