Patent ID: 8393177

Claim:
A method for conveying molten glass comprising passing the molten glass through a conduit having an entrance and an exit, wherein: (A) the conduit comprises: (i) an entrance section, (ii) an intermediate section, and (iii) an exit section; (B) the entrance and exit sections are substantially straight; (C) the intermediate section is angled or curved; and (D) more heat is applied to the intermediate section than to either the entrance or exit sections, or both the entrance and exit sections are less insulated than the intermediate section, or more heat is applied to the intermediate section than to either the entrance or exit sections and both the entrance and exit sections are less insulated than the intermediate section; wherein: (a) molten glass leaving the exit is conveyed to forming apparatus of an overflow downdraw process; (b) a desired cross-sectional temperature distribution at the exit is defined that affects the mass, thickness, and/or temperature distribution of molten glass on the surface of the forming apparatus; and (c) the heating and/or insulating specified in (D) produces a cross-sectional temperature distribution at the exit that approximates the desired cross-sectional temperature distribution.