US 12,246,981 B2
Method for homogenizing glass
Stephan Thomas, Grosskrotzenburg (DE); Jan Vydra, Hanau (DE); Martin Trommer, Bitterfeld (DE); Michael Huenermann, Alzenau (DE); Andreas Langner, Freigericht (DE); Walter Lehmann, Leipzig (DE); Stefan Hengster, Schaafheim (DE); and Klaus Becker, Hanau (DE)
Assigned to Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG, Hanau (DE)
Filed by Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG, Hanau (DE)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/975,146.
Application 17/975,146 is a continuation of application No. 16/662,667, filed on Oct. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,485,671.
Claims priority of application No. 18202857 (EP), filed on Oct. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0063663 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. C03B 32/00 (2006.01); C03B 23/04 (2006.01); C03B 23/045 (2006.01)
CPC C03B 32/00 (2013.01) [C03B 23/04 (2013.01); C03B 23/045 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for homogenising glass, comprising:
(a) providing a cylindrical blank composed of the glass having a cylindrical outer surface that extends along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical blank over a length of the cylindrical blank between a first end face and a second end face,
(b) forming a shear zone in the cylindrical blank by softening a longitudinal section of the cylindrical blank and subjecting it to a thermal-mechanical intermixing treatment, and
(c) displacing the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical blank,
wherein the displacement of the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical blank is superimposed by a simultaneous oscillating motion of the shear zone along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical blank, and
wherein the first end of the cylindrical blank is rotated at a first rotational speed and the second end of the cylindrical blank is rotated at a second rotational speed, wherein an oscillating motion of the shear zone is generated by periodically varying the first and/or second rotational speed.