Patent ID: 8240170

Claim:
An apparatus for sealing a gap between vessels conveying molten glass in a fusion downdraw process comprising: a conditioning section for homogenizing a glass melt; a first conduit having an open distal end and a proximal end connected to the conditioning section to allow molten glass to flow therethrough; a forming body defining an inlet, a channel, and converging forming surfaces; a second conduit having an open distal end and a proximal end connected to the inlet of the forming body to allow molten glass to flow into said forming body, wherein at least a first portion of the first conduit adjacent the first conduit distal end is disposed within the second conduit without contacting the second conduit, there being a gap between the first conduit and the second conduit that exposes a free surface of the molten glass in the second conduit to a first atmosphere; a flexible barrier, the flexible barrier disposed about a second portion of the first conduit extending from the second conduit open distal end; a first sealing flange joined to the first conduit; a second sealing flange joined to the second conduit; and wherein the flexible barrier, the first sealing flange and second sealing flange comprise a gas-tight seal separating the first atmosphere from an ambient atmosphere.