Glass manufacturing – Processes – With measuring – sensing – inspecting – indicating – or testing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2002-10-08
Vincent, Sean (Department: 1731)
Glass manufacturing
Processes
With measuring, sensing, inspecting, indicating, or testing
C065S060100, C065S162000, C065S348000, C062S066000, C062S340000, C118S666000, C118S069000, C427S008000, C427S255110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06460375
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the art of producing blown glass articles, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling the formation of an ice coating on the outer surface of such articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art of glass blowing is well known, it has been practiced throughout the world for centuries. Present day glassblowers manipulate hot, malleable glass by using similar skills and techniques as those used by Egyptian craftsmen of ancient times. In the hands of an experienced glassblower, glass can be manipulated into a virtually endless variety of geometries and sizes. Glass blowing is commonly used to create artistic glass works for both private and public display. There is great demand in the marketplace for such works.
Artists create visually appealing blown glass works by manipulating the physical characteristics of the glass work. Primarily, visual variations from piece to piece are limited to differences in geometric configurations, color combinations, and surface characteristics of the individual glass components of the work. Those skilled in the art of creating blown glass works are constantly looking for ways to further enhance the creativity of their works. Accordingly, novel ways of enhancing the visual appeal of artistic glass works are desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for manipulating the visual appearance of a hollow glass article by controlling the temperature of a fluid communicated therethrough.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for forming an ice coating on the outer surface of a hollow glass article in an above-freezing temperature ambient condition.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for preventing the formation of an ice coating on the outer surface of a hollow glass article in a below-freezing temperature ambient condition.
These and other objects are achieved with the present invention in which a system and method are provided for controlling the formation an ice coating on the exterior of hollow glass members
30
of an artwork. The individual glass members
30
are preferably blown from molten glass to create a plurality of unique tubular geometries having a variety of colors.
The glass members
30
have opposite open ends, each terminating at a planar edge
31
defining an opening
33
. The opposite ends of each glass tube are attached to a support structure
34
preferably having a planar upper surface
36
surrounded by a raised peripheral portion
38
. Planar edge
31
of tubular glass member
30
is preferably attached to surface
36
with a layer of adhesive
32
, providing an air-tight waterproof seal between glass member edge
31
and support surface
36
.
The ends of each glass tube
30
are positioned over apertures
37
extending completely through support structure upper surface
36
. Connector members
26
are provided for transferring liquid coolant between the glass members
30
and other components of the system. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each connector
26
has upper and lower conduit portions,
27
and
29
, respectively, separated by a flanged portion
28
extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the connector.
An insulated reservoir
10
is provided for holding a volume of liquid coolant to be circulated through the system. In operation, the temperature of the liquid coolant can be reduced to a desired temperature range using a compressor apparatus
12
similar to that employed in automobile air conditioning systems and refrigeration systems. As illustrated in
FIG. 4
, in the present invention, compressed refrigerant is circulated through a length of copper tubing
14
which includes a coiled section extending proximate to the bottom of coolant reservoir
10
. A pump
18
is provided for circulating the coolant through the system during operation.
A conduit subassembly is provided for directing the flow of coolant through the system. Generally, the conduit subassembly includes an inlet manifold
20
, a plurality of inlet conduit members
24
, an outlet manifold
44
, and a plurality of outlet conduit members
40
. Inlet manifold
20
includes a plurality of integral manifold ports
22
fluidly connected to inlet conduit members
24
. Preferably, inlet conduit members
24
comprise lengths of flexible plastic tubing capable of circulating coolant at the desired temperature ranges without degrading. Opposite ends of each inlet conduit member
24
fit snugly over integral port
22
and fluid connector portion
29
, respectively. Outlet manifold member
44
has a similar construction to inlet manifold member
20
and includes a plurality of integral outlet ports
42
attached by outlet conduit members
40
to corresponding fluid connectors as previously described above. Preferably, the outlet conduit members
40
are provided having a smaller inner diameter than the respective inlet conduit members
24
in order to impede the flow of coolant through the glass tubes, thereby ensuring that the glass tubes are maintained continuously filled with coolant during operation. In this manner, the formation of bare spots, or external tube surface areas not coated with ice, can be minimized. Outlet manifold member
44
also has an integral return port
46
through which the coolant is returned to coolant reservoir
10
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 4
, return port
46
introduces circulated coolant back to the surface of the coolant volume in reservoir
10
.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a thermocouple apparatus extends through reservoir
10
for measuring coolant temperature. More specifically, the thermocouple includes a temperature sensor
17
and a temperature display
19
. Preferably, the thermocouple communicates electronically with the compressor subsystem in such a manner that operation of the compressor can be regulated to maintain the coolant temperature within a desired range.
In operation, the compressor apparatus
12
reduces the temperature of liquid coolant in the reservoir
10
to a desired temperature. Once the desired coolant temperature has been achieved, coolant is pumped out of reservoir
10
and into inlet manifold
20
. Subsequently, the coolant is forced through integral manifold ports
22
and directed into corresponding glass members
30
. Upon exiting the glass members, coolant is recombined in outlet manifold
44
, where it is returned into reservoir
10
through outlet port
46
. Preferably, the system is operated in an environment having a high ambient temperature relative to the coolant temperature. As a result, condensate is initially formed on the outer surface of the glass tubes, ultimately freezing to form the desired ice coating.
Alternatively, in some instances it may be desirable to prevent the formation an ice coating on the exterior surface of glass members
30
in below-freezing temperature ambient conditions. In that instance, coolant is preferably circulated through the system at a temperature sufficient to preclude the formation of an ice coating.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1763071 (1930-06-01), Smalley
patent: 1923148 (1933-08-01), Hotchner
patent: 2064039 (1936-12-01), Shively et al.
patent: 2959940 (1960-11-01), McDonald
patent: 2959942 (1960-11-01), McDonald
patent: 3328974 (1967-07-01), Matsushita
patent: 4297120 (1981-10-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4351157 (1982-09-01), Zeigler
patent: 4608836 (1986-09-01), MacCracken et al.
patent: 5018360 (1991-05-01), Jones
patent: 6205800 (2001-03-01), Topper et al.
patent: 4107943 (1992-09-01), None
Gold Glenn E.
Gold & Rizvi P.A.
Rizvi H. John
Vincent Sean
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