Patent ID: 12221375

Reference numerals: main air supply pipeline1, air inflow port21, flexible air grid unit2, air outflow hole22, Composite rubber layer23, independent air nozzle24, fixing piece25, air spraying hole251, air supply port11, flexible air grid2, butt-joint auxiliary device3, air inlet4, air outlet5, butt joint end51.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the present disclosure are clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some of rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative effects shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientation or position relationships indicated by the terms such as “center”, “above”, “below”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inside”, and “outside” are based on orientation or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are used only for ease and brevity of illustration and description of the present disclosure, rather than indicating or implying that the mentioned apparatus or component must have a particular orientation or must be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, such terms should not be construed as limiting of the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified or defined, the terms such as “mount”, “install”, “connect”, and “connection” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, the connection may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; or the connection may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or the connection may be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediary, or internal communication between two components. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood according to specific circumstances for a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring toFIG.2, split-type air boxes are mostly adopted in conventional technologies, and stress patterns can be formed on a surface of glass to be processed at positions of gaps between the air boxes. Rectangular frames inFIG.2are main air supply pipelines1. Airflow is blown to air boxes in trapezoidal parts in the figure from the main air supply pipelines. The air box is communicated with the main air supply pipeline1. Upper and lower surfaces of the curved glass to be processed are each provided with the above-mentioned structure.

In a method for weakening stress patterns of tempered curved glass,a through continuous reversible deformation cavity replaces an original split-type air box to serve as an air grid;a fluid smoothing structure is configured inside the cavity and configured for reducing fluid resistance;an outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure is configured outside the cavity and configured for constraining the direction, flow velocity and flow quantity of a jetted airflow; anda butt-joint device capable of changing with the curvature of the cavity surface is arranged between the cavity and an air supply source for the cavity.

Embodiment 1

When tempered glass is processed, main air supply pipelines1and flexible air grid units2are arranged as inFIG.5. Arc-changing mechanisms (for the arc-changing mechanism, herein, please refer to a glass bending and forming mechanism in CN201220306623.8) are arranged at two ends of the main air supply pipeline. The flexible air grid unit2changed the radian accordingly when the arc-changing mechanism is bent.

The present embodiment provided curved glass tempering apparatus with an effect of weakening stress patterns, referring toFIG.3, for flexible shaft bent glass tempering. The apparatus comprises a flexible air grid, the flexible air grid comprising one or more flexible air grid units2. Each one of the one or more flexible air grid unit2is a bendable flexible tubular structure with internal passage. The flexible air grid unit2is provided with a plurality of air outflow holes22and a plurality of air inflow ports21. The plurality of air outflow holes22and the plurality of air inflow ports21are communicated with an interior space of the flexible air grid unit2. The air outflow hole22faces toward the glass to be processed; and the air inflow ports21are respectively communicated with air outflow ends of the main air supply pipelines1.

In use, upper and lower surfaces of the curved glass to be processed are each provided with a structure of the above-mentioned flexible air grid unit2, through which air is blew to the glass to be processed, referring toFIG.4; and then the upper and lower surfaces of the glass could be tempered.

The present embodiment showed a flexible air grid mechanism applied to curved glass tempering. Because the whole flexible air grid mechanism is a bendable flexible tubular structure with an internal passage that could uniformly deform with the arc-changing mechanism, the technical solution of the flexible air grid mechanism could avoid a phenomenon that air patterns existed at positions of air box gaps shown by air boxes or air box equivalent substitutions in the prior art and had a remarkable stress pattern weakening effect for curved glass tempering process.

It should be noted that the flexible air grid unit2is tubular. The two ends of the flexible air grid unit2might not be closed. and are configured as the air inflow ports21to blow air from the two ends to an interior space of the flexible air grid unit2. Airflow is blown out from the air outflow hole22and blown to the glass to be processed.

It should also be noted that two axial ends of the flexible air grid unit2could be closed structures, so as to ensure that the airflow could only be blown out through the air outflow holes in the flexible air grid unit2. The flexible air grid unit2with an interior passage and end portions closed could be directly and integrally made in production. It is also possible to assemble a main body structure of the flexible air grid unit2with the end portions. The main body structure of the flexible air grid unit2with the end portions not closed is made first; and then the end portions are sealed at the two axial ends by ways of plugs, bolts, cover plates, etc.

It should be noted that in the prior art, a main air supply pipeline and profile for supporting the flexible air grid used a combined structure. Two components of the combined structure could also be functionally separated, namely, a support satisfying requirements of the arc-changing mechanism was independently provided for the flexible air grid while ventilating at the two end portions of the flexible air grid.

Each tubular flexible air grid and the arc-changing mechanism are bound synchronously. The bending curve is adjusted for each flexible air grid to meet different product requirements.

Embodiment 2

The present embodiment is further limited on the basis of Embodiment 1. A plurality of flexible air grid units2are arranged in parallel in the gaps between flexible shaft rollers. A main air supply pipeline1is located on one side of the flexible air grid unit2opposite to the glass to be processed. The main air supply pipelines1arranged in parallel and the plurality of flexible air grid units2arranged in parallel are projected vertically into an interlocking mesh shape. The main air supply pipeline1is communicated with the flexible air grid unit2via an air inflow port21at a projection intersection point position, referring toFIG.5. Arc-changing mechanisms arranged at two ends of the main air supply pipelines1arranged in parallel drive the flexible air grid unit2to be bent with the arc-changing mechanisms when the glass to be processed is bent and formed. Two axial ends of the flexible air grid unit2are closed structures, so as to ensure that the airflow could only be blown out through the air outflow holes in the flexible air grid unit2. The flexible air grid unit2with an interior passage and end portions closed could be directly and integrally made in production. It is also possible to assemble a main body structure of the flexible air grid unit2with the end portions. The main body structure of the flexible air grid unit2with the end portions not closed is made first; and then the end portions are sealed at the two axial ends by ways of plugs, bolts, cover plates, etc.

The flexible air grid unit2is a metal corrugated pipe. The main air supply pipelines1arranged in parallel and the plurality of flexible air grid units2arranged in parallel have an angle of 90° on a vertical projection plane.

It should be noted that since the arc-changing mechanisms will link the main air supply pipelines when the arc-changing mechanisms are in an operating state, the main air supply pipelines in their operating state would not be completely in an absolutely parallel state with each other.

Embodiment 3

The present embodiment provided curved glass tempering apparatus with air outflow mechanisms on the basis of Embodiment 1. The apparatus further comprises the air outflow mechanisms. The air outflow mechanism is arranged on a flexible air grid unit2, and comprises a fluid smoothing structure arranged on an inner wall of the flexible air grid unit2and/or an outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure arranged on an outer wall of the flexible air grid unit2. The fluid smoothing structure is configured to reduce resistance when airflow circulates in the flexible air grid. The outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure is configured to constrain the direction of the jetted airflow and make the flow velocity and flow quantity of the airflows more uniform at the same time.

The fluid smoothing structure and the outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure might be arranged alternatively or in cooperation.

Embodiment 4

The present embodiment is further limited on the basis of Embodiment 3. Flexible air grid unit2is a corrugated pipe. The corrugated pipe is provided with an air outflow hole22in a direction facing toward the glass to be processed. The corrugated pipe is further provided with an air supply port communicated with main air supply pipeline1. Referring toFIG.6, the fluid smoothing structure is a composite rubber layer23arranged on the inner wall for filling a corrugated inner wall of the corrugated pipe into a smooth inner wall.

When the inner wall of the corrugated pipe full of corrugations is changed to the smooth inner wall, the internal fluid resistance of the corrugated pipe becomes smaller. In addition, the wall thickness at the air outflow hole22is increased, and the swinging of the spraying direction of the airflow becomes smaller.

Embodiment 5

The present embodiment is further limited on the basis of Embodiment 3. Flexible air grid unit2is a corrugated pipe. The corrugated pipe is provided with an air outflow hole22in the direction facing toward the glass to be processed. The corrugated pipe is further provided with an air supply port communicated with main air supply pipeline1. Referring toFIG.7, the air outflow hole22is located at a position of the corrugated pipe with the maximum corrugation outer diameter. An outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure is independent air nozzle24communicated with respective one of the air outflow holes22. The independent air nozzle24is of a tubular structure. One end of the independent air nozzle is in butt joint with the air outflow hole22and the other end of the independent air nozzle faces toward the glass to be processed. Referring toFIG.8, 2-4 air outflow holes22are formed in each corrugation in the direction facing toward the glass to be processed.

The independent air nozzle24is made of a material not prone to deformation. The inner diameter of the independent air nozzle24does not deform when the flexible air grid unit2deformed due to the arc-changing mechanism, so that the air direction is determined while air is jetted more stably.

Embodiment 6

The present embodiment is further limited on the basis of Embodiment 3 and is a parallel embodiment of Embodiment 5. Flexible air grid unit2is a corrugated pipe. The corrugated pipe is provided with an air outflow hole22in the direction facing toward the glass to be processed. The corrugated pipe is further provided with an air supply port communicated with main air supply pipeline1. The air outflow hole22is located at a position of the corrugated pipe with the maximum corrugation outer diameter. Referring toFIG.10, the quantity of the air outflow holes22is two or more. The outlet airflow orienting and stabilizing structure is a fixing piece25located on a corrugated outer wall of the corrugated pipe and covering the air outflow holes. Referring toFIG.9, the fixing piece25is provided with air spraying holes251corresponding to positions of the air outflow holes22. Each air spraying hole251is communicated with the respective air outflow hole22.

The fixing piece25is made of a material not prone to deformation. When the flexible air grid unit2deformed due to the arc-changing mechanisms, the hole diameter of the air spraying hole251in the fixing piece25does not change. Multiple air spraying holes251are formed in the fixing piece25, so that all the air spraying holes251in one fixing piece25are relatively fixed when air is jetted, the air direction is determined while airflow is more stable.

The air outflow hole is formed in a riveting mode of a rivet. The hole diameter of the air outflow hole is 2-10 mm.

Embodiment 7

The present embodiment provided curved glass tempering apparatus with butt-joint devices. The apparatus further comprises air inflow butt-joint auxiliary devices. The butt-joint auxiliary device3is configured for butting main air supply pipeline1with flexible air grid unit2. The butt-joint auxiliary device3comprises an air inlet4, an air outlet5and a channel communicating the air inlet with the air outlet. A fixed extension in butt joint with an air supply port11of the main air supply pipeline1is arranged at the air inlet4. A butt-joint end51in butt joint with an air inflow port21of the flexible air grid unit2is arranged at the air outlet5. The butt-joint auxiliary device3is a flexible butt-joint auxiliary device. The main air supply pipeline1is arranged perpendicular to the flexible air grid unit2, referring toFIG.1. The butt-joint auxiliary device3is a connection part between the main air supply pipeline and flexible air grid unit, referring toFIG.11andFIG.12.

For the flexible air grid unit2with an outer surface being an irregular curved surface, a butt-joint position could be completely matched with an outer contour of the flexible air grid unit2. When the flexible air grid unit2is bent with the arc-changing mechanisms, the outer surface curvature of the flexible air grid unit might change. The butt-joint portion could change into an irregular curved surface accordingly; and an airflow leaking state could not occur. Arc-changing mechanism—(for the arc-changing mechanism, herein, please refer to a glass bending and forming mechanism in CN201220306623.8).

Referring toFIG.11, when processing curved glass, the airflow starts from the main air supply pipeline1via the air supply port11, and the airflow is sent from the air inflow port21to the flexible air grid unit2via the butt-joint auxiliary device3, and jets, via the flexible air grid unit2, on the curved glass to be processed and tempered.

Embodiment 8

The present embodiment is further limited on the basis of Embodiment 7. The material for a butt-joint auxiliary device3is preferentially high-temperature-resistant rubber. With the high-temperature-resistant rubber being a high-elasticity polymer material, the shape of flexible air grid unit2could be well fitted when the shape of the outer wall thereof is changed.

Referring toFIG.12, a butt joint end51is provided with a sealed outer edge matched with an outer wall contour of the flexible air grid unit2. Better sealed connection with the flexible air grid unit2could be realized. The flexible air grid unit2is a metal corrugated pipe. The butt joint end51is connected with the flexible air grid unit2in a bonding mode. The butt joint end51is provided with an annular clamping hoop for locking the metal corrugated pipe. The above-mentioned bonding mode being a fixing mode is merely an example. Any connection mode conceivable by a person of ordinary skill in the art could be used to form an alternative solution.

A main air supply pipeline1and the butt-joint auxiliary device3might be fixedly connected in modes of riveting, gluing, threaded connection, etc., which would not be further stated herein.

The flexible air grid unit2is a metal corrugated pipe. The outer surface of a flexible air grid could withstand a high temperature of at least 150° C.

Embodiment 9

The present embodiment provided a comparative example. InFIG.13, it is air patterns formed when curved glass is tempered by old split-type air boxes under a polarizer. InFIG.14, it is air patterns formed when curved glass is tempered using an air grid in the technology of the present disclosure under a polarizer. The air pattern in the prior art clearly shows obvious abnormal positions corresponded to air box gaps.

FIG.15is a table of compressive stress data of four points on each of the air patterns of two curved glass inFIG.13andFIG.14. The surface compressive stress at the air patterns is decreased. The compressive stress of the glass surface is about 98-103 MPa generally during an experiment. But the surface compressive stress at the air patterns is 5-10 MPa lower than that at these general places. Data in this experiment is as follows: the surface compressive stress of other places is 100 MPa; and the lowest surface compressive stress at stripe-shaped air patterns occurred after processing by an old apparatus is 89.4 MPa. However, application of this technology avoids the occurrence of the stripe-shaped air patterns. Only sporadic scattered air patterns appears. The compressive stress reduction at the air patterns is extremely small, and is stabilized in a range of 2 MPa extremely close to 1 MPa, so that the glass tempering strength is greatly improved, with a qualitative leap.

Embodiment 10

A plurality of main air supply pipelines1are arranged in parallel at intervals along a direction in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the glass conveying direction. Main air supply pipeline1is provided with a plurality of air supply ports11. An air supply port11and an air inflow port21are connected via a connecting piece. Two axial end portions of flexible air grid unit2are respectively connected to the main air supply pipelines1arranged on left and right sides of a tempering section. The left and right herein are based on the movement direction of glass, namely: the movement direction of glass is “front”; the direction opposite to the movement direction of glass is “rear”; the left side of the movement direction of glass is “left”; and the right side of the movement direction of glass is “right”. The flexible air grid unit is cylindrical or prismatic.

Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely used for describing the technical solutions of the present disclosure but are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Although the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art that, modifications may still be made to the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent replacements may be made to the part of or all of the technical features. These modifications or replacements will not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure.