Patent ID: 6901773

Claim:
A semi-convective forced air system for heating glass sheets during a heating cycle, comprising: a heating chamber having a length and a width, at least one heating element located within the heating chamber, a conveyor having a length and a width, the conveyor extending lengthwise through the heating chamber, a compressed air source, a plurality of air manifolds positioned within the heating chamber and in fluid connection with the compressed air source, each of the air manifolds having a length, and each of the air manifolds being oriented parallel to the length of the conveyor, and a plurality of nozzle means mounted on each air manifold and in fluid connection with the air manifold for mixing together and directing toward the conveyor a combination of compressed air and oven air to convectively heat a sheet of glass on the conveyor, the plurality of nozzle means on each air manifold being spaced along the length of the air manifold, each nozzle means comprising a conduit for drawing in oven air, and an outlet port, wherein said oven air and said compressed air are combined in said nozzle means prior to exiting said outlet port.