US 11,697,608 B2
Selective chemical fining of small bubbles in glass
Zhongming Wang, Ypsilanti, MI (US); Scott Weil, Perrysburg, OH (US); and Roger P Smith, Perrysburg, OH (US)
Assigned to Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US)
Filed by Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US)
Filed on Oct. 1, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/590,072.
Prior Publication US 2021/0094858 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. C03B 5/225 (2006.01); C03C 1/00 (2006.01); C03C 3/078 (2006.01)
CPC C03B 5/225 (2013.01) [C03C 1/004 (2013.01); C03C 3/078 (2013.01)] 46 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of fining glass, the method comprising:
supplying input molten glass into a fining chamber of a fining vessel, the input molten glass combining with a molten glass bath contained within the fining chamber and introducing entrained gas bubbles into the molten glass bath, the input molten glass having a density and a concentration of gas bubbles;
flowing the molten glass bath through the fining chamber in a flow direction, the molten glass bath having an undercurrent that flows beneath a skimmer, which is partially submerged in the molten glass bath, and through a submerged passageway defined in part by the skimmer; and
introducing a carrier gas into the undercurrent of the molten glass bath directly beneath the skimmer, the carrier gas comprising suspended particles of one or more fining agents, wherein the suspended particles of one or more fining agents have particle sizes in a largest particle dimension ranging from 0.05 mm to 5 mm.